13 - The Real Start

"Is there a way to strengthen a healing spell without burning too much mana?"

Lena asked.

"Focus on the injury's edges, not the center. Heal outward, bit by bit. It'll take less mana, and the wound will knit faster as your spell surrounds it."

Raye answered, not breaking a sweat.

After that, it was Raye's turn to ask a question.

"How do you cast fire and water together without them canceling each other out?"

He asked.

"Keep them separate until the last second. Picture them as two streams twisting around each other, but don't let them touch until you release the spell. That way, they amplify instead of clash."

Lena answered casually.

They'd been exchanging questions like this for about an hour now...

Raye was asking questions he found difficult to answer himself, using Lena's responses to expand his understanding.

While Lena asked random questions on various topics, gauging Raye's knowledge.

And after a bit more of their exchanges…

"Your knowledge about basic spells and alchemy is quite impressive."

Lena couldn't help but compliment Raye.

"Thanks, I'm pretty familiar with them."

Raye replied.

He had been reading up on basic spells since he arrived in this world. As for alchemy, he knew it well from the game.

He once took the alchemy course and found a bunch of information on it in the Brave Hearts community forums.

Then even after starting a new save, he'd leveled up his alchemy skills to make his own potions.

Moving on...

Raye and Lena resumed their exchange of questions.

And in the midst of it…

"Are you going to cheat on the upcoming tests?"

Lena suddenly asked Raye that question.

"..."

Raye was surprised, the question caught him off guard.

But after seeing how serious Lena is...

"I don't know if you'll believe me, but I won't."

Raye gave her an answer.

'If I cheat again, I'll be kicked out of the academy.'

He thought.

Lena nodded her head...

"Why did you cheat before?"

Then she asked another question.

Raye wasn't sure what to say to that, so he simply told her...

"I don't know…"

Lena frowned at his response, watching him with suspicion.

But after a few moments...

"Okay."

She let it go.

And with that, they continued their study session.

...

*****

...

(Raye's POV)

"Well, that was productive."

I muttered, stepping out of the library.

Studying with Lena helped me understand magic better.

'Learning solely from books has its limit, after all. This was a great opportunity.'

Now I understand magic theory much better.

'I struggled to grasp it on my own.'

I made more progress in a few hours with Lena than I had in days.

Of course I had planned to stay away from the main characters to avoid messing up the story's progression.

That's why I hesitated a lot before accepting her suggestion.

But after weighing the risks and benefits, I decided that it's worth the risk.

Also, I wasn't outside the game's story just yet, so I figured a small interaction like this wouldn't change much. Probably.

'Studying with a main character can't be that big of a deal in the story.'

I convinced myself...

Anyway, I headed back to the cabin right after.

I didn't visit Kyle today, I told him yesterday that I wouldn't be coming.

I planned to continue the repairs in the cabin, after all.

And now…

"I can't wait to practice magic later,"

I'm also excited to apply practically what I'd learned from Lena.

...

*****

The next morning…

"Ugh…"

I groaned, waking up early and fixing my bed.

Then stepping outside the cabin…

"You're up much earlier today."

Old Man Rey greeted me.

"Huh, I thought you'd still be asleep."

I replied, surprised.

"Well, I figured you'd be up early to chop logs."

Old man said.

"That's right. Why?"

I asked.

Then with a frown on his already grumpy face...

"Fool!"

"Just eat, then wash up. You don't need to chop logs today."

Old Man Rey said that to me.

"I know you've got something going on at the academy. Just get ready and go on your way. We've got enough firewood for a few days, so don't worry."

Then he added to reassure me.

"..."

I don't know what to say.

"Now, let's go eat."

Old Man Rey invited me.

And looking over at the table on the porch, I saw a rabbit stew prepared for us.

Seeing that, happiness filled me.

A smile crept onto my face...

"Thanks, old man."

I thanked the old man.

"Meh."

And he just replied like the usual.

...

*****

After breakfast, I cleaned up and put on my best uniform.

"I'm off."

"Good luck."

Old Man Rey said.

After our short exchange, I left for the academy...

...

Jogging all the way from the cabin, I saw more and more students as I neared Xapham Hall, the academy's main building.

'They look just as anxious as I feel.'

I thought, passing by them.

Then finally...

I arrived at Xapham Hall.

Xapham Hall towers above, its polished stone facade gleaming in sunlight, adorned with intricate carvings.

Grand double doors open beneath a soaring archway, while arched windows and tall columns lend an air of elegance.

"Well, this is already nerve breaking."

I said to myself as I walked into the building.

...

...

Navigating to the examination hall, I found the room where the first test would take place.

And upon entering...

I saw it filled with students already seated, waiting for the test to start.

"Whoa, he's still here?"

"I thought he'd leave the academy."

"He looks fine despite being disowned."

And as expected, my arrival sparked whispers. Most of them were not positive, or maybe all of them were not...

Looking around, I spotted Lena. She didn't say or do anything, just stared at me.

Then not far from her...

I saw Leon, the protagonist, glaring at me.

'Great, as if the test itself wasn't nerve-racking enough.'

I thought.

Then ignoring everyone...

"..."

I took a seat in the front row, far left.

The main characters were all seated in the back, and I didn't want to be near them.

And a few moments after sitting down…

Swish-

The door opened, and a man entered.

Tap- tap- tap—

"..."

The room fell silent.

And when the man reached the podium in front…

"Starting now, the class placement tests begin."

He announced the beginning of the placement tests.