Volume 1 Chapter 1 "Awakening: The First Day After a Thousand Years of Sleep"

“1000 years later"

“The Age of Humans and Mages"

"The Cave Where Akusa and Tasume Are Sealed"

What’s happening to me? Where am I? I thought, looking around. I was locked inside a semi-transparent magical pyramid that had cracked slightly. I was wearing dark purple shackles that barely glowed. Apparently, they were magical, but their power had already expired. I stood up. My head was a little dizzy. How long have I been here? I spread my arms out to break the shackles. They shattered and scattered like dust. I just had to remove them from my legs. I can barely remember anything… My head still hurts a bit...

"I tried to think about the past."

Aiya... Every time I try to remember something or think about the past, my head hurts even more...
The only thing I recall is fire magic, which I used to melt the shackles on my legs.

"Now I need to get out of this magical pyramid," — I said to myself.

I approached it and struck it lightly with my fist, causing it to crack and disintegrate like dust.
It was easier than I thought.

I walked over to a small lake in the center of the cave to check my reflection and wash my face.
My appearance hadn't changed — it seems someone placed a seal on me, halting the flow of time.
This mage must be very powerful if they could stop time.

I washed my face and turned around to see another magical pyramid. Inside it, there was an unconscious person. As I got closer, I recognized the face. Sporty build, short white hair, and a small fringe — it was Tasu.
I placed my hand on the pyramid and melted it, then freed him from his shackles. Tasu’s shackles glowed brighter than mine — perhaps he was sealed later, or they were made to last longer.

As I thought about it, Tasu slowly opened his eyes.

"Black hair, small fringe, sporty body, green eyes, worn-out school uniform…" — he muttered, describing me.

"Wait, Akusa?" — he suddenly cried out and jumped up, as if full of energy.

"Akusa, Akusa, Akusa, is that you?"

"Yes, it’s me. Calm down, everything is okay," — I said to him.

"What happened to you?" — asked Tasu.

"It’s a long story, I’ll tell you later. But first, tell me, how do you feel? Do you remember everything?"

"I think so…" — Tasu looked at his hands. — "But I barely remember anything from before the war.
The only magic I remember is wind and healing… and my head hurts a little."

"I see… So, your memories are sealed too."

"It’s all Aver’s fault!" — Tasu said angrily.

"Aver? Is that the one who sealed us?" — I asked.

"You don’t remember?"

"I remember our battle, but my memory is fragmented, and I can’t recall what he looked like."

"I see…" — Akusa’s memories are different from mine…

"How did you end up sealed?" — I asked.

"That’s a long story, I’ll tell you over lunch."

"Okay, then bring some branches for a fire, and I’ll catch some fish from this pond."

"Is there fish here?"

"I think this cave is connected to a lake near the capital."

"I see! We must be near the capital. Then after we eat, we can take a walk," — suggested Tasu.

"Agreed."

Tasu went for firewood, and I grabbed a stick and jumped into the water to catch some fish. We ate and shared our memories.

"Phew, I’m full!" — exclaimed Tasu.

"Surprisingly tasty," — I agreed.

"Now we can head to the city," — I suggested.

"When I was gathering wood, I saw part of the palace to the west. I think it's not far," — said Tasu.

"Then… we’ll have to walk," — I agreed.

"Walk?! Ugh…" — groaned Tasu.

"We’ve rested long enough," — I reminded him.

"Alright, alright, let’s go…"

We left the cave. On the right was a forest, on the left — the kingdom.

"We have about eight kilometers to go..." — I estimated.

"I could run, but I have almost no strength left. I only have a small fraction of my previous power," — sighed Tasu.

"Same here…" — I replied thoughtfully.

A few minutes later, we noticed a group of people flying through the sky.

"What’s this?" — Tasu asked in surprise.

"I think it’s flying magic," — I speculated.

"We could use that…" — sighed Tasu.

At that moment, a young man wearing a white T-shirt and dark pants landed near us. His gray eyes were calm, and his hair was tied into a small ponytail.

"Allow me to introduce myself," — he said. — "My name is Tadoki Kishizu, a second-year student from Mirougi College."

"Nice to meet you," — I replied. — "I’m Akusa Takaru, and this is Tasume Sukuzu."

"Did you need something?" — I asked.

I was surprised by his friendliness, given we looked like beaten strangers.

"I saw you heading toward the kingdom and thought you might need help. And now, seeing that you’re a bit battered, I wanted to know what happened to you. Were you in the Forest of Death?"

"You could say that…" — I answered evasively, deciding not to tell everything.

"Are you mages?" — asked Tadoki.

"Yeah," — answered Tasume.

"Then why aren’t you flying like everyone else?"

"We’re beginners in magic and don’t know much," — lied Tasu. — "We hoped to learn more in the kingdom."

"I see. Let me help you," — offered Tadoki.

Ahead of us, a door appeared, and he opened it.

"Come with me."

We stepped through the door and found ourselves at the entrance to the kingdom.

"Wow, thank you so much!" — exclaimed Tasu.

"No problem. Here’s a city map, it’ll help you get around," — Tadoki said, handing us a magical map.

"This is a magical map. Just say where you want to go, and it’ll show the way, but only within the city."

"Thanks!" — I said.

"Alright, I have things to do. I think we’ll meet again," — said Tadoki, creating another door and disappearing.

"Okay, first let’s find a public bath and clean up," — I suggested.

"A bath?! I’m totally in!"

"Well… Let’s try it. How do we get to the bath?" — Tasu asked the map.

The route appeared on the map, indicating a path through two blocks.

"Alright, let’s go."

The town was large and old. All the streets led to the center, where there was a large fountain.
On a rise stood the palace. The map indicated that it was the Magical Academy.