I Hate Being The Protagonist

After exiting on the same stop as Evy did, we got out of the subway.

In the middle of nowhere, a tall and magnificent building stood like a sole mountain. The gold and white exterior made a heavenly appearance, as if this school reached the Heavens.

There were many other students coming with us from the subway. I could read all of their auras, thank goodness. I wasn't ready to be met with enlightened kids. The whole concept still seems absurd to me, so I just accepted it and moved on.

Evy possessed a manapool stronger than any kid in my previous school. Out of all 2 thousand kids, she would still be the strongest. I surpass her in terms of raw magic power and manapool, but I can guess her refinement and techniques trample over the aforementioned difference. There is a sense of strength I sense inside her that is different from a flaming aura.

Evy and I look at each other as we walk towards my new establishment. Every kid walking beside us has a strong aura...

There are many types of magic in this world, some clearly explored and some not to that extent. Elemental magic, along with light and dark magic is pretty common, while things like illusion magic, spirit magic and the alike are considered more anomalous.

-

My dorm was nothing special. I shared it with Evy and another student, a guy with an earthen affinity. His magic was strong and rigid, a showcase of good training and talent.

The first thing we did in 'class'—if you could call it that—was sparring. Our teacher was an enlightened soldier from Holdanis, obviously. A Sword Saint with an ice affinity. Our class consisted of kids from 10 years of age up to 19 year olds. Considering the 10 year period to become enlightened, it makes sense. Being the youngest in class was interesting, since I had more magic power than most of them at a first glance.

"Adam Agnes of Eclipsia, step up."

I was ordered to come in front of the class along with another kid. Great, now everyone will know of my foreign nature. Here, they don't take foreigners lightly. I was the only one that wasn't born in Eviansis, so I stood out.

The kid I was facing was a dwarf with burly muscles. Why is a 14 year old so buff? Makes you wonder if there are any illegal substances circling around the school...

Our professor clears his throat. "You are going to engage in a martial match, only using pure strength to best your opponent. No magic, or weapons are allowed. Rules set in your martial training book are to be followed. You can begin!"

I read through the pages we were given, so I knew the regulations very well. I'm used to an absurd amount of rules due to Evil Antagonist having so many. The rules are not to be worried of, but this muscular 14 year old is. Is he even competent enough to read the martial training book? I'm just going to assume our teacher will react to any fallacy, since he is quite literally in a realm above us.

The kid lunges forward, using simple boxing to try and score points. This is the time to prove myself in front of my gifted class. In my previous school, I had to refrain from standing out, in order to appear as ordinary as I could. Here, being ordinary is a death sentence. Evy told me how this school works. Those who don't have what it takes are flushed out into the regular military, while the ones who show promise remain.

Anyway, using martial arts I learned as a kid in my home kingdom, I redirect my opponent's quick jabs.

"We have too much space for such a closed way of fighting," I note to my adversary.

His grimace clearly shows contempt. "Tch, don't lecture me kid!"

"You're a 14 year old... Ah, fine..."

I jump into the air when he uses his first kick, landing on his back after looking into his eyes from upside down in the air. Locking a tight choke, I squeeze my arms around his neck without much issue.

"What a strong neck," I comment while feeling the guy's lights being shut off.

His stubbornness leads to a knockout, which makes me take the win and show the rest of the class that muscles don't mean much in this world. His strength was subpar, but even if we ignore my raw physical strength, his agility, battle sense and reaction time were all absolute garbage.

"Good job, a lesson to be learned. See how young Adam here used his opponent's range of movement against him. The muscular frame can't be moved well without using magic, so it is best to remain agile."

I was an exemplary student which the teacher used to teach others. I don't like the feeling of standing out, but I guess that's how it should be in order to win.

Our teacher called another student, this one having long hair tied into a man bun. His dark hair and thin physique was a complete opposite from my last opponent.

"Young Dorian will now be sparring against young Adam. This time, I want you to only use your legs."

Even more limited this time eh? I guess I'll have to hope this kid doesn't use some kind of kick martial art.

We start the fight, getting close to one another. Our look of indifference was about the same as we traded the first kick. This Dorian was 15 years old, and on the brink of enlightenment as I would find out. He was an extremely talented individual, I could see after only a few kicks. His harmony while trading blows was incredible, his reaction time even better than mine.

"Switch to only arms."

In a split second, our feet landed onto the floor and our hands crossed paths. Our fists opened and closed many times per second, flying at one another like a hurricane. Each one of his blows was calculated and reflexive, like he's done this a million times. Is this a trained soldier or a 15 year old kid?!

I've never seen someone so young yet so graceful and fierce.

"Switch to simple magic,” our professor ordered.

At one moment we were clashing hands and creating shockwaves, and at another we jumped back, conjuring magic at the palm of our hands. His etiquette was exactly as it was written in the books I was given. His techniques perfectly matched the descriptions, his hand movements being a precise copy.

I created a sword of light, hurling it towards Dorian. A shield of darkness blocked my light, quickly cast as a reaction to my own. He countered my movements and my affinity as it was summoned... Am I telephoning my attacks, or is he on another level?

I stomped on the ground, protruding a small spike out of the ground where Dorian stood. He reacted to it with jarring speed, throwing ice kunai he conjured into my clothes, pinning me to the ground.

Wasting no time, he rushed over and created an ice sword directed at my neck. He used different types of magic, but none of it seemed like his natural affinity.

"I've been bested it seems," Dorian exclaims, decasting his ice sword into mana.

Everyone starts making noises of confusion, but it seems Dorian noticed the explosive spell I cast beneath his feet. Even though I was pinned to the ground, I wasn't as helpless as it seemed. My quick cast was well timed, knowing Dorian would rush over at the perfect opportunity. If he continued, I’d blast him with explosive fire magic from beneath.

After the fight, we were seated and other students had matches as well. Evy's was the only interesting one, since she fought in a 'simple spell' match.

She used dark magic, but binded her opponent to the ground as if using ice magic. Later, she explained how simple magic is not her type–although she can use it fairly well. She excels at using dark magic to inflict weakness and other effects on her target, even going so far as taking control of her opponent.

She had an amazing fascination over death and death magic, something I've only seen with one of my mother's gods - Anubis. I told her of my mother and how she had a machine death-god, to which Evy perked her ears and expressed interest for the first time.

Death is the ultimate end of all things, so magic which emphasizes on the concept is incredibly powerful, and dangerous.

Evy asked about my mother, being surprised when I told her. Kleopatra wasn't as well known as Arael - the Dragon queen, but she did lead the only kingdom in the world except Eviansis and the Dragon Kingdom. Of course, such a person would be known all over the world.

"Didn't know you were Royalty!" she squeaks teasingly.

"Ha ha, very funny. I don't need your sarcasm.”

She tilts her head. "I mean... It's not really sarcasm is it? You literally are the son of Kleopatra. That's amazing, no wonder you have such an overwhelming amount of mana. But wait a second…” she mulls. “If you were her kid... You'd be enlightened, wouldn't you?"

I sigh, knowing I can tell my secret here. "I was adopted when I was a baby, because my mother had no kids."

"Just like the Rulers... It seems no king or queen of this world has children. Maybe it is a curse? Oooh."

I told her my mother was indeed fertile, but didn't have anyone who she wanted to have children with. The closest thing she got to a partner was with those Rulers who are now gone.

"Those damned Rulers, why did they even disappear? Leaving everything in the hands of that angel..." I mumble with annoyance.

"You're a grumpy kid, you know. You should smile more.” She expresses her concern sarcastically. “Which angel are you talking about?"

"The only smiles you give are those of sarcasm, so stop being hypocritical. The angel I mean is Gabriel."

"G-Gabriel?? Did you just address the legitimate leader of Eviansis as 'that angel'??" Evy asks, perplexed by my casual way of talking about him.

"What are you so shook about?" I ask.

"Do you know how much power 'that angel' possesses? As far as you know, he might be the absolute strongest being in the world! He even surpasses your mother, you know?"

Her words stung like a wasp in the neck. I clenched my teeth, responding that I know that fact. She questioned why my mood changed, and I told her that she shouldn't speak of my deceased mother like that.

She apologized, revealing that the death of my mother still hasn't reached her, and that it might not be national news yet.

"Do people in Eviansis not care about anything besides their kingdom!?" I shout.

"They don't... With over a hundred billion people, it's a closed space. We have regions which should be the size of a giant kingdom, so it is natural we close ourselves. We do not wage war as we conquered the whole world. Your mother was an ally, along with Arael. The Rulers didn't leave anything unattended, and Gabriel took over, holding the peace they created."

"He isn't all mighty. I know he possesses incredible power, but he didn't know something was going on when a demon killed my mother. Because he was late, my mother died!"

"You met Gabriel!??"

Evy was so shocked she fell backwards, wide-eyed. Her composure was fully blown away.

"I did. The angel slew the demon which killed my mother..."

"But he was too late, you say..." Evy repeats my words, expressing her condolences.

"It's fine... It wasn't Gabriel's fault. It was my fault. Curiosity got the better of me, killing my best friend, along with my mentors and my mother."

Evy extended one hand, grabbing my head to lean for a hug. I lightly pushed her away and wiped the tears forming on my eye. "Don't worry about it. I learned my lesson that day. Thank you for expressing your concern though."