I Hate Being The Protagonist

"Checkmate"

I exhaled in frustration, leaning back against the chair I was sitting on. "Damn it, and here I thought my wizard got the best of you. Your pawns are too solid against my attacks, I can't get past your traps!"

Rache laughed, saying that one needs to learn how to use the weak in order to gain strength.

"That sounds ominous," I comment with a smirk.

"So, how's your magic training going? Are you already being assessed for advanced magic lessons?"

I explain that the assessment is tomorrow, while putting the pieces back in their place for another round.

"Don't show your versatility yet. Neither that nor your true power. Excel at light magic, acting like that's your true affinity."

"I know, we already went over it," I address while moving my wizard forward.

"Tch, don't do that. Your foundation is bad.

I know we went over it, but just to confirm. The military likes to take little boys like you and turn them into killing machines. Squadrons of thousands are being sent to who knows where. There is no war in the world since Eviansis IS basically the whole world. I don't want you to become a mindless soldier that follows every order.”

"Don't worry, I know how to play my cards," I smirk while guarding with my elite knight.

"You are exceptionally talented, Lord Adam... but you are far too young to put trust into anyone, including yourself. There are years ahead of you, which will ripen you into a fine young man."

Rache calls me Lord Adam, not wanting to call me King or majesty since I'm not headed in that direction yet, but refuses to call me 'Prince Adam' since he calls that distasteful. There are no kings or queens that I will chase after, so I'm no prince. Calling me 'Lord Adam' is already a bit excessive, but I never complained.

Although I surpass every peer and adult I met in terms of magic, my mind is still undeveloped. I'm much stronger than Rache, to the point where he could never beat me in a fight–yet I still look at him as superior. His intellect and wisdom surpass my own, which is why I respect him.

"So, has Oliver risen to the challenge?" I ask.

Oliver is my nerdy friend who visits every now and then. I play Evil Antagonist against him and lose every time, but Oliver loses to Rache, which gets me excited to play against both.

"You are making similar moves as he does, which shows your progress. I'm going to answer your question with a move."

"Oh? Did you make a mistake on purpose?" I ask, analyzing the board.

Rache never lets me win. He never goes easy. His words were: "No one will go easy on you. By having a stronger opponent, you are forced to evolve."

Rache moves his wizard, trapping my knight and griffin.

"Tolerance win."

"Shit! Checkmate already!? And by tolerance at that!?"

A win by tolerance is made when your opponent loses certain pieces one after another. If a certain combination of pieces is left, you lose.

I lost again.

"Have fun tomorrow, but keep a cool head."

I bow down, shaking Rache's gloved hand.

"Brilliant game, as always."

Rache smiles, setting the pieces back in their place. He has free time, not needing to assist me with anything. The mansion is squeaky clean, everything is in its place, and I'm full. This man is too efficient...

After playing with me, he continues playing on his own.

-

I walk the 20 minute walk to school, entering my classroom as usual. The faces of my colleagues greet my entrance, all looking at me like some miracle. I don't appreciate the attention, sitting quietly next to Oliver, sighing from annoyance.

"Adam, everyone is looking at you," he whispers.

"I've noticed."

Today is a big day for everyone, as we are displaying our magic prowess, showing it in front of certified professionals.

I wasn't a tad bit nervous, even though I had 30 eyes on me, including our teacher. Most of the kids still couldn't sense aura, even though it was becoming more and more mainstream to teach your kid aura sensing.

I was basically born with it, along with a giant potential in all magic affinities. Truly, someone made to be a mage. The problem was, I was also good with a sword, something highly valued in Holdanis.

Our classroom was taken out into the huge cement courtyard, as 2 men introduced themselves. This was the first time I see someone who's aura I couldn't sense after the accident back in my home kingdom. I had a quick flashback which Oliver pulled me out of, shaking me to reality.

"You're seeping mana!" he warns.

I taught Oliver how to sense aura, even though he was terrible in everything connected to magic.

[Damn it, not off to a great start!] I comment internally, glancing at the two figures staring directly into my eyes.

"Young man, may you assist us in a demonstration?" one of them asks.

I've done it now... Because I flared my aura, I'll be picked first and won't know how much of my magic I should show. If there were a few kids before me, I would know how to score a bit above average.

"You, with the glasses, come here."

Phew, they chose Oliver, thank Heavens.

He displayed his lack of magic, as he held hands with one of the men. He conjured a small flame in his hand, similar to what you'd see after lighting some alcohol on fire. It was barely visible on this particular sunny day.

"Next, how about the pretty boy over there?"

I hate the fact Rache dresses me so neatly and does my hair. I appear as a male model ready for a fashion show. Normally, one would thank their genetics for being handsome, but I disagree. The attention I get irritates me, and has now caused me to become second in line for assessment.

I try to rustle my brown hair in order to appear less pleasing, but it sits even better with this messy hairstyle.

Everyone starts whispering, hands obscuring their face while everyone tries to guess what'll happen next.

[Light magic, and only a bit. Nothing complicated] I repeat to myself.

The man grasps my hand, looking into my eyes with a smirk. As I extend my hand, I feel a magic presence pushing mana out of me with an unexpected force. I try my best to counter it, conjuring a dagger made out of light which I release into the air, transforming it into a hammer and then into a delicate ray of light.

I fall to one knee, not because of the strain that this performance put up, but because of the mental strength and focus I had to emit in order to fight the magic presence pushing mana out of my body.

"Is that all?" one guy whispers to his friend.

"Can YOU do that?" the friend whispers back.

"But it's Adam we're talking about..."

My classroom starts talking between each other again, while the man still holds my hand.

The man assessing me finally lets my hand go. "Good job resisting it. I'll write in my report only what I see, so don't worry. But humor me for a second, why hold your power back?"

"None of your business," I answer, raising my aura.

"Fine, I won't ask further," the man complies–still grinning mysteriously.

I've hit the jackpot it seems, since no one in my classroom surpassed my performance, but I didn't seem like a monster compared to them.

-

After school, 3 known bullies approached Oliver and poked fun at him. I defended him of course, all while holding back my power.

"Is that all you do in your spare time?" I ask the 14 year olds.

"We only want to stop your friend from being a bitch haha."

"My friend is no 'bitch' I'll have you know," I answer with agitation rising up. I'd rather be at home trying to best Rache than deal with these idiots.

"Well then brave Adam and his friend, how about you visit the haunted house down the block? Surely you're not scared?"

I grab Oliver's hand, explaining how I can't protect him forever.

"You'll have to enter the house in order to shake them off. You ready to take the challenge on?" I ask while raising an eyebrow.

"B-but the house is haunted..."

Oliver is... a bitch.

Not to put down my friend, but he is easily frightened, even though he is smart. He is frail and knows no magic, so everything is dangerous to him.

"Don't worry, no ghost will eat you there. I'll be going in with you."

We walked there together with the 3 bullies following behind us. They were poking fun and saying that there is no way Oliver is walking into the house.

When we reached the old wooden house, I nudged Oliver to go in with me, but the bullies stopped me.

"How about you let him go alone?" one of them says.

"Fine..." I exclaim, pointing towards the house at Oliver.

Ghosts exist, and so do demons, but in the middle of one of the most populated cities in the world? I don't think there is any supernatural danger in there.

Although I still haven't learned spirit magic, my light magic should be enough to deal with any 'city ghosts' or whatever might be stalking the house. It's probably some old lady using illusion magic to ward off any idiots like these bullies.

Oliver managed to grow a pair in order to climb into the house. It looks like venturing into an old squeaky house is better than being harassed. He needs to know how to stand up for himself, and that's what I'm here for.

"So, how long should he stay inside?" I ask.

"At least 10 minutes!" one of the bullies shouts.

It looks like these 14 year olds are as scared as Oliver is, they're just not showing it.

"Eh, make it 15," I add, sitting down on a stone in the backyard of the house.

"B-but you also have to go inside after him!"

"Don't worry, I will," I accept, not wanting to beat up these bullies. If my name is spread as some sort of fighter, everyone in school will start to challenge me.

If these 3 bullies see that I have bigger balls than them, they'll leave me alone. The fact that they know I'm stronger than them makes this 100 times funnier.

-

After waiting for the 15 minutes we told Oliver to be inside the house, I shouted for him to come out.

"It's my turn Oliver!" I shout, trying to get my friend outside and do this thing.

After my nerdy compadre didn't answer, I decided to go inside.

"No, you can't go inside until he comes out!" one of the bullies orders.

I shoot him a cold glare, after which he shuts his mouth. The sun is slowly setting, so the visibility is dying down. Opening the creaking doors, I enter the haunted house in search of my friend.