Spot The Mage

-January 15th

I felt a push on my left shoulder and was jolted slightly forward.

As she moved onward, the hurried girl mumbled out, "Ah, sorry man. You're just kind of standing in the way."

I couldn't even blame the girl. I was kind of just standing around looking even weirder than normal. To be able to say something like that knowing the antics I pull and the things I say... Really, I feel awkward right now. 

For the past few minutes, I've been standing outside the school gate looking at the ground. To my unseasoned, normie eyes it looked the same as it did every day and indistinguishable from the dirt, gravel, and road you'd find anywhere else.

"There's a barrier placed here? Really?"

I guess I'd held out some kind of hope that I'd be able to perceive the barrier in some way, but nope, nothing. Cacophony did make it seem like I had lackluster talent when it came to magic, but I'd held out some hope in spite of that. That's so sad, isn't it? I, the biggest magic enthusiast, getting excited to find that it's actually real, but can't use it himself. How pitiful! 

You know, two days ago when Cacophony first told me about the mage at my school, she mentioned something else too. The reason that she followed me in the first place. 

"No reason. It's just boring being home all day."

So she thinks of my place as home. When I think about that, I get a little happier. 

I felt yet another push on my left shoulder and I was once again jolted slightly forward.

"Hey! Are you alright in the head? Actually, you've never been alright in the head. You can't afford to have any more screws loose."

Just like the first girl, she spoke as she marched on, not sparing a single look back at me. Unlike the first girl, the message given to me by this one felt more personal. As I glanced upward to look at her, I was met with her stark purple hair flowing in the gentle breeze like a proud banner.

Why'd she-

Well, it doesn't matter all that much. It's about time that I start heading to homeroom anyway. 

In no time at all I was moving down the hallway, slipping through the crowd, and looking like an all-round average high schooler.

Yup, the weather today is super nice, maybe I should go for a walk later? Also, there's a mage at my school.

Erk! That couple is getting way too touchy when it's this damn early in the morning, oh, and there's a mage at my school.

Jeez, those girls are totally blocking the-and there's a mage at my school! 

Cacophony said I should just keep it noted as I go through my day, but I can't stop myself from thinking about it! Who could it be? As my eyes dart from person to person in that hall, my heartbeat keeps rising. It feels like I'm a detective in some novel. Based on my genius deductive skill, I'll definitely find the mage!

As I entered homeroom, I saw the usual clusters of students in their usual spots. Truly, what a mundane day.

Before long I was making my way over to my own designated spot. It was the best seat in the house, my throne. The window seat at the back of the classroom. It's a prerequisite for any great anime protagonist. 

It made for a good vantage point for the rest of the classroom. Now then, there's a chance that one of these guys is the mage I'm looking for. In Jojo, the stand users always stand out and based on Cacophony's over-the-top personality, mages might be the same way. Which one of these guys stands out the most?

First, and likely the most eye-catching, was A.D. He's a basketball player and a popular guy. Last I heard, he's 6'5 and still growing. Honestly, I'd say he might be NBA-bound, but I'm not really sure how that all works. I mean, while he's pretty good, our team is god-awful. Last game, A.D. got 25 points and the team collectively got 5. As you can imagine, we got cooked. Another thing, he desperately needs a retwist, his hair is starting to look like a bird's nest.

As my eyes moved to the next person, my focus was broken by someone coming in late. It was the boy who'd transferred in earlier this year. His name was... Feng, I think? He was the shady aloof type. 

Oh, there was Wilson, the class clown. He had a knack for pulling off pranks that were as elaborate as they were harmless. Just last week, he somehow managed to rig the classroom's PA system to play "Baby Shark" on loop during lunch. I remember overhearing something about how he was actually some silver spoon white kid, no way to confirm though.

A more serious contender was Lisa. Lisa was the quiet type, always lost in a book. Her hair was a dark, cascading waterfall that she often used to shield her face. She had a calm, almost eerie presence, and her eyes seemed to look through you rather than at you. If anyone here had the potential to be a mage, it was probably Lisa. She was smart, reserved, and had an air of mystery about her that made you wonder what secrets she was hiding. You didn't hear this from me, but she's kinda hot. 

Now that I think about it, Charlotte could also-

Ding-Dong-Ding

There just wasn't enough time in homeroom for a master detective to do his work. Just like that, I was up and moving to my next class.

Today was an odd day which means that I've got P.E. for third period, my most dreaded class. Today was going to be hell, we've got to do the mile run.

As the name suggests, we have to run an entire mile. Since my school is too poor to have a track, we close the front gate and run laps in the roundabout. We do the mile run three times a year, the start, middle, and end. The idea is that your time should improve each time.

This would be our second time doing it for the year. Can you guess what my time was for the first one? Don't worry, I'll make it a game show. 

Alright, folks, your options are: 

A) 13 minutes 

B) 10 minutes 

C) 39 minutes 

D) 9 minutes 

E) N/A 

Well? Give it your best shot!

The answer was E) N/A! As in, I didn't finish!

On the fourth lap, I tripped and gave up.

Class started with the usual warm-ups, and I could already feel the dread pooling in my stomach as Coach Thompson announced the mile run. I pulled my jacket tighter around me, feeling its familiar weight as a small comfort.

"Alright, everyone, line up! On my whistle!" Coach's booming voice cut through the chatter, and we all shuffled into position. Half the class would run and the other half would keep time. After everyone was finished running, the groups would switch. Of course, with my luck, I was a part of the group that ran first.

No matter how much I dreaded it, I also couldn't get myself out of running. Soon enough, the whistle blew, and we were off.

Instantly, I fell behind the rest of the group. The more athletic kids were already halfway around the first lap when I reached the quarter mark.

By the time I started the second lap, my lungs were burning, and my legs felt like lead. I could hear Coach shouting encouragements, but his voice was a distant echo in my pounding head. The workout combined with the intense heat made me regret keeping my jacket on. I simply always keep my jacket on you see. I feel naked without it.

As I started the fifth lap, my foot caught on a crack in the pavement. I stumbled forward, arms flailing, and hit the ground hard.

The next thing I knew, everything went black.

When I woke up, the first thing I noticed was that my jacket was gone. I blinked, trying to piece together what had happened. A group of people stood around me, their faces blurry and indistinct.

My vision cleared, and I saw Coach Thompson kneeling beside me. "You alright, kid?" he asked, his voice surprisingly gentle.

"Ye-yeah, I'll be fine."

As my vision returned, I could see the kids snickering in the background. What an annoying day this turned out to be.

"Think you can walk to the nurse's office?" Coach asked.

I nodded, though I wasn't entirely sure if I could. With some help, I managed to get to my feet, my legs wobbly and weak. As I expected, I felt somewhat naked as the wind brushed against my bare nape.

As I shuffled towards the nurse's office, my mind drifted back to the mage. Maybe collapsing during the mile run wasn't the best way to gather information, but it did give me a chance to observe my classmates from a new perspective. Who knows, maybe the mysterious mage would reveal themselves in a moment of concern.

Yeah right. This turned into a mess.

As I wobbled through the hall, I once against felt pressure on my left shoulder. Is this going to be a theme for the day or something? 

The feeling was different this time though, someone had helped me steady myself on one side.

"I got you."

For the second time today, she shocked me. I don't understand that girl in the slightest. I don't think she likes me and we're not friends, yet she always goes out of her way to help me out. Charlotte, what an odd person.

"Ha! Calm yourself you wench. Your folly-filled act of aid serves no purpose. Like I'd ever need help or-" 

"Does talking like you're from the Middle Ages make you feel better about passing out?"

"Er-" 

"People from my class were watching from the window you know. By now, the whole school might already know. Another stain on your already muddy reputation." 

"...I don't need approval from the ignorant masses." 

"Well isn't that good for you. Can you be quiet and let me help you now?"

"Honestly, you don't have to. A Dark King doesn't have any need for the help of lesser people. Go back to class and laugh it up with your friends."

Charlotte's gaze turned to me and she let out a smug smirk. "Did that stuff about us watching you get under your skin?" 

Slowly, I'm starting to hate this girl's refusal to give up. 

Then, she asked me a question I wasn't ready for. "What's up with the bruise on your neck?" 

My neck? Was there something on my neck? Did I get it just now when I fell? That sounds kind of doubtful, and Charlotte wouldn't be asking if she thought it was from that. My neck... The first thought I have when I think about what's happened to my neck is...

Cacophony! Where she bit me!

Instantly, my hand snapped up to cover my neck. 

"It's-! Well-! You know-!" 

Like a hamster running on a wheel, my brain was working on overdrive to think up a lie. As I did that, I noticed Charlotte's eyes move from looking at me to looking across the hall. 

Down the hall, there was the sultry figure of boy watching us. He stood directly in the middle of the hallway, his short light blue hair signaling danger.

- Earlier this morning at approximately 5:45

 Three figures gathered in secrecy, their rendezvous meticulously erased from existence. All records—security footage, logs, even whispers—had been thoroughly scrubbed. Such occurrences had been sporadically happening since the start of the school year, each one cloaked in a veil of unease. This time, the second-floor chemistry lab served as their meeting point, an eerie silence enveloping the room.

"Yesterday, I was approached by two obnoxious mages from the Magic Order. I recognized them as two ranked officers from the Second Battalion. Their being here could mean a few things, none of which are good for us." 

"So? What do you propose we do?" 

"The two of you should be on high alert. The two mages are named Meiying and Farra, I've already sent you a picture of both their faces and their abilities. If they approach you, avoid them." 

"Does that really seem wise? I think it'd be better if we just cooperated with them."

"No," the first figure replied, his tone resolute. "There's no need to get mixed up in whatever mission they're working on. Two ranking officers don't go prancing around town over nothing. Let's focus on protecting the school from whatever threat they're going after."

A third voice butted in, "Fine, fine. When you put it like that even an idiot like me can understand."

"Hold on. What do you plan to do if this threat does end up appearing at the school?" 

"If something dares to threaten my life here, I'll deal with it."

Suddenly, moonlight broke through a nearby window, casting an ethereal glow across the room. The light illuminated the stern face of a boy with light blue hair, his eyes cold and calculating.

The Chinese transfer student and someone I'd soon find myself in conflict with.

Zhi-Qian 'Fang' Huang.The Exiled Prince of the Huang.