A Magician’s Path Through Magica

"Bullies?" he asks in a curious tone.

I stay silent for a few seconds before finally replying, "Well… yeah. They wanted to beat me out of revenge."

"That explains the bruises and the dirty clothes. You need to be more careful about who you mess with. If you're dealing with someone stronger than you, don't hesitate to seek help. Even those who seem useless can be of assistance," he says with a gentle but wise tone. Then, with a knowing smile, he adds, "But I'm guessing you were stronger than them, am I right?"

"I wouldn't say I'm stronger than them, but I definitely have more will. I didn't want to die. And I couldn't let them insult grand—" I cut myself off, unwilling to reveal everything.

We turn onto the street where I live. Evening has already fallen, and the lights in my house are glowing warmly through the windows. Mercurius walks confidently toward the door, saying he'd like to meet my parents.

It's strange. I've never trusted a stranger this much before. But there's something about him—his aura—that makes me feel at ease.

Thankfully, I don't feel dizzy anymore, and my vision has cleared. My bruises and dirty clothes, however, are still obvious. I know my mother will be both worried and furious when she sees me like this.

I follow behind Mercurius, ready to knock on the door. Inside, I can hear the muffled sounds of my parents chatting. Mercurius knocks first, and the door creaks open. I take a deep breath, bracing myself for my mother's inevitable interrogation.

When my mother opens the door, her eyes land on Mercurius. She studies his face for a moment before her expression shifts in recognition. "Wait… Mercurius?" she asks, her voice laced with disbelief.

"Do I look that different? Did it really take you this long to recognize me, Leila?" Mercurius teases, laughing lightly.

My mother laughs in return and replies with mock sarcasm, "Yes."

Hearing her, my father steps up behind her. "Who's at the door, honey?" he asks.

He looks at Mercurius with the same puzzled expression my mother had, then his face lights up in realization. "Mercurius? Is that you? Why are you here? And why are you dressed like that?"

Now that I focus, I realize how elegantly Mercurius is dressed. His grey suit is impeccably tailored, matched with grey trousers and a beautiful hat adorned with golden ornaments. His leather shoes gleam as if freshly polished. He must be someone important, I think. A noble? A merchant? Or maybe even a renowned adventurer?

My musings are interrupted when my mother's gaze shifts to me. Her eyes widen, taking in the bruises and dirt-streaked clothes.

"Arthur, what happened to you?!" she asks, her voice a mix of worry and anger.

Before I can respond, Mercurius steps in smoothly, his tone tinged with sarcasm. "Don't worry, Leila. He just got into a little scuffle with some older kids."

I shoot Mercurius a confused look, silently wondering, Why did he have to say that?

"WHAT?!" my mother exclaims, her voice sharp with fury. "Who did this to you? We're reporting them immediately! Tell me what they looked like," she demands, her face flushed with anger.

Mercurius tries to comfort my mother, saying things like, "It's normal, Leila. I did things like this when I was his age. I bet your husband did too, right, Marvin?"

My dad stammers, clearly nervous. "Y-yeah, honey. Boys get into these kinds of things all the time."

"Shut up!" my mother snaps at him, her voice sharp and frustrated.

Then she turns back to me, her expression a mix of worry and exasperation. "My God, Arthur!" she cries. "Your clothes are soaked and covered in mud. Your face—look at all this dirt! And those bruises on your head?" Her voice trembles as she holds back tears.

She wraps her arms around me, pulling me into a tight hug. I hug her back, trying to calm her down.

"I think we should go inside," my father suggests, trying to ease the tension. "It's getting dark. Come on, Mercurius. This is your second home, after all."

We head inside, my parents each placing a hand on my shoulder as they examine me for more bruises or injuries.

In the living room, Mercurius takes a seat alongside my parents, while my younger sister, Reina, plays with her puppets on the carpet.

"What a beautiful little lady," Mercurius says to Reina, his voice playful and warm.

Reina looks up at him, her face lighting up with a shy but happy smile.

Turning to my parents, Mercurius says with a somber tone, "I heard what happened, and that's why I rushed from Elderfort to be here. My condolences to you—for Etheniol."

My parents nod quietly, their faces clouded with grief. "Thank you," my mother says softly.

She sends me off to the bathroom to clean myself up.

"Still working as a teacher?" my father asks, breaking the silence.

"Not exactly," Mercurius replies with a kind smile. "I'm too old to be a full-time teacher these days."

That explains his elegant attire. Teaching in a city like Elderfort must bring in a substantial income. Judging by his refined manners and poise, he's probably an exceptional teacher.

In the bathroom, I begin washing off the dirt and blood from my face. As I rinse away the grime, I glance at my reflection in the mirror—and notice something.

The silver streaks in my hair have grown. They're no longer just at the tips; now, a larger section of my hair has turned silver.

This started happening after Grandpa's death. I don't know why, but my parents don't seem particularly concerned about it. Maybe they've simply come to accept it. 

After washing up and changing clothes, I noticed that most of my bruises and wounds were barely visible anymore. The only scar that would surely remain was the one on my cheek—a bolt-shaped mark left by that rich bully. Strangely enough, I thought it looked cool. Tough, even.

I walked into the living room and saw Mercurius and my dad deep in conversation. The rich aroma of my grandmother's cooking filled the air. I hadn't realized she was here. Judging by the smell of the food, Mercurius was likely staying for dinner.

My mom and grandma brought the food to the table. The scent was mouthwatering—a hearty meat broth with potatoes and carrots, followed by tender ossobuco that looked as soft as butter. It was the kind of dinner that warmed the soul. I caught Mercurius's expression; his mouth was already watering.

We sat down and started eating.

"I'm here not only to express my condolences," Mercurius began, his voice commanding the room, "but also to invite this young man to one of the finest magic academies the world has ever known—Elder Academy in Elderfort."

We all froze, stunned by his words. My mom turned to me, her face lighting up with a mix of joy and disbelief. My grandma mirrored her expression, while my dad, though happy, looked puzzled.

"Don't you need to take the entrance exam in June, when you're 13 or 14?" my dad asked.

"Well, technically, yes," Mercurius replied with a mischievous smile. "But I have... contacts. They've helped me bypass that requirement. You know me, Marvin—I like to take shortcuts when it benefits those I care about. And I believe this is the best path for Arthur. I already see his potential. He's going to be a great mage."

"Thank you so much, Mercurius," I said, my voice filled with gratitude.

"It's my pleasure, young man," he said with a warm, wise expression. "But remember, strength alone isn't enough. You must continue to train diligently."

"Of course!" I exclaimed, my voice brimming with excitement. My eyes burned with determination as I clenched my right fist.

My father stood up suddenly, placing both hands firmly on the table. "Well then, this calls for a celebration!" he declared. He walked to the special cabinet in the kitchen, retrieving an old bottle of wine he only brought out on special occasions. With a flourish, he placed it on the table, his expression festive and full of pride.

That evening, we dined, drank, and celebrated. Laughter and chatter filled the room, and for the first time in what felt like ages, everything seemed right.

By the time the night wound down, it was late, and I could barely keep my eyes open. Mercurius would be sleeping on the couch in the living room.

I slipped under my bed sheets, the warmth lulling me into a peaceful state. My mind wandered, imagining my life at Elder Academy—learning magic, making friends, dueling other students, battling monsters, and maybe... just maybe... finding love.

Before I knew it, sleep claimed me, and my dreams carried me into the adventures ahead.

A loud sound jolts me awake from my much-needed and well-earned sleep. I get up and look out the window. Outside, I see Mercurius practicing magic behind our house. He's launching spells at a mannequin with remarkable precision.

I watch in awe as he unleashes advanced spells: Fire Arrow, Invisible Cut, Total Freezing, and Paralyzing Shock. Each spell is executed flawlessly. Suddenly, he conjures a sword, just like my grandfather used to. Unlike my grandfather's weapon, though, this sword is longer and radiates a bright yellow light. With a single slash, Mercurius obliterates the mannequin, scattering its pieces across the ground.

Without even turning around, he calls out, "Impressive, isn't it, Arthur?" His voice is steady but slightly breathless.

'How did he notice me?' I wonder, quickly opening the window.

"Hey, Arthur," he says with a grin. "Want to spar with me?"

My eyes light up with excitement. "It would be an honor!"

I dress as quickly as I can, practically vibrating with anticipation. Without even greeting my family, I dash outside.

I stand before him, determined, my face fearless.

Mercurius tosses me a wooden sword. "Here, use this," he says casually.

I catch the sword, holding it steady as I get into a fighting stance. "What about you? Which sword are you going to use?" I ask, curious.

"None," he replies, his tone serious yet playful.

"None?" I echo, confused.

"You're only nine years old," he explains. "Even if you're strong for your age and trained by Etheniol, you're no match for me." His confidence is palpable.

'He's underestimating me,' I think. 'He assumes I'm weak because he knows I was injured after my last fight, against some bullies slightly older than me.'

I smirk. "Alright, but don't be mad if I injure you," I say. Without hesitation, I activate The Phantom Step, covering 15 meters in an instant.

I'm now directly in front of him, within striking range. I slash my sword toward his stomach, but before I can land a hit, his body dissolves into mist. He's gone.

I stare in astonishment at the dissipating fog where he had stood. Frantically, I look around for him. 'He really is one of the strongest mages in the western region,' I think. 'Using teleportation spells is something only elite mages can do.'

Suddenly, he appears behind me. I notice just in time and attempt another slash, but again, he transforms into fog and teleports away.

This game of cat and mouse continues for half a minute. Finally, he stops teleporting and begins blocking my attacks instead.

I can see it in his face—he's impressed. "Not bad, young man," he says, his tone proud and surprised.

I step back, smiling confidently. Without warning, I conjure a medium-sized Fireball and hurl it directly at him.

He easily blocks it with a protective spell, smirking as though he's won. But what he doesn't realize is that while he was focused on the Fireball, I used The Phantom Step again, covering a distance I've never reached before. I reappear several meters behind him and immediately conjure Ice Thorns from the ground beneath his feet.

Mercurius reacts quickly, leaping away just in time. "That was close," he says, clearly satisfied with the challenge.

He chuckles and adds, "I think that's enough for today."

Looking up at the sky, he checks his silver wristwatch and sighs. "I should get going, Arthur."

"What?! Already? You've only been here for a day," I protest, disappointment evident in my voice.

"I'm sorry, young man," he says with a hint of regret. "But it takes me over two months to travel from Mirnia to Elderfort. I need to start the journey now."

I frown, but then his face brightens. "Don't worry. I'll be back to pick you up in four years. In the meantime, keep training like you always have. That's what your grandfather would have wanted for you."

He places a hand on my shoulder, his gaze firm and reassuring. I nod, filled with determination.

We walk back inside the house together. My dad is sitting on the couch, my mom is playing with my sister, and my grandmother has come over from her house.

Mercurius grabs his jacket and bids us farewell. We all say goodbye as he walks out the door.

My mother wraps her arms around me, her eyes wet with emotion. "I'm so proud of you," she says softly, pausing to wipe her tears. "Now you know what you have to do."

"Yes," I reply firmly, my voice filled with resolve.

As my parents head back inside, I stand at the doorway, watching Mercurius's figure grow smaller and smaller until he disappears over the horizon.

Now is the time to give it my all for the next four years. Even though Grandpa isn't here anymore, his love and legacy will continue to guide and protect me.