The Fractured Mage

Chapter 20 - Realistic

"So, tomorrow's the big day, To. Well, you excited?" Inquired Lilac, as I finished up my breakfast.

"I'm not sure...I guess I'm equal parts excited and nervous? Maybe a little anxious too. And the fact that my daily routine will now be interrupted is pretty bittersweet...well, mostly bitter. Yeah, that about sums up my feelings on the subject," I surmised wryly.

"I don't get you, To. I know I'd feel super restless and impatient if I'd been stuck indoors for over four months. Come on, you should be way more excited about this," She grinned in response.

"Sure, I'll just change the way I feel because you said I should, that's super doable," I replied dryly.

A couple of days have passed since my sparring matches against Ifeus. And tomorrow, I'll officially be joining his Magic Guild, Solaris. Incidentally, it's also my birthday tomorrow, my first since the start of my current memories.

Today's the 19th of April, the year is 505 PA, the date on the day I first woke up here was the 2nd of December last year. Which means that I've been living here for four months plus a little over two weeks, though it sure has felt like a lot longer. Probably because, at least as far as my current memories are concerned, those four and a half months or so have basically been my entire life.

After I first checked out my Magic System and Class, I then found out that the 2nd of December also happens to be Lilac's birthday. I guess I kinda stole her thunder, her birthday party ended up doubling as a welcome party for me. She didn't seem to mind though, she was pretty friendly to me right from the start.

"I don't think there's anything for you to be nervous about. You're just going to register tomorrow, aren't you? It's not like you'll be taking on a Quest, right?" She pointed out, as we took our bowls back to the kitchen.

"Ohh, I definitely won't, I'm in no particular rush. I'm more than happy to take my time as a Guild Mage, so I'll just register tomorrow and nothing more," I nodded, as I washed my bowl in the sink.

The term Mages refers to anyone and everyone who's awakened their Magic System, very few people ever fail to awaken at all, though the majority go on to develop their Magic System to a very minimal extent. Meanwhile, the term Guild Mages refers specifically to Mages who are, well, members of a Magic Guild.

Magic Guilds are the biggest organizations in which Mages are employed, the vast majority of the most powerful Mages are affiliated with a Magic Guild.

Then there are Magic Unions, which are basically smaller versions of Guilds, and located in smaller places like in towns and villages. Union Mages are generally much lower level than Guild Mages, at least on average.

Additionally, Mages who use their Magic for criminal acts are known as Malefic Mages, and groups of them are called Malefic Coalitions. The most infamous and dangerous Malefic Mage in history is the Malevolent Witch, Laguna.

"Yeah, that does sound like you. Gotta say, I'm kinda envious of you...you get to start at B-Rank, while I'm still stuck at C-Rank," She sighed wistfully, as she handed me her bowl, "Hey, mind washing mine too?"

"No way, do it yourself," I replied as I glanced back at her in exasperation, before adding as I stepped back to let her access the sink, "And as for the rank thing, considering that you're currently a Basic Mage, C-Rank is the highest you're eligible for."

Guild Mages are given ranks based on how powerful they are, with S being the highest, and then followed by A, B, C and D. Basic Mages are generally at C and D-Ranks, while Ascended Mages are at A and B-Ranks.

And S-Rank is exclusive to Apex Mages, so it's pretty rare to come across an S-Ranked Mage. I still can't believe that I've been living with one, in Ifeus. Oh, and Iris is A-Rank, which she'd earned just before I started living here.

Ifeus told me that, normally, I'd just about barely qualify for an A-Rank, but he's starting me off at B-Rank, for a couple of reasons. The first being that, since I'm hiding my Ether Mage Ascended Tier, I'm not good enough for A-Rank with my martial arts skills alone.

And the second reason is that starting me off at A-Rank would likely ruffle some feathers with other members of the Guild. Makes sense, I can't imagine most people would be too accepting of some random newbie starting off at the second highest rank, especially one so young.

And I'd definitely prefer not to have any friction with the other members, there's no sense in getting dragged into unnecessary and avoidable conflict. So, I'll strive to form friendly relationships with the other members...hope it doesn't take too much effort.

"Yeah, guess you've got a point...and it's not like I said it's unfair or anything. In fact, I'd say you totally should be A-Rank. I mean, you grow stronger at an abnormally fast pace. In just four months, you went from being totally green and way outclassed by my sister to being able to keep up with her and more than hold your own. Not to mention the way you humiliated dad the other day," She grinned as she let out an amused laugh.

"The attack I used against him only worked as well as it did because he wasn't expecting it. And since that method gives me such an overwhelming boost in speed and strength, it takes everything I've got to keep my focus and balance intact, which makes my attacks one dimensional and straightforward. Not to mention that, if I overdo it, the backlash could seriously injure me.

I'd definitely have been able to land a hit in with that technique against Iris if she hadn't seen me use it against Ifeus, but now that she knows about it, she'd likely be able to evade it. And I'm left wide open in the instant after using that technique, so-..."

"Sheesh, you're so pessimistic. Come on, that technique is awesome! It may only be for a moment, but in that moment, you enter the realm of Apex Mages, how cool is that!?" She exclaimed indignantly.

"I'm not being pessimistic, I'm being realistic. I'm looking at the technique from a more analytical point of view, to assess its feasibility and reliability in actual combat as accurately as possible," I pointed out objectively.

"So technical and on-paper, would it kill you to be more, I don't know, emotional?" She replied with a wry smile, before adding, "Oh, by the way, I bought a new game with the money I earned on my last Quest, let's give it a try!"

I want to refuse, I really want to refuse...but knowing her, that'd be a waste of energy...