Cindy (1)

Cindy

I thought I'd met every type of genius that existed. But there I was, flying away from the most frustrating prodigy I'd ever met.

He clearly has talent. His reaction to my spell was freaking insane—what kind of five-year-old can even move in that situation, let alone throw a fireball? I wasn't trying to scare him or catch him off guard or anything, but still… it was impressive.

Frankly, I didn't expect to find someone like him in a remote corner of the outer ring. Most of the geniuses I'd met before came from the central area—they were eager, confident, and more than happy to be in the spotlight.

But Reno's a different story. The kid's just as talented as they are, but he's got zero confidence. It's suuuper frustrating.

I never planned to take him on as my apprentice. After all, the whole 'wandering mage looking for a pupil' thing? That was just a lie. I only ended up in this situation because of a stupid bet and got stuck as a recruiter.

Technically it was my own fault – I challenged the professor in front of everyone to a duel. Win, and I skip my elemental thesis. Lose, and she saddles me with an assignment of her own devising.

To be honest, this duel really wasn't about the thesis. It was personal. Professor Melinda's smug corrections, her constant 'apply yourself more' lectures, even though I topped nearly every exam… I'd had enough.

So I blurted it out: "Duel me."

What happened next felt surreal. One blink and the courtyard had morphed into a carnival. Betting slips danced in the breeze and even lunch ladies haggled over odds like seasoned gamblers.

'Hey, did you hear? The Genius Hater is challenging the new Headmaster!'
'Wait—you mean that Genius Hater? The one who erased half the Top Ten rankings last year?'

'That's her. And she's going head-to-head with Professor Melinda of all people!'
'You're joking. Melinda? Wasn't she called the Oceans Voice back in her prime?'

'The Genius Hater finally wrote a check she can't cash.'
'Oh come on! Cindy's never lost a duel in her life! You're just mad you couldn't cash in that check when you bet against her last time!'

'You're all missing the best part—it's a Water duel.'

'What!? That's like challenging a leviathan to a swimming race!'
'Please—who exactly is the leviathan here? Melinda is clearly the one out of her depth.'

'You guys do realize the Headmaster won the One Hundred Schools of Water Tournament as a first-year, right?'
'And Cindy ranked top of our year while still half-asleep in exams. Your point?'

'Least obvious ragebait. The headmaster hasn't duelled in public for decades, who knows how strong she is now...'
'Bro, you all keep sleeping on Cindy, straight up. Melinda's washed.'

'This is gonna be even bigger than her entrance match—remember that one last year?'
'How could I forget? She flattened every other first-year, even the ones who teamed up got cooked!'

'After that, no one dared to use the word "genius" unless they were ready to back it up.'
'Ugh, I didn't get to see that match! People wouldn't stop projecting the highlights in the dining hall for weeks...'

'Then make sure you don't miss this one. It's gonna be legendary.'

The rumours spread like waves – my impulsive declaration rippling across the islands. The stage was set and the audience was ready. Before I knew it, it'd gotten to the day of the match.

The duel was going to be in one of the grand celestial arenas, right at the centre of the academy islands, a place normally reserved for third-year tournaments. The stands were packed, a living sea of eager faces, all hungry for a spectacle.

'We love you Cindy!'

'Knock her down a peg Headmaster!'

Cheers and jeers blurred together. None of it mattered. In my world, only the person in front of me mattered. Just me and the Professor. Student and Teacher.

"Are you sure you want to do this, Cindy?" She asked, that familiar smug smile playing on her lips.

Today, I'd erase it.

"Naturally. Why do you ask? Getting cold feet?"

"Oh-no. I'm just worried about your safety."

I felt my eyebrow twitching in irritation.

She was still underestimating me.

"Ready when you are, teach."

Her wink was all the provocation I needed.

I inhaled deeply. My focus tightened. I studied her movements, every flick of her sleeve, every shift in her stance. This was my first time fighting someone at the apex of magic. I couldn't afford any rash moves.

"Pay close attention, okay Cindy?" Her voice rang out, calm and confident. "Class is in session. And unfortunately for you, it's a lesson you can't skip."

Mana converged around her like a living tide. The sun dipped behind clouds, and the wind shrieked in reply. Thunder cracked. She stood in the eye of it all—the storm incarnate.

Silence fell.

A heralding rain began. Lightning flashed overhead. The pressure made my ears ring.

My heart raced. Muscles coiled.

I'd seen this once before. The deadly calm before a flood.

Yes. This was it. The pinnacle of magic I wanted to reach.

"Nice fireworks, teach! Hope it's not just for show!" I called out, grinning.

What water spells can I use? Waterfall? No that would leave me too vulnerable... Water Geyser? That could work for traps, but I needed something more.... Could I use her weather spell against her somehow? No – she can control the rain directly it would only backfire. Think Cindy, think!

'Water Prism!'

A translucent shell spiralled into place around me, refracting the lightning flare into colourful bands. Rain hammered against it in furious waves, the downpour so thick it blurred the world outside the prism a motionless grey.

That's it! Maybe a flank!

A series of waves surged at my command, forming a living path as I shot forward. Every wave swirled beneath me, threading me through the slashing rain she'd conjured. Off to my left, I called a small wave to gather, its surface beginning to twist. I was waiting to shape it into a dragon when the right moment struck.

The air crackled. She was readying something.

I slipped into the rhythm of the sea, letting its weight carry me. Not just to move, but to strike.

'Water Dragon.'

A serpentine form coiled from a wave to my right, scales of compressed water gleaming under the flickers of lightning. I veered left, body low, letting the dragon surge past like a thrown spear.

She didn't flinch.

"What obvious misdirection." Her voice was calm, amused. "A sneak attack? Do you take me for a student?"

She raised one hand. A geyser erupted from the ground, shredding the oncoming dragon mid-charge. Then, without even turning, she snapped her fingers.

Behind her, a solid wall of water rose like a shield. My hidden dragon, coiled just outside her field of view, slammed into it and burst apart in an instant.

Of course it wasn't going to be that easy. I had to think smarter. What if I could trap her someway? Using Water Geysers? Then finish her with some sort of Aqua Canon while she can't move? I'll have to try at least I have no other option.

She grinned, hands rippling above the water's surface. In an instant, the sea beneath her feet swelled into a cresting wave, lifting her as if she were born to surf the storm.

Two sleek dragons burst from the depths, snaking around the arena toward me. Water sprayed off their jagged scales with every coil, sending ripples across shattered stone.

Behind her, another pair of serpents broke the surface, eyes glinting, jaws parting in a silent challenge. Her stance was inviting me to strike head-on.

"Oh, stealing my tricks?"

Water Golem!

Two hulking giants rose from the depths, Muscles of liquid steel shoved back against her flanking dragons with thunderous splashes.

"Stealing? Did you forget who taught you those very tricks you're so proud of?"

I planted my feet, back straight, and met her gaze. "Naïve," I breathed. Then I surged forward, dragons howling at my heels, ready to clash head-on. As I closed the gap, I slashed the water's surface with the edges of my dragons, carving shallow wells that pulsed like loaded springs.

"Question. Why do high level mages cast environment controlling spells before the fight starts?"

Rain slashed the ground as her water dragons lunged outward, each coil swelling with storm-fuelled power. They charged like a chariot of serpents, thunder rolling in their wake.

"Because it's easier for them to escape when they get thrashed."

I thrust both palms forward. My dragons leapt free, streaking through the air like liquid arrows, veins of mana crackling along their spines.

"A quarter marks. That's unlike you Cindy. Firstly - because the one who controls the environment controls the fight."

BOOM—

Our dragons collided mid-air, a shockwave rippling through the arena.

I shaped the water at my fingertips into a spinning spear, its tip gleaming like ice. She halted and then summoned a towering wall of water.

My spear thudded against it with a muffled clang. She didn't waver. She had her same calm and unassuming smile on.

Something in her stance told me she was baiting me. She was waiting for an opening.

"Secondly," she said, voice as calm as the storm, "There's more tactical options."

Damn it she got me! It's from above!

A jagged stream of water split the sky. Dozens of shark-shaped torrents arced down like diving missiles, each fin cutting through the rain with murderous intent.

Muscles coiled, and I desperately wove a huge liquid fist around my body, its fingers rippling like living eels. Before their teeth found me, the water-fist snapped shut around me, its grip like iron. It hurled me sideways in a blistering spray.

Behind me, the sharks slammed into the stone arena in thunderous crashes, fountains of mist erupting with each broken form. I skidded to a halt in the cradle of a water net, droplets pinpricking my grazed skin as I forced myself to get up.

I'm not done yet!

"Lastly, you can prepare large scale spells." Low thunder grumbled as swollen clouds bunched overhead, each pressurized droplet pulsing in the dim light. "If you can defend this – then I'll consider it your win Cindy."

Smug and composed.

"Fine then teach, I'll take your spell head on!" The sky cracked with black lightning and gale-force winds howled as if acknowledging my declaration.

The situation couldn't be any more hopeless. But for some reason... I was looking forward to it. Looking forward to experiencing the apex of magic first-hand.

"You stubborn child. Don't you know? After pride comes the—

—flood!

A small coastline on the horizon. Then a storm surge. Then a tsunami. And finally – a flood. I watched as the body of water behind me grew exponentially till it consumed that entire side of the arena and surpassed the limits of my vision.

Only thirty percent mana left. I channelled my mana into the ground in a quick last-ditch effort before the storm arrived. I summoned a pack of water wolves using twenty five percent of the mana I had left.

This had to work.

Even apex mages would struggle against a coordinated assault on all fronts. Dozens of water wolves surged from every angle. Some dashed straight for the headmaster with snapping jaws, others veered to the sides, flanking low and fast, while a few held back, circling like liquid phantoms waiting for the perfect moment to strike.

The flood drew closer.

She moved like clockwork, spells flaring, arms sweeping in fluid arcs. Every gesture summoned crashing waves to scatter the wolves or called up armoured sentries of water that met their charge with clashing shields.

But even for an apex mage, the sheer number was relentless. She was... backing away.

"Not bad Cindy, so you still had a trick like this I'm impressed." Step by step, she retreated. Her footing cautious, her breathing sharp. "It must be quite mentally taxing to control this many at once."

She could say that again.

The pressure wells I'd hidden were primed. Mana laced the arena in invisible threads, an intricate trap masquerading as scattered battlefield runoff. Just a few more steps. A little more. She was nearly there.

The wolves had cut off her path, she was surrounded. She turned to face me beyond the park, her options bleak. A flicker of recognition flashed in her eyes.

"It's too late, professor." I smirked. It was my win. "You're already fallen for my trap."

"Is that so Cindy? Because I was about to say the same thing."

"Wha—"

A rumble tore through the ground as it collapsed under me. Stone gave way like sand, and a yawning whirlpool snapped open. I threw out a desperate surge of wind magic to create some distance, but the whirlpool was too wide. It was sucking me in.

I plunged.

She hovered above the chasm, the sky behind her lit by lightning and mana residue. Her arms folded casually, as if this had all been part of a demonstration.

"Did you think you were the only one setting arena traps?" She called down. "And did you really believe I wouldn't notice you obviously placing pressure wells all around the arena?" She sighed in fake disappointment.

The whirlpool howled louder, dragging me into the abyss. I struggled to steady my limbs, but the currents coiled like iron chains. The flood was coming.

"From the spacing, depth, and density, I figured you were trying to mimic a volcanic eruption. Ingenious." She gave a thoughtful nod. "But without fire magic for the extra power and earth magic to hide the wells, your execution was… incomplete."

I gritted my teeth, seething at her analysis. She'd known all along. She'd played along. And worse of all, she was right.

"Once I saw that," she continued, "It was obvious you'd try to herd me somewhere central. A place surrounded by wells. So, I laid down a little insurance of my own."

Ah, how frustrating.

"This is my original spell," she said softly. "Emperor-tier. You'll be the first to survive it. But don't worry, I'll teach it to you one day."

She raised her hand, as if she was calling on the tide. "I call it: The Abyss."

The flood swallowed me.

The figure above me quickly vanished. Darkness consumed the world. No light, no sound, no surface. Only a deathly stillness, and a lone hum echoing through the deep.

The voice of the ocean.

It was my loss. A complete, utter loss.

'Woaaahhh'

'That was amazing!'

'Did you see Cindy's Water Golems they were so cool!'

'What about the Headmaster's shark spell? That was straight up insane!'

'Today's hero wasn't the headmaster though.'

"That last resort with the Water Wolves really won us all over.'

'I'm glad I didn't miss this one!'

'We love you Cindy!'

'Stand proud Genius Hater, you are strong.'

When I came to, the darkness of the abyss was gone and the familiar afternoon sun was beaming. A roar of cheers echoed around me congratulating me on my hard-earned defeat. It was bittersweet.

A familiar hand reached out towards me as I lay on my back basking in the moment. "You fought well Cindy I'm proud of you." She said with her usual smug smile. But this time it seemed a little more sincere.

"Who cares about whether you're proud or not. Hmph! I want a rematch!"

"Pffft! Haha, I thought you'd say something like that. I'd love to teach you some more manners but I'm a head teacher, and I don't have as much free time as it seems."

"So?"

"So how about third year – before you graduate. At that time, you can tell me whether you want it to be another water duel or just a normal duel."

"Deal!"

"Unfortunately, before that, you've got a promise to fulfil."

"Oh right yeah, I forgot." I scratched my head. "So what is it you want me to do? More homework? Clean the courtyard, do two culture projects?"

"No, no and no. You'll work as a recruiter."

"If every teacher is as strong as you I don't think I'll be a very effective recruiter."

"You needn't worry about that. You'll be recruiting future students."

"What?"

"Yes. Geniuses."

"But why would you ask me to do that? You do know my nickname right?"

"Why of course – you're the infamous Genius Hater."

"Then why?"

"You know – not all geniuses have it easy and they're not all arrogant, entitled and lazy. Cindy I think you'll make a great teacher one day. You complain a lot but you are actually very patient."

You act cold to others but actually care a lot. And best of all you have a passion for magic. If you meet the right kid I know you'll fall in love with teaching. You and I are the same Cindy."

So she said anyways. I thought she was the arrogant and prideful one, but it turns out it was me in the end. With a sigh, I grabbed my treasure bag and began rummaging through it until I found a colourful notepad.

I flipped through its sections, skipping over 'Notes on Mana Absorption,' 'Chaos Leaves,' 'Ideas for New Spells,' and 'Mana Domains,' before stopping at the section labelled 'Child Prodigies.'

I'd scribbled down notes as I recruited, making sure to capture the full picture for each child. Somewhere along the line I started to really feel for these kids. These weren't just names on a list to me anymore—they were future mages, each with a unique story.

Tiffany – five years old. Superior soul strength.
Extreme fire affinity.
Medium mana pool. Can already cast a fireball spell (ten percent success rate).
Recruiter Note: Exceptional potential in fire magic. Needs to learn control to ensure her explosive power doesn't literally backfire one day. She needs to space out her practice sessions more as she's very prone to burn out.

Chovey – six years old. Medium soul strength.
Quadra element affinity: Water, Fire, Earth and Light.
Superior mana pool. Predicted to cast first spell by age eight.
Recruiter Note: Seems overwhelmed by all his elements. Needs advice on how to prioritize and channel his powers effectively. Since he's quite introverted, someone extroverted with multiple affinities would be a good fit to mentor him.

Phelette – five years old. Semi-superior soul strength.
Triple element affinity: Water, Wind, Light.
Semi-superior mana pool. Expected to cast her first spell at age six.
Recruiter Note: Very cautious and logical. Her strength lies in analysis, but it's a double-edged sword. She's way too slow and meticulous to react quickly. She needs to learn how to trust her instincts more and figure things out in the moment.

Leiz – seven years old. Medium soul strength
Triple element affinity: Fire, Wind, Earth.
Semi-superior mana pool. Can already cast fireball, waterbomb and earthblast.
Recruiter Note: Creative, but overly stubborn. Needs to learn to compromise. His ideas aren't always brilliant, but he's fixated on them. He needs a mentor who can teach him flexibility and that other people's ideas are valid too.

Kruiz...

Velonica...

Weiss...

Those were just some of the more promising young geniuses I'd recruited over the past month. How I recruited them was different for each kid. Some I saved from monsters, others I taught briefly as a hired tutor and some I cold approached simply out of intuition.

Still, there was an important name missing from the list.

Reno Frostworth – five years old. Weak soul strength.
No element affinities.
Inferior mana pool. Can already cast Waterbomb and Fireball.
Recruiter Note: Has incredible reaction speed and high intelligence for his age. The only kid so far to be able to instinctively cast spells under pressure. His battle IQ is off the charts, but the kid's got zero confidence. If I could just get him to believe in himself...
Personal Note: He's my one and only disciple.

I clicked my pen. There, now it's up to date.

The moment I saw Reno, I knew he was magically gifted. How could I not notice the fact he was gathering mana as he walked? Any mage worth their mana crystals could tell. It was slow, excruciatingly slow, but it was certainly there.

Most kids his age can't absorb mana unless they're sitting still, eyes shut with someone chanting instructions over their shoulder. Being able to do it so casually – however gradual – means he's already miles ahead.

Mana absorption is like learning to speak a new language. At first, your body fights it, stiff and uncoordinated. It takes focus, concentration, and endless hours of practice. But after a while, it becomes something you do naturally, like walking.

If mana's the alphabet all mages use, then spells are the words which make up the language of magic. Reno was nowhere near effortlessness or fluency, but the fact that he was already moving in that direction? It was more than impressive for his age.

I had to recruit him. Well, not really. By then, I'd recruited more than enough people to say I'd completed the assignment. Technically, I didn't have to recruit him or anyone else anymore. I'd already met the quota.

But... I couldn't help it.

Honestly, geniuses are nothing but trouble! Always demanding attention, always pushing you to keep up. And child geniuses? They're the worst. Entitled, arrogant, and impossible to handle.

I should know. I've seen more than enough of them. They make everything harder than it needs to be. If it had been up to me, I wouldn't have gone anywhere near these kids. And yet, there I was, about to recruit another one of these monsters. It didn't make any sense, but I couldn't stop myself.

Was it the swirling mana around him, or was it just pure curiosity? Or maybe it was his striking blue eyes, eyes that mirrored my older sister's, drawing me in. It didn't matter now.

The real reason was simple: that old hag would never stop nagging me if she found out I didn't at least try to recruit someone as talented as Reno.

With a heavy sigh, I shook my head. Fine. One more time.

My recruitment plan was simple. First, I'd showcase my magical prowess to spark his curiosity and establish myself as a high-level mage. Then, I'd assess his constitution to gauge his talent. Afterward, I'd tell him he barely missed the cut to be my disciple but offer him a chance to study under my teachers at the academy islands.

It was a failproof plan. One I'd used before with a high success rate. I mean who wouldn't want to be the disciple of a mage even better than me? Not that there are any mages better than me on the islands, except potentially one, but it's not like they know that right?

But this time... it was different. Something was off. The analysis should've been predictable: medium soul strength, single or dual affinity, medium mana pool. It's always something along those lines. But Reno's evaluation shattered all my expectations.

Most people had at least one strength. A sizable mana pool, a resilient soul, something to lean on. It was almost unheard of for someone to lack any at all. Almost.

Usually, if someone's born with severely weak traits, it's because they're compensating for something exceptional, like multiple affinities. Nature tends to balance things out.

But Reno? He didn't even have any ordinary traits let alone extraordinary ones. Just abysmal readings across the board – barely measurable. As if magic itself wanted nothing to do with him.

I knew all too well someone like that would only be called one thing in this world: talentless.

How could someone cast spells at age five, after only a few days of learning, and be 'talentless'? I didn't believe it. I couldn't. But the appraisal wasn't wrong.

Talentless.

That word. I hate it. It's the kind of word that leaves a scar, not a sound. Just the thought of it makes my stomach churn. It's a label. A label society clings to, pretending it means something. But it doesn't.

I know what it's like to be labelled. To be told what you can't become before you've even begun. But I also know what it's like to overcome that. And I believe Reno can do the same. I'm sure of it.

Somewhere in that moment, thinking about him, recalling the look in his eyes, I changed. I remembered. It wasn't enough that I believed in him. I wanted Reno to believe in himself too. That's when I made my mind up.

Reno Frostworth was going to be my disciple.