Academy Showdown - Book I - Rise of the Phoenix

Chapter 3: Escalation

LUNCH HOUR HAD ARRIVED around high noon. The cafeteria at Phoenix Academy was housed in a separate structure behind the main building, approximately fifty yards away from the PMA Battle Arena near the East Gate, where key events such as the Opening Ceremony (save for this year) and combat classes were predominately held. Walking through the front doors, one could be assailed by the tantalizing scent of enchanted dishes wafting through the air, a melange of spices and magical ingredients that heightened the anticipation of an upcoming meal.

The interior was quite massive. A few long tables were positioned towards the walls of the cafeteria, creating an arch-like shape around six round tables in rows of three, providing plenty of free room for students to pass through and weigh their sitting options. The ground floor alone could seat the entire freshman and sophomore class.

Overlooking it from a massive balcony was the second floor, where the upperclassmen ate. The round tables up there had fancy tablecloths and menus made entirely from data magic. All that was required was to choose the food items desired, and a camp of catbats—among the easiest mabeasts to tame—would fly in with their orders under stainless steel dish coverings that were kept intact with sealing spells until said dish safely arrived at its destination. When it came to dining on fine cuisine, the upperclassmen of Taqora received service akin to that of nobility and for some...even royalty.

"Oho! So all of these are yer inventions? That's so cool!" Amidst the hum of conversation and the occasional burst of laughter, Cady's voice resonated with excitement as she examined Emi's collection of mana capsules, her tail wagging with youthful vigor.

"Th-thanks..." Emi's cheeks flushed as she worked. She was still unaccustomed to such high praise, especially when it came to her inventions. She had, after all, never shown them to anyone her own age before. Whenever she'd show her mother, she'd usually hear: "Mm-mm. This won't work. Start from scratch" or "Not bad, but you could really benefit by going about it this way". She'd gotten so used to that strict, yet constructive criticism that she wasn't sure how to properly react to Cady's unwavering adulation.

The two girls were seated at one of the round tables on the ground floor. They were among the first herd of underclassmen to arrive at the cafeteria. Having eaten her fill, Emi decided to work on her mana capsules some more while they patiently waited for Katsumi, Gayle, and Yuki to join them.

With her multi-tooled screwdriver, Emi carefully adjusted the tiny gears within the translucent capsule, her nimble fingers working with precision. The soft glow emanating from the intricate runes painted on its surface contrasted with the metal gears, creating a mesmerizing display.

Cady giggled, resting her chin in her hands. "Yer back at it, I see."

"Mm-hmm. All of the school programs will start their scouting by the end of the week," Emi explained, her eyes still glued to her work. "The Adventurers Program will no doubt get the most attention since a lot of aspiring mages in that field tend to become Voyagers." She gave a slight smirk. "And everyone wants to see who will be brave enough—or foolish enough—to take that next dive beyond The Yolk. With that many young mages joining the fray, they're bound to be keeping their eye on their peers who are joining the Support Program. That's where I come in. You see, with my inventions, I..."

Emi stopped herself, finally looking up, her eyes met Cady's, which were glistening with unshed tears. Emi panicked, her heart racing with nervous energy as her exterior turned red with embarrassment.

"Oh! S-Sorry!" She clapped a hand over her mouth. "Was I rambling?"

But this only made Cady laugh, shaking her head in protest as she picked up one of Emi's mana capsules. She ran her fingers over its smooth surface, marveling at the delicate craftsmanship.