"Uoooooooooooooo!"
"Hraaaaaaaaaaaaaa!"
Albert and Evi charged through the forest, their eyes fixed on Lucas as he sprinted ahead of them at a low crouch.
They moved at maximum speed, weaving through the trees and taking care not to lose their footing. Even without focusing directly on their surroundings, they navigated the terrain by instinct as they pursued Lucas.
It was the final day of the three-day holiday.
The three were deep in Dogma Forest, pushing through their final session of training.
By pure coincidence, they had not run into Ray and the others. Dogma Forest was so vast that while Ray’s group remained primarily in the west, Lucas’s group had been training in the east.
At the moment, the drill was simple: Albert and Evi had to land a single hit on Lucas.
Albert provided support with magic from the rear while Evi utilized his massive frame and Physical Reinforcement magic to press the attack. Despite their efforts, Lucas wasn't one of the Seven Grand Sorcerers for show.
Unlike Ray, Lucas was operating without any self-imposed restrictions. His true strength was something the two of them couldn't hope to match, but they fought on with full knowledge of the gap between them.
As a handicap, however, Lucas was refraining from using magic.
He faced them with nothing but his raw physical abilities, yet even then, the two of them combined could barely hope to touch him. In fact, they had both realized that Lucas was still the one with the upper hand.
"Albert! What's the move?"
"...I’ll make the opening. Evi, charge in the second I do."
"Roger that!"
Albert let his Code surge forth. Constructing a precise sequence, he unleashed a spell: Storm.
Despite it being Mid-tier Magic, he brought it to activation in an instant, centering the vortex on Lucas.
"...Ngh!"
A grunt escaped Lucas’s lips.
A raging tempest erupted around him. Because he wasn't using magic to stabilize himself, his footing finally faltered. Yet even then, the fact that he wasn't blown away entirely was a testament to his sheer technical skill.
Just as the wind began to die down, Evi closed the distance at a full sprint. He threw a punch, putting every ounce of his momentum into the blow.
"Hraaaaaaaa!"
Lucas skillfully parried the strike with one hand. Evi, however, didn't let up. He knew full well that he would be handled easily, and immediately followed up with a kick from his right leg.
Lucas leaped lightly to avoid it, but Albert was already closing in from behind.
His next spell was Icicle Pierce. It was another Mid-tier Magic known for its rapid activation. Albert layered his Codes, generating a massive barrage of ice.
Then, he fired them all at once.
"...So that’s how you’re playing it."
Lucas muttered to himself and immediately shifted his stance.
Drawing the katana at his hip in one fluid motion, Lucas did the unthinkable: he sliced through the magic. He didn't use a counter-spell to do it, either.
He physically shattered the ice with nothing but his blade.
The two students froze for a split second at the sight.
Evi was the first to snap back into action, launching into another attack.
"Not yet! I'm not done yet!"
Unfortunately, the day ended as the others had—with the two of them tasting defeat.
"Well then, I’ll go forage for some food. You two take a well-deserved rest."
With those words, Lucas disappeared into the forest, his black hair tied back and swaying as he walked.
Meanwhile, Albert and Evi set about treating their battered bodies. They had come close today, but victory remained out of reach.
It felt as if they were just on the cusp of it, yet the distance remained.
"Hey. Where do you think we messed up that time?"
"Let’s see. For one, it was a mistake for me to freeze up like that, even for a second. I should have covered you immediately, Evi."
"Ah, that part. When he sliced the ice with his sword? That freaked me out, too..."
"But you were able to move again right away, weren't you?"
"I mean, it was just a reflex."
Evi shrugged as he answered.
To him, it hadn't been a conscious choice. His body had simply moved on its own. That was the only way he could describe it.
"I'm still not there yet. I keep training, but I’ve still got such a long way to go."
"I think that’s a good thing, though."
"What do you mean?"
Albert asked with genuine curiosity. Evi grinned, his white teeth flashing.
"You’ve got a long way to go, sure. But that just means you’ve got that much more room to grow, right?"
"...You’re quite the optimist."
"Heh. It’s about the only talent I’ve got."
Evi smiled sheepishly, looking a bit embarrassed.
Thinking back, Albert realized he still didn't know much about Evi. They hadn't really talked like this before. To be fair, it wasn't just Evi—until recently, Albert had never truly faced anyone, including himself.
He decided to take the leap and ask.
"Evi. Why did you decide to enter the tournament this time?"
"Hm? Oh... well, I’m aiming to be a Hunter, so I wasn't really interested in these kinds of competitions. I don't really plan on entering the Magics Chevalier later, either. But I did want to try fighting Ray at least once. I mean, he’s incredible, isn't he?"
"Yeah. Without a doubt."
Both of them were well aware that Ray White was a man beyond all normal standards. However, Evi continued.
"I’ve spent every day in the same room as him... he’s a truly stoic guy. He’s a bit naive about the world, but he’s compassionate and has a deep sense of duty. And he never, ever misses his workouts. Watching him like that every day... it just does something to you. It makes you want to step up."
"I see. Certainly, being Ray's roommate would provide plenty of stimulation."
"And also..."
"? Is there more?"
Evi’s gaze suddenly turned distant.
"He reminds me of my old man."
"If I recall... he was a soldier?"
"Yeah. Ray hasn't said a word, but I’m pretty sure he knew my dad."
"Your father and Ray?"
"Yeah. But I’m not exactly fond of my old man. I think Ray might even know that, too."
"...I see."
It was the first Albert had heard of this. He took the information in calmly.
Everyone had their own life, their own story. Until now, Albert had been unable to see anything beyond himself.
But just by talking with a friend like this, he realized once again how vast the world truly was.
"Since my dad was a soldier, he was hardly ever home. It was basically just me and my mom living together all the time. Mom always looked so lonely. Then he participated in the Far East Campaign. It felt like the distance between us, which was already there, grew even wider. I haven't really seen him since then. But now... I feel like I might be able to talk to him a little."
Albert felt a surge of gratitude at being trusted with such a personal story. He had never had anyone to share things with like this before.
"That's good. Family is something to be treasured."
"You bet! So, what about you, Albert?"
"Me?"
The question caught him off guard, and he paused for a moment.
"I’ll be taking over the house."
"House Alium is Upper Nobility, right?"
"Yes. As the eldest son, I will eventually become the head of the family."
As the eldest son of House Alium, Albert had been raised from birth to be conscious of his role as the future head. That pressure had twisted him into a haughty and arrogant noble... but meeting Ray was changing him.
Not just as a Sorcerer, but as a human being.
"I see. That sounds like a lot to carry."
"Perhaps. But I don't want to live with regrets anymore. Ever since I met Ray, I feel like I’ve actually been able to change."
"Hehe. He really is a mysterious guy. Before you know it, everyone’s gathered around him. And then they all start to change. Seriously, he’s one hell of a man."
Evi sprawled out on the ground, soaking in the sunlight that filtered through the canopy.
Small birds chirped nearby. Even though it was already winter, the weather felt strangely warm today.
"Let’s win. Against Ray."
After a long silence, Albert spoke with a voice full of resolve.
"Damn right! I’ve got no intention of losing before the fight even starts. Let’s show him what we can do!"
"Yeah."
They bumped fists.
The Magics War, and all the personal convictions they carried into it, was now just around the corner.