Chapter 19: About Xenon – Side Yuno
At first, when that luxurious carriage stopped near me, I thought, “Oh, it’s over.” The carriage that passed by me was clearly owned by nobility, and since the villagers had been endlessly complaining to me about the unfairness of nobles for as long as I could remember, I was already filled with fear and caution!
If I did something wrong, the village might go up in flames. Despite that, when someone spoke to me, I unconsciously blurted out, “Uh, what is it? I’m in a hurry!” I really thought I was a goner back then.
Honestly, I was in a huge rush to make it to the academy’s entrance ceremony on time, and I was much more pressed for time than I realized. But saying, “Uh, what is it? I’m in a hurry!” was definitely not the noble way to handle it. Sorry about that, Xenon. I apologize in my heart!
Well, when I actually met a noble… Xenon was the complete opposite of what I’d heard from the villagers. He’s kind, he’s considerate, and probably incredibly strong.
I’ve always had this instinctual sense of how strong someone is. When I meet a strong person, I get goosebumps, and my skin tingles. I can somehow just sense, “Yeah, this person is strong.” Xenon was exactly like that.
I mean, true monsters, like the principal, have an aura and magical power that leaks out even to the outside world. But Xenon was different.
Still, I felt something special about Xenon, like he wasn’t just pure strength. My intuition whispered to me that this was interesting.
I’ve always kinda liked fighting. Training feels good too. The sensation of steadily leveling up is quite satisfying, and sometimes, magical beasts show up in the nearby forest, allowing me to see the results of my training.
That’s why Xenon piqued my curiosity. But even so, I felt like trying to become friends with him just for that reason would be insincere. I did want to be friends, but our social statuses are completely different, and maybe he just helped me on a whim.
The world doesn’t work solely on emotions, after all.
I knew there were areas I couldn’t pry into, but when I heard, “I challenged the principal to a fight and got charred black, then got scouted,” my gut feeling told me, “Oh, this guy is someone you can’t let slip away.”
I really wanted to become friends with Xenon, purely. Social status didn’t matter. We’d be sharing the same school, after all. From what I could tell, Xenon wouldn’t mind either.
With that in mind, my quest to become friends with Xenon, despite a series of events, I think… probably… yeah, I’m not really sure, but it was a success!
☆☆☆
“Hey, Sensei. I found someone incredibly interesting.”
“Hmm? Chatting during your training, quite bold of you… Alright, try using Gravity.”
“Guh… A little, maybe… Would be nice…!”
During my training, where I practiced manipulating objects with magic to improve my magical control, I decided to bring up a topic with my grumpy old master. When he got really irritated, he pushed down on the things I was levitating from above. It was pretty heavy, and it was super tough!
But this grumpy old man, as soon as training is over, he goes straight home, so I only have the opportunity to talk to him during training…
“Well, if you can endure it, we can chat.”
“Heh, you said it, right?”
I smirk at his words. I’ve got his word. My master probably still thinks I’m the same as I was before the entrance ceremony.
Well, I can’t blame him for thinking I wouldn’t grow much in such a short time.
However!
I’ve learned techniques from Xenon and analyzed his magic in my own way. I concentrate my magical power in my eyes, looking down at my own body. Magical energy is welling up from every part of me, and it’s terribly inefficient, even though it’s me saying it. I will concentrate all this magical power in one place—my palm, to stop magical leakage and to increase the pure power.
By the way, Xenon was doing this unconsciously. Impressive.
“Whoaaaaaa!!!”
“Hmm?”
With a shout, I put more effort into manipulating objects and finally managed to break free from the gravity my master was exerting on them. What I did was increase the efficiency of magical energy release.
Actually, when Xenon demonstrated magic during the exam, I was observing the flow of magical energy with enhanced eyes. Guess what? Zero magical leakage! That was the pinnacle of efficiency. I still can’t replicate it.
Well, I’ve tried to adapt it in my own way, and that’s what this whole sequence of events is about.
Xenon is amazing, no doubt. Always leading the way and showing me the path. But that doesn’t mean I’m just going to follow him. Xenon has his path, and I have mine.
“Heheh, how about that, Sensei? Not only did I endure it, but I broke free!”
I said with a taunting grin to my master. He sighed and ran his hand through his already white hair.
“It seems you’ve had some good encounters in this short time. I’ll keep my promise. I’ll listen.”
Even though I’ve lost every time so far, what’s with that tone? I can’t say anything since he’s my superior. One day, I’ll definitely beat him.
With those thoughts in mind, I began to tell my master about what happened on the day of the entrance ceremony. It was the first time we had a proper conversation while exchanging words and showing some interest in his bearded face.
That day, there was more conversation with my master than training. Acknowledging Xenon’s words might be annoying, but our meeting, I thought, was a good thing. I felt like I could be a little more open… Maybe. But since training is still so tough, I guess I don’t want to admit it!
