It is early afternoon as I wake up in my room at Amisos Magic Academy. I feel a bit of excitement as I think of the day that awaits me. Today is when the 95th annual Magic Festival takes place. It’s a busy time when thousands of visitors flood the capital city, Delos, where the festival is located. Most of them are here to watch the festival and various activities that accompany it. Others are here to participate or to set up shop and take advantage of the large crowds that gather. As for me, I will be taking part in the spellcasting competition later today.

My breakfast is light. If I eat too much, it will only be a hindrance. It’s common that the competition requires some physical effort. However, mana recovery and spellcasting doesn’t require much food because it’s a separate body function from digestion and blood flow. What it does require is mental strength and focus. A calm, steady mind can work wonders. For these reasons, sleep is extremely important for a mage.

The first task of the day is checking my mana flow. I walk out of the academy’s residence and head toward the nearby woods. The academy is located near the border of the city. The forest next to it is a quiet area where I like to meditate and practice magic. A wall more than three times my height separates the academy from the forest. However, getting past it is not a problem thanks to wind and earth magic.

Conceptualize. Initiate mana flow. Emission. Activation.

These are the four stages required for casting almost all spells. First, a conceptual understanding of the spell effect and the target is required. Second, the mana that circulates freely within the body is redirected so that part of it can be expelled. Third, the mana is emitted in a continuous flow toward the target area. Fourth, the spell is activated and takes effect. This process can be quite difficult for some people. I have practiced it tens of thousands of times with many kinds of spells. At this point, it feels as natural as breathing to me. With proper concentration, I can cast two or three simple spells almost simultaneously.

“Air burst.”

As I chant the name of the spell, the atmosphere around me shifts suddenly. A powerful jet forms below and launches me over the wall in front. After clearing the wall, I cast another spell while falling.

“Updraft.”

A wave of warm air rises from the ground below and softens my fall. I continue to walk into the forest for a short while until I reach a small clearing. I sit down on the grass with my legs crossed and begin meditating. The sun feels warm and gentle. Trees and plants rustle in the wind. There are small animals moving around in the distance. All around and below me I can sense mana. All living creatures contain mana in some form which I see as a soft glow around their bodies. I direct my perception inward. My own mana feels calm and smooth, yet also strong like a river.

“Fortify.”

I cast a fairly difficult spell that is a combination of water and arcane magic. It increases my muscle strength, the speed of my reflexes and my mana flow. I can check my body’s condition by seeing how it reacts to this spell. After seeing that everything is stable and functioning normally, the exercise ends. I get up and return to town.

Various activities have already begun. Lots of noises and excited voices can be heard all around. As I approach the center of the city where the Magic Festival is taking place, the density of the crowd increases. People push and bump into me on occasion. It’s unpleasant, but I bear with it for the sake of this competition. None of it would matter if I rode around in some carriage like other nobles. However, I refuse to do that because it would get me into even worse situations. Attracting attention is the opposite of what I want.

As I arrive at the main building of the spellcasting competition, I spot Alex, my best friend, waiting at the gate. He is a tall and well-built man. My height is average but he is more than a head taller than me. Despite being a mage, he likes to train a lot and it shows. With the help of magic, he could probably run a marathon without breaking a sweat. He is also taking part in the competition today.

“There you are! Arriving at the last moment, eh? Come quickly, the competition is supposed to start very soon. It’s your chance to shine!”

“They won’t disqualify me just because I’m a bit late. That aside, why does it seem like you have even more energy than usual? Are you that excited over an open tournament like this?”

“You’ll know soon enough” he says as a wide smile appears on his face. I know that face. He wears it whenever he’s pulling a prank on someone. I look forward to seeing what he prepared for me.

The competition begins and so far there is nothing unusual. The first task is hitting a fist-sized target with any spell from about 35 meters away. Air Burst easily blows it away. It may not get any points for creativity, but I prefer solving a problem in the most clean and efficient manner possible.

Each new task is more difficult than the last one. Some involve moving heavy objects such as a boulder onto a target area. Others emphasize defensive skills such as blocking or dodging wooden projectiles that are fired at me. Of course, all of this must be done using magic as much as possible. I deal with them all using minimal effort. Although this is my first time participating in this competition, I was here as a spectator during previous years so I know what to expect. The tasks vary from one year to the next but it’s nothing I can’t handle.

Alex also seems to be doing well. We won’t know our scores until the event is over, but he radiates confidence and I know that his skills as a mage cannot be taken lightly.

For the final round, we are supposed to fight a wild creature in a big stadium while thousands of spectators are watching and cheering from the stands. This is going to be quite nerve-wracking for me and it’s the main reason why I never participated until this year. I may be anxious, but I am also well-prepared. Combat-oriented magic is something that I’ve researched extensively. If you include forbidden magic, I probably know more than anyone else in the kingdom. Using such magic publicly could cause me a lot of trouble though, so I will only use the spells considered ‘legal’. Weapons are allowed too. I have a bit of experience swinging a sword, but for this fight I only brought a dagger that I received from father during my 16th birthday. It’s lightweight and designed so that mana can be injected into it easily. This is the perfect weapon for a mage.

All the participants for the event were gathered in the preparation room under the stadium. There we wait our turn and then walk into the arena alone. We are not allowed to watch the others fight so that no one has an unfair advantage. As I wait, I can hear the stadium rumble as thousands of spectators cheer for the fighters. My stomach tightens.

My turn arrives before Alex. As I turn toward the door, he still has that prankster smirk on his face. “Well then, let’s see what you prepared for me” I say while trying to look more confident than I really am.

As I exit from the long, dark tunnel that leads to the arena, the glare of the sun blinds me momentarily. After that, I notice six large pillars sticking out of the ground. These are meant to be used as cover or something like that. At the other end of the arena, my opponent shows its ugly head. It stands at 4 meters tall with thick, green scales, a massive body and four snake-like heads that stare at me with dark eyes. It’s a hydra and a poisonous one at that.

“Damn you, Alex” I whisper as hydra unleashes an intimidating roar and fires a glob of green, poisonous spit at me. At this distance, I dodge it easily and run behind the closest pillar. Slowly and carefully, I approach the hydra while using the pillars to avoid the poison projectiles. The crowd cheers loudly. They must love seeing us fighters squirm like rats in front of a snake.

“I’ll show you this rat has a nasty bite. Fortify!”

I enhance my body with magic and start running like a madman toward the hydra. The monster spews out a disgusting, brown mist from all four heads.

“Jetstream.” I create a strong air current that blows the mist toward the side of the arena and I run around it. With less than 6 meters left between me and the hydra, I take aim with both of my arms stretched out.

“Swirling inferno.” A thick torrent of fire hits the hydra while also burning the poison spit that was flying toward me at the same time. The monster roars in pain from the intense heat. The spell ends and I notice the green scales are turning black around the affected area. However, the hydra’s mana-aura is still shining brightly. It’s no good, the damage is too low. I need to get closer.

“Air Burst.” The spell is used with less power than usual and is aimed behind me to propel me forward. The hydra stomps the ground with its front legs and its mana-aura flares up suddenly. Danger! I release a strong wave of mana that covers my entire body. At the same time, a shockwave hits me in the face, blowing away most of the mana shield I created around me. That was close… If it hit me without any protection, I could be stunned long enough for the hydra to wipe the floor with me. Since I resisted the shockwave with no damage, the advantage is now on my side. It will take a bit of time for the hydra to use another spell.

I quickly take out my dagger and inject mana into it. “Wind Blade.” The dagger glows white as it becomes several times sharper and gains the ability to ignore air resistance. Using my magic-enhanced strength, I run toward the hydra and throw my weapon as hard as I can. The dagger penetrates an eyeball on the closest head. The beast cries out and staggers because of the intense pain.

I cast ‘Air Burst’ with high power to launch myself into the air. Landing on top of the hydra, I manage to grab the dagger with my right hand while holding onto the long neck using my left arm and legs. Let’s see you resist this. “Dark Lightning!”

The enhanced lightning spell is channeled through the dagger and released into the body of the hydra, causing it to shake violently. I barely manage to hold on using all of my strength. After a few moments, the spell ends and the hydra’s lifeless body collapses on the ground. I pull out my dagger and move away as black smoke starts to rise from the corpse.

An incredibly loud cheer erupts from the stadium, startling me. The intense battle made me forget where I was.

“Prince Rigel has defeated the hydra! What an incredible battle!” A loud, magic-amplified voice announces my victory. Pride and a sense of accomplishment surges within me, but they are mixed with discomfort. Being in the spotlight is unpleasant, so I quickly exit the arena. I gave them enough of a show. Now I just need to wait for my score.

Later that afternoon, Alex finds me while I’m resting in the participants’ area. It looks like he managed to win his fight with only a few scratches. I had a few bruises that were easily healed with magic.

“Congratulations, Rigel. I hear you won your battle in the shortest time by far, earning you the highest score.” There is a slight sense of bitterness in his voice. He may have expected better results than me.

“I had to try some crazy tactics. I’ve seen magic-resistant monsters before, but that hydra is easily the best. Combined with those varied attacks, it’s the most dangerous creature I’ve seen so far. I’m surprised the Magic Guild allowed it… Those are the hydras your uncle breeds for warfare, aren’t they?”

“Yes, his organization breeds and trains poisonous hydras for open-field combat. They’re hard to control but their destructive power makes up for it. Out of all the people who participated today, 10 abandoned the fight and 12 were incapacitated and sent to the infirmary in terrible condition. 3 died in battle. Only 5, including you and me, were able to kill a hydra. It looks like my… prank was over-the-top this time.”

I understand now, this is the source of his bitterness. Getting injured during the Magic Festival is common but it’s quite rare for someone to actually die. The hydras are a lot stronger than the monsters used in previous years, so he must feel guilty that people died.

“I don’t think you should feel bad about the result. The participants were made aware of the danger and they could have refused to fight. To become a mage, one is exposed to constant danger. It’s important to know your own limits.” I try to comfort him but it may sound arrogant or unconvincing coming from me. He gives a tired nod as a reply and we return to the academy without saying another word. It’s been a long day for both of us.

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At the same time Prince Rigel is fighting the hydra, King Leo III is engaged in a different kind of battle. Inside the royal palace, he is sitting in a large chair made of high-quality wood and covered with fine silk. In front of him is a huge table where nine other members of the nobility are sitting. They are members of the Amisos Royal Council, an elite group that governs the kingdom and decides its policies. King Leo governs the central province that includes Delos, the capital city. The nine other provinces are governed by the council members.

“How could this possibly be my responsibility? Do you think I have the power to command the gods? Think before you speak!”

“I am saying that you should have been better prepared. The gods punished you for your incompetence and now you come groveling to us for help.”

“How dare you…”

“There are rumors that several large donations were given to Zamora kingdom in the past 2 years. Care to explain what you were doing?”

“They were not donations and they have nothing to do with the food shortage!”

For the past 3 hours, the Council has been engaged in a heated discussion. The southern provinces of Amisos are experiencing a food shortage caused by flooding. The whole kingdom depends on farming as the primary source of food. With their crops failing, the southern provinces can no longer sustain themselves and need help to prevent a famine. Food must be imported from another province, but the other lords are refusing to comply.

“My people are honest and hard-working. Am I supposed to tell them to sacrifice themselves for the lazy slobs in the south?”

“Easy now, the food doesn’t need to be free. How about removing the tax for caravans going south in the next few months?”

“That would completely destabilize the market and cause food and textile prices to go through the roof!”

King Leo tries to moderate the discussion and offer suggestions. The other lords counter with excuses and accusations. Many unrelated topics are brought up, distracting from the main issue that is being discussed. The conversation stagnates and turns into a shouting match. In the end, Leo decides to postpone the meeting. He could use his authority to forcibly resolve the issue, but the solution to the food crisis is not obvious. Forcing the issue would only cause more problems later. He must reach an agreement with the other ministers.

In the evening of the same day, King Leo is sitting on a bench in the palace gardens. The orange sunset creates a tranquil scene that puts his mind at ease. Standing at his side is Amir, his most trusted advisor.

“How was the Magic Festival? I believe my son participated as well?”

“Indeed he did, sire. He showed an incredible performance during the competition. It seems he has a gift for magical combat.”

“Ah, I’m glad to hear it. He is a clever man after all. He will be a much better ruler than I ever was. I can’t even hold the ministers in check.”

“…Please don’t deride yourself, sire. You are a great King, one that Prince Rigel can be proud of. If her highness the Queen was still here, she would also be-”

“Enough. There is no need to say any more. Continue to watch over Rigel in my stead. That is all.”

"As you wish, sire.”

Amir leaves the garden as instructed. King Leo continues to watch the sunset as his mind wanders. Although he continues to watch over Rigel’s growth with the help of his servants, the two have rarely been face-to-face in the past few years. He understands his son’s wishes and knows about his hatred of the kingdom’s politics. Unfortunately, Rigel is the only heir so he must become king. If not, the crown will fall into the hands of the greedy, short-sighted Council members. In time, Rigel will surely understand.

“Why does it feel like I am alone…” King Leo sighs deeply after the orange sun is hidden by the horizon.

His thoughts are interrupted by sudden noises coming from the direction of the palace. It sounds like people are shouting but he can’t understand what they’re saying. He realizes this is not a normal situation.

“What are those voices? What is happening? Guards!”

He calls for the guards that should be stationed around the palace grounds and entrances. There is no reply. The garden is shrouded by a blanket of darkness as night approaches. Leo decides to draw the sword on his hip and enter the palace. Before he reaches the building, a sharp sound is heard while an arrow penetrates his abdomen. He could not see where it came from.

“Gah-” he staggers backwards from the impact. Moments later, a second arrow strikes, this time at an angle from behind him. The shock is too strong and he falls to the ground in pain. He grabs the arrow in his abdomen and pulls it out forcefully. Large amounts of blood start to drip on the ground. He covers the wound with his hand to try and stop the bleeding. As he struggles to sit upright, he feels his strength leaving him and his vision darkens. The arrows must be poisoned, he thinks.

“I tried to warn you this would happen, but you wouldn’t listen!” A voice appears in the darkness surrounding the palace. Leo looks toward the source. A man in a dark brown robe with his head covered is approaching swiftly with a sword drawn and two others who look like soldiers are following him.

“That looks like it hurts. Shall I end it for you?” The robed man uses a mocking tone as he addresses the struggling king.

“That voice… Alistir? What are you… doing…” Leo coughs up blood as he tries to talk.

“Demanding answers even on your deathbed, huh? I suppose it’s too late for you to beg for mercy? It’s very unfortunate but our dear king will be taking a leave of absence. Don’t worry though, we will keep the throne warm for you. Put him out of his misery.”

As the robed man gives the order, the two behind him draw their swords and swing down at the dying king. The beautiful palace garden is stained red with blood.