Arlo went straight home, sat on his bed, and opened the ability book.
In this world, magic existed everywhere, but it was found in a wild state in nature. Mages could tame this magic, store it in their bodies, and become capable of using various abilities.
Furthermore, the more the magic in their bodies grew and strengthened, the higher their level became.
While examining the ability book, he realized that it showed the circulation path of magic. When magic was circulated correctly, abilities became usable.
Arlo didn't rush to use the ability. Even if he could, it would only end with him hitting a wall since he was indoors, so he first recalled his memories and used the most basic ability 'Fireball '.
He felt as if his body moved on its own, and a fireball appeared in his hand.
Arlo couldn't help but be in awe as he looked at the round fire floating in the air. Although he had seen it in the training area, doing it himself was a much different feeling.
Also, unexpectedly, Arlo found the ability very easy to use.
The fireball in his hand rose into the air and traced a circle, then, as he closed his hand, it vanished as if it had never existed.
'Looks like I underestimated the memories of this body.'
It was likely that since he had reached Medium mastery, his body instinctively circulated the magic and released the ability when he wanted to produce a fireball.
After seeing this, Arlo thought for a moment and then left the house he had just entered. He initially planned to go to the training area but decided against it. Even though there were areas there to improve movement abilities, if he suddenly mastered an ability, it could draw suspicion.
So, he decided to go to the forest behind the housing area. There was a small valley in the middle of the forest where he could train, and it didn't seem to be a well-known spot.
In other words, people who didn't have a quest to tour the entire school usually didn't go there.
Moreover, since it didn't have a lake or anything, it eliminated the possibility of experiencing the bathing scenes that appeared in most of these stories.
Arlo didn't wait any longer and headed toward the forest. After walking for a while, he found the valley.
Since it was surrounded by forest, it didn't have a particularly beautiful view, but the open grassy area gave a pleasant feeling.
After confirming that no one was around, Arlo opened the ability book and began to read.
In the ability book, the magic circulation methods were shown not only with words but also with diagrams. After examining and understanding all the diagrams, Arlo placed the book next to him and closed his eyes.
Another strange thing about this world was the sensation. When he focused, he felt like he was seeing his whole body.
The magic inside him was currently stored in an ethereal place in his abdomen called the magic core. Arlo gave a mental command, and the magic slowly left the core and began to flow through his veins.
Just as Arlo thought this job was very easy, the magic flowing through his veins suddenly disappeared, stopping him in surprise.
'It seems the only place magic stays normally is the magic core. If it goes outside of it, you must not lose control. Otherwise, it dissipates into the air, like a hole in a balloon.'
Of course, he wouldn't stop at just one try. Success on the first attempt was something even the previous Arlo couldn't achieve.
For a beginner like him, this would be a long process.
The following time was spent entirely on attempts. The first step of an ability was to implement the magic circulation method. Once a person applied this, they reached Basic mastery in the ability. The rest was a matter of specialization through continuous use of the ability.
Arlo wasn't sure how much time had passed, but when he finally completed the magic circulation, he stepped forward with joy, but suddenly found himself on the ground.
"Ouch."
Arlo groaned for a moment while lying face down on the ground, then turned over and lay on his back.
Although he had completed the magic circulation, he lost control just as he stepped forward, causing him to fall flat on his face.
But despite this, he couldn't help but smile. Even though he wasn't considered to have reached the Basic level yet, he could feel that he had almost succeeded.
He got up and carefully started circulating the magic through his veins. While doing this, he fixed his gaze on a straight route. He set the direction, the path, and the stopping point.
After that, the magic circulation was completed, and he lunged forward.
To describe this, one could use the example of sticking your head out of a fast-moving car. As the wind violently passed him, Arlo felt like he was almost flying.
It was a truly perfect feeling. He felt like he was riding the wind.
Arlo tried to stop when he reached the place where he should stop, but he couldn't.
He passed 10 meters but still showed no sign of stopping.
As Arlo approached the trees at the end of the valley, the feeling of riding the wind finally passed, and fear enveloped him.
"OH, Stop, stop!"
Finally, as the power of the ability ran out, Arlo found himself face-to-face with a tree, breathless.
"I almost died."
I guess he had underestimated the dust on the ability book a little.
---
Name: Arlo Klser
Level: 3rd-Level Mage Apprentice
Abilities: Fireball (Medium), Fire Wall (Medium), Line Movement Technique (Basic)
EXP: 95/100
---
Arlo was relieved to see that the ability had reached the Basic level. He didn't want to use the ability like that again.
Sitting down on the ground breathlessly, he leaned his back against the tree and opened the inventory.
As the inventory appeared in front of him, Arlo started thinking about how he could use the only item in the inventory, and as soon as he thought it, another window appeared in front of him.
---
Do you want to use High Mastery Ability Card (Apprentice Tier)?
---
When Arlo thought 'yes,' the window changed again.
---
Which ability do you want to upgrade?
Fireball, Fire Wall, Line Movement Technique
---
This time, Arlo chose the Line Movement Technique without hesitation, and as soon as he chose it, information began to appear in his brain.
This process was not painful, like when he first came to this world. He felt as if he had practiced the ability hundreds of times and was quickly repeating them.
Not only his brain but also his body adapted to it, and when everything was over, he felt as if nothing had happened.
---
Name: Arlo Klser
Level: 3rd-Level Mage Apprentice
Abilities: Fireball (Medium), Fire Wall (Medium), Line Movement Technique (High)
EXP: 95/100
---
Arlo stood up and raised his foot, looking at a target.
Then, he suddenly appeared there.
Opening his eyes in surprise, he couldn't help but look at his hands and feet. Even though he chose a short distance, it was as if he had teleported.
Moreover, using the ability was even smoother than Fireball.
Arlo smirked as he looked at the valley in front of him and vanished from his spot.
Afterward, he started moving like a flash of light, drawing the letter 'L'. Continuously stopping, starting, and changing direction very quickly could even cause someone without experience to vomit, but Arlo was completely comfortable because he had used the system's card.
He was absorbed in this speed when he suddenly stopped as a window appeared in front of him.
---
Quest defined.
Quest Definition: A true warrior never backs down from any fight, not even an eye-contact battle.
Quest: Don't take your eyes off the person watching you for 30 seconds. Then, leave without saying anything.
Quest Reward: 15 EXP
---
Arlo stood there, perhaps influenced by the system's quest, and turned his head, making eye contact with the girl who was watching him from the forest.
The girl had long white hair, deep blue eyes, and a soft face as if she had no bones in it.
Arlo knew this girl.
Her name was Stena Slor. She had taken the same exam as him, but unlike him, she had become the center of attention with her beauty and her talent, which was considered high even for those in the magic school.
Arlo looked at the girl again and admitted that she was truly beautiful. With her almost boneless, snowy white face, she resembled a toy doll.
But it couldn't be said that she caught Arlo's interest. He admitted she was a beautiful girl, but she wasn't his type. She looked more like a little sister whose cheeks he would pinch than a girlfriend.
After this, the staring contest began. Arlo's eyes were fixed on her, and Stena looked back at him for a while, but after 5 seconds, she spoke in a startled manner.
"Hello."
Arlo continued to stare without answering.
Stena waited for him to answer for a while, but when she saw that the man opposite her was still staring at her without answering, she tilted her head and spoke again.
"Hello, is there a problem?"
"..."
Again, no answer.
Stena couldn't help but feel uncomfortable watching the man who had been staring at her for a long time without even blinking. Frowning, she spoke.
"If you didn't want me to see your ability, you should have done it in a more secret place. This is your area..."
But before she could finish her sentence, Arlo turned his back and walked away without saying a word.
'...'
Stena's eyes twitched, and a small internal debate took place about whether to beat up the boy opposite her, but Arlo quickened his steps as if he had sensed it and disappeared into the forest.
"Is he crazy?"
...
---
Quest completed.
Quest: Don't take your eyes off the person watching you for 30 seconds. Then, leave without saying anything.
Quest Reward: 15 EXP
---
You have reached the leveling threshold. Do you want to level up?
---
Arlo was happy to see this but didn't answer. As just seen, this was a public area. Since he didn't know what the situation would be like when leveling up, doing it at home was much more logical.
"Should I try my new technique to get home faster?"
Arlo looked at the dense forest in front of him. For others, using the Line Movement Technique here could be considered suicide, but for him...
It was just a practice run.
…
Arlo arrived home, closed and locked the door. After checking that there were no problems anywhere, he closed the curtains, sat on the bed, and accepted the level-up request.
After Arlo accepted the request, the volume of magic in his magic core began to increase, and the magic started to bubble as if it were boiling.
Arlo grinned with excitement.
"Here we go."
But then, everything suddenly stopped.
'...'
"Was that all?"
Arlo created a fireball in his hand, and the fireball was indeed much more powerful than before. He also felt slightly stronger.
But wasn't this a bit too unimpressive?
Even in games, when you level up, there would be a small burst of light or something. Here, it was like having heartburn for 1 second, as if he had eaten spoiled pastry, and now he was at a new level.
Although Arlo knew this was better, he couldn't help but feel a little disappointed.
---
Name: Arlo Klser
Level: 4th-Level Mage Apprentice
Abilities: Fireball (Medium), Fire Wall (Medium), Line Movement Technique (High)
EXP: 10/150
---
Arlo looked at the status window and saw that the amount of EXP required to level up had increased, but since he had already expected this, he didn't care much.
Now, what he needed to do was eat.
Yes, even mages needed to eat. Although it was said that True Mages and above could survive for a long time without eating or drinking water by using the magic in their bodies, Arlo didn't know whether this was true or false.
But he was sure that Apprentice Mages didn't have such a feature.
Because between starting a mass fight this morning, acquiring a new ability, and practicing it, he hadn't even had breakfast, and now he was hungry as a wolf.
Arlo left the house again and headed toward the dining hall. Outer students at the magic school were provided 3 meals, so there was no need to spend money. Besides, he didn't have any money.
The old Arlo had spent all his allowance on buying potions to become a 3rd-Level Mage Apprentice.
Potions were liquids made by alchemists, a specialized profession. These liquids could serve many functions, from healing wounds to increasing a person's strength or, as the old Arlo did, helping to raise his level.
But being an alchemist was difficult, and therefore, potions were expensive. It seemed the old Arlo had acquired these potions because he was at a critical point in his training.
Since he succeeded in becoming a 3rd-Level Mage Apprentice, it was not a bad investment.
After arriving at the dining hall, Arlo quickly reached the food dispensing area and filled his plate with various meat products. As a massive magic school, the food they provided was also top-tier.
Moreover, magic in this world had developed not only humans but also animals. In fact, most animals had instinctively found a way to improve themselves, resulting in monsters with powers that could rival mages.
But of course, since these monsters were harder to hunt than normal animals and the magic school couldn't provide monster meat to so many outer students for every meal, the meat here was normal animal meat. But even normal animal meat was much tastier than the animal meat from his old world.
Arlo sat down at a table and buried himself in his meal. Even though the cooking techniques weren't as developed as in his old world, the quality of the ingredients more than made up for the shortfall.
Arlo felt his tongue celebrating as he ate.
"Did you hear that? The animosity between the two schools has peaked because of the fight this morning."
'...'
"Yes, I did. It is said that the hospital is full of wounded people."
'...'
"They are even thinking of organizing a fighting tournament where everyone can fight fairly to end this hostility between the two schools."
Arlo finally couldn't remain silent any longer. He put down his food and raised his head. He had a tearful expression on his face.
'It was just a fight, wasn't it? Why did it turn into a war between schools?'