Reverse Chronicles

A New Leaf

     The visit to the institute opened my eyes to the truths of this world. The Outsider class is a special class only available to people like me, who comes from another world. Because I am an outsider, I am able to bend this world’s natural laws and combine both sword and magic. It explains why the three basic classes, Trainee, Pupil, Apprentice, were all connected to my class. It also explains why I learned Daniel’s Intense Accuracy skill when it was meant for archers.

     After the headmistress told me everything, the astounding facts and the terrible downsides, I ran back to the balcony. I sat on the balustrade and reflected on my options. I was filled with both solicitude and reassurance, solicitude because I know no way to go back to my world, and reassurance because Alyssa is here and I felt that I was not alone.

     “Hey, are you alright?” Franz sat across me maintaining deep eye contact as we spoke.

     “I don’t know.”

     “You’re going to be fine. We will help you find the other person,” Franz held my hand. His hands were warm like a comforting blanket in the midst of chilly nights. “Keith and I are going to help you in your journey.”

     “Of course,” Keith came running towards us with bags and tomes, “sign me up for this adventure!”

     “You are really going to travel with me? But we just met, I don’t know the both of you well and you don’t know me. I am a total stranger to the both of you.”

     “It is a knight’s duty to help people. I will be there to help you even if you are a complete stranger,” Franz answered.

     “Geez, I’m helping you because you are a stranger. You are from a different world. Imagine all the things that I could learn from you. I want to study your class and in doing so, I must accompany you on this journey. Don’t worry, I’m the best student in the institute. My magic will obliterate every monster that comes our way.”

     “Thank you!” tears slowly streamed from my eyes. “I cannot thank you enough.”

     “No need for thanks. First, we must find the other guy that the headmistress talked about,” Keith said putting some of his tomes inside his small bag.

     “Daniel? We travelled together in this city. He said he wanted to become an archer.”

     “I see, that’s easier then,” Keith answered. “Lead us there, Franz.”

     My time in the institute was short. We left after just arriving. Keith flew us to the gate and exited the institute. When we got back to the city, I still could not fathom how a completely different world exists inside the gates. Franz helped me ride on Mikah, while Keith just levitated with us. His presence in the city grabbed attention. “It’s a mage!” People cried out as if they haven’t seen one before. “Dear mage, please help us,” the merchants who were selling magical products cried to Keith.

    “Yeah, sure,” Keith waved his right hand in front of him in a circular motion. From that movement, a white mist appeared. Keith pulled his hands back from the mist and instantaneously pushed the mist towards the people, “Illusion,” he shouted. When the mist reached the merchants, they went back to their own place and never bothered Keith again.

     “What did you just do?” Franz said in an alarmed way. It seems he really cares for the people and doesn’t want them in harm’s way.

     “Relax, I only cast an illusion spell. In their eyes, we are invisible. It is going to wear off after a little while. Let’s go now.”

     Franz whipped the reins and we started traversing the streets. We were heading back to where we met this morning, at Dowe, the inn where I stayed. At the middle of our travel, Keith suddenly stopped. We turned back and saw him catching his breath.

     “What’s wrong?” I asked him. “You like pale and fatigued.”

     “He must have run out of mana from all the levitating he is doing,” Franz answered.

     “Ugh, be quiet. I’m just going to recharge,” Keith grabbed a pear-looking fruit that had blue spots from his bag and finished the whole thing in the blink of an eye. “And I’m back,” white mists appeared around Keith’s body, “Levitate.”

     We continued on our way back. The sun was already setting. The entire day was spent almost on travel. I was tired and I knew the other two were tired as well. “Hey, Franz,” I called out to him. “Why don’t we call it a day for now? We can find Daniel tomorrow.”

     “Are you tired?” Franz worriedly asked. “We can continue the search for you.”

     “I’m fine, let’s just rest for now. I know Daniel won’t go anywhere besides this city.”

     “Oh look, she thinks you are tired, Franz,” Keith teased Franz.

     “Well, I’m not the one who ran out of mana. I’m sure she is doing this because she is worried about you running out of mana again,” Franz slammed back.

     “Stop it you two. Let’s just call it a night. Let’s not push ourselves too much. Everybody could use some rest.”

     We directly went to the inn. The innkeeper was shocked when both Franz and Keith came in. As it turns out, they were big names in this city. Franz is the squire of the knight captain that protects the city, while Keith is the best student in the institute and is the youngest chosen pupil of the headmistress.

     “How did you tame them?” the innkeeper naughtily asked which made things awkward between us.

     “What? Tame? I didn’t.” I blushed and felt embarrassed when the two heard her say it. Sucking in my embarrassment, I rented three separate rooms each accommodating only one person for the night. The innkeeper gave us our keys and we headed to the third floor. Our rooms were beside each other. I took the middle room, Franz went with the room to the left, and Keith to the right.

      After that tiring day, I was very drowsy, but nothing beats a hot bath. I went to the bathroom and suddenly opened up on Franz who was taking a hot bath. I flushed red. I swear I’m straight but his muscles and his well-sculpted body boiled this body’s hormones. On top of that, he had an attractive face and deep teal-silver eyes that could melt my soul if I look for too long.

     “Umm, Josh? You have to knock first next time. The third floor has a common bathroom,” Franz embarrassingly spoke. I ran back to my room in shame. There was too much that happened today. I lay prone on the bed beating it to help me forget about the embarrassment. Why can’t I stop thinking about him? Ugh, he is such a gentleman? Why am I having these thoughts? Suddenly, someone knocked on my door.

     “Josh, are you there? I’m done with the bathroom, you can go in now.” It was Franz and he was very kind to let that mishap pass. I went in front of the bathroom door and knocked a lot of times to make sure no one was really there. I can’t afford to step on someone naked again. Imagine if it was a weirdo, not Franz. I opened the door and there was really nobody inside. The bath was still filled with hot water. I entered the bath and let my worries fade away.

     I breathed deep and was about to doze off when a strange thought came to my head. I looked at the water and it looked like someone bathed here before I did. Wait, am I bathing on Franz’s water? I quickly got out of the bath and rushed back to my room. I quickly changed back to my clothes which were kindly cleaned by the innkeeper.

     When the bells rung for supper, we went down to the main mess hall together. I pretended that nothing happened, but whenever I looked at Franz he would blush which would also make me blush. We ate our supper quietly. There was an awkward atmosphere between me and Franz. Keith made all the conversations and happily talked about his spells, which piqued my curiosity. If I could learn magic, I could combine both sword and magic on the battlefield.