Chapter 259 - Infinite Mage

The bird glowed red, etching letters into the air. As Keira interpreted the cipher in real-time, her face turned pale. “This is impossible. There's no way it could be this fast...” Armin watched the scarlet bird extinguish like a flame and walked over to the window. Had it been before their trip to Khazra, he might have thought the same as Keira, but not anymore. “My thoughts have changed. Let's go back, Keira. There's something we need to report to the higher-ups.” He wasn't someone who would relent out of mere whimsy. Keira guessed that the incidents in Khazra and the message from the Telebird were not entirely unrelated. “You know something, don’t you?” Armin remained silent until the end. Shirone hoped he could enjoy at least a bit of his school days. Because once everyone found out, the world would never leave him alone. ‘We might meet sooner than expected, Shirone.’ --- One-third (1) The Kingdom of Khazra severed all diplomatic channels. There was no official statement. The only update relayed through the hotline was the situation of the nation being annexed by the Kashan Empire. Despite the dissatisfaction among allied nations, no overt power struggles were exhibited due to the restraint of Theraze. It was the influence of the Tri-Imperial System, and thus the Kingdom of Khazra faded from the customs' attention. Shirone took a few days' rest and returned to school. Although the advanced class curriculum had concluded, the atmosphere on campus was electric with the graduation exams, the most prestigious event in the magic school, set for the next day. Returning to magic school meant he wasn’t considered royalty, so his classmates still treated Shirone coldly. However, it wasn't something concrete, so they couldn't hurl insults as they had done before. Before leaving school, Shirone had felt somewhat disappointed, but compared to the humiliation he suffered in Khazra, it was child's play. Besides, he was so troubled recently that he had no energy to care about what others thought. A monster slumbered within his heart. The feeling of a vast void in his brain—the proof that some monumental memory had once existed. Initially, it was just a vague sensation. But as he steadied himself, like excavating fossils, the outlines began to emerge. While some memories were wholly lost, scenes that had left a strong impression on him gradually surfaced more vividly. When the demon god forcibly expanded his consciousness, the agony was unbearable. Or was it truly so? In truth, at the culmination of pain, he tasted an explosive sense of liberation. The thrill of acceleration through rampage was euphoric, like being under the influence of a drug, and each time he cast magic, a shiver of pleasure raced through him. ‘No, that wasn't me.’ It wasn’t him. It was a new entity created by the fusion of Shirone's avatar and the demon god. Yet, when he continued the chain of thought, he inevitably concluded that this too was a part of himself. The demon god still slumbered in the depths of Shirone’s mind. And the key to unlocking the seal remained in his grasp. ‘I mustn’t open it. If I can’t control it, then nothing can be truly mine.’ He was weak, which allowed the demon god to take control. To reverse the master-servant relationship, he needed an indomitable strength that wouldn’t falter under any circumstances. Shirone went to the training ground. With the formal courses finished, no students were around. After conducting a succession sequence for about an hour, he calmly opened his eyes and concentrated the photons. By making a magical gesture of holding a ball with both hands, he birthed photons between his palms. The demon god expanded his consciousness almost to the brink of collapsing Keunghangtae's resilience. It was hard to think it had been done as a calculated action. Without Keunghangtae, he would surely be a broken shell, stuck in a corner of his room. Shirone marveled at the photon’s newfound compression force, different than before. When preparing for the presentation of the Paranormal Psychology Research Club, he used to rebound his spirit daily to strengthen the Spirit Zone. But this time, it was an extreme rebound that couldn’t compare. As he focused the divine particles, Photon Cannon's light source gradually shrank, transforming into a white sphere with a clear border. It was like seeing platinum ignited under the sun. Further compression would exponentially increase the density, thus giving birth to a magic known as Amgu, but inevitably leading to loss of control. Shirone squeezed the photons both vertically and horizontally. The photons flattened into a disk, and when thrown, the flash rapidly bent, slicing through the space only to return. He caught it, split it into two, and shaped them into shurikens. As he extended both hands, the shurikens elongated into the space and spun back. Even after two instances of reshaping, when the form didn’t collapse, Shirone divided them into smaller pieces. He crafted eight daggers with streamlined bodies like birds and crescent-shaped wings, inserting them between his fingers. As he crossed his arms like an X, responding sensitively to the air pressure, the eight daggers sliced the surroundings, emitting sounds like a swarm of locusts. Any bird entering the range would turn into a puddle of juice in seconds. Shirone caught the daggers, which lost lift and slowed, collecting four in each hand. The density was substantially weakened. The moment he combined the daggers like lumps of clay, photons exploded, scattering blade-like flashes everywhere. Shimmering fragments of light danced before him like flower petals. “Hmm...” Thanks to controlling the luminescence of the photons, he could achieve fine-tuned shaping without using a fractal cell. The functionality indeed stemmed from the form, so the utility of photon-based magic couldn’t compare to before. But Shirone wasn’t satisfied. Deep in thought, cradling his chin, a presence was felt from behind. Turning around, he found Iruki and Nade with their jaws dropped in astonishment. “Oh? When did you guys get here?” Nade was too taken aback to respond. Upon hearing that Shirone had headed straight to the training grounds after his return, they thought it typical of him, yet this was the opposite. He was demonstrating a completely different level of magic compared to just days ago. “What was that just now? Is it a new spell you developed? What’s it called?” “It doesn’t have a name. I was just trying out a few things. I’ve been able to harness the luminescence of photons. But using them as weapons seems inefficient. I need to think it over some more.” Due to the nature of photons being most susceptible to shaping magic, any magic involving sculpting techniques consumes a significant amount of mental energy. Unless it offered considerably greater effectiveness than the Photon Cannon, there was no reason to switch to attack magic. Iruki drew his own conclusion. "So, you're saying that the magic which left us utterly astonished was merely an experiment. That kind of magic, a complete waste you plan never to look at again.” “…Well, it's not quite that bad,” Shirone replied. Iruki chuckled and asked, “What exactly happened? We heard that the control passed to Kashan, but…” --- One-third (2) Shirone began recounting his experiences in Khazra. Though he omitted the details regarding Armin, as Amy had requested, there was still an overwhelming amount to share. He had debated with a king, befriended Woo Rin, the daughter of the Empress, and faced off against high-ranking officials in the magical department; he'd even demonstrated Ataraxia in front of the highest nobles. His friends listened with mouths agape. The scope of it all seemed too incredible for an eighteen-year-old to experience. Shirone had truly visited the royal palace. “So, you were really stabbed by a sword? You nearly died.” Shirone lifted his clothes to reveal the wound, showing the stitched scar visibly. Iruki asked with concern, “Is your head okay? That must have been quite a shock.” “Luckily, resting for a few days did wonders. Though my stomach still aches... Oh, and I brought an object back. Come by my room later, and I'll show you.” “What? Really? Weapons aren't allowed on school grounds. You’ve gotten quite bold since getting stabbed!” Shirone waved his hand with a tired expression. “No, it's not what I wanted either, but circumstances left me with no choice.” Armand, too proud to be left behind, had been pestering Shirone with mental waves every night. Needing rest yet faced with such disturbances, Shirone had no choice but to promise to bring him. Like most cursed swords, Armand's personality seemed quite difficult. “Then let's go see it now. I can't wait to see it! Armand's true form!” “Not right now. I have to be somewhere.” “Huh? Where are you going?” Iruki nudged Nade’s side. “It's the graduation exam, right? Got to spend the last night with your love.” Shirone shook his head firmly. “No! Amy followed me all the way to Khazra to help me. I want to cheer her on in person.” “Understood. Anyway, you should head over there. The steel gates close when the sun sets. Give her my best too.” Shirone checked the time and was startled. “Oh? Is it that late already? I'll see you later then.” Exiting the training ground, Shirone made his way to the graduate building. The reason he had not visited Amy immediately upon returning to school was because of the Avatar experience floating beyond his conscious mind's veil. Among them, a scene in which he had confessed his jealousy to Amy haunted him, making him want to hide in a mouse hole. If he had tried talking right after the incident ended, the awkwardness might have been avoided, but the timing didn't allow for it. Collapsing as if he fainted in the carriage, Shirone was sent home, and Amy returned to school without rest, preparing for her graduation exams. ‘Oh man, what am I supposed to say to Amy?’ Shirone shook his head, pushing away his thoughts. Amy had followed him to Khazra on the eve of an important exam. Without her, he might not even be attending the magic school with a clear head today. ‘Right, let’s not think about anything else for now. Amy’s success is the priority.’ The day her six-year journey would come to fruition was just a day away. Currently, she was ranked 4th in her graduating class. It was an astounding growth, especially considering it was achieved in just half a year. ‘Seems I won’t be able to keep my promise, after all. But no matter.’ Shirone had promised to catch up to Amy. However, she had reached her high rank through relentless effort. If she graduates, he'll willingly acknowledge his defeat. Passing the symbolic iron gates of the graduates, he noticed some of the seniors walking through the flowerbeds. No one paid attention to Shirone. Not today. All that consumed their minds was tomorrow. Some seniors focused on harmonizing their minds, while others thought it better to relax. A group gathered around a campfire, sharing stories. Many familiar faces, including Amy and Seriel, were among them. “Oh my, isn’t that Shirone over there?” “Huh? It is!” Shirone approached with a stiff face. He hadn't expected Amy to be with the other seniors. “Hello…” Seriel ran over and enveloped Shirone in a hug. “Ahhh! It's Shirone! What brings you here? Are you here to cheer me on?” Buried in Seriel's embrace, Shirone could feel his cheeks flush. But sensing her body trembling, he realized it wasn’t a jest. He heard the rapid beating of her heart. ‘This is what it means to be a senior.’ Everyone here had devoted their lives to becoming a magician. And if they pass tomorrow’s exam, they will become the magicians they’ve dreamed of. The odds? One in three. When considered as someone else’s business, it seemed fairly high. But inserting himself into this reality, it meant that 20 others would face another year of grueling competition. Thinking this way, Seriel's embrace no longer embarrassed him. Shirone hugged her back with all his might. Everyone had worked hard. The idea of someone failing here was unthinkable. Yet, if it were possible… he hoped she would succeed. “Work hard, Senpai. I’ll be cheering you on too.” “Thanks, Shirone.” Shirone was finally able to look at Seriel’s face. Her expression had both fear and excitement. Even the look of someone about to burst into tears was noble. That's because he knew what effort had brought her to this point. He turned to look at Amy. Unlike Seriel, Amy’s face showed neither nervousness nor excitement. It seemed as if her six years of preparation were perfectly aligned towards tomorrow. This left him feeling both reassured and grateful. Had she shown even a hint of wavering, the guilt of having taken her to Khazra would have weighed heavily on him. “Amy, good luck. I'll be cheering you on tomorrow.” “Thanks. I’ll give it my all.” Currently, Amy's mind was like a mighty river, comprised of streams of thoughts merging seamlessly into one. There was no room for awkward memories of Khazra to intrude. Shirone engaged in casual conversation with the seniors. Even Amira, the student council president who had once led a sit-in when Shirone was trapped in the temporal maze, was part of the circle, now merely a memory. “At last, tomorrow ends this tiresome school life,” Amira said. Most nodded in agreement. On the eve of the exam, no one entertained the thought of failure. However, Samuel's expression was not as bright. Shirone recalled when Samuel had impressed the advanced class students as a demonstration assistant for Etella with his extraordinary musical skills. Yet, he had failed his graduation exam last year, and this was his second attempt. Given the low statistical likelihood of a student passing on their second try, it was natural for him to be anxious. Amira comforted Samuel, “Don’t worry too much, Samuel. You’ve worked hard. You missed passing by just a hair last time, but this time, things will turn out great.” “Yeah, thanks. I hope you pass too.” Encouraging each other, despite being competitors, was at least a display of humanity. “Hey! So you guys are all here?” A group of famous seniors from the academy approached. Richard, known for alchemy; Lycan, the electric monster; Hersey, master of sound magic. Leading them was Ardino Fermi, the top-ranked student in Class One. Fermi, ever in formal attire, resembled an accountant more than a wizard. Come to think of it, the Ardino family was reputed to be a famous merchant lineage. “What’s with the stiff faces? Don’t be too nervous. Even I’ve been taking the graduation exam for six years. Ha ha ha!” Though Fermi jested, no one laughed. Being consistently the top of the graduating class but never having graduated was one of Alpheas Magic School's mysteries. Rumors circulated that he was a broker who took money to skew graduation results favorably, but nothing was confirmed. “Fermi, aren’t you being too complacent? If you stay so carefree, you might be taking exams with the juniors again next year.” “Haha! I’m just doing my best. Ultimately, it’s up to the heavens.” Fermi felt a gaze and turned his head. Amy was staring at him boldly. “Wow, our little lady is full of vigor today? How’s your condition?” “Top-notch. What about yours?” “Well… It's manageable.” “I hope you’re in your best shape for the exam. Tomorrow is the day I graduate from magic school as the top student.” “Hahaha! I just can't win against you. Alright, let’s go head-to-head. Tomorrow, we’re no longer classmates; we’re competitors.” Once Fermi and his group moved away, those gathered around the bonfire watched them with cautious eyes. While skill was essential, the experience gained from retaking the graduation exam at least four times was not to be underestimated. To change the mood, Amira spoke up. “I visited the World Climate Organization last break. It was truly impressive. They have over a thousand professional magicians.” “Wow, that place is really prestigious. They say the head has more power than a king of a nation.” Indeed, weather wields immense control over human life, agriculture, and ecosystems. As such, magicians in the Red Line must pass national exams, or using magic is deemed illegal. International agreements are needed due to the lack of borders, which is overseen by the World Climate Organization. “Even if it’s not the World Climate Organization, atmospheric magic holds great power. A relative of mine works at an observatory, and even high-ranking nobles can’t defy them.” “But you have to pass the national exams. I know someone who couldn’t pass for ten years and eventually changed their major.” Amira, filled with spirit, said, “That’s why I’m going for it. High risk, high return is my motto. Passing means I can aim for the highest as a magician.” “Well, if anyone can do it, it's you. If you do land a top position in the future, remember to contact me, okay? Haha!” As the former student council president, it was easy to imagine Amira as the head of the World Climate Organization someday. Perhaps upon entering the real world, she'd realize the gap between the two roles is vast, and today's words might seem silly in hindsight. But what does it matter? Someone has to achieve that dream, after all. With Amira leading the way, others began sharing their aspirations. Seriel initially dreamed of a modest life working at a health clinic, but now aspired to join the World Health Organization to develop vaccine magic, theorizing it would lower drug costs. Amy still intended to become a soldier, but her recent tour in Khazra sparked a new sense of duty. Shirone recalled Zion, the tale of Torpia's war that stirred him to even consider military enlistment. Samuel planned to double major. Although words were important, he intended to study mental magic abroad next. “Wow! All your lives are going to be intense. Alright, let’s give it our all! Tomorrow, we become magicians!” “Yeah!” Shirone's heart swelled as he watched his seniors take their first steps toward their dreams. He truly wished for everyone present to pass. *** Morning dawned. The coliseum, where the graduation exam was held, was teeming with people. Though not mandatory, the entire student body applied to attend, and most graduation class parents visited the school. Scouts from national magic associations and correspondents came to cover the event as well.