The Only One

That was the best thing that had happened to me in this new world. An ability I didn't even know I had. So I stayed a little longer with Nina, practicing that new power.

Until fatigue arrived. It might not look like it, but that kind of activity caused an extreme mental exhaustion, even more than physical. And no matter how much I wanted to continue doing that, my body wouldn't keep up the pace.

I lay down on the grass, watching the orange sky that would soon become night. I was breathless, but satisfied. Nina soon joined me and sat by my side, and while we shared the silence, her ears twitched. It was a natural reaction I was slowly getting used to.

"Looks like they want fresh air."

She placed her hand on her hood, pulling it closer.

"I need to keep them well protected."

"A little late for that, huh?"

Her face flushed, and she hit my arm.

Since the day I learned about the beast-folk tradition. Whenever I stumbled upon a book in the library about the subject, I would read it. They sparked a genuine interest in me, given that it was something totally out of the ordinary for me.

Just imagine people with animal characteristics living among people like me. People from my old world would kill to have an opportunity like that.

During one of these readings, I learned more about these kinds of people, which was quite interesting. Their homeland was far away from the kingdom of Thaloria, separated by the sea. A vast desert continent called Sahrad. Where several nomadic clans lived. A place with extremely hot days, reaching almost 50 degrees Celsius, and harsh nights, where the temperature dropped almost to zero. Similar to the deserts back in my world.

There were also people who lived in forests of gigantic trees and had little contact with outsiders. This was on another continent called Elandor, the homeland of Nina and the origin of those with pointed, fox-like ears just like hers.

The beast-folk had distinct characteristics among their various clans. Sahrad was the home of those resembling classic predators, like tigers and lions. The drawings of them in the books were terrifying. They had large canines, and some tribes even had rumors of practicing cannibalism.

The clans of Elandor, on the other hand, had characteristics of foxes, rabbits, and cats. People who, due to their close contact with the forest, could extract magic from nature with great ease. Many famous mages and healers came from this region.

That explained Nina's impressive magical abilities, as if her skill ran in her blood and her understanding had been studied since childhood.

There was also a strange custom among all that. Complimenting someone's ears was considered a way to propose marriage.

For an outsider, it was utterly incomprehensible. But for them, it was natural and sacred.

"I'm sorry for talking about your ears that other day," I said to Nina. "At the time, I didn't know what it meant."

"Hmpf."

"You're not going to hit me like last time?"

"And why would I do that?"

"For commenting on your ears."

"I know you didn't understand what you were saying back then."

"Still, you seemed to take it seriously."

Nina suddenly stood, giving my arm a light slap.

"Idiot."

I liked teasing her sometimes. I couldn't help it. The way she got angry was too cute. And even if she threw a punch, I didn't mind. I was willing to pay the price for witnessing her adorable side.

"Are you already leaving?"

"We've done enough for today." She paused, then added before resuming her walk. "Don't get so full of yourself just because you managed to do the basics. Tomorrow we'll practice more. I'll get you ready for the tournament."

She then disappeared into the crowd of students in the courtyard.

I lay down again. The sky was almost dark. Despite the day ending and my tiredness, I still wanted to practice more magic. I couldn't believe I had finally managed to do something I had struggled so much to understand.

The feeling of the magic flowing in my body, the crystal shaping itself into what I imagined, was an indescribable experience.

***

Darin wasn't in the dorm when I arrived, so I had the room all to myself. We didn't have much to do after the classes and dinner, so the students who lived in the school would usually head to their rooms and stay there until the next day.

Of course, there were a few house rules for those who slept there. Standard stuff like no loud noises late at night, no shouting, and definitely no explosive magic. I wasn't worried about the last one since I'd need a few more lessons with Nina before that would even be possible.

So to kill time and practice what I had learned, I contented myself with tiny stone spheres sliding between my fingers, to improve the skill I had just discovered.

Lying on the bed, I moved my hands above my head, staring at the ceiling, balancing those tiny spheres, distracted by their motions. When they eventually fell, to avoid them hitting my face, I'd dissolve them midair and reorganize them between my fingers and start again.

It was either that or reading the books I had borrowed from the library. But honestly, I had read so many that I lost the patience to focus on them anymore, and nothing I'd read would be helpful to understand summoning magic, let alone finding my sister.

Suddenly, the door slammed open. Darin was thrown in, with two people shoving him inside, disappearing before I could see their faces.

He remained there, frozen on the ground, his face swollen and his eyes purple.

"What did you do this time?"

"I didn't do anything, I swear."

"Yeah, right. You never do anything."

"I was just looking for someone who could help with my training in arcane combat."

He got up, dusted off his clothes, and sat in his bed, opposite mine.

Darin had mentioned earlier that day that he'd look for a senior student to teach him in arcane combat, since he intended to join the tournament as well. As newcomers, it was too early for us to have classes in it. So, it was necessary to have the help of a senior student to train us.

It was a tradition for some senior students to serve as mentors for those who wanted to compete in the tournament, as teachers couldn't get involved directly in the preparation. Getting a mentor was crucial. Not only to learn advanced techniques, but also to understand the rhythm and rules of combat.

I should've been looking for one myself, since I would need to train if I planned to have a chance in the duels. But I had spent so much time thinking about whether I could get past the basics that I had forgotten about it entirely.

I could have even asked Nina for help, since she was a senior student. But as she was already helping me with basic magic, I thought it might be asking too much of her generosity.

"So... what now? Are you going to keep looking for someone?"

"Most of the seniors are already busy, and the few left either don't care about the tournament or are too unreachable."

"What do you plan to do?"

Depending on Darin's next steps, I might get an idea of what to do myself. I still hadn't told him that I planned to join the tournament. I imagine he'd laugh at me if I said it.

"I don't know yet... and you? Have you found anyone to train you?"

The stone sphere I had been balancing slipped and hit my head. I sat up, startled.

"How did you know I'm going to participate?"

"Well... I saw your name on the registration list."

"Wait, there's a public list?"

"Yes, in the bulletin board."

Damn bulletin board. That hallway mural was always full of notes from one student to another, love confessions, and other personal messages that I thought the school wouldn't post anything serious there.

Since we'd gotten to this point, there was no reason to hide it from him anymore.

"I haven't found anyone yet. Nina is helping me with basic magic, so I guess I shouldn't ask much more from her."

"Sounds like you're screwed then."

Silence fell over the room.

I jumped up, stormed over to the edge of his bed, and grabbed him by the shoulders, shaking him energetically.

"Wait! I'm really screwed? No one can help me?"

"Not a soul."

"And you?" Don't you need someone too?"

"I didn't even want to participate that much."

I let go of him and sat on the floor beside his bed. If this were really the end, then everything I did would have been for nothing. I wouldn't even fight, and I'd already be out. I'd be missing out on the biggest opportunity to advance in the summoning research since I entered the school.

There had to be something I could do.

"You sure there's no one who can help me? Think carefully."

Darin put his hand on his chin, thinking for a few moments.

"Well... there is someone who could train you. But... you'll need to convince her. And from what I've heard, no one succeeded."

"Who's that person?"

She might be my last chance to participate. I'd have to persuade her to train me.

"Lyra Valen. The winner of the last tournament."

I was screwed.