3.23.

Yes, competition. They were entering the middle of the year for the New Dawn. Exchange students from other academies will soon arrive to stay in Rika Nation's Riestallia Academy for a duration while some students from Riestallia will transfer to other academies.

This was the exchange student programme Her Highness Titania talked about before.

And included in this exchange are numerous competitions in various fields. Magic concerts being one of them.

"I didn't know there were going to be exchange students..?"

"We were going to announce it later today."

"I won't fail the semester if we don't win the top three right?"

"Of course not. You just have to do your best– don't slack off. I'll judge your grade based on your performance, so don't let me down. Also, I've already arranged a dinner later with the conductor leading the team, Din. After your afternoon class, come to find me at the office."

'That's so sudden.. I was looking forward to Iona's cooking.'

"Alright then."

"That's it for your assignment. This academy had never won the magic ensemble competition over the past five years, so.."

"Okay..?"

"Do your best," Judy winked

===

Leadership class. First lesson: ownership in whatever it is that you do.

A basic lecture on the principles of what it means to be a leader and the roles of each member in the team. Going deeper, each person was taught about core values, and how some people may not be able to work well together due to conflicts in this aspect.

Sequencee's core values were apparently something along the lines of: acceptance, tolerance, and discovery.

Schwii's core values being: graciousness, empathy, and curiosity.

Values were principles which people abode by. Knowing one's own values helps to ground themselves as a person, creating consistency and certainty in decision making. Every choice made should reflect one's own individual values, otherwise it causes internal conflicts.

"Interesting," Schwii found the lecture insightful.

"I think mine will change again some day," Sequencee said.

It wasn't the first time Sequencee read about it. Five year ago when he assessed his own values, they weren't the same as the ones he had now.

Discovering one's core values was like chiseling a statue. A long arduous process involving epiphanies and change, bit by bit, over time– years– before it becomes crystal clear in one's own consciousness.

The key here was to begin with awareness; begin practicing the surface-most values as one begins to discover more and more about themselves.

"Sir Jonnathan said these core values stay for life though?"

"It changes with the level of understanding of yourself, I think? Like mine, acceptance and tolerance probably came from the thing that happened last time.. Maybe vengeance was a value of mine before this? I'm not too sure."

"Humans really know a lot of unnecessary things."

"I don't know if getting to know yourself better is an unnecessary thing.."

When the lecture was over, the awaited announcement of exchange students from other academies were let known to everyone. The class blew up over the matter. And to add oil to the sparks, the princesses and princes of the other nations would be coming as envoys to show their greeting to the heroes during the main-stage competition– the New Dawn Series.

The list of exchange students can be found posted on the many notice boards around the campus, including warnings, rules and regulations that students should follow.

"You've already severed certain ties with the hero, haven't you?"

"We're still friends, but that asides.. I don't think I'm involved directly with them anymore."

'Right? I only need to introduce Reese to Shiro and that's about it.. I think?'

Sequencee was unsure when the third year students would return when they've already set off to their respective post. So for now at least, there was no chance for him to introduce the cardinal to the hero.

Schwii shook her head. She didn't think it was the end of things for them. From what Iona said, making contact with the hero was like getting involved in the underworld. Once stained, you're stained for life. Schwii prayed that such a crazy analogy was incorrect.

"Hopefully.." Sequencee drawled.

Schwii leaned against Sequencee and yawned.

===

"Din is one of my accomplices. He's one among the many mages that helped in composing the rites for the summoning ritual," Judy boasted.

"I still don't get why me? I barely know anything about magic concerts," Sequencee said, sulking.

"Trust me, you're beyond qualified."

"I don't know if that's really an efficient way of doing things though."

"He created a piece which needs a soloist. I happened to meet him when he was contemplating who to select when I recommended you."

"I can drop out right?"

"No. You can't."

They advanced to the third tier of the cafeteria building. A private room had been arranged prior to their arrival. The waiter ushered them in with a polite bow.

Beyond the door was a short guy wearing a clean white shirt. There wasn't anything too special about him except that he wore squarish glasses.

He stood up.

'Oh.. No wonder these two get along.'

Mister Din was as short as Judy. Really short people– Sequencee began to question if they were secretly dwarves. Both were clearly elves though.

"It's a pleasure to meet you student Sequencee. I heard a lot about you from Judy," he reached out his hands candidly.

"It's a pleasure to meet you too, Mister Din."

Sequencee received his firm handshake before sitting down.

"Will the usual menu be alright with you?" Din asked with an uncomfortable smile.

"I'm fine with the usual. Thank you."

"That's relieving.."

"It's not like we have other options available," Judy said.

"You're right. So, Sequencee, you were already filled in with the necessary details regarding the competition, I presume?"

"Yes."

"Then that makes things easy. Before that, can I have you try this out?" Din handed Sequencee a sheet of magic formulas.

Magic is a complicated subject, with many different languages and technicalities that differ depending on the field of study. Sigils and runes were often languages used in magic engineering, while symbols, inscription positioning and connotations were used in magic concerts. In layman magic books, simplified inscriptions were used. And in the demonic grimoires Sequencee used to study as a child, hexes were used.

"I can try."

Symbols, inscriptions and connotations combined into one become a 'magic formula'. What Sequencee was reading was a chain of complex magic formulae.

He extinguished a few elemental beads before performing the necessary construction.

It had been a while since he had tried to cast following a fixed formula, so its execution was slow.

However, by the end of it, Sequencee managed to create the arranged lattice structure.

A black crystal cube in the middle with networks of gold light spinning around it. It would've looked like an atom if not for the overlapping network of lilac lights arranged into lattices. Particles would form, drifting from the source, cold to the touch, and disperse.

'What even is this magic?'

Sequencee had no idea what he was holding.

"See? I told you he's good, didn't I?"

"I see why Judy would recommend you."

"Did I pass?"

"Most certainly."

"Actually, what is this? Is it dangerous?"

"That is what I call a multiscript."

"???"

"It's just a showy spell with multiple element script intersection points."

"How many intersections is this?"

"The major four elements, light, gravity, lightning, and a little bit of ice magic."

"Ah, so you know what elemental intersections are?" Judy asked, surprised.

"I think most people do?"

In short, these intersection points were something like the triple point in chemistry– except that the aspect of 'states of matter' were replaced with magic elements.

In magic, these intersection points are what allow fusion magic to occur. Of course, the greater the number of magic elements combined, the tighter the intersection points. Din had just witnessed Sequencee perform this spell on his first try, which implied that he had a good grasp of magic control and accuracy.

"How old are you?" Din asked.

"Seventeen."

"He's not a half elf," Judy said.

"Then.. how is this possible?" Din was taken aback.

"It's because of a gift he has. Though, it's not directly related to magic."

"It's a growth related system gift," Sequencee followed up.

"In that case– I'll be counting on you to make the piece the best it can be student Sequencee."

"I'll try."

"Cheers, welcome to the ensemble." Din picked up his glass.

""Cheers.""

Judy and Sequencee clinked glasses with him. The liquid inside was of course not wine, but some kind of fruit soda.

"Ah, right. I forgot to tell you. Sequencee, you can be dismissed from my magic class. Just head straight to the field where the magic ensembled is practicing."

"So I have to come to the theater to run fifteen laps and then rush to the ensemble?"

"Pretty much," Judy shrugged.

'What..'

"I can't just go have you ignore other classes just because you're attending my class, can I now?"

"Don't complain if I come all sweaty."

"Mn.. don't listen to him. He barely breaks a sweat when doing physical exercise."

"Okay.. then how about my attire? I don't have the special robe the students there usually wear."

"Hm.. I'll prepare one. For your first day, just wear what you think is comfortable." Din said.

It was at this point that the food came. Sequencee extinguished the multicast magic and began eating.

"You really don't learn do you?"

"Hmrf??" Judy raided her head with stuffed cheeks. "It's deli-sious no?"

Shaking his head, Din took his napkin and whipped her cheeks.

Judy's ears turned a little red.

She gulped down the food.

"Thanks," she said bashfully before gobbling down the next portion, slower this time. Din nodded in satisfaction.

Sequencee, watching as it unfolded couldn't help but think that..

'I'm the third wheel.'

===

"Here we go. This one, take a look."

After dinner, Din asked if Sequencee could come to his office to grab the magic formula sheet noting the part he would be playing for the ensemble. It was a small set of binded notes containing numerous magic formulae which will resonate with the other magic formulae that'll be generated by the other members of the ensemble.

"It's two big spells, right?"

"We call them grand spells because it's not individual magic. It's four in total. During the competition, one team will defend, the other would attack; alternately. So I've written 2 attack grand spells and 2 defense grand spells."

Sequencee could look at these formulas, but couldn't tell what exactly it was. If it were any other individual spell, he might be able to make some guesses. However, the ones written by Din had many open ends which likely chained up with other formulas. It was like only being able to see the small part of a larger picture.

"We'll begin practice tomorrow morning. Don't worry too much about it. Since it's the first day, I'll run you through the details before asking you to do anything extreme; my students won't bite you either."

"Alright."

"Then I'll see you tomorrow. Have a pleasant evening."

"You too Mister Din. Thanks."

Walking out of the department of magic with papers in hand, Sequencee made his way down the empty hall, eyes focused on the magic formulas. He thought about spending some of his time in the late evenings practicing the construction of these spells before sparring with Iona per routine.

Spatial magic caught onto a presence.

Sequencee halted to allow the person to go first. The door of an office a few steps in front of him opened, Sequencee caught a glimpse of the golden sign and felt a wave of melancholy wash over him.

The willowy gray haired elf who walked out was about to pace down the corridor when his eyes subconsciously shifted towards Sequencee.

The two stared at each other for a while.

Seeing his sharp ears perk up in surprise, Sequencee expected him to say something, to lash out, to use a system gift to impede his mana flow or call on his bodyguards to drag him back to the ditch. But none of that happened.

He acted as if Sequencee didn't exist and silently walked past him. His presence faded until it left the range of his spatial magic.

'I hate this.'

With his face scrunched up, Sequencee made it a mental note to be careful when treading down these halls next time.