A few years had passed since Harui made his first ripples around the school. He and Suzu were always together, so they were mostly left alone by the other students.

The two had grown slightly weary of the Academy in recent times. Spells were rare and expensive commodities, so they weren't taught to the students unless a special case came up. The adventuring classes and combat training were helpful, but Haruki was completely underwhelmed by the rest.

Keishi had quickly started talking to Suzu again, completely ignoring Haruki. He had been a little worried at first, since Keishi trimmed down as he hit puberty, steadily trading his paunch for tight muscles.

Suzu, however, was greatly annoyed by his constant flirting. Haruki had once asked her if she wanted him to stop the boy but she shook her head, deciding to just blatantly ignore him.

After classes finished, they would usually head over to the training halls, sparing with anyone they could find. It quickly became a daily ritual of theirs, never turning down an opponent, fighting day after day.

Haruki's skill with the rapier grew rapidly as he attempted to create his own style. Basing it around efficient and deceptive movements, he tested and introduced many smooth twists and flicks from other styles.

Anything that worked, he would adapt and alter it until it fit him perfectly. He also discovered many useful tricks for controlling his blade, allowing him to quickly change his angle of attack.

“Bow!”

Haruki approached the starting mark, bowing to his opponent with a friendly grin. He was facing off against a 4th year student that he had recently become friendly with, Aihara Yuji.

Yuji stood a head taller than Haruki, the rippling muscles showing off his years of hard work and training. His main weapon was a spear, but he was also quite strong with a sword.

The two lowered into their stances as the judge yelled “FIGHT!”, rushing at each other while drawing their swords.

They struggled for a moment as their locking blades let loose a shower of sparks. Panting heavily as they pushed, the two briefly exchanged some friendly insults.

“All that muscle is slowing you down, eh Yuji?”

“I'll smack you stupid like last week, Haru-kun. Don't get too cocky!”

Despite being younger, Haruki's half barbarian blood had worked hard over the years. His lean muscles had strengthened into those of a man, easily stronger than an average gym-buff from his old world.

Standing at 186cm, his well muscled body was large enough for him to be mistaken for a man twice his age. His straight brown hair had grown to below his shoulders, tied tightly by a blue ribbon Suzu had given him. It was a style reminiscent of naval captains from the pirate movies of his youth, but he'd always liked the look.

Charging at each other again with loud yells, Haruki caught Yuji's spear thrust with the flat of his blade, parrying it to one side. With a half pirouette, he danced around the side of the off-balance Yuji and firmly chopped at the top of his head with his open hand.

“Ahh, Haru-kun. You're too damn slippery!” Yuji laughed as he rubbed at the small lump on his head.

“I learned from the best” he replied with a grin.

Suzu, who had been watching from the side, gave some small applause as she scurried over to his side.

“My turn.” she said sheepishly, brandishing her polearm.

Removing the cover with a soft flick of her wrist, a clear ringing sound sung out from the brilliantly shining blade. Even after all this time, the polearm still looked new. She was constantly polishing it, caring for it as if it were her own child.

Suzu remembered back to when she'd first moved in with Haruki. She had been able to beat him so easily while sparring. But as they got older, Haruki adapted too quickly and was now constantly nipping at her heels.

Haruki nodded to her, quickly moving over to his mark. Suzu was slightly awed as his long muscles stretched and flexed. He had started turning into a man before she'd even realized it. Her eyes were drawn to a drop of sweat, lazily sliding down his glistening chest.

Suzu let out a soft squeak, spinning her polearm for a moment to hide her glowing face. Having calmed herself down, she firmly planted the butt of her weapon on the ground, coming to attention.

“After you, my lovely.” Haruki shifted his sword and dagger forward defensively, waiting for her move.

Suzu nodded, shifting her weight onto her front foot as she thrust forwards. With Suzu calmly exploiting the extra range of her polearm, Haruki could only duck and weave as he waited for the right moment to strike. Parrying any blows he couldn't dodge, Haruki circled, eyes constantly searching for an opening.

Getting into the flow of the fight, Suzu chose to up the tempo.

Stepping forwards with each attack, she unleashed a flurry of sweeping arcs, dancing elegantly as her weapon flashed around her. Each blow was powerful and overbearing, making it difficult to hold against.

Taking a step back with each dodge, Haruki sighed in praise.

'She's still getting even better every day. I need to keep up, I can barely get into range today!'

They exchanged blows back and forth for a while longer before both collapsing, back to back, in the center of the sparring circle.

When they fought, it was almost as if they could feel each others next move. Each knew what the other was going to do simply by watching their eyes as they maneuvered.

Comfortably exhausted, the two sat in their own little world for a moment as their heavy breathing rapidly returned to normal.

“You two are scary together, I couldn't keep up!” Yuji remarked from the side. The three joked around for a few minutes more before more before heading off together towards the library.

“I'll catch you at lunch tomorrow, Yuji!”

“Alright, I'll see you then. Are you two still up for the weekend?” Yuji asked. He'd been planning a weekend trip to the river for a few weeks now.

“Yeah, no worries, we'll be there. Who else is coming, do you know?”

“Well, you and Suzu-chan for a start. Keishi will probably be there, since he's coming with one of my other friends. I'll make sure he doesn't bother you though. The others are all friends from back home.”

A feeling of annoyance rose in Haruki's chest. While not a bad kid, Keishi's single mindedness towards Suzu had been a constant frustration for the both of them.

“I can just castrate him...” Suzu said something scary, the two men shivering as they covered their groins.

“Uh, just let me deal with him...” Haruki retorted with a wince. He was worried she might actually do it, some day.

They chatted idly for another few minutes before parting ways with Yuji and entering the library.

“Suzu-chaaaan!” a flowery, feminine voice filled the library, followed by a loud “SHHHHHH!”

During his first year, Haruki had been slightly troubled, since Suzu hadn't found a single friend. While they were trying to act distant, he hadn't intended on being complete loners. But one Elven child had latched onto Suzu immediately after their 2nd year.

Liang Wen was a younger student, currently in her second year, but as she'd entered late, she wasn't much younger than them. Her soft, purple eyes clashed violently against her straight blonde hair, but it also created a strange sense of incongruity within her childish face that only served to strengthen her charming looks further.

Suzu and Wen were widely recognized as two of the top beauties in the school, so having the two around him every day only increased the looks of jealousy Haruki had to endure.

Wen charged into Suzu with an excited squeal, burying herself into her petite chest.

“Wen-chan...” Suzu was stifling a smile, trying to remember the TPO as the librarians stared daggers.

“I'll leave you two lovebirds alone... I have to speak with Principal Sumida, so I'll back back soon, ok?”

Suzu nodded, giving Haruki a bashful kiss on the cheek before waving him off and heading deeper into the library with Wen.

“Sit down, Haruki-chan. No need to be nervous.” Principal Sumida pointed to a large chair as she took her seat behind her large wooden desk.

Quickly taking his seat, he sank deeply into the plush leather.

“Firstly, I just wanted to see how you were going. You are a scholarship student, after all.”

Slightly suspicious, Haruki answered as expected. “I'm learning lots, thank you, Sensei.”

“Haruki. I've read over your unique magic many times now, I'm still shocked that you accomplished such a thing while so young...”

'Ahh, it's about that? Guess I severely overestimated the average Spell Crafter's knowledge...'

“I had access to many books and lots of time, so I learned the basics at a young age.” He was keeping his answers slightly guarded, as he had no real knowledge of the woman's personality or affiliations.

“You're not in trouble or anything, quite the opposite. I wanted to offer you an opportunity for the future.”

Swallowing heavily, Haruki simply nodded, eager to hear more.

“Come in, Grand Master.”

Haruki's head snapped around towards the door as he heard the title.

'A Grand Master? Here!? Now!? Huh!?'

Haruki started shaking. Grand Master's were the top of the top 1%. They bowed to neither king nor church based solely on their own abilities.

An elderly Elven man stepped into the room, his light blue robe flowing like water as he came to a halt beside him. Unconsciously, Haruki drew in a breath and held it for a moment. The powerful aura that filled the room was so potent that even an enraged beast would have immediately fled in terror.

“Haruki-kun, I am Grand Master Cho. It is a pleasure to finally meet you.” Cho's piercing gaze felt as if it were looking directly into his soul.

'Grand Master Cho!? As in THE Master Cho!?'

Haruki trembled uncontrollably as he turned to face him.

“Likewise, this one is humbled to meet the mighty Grand Master-dono.” Haruki was still terrible at remembering casual honourifics, but he certainly wasn't going to show the slightest disrespect in the face of someone so powerful.

“It's fine if you just call me Sensei, for now.”

Haruki nodded, his whole body and mind utterly void of feeling. He sat there in silence for a moment, unable to together any words.

'Call me Sensei...? Opportunity? Wha...?'

“Haru-chan, come in Haru-chan!” Principal Sumida said in a bright voice, awakening him from his stupor.

“I apologize, I was just startled by the sudden turn of events...” Haruki's mouth still felt a little slack, but he straightened up and shook his head clear.

“I'm here to formally invite you to the Spell Crafting Guild. Once you graduate the academy, we would gladly offer you the honourary title of 'Special Master.' I believe your skills currently qualify you for that much.”

“Special Master?! Sensei?” Haruki hadn't learned much about the guild itself, so he wanted details.

“Ah, think of it as a freelance rank. You may use the equipment freely, but your actions will be logged for a brief trial period. Any spells you craft, the guild will keep the original, while you are allowed to make and sell single use copies of anything you make, as long as it's deemed safe for public use.

On paper, you will be apprenticed to me, but you will have status above the rest. I will offer you assistance any in training or materials you need. Occasionally, I'll offer jobs if you wish to take them on. There's some good money in it.”

Haruki didn't even take a second to think about it. He'd been considering joining them for a while and the contract was irresistibly lucrative.

“Sensei, I will gladly accept the position.” Haruki gave a low bow, going well beyond 90 degrees.

Chuckling to himself over the excitable child before him, Grand Master Cho's face brightened in relief.

'This child is going to be a handful, but that will just make it even more fun! What wonders will you show me, boy?'

Cho hadn't taken on an apprentice in decades, even briefly considering retirement. But now he was excited, having found a worthy successor with talents that might already surpass his own.

When he'd first received the scroll, he had thought he was being toyed with. He recognized most of the divine language as a basic light mine, but the many extra lines quickly caught his eye.

'How could a first year do this? This must be a joke...'

After a short beating, his aide assured him it had been hand delivered by Sumida Shiori herself, so his curiosity finally got the better of him.

“What bull-shittery is this!?” he first exclaimed, again questioning if he was somehow being made fun of.

'Yin-Yang Minefield? Using opposing energies to increase the yield, huh? This child can't be a first year...'

Cho's only cause for sadness was that there was no-one else in the world who could use this magic, comprised of both light and dark energies.

'Smart kid, at least. He scammed himself a free top tier spell that no-one can use against him.'

Chuckling to himself, Cho quickly hurried over to meet with the Principal and investigate this strange child from the shadows.

At first, Cho wasn't impressed. The boy seemed like a lout, always hanging out with a woman by his side. Days turned into weeks and his thoughts slowly changed.

'At least it's the same one every time, perhaps he's just loyal to her?'

Cho watched more and more, finally coming to see Haruki's mind clearly.

'A strange child, who looks at everyone equally, constantly forgets honorifics and often looks bored. I've never once seen him raise his voice in anger.'

By the start of Haruki's third year, Cho was finally convinced that he was the right choice, rushing off to add a unique “Special Master” ranking to the guild. He had been long troubled, since the boy seemed to be traveling the path of an adventurer.

'If I let him keep his freedom...'

With the new rank in place, Cho smiled deviously to himself as he began writing the contract, finally completing step one of his plan to tie Harkui to the guild.

'Even if he leaves, with a contract this good, he will always come back to craft...'