Preparation Before The Battle

Nocturne magic was usually always associated with three main categories of spells.

Shadow spells.

Void spells.

Perception Spells.

Due to the rarity of the elemental attribute Nocturne, spells of other categories haven't seen analysis as of yet. I was made aware of this by Professor Grimrose early on in the year.

However, Spirit magic was special. Due to the nature of spirits, for me, Nocturne was no longer limited under the context of spells.

I could explore the concept known as absence.

And if there was one thing I've learned about it so far, then it's that the power of absence is only limited by my imagination.

I could replicate that which has already been accomplished.

Shadow spells with the absence of light.

Void spells with the absence of space.

Or even perception spells with the absence of sense.

Each of those has already established place and I could draw from them if I needed.

However, doing such a thing wouldn't work against Lysander.

I planned to use three means of absence in this fight. That was all my mana pool could muster before tapping out.

Each would play a particular role. And I intend to draw two of my spells from the already pre-established spells I know of.

The first was invisibility. The most notorious spell amongst the void category.

If I used this spell on Aurelia, then she should be able to land one solid strike against Lysander, limiting his activities. It's a solid plan, but to get an agreement from Aurelia, I'll need August's help.

To lessen the mana cost and extend the duration of the spell. It would be best to remove only her visibility.

The second spell I have in mind is Shadow Tag. It's a spell I'd never heard of until I saw Lysander use it against us.

I could be wrong, but it might be an original formula. A spell created and used only by Lysander.

Unlike invisibility and its magic circle, which I could find sitting around in a textbook, Shadow Tag was only known by Lysander.

So I decided to ask August for this.

"Hmm... I do think there might be a means you can learn it. But why insist on using his own original spell?"

"There's a saying amongst mages that have created original spells. "To create something from nothing, the mage must always know what it is that created that something from nothing.""

August tilted his head, puzzled at my words.

"Are you saying he knows the ins and outs of how it works?"

"Exactly."

He became annoyed at my response, saying, "So then why use a spell he knows the ins and outs of? It doesn't make any sense."

That's when I confidently responded to him by saying, "Think about it August. That saying applies to mages and wizards. Those are the same types of people who go above and beyond to research everything when it comes to magic."

"...So?"

I sighed at his response. It seems it would take one more push for him to get it.

"So, Lysander isn't a mage, let alone a wizard. He's an assassin! For crying out loud, the man uses runes instead of conjuring spells!"

"Ooh! I get it! So you're saying, although he created the spell himself, he doesn't properly understand the ins and outs like a real mage would!"

I patted his head. "There you go!"

And he quickly swatted my hand away, snapping, "Don't do that."

And so, after a brief explanation from August, I learned the best means to understand Lysander's spell, Shadow Tag.

"Get hit by it."

"Huh...?"

"You getting hit by shadow tag is the only way to learn it."

"I heard you the first time. But getting hit by such a spell would immobilize me for the entire battle.... Or wait, hold on..."

If I remember correctly, in our second loop, back when I had first garnered the assistance of Professor Boyden, Lysander's spell failed. More specifically, his spell failed against me, only lasting a couple of seconds.

There was a flaw in the spell, it freed my movements much earlier than he'd thought it would. I could use that against him.

I don't quite know how it happened. But maybe I could end up hitting two birds with one stone.

Learning the spell and simultaneously faking out Lysander. That might work.

"I'll get hit by it."

Now all that was left was to prepare a plan that could set the scene for such an outcome.

"...Okay?" August looked at me skeptically as I walked away.

With it being early, morning classes had yet to start. So, I took to the library, in hopes of finding a textbook on Nocturne magic.

As long as I understood the magic, I could wield it. The same applies to invisibility, which although I know of, I can't yet use. 

The spell is notorious for... particular reasons...

I hope its reputation hasn't relegated its position to a library higher than the first years can access.

However, my hopes were unneeded. It took me only 20 minutes to find it. And thank god it did, because it took me just over an hour to explain it to Dusk.

'Fragility was much easier to explain than this.'

With that over with, I needed to think of one last means of absence.

Hmm...

The problem with this power was its lack of combat potential. There is potential for some cases, for instance, suffocation in the absence of oxygen.

However, the cost for such a power I'm sure is beyond what my mana organ can handle at this time.

Thankfully, we don't need to defeat Lysander. So combat potential isn't entirely needed here.

We've long come to an understanding of his time limit.

1 minute. It's how long his barrier lasts that isolates us from the outside.

If we can stall him for just that amount of time, then our chances of survival will skyrocket.

I intend to leave a note for Kayden Calloway before to battle. To hopefully make at least one professor aware of this conflict taking place.

Though, I don't know how well that will fare. I'm sure his crush on Aurelia will push him to get someone.

It's annoying me, knowing that someone else has to bail us out. Knowing that I can't do this on my own, no matter how much I've improved.

But at the very least, I can save my sister. And even if this pathetic choice of mine fails, I'll feel satisfied knowing I tried to help her.

After all, that's what she wants to see. A brother who puts in the effort.

"Wah!"

The voice of a girl snapped me from my thoughts. I noticed her mint green hair from the other side of the table.

When I stood up, I saw her frantically searching around the floor.

'Ugh, where did they go?'

I walked over and picked up the item that fell from her face. It was a thick pair of round glasses. They sat right on the floor next to her, but she didn't notice.

"Were you looking for these?" I asked.

Not noticing my presence, she freaked out.

"Ah! Y-yo-! T-thank you!"

After putting her glasses back on, I finally got a good look at the girl's face.

Her golden eyes peered at me from the other side of her lens. Pairing it with her small height, I found a single word appearing in the back of my mind.

'Beautiful.'

'Nope, not that one. I was thinking more along the lines of nerdy.'

Wait...

What did she just say?

Having telepathy comes with a lot of perks and downsides. That includes hearing compliments and insults people would otherwise prefer to keep to themselves.

But this... Was the first time I received a compliment from anyone other than my mother.

I felt awkward, unsure of what to do. It took me a moment to realign my actions with my thoughts.

"Here."

I finally offered her my hand, helping the girl up. To which she bowed, thanking me for a second time.

"T-thank you for your help! I got lost in my thoughts for a moment there and ended up tripping." She blushed. "M-my name is Sariel W-Williams! Thank you again!"

She thanked me for a third time... 

"It was nothing... seriously. And my name is Mackenzie Everblade."

Well, I can understand where she's coming from. I tend to think so hard sometimes, that I lose sense of my surroundings.

'A prince?!'

My last name settled in her mind immediately. She began to freak out internally.

So, to avoid anything else that might arise from that. I quickly said my goodbyes.

"Well, I hope you have a nice day, Lady Sariel Williams."

"A-ah! Yes, to you as well!"

Little did I know at the time, that this one interaction would give me a heap of trouble in the future.