Re: Turning
Vain

The sun is high in space. Daytime in Victoria is generally quite cool. However, rising temperatures are a sign that summer is approaching.

Behind the castle, Shinnichi is practicing. Sweat was pouring from his face. Dropping like dew on the morning leaves.

"Well... Huh... Huh...." Gasping for breath, Shinnichi extended his hand forward. His palms were full of blisters. He looked like he was going to faint at any moment.

"You're tired, aren't you? Why don't we just stop?" A girl's voice reminded him.

"I can still continue, Himekaze-san." Shinnichi smiled faintly. Sweat on his chin.

Thanks to the blonde girl, Shinnichi again reached out his right hand. Back trying to cast the spell.

Erina sighed. Amazed by his unyielding nature. All this time, he had never seen someone as persistent as Shinnichi.

Not far behind him, Izumi and Yonaka were sitting inside the gazebo. Protected from the sun.

"Shinnichi-kun, it's okay, isn't it?" Yonaka asked. Staring at Erina and Shinnichi who were conversing.

"I won't worry about it" Izumi replied. Tilt his body backwards. "He must have his reasons."

"Stay, until you ask Erina to teach you." Yonaka still could not shake his worries.

"Ah, kneeling in front of him is indeed strange."

Izumi recalled a week ago. The day after they return, Shinnichi asks Erina to teach him magic. Whatever it is. Although Erina initially refuses, she finally gives up after seeing Shinnichi press his forehead on the floor for a full two hours.

"Is this related to the princess?"

"yes too. I haven't seen the Princess lately. Shinnichi said, he was busy preparing himself."

"Being a Princess is hard."

Exchanging words, the atmosphere between the two of them was as good as ever. They turned back to Shinnichi and Erina.

"Witch of water, wind, fire, earth. We've all tried! None of them are right for you!" Erina massaged her forehead. "Why don't you just give up?"

Shinnichi shook his head. "I'm not giving up."

"Hard-headedness has its limits!" Erina shook her head. "You don't have a match for any magic. You're not talented in magic!"

"...."

Shinnichi was silent. Listening to Erina's rebuke.

"Look, you're persistent. I gave that to you. But, you must know your own limits." Erina began to give advice. "If you continue to force yourself to use inappropriate magic, the result will not be good. You read a lot, you know that, right?"

Shinnichi slowly nodded. "... Mana Poisoning and the possibility of Fragor."

"really. You could die for it. One died slowly and painfully, the other died quickly and painfully. Either way, you could die."

Shinnichi silent. Staring at the ground, saying nothing.

He knows the risks. The risk awaits him if he continues to do this. He was afraid, of course. Who wouldn't? A painful death can scare anyone.

However, Shinnichi was willing to live it. Fear may always haunt him, but he doesn't mind.

If that means keeping Fiona's smile, Shinnichi doesn't mind.

"... Still is. I'm not giving up." Shinnichi raised his head. Smiling confidently, looking at Erina who was getting tired.

Erina let out a breath. "Good, fine. It's up to you."

Erina opened the book in her hand. The title reads: "Medeis Magnus Opum."

A popular encyclopedia book. The book holds various kinds of magic as well as her spell dispensing. From A to Z, there was almost no magic not recorded in the book.

Impatiently, he began to open page after page. Looking for magic suitable for Shinnichi.

"Water magic, already. Wind, not suitable. Fire, especially. Land, no." Erina kept looking. Before he knew it, he was already at the back of the book.

On the last page, Erina's expression changed.

"What about this?" tanyanya enthusiastic. "White magic. You knew?"

"Eh?" Shinnichi shook his head.

"Listen. It's pure magic. No need to ask for elemental spirits or anything like that. You just need to control the Mana within your body" Erina explained as she read the book. "The magic is easy but rather useless. Maybe you can do it."

Hearing Erina's words, Shinnichi's HP was reduced by one point.

"All right, how's it going?" ask Shinnichi. Prepared himself.

"Control Your Man. Gather it in your hands. Next, throw it."

"Throw? Err... Meanin?"

"Just do it."

"... Alright."

Shinnichi closed his eyes. Take a deep breath. Imagine the power in his body. He remembered the words of the princess.

'Where is everywhere. It always flows in the world. In the sky, on the ground, in the water. Even in the bodies of living beings. This versatile power is similar to water. Able to heal, and, of course, the opposite.'

"Imagine it as water" Shinnichi murmured. He extended his right hand.

He felt something in his chest. Moved to his palm. Little by little, he gathered them on his palm.

He opened his eyes and then shook his hand. Nothing happened. His body felt heavy again. Fail.

Shinnichi sighed. He tried again.

Erina looked at Shinnichi. Feeling a little bored.

White magic is the most basic magic. There is no need to be mastered if one wants to be a witch. No need to make a name or anything. Controlling Mana is quite the same as breathing. One does not even need to be conscious to do so.

So, seeing Shinnichi so focused on doing so and failing to make it was enough to surprise him.

Shinnichi tried to do it again. But, his body felt heavy. Practicing magic since the morning had already made an impact on his body. His body was almost empty. He cannot use magic.

Shinnichi did not give up. After he saw the Princess' tears? Can't and won't.

Shinnichi closed his eyes. Tried back. Now, he felt nothing from his chest. Now he feels something from the outside. Such as wind or cold water.

Shinnichi didn't think much of it. He continued to gather Mana in his palm. He could feel his muscles tighten. Like holding something heavy.

"Good!" Erina exclaims. Relieved that Shinnichi finally did something. "You did it!"

"Oh! Shinnichi! You did it, man!"

"Shinnichi-kun! It's great!"

Shinnichi heard the cry of his friends, he opened his eyes. Just like Erina, she smiled widely. In his hand, there was a faint blue-colored ball of light. Circling like a wave.

Erina stepped beside him. "Now defend, then throw." He pointed towards a tree, about 10 meters away.

Shinnichi took a breath. With a quick movement, he jerked his hand.

The ball flew. Not far away, only four meters before it exploded. Create enough shock waves to blow his hair.

Shinnichi smiles. For some reason, Erina, Yonaka, and Izumi's voices sounded faint. His view is also getting blurry.

"... Cool."

That was all Shinnichi could say before falling to the ground. Fatigue and running out of mana.

❂❂❂❂❂❂

The moon adorns the night sky. Gives a soft golden light. Bouncing it off the sun that's gone.

In the capital, the lights started to light up. The stars under the sky began to twinkle. Follow the night veil attached.

The capital of Victoria is a sleepless city. Whenever the time is, the activities continue. The city was the center of the Victorian kingdom. The greatest human kingdom in Zelfria.

In the North, the noble-owned luxury housing is located. The large mansion and bungalow became the residence of high-ranking government officials.

In the West, trade is the main thing. Stalls, restaurants, inns, and street vendors decorate the side of the street. Weapons, clothes, food, animals and even slaves. With the right price, anything can be found in the Victorian trading sector.

In addition to being an educational center, the southern side of the city also became the headquarters of the Victorian branch Guild. Where adventurers gather and work. Wherever you look, you can definitely find an adventurer there.

In the center of the capital, there was a white palace. As white as ivory and as majestic as the mountains. It can be seen from a distance and can be seen clawing at the sky. A symbol of state power.

Ivory Palace is the residence of the royal family. It has thousands of rooms, servants, and guards. A person can get lost if they are not used to the interior.

The palace has a library. With bookshelves as high as the ceiling as well as throughout the room, it is not an exaggeration if one calls this place a labyrinth.

Deep inside this labyrinth, a young man was sitting on the floor. Dozens of books were piled high around him. Almost surrounded.

The faint light became his main illumination. He came out of a stone wrapped around his neck.

"Increase activation," the young man murmured. Read the lines in his book. "With this, the activation of a magic can be withheld for a while. How to— Oh."

Before he could finish his sentence, the magic stone on his neck dimmed. Used continuously for four nights continuously like starting to drain the Mana stored in it.

"Thank you for the hard work." The young man, Shinnichi, touched the stone. Fill it with his own mana and make it bright again.

After training with Erina for a week, Shinnichi has been more reliable in controlling Mananya. His level had also increased twice. Now it is level 5.

Shinnichi closed the book and stood up. Stretching his body which from afternoon sat motionless. He walked past the books he was reading today, being careful not to drop one of those piles.

Recalling the path he had always walked this month, Shinnichi stepped out of the library labyrinth.

Outside, Shinnichi walks through a dim passageway. Only moonlight and magic stones became lights. The sound of his footsteps echoed.

Every now and then, he passed through several guards. Patrol in their armour. Don't mind Shinnichi. To them, Shinnichi is just a lowly servant of the fourth Princess. No need to respect someone like him.

Shinnichi didn't think much of it. He doesn't deserve it either.

Putting the negative thoughts out of his head, Shinnichi kept going. Passing through the hall, guest room, royal theater, dining room, and so on.

Then, Shinnichi stops.

There was someone in front of him. Wearing a bathrobe made of silk. In his hand was a golden glass filled with wine. Look out the window. His golden hair reflected the moonlight.

"Walking around, Shinnichi?" Samejima asked without looking at him. His voice sounded apathetic and cold

"... Library, actually." Shinnichi answered.

Shinnichi glanced at his open room. He could see several women sleeping in his bed. He immediately shifted his eyes.

"Ah, right. You're learning!" Samejima looked at him. A faint smile on his face. "For what?"

"...."

Samejima walked up to him. "Why did you learn? To become stronger? Looking for a way to gain wealth? It's funny."

Samejima looked at the black-haired young man. He lowered his head without daring to look at Samejima. Looking closer, his body trembled. The word coward suits him.

"Ah, I know." Samejima looked at Shinnichi sharply. "You're trying to show off to the princess, aren't you?"

Shinnichi's body stiffened. Under his gaze, he could not move. Breath choked. He feels stuffy. Fearful. He wanted to run away from this place.

"You're just a snot boy. Weak, useless, short, lame." All sorts of scorn came out of Samejima's mouth. Stabbing Shinnichi's heart. "Do you think reading a few books can change that?"

Samejima circled Shinnichi's body. Letting the young man feel fear. To him, taking care of someone like Shinnichi was quite easy, like breaking a dry twig.

"Then, what are these clothes? You trying to be a waiter?" Samejima tugged at Shinnichi's shirt, a tear formed on his shoulder. "You deserve to be a slave."

Shinnichi bit his lip. Trying to hold all this. Trying to ignore Samejima's words.

"What does the princess actually see from you?"

"!?"

"He's a fool. Choosing you over someone else, his eyes are not right. Well, as Nobles said, he's a ha— kid"

"Don't." Shinnichi's voice interrupted him. Not letting Samejima say bad things about his master.

Shinnichi tightened his grip on the book he was carrying. Raising his head, he looked at Samejima with trembling eyes.

"Don't mock Fiona-sama."

"...."

"...."

"Pff! Ahaha!" Samejima laughed to see it. "Hahaha, ah so yeah. I see."

Samejima held his stomach. It's comforting to see Shinnichi try the Princess. With a faint smile, he looked back at Shinnichi. He puts his hand on Shinnichi's shoulder.

"You're so arrogant, damn it." His smile disappeared immediately. He grabbed the young man's shoulder.

"Aragh!" Shinnichi groaned in pain. Trying to escape, with no meaningful results.

His weak strength was no match for the Hero. Shinnichi fell to his knee. Feeling his bones starting to crack because of it.

Samejima. Slam it to the floor. The impact ejected air from his chest cavity.

"You're just a burden. You think you can say that kind of thing at will?" Samejima held his head. Comb his blonde hair. "Begging Erina to teach you? Practicing every day? You think that can make you strong?! Being cool?! Remember your place, trash!"

"Keh!? Urgh!"

Samejima held Shinnichi by the neck. Practically suffocating the black-haired youth. Letting her thrash around, Samejima looked down at her.

"The player is naive, stupid, cheap, ***, childish." The mockery back out of Samejima. Intentionally to make Shinnichi angry. "seen? What can you do when I say that?"

Shinnichi tried kicking, hitting, clawing. Whatever he can do. Mocking him may be okay, but mocking people who are important to him is a different thing.

However, without being able to do anything, Shinnichi's movements become weaker. It's oxygen deficient.

"Come, do something. Protect your special princess." Samejima smiled as the light began to leave Shinnichi's eyes. "You should have beaten me. Is it not so, O precious servant of the Princess?"

Samejima releases Shinnichi. Let the young man fall to the floor.

"Uhuk! Uhuk! Uhuk!" Shinnichi tried to fill his empty lungs.

"seen? It's so weak." Samejima kicked Shinnichi. Make him roll a few times before hitting the wall.

"It's so sad." Not throwing a glance at Shinnichi, Samejima returned to his room.

Shinnichi's still on the floor. Nape on the floor. His gaze was blank, in the corner of his eyes, he looked at the book he was carrying.

"...." - ".Without saying anything, he picked up the book that had fallen.

With great effort, Shinnichi stood up. Slowly, he walked in limping. Try to ignore the pain that strikes him at every step.

Shinnichi reached the castle's backyard.

The moon is still shining in space. The night wind hit his face. Provides a soft cold sensation.

His face was getting wet. Tears began to drip from his chin.

Shinnichi fed up. Really fed up.

Fed up. Fed up. Tired of being weak. Tired of being himself. It's...

Tired of not being able to stand up for people who are important to him.

Wh why?

Why is the world always cruel to him? Why does the world always reject it? In Zelfria, in his native world. Wherever he is.

I want it to feel, he fought. Stand in place without faltering. Defend what he thinks is important.

But, what could it be?

Weak, useless, load. Shinnichi felt that it was all true. He is not a hero, nor is he an important person. He's a nobody.

Shinnichi does not want to let the words of others affect him. But he also cannot dispute it. All this was too much for a young man like him.

"I just want to be strong...." Shinnichi lowered his head. Holding shoulders. "To protect those close to me... Is the request too difficult?"

Under the night sky, a gust of wind carried Shinnichi's murmur away. I don't know where that is.