Master of Lancer

Waver Velvet was a person whom many considered idiot and useless. Although he was born within the third generation of the Velvet family, it was not a very prestigious line. It was one of the reasons he was constantly being looked down upon by many mages, especially by the ones in the Clock Tower.

Even when walking in the hallway of the institute, he still could feel the gazes of the so-called 'first class mages' at him. Probably looking down upon him again.

But blood lineage wasn't everything when it came to the potential of a mage! He would prove them all wrong!

"Heh, it's that magus, Velvet, again," he heard one of the students muttering under his breath.

"He is hoping to become first class mage. How pathetic," sneered another student.

Obviously, he has a long way to go before he could prove himself...

Next class was of Mineralogy. This would be his chance to move forward to the first step of his plan. He had handed his thesis to Kayneth El-Melloi Archibald how mages' potential didn't necessarily depend upon lineage, but rather on their skills and understanding.

The class was going as normal as one would expect. There was no discussion about the essay he submitted to him yet. That was honestly disappointing. Waver thought that Professor might need more time to read it.

"In a world of magic, pedigree determines rank. It's because the secrets of magecraft simply learned within single generation and parents must spend their lives learning and passing down the fruits of their labor to their children. That's why oldest magical families are most powerful." Waver heard Kayneth saying that.

Wait. Wasn't that the basic knowledge taught at the starting of our study?

"Many of you might be wondering why am I sharing this basic knowledge? Yesterday, a student handed me an essay," said Archibald before bringing out a familiar essay, "The title is 'How Wizardry should be in a New Country'."

Hope started to rise within Waver's heart. Was he finally getting the recognition he deserved ?

"It contradicts the basic principle of what I've just explained. It argues that a deeper understanding of spells and skillful mana control can enable someone to bridge the gap. In short, someone with limited lineage can also become a first class mage. This essay did really taught me something."

The entire class was now curious and discussing about his essay. It seemed even Professor was impressed by his theory. A proud smile formed on Waver's face.

Finally, he was getting the recognition that he strived for so long.

"Honestly, this is an utter garbage. A wishful thinking of a child who is wishing to catch the stars. The truth however remains same."

That fiend! How dared he! He was trying to humiliate him in front of the entire class!

"Waver Velvet, I find it appalling that one of my students has such delusional beliefs," said Kayneth with a small smile.

"But Professor, I was only raising an issue that Magical Organizations-"

"Waver, you were born within a third generation of a magical family. Compared to the magical association, your family is still a crying infant. A baby must first learn how to speak before it can talk back to his parent," told Professor with a cruel mocking smile on his face.

At this response, the entire class erupted into laughter. It was an expected but humiliating reaction. All the students were just as prejudiced as that egotistical Professor.

Right now, Waver was so angry and humiliated that he just wanted to storm off the class. Well, that was until he heard someone.

"Ho? Really now? That's a very narrow-minded way to look at the world."

It was Suzuki Satoru, a young man with short black hair and blue eyes. He was quite a prodigy. Despite born in first class generation family, his magical abilities was on par with students with old magical lineage.

Luckily, he and Waver started their first year together and were quite good friends.

"Care to elaborate that, Suzuki?" asked Professor Kayneth, who was now irritated.

The way Suzuki was looking down upon Kayneth was as if a king was looking down upon a beggar. It was not something new when it came to Suzuki. There had been several instances where he didn't hesitate to call out a teacher if he found them wrong. Yet it wasn't because of he was sentimental, in fact all his response were clearly well-thought. As if he had analyzed the matter beforehand.

"Forgive me if I talked to you. Honestly, I wouldn't even had made an eye contact with someone as old thinker as you, but I have read Waver Velvet's essay before and it makes very interesting points. You are just too prejudiced to see that. Not only you, but all the individuals sitting in this class," told Suzuki.

One thing Waver hadn't told Professor was that the essay was entirely his own. Suzuki Satoru gave him some ideas and read it before he handed it to him.

"Really? Yet there is no solid evidence that a new mage can match the potential of a mage of an older generation," challenged Professor Kayneth.

It was true. The only missing link in his essay was a new generation magus outranking an older generation magus with skillful mana control alone. Even Suzuki, who was an exceptional mage, wasn't any match for a first class mage.

Or that was what everyone believed.

"Waver himself is proof of that," told Suzuki without a second thought.

Haha, that was good one. Your sense of humor was still just as bad...WAIT WHAT?!

"Hahahaha, this new-born baby? He is lucky if he gets any significant job, let alone matching a first class mage, hahaha," laughed Professor Kayneth.

"If you compare his score with other students, he is quite remarkable. With time, maybe he will become a first class mage. Maybe even a lord."

What was he saying?! It would have been more believable if he himself would become a better in magecraft than others. No way someone like Waver could become a lord.

Was he really serious, or was he saying just to anger Kayneth? Whatever the case was, it was working. Kayneth seemed very furious.

"ENOUGH OF THIS! YOU HAVE SAID ENOUGH! DUE TO YOUR INSOLENT BEHAVIOUR, YOU WILL ATTEND MY CLASS FOR AN ENTIRE MONTH AND I WILL MAKE SURE THAT Y-"

Suddenly, with a snap of Suzuki's fingers, Professor's voice went silent. He moved his lips yet there was no voice produced.

"I have heard enough of your annoying voice," said Suzuki as he stood up and left the class.

(A Few Hours Later)

Waver took a seat in the cafeteria after his futile attempt to find Suzuki. It was really surprising how hard it was to find a student in this tower.

Well, whatever. Thanks to his decision to go after Suzuki, he was able to get his hands on a summoning relic.

Not such any summoning relic, but one that summons a servant. On top of that, it was Kayneth's. All the more reason to steal it. That prick deserved it.

Waver had a mischievous smile on his face thinking how he would be in Fuyuki City long before Kayneth finds out what happened.

'Take that, you egotistical bastard!' Waver smiled to himself.

"What's the special occasion that you are so happy about?"

Waver almost jumped instinctively as he heard that voice.

"Suzuki, you scared the hell out of me." said Waver while composing himself as his friend took a seat in front of him.

"Forgive me, I didn't mean that."

"It's alright. Anyways, I wanted to thank you for standing up for me back there." told Waver.

"No need for that. I despise men like Kayneth. A boss dismissing his subordinate's ideas and talents just because of his ideals is a liability and waste to the company," said Suzuki.

Waver tilted his head, not understanding the relationship between himself and Suzuki's example.

"Forget that man, did you hear that the infamous mage killer is now targeting mages in Fuyuki City? At the same time, normal humans are also being murdered there by a serial killer," told Waver.

Really? Just when he was going to participate into Holy Grail war, such stupid events had to transpire.

"I see. I expected more from the mage's association," said Suzuki.

"I know, right! Despite the mage's association best efforts, he is still on the loose. Some witnesses claimed that he looked like a ghost riding a horse. Do you think there is a connection between that serial killer and the mage killer?" asked Waver.

"I doubt that. The mage killers only target mages for bounty. Killing humans isn't beneficial for them. You still haven't answered my question though. Why were you smiling all by yourself?" asked Suzuki, making Waver flinch at the question.

Should he tell Suzuki about the relic? What if he tried to steal it from him?

No. Suzuki Satoru was his friend and he would never do that. He stood up for him many times when others didn't, including today. He deserved to know the truth.

"You know about Holy Grail War, right?" asked Waver.

To that, Suzuki simply nodded and Waver leaned forward before whispering.

"I got my hands on one of the summoning relics. It was originally Kayneth's, but I stole it before he could receive it."

"Oh? He got another one?" muttered Suzuki to himself.

"What?" asked Waver confused.

"Nothing. I was just talking to myself. So you stole the relic? That means you intend to take part in the Holy Grail War. You know it's dangerous, right?" asked Suzuki with a serious expression.

Of course, he knew that! From what he had gathered, every Holy Grail war ended in bloodshed!

"Yes, I know but I'm still going to participate in it. I will not choose a coward's way and back up from it," said Waver with determination.

"I see. Your courage is quite nostalgic." Suzuki whispered in low tone .

" What will be your wish then ?" asked Suzuki curiously.

"That's a secret. You will know after I win the war," replied Waver, smiling.

"Is that so?" Suzuki chuckled at his response.

"Yup. Anyways, since the war is going to take place in Fuyuki city, I will have to get there before Kayneth finds out his missing parcel," told Waver as he prepared to leave.

"Well, good luck to you, Waver Velvet. I hope you will try your best," said Suzuki, shaking his hand.

And with that, Waver left for his preparation of Holy Grail War.

Suzuki stood right outside the office of Kayneth El-Melloi Archibald. He arrived there at the exact time when the professor was out for his lunch break.

To think a king had to resort to petty crimes such as stealing. But it is necessary to achieve my goal.

"[Greater Unlock]" said Suzuki as put his hands on the doorknob.

While a Tier 7 spell would seem too much to open a simple lock, he still didn't want to take any chances. Also he didn't want to trigger any magical alarm just in case one was placed on it.

He didn't notice anything out of the ordinary as he entered the room. The certain box he was looking for, was laying on the desk in front of him.

"This looks too easy to be true," muttered Suzuki to himself.

"[Detect Greater Trap]"

"Just as I suspected, Kayneth placed several magical traps on the floor to avoid any uninvited guests."

Still it was merely a child's play for him. Using [Fly], Suzuki avoided the traps and grabbed the box. Upon opening the box, he saw a broken piece of a spear in it.

"To think that he had two summoning relics. I guess another one will be used by his wife," said Suzuki before putting the box into his dimensional storage.

He could've taken Waver's relic by force if he wanted to and remove one of the challengers from the war, but he chose not to.

Waver was the reason he got his admission in Clock Tower so easily. The boy had to use a few favors from his family's links but in the end, a new generation mage like him was accepted into the main branch of the Mage's Association.

Satoru didn't want to see someone suffer on basic of pedigree just like he did, or maybe he helped him just for the sake of it.

Still, either way, he was under his debt because of that.

"Consider my debt repaid, Waver Velvet. I will not stop you from joining the war but if we meet again. But I will not hesitate to strike you down" muttered Suzuki.

Deciding there was nothing else for him to gain from Clock Tower, he used [Greater Teleportation] to teleport to Fuyuki city.