The fall of Nanoxate

In this world where conflict is never ending, various methods of combat were developed to be used in war, as well as using them to vanquish the dwelling monsters and beasts. Nanoxate, the city which I'm born in, specializes in magic. There are various other cities with different classes, such as warrior or archer. Since I'm born in Nanoxate, my class is a mage by default. However, my magical ability is not really that strong.

In Nanoxate, magic classes are compulsory to attend and pass. Even after trying my best, I always manage to only scrape past the tests, barely passing them.It was then I realized being a mage was not the way to go, and I visited a weapon shop to purchase a sword. The people in Nanoxate uses swords as a secondary weapon, meaning that they'll fight with their magic wands at all times unless they have to engage to melee combat.

I plan to make the sword my primary weapon. That is considered taboo in Nanoxate, and you can actually be exiled for something like that.

Sigh.. people are really narrow-minded.

There's a reason why we have so many weapons developed in the world anyway. There is no need to constrain yourself to only one style.

I have never struggled with physical strength, and I believe that I am pretty agile and using a sword would benefit me greatly.

To avoid being exiled due to using a sword primarily, I exploited a loophole in the system. I infused the sword I bought with some of my magical power, and it can be engulfed in flames or be coated in freezing ice at my command. That was enough to allow me to avoid being exiled, but I received heavy criticism from my teachers and I even failed my last test due to this.

However, I can already feel myself getting stronger with this change and I can kill the weaker monsters in the dungeons easier than before. It was impossible for me to enter a dungeon alone back when I was a mage, but now I can fight alone sufficiently with a sword.I have actually been studying the ways of the warriors using an illegally imported textbook from Dooratias, the city of the warrior.

I find their combat style better than the mages, and I have been practicing the skills I have learnt in the dungeons secretly.

Of course, I can only fight like a warrior when no one is watching me. When I use my sword in school, I swing it around like a clueless idiot to avoid suspicion.

I can't even use my magic wand in school anymore since I sold it to get money for the sword.Sigh.. I'm really broke. Everything I have, including my education and living quarters, are being provided by the Nanoxate government.

That's because I'm an orphan.

I was told that I was found at the entrance of some church as a baby, and I was brought to the orphanage. The orphanage actually only houses children until they turn 15. After you turn 15, the government will provide a small cottage house for you to live in, as well as a measly monthly allowance of 750 coins. A typical meal of bread and soup would cost 10 coins, so having to live off 750 coins a month is a really difficult task. I typically only have 2 meals a day. Thankfully, education in Nanoxate is free.
I pull out my Identity card and took a good look at it. Magic is really advanced, and the information on the identity card updates itself as things change.

Javean, age 18, Male
Magic power rating: C-
Citizenship: Nanoxate Citizen
Residence: Murcate town, general street

Huh. I still wonder how it feels like to have a surname. Orphans usually do not have one.

I have no close friends in school, so I'm basically always alone. Me being a weak magic user doesn't help either, as that makes me an outlier. The majority of kids usually score the best in magic class, and poor performers like me are ostracized by the others.

I won't be of any value in Nanoxate, and my future looks bleak. Not being able to command magic well puts you in the lower class of people in Nanoxate society.

Therefore I intend to leave Nanoxate once I believe I am strong enough to support myself, and embark as an adventurer to earn money and eventually settle down in a city that does not have conflict with Nanoxate, and also holds warriors in high regards.

BLAST

A really loud explosion caused my ears to ring. What in the world happened? Are people fighting with magic? I got off my bed and opened the door, and looked outside. Hm? Nothing looks out of the ordinary. I guess I'll just return to my room and get some sleep then.

BLAST BLAST

Ear-defeaning sounds of fire magic jolted me from my sleep. What in the world is going on..?

Ah, something's not right. It's actually really hot, and I'm sweating profusely. I reckon that a fire has started, and I quickly tossed all my valuables into my backpack and left the house.

What the hell...

An unbelievable sight was burnt into my eyes. No matter how much I wanted to reject the sight, I just couldn't avert my eyes.

My cottage is geographically located at one of the highest points in Nanoxate, and I got a clear view of everything that is going on. Nearly the entire city is engulfed in flames, and if I don't run, it would spread to my location very soon.

I can faintly see two figures soaring through the sky, throwing massive fireballs at each other and blocking them with huge barriers of magic energy. Being able to fire so quickly without recharging, and the thickness of the fireballs and shields... Only archmages would be capable of doing so.

I used light magic to alter my vision, zooming into the two figures in the sky.

....!?!?

The chief of Nanoxate and his son are the ones engaged in this fierce combat that would probably put the entire city into ruins! Are my eyes playing tricks on me?

There is only one word to describe Nanoxate now: an Inferno.

Why would the two of them do that? The chief of Nanoxate loves his people, he wouldn't possibly put them in such huge danger! With fire magic being used so recklessly that it puts an entire city into flames.. I would dare to say that most of the population are already dead by now. Yes, people can protect themselves with water and shielding magic, but the chief and his son are in another class of their own.

Not many people's prowess in magic can match theirs, and therefore it's safe to say that most of the people have already died due to the stark difference in magic power level.. Weak water and shield magic would never work against an archmage's flames...

They're still fighting, and neither of them seems to be going down anytime soon. The exchange of spells are so powerful that I can physically feel the flames in front of me despite being at a considerably great distance.

What am I doing, watching them duke it out!?

Who cares if Nanoxate burns to the ground, my life is more important!

Luckily for me, the mountains are directly behind me, and If I'm not wrong, I can reach a friendly neighboring town by running through the huge crevice in the middle of it..! I left everything I once had behind me, running straight for the hills before my safety gets threatened. I have no idea what in the world is going on in Nanoxate, but once I get out, I hope that will be none of my business...