Warm light caressed my body, signaling that the sun was already up in the sky.
As I opened my eyes, I still wondered if yesterday had been a dream, but the unfamiliar ceiling instantly dragged me back to reality. I felt a dull numbness in my lap and remembered the girl sleeping there. If anyone saw me hosting such a beauty, it would definitely cause unnecessary trouble.
Looking down at my teenage childhood friend, a small, mischievous surge of feeling crossed my mind. I maliciously pinched her cute cheek without remorse.
"Wake up, sleepyhead!"
"…."
"Wake up, Rei!"
"…hmm…."
"Rei!"
She opened her eyes slowly. Looking at her face, I fully realized that my boyish childhood friend was now a grown-up young woman.
"Good morning. Why are you in my room, Andre-kun?"
"Same to you. And it's not your room; it's mine."
I pinched her cheek again and gave her a teasing smile.
Realizing she had slept in my room, her face turned red as a tomato. She quickly sprang up and hurried out. Seeing her flustered like that once in a while was enough to make me feel better.
After a moment, I also stood up, the numbness in my lap finally gone. I opened the curtains to let the light stream in.
Appearing in the distance was a view far more amazing than anything on Earth: islands floating in the sky. The mountains were gloriously bathed in clean green, entirely untouched by pollution. This was truly a world where technology hadn't dominated nature—a beautiful, verdant world. I also spotted a town that looked distinctly medieval. This place was certainly a different world.
After admiring the breathtaking view, I prepared myself for the gathering at the training ground.
The Crystal Ball
The students gathered in the large training ground, located on the left outer part of the castle. It was spacious, easily comparable to an Olympic-sized football field.
First, the students were introduced to their instructor. All the boys in the group dropped their jaws when a blue-haired young woman clothed in silver heavy armor stepped onto the elevated platform.
"I am the 1st Class Knight Evangeline Maelstrom, also known as Eve. You may call me Instructor Eve, and I will be in charge of your company." The gorgeous, blue-haired instructor looked only slightly older than us.
After introducing herself, she immediately explained the purpose of the gathering.
"Before training begins, I need to test your Attributes. Knowledge of your own attributes is crucial in battle. First, an explanation: An Attribute is an inborn trait a person possesses, such as the power to use magic or overwhelming physical strength. Attributes are classified into two types: Physical Attribute and Magical Attribute."
"The Physical Attribute is the ability to strengthen the body permanently, without the use of magic. The Magic Attribute is the ability to convert surrounding mana into specific effects. Magic Attributes are further classified into six types: Fire, Water, Earth, Wind, Light, and Darkness."
After explaining the basic concepts, Instructor Eve stepped down and led the students toward an enormous crystal ball placed in the center of the grounds.
"It's huge!" one student cried out in amazement.
"Beautiful!" The crystal ball illuminated a rainbow-colored light that overwhelmed everyone with its beauty.
"This Ball of Illumination will tell you what attributes you possess and what proficiency Level you are at," Eve continued. "For example, I am a Light Attribute wielder, meaning I can use light magic. My magic level is high, while my physical attribute is comparable to a master martial artist. These levels of strength place us among the top in this country."
"Light Release Magic: Pulse Ray!"
After her chant, a beam of light illuminated the surroundings and shot straight toward the heavens.
"M-magic!?"
"T-that was awesome!"
Applause and gasps of amazement filled the air. Magic was a dream come true for many of us, the unattainable fantasy back on Earth now manifest before our eyes.
"Now, let's begin the test."
The Results
"I'll be the first!" Harvi stepped forward and lightly placed his hands on the giant ball.
The crystal ball illuminated lights of red, brown, blue, green, and black. A three-leaf sprout appeared in the center.
"Hoh! Already a 3rd Circle Martial Artist and a 2nd Circle Mage! Not only that, but you are a Penta-Element User," Eve announced, impressed. "As expected of a summoned hero, your attributes are exceptional. I'm envious; your years of training are like a day to mine."
Harvi puffed out his chest with dignity.
One by one, the students stepped forward. Most were either Tri-Element or Quad-Element Users. The most outstanding among those tested were:
StudentMagical AttributePhysical AttributeNotes
HarviPenta-Element (2nd Circle)Martial Artist (3rd Circle)Very high overall power.
ReinaPenta-Element (3rd Circle)Martial Artist (2nd Circle)Strongest mage among the students.
ErikaLight Element (5th Circle)Martial Artist (1st Circle)Exceptional in magic proficiency.
AlfredEarth Element (1st Circle)Martial Artist (5th Circle)Exceptional in physical strength.
These results were almost on par with the instructors, who represented the country's strongest existences.
I was the last one to take the test. I stepped forward and slowly placed my fingers on the crystal glass.
One second… Five seconds… Ten seconds…
…
…
No light appeared.
'Eh? Is it broken?' I wondered internally.
After a few more moments, the depressing reality sank in. Only a single one-leaf sprout floated carelessly in the center of the crystal. This meant I had no affinity with any magic attribute, and my physical strength was only comparable to a regular soldier. I was the only normal person in the entire class. Even the instructors looked genuinely shocked at the result.
For the first time, I felt extreme depression. I felt useless and wanted to slap myself.
When my classmates heard the result, they immediately started whispering and looking at me with pity. It was clear I was not only the weakest but also separated from the rest of the group by a huge power gap.
Harvi, overjoyed by my misfortune, burst out laughing and screamed:
"Oi, oi! As expected, weaklings are always weak in any place! Being useless was already fixed for you back in our world!"
Harvi's laugh grew louder, joined by his lackeys. He strongly slapped my shoulder, causing a surprising jolt of pain. Though depressed inside, I was already immune to this kind of insult, so I endured it, choosing to ignore their cruelty.
"Useless!"
"You're just an average weakling!"
As Harvi and his lackeys continued their laughing fit, a voice filled with anger cut through the noise. It was Reina, who immediately shielded me.
"There you are again, Harvi! Remove your hand immediately! I won't allow anyone to bully Andre! I definitely won't tolerate this kind of thing!"
"Tch! Let's go. Our fun was already ruined." They turned and walked away.
"Are you okay? Don't mind them," Reina asked worriedly. "A person's value isn't measured by those things."
"I'm okay. I'm already immune," I managed a wry smile. Thinking about what just happened, I saw that the road ahead would be incredibly difficult for me.
The Status Window
"Alright, I will now teach you how to see your Status Window," Instructor Eve declared, causing my classmates' eyes to light up.
"Hoooo! Very game-like! Awesome!" Many of my anime-fan classmates jumped up and down like wild horses. I just smiled, seeing another amazing fantasy element come to life.
"Listen carefully! This is very easy. You just need to chant 'Status' while imagining yourself as the medium. This will allow you to see your status window."
Instructor Eve began to explain the details, looking at us with a very serious expression.
"Before you do this, I would like to remind you: Do not let anyone easily see your status plate, okay?" she stated, emphasizing the critical importance of the warning.
"W-why?" some of my classmates asked in unison.
"Without knowing one's ability, how can we trust them?" Edgar, a classmate with glasses who fit the description of a nerd, raised his opinion. His words were logical; how could you trust someone hiding their capabilities?
"That is correct, but the other point is, it could also be used against you," Instructor Eve answered. "The key here is trust. Only those you trust are allowed to see it. Okay, you can now summon your status window. Remember, without your permission, no one can see it."
"Status!" I chanted, and a box appeared in front of me. Unlike the complex status windows in games, this one was very simplified.
"What you can see in your status window are the following: Condition, Mana, Physical Proficiency, Magical Proficiency, Inborn Skills, Acquired Skills, and Title," Instructor Eve continuously explained.
I checked my own status:
Andre Crux
Condition
Healthy
Mana
20/20 (Very Low)
Physical Proficiency
O (Power: 15)
Magical Proficiency
O (Power: 5)
Inborn Skills
Armamentalist Level 1 (Upgrade Locked)
Acquired Skills
None
Title
Summoned Hero
I immediately knew my stats sucked.
'What the hell is that 20/20 Mana? Even a Level 1 Teemo would have more! I'm also curious about my skill, Armamentalist. I hope it's strong. I've never heard that word before. And what the hell is 'Upgrade Locked'? I can't upgrade it? If that's the case, I'm doomed to be a weakling!'
'Damn it all,' I cursed the bad luck clinging to me.
"Let me explain every detail to you," Eve continued. "Condition is your body's current status. Seeing 'Healthy' is good. Condition will vary depending on what you are feeling—if you are sick, it will change to 'Sick condition.' Do you understand?"
"Yes, Ma'am!" the students replied.
"Next is Mana. Mana is like energy that you can spend. For example, chanting a spell will consume Mana. When your Mana reaches zero, you will be unable to perform magic, and you will feel exhausted."
"And for Magical Proficiency and Physical Proficiency: these measure your strength and power. No Circle (O) means your power is below 5, comparable to common people. 1st Circle (O) means your power is 5 to 49, comparable to regular soldiers and magicians. 2nd Circle (O O) means your power is 50 to 99, comparable to elite magicians, and so on and so forth."
After Instructor Eve finished explaining, she left the group, allowing us to talk among ourselves.
Reina showed me her status window, a clear sign of her trust. I was quite envious of her impressive stats:
Reina Kirasaki
Condition
Healthy
Mana
349/349 (Very High)
Physical Proficiency
O O (Power: 97)
Magical Proficiency
O O O (Power: 143)
Inborn Skills
Fire, Water, Earth, Wind, Light Manipulation (MAX)
Acquired Skills
None
Title
Summoned Hero, Penta-element Magician
I also let her see mine, which was pitiful compared to hers. She just looked at me and said, "We can train together to get stronger."
After the aptitude test broke up, the class began whispering excitedly, comparing their Titles and Inborn Skills. Andre, however, slipped away from the chatter, retreating to a quiet alcove near the castle library. He needed to understand the meaning of the single strange word on his status plate.
'Armamentalist. Level 1 (Upgrade Locked).'
He repeated the term in his mind. It sounded like a fusion of "Armament" (weapons/equipment) and "Mentalist" (mind/magic user).
He found a worn, massive book lying on a nearby pedestal—it looked like some kind of regional encyclopedia. It was heavy, but curiosity overcame his physical weakness. He carefully dragged it open and began flipping through the index.
"Let's try M-A... no. A-R-M..."
He found a single, cryptic entry tucked between 'Arcane Sigils' and 'Armor Forging.'
ARMAMENTALIST: An archaic and nearly extinct Skill Designation. The possessor of this skill is rumored to be able to channel or temporarily merge their latent Magical Proficiency (if any) with their chosen weapon or equipment, enhancing its physical and magical properties far beyond its normal limits. Due to the high Mental Focus and Mana Control required, the skill designation was deemed too dangerous and inefficient by the ancient empire and has not been reliably observed in centuries.
Note: The skill is often found in individuals with abnormally low Mana or Physical stats.
Andre leaned back against the stone wall, absorbing the information. His low stats weren't a bug; they were a prerequisite.
"So, I'm not a mage, and I'm not a martial artist. I'm... a weapon enhancer," he muttered. "It explains the 'Upgrade Locked' too. How can I master focusing mana I barely have?"
His eyes immediately darted back to his status window.
Andre Crux
Mana
20/20 (Very Low)
Physical Proficiency
O (Power: 15)
Magical Proficiency
O (Power: 5)
Inborn Skills
Armamentalist Level 1 (Upgrade Locked)
'20 Mana. Rei has 349. Even if I channel all 20 of my mana into a twig, what good is it going to do?' He felt the depression from the training grounds return, heavier this time.
Just then, a voice startled him.
"You're struggling with that book, aren't you?"
Andre looked up. It was Instructor Eve, still in her silver armor, approaching with a knowing look.
"Ah, Instructor Eve. Yes, this book is heavier than it looks," Andre said, trying to slide the heavy tome shut.
"Forget the weight. You're looking up your skill, aren't you? Armamentalist." She said the word with clear recognition. "It's an incredibly rare ability, hero. But demanding."
"Demanding is an understatement, ma'am," Andre admitted, pointing to the low stats. "My Mana is almost non-existent. How can I use a skill that demands Mana Control if I have nothing to control?"
Eve knelt beside him, her silver armor clinking softly. "You think of Mana like a fuel tank, hero. But that's the common understanding. An Armamentalist thinks of Mana as a circuit board. You don't need a large tank if you know how to use every single drop efficiently."
She tapped her armored finger on the page, then looked directly at him.
"The upgrade is locked because you need to complete a prerequisite: Control the Mana of this world. Forget your own internal Mana for now. Find a weak item, imbue it with the ambient Mana around you, and make it do something. Even if it's just glowing faintly. That is the first step. That is how the ancients unlocked their power."
Andre felt a small spark of clarity. It wasn't about the quantity of the Mana he possessed, but the quality of his control over the environment's Mana. His 20/20 wasn't a joke; it was a challenge.
"I understand, Instructor. Thank you."
"Good." She stood, giving him a curt nod. "Now go and find your armament, hero. You won't be using any standard sword with that skill."
(A/N: I am a new writer. Please leave any feedback on what can I improve :) )