In the forest called Whisperbane, there's a witch who dwells. She was marked by the Kingdom as a threat and needed to be executed. She was living her life normally and prestigiously in a certain academy, and she's even one of the top students there. But one day, an unexpected event happened to her that leads her to become the most wanted criminal in the Kingdom.
"Ahhh! Gasp! What in the world... where am I? huh, wait... what happened to my voice? And who is this girl in the mirror...?!"
A Faith Called Twisted
— 01 —
I'm Alex Kelvin, an ordinary high‑school student attending an academy whose goal is to graduate and become one of the Grand Mages! Ever since I was just a child, my mother always told me a story about Grand Mages every time I went to bed. That daily routine has become the root of my inspiration towards the Grand Mages, and I'm starting to believe that I'll become one someday. But my faith didn't align with my expectations.
In this world that's already cruel, there are people who are blessed and who aren't. There are those who are talented and those who aren't. And I'm one of those who aren't blessed and aren't talented...
During Mana Manifestation
Alex Kelvin, 7 years old,
"Sorry, I'm afraid that your son is not blessed enough to be talented." Hearing those words coming from the bishop is something I didn't understand.
"Mother... you said that when I turned seven, I'd receive a blessing and then I'll become a Grand Mage."
"Sorry, Alex..." My mother cried as she was apologizing to me; I didn't understand why. Is it because the bishop said I'm not blessed?
"But there's still hope for him, and that's all up to your son to figure out in the future."
After the bishop said that, my mother smiled while crying and said... "You heard that, Alex? There's still hope!" ...and hugged me tightly.
Ten years later...
Sky Haven Academia
Alex Kelvin, 17 years old,
It has been a year since then, and now I'm a 2nd‑year student at Sky Haven Academia! I still have the courage to muster; I must become a Grand Mage no matter what!
"Sigh... I made it this far, but I still couldn't improve my mana capacity..."
"Oho? Look who's in front of us, haha! The student called 'Dreamer Boy!'" - Garrick Varkyr
Yeah, I'm called by that nickname here more often than when I was in my first year. Garrick Varkyr and his followers were my classmates in first year. He already hated me so much back then, and now he's even more active in ruining my life here in the academy.
"What can I do to help you, Garrick—?" I was asking him nicely, but in the end he didn't like it and grabbed me instead.
"Shut up and stop being nice to me when I'm bullying you; it's annoying. Why don't you fight back instead...? Oh wait, you don't have that talent! Haha!"
I can't fight back; he's right. I climbed up to 2nd year without improving my mana capacity to fight... It's all thanks to the other areas of grades that I climbed. Although I failed in mana‑combat class... I was given a chance in this 2nd year; that's why I've been working hard.
"Hey, you punk! Why aren't you saying anything, huh?!"
I've been training myself every day, exerting myself to the extent that I collapse. But all that hard work didn't pay me well...
"Cut it out! Garrick! or else I'll report you to the Supreme Council." - Elara Ravensong
"Tskk! you again Elara... come on boys, let's go."
Elara Ravensong, she was always nice to me; whenever she saw me getting bullied, she always shows up and stops the bully. Because of that, I became her friend.
"Are you okay, Alex? Can you stand?"
"Thank you, you saved me again, Elara. It's been countless times."
2 weeks later...
It's the day of our mock battle in mana‑combat class, and I was luckily in Elara's group. This mock battle isn't just a battle; it's part of our grades. This mock battle consists of 10 groups with 5 members each, competing together until one group remains. The goal for victory is simple: make the leader surrender or defeat, or capture the flag the members are protecting in their base and most flags accumulated will be the winner. The rules are also simple: first, the leader may stay in the base to protect the flag, or the leader may act as the capturer of the flag; second, we've been given a bracelet called a monitor watch, the monitor watch has a feature for communication, and shows your mana‑capacity limit, and if that falls to 0 it means you're out of the game and rest assured that your team won't lose; third, there's called a blue zone, anyone will step that zone is out; and lastly, you can go all out, but killing is prohibited, and whoever violates the last rule will cost automatic expulsion from the academy. The mock battle will take place in Whisperbane forest. Due to its vast location, the professor believes that it's highly suitable— they already inspected everything there and everything is fine; however, we still need to be careful because that person is there.
"This is your Professor speaking! rest assured that there will be no danger, we already set a barrier. Good luck!" - Larkin Brimflare
"Okay, as your leader, listen carefully..."
As expected of her, she's really fit to be the leader, and I already anticipated that I'll be in the guarding role—
"Me and Alex will be the capturers of the flags, and you three will be in charge of guarding the base."
Kara Cinderfell, Caspian Mirefoot, and Selene Thorwick. Those three are our teammates; they all came from high‑noble families and were way more outstanding than me, so why did she choose me as her partner to capture flags?
"Elara! What do you mean?! Are you serious? He'll be the one accompanying you? That Dreamer Boy?!" - Kara Cinderfell
"I know it's hard for you to believe that I made such a decision, but I wanted you all to trust me on this one."
"But you know that Alex doesn't have the ability to fight, doesn't he? Why go to such lengths, Elara? Is it because he's a friend of yours—" - Selene Thorwick
I can tell by their words and glares at me that I'll be the one who will ruin everything.
"Stop it already, Selene and Kara. Let's just follow our leader's plan and go through with it, even if it's against your will. But remember this, Alex: don't be a burden." - Caspian Mirefoot
"Thank you, Caspian. I'll make sure that our team will win!"
And with that, things got resolved, and in the end, I...
Twenty minutes later... It's been twenty minutes now, and so far we've captured two flags thanks to Elara's overwhelming power and mana. But while we were heading back to our base, we encountered a group and got into a fight. Their goal was to steal our captured flags, but they didn't know that what Elara's flag holding is fake because the real one is in my hand and was hidden.
"Elara... why did you choose me to accompany you?"
"It's because you're perfect for this role. You see, I have a plan. If we capture a flag or two, I want you to have it in your care instead of me."
"Huh? But why me? I'm weak; I can't protect it!"
"That's why it's perfect. Think about it one more time. Smiles."
So this is what she meant earlier. She created fake flags and used them as bait along with herself. Since I'm weak, the real flag is in my care; the attackers won't come at me because their attention is focused on Elara, and then I'll be standing by and wait for her to finish beating those guys—she will win.
Few minutes later...
"You guys are so persistent, huh... Which group are you? You even wear ninja outfits to prevent your identity from being exposed. That's also a good strat."
"It's none of your business, Elara. Just give us your accumulated flags, and we'll let you go." (???)
There's something off about them. Even from a distance, I see their intentions! I need to go to Elara; she's in danger! Those people are not from the academy!
But how did they got to enter? professor Larkin said that a barrier is set to prevent outsiders from intervention. And also, if those really aren't our classmates or a student in Sky Haven, how did they know Elara...?
"I can't use communication through the monitor watch, dammit! The mana signal in her range must be cut off by those people!"
———
"Elara! Watch out—!"
"Al...ex—? What...?!"
"I barely made it in time... Sorry, but... you need to run away, cough, from them..."
I was hit in the vital parts of my body—my heart—and after a few seconds I lost consciousness, but my mind is somehow still functioning... and hears Elara screaming out my name. Is this where it all ends? My hard work... all the pain I felt, sacrifices, and courage... will all be in vain? My goals and becoming a Grand Mage will be out of my reach now... Is this the punishment for being a burden? For not being blessed and talented? I still want to live and continue pursuing my dreams... but this is really the end... Mother... I miss you... Sorry I couldn't become a Grand Mage like those in the book... smiles
I was sinking in the void, reaching out the light shining above and before I know it, I woke up in someone's body.
To be continued...