ch 7: The white flag
The morning after meeting Marinda
Elias woke up in his luxurious suite, his body still complaining of the muscle fatigue from last night's fight.
He ate his breakfast in silence in his room, then put on his uniform and headed toward the academic building.
He walked the corridors like a ghost, ignoring the stares and whispers, and entered the lecture hall to take his usual seat in the back.
The students entered, each to their place, followed by Professor Allart, a specialist in Elemental Magic.
He began the lecture by explaining complex theories about the interaction of natural elements with mana.
As he spoke, the professor noticed something. Elias, the student sitting in the back, was looking at him with focus, but his eyes carried a strange heaviness. It wasn't sleepiness, but the exhaustion of a soldier who had just returned from the front.
The professor decided to test this student's alertness.
"Elias Reinhardt," the professor called out loudly. "As the top-ranked student, let me ask you a question."
Silence fell over the hall.
The professor continued, "Since the origin of magic is our ability to influence the atomic particles in the atmosphere known as mana, why can't everyone use magic? And why can some use multiple elements while others are restricted to one?"
Elias rose slowly from his seat. He stood straight, and in a calm voice, answered:
"Not everyone can use magic, despite their biological potential to influence mana, due to ignorance of the fundamental mechanism of influence. It is like a pen; everyone can hold it, but only a few can master writing or drawing with it."
He paused for a moment, then continued:
"As for your second question, the answer lies in 'Environmental Resonance'. The environment in which an individual grows up affects their spiritual formation. A person born in polar regions, for example, has a higher probability of resonating with the Ice or Water element compared to Fire. However, the matter remains subject to random genetic probabilities; otherwise, we could 'manufacture' super-mages simply by controlling their upbringing environment."
The professor nodded slowly, unable to hide his admiration. "A precise answer... and very detailed. Well done, sit down."
Elias returned to his seat, while the lecture resumed its course.
In the front row, Princess Celine wasn't looking at the board. She was twirling her pen between her fingers, her mind busy analyzing the student sitting in the back. Perfect answers... strange combat... who are you?
The lecture ended, and the professor asked them to head immediately to the outer arena in front of the Southern Forest for practical training.
Elias walked out without looking back at anyone, but he could feel those violet eyes drilling into his back.
In the outer arena, Instructor Marcus stood with a broad grin, his back to the dense forest.
"Looks like everyone is here," he said in his booming voice. "Today's training will be a test of your scouting and sensory abilities."
He gestured with his hand toward the forest.
"This is a vast forest. We have hidden small flags of different colors in various areas. The training will be in two-person teams."
"Your mission is to search for and find the hidden flags, then bring them back. Simple, right? Oh, and by the way, there is a special prize for the winning team."
He held up a board explaining the points:
Green Flag: 1 point.
Yellow Flag: 5 points.
Blue Flag: 10 points.
Black Flag: 100 points.
White Flag: Immediate victory (First Place).
The students' eyes shined at the mention of a reward, but Marcus added with a devilish smile:
"But don't celebrate too much. Every flag has been coated with a mana-absorbing substance, making its magical signature weaker than a blade of grass. You will need superhuman detection skills to find them."
The students' smiles shattered as if they had witnessed their hopes being shattered.
The professor laughed a little, then looked at his watch. "You have 3 minutes to form teams."
Chaos and chatter erupted among the students.
Elias stood alone, thinking of the fastest way to end this and go back to sleep.
Suddenly, a shadow stood before him.
"Elias Reinhardt."
He raised his head to find Princess Celine standing before him in all her majesty.
"How about forming a team with me?"
Time stopped in the arena for a moment. The Princess asking to partner with the "Cheater"?
Elias looked at her. For a fleeting instant, Celine saw a flicker of cold calculation in his eyes, but it vanished quickly.
He placed his hand on his chest and bowed perfectly.
"It would be an honor, Your Highness."
Celine raised an eyebrow and smiled a slight, mocking smile. "Oh, your etiquette is flawless. Forgive me, when I first saw you, I thought you were just an arrogant person with empty pride, but that doesn't seem to be the case."
Elias replied in a monotone voice, "It seems the Princess is joking. Why would an 'average' person like me possess high pride?"
Celine's smile widened, but her eyes didn't smile. "I don't know if that is humility or sarcasm... but if you are 'average,' then the rest of the students here are no different from trash."
Before Elias could reply, Marcus clapped his hands.
"Time's up! Line up! You have only half an hour. Go!"
Everyone launched toward the forest.
Elias and Celine entered, walked to a certain depth, then stopped.
Celine said, scanning the area with her gaze, "The instructor didn't mention anything about prohibiting fighting or stealing flags, so it is allowed."
Elias nodded in agreement.
Celine continued, "It's best if we split the roles. I will handle combat and defense against other teams and monsters, and you handle searching and sensing. What do you think?"
Elias was silent for a moment, then said calmly, "I will look for the flag, and you watch my back."
"Fine," Celine said. "How much time do you think we need?"
(Store: Locate the White Flag. Price: 10 Silver Coins.)
(Done.)
Elias looked toward the depths of the forest and said coldly, "I've already found it."
"Huh?"
Celine froze in place, looking at him with genuine astonishment.
Found it? The White Flag? Impossible.
She thought quickly: Even I, with my royal sensory abilities, cannot sense anything this fast. Is he trying to show off? Does he think I'm a fool? The bear stumbling, Cedric's magic failing... is he just a lucky fraud?
She sighed internally with annoyance. Perhaps I was hasty in choosing him and tarnished my reputation for nothing.
Without saying a word, Elias began walking in a specific direction.
Celine followed him, ready to reprimand him when he failed.
Elias walked with confident steps through the tangled trees, bypassed dense bushes, and stopped suddenly at a perfectly ordinary oak tree, no different from the others.
He jumped gracefully, climbed the trunk quickly, and reached his hand into the dense branches.
He dropped down and landed on the ground, holding a ragged brown piece of cloth in his hand.
He unwrapped the cloth to reveal a small, pristine white flag underneath.
He tossed the flag to the Princess. "My part is done."
Celine caught the flag. She looked at it, then at the tree, then at Elias.
He... really found it?
There was no trace of mana. How did he know? Does he possess "eyes" that see what mages cannot?
Elias turned and began walking back toward the entrance.
Celine looked at his back, her disappointment fading, replaced by a sharper, more dangerous look. I didn't misjudge him. This boy isn't lucky. This boy is a disaster walking on two legs.
She painted a cold, calculated smile on her face and followed him.
When they emerged from the forest, Instructor Marcus was still organizing his papers. Only five minutes had passed.
He looked up in surprise. "Oh? You came out quickly... did you give up or did something go wrong?"
Elias shook his head silently.
Celine stepped forward with royal strides and placed the White Flag on the instructor's table calmly.
Marcus stared at the flag, then at the watch, then at the two students. His brain stopped working for a moment.
How? The mana in this flag was almost non-existent! Even magical hounds would have taken longer!
Before he could ask any questions, Elias said in a bored voice, "Professor, since we completed the mission and got first place, may we leave?"
"Uh... oh, yes," Marcus stammered, still looking at the flag. "You may. You will be notified of the reward later."
Elias nodded, turned, and left the arena immediately, uninterested in seeing the reactions of the other students still running in the forest like fools.
Behind him, Celine stood watching his retreat.
She wasn't looking at him as a classmate anymore.
She was looking at him as a "puzzle" that must be disassembled piece by piece... whatever the cost.
