As a new semester started in Hermes Academy of Arcana, the opening ceremony was held in the academy arena.
Headmaster Joseph Sormed finished his speech, marking the end of the ceremony. The students were now free; some formed groups to gossip and make friends, others headed back to their dormitories, and some decided to take a tour of the academy.
In a corner, a girl with blue hair and black-rimmed glasses was standing there, her expression full of hesitation. In her hand was a box filled with cookies. She kept looking at a group of girls in the distance, her eyes betraying her nervousness. She wanted to go and talk to them, make friends, but...
"Come on girl, u can do it!"
She nodded, taking a step. Then paused.
Wait, that wasn't her inner voice.
Startled, she turned around, but there was no one there. Well, there were people, but they were focused on their own things.
Wait.
One brown-haired guy was shifting around, taking glances at her. As their eyes met, however, the guy looked startled. Giving an awkward smile, he started pointing with his finger.
Her no Wait, he was pointing behind her.
She felt like someone was behind her. As soon as she turned around, she saw an extremely handsome face looking back at her.
Skip.
Her heart skipped a beat, although she wasn't sure if the reason was surprise or the guy's handsome face.
She blushed, averting her gaze.
"W-W what are you doing?!"
The guy started rubbing his chin, his eyes scrutinizing her.
She took a step back, not knowing what else to do, yet she felt a strange feeling, like something was pulling her towards him. A strange attraction.
"Hmm, that's a reasonable question. Admiring your beauty... probably?"
"Huh?"
She tilted her head, confused.
Was that an answer or a question?
Sensing her confusion, he shook his head.
"Don't get me wrong, you are really beautiful, but it's just... there's something more."
"Let me guess, you have a unique mana type too, right?"
"W-what?!"
"Hey, don't scream."
The guy covered her mouth as she widened her eyes, a silent question in them.
How did he know?
"So u don't know about it, huh?"
"No worries. I didn't know about that either. I just had a theory from my observations. Right now I was just confirming it. Turns out I'm right."
She touched his hand.
"Ohh right."
He removed his hand from her mouth.
Mustering all her courage, she decided to ask,
"Umm, what's your theory?"
"Hmm... how do I explain it?"
He had a thoughtful expression, scratching his head.
"Simply put, mana attracts mana. People with more mana are naturally attracted to others with more mana. However, most people cannot consciously feel this attraction. Those with unique mana types, on the other hand, like me and you, can sense it directly. As for normal people, the effect still influences them, but it is so subtle that they rarely notice it."
"U felt it too, right?"
He looked at her intensely.
"Umm yes," she answered, remembering that strange feeling.
"That's what I thought."
He nodded.
"My name is Ken."
He pointed at the guy behind him.
"That's Dan. We're kinda friends."
The brown-haired guy from before gave an awkward wave while grumbling,
"We just met though. How am I ur friend?"
"And you?" Ken questioned.
"Me? Umm, I'm Elizabeth."
She shyly moved a strand of hair behind her ear.
"What are these?"
He pointed at the box she was holding.
"Umm, these are..."
"Cookies! Can I have one?"
"Umm, ok."
"Thanks."
Ken took a cookie, then exclaimed,
"Wow, strawberry cookies!"
Taking another bite, he devoured the rest of it.
"Can I take another one?" he asked, looking excited.
She just nodded as unknowingly another strange feeling started growing in her heart.
"Wow, these are awesome. U know what? From today I'll just call u Strawberry Cookies."
Dan, who was watching this, couldn't help but sigh.
"There he goes again. This is the 4th girl already!"
As these memories flashed before his eyes, Dan couldn't help but look at the guy in front of him, his smile widening.
"U know Ken, I think I believe in karma now."
Ken noticed it and frowned.
"Ur enjoying this quite a lot, aren't you?"
"Of course I am. Do u know how rare it is to see that constipated expression of yours?"
Ken glared at Dan, which somehow made the wide smile on Dan's face even wider.
Nina, beside them, finally couldn't help but interject.
"Mr Ken, can you please explain it to me?"
She had her notebook out and pen ready like a reporter about to pick up a big scoop.
"Don't ask him. He won't tell you."
Dan finally stopped smiling, his expression now very serious.
"In fact, don't ask anyone if you don't want to disappear for good."
Ken, for once, sighed.
"It's not a big deal. We just had a history. It didn't work out."
Dan gave a strange look.
"Whatever helps you sleep at night, I guess."
"Anyways, without the Headmistress's permission, I can't admit your disciple. And as soon as I mention you, she won't give her permission."
"But—"
Ken started to speak.
"No buts."
Dan shot him down instantly.
"Nope. I'm not gonna lie for you. I don't want to lose my job or my life."
"Coward," Ken muttered.
Putting both hands together, Dan bowed.
"I love my life as a coward, thank you."
"U think I'm scared?" Ken huffed.
"Yep."
"Well I'm not. We faced all the Demon Kings and even defeated the Demon Lord. U think I can't face that crybaby of a Headmistress?"
"Yep."
Dan nodded.
"You know me very well."
Ken stood up.
"I'm going."
He walked towards the door and put his hand on it. Instantly the door started changing as countless runes were inscribed into it. Even the material of the door started changing.
"Where are you going? And how are you even using mana so easily? U don't even have a teacher's ID."
Dan shouted in frustration.
"Did you forget who I am?"
"I'm Ken. The Ken Asi Atom."
"Yeah, yeah."
Dan sighed.
"But the Headmistress is not here."
"Well then inform her I'll be waiting for her in her office."
He opened the changed door, the other side looking like another office, even larger than Dan's.
He entered.
"I'll be waiting for her in her office."
Leaving those words, he entered and then closed the door. It transformed back into a regular door, all the runes and changes vanishing.
Dan couldn't help but sigh.
"Well, that was that."
"What do we do, sir?" Nina asked.
"First, ask for leave from the management for me."
"Huh?"
"He'll definitely manage to get his student enrolled here, and something big will definitely happen after that. I don't want to be a part of that, so ask for my leave."
"Also inform the Headmistress, although I think she already knows that slime has entered her office."