Mia Returns from School

Matthews then awkwardly said to his younger sister Mia, "All right, since that's settled, let's go."

At a large restaurant near the academy entrance, Matthews ordered some food the kids liked. During the meal, Winter pestered Matthews with all sorts of questions about how to show off, and Matthews offered him some advice.

"Real show-offs do it without making it obvious. You have to get other people to praise you."

Winter looked eager to learn and asked seriously, "Big bro, what do you mean?"

"Look, for example, your first year will have a grade competition. Someone works hard to win first place. Doesn't that make everyone else think he's amazing?"

Winter nodded, clearly agreeing with the idea.

"Big bro, you're so clever. I have to win first place!"

Matthews replied firmly, "No, you absolutely don't!"

Winter asked in surprise, "Huh? Why not?"

Matthews grinned and said, "Think about it. He wins first place, then stands there smugly showing off. That's when you snap open your folding fan."

"You stride out of the crowd, looking cool as hell, and say to him, 'What makes you think you're good enough to show off here?'"

Matthews acted it all out as he described it vividly.

Winter hurriedly asked, "And then, big bro?"

"Then you look down your nose at him and say, 'You're only a Level One Mage. I, Winter Utteridge, am already a Level Two Mage!'"

"Wouldn't that rub his face in it? Tell me, isn't that awesome?"

"Wow, big bro, you really are clever."

Seeing Winter's eyes begin to light up, Matthews continued, "You still haven't understood the main point."

"Huh? Isn't rubbing it in the best way to show off?"

Matthews smacked him on the head and said bluntly, "The point is that you actually have to be good enough to be a Level Two Mage."

"Oh, so that's how it is."

"Exactly. That's why true masters quietly build up the ability to show off. That way, they can keep a low profile until the moment they make a splash—and then rub everyone's face in it."

Winter nodded, looking thoughtful.

Mia watched the two of them getting carried away with their strange ideas, wearing an expression that said she thought they were both idiots.

They soon finished eating, and Matthews walked them to the Magic Academy.

Looking at the lavish meal that had cost him a gold coin, Matthews regretted showing off. Winter had wanted to pay in the end, but Matthews had still taken out his money.

"Ah, I'd better head back."

Matthews looked at the most powerful magic academy in the Furio Empire. Now that he was already twenty, no magic academy was willing to accept him. So all he could do was go back and make some weapons and equipment, then head to the Magic Beast Mountain Range to hunt magic beasts for their Magic Beast Cores and exchange them for gold coins. He could see if there was any chance of obtaining a Battle Qi cultivation manual.

Inside the wind-magic classroom at the Imperial Capital Magic Academy, Mia and her roommate sat in the second row. A young female teacher walked in and confidently took her place at the lectern before beginning her introduction. "I'm delighted to be your first teacher. My name is Claudia."

"Of all the branches of magic, wind magic is the most powerful. It has the strongest single-target attack spell, Dimensional Blade, and at Level Seven, you can learn the flight spell Wings of Wind Soaring!"

"You're very lucky to have an affinity for wind magic! You'll probably be studying together for a long time, so I suggest that you introduce yourselves and get to know one another."

Everyone quickly began introducing themselves. When it was Mia's turn, she said, "I want to become the strongest mage and protect my big brother!"

"That's a wonderful goal. Next!"

The teacher spent the class helping the students get to know one another and didn't teach much else. Starting with the second lesson, she would guide them in meditation and teach them how to absorb magical elements.

"Mia, class is over. Why aren't you going back?"

Without turning around, Mia replied, "I'm going to the lightning-magic classroom to sit in on a lesson."

"Huh? Don't you lack an affinity for lightning magic?"

Mia's voice drifted back from farther away. "I just want to learn about it."

While Mia spent her lessons learning to meditate and absorb magical elements, and squeezed in time to sit in on lightning-magic classes, Matthews was busy too.

In a small blacksmith's workshop on the outskirts of the imperial capital, the blazing furnace fire lit up the night with a vivid red glow.

"Clang, clang, clang—"

Rhythmic hammering rang out in a steady beat. Beside the glowing furnace, a man drenched in sweat swung a heavy hammer. His sturdy muscles powered each swing of his arms as he pounded the iron ore on the workbench again and again. Gradually, the shape of a long, slender blade began to emerge from the ore.

As time passed, the rhythmic hammering continued to ring out.

"Sss—"

After quenching the blade, Matthews picked it up and inspected it. He was fairly satisfied. This was the best piece he'd managed to make in a month, and he'd wasted who knew how much iron ore on the earlier attempts.

When he was done, Matthews checked the time, packed up his tools, put out the furnace fire, and went to rest.

The next morning, he set about working on the finishing details of the blade.

"Big bro, I'm back!"

Matthews, hard at work, looked up at the sky and realized it was already almost afternoon. Time really did fly when you weren't paying attention. He saw his younger sister bouncing over happily.

Matthews asked, "Why are you back?"

"We have today and tomorrow off."

Mia wore an expression that couldn't hide the surprise she had for him. She asked, "Big bro, guess what I brought you!"

"Oh, our little Mia knows to bring her big brother a present now?"

"Yep, yep! Come on, big bro, guess!"

Matthews thought for a moment, then said, "Could it be a medal from your Magic Academy?"

"Wrong! Our Magic Academy doesn't give out medals."

"Silly big bro, I learned to meditate and absorb magical elements. I'm a mage now!"

Matthews picked up the little girl and gave her nose a playful tug.

"Our Mia's a little genius!"

"Stinky big bro, don't tug my nose. I was going to teach you how to meditate, but now I'm mad!"

As soon as Matthews heard that she could teach him to meditate, he took her little hand and swung her arm back and forth as he said, "Mia the little genius, will you teach your big brother magic?"

"Hmph! Since you're asking me, this genius will graciously agree to teach you!"

"Wonderful!"

Mia didn't have much experience teaching. At first, Matthews's mind was full of distracting thoughts, and he couldn't settle down, so he failed to meditate.