2 years without Luna, actually

-"Since the begining of my daily life in the academy, I was missing you very much too! I'll have you know", she reveals.

I smile, I feel happy. I can really notice my feeling of winning at life is agressively rivaling the dread.

-"I was able to make friends, but..."

I know this "but..."

-"But they weren't really 'true friends', you know? Even the kids from our class back home were more friendly.

I always strived for the highest grades, and I rivaled some nasty girl for it constantly. It wasn't like rivaling you in scores... This time, I didn't really care... I just... Wanted to do well.

She, however, took it to a life or death level of thinking. That's so toxic right?"

"It is". I reply. Couldn't agree more.

-"In magic school, you eventually have to pick a path to master. I know Quadmountia has seperate schools for such matters, but it seems what magic could offer is generally removed from other aspects of the world, besides maybe potions and alchemy.

I wanted to focus on support magic, and discovered quickly that it is looked down upon. Mostly, by other students, but never by teachers. In fact, in support magic there are multiple sub categories like healing, shielding and buffing. All these are generally good but one cannot focus all three".

I didn't know that. I didn't know anything about magic, honestly.

-"I wanted to focus on buffing! I knew you are going to be more capable than everyone else... I'm... It doesn't have anything to do if your build obviously I just..."

I interfere in the middle: "I know, I know. And for whatever it's worth, I did better than all of them until this happened, and a little bit after too!" I try to make her comfortable with talking about it.

-"I don't doubt it!" she replies with a smile. -"I thought that if I buff your damage it will be very effective. I chose this path, and my annoying rival didn't miss the opportunity to try and shame me for it. I didn't mind it. Maybe just a little bit at first.

Most of the study in magic school is mutual for all students and is about all paths. Similarily, most of the study about support magic specifically, is mutual to all support magic students. This is covered in 2 years so I already finished my support mage diploma. I knew your study will not be over for a whole extra year so I tried working at the guild in 'Mulrose', the town hosting the academy of magic. It was horrible..."

"Really? what happened?" I ask, realizing Luna has had it rough too.

-"Mages cloths for girls are very revealing. As a girl, one cannot avoid being treated poorly because of it. I ended up working hard to get these cloths, with the same stats as the high quality ones I happened to obtain. And even these reveal more than I'm used too, although compared to the higher qulity mage clothing options, this is really nothing".

She wore a pink tank top with a very short jeans. I havn't really seen mage cloths for girls since my dad is the family's mage.

-"Once I got used to yelling at people for their mean comments, I tried joining a party to embark on quests and make money. At the begining, a lot of parties jumped the gun and added me instantly. Later on, they saw something I didn't consider. The nature of damage buffing is prioritizing one person at a time, or at all times. It is more effective to choose the one already dealing the highest damage. However, parties having a high damage dealer don't really lack damage to begin with. Parties that added me quickly saw they prefer adding a healer that can work better with multiple people at the same time".

"I... would never guess something like that could happen... I'm sorry Luna."

-"Thank you. Anyway, since Mulrose is a small town, I didn't have much opportunities left, so I thought I'd go to Quadmountia, where the city is bigger, the guild is bigger, and you will be closer! I wanted to visit you as soon as I manage to realize where I can even find you!"

She. Is. A. Godess.

-"I tried going on quests here as well, but most parties got to the same conclusions. Soon enough I started working at the guild, having to still face some idiots with mean comments, asking me to either join their party, or dance. The guild master gives them monetary punishments, so it's not as agressive as it was in my former guild".

"Luna. I'm sorry I couldn't be there. I'm sorry I failed my build. I'm sorry you had to go through all of this alone".

-"But Rune, I knew this is all temporary! Now I just have to wait for you!" she says with confidence.

"You don't have to wait at all. I will not be able to complete my diploma with this... "Situation" I got going on. We can form our party right now".

I hug her again. This is my partner. Me and her against the world. The only other "partner" I got is that slime from back then. I think me and that squishy bastard would mutually agree that it's a completely different kind of relationship.

-"Then let's go! I'll take you to meet the guild master! Maybe he could even help with your skills".

"After you!" I reply, suddenly feeling much better.

She takes me to the guild and we see some people standing near the front desk.

-"Hey! Where are you going off in the middle of the day, huh Luna? Can't you even handle a desk job? Maybe the guild life isn't for you... I'm saying it for your sake, ya' know?" Some bastard mumbles.

"Good thing nobody asked for you advice", I say loudly.

-"Oh! Who is that? You got yourself a little boyfriend? Hahaha".

"This guy fits such a villain criteria. What would a f***er like that actually do in a guild?" I ask Luna, making sure he hears.

Luna smiles confidently. She has already realized what's coming.

See, in this world, crime is possible. However, humans do not receive damage from each other the same way monster deal damage. When humans fight it is just old school barbaric violence. It means its all up to my natural skills and training.

He seems angry. Very angry. He doesn't say anything anymore. He simply walks towards my direction and keeps saying nothing.

The people watching are stressed. He stands right in front of me and stares like he hides a beast inside. The guild master quickly shows up and yells: "STOP! STOP IMMEDIATELY!" like a worried old man.

-"I can't stop master. The thing about little brats like that... They have no honor. They have no skills, no strength to back em' up. These ones need to learn fast that..." I interrupt his sentence as I strike suddenly, I've really had enough already. Also, I'm not all against the points he made about brats, like himself, that is, who should learn something really fast. Not sure what that thing was in his perspective, but from mine the disrespect to Luna was plenty for me to engage.

I use both hands to hit him from below his chin, like receiving a vollyball, and quickly reposition to his side to jump and punch his face. He gets hit badly, stumbles, and falls to the ground.

I would generally wait for this to be self defence in a more obvious way, but he spoke rudely to Luna. I no longer require that courtesy, is my point.

-"Well, quite the performence!" the guild master declares, seems like a compliment.

-"Master! This is Rune! In the flesh!" Luna tells him, she seems excited. They probably talked about me before.

-"Oh... Now I see. Come to my office, now, young ones. If you're here to join the guild - I'll fill you in on everything there is to know".