Chapter 3: I Play with Swords

The theory course ended, and the students began to leave the classroom in small groups.

After a brief break, the long Practical Training Course would begin.

Countless magical beasts roamed the continent of this world, so mages had to be not only well-versed in theory but also capable of applying their magic in real combat.

That was why Practical Training was such a crucial part of Saint Diyashi Magic Academy’s curriculum.

The class bell rang, and the students gradually entered the training ground.

Standing at the center was the Practical Training Instructor, Toronto, dressed in a deep blue Mage Uniform.

Several Magic Crystals shimmering with purple light floated beside him.

“Today’s Practical Training content is… fighting a replica of the D-rank Demon Wolf of the Nether Shadow.”

Toronto snapped his fingers, and the crystals projected a holographic image of a wolf-like creature crackling with sparks of lightning.

“Let’s see how much skill you’ve really learned.”

The students whispered among themselves.

After all, a D-rank beast still felt a bit too challenging for fledgling mages like them.

“Don’t worry, you won’t be fighting alone. Twenty of you will be divided into ten teams, two per group.”

Hearing their concerns, Toronto quickly explained.

“Remember, teamwork in battle is more important than individual strength.”

The students soon began forming teams on their own.

Eitin noticed Seres standing alone at the edge of the training ground, her ice-blue hair fluttering with the wind and then settling back down.

The other students seemed to deliberately avoid her, pairing off in twos.

Before long, the vast training ground had only the two of them standing still in place.

Eitin glanced again at Seres, who was leaning against the wall with her arms crossed.

Her face was expressionless, as if she had long since grown used to this.

This was what they called isolation.

Seres had caught the eye of Rufus, the wealthy and influential young master.

Naturally, the boys dared not approach her, but even the girls kept their distance.

Was it jealousy because Seres was being pursued by her ideal man?

Looks like being too beautiful wasn’t always a blessing.

[So even beauties get ostracized, huh.]

Eitin silently grumbled in a voice only Ruby could hear.

[Master, aren’t you missing the point?]

Ruby fluttered her wings, perching on Eitin’s shoulder.

She pointed around.

[You’re the one who’s isolated right now, aren’t you?]

Only then did Eitin notice.

The other students had already paired up, standing in groups of two while casting mocking glances his way.

The girls covered their mouths to giggle, eyes filled with schadenfreude, and a few boys even raised their voices intentionally.

“Serves him right. Who else but him would offend Rufus.”

[There’s nothing I can do about it. Anyone who teams up with me gets dragged into this mess. I understand why they’re doing this, and frankly, I don’t care.]

Eitin shrugged indifferently.

He then turned and walked over to Seres, stopping two steps away.

“Seres, want to team up?”

Seres lifted her head, her ice-blue hair swaying lightly.

She stared at Eitin for two seconds, then nodded, her face still unreadable.

Without a word, the two of them silently moved to the designated training area.

The surrounding students whispered and exchanged meaningful looks toward Eitin.

“Now the Transfer Student’s in for a tough time.”

“Going after Rufus’s woman? That’s just asking for trouble.”

Although some of the boys envied Eitin’s chance to train with a beautiful girl, thinking about the “happy life” that awaited him quickly made them let go of those feelings.

Eitin seemed not to hear them, focusing intently on the center of the training ground.

Seres stood half a step beside him, her hands naturally hanging by her sides, eyes calm and forward-looking, apparently unfazed.

At that moment, Toronto muttered an incantation.

His right hand traced a magic array in the air, which then duplicated into ten identical arrays, each stopping in front of a team.

Ten clusters of purple-black mist formed on the ground, gradually taking the shape of wolves.

Though these Demon Wolves were magic constructs, their sharp claws and blood-red eyes were clearly visible.

They emitted low growls from their throats, still looking formidable.

Once Toronto announced the start of the training, the other teams assumed battle formations.

Fireballs and ice spikes streaked through the air, bursts of magical light rising and falling in waves.

Only Eitin and Seres remained motionless.

Eitin wasn’t unwilling to fight, but his body came entirely from another world—one without magic, only technology.

Since reincarnating here, he could cheat through theory courses with Ruby’s knowledge, but when it came to practical skills, he couldn’t even conjure a basic fireball.

Due to his constitution and past experience, he simply had no magic foundation.

[What should I do now?]

Eitin’s eyes stayed fixed on the advancing Demon Wolf.

He had no choice but to ask Ruby for help.

[Don’t worry, Master. Ruby’s System Shop has a variety of Skills and Talents you can exchange for Points. It truly has everything you might need.]

Ruby flew beside him, light shimmering off her wings as she opened a translucent panel only visible to Eitin, displaying various skill icons and their prices.

[With enough Points, there’s no doubt Master can become the strongest mage.]

[The problem is, how do I get Points?]

Eitin stared at the large “0” next to Points on the system panel.

[Of course, by completing Missions.]

Ruby hovered in front of him, hands on hips, answering confidently.

[Where are the Missions then?]

Eitin frowned.

He had never seen a mission list before.

[Missions trigger as you progress along the main storyline. You just haven’t reached that point yet~]

The little fairy tilted her head in thought.

[Then why bother saying anything at all?]

Eitin’s face immediately fell.

He rubbed his temples as the vein at his forehead throbbed.

While Eitin stood there, stuck in a mental battle with “thin air,” Seres turned her head.

Her gaze lingered on Eitin’s empty hands for a moment, eyebrows slightly furrowing.

Why are you just standing there watching?

“Eitin, you’re not just good at theory, are you?”

Seres asked quietly, as if she had figured something out.

“Uh…”

Eitin swallowed hard.

He felt incredibly awkward and didn’t know how to explain himself.

Some students nearby had already noticed Eitin’s predicament and started whispering and pointing.

A few even laughed aloud.

The Demon Wolf’s claws scratched the ground, ready to pounce at any moment.

Damn it, I’ll take it head-on.

Eitin grit his teeth and hurried to the training equipment rack at the edge of the ground.

He grabbed a Wooden Sword, its rough texture offering him some comfort.

He returned to Seres’s side and swung it a couple of times.

The wooden blade sliced through the air with a “whoosh whoosh” sound, his movements actually looking fairly decent.

“I’m a swordsman.”