Magic High: Utility Belt

Chapter Three: Being the newbie

"Wake up buddy, we've got practice today" I heard Rose's gentle voice wake me up. I stirred lightly, and then sat up with a jolt as I struggled to get my bearings. I looked at the time; it was 6:38 AM.

"Dude, you slept so deep, it's been two days since you fell asleep. Basic time magic mishap" Fred opined

"WHAT... THE!" I yelled

Rose gave him a push. "Don't mind him. He's joking."

I felt relieved. But something was still bothering me though.

"So what are we doing today?" I asked

"Well, since it's our second day, they're going to put us to a test match to find out just how skilled we are at... everything. I just hope I won't have to fight some power crazed level 10 student." said Rose

"I can handle that" I said, putting on my ring and when it slid into my middle finger, it shone so brightly.

"What if they match the two of you against each other?" Fred asked

I quickly responded; "What... no way am I going to fight her, she is much too powerful"

Rose smiled at me as I said this. I looked at her then at Fred and he later shrugged and entered the bathroom nearby.

Then the bell rang, signifying the start of the new session.

"Fred, hurry up. We don't want to be late for our first session." Rose said out loud

"So do I" he replied back "Just give me a minute"

The total number of trainers at Magic High totaled about 1950, including the scholars, training instructors and homeroom guides. Everyone was gathered in the assembly, but for some reason, not everyone showed up. I stayed for about three minutes before I went back in.

I decided to do some basic training on my own so I picked an empty hall not too far away. I made sure no one was looking and then I decided to go for it. I touched my ring...

"Elemental Power; Water Stride, Level 3" I commanded.

A sudden kind of energy awoke in me and my inner man glowed. A disk shaped energy projection appeared and I directed the disk towards some targets. Let's just say I didn't do a lot of damage but then I reversed time and tried again, this time on a higher degree.

"Water Blades, Steel Edges Level 4" then the most clear, sharp looking huge ice sword appeared in my hands. I used it to practice on my sword swinging skills. I was practically a ninja. Monster sized rocks kept hurling at me, but like a chain reaction, I slashed them into sandy bits.

"Pretty impressive skills you've got there, pal" a voice called out.

I looked to the right of the hall; a figure was standing behind the double doors. When he stepped into the light, I could see that he was some kind of trainee, he looked like someone my age, maybe even a year older.

"I'm Steven Birch; I'm supposed to be the one handling all the assessing of the new entrees. May I say, that was a really accurate and impressive sword handling technique you used."

" I'm Damian Wayze. This doesn't really feel like an achievement. I do stuff like this all the time." I said, feeling proud of myself for the first time.

"Yeah, I noticed..." he said smiling mischievously. That was when I knew what he was really doing.

"Are you giving me false
compliments? If so... I don't need it; I am more than satisfied with my self-train anyway.

"I am completely sure that you will be doing another self-evaluation, once you find out that there is a lot more to fine tuning your powers than self-defense."

I was about to say he was wrong but he cut me short.

"Any anyway, do you want people to think you're insane. A newcomer who loves to brag... Seriously; we hate any kind of boasting around here, even the indirect ones. And we already made it clear, no breaking the rules, were you even at the orientation?" he rambled on.

I simply yawned "What is this.... middle school

He raised his eyebrows but said nothing. I could tell that I'd already ended up on his blacklist.

"You are one annoying pain in the ass" he said and exited the hall.

I smiled proudly. For achieving the award of Most Annoying Newbie was like music to my ears.

What I didn't bargain for was the extent of me seeing more of Steven Bird....sorry Birch. He was the hostel admin III, watchman, and other lame camp jobs. When I told Fred and Rose about it, they didn't find it amusing.

What Rose did though was to open her tablet, and she showed me an ultra-clear 8K video of me wrecking the side halls with my water stride moves.

"Damian look, we don't want to give these guys the wrong message that we are just a bunch of destructive, reckless, know it all students." Rose cautioned

I got the message, but I still wouldn't listen. Driven by instinct, I was obliged to be as show off-y as I wanted to be. But first I want to write down something remarkable that happened tonight during the camp's get together evening.