What is my plan for the day?

I intend to practice fire magic now that I'm finally free. There were some interesting theories behind them. The books I bought from William's shop helped me understand how Mages with fire affinity shaped their magic and formulate spells

It is interesting to think how your affinity can fundamentally change the way you use magic. Movement, control, energy output efficiency, each of them has a unique quirk and drawbacks that take time to adapt. In the world of the game, many researches were carried out to create a unified standard for all Mages. As mages introduce their powerful presence on the battlefield, many governments began to invest in an omnipotent formula that encompass the uniqueness of Magic

So far, no one has been able to do it. The flexibility of magic are too volatile and dangerous to even consider a multi-purpose training regime. Affinity is something you were born with, not something to be changed on a whim. If you are born with a common one, it will be easy to ascend the rank of mages. If you are gifted with a rare affinity, many hours of reseach will have to be done until you can master it

This means my two Mythical-class affinity will require tremendous effort to improve on. Meanwhile, I can train my fire magic because it is Common-class, which means there were many reference points from wizards and mages in the past to learn from

"The essence of Fire is movement. Heat. Explosion. Combustion. Those are all variants of the same core, therefore they carry one unified principle" A spark of flame lit up in my hand as I read from the book "Rapid expansion of energy"

"Fire magic is volatile and carry high risks for beginners. Mana that carries Fire affinity tends to travel in large influx, building up at exceptionally fast pace  until rupture is achieved. Stability and restraint is required for efficient casting"

Focusing Mana at a single point is a simple task even for someone from another world. It is a feeling akin to instinct, like flexing a muscle. Was Johann Brown originally studying to be a mage? Or is controlling Mana something anyonce can do?

I point my finger outside the window

With a loud bang, the condensed fire which has built up were released in the form of a flaming bullet that shot to the sky and explode into tiny sparks. It soon fizzle into the darkness

I prepared to repeat the spell, but felt a creeping fatigue on myself

"Due to its spontaneous nature, most utilizations of Fire magic cost more Mana than average compared to other elemental Affinities. It is advisable not to practice if you possess a body with inferior Mana quantity" I read the last line from the book

Couldn't you have said that at the start?

I collapsed on the bed

Johann Brown's Mana reserve is a problem. Although it is possible for a person's Mana to increase over the course of your life, the fact that I get tired at this age implied this is the farthest I will go

Maybe somewhere deep in my subconscious, I still held on the hope of becoming a pseudo-protagonist with overpowered physical capabilities. Now that the truth is revealed, I am destined to be no more than a mob character

No. That isn't how I should look at things

i was given a second chance at life, wasn't I? Moreover, I had the skill and opportunity to get a job as a teacher, a profession that garner much more money than a simple farmer. That's what I should appreciate most. It certainly wasn't as interesting as being a hero that wave the world, yet this life is one one more peaceful

Yeah. I'm glad I am a teacher

 

---

 

The day after, a letter from the Capital's education institution arrived

It was delivered by the mailman in the morning. The content of the letter was as expected: I passed the exam with flying color

Johann Brown's knowledge combined with mine allowed me to ace the theoretical exam. Surprisingly, I got a perfect score. That means the last ten questions were also correctly answered

"Hm...were they only there to artificially inflate the score?"

It was a usual tactic for schools to conduct easy exam to induce points for students. It can be done for a sense of accomplishment, or to gather funding for schools that produce good results. Sometimes both

Well, it's the imperial exam, so such things are only my suspicion

On the back of the letter is a small cards containing my credentials. It is a teaching certificate

I breathed a sigh of relief. With this card, I can find a job in the Kingdom and gather money until I have enough to switch place. The Capital demon attack is in five years. Plenty of time to prepare

From that point, I decide to go look for a job. There were several schools in the city who looks for scholars with experience in academic fields. Math. Geography. Magic. Of course, there were also training schools for knights and mages like in a fantasy novel. I wasn't suited for them due to my low Mana and body

I eventually chose the one closest to me. It is a relatively well off institute that accepts apprenticeship from new teachers. After sending a letter to the school, a reply came in the next day asking for an interview. Excited for tomorrow, I went to sleep early

The next day, I arrived at an office in the school's building

The room does not have any furniture, aside from a table and two seats facing each other. It is very professional. Knowing the influx of examinees from this year, I must have a lot of competition

A woman come in. She introduced herself as the interviewer for today, to which I nodded and straighten my posture. 

"Mr. Brown, we are honored to receive you" She smile "You are one of the top-scorers in the imperial exam within educational fields. Naturally, the council is very interested in hiring you. We want to ask some questions if that's alright"

I nodded

Our conversations were brief. I was asked about my expertise, background, as well as goals and aspirations. The last part is out of courtesy. We know as teachers, there aren't any hope of climbing higher unless you are exceptionally well at your work

As I have experience with academic fields in my past life, such questions were seamlessly answered

"Very well. We will contact you at a later time"

We shook hand. The interviewer seems satisfied, which is a good sign. After a rocky start a tthe capital, things are finally looking up

It would not be a week later that a letter arrived at my apartment. The sky is bright and the morning sun shone through the window as I gingerly open what is surely to be my gate to a brighter future

'Dear Mr Brown. Concerning the matter of your application to the position of apprentice professor, we regret to inform you another candidate has been chosen...'

huh?

 

---

 

I tried to contact the institute's office. When no reply came, I went there to talk. This must be a misunderstanding right? My exam score is high and my interview went well from both person's perspective. Even if I turned out to have a rural background, the position of apprentice teacher shouldn't have been difficult to attain

Unfortunately, I was blocked right at the front gates

"Is your name Johann Brown? The principal and staffs have ordered us not to let you step foor in this establishment?"

No matter how I asked, no reasons were given for those mind-boggling actions. Not like the guards would know better. But still, the entire proceeding is unusual, I could only take the rejection letter at face value and assume some better candidates were chosen

After that, I tried applying for different institutes. They all start with high praises to my exam results, and the interview went well to the point some say I'm the most promising applicants they'd had in recent years. However, what followed would still be a rejection letters, and a temporary ban for me to enter any academies in Elysium

The reasons range from finding a better-suited person for the role, to recent budget cuts, to the principal suddenly having a heart attack

"I'll be damned"

As I sat on the bench overlooking the forest, my mind is in chaos. 

There's a park near my place. Recently, I've been going here whenever I have the time. It is a piece of land behind the education centre, expanding well deep into the mountain. However, the border is closely guarded so that no beasts can enter, leaving behind a lush forest don with small animals that occasionally come to sight

Several benches were installed so citizens could gather and play at the end of the day. Overall, it is a peaceful location

I closed my eyes and rest against the wooden seat

The Baron's daughter came to mind. She is a very beautiful girl, and judging by the way she conducts herself, the noble girl is not only a glamorous flower, but one that was properly raised with the etiquette of her kind. Lockley had secured a contract with her that promises me enough money at a ridiculously easy task

in fact, I was already willing to accept that offer. It is only my rationale that rein me in. 

Getting involved with an aristocrat is too much risk. A person like her, who is guaranteed to turn heads wherever she walks. What would happen if I influenced her in a negative direction? No doubt her father would inflict cruel punishments on me

Despite knowing this world's setting is from a game, I am not blind to see the power of the nobles over commoners

I shook my head. It's now evening, everyone in the city is done working. Most of the passerby are heading home to a warm dinner or stay with their friends for a visit at the tavern. Then there's me, contemplating things beyond my decision. I feel lonely somehow

Meow

I look down to see a black cat lying at my side

When I was thinking, it seems the cat saw the empty seat and hop on

Was it the pet of some noble? Its fur is too smooth and clean to be a wild animal. And the way it behaves around a strange human is out of place. Looking at the sleeping feline, I can't help the feeling of envy

"If only I can be as carefree as you"

 

---

 

Late at night in the palace, the majority of servants have went to sleep at the end of shift. Lockley isn't one of them. He attend his duty with mindfulness, with a meticulous nature as he over the various activities over the castle. After ensuring nothing is out of place, he returned to her highness's chamber

"Princess"

The flickering candle reflect the figure of the girl sitting at the table. Even as she paid him no mind, the butler knelt before her. He made no further move. If her highness deem it appropriate, she will acknolwedge him

Eventually, Astoria close the book she is reading

"How goes our inspection into Festand?"

"The investigation unit has retrace Johann Brown's contacts within the last month. We managed to pinpoint individuals with a high chance of being a part of the organization. Currently, we are preparing to apprehend them"

"Do it at the same time. It would be troublesome if they alert the others"

She look out the window

Festand. One of the seven gangs occupying the capital's underworld. They are responsible for numerous cases of kidnapping within poorer areas. Their occupation involves selling human resources to other gangs for prostitution, fighting pit, and human experimentation

Slave trading is a practice that had been made illegal for centuries. Yet still, the shadows that linger in Elysium can't be easily wiped out. They are a persistent thorn whose root had dug deep into the blood of this kingdom

If a person wants to get rid of this taint, there will be no other way than to destroy them thoroughly.