New Year

On New Year's Eve, half a month had passed since the Book Theft Incident.

The Natural History Association's Honorary Director badge had arrived a few days ago, but the exquisite badge hadn't brought Donald any practical benefits. He was still a lowly odd-jobber in the Magic Academy Library—and, oh yes, Mr. Victor's personal assistant. As more and more people learned about this, the suspicion, malice, and surveillance directed at him had also dwindled.

Ever since his Divine Element had surpassed one hundred and he'd advanced to Low-rank Mage Apprentice, Donald's cultivation speed had finally begun to slow. Drawing the same number of Runes now yielded less and less growth in his Divine Element.

Lately, however, he'd been focusing his efforts elsewhere: Magic Models. He had long since memorized the modeling steps for the two Magic Models in Magic Model Introduction and Practice, the book that had once brought him an unpleasant experience: Regular Hexagon Basic Attack Magic and Regular Hexagon Nested Basic Defense Magic. But as the title suggested, the book was an introduction and a guide to practice. Reading it thoroughly and understanding its contents had only gotten him started; what he lacked most was practical experience. Even in the quietest conditions, following the steps one by one, he could only just manage to complete the basic attack magic. If he tried to use it in actual combat, he would surely be flustered. As for the nested model, he hadn't even dared to try it yet.

Sure enough, a voice nearby interrupted him, and his modeling was instantly disrupted. The partially assembled Six Yuan Fireball spell collapsed in his Sea of Consciousness.

"When I was little, Mom brought me to see the New Year Fireworks once." It was Kelly's voice.

Tonight was the liveliest night of the year at the Magic Academy. The Runes students drew for their coursework had no practical use, but they couldn't go to waste. Senior students gathered them all and made them into Magic Fireworks, which were set off together on New Year's Eve. On this day, people from near the academy—and even the dignitaries of Dorn City—made a special trip to the Magic Academy to see the rare spectacle.

Richard and Kelly had also come to the Magic Academy for the New Year holiday.

"What do you think? I told you this was the best spot. I found it last year," Wesley called to Donald. A few days earlier, he'd said he knew the perfect place to watch the fireworks. He'd even invited Lucia, though, of course, she'd turned him down again.

It was a rooftop on the edge of the Dormitory Area. Wesley had somehow found a key to the small building. Now he was pointing out to Richard which of the people below, gathered to welcome the New Year, were famous beauties from the Magic Academy.

Donald sat on the edge of the rooftop, his legs dangling over the side, watching the Magic Arena in the distance. That was where the fireworks would be set off. Kelly sat beside him. As far as he could remember, they'd never sat this close before.

"The fireworks are beautiful, aren't they?" Donald replied with a smile.

"Actually... I don't remember what they looked like anymore. I just remember there were so many people. Mom kept holding my hand, and I held on as tight as I could, afraid she'd disappear..."

Donald pictured the little girl in the crowd, holding her mother's hand, curious and nervous.

"...I'm sorry... I shouldn't have brought up mothers in front of you..." Kelly saw Donald fall silent again and remembered his circumstances.

"Oh, it's fine. My mother passed away when you were still in Dorn City, right?"

"Two months after Mom took me away from Lant Island, your mother... passed away... I was only four then, but do you believe me, Donald? I remember what your mother looked like. She was beautiful when she smiled. Everyone liked her. It's just... she wasn't in good health... Back then, I used to call you Big Brother Donald. Do you remember?" The girl's face flushed again.

Donald smiled without answering. That had been the Donald from before he turned six, another Donald.

"Richard, when did your brother manage to win over that pretty girl?" Wesley had already figured out that there was something between them.

"My brother? He didn't win her over... Kelly likes my brother..."

"That's outrageous, absolutely outrageous. Your brother's so boring. How could a girl like him?"

"My brother isn't boring, Elder Brother Wesley. Look, my brother made this sword for me. Mr. Merkel, Kelly's uncle, said my brother's a genius..."

"Fine, fine, your brother's the biggest genius. But don't you think your brother... isn't as handsome as me?"

Richard looked at Wesley, then turned to look at Donald. After going back and forth a few times, he answered timidly, "I-I don't know what counts as handsome, but... you're both too skinny..."

Wesley was at a loss for words at Richard's innocent sense of beauty when someone knocked on the rooftop's locked door. "Wesley, are you up there?"

It was Lucia's voice.

Wesley ran to open the door, making a lewd face at Donald as he went.

"Lucia, Lucia, didn't I tell you everywhere else would be too crowded? It's quiet and romantic here... Oh, who are these two?"

"This is my cousin Roger, and his friend Fiona. They came over from the Knight Academy. This is my classmate, Wesley."

"Oh, Lucia, if you knew about this great spot, you should've brought us here sooner. I'd rather have stayed with my father than squeeze in with that crowd."

"Fiona, weren't you the one who insisted on following my cousin?"

"Come on, Lucia. Don't let your classmate laugh at you. Wesley, right? Lucia talks about you all the time." Roger held out his hand to Wesley with a hearty smile.

"Really? I think there's been some misunderstanding between Lucia and me." Wesley smiled and shook his hand. He didn't want Lucia going around advertising his glorious exploits. Roger's palm was large, and his handshake was firm and strong.

"These are my friends: Donald, Donald's younger brother Richard, and Kelly. Richard and Kelly are also students at the Knight Academy."

"Hello! I hope we're not interrupting." This time, Roger didn't offer his hand. Lucia frowned slightly.

"I've seen you at the Knight Academy. I heard you're about to cultivate Battle Qi." Richard gazed at Roger admiringly. Roger was a star fifth-year student at the Knight Academy, and Richard's idol.

Roger smiled modestly but didn't answer.

After a brief exchange, the two groups sat apart. Richard and Kelly each sat on one side of Donald, while Wesley chatted with Lucia for a few moments before going to sit beside Richard.

Lucia kept sneaking glances at Kelly. She had a vague feeling that this pretty Knight Academy student had a very close relationship with Donald.

Before long, the New Year arrived. Countless Magic Fireworks shot into the sky, and the crowd broke into gasps and cries of admiration.

While everyone watched the dazzling fireworks in the night sky, Kelly quietly wrapped both arms around Donald's and leaned her head against his shoulder. Donald smiled faintly and didn't move.

Lucia turned her face slightly and watched the boy's face lit by the fireworks. His tranquil expression still showed no surprise. He was even smiling, as if the brilliant magical spectacle before him had failed to move him at all.

After waiting so long, it turns out this is all there is to it. There aren't many colors, either... Donald felt a little disappointed. Feeling the warmth of the girl beside him, he remembered that she was only fourteen and held back the urge to put an arm around her.

Donald had forgotten that just moments earlier, the girl beside him had turned fifteen. He himself had only just turned seventeen.

The fireworks faded, leaving behind the distinctive smell of fire elements that hadn't burned away completely. On the rooftop, the young people still weren't ready for the night to end.

"Wesley, I heard about your duel with Carl. Impressive."

"Cousin, he only used a little Wind Blade."

"Lucia, you don't see it? The fact that the Wind Blade was so small is exactly what made it impressive. If the rumors are true, Wesley's control of the timing, his command of the casting distance, and his understanding of his opponent's mind were what brought about that seemingly lucky victory. My guess is that if you fought again, you'd still win. Am I right?" Roger directed his last words at Wesley.

"Beating a fool like Carl isn't anything special." Wesley didn't give a direct answer.

"Is that so? Then why did you fight a fool in the first place?" Fiona asked, puzzled.

"He did it for Donald," Lucia answered for Wesley. She was afraid Wesley would drag her into it.

"For Donald?" Fiona looked at the shabbily dressed boy beside Wesley, even more puzzled.

Richard and Kelly also looked at Donald in confusion. This was the first they'd heard of it.

"It's all a bunch of nonsense. Anyway, my friend's too kind, and I can't stand to see my friends get pushed around."

"You almost made everything worse... But Donald, why didn't you explain yourself at the time? You let Carl and the others slander you like that." Lucia finally asked what had been on her mind.

"Would explaining have helped?" Donald looked at Lucia. "Like you said, it would only have made things worse, wouldn't it? People only believe what they want to believe, don't they?"

"Then didn't you ever think of fighting back?"

Donald lowered his head and slowly narrowed his eyes, as if he were trying to find the answer in the ground beneath his feet.

"I once had a dream about an orphanage, one of those charitable places that took in orphans. The children there had all grown up without parents. They were wild and fought every day. Of course, the younger children were more likely to get beaten."

Everyone watched him, wondering why he'd brought up a dream like that.

"Some of them could only resist by becoming more ruthless and cruel than the older children, until one day, everyone was afraid of them."

"Are you saying they shouldn't fight back? That the weak deserve to be bullied?" Roger asked.

Donald hesitated before answering. "No. I mean it was a very sad dream."

"Then what would you do if you were one of those children?" Kelly asked softly.

"I'd pray I could grow up quickly," Donald replied with a smile. He was starting to think he shouldn't have told that story.

"Elder Brother Wesley, where are you going for the winter trial?" Richard had gotten a little confused by his brother's dream and would rather talk about cultivation.

"The winter trial? I haven't thought about it. Maybe I'll go sunbathe by the sea. How about Lant Island?"

"Wesley, I heard there've been a lot of bandits in the Whispering Forest, in the eastern part of the province near the Thorn Empire. We're planning to go there for our trial. Would you be interested?"

"Forget it. I like the seaside more than the forest..."

"Lucia's going too."

"...I've suddenly decided the forest is more suitable in winter. And I want to see what bandits look like." Wesley had no principles at all.

"Elder Brother Wesley, can I come with you?" Richard missed his father, but he'd still rather have a chance to go on an adventure.

"Of course. Bring your brother and Kelly too!"

"What would I go for? I have work."

"The library closes for the winter. What work could you possibly have? Come on, come on. Aren't you worried someone might steal Kelly away?"

"That's right, come with us," Lucia urged in a quiet voice.

Donald also really wanted to go out and see the world. He was just afraid his circumstances might affect everyone's trial. But after Wesley and the others persuaded him, he agreed. The seven of them arranged to set off together in a few days for a trial in the Whispering Forest.