Not Even Started, Already in Trouble

The ship slowed.

Wood creaked. Waves softened.

After the chaos of the night, the sea felt strangely quiet.

Captain Tenshin’s voice echoed across the deck.

“Due to last night’s incident, we are behind schedule.”

Murmurs spread instantly.

“You have three hours before the tournament begins,” he continued. “Rest if you can. Eat . And don’t be late for registration.”

A pause.

“I apologize for the inconvenience.”

The reaction was immediate.

“Three hours? That’s insane.”

“I barely slept!”

“So much for proper preparation…”

Complaints mixed with nervous laughter. Some candidates rubbed their eyes. Others clenched their fists, already tense.

The ramp dropped.

People began to move.

Boots hit stone. Bags were lifted. The ship slowly emptied.

Akira stopped near the end of the ramp.

“I’ll head this way,” he remarked lightly. “My family has a place here.”

He waved once and disappeared into the crowd.

Rei watched him go.

A knot of anxiety tightened in his chest. He glanced at Enshin.

“And us? Where are we supposed to sleep?”

Enshin smiled calmly, as if the question barely mattered.

“Don’t worry. The organizers reserved a room in an inn for every candidate.”

He adjusted his coat, already thinking ahead.

Beside him, Itsuki gave a faint smile.

“Come on,” he said softly. “Let’s find the inn.”

Rei slowed his steps the moment they set foot on Mahōjima.

He looked around, eyes wide.

Stone buildings lined the road, worn by time and sea air.

The streets were made of packed earth, uneven under his boots. No cars. Only wooden carts rolling past, pulled by tired horses.

People moved all around them. Vendors shouted from small stalls.

Bells chimed softly. The smell of food, metal, and salt filled the air.

Their clothes caught Rei’s attention.

Long coats. Robes. Belts with pouches. Nothing modern.

At the crossroads, guards stood watch.

Steel armor. Spears resting against their shoulders.

Rei’s eyes widened, a beam of excitement lighting up his face.

“Wow… it feels like we’ve been teleported into a fantasy world.”

Itsuki chuckled.

“First time on Mahōjima?”

Rei nodded.

“Yeah… it feels so unreal!”

And yet …

A girl passed by, phone pressed to her ear. Next to her, a boy wore headphones and modern Tokyo-style clothes.

The contrast made Rei’s head spin.

Magic and technology.

Side by side.

He tightened his grip on his bag.

My gadgets aren’t that strange here.

Rei’s eyes wandered, scanning the streets left and right.

Without noticing, he bumped lightly into Enshin, who had already stopped.

The exorcist sighed softly, then pushed open a heavy wooden door.

“We’ve arrived,” he said, voice calm, steady.

The inn smelled of wood polish and warm bread.

A bell jingled as they stepped inside.

A cheerful innkeeper approached, bowing slightly.

“Welcome, honored guests! Are you here as candidates or spectators?” the innkeeper asked with a bow.

Itsuki held up his silver ticket.

“Both candidates. Gen Rei and Akane Itsuki.”

Enshin calmly held up his badge, while Rei fumbled nervously, patting his pockets for his ticket.

The innkeeper squinted at the list.

“Let me check… Ah, here you are. Room 21 for Mister Enshin and his candidate, and Room 22 for Mister Akane.”

Itsuki gave Rei a soft, amused smile.

“Oh, lucky! Our rooms are next to each other.”

Rei grinned, nearly bouncing.

“That’s awesome!”

The innkeeper gave them a polite nod.

“Enjoy your stay, and may the tournament favor you.”

They climbed the narrow staircase together, Rei struggling to keep up with Enshin’s steady pace.

Once they reached their floor, Itsuki stopped outside his door and turned to Rei with a grin.

“See you at the tournament. And this time… don’t be late,” he teased, a playful glint in his eyes.

Rei laughed nervously.

“Ahaha … I won’t !”

He followed Enshin to their room, the mix of excitement and exhaustion pressing down on him.

The exorcist closed the door behind them, the quiet click echoing in the small room.

He turned to Rei, expression calm but sharp.

“Be careful who you get close to. Some of the Sekgetsu might have slipped in,” he warned.

Rei frowned, memory flickering.

“The Sekgetsu… Oh, you mean the ones that attacked us in the park?”

“Exactly,” Enshin said, nodding.

“Normally we keep an eye on everyone… but with what happened on the boat… don’t let your guard down.”

A brief pause hung in the air.

“And don’t wander off alone,” Enshin added, his tone firmer.

“Always stay near me or Akira. Understood?”

Rei straightened a little, puffing his chest.

“Yeah, yeah! Don’t worry, I’ll be careful!”

A yawn escaped him, betraying how exhausted he truly was.

Two sleepless nights were catching up fast.

But the tournament was so close… he couldn’t rest yet.

“I… I should check my gadgets, make sure everything works before the tournament,” he mumbled, rubbing his eyes.

Enshin’s gaze softened.

He pulled a cigarette from his pocket and lit it casually, smoke curling lazily.

“Before that… one last thing,” he said.

Rei groaned, a little annoyed.

“What now?”

“Sit down,” Enshin said, patting the edge of the bed.

Confused but obedient, Rei eased himself onto it.

“Close your eyes. Count to ten,” Enshin instructed gently.

The boy complied, wondering briefly if a gift was coming.

Then warmth spread from the exorcist, calm and steady, filling the room.

The exhaustion finally overtook him, and Rei drifted into sleep, safe in Enshin’s arms.

He watched him for a moment, whispering softly under his breath.

“Rest while you can… after this, you won’t get a moment to catch your breath.”

Dring! Dring! Dring!

Enshin rubbed his eyes, stretching. He had also dozed off but set an alarm just in case.

Rei watched the clock and bolted upright.

“No way! Don’t tell me I’m going to be late again!”

The boy groaned.

“You could’ve set it a little later…”

With a hurried motion, he threw on his magician’s outfit, tugging at the cuffs and adjusting his hat.

Enshin raised an eyebrow.

“You’re going like that?”

“Of course I’m a magician after all,” Rei replied with a grin, already bounding toward the door.

Enshin sighed, shaking his head.

Guess I can’t change his mind.

They stepped out of the inn together, the streets alive with movement as they made their way forward.

Spectators poured in from all directions, their voices mixing into a hum of chatter, laughter, and anticipation. Flags fluttered above the gates, and somewhere, a drum beat echoed.

Rei could feel the energy buzzing in the air.

Enshin stopped.

“This is your entrance,” he said calmly, pointing to a guarded door.

“I can’t go in with you. So Good luck and stay sharp.”

Rei nodded, feeling a mix of nerves and adrenaline.

“Thanks… I’ll do my best!”

He adjusted his hat and gloves, took a deep breath, and whispered,

“The tournament… it’s finally starting.”

At the gate, another candidate arrived in a rush , a boy wearing a dark jinbei with white stripes, rubbing his eyes and moving in slow, comical motions, clearly half asleep.

The guard scanned him, checking his silver ticket.

“All good,” he said, handing the candidate a small badge and letting him pass.

Rei stepped up confidently, but the guard stop him.

“Wait… there’s no magical aura. You can’t enter here. Spectators go that way.”

“I’m a participant,” Rei said, reaching for his golden ticket.

The guard’s eyes widened.

“Oh sorry. I-I… didn’t know… you’re a Chosen One.”

He quickly handed a badge to the boy.

“Here’s number sixty. You may pass.”

Rei pinned it neatly on the left side of his jacket.

The guard stood still for a moment, staring after him, curiosity and caution mixing in his gaze.

Who is this boy?

The young magician slipped past the gate as it closed behind him, stepping into the bustling waiting room.

Young exorcists, each dressed in some wild mix of styles, filled the space.

Ninjas. Samurai. Traditional kimonos. Fantasy outfits. Some looked straight out of Tokyo street fashion.

It felt like a carnival.

Rei’s eyes widened. A small laugh escaped him.

“Enshin thought I’d stand out as a magician… but I fit right in.”

He scanned the crowd.

One face looked familiar , an old rival from a previous magic tournament.

Messy orange hair, sharp green eyes and dressed in a crisp white “prince-like” uniform.

So Hoshinaga Kazuto is a real magician… No wonder his tricks were so impressive.

Then he spotted Akira and Itsuki across the room.

Rei waved, and they exchanged quick smiles.

“Well rested?” Itsuki whispered.

“Ready for the battle?” Akira added.

Rei nodded, determination buzzing in his chest.

A sharp voice cut through the chatter.

“All candidates, gather around and listen carefully!”

A man in official tournament attire stepped forward, holding a tray of big watches.

“Take one each,” he instructed.

“Wear it at all times during the tournament. Do not remove it.”

The candidates obeyed, snapping the watches onto their wrists.

“These watches display your physical and magical energy. HP and MP,” the guide explained.

“If your HP drops below twenty, we will intervene and you will be disqualified.”

Rei’s rival from before glanced at him, smirking.

He wins last time … but this tournament is different. This time, I can use my real power.

Then his gaze landed on Rei’s watch.

His smirk vanished.

MP… zero?

Kazuto’s voice cut sharply through the room.

“Hey! This guy has zero mana! He’s just a regular, not a real mage!”

Whispers spread instantly.

"A regular? No way… what’s he doing here?"

Rei’s heart raced.

No… this can’t be happening! After all my effort…, right before the tournament… I can’t be rejected now!

The murmurs grew louder as the other candidates turned their attention toward him.

He clenched his fists, panic and determination colliding.

I… I need an excuse. And fast.