The sun was starting to set.
We were heading to the shop where I'd get my Maseirin.
I walked along, surprised that I would soon be able to use magic, and looked at the buildings around me.
Most of them were made of brick, which gave the street a different feel from my world, and I found it fascinating.
In the distance, I saw a building that looked different from the others. It was mostly white, with a cross on top, like a holy church. Did this world also have a custom of worshipping a god?
"Is that a church? Do people in this world worship a god?"
I asked a question that was a little thoughtless.
Dion looked at me slowly.
"Yeah, that's right. This world does have a god... And dragons, too."
Dion answered with a slightly bitter expression.
I thought it was too unrealistic, but looking at his face, it was probably true.
Well, a lot of things have happened since I came to this world, like magic, so it wouldn't be that strange, I guess.
The fact that there was not only a god but also dragons made me think this world had more elements than my old one. I was about to ask for more details about the god and dragons.
But seeing the look on Dion's face, I knew it was something I shouldn't ask about, so I stopped.
"Let's talk about magic instead."
Dion changed the subject and began to explain magic.
"Magic is different for everyone. Like Figel—the guy who healed your leg—he has healing magic. Or Selitia's memory magic.
Even if the magic is similar, no two are exactly the same.
It depends on minor differences and the individual's magical power.
And then there's the Jinki, a personal weapon that is used along with magic through the Maseirin..."
That's how I learned about magic.
I'll remember that the person who healed me was named Figel.
Magic is different for everyone, huh? I wonder what kind of magic I'll be able to use.
"We're almost there. It's just past that corner."
I started to get nervous.
We walked a little further and turned the corner he mentioned.
A store that sells rings that let you use magic... It must be an amazing place.
I imagined a bright, clean, and new-looking shop.
But what was waiting for us around the corner was...
A very run-down-looking store that seemed like it was about to go out of business.
A tattered sign that read "A Mage's Journey" was hanging in front of the shop.
The store was nothing like I had imagined, and I couldn't hide my surprise.
"Is it not what you expected?"
He seemed to have read my mind and said to me with a slight smirk.
"Well, this shop has been here for a long time and has never been renovated. Anyway, let's go in."
It seemed that the shop owner had been a master magic user who specialized in making Maseirin for generations.
After a brief explanation of the shop, Dion rushed me inside.
The inside of the shop was a bit shabby but spacious. There was a counter in front, and beyond it were many shelves that seemed to reach the ceiling.
"Welcome. What can I do for you?"
A slightly wrinkled old man came out from the back, stood behind the counter, and then...
"Oh, if it isn't Sir Knight Captain. What brings you here today?"
The old man, Roton, asked when he saw Dion.
Dion stepped forward and began to speak.
"Hey, old man Roton. I'm here for this guy. He's Yuto, a transferred person who came here today. We'd like to get him a Maseirin."
Dion introduced me as a transferred person again. Roton heard this and stared at me.
"Hmm... I see. Well then, young man, follow me."
Saying that, Roton went into the back of the store.
I was confused and fumbled, not knowing what to do.
"Go on, follow old man Roton."
Dion told me to go, and I followed Roton.
I followed him through the rows of shelves, deeper and deeper into the store.
After walking through the shelves for a while, we came out into an open area.
There was a large, strange-looking rock emitting a multitude of colors.
"Now, place your hand on this."
Roton told me.
I hesitated for a moment, then slowly placed my hand on the strange rock.
Why am I doing this? I thought, then the rock began to glow.
"Okay, you can take your hand off now. Slowly."
Roton told me, and I slowly took my hand off the rock.
As I was doing so, I felt something in my hand. I kept my hand closed and took it off the rock.
Then I opened my hand and saw what was inside. It was similar to the gems on Selitia-san's ring, a beautiful, translucent emerald-colored gem.
"Oh, your gem has a beautiful color. For now, I'll take it."
Saying that, Roton held out his hand to receive the gem. I complied and handed the gem to him.
"I'll make it into a ring, so please wait at the counter."
I did as Roton said and went back to Dion.
When I returned, Dion was sitting on a chair near the entrance, waiting.
"Hey, you were fast. So, how was it? What color was your gem?"
He asked me casually.
I sat on the chair next to him and began to speak.
"What do you mean 'how was it'? I didn't feel anything special. And the gem was green."
I gave him a simple summary of the experience.
...Come to think of it, if Selitia-san and the others have gems and can use magic, what kind of magic can he use?
I had been with him all this time, but he wasn't wearing a Maseirin, so I still didn't know what kind of magic he could use.
"What color is your gem, and what kind of magic can you use?"
Roton wasn't coming back yet, so I asked as if we were just chatting.
"Hmm? Nah, I can't tell you. My magic isn't something I want to share with others."
It seems he wasn't going to tell me.
Besides, he had just told me about other people's magic...
Well, it's too much of a hassle to argue, so I'll keep that thought to myself.
Then Roton came out from the back of the store. He was carrying a square box and was heading toward me, so I got up from my chair and went to him.
"Here you go. This is your Maseirin."
Saying that, Roton handed me the box.
I opened it and looked inside.
There was a silver ring with a square, emerald-colored gem that glowed brightly.
I took the ring out of the box and admired it.
Then, Dion, who was watching from behind me, said,
"Try it on. I want to see what kind of magic you can use."
He suggested.
He won't tell me his magic, but he wants to see mine...
Still, I was curious too, so I ignored his hypocrisy and put the ring on my right index finger like the others.
I didn't feel any change when I put it on.
"Okay, now put some power into it and try to make something appear."
He gave me a rough piece of advice, but I did as he said.
I put power into the ring.
Then I felt a strange power coming from the ring, and a light appeared. It seemed like something was about to come out.
BOOM! Something fell onto the floor with a loud noise and stuck in it. What fell was...
A sword-like object, rusty and tattered, about the length of my shoulder.
Nothing else happened, and I was skeptical whether I could really use magic.
The other two were looking at me with puzzled expressions.
"Can't you feel what you can use? Usually, you just know what kind of magic you can use."
Dion said, but I had no idea what I could use.
I tried to concentrate to make something appear, but nothing came out.
"No... I don't feel like I can use anything..."
My words made the two of them even more confused. I started to get anxious, wondering if something was wrong...
"Well then, does that old Jinki have any special properties? Try holding it."
That's right. Even if I can't use magic, I have this Jinki.
I grabbed the weapon that was stuck in the floor and tried to lift it... but I couldn't. It must be made of metal, as it was so heavy I could barely lift it.
Well, it's metal, so it's bound to be heavy. I thought, but Dion's expression was strange.
"It's heavy, the Jinki...?"
Huh? Is there something wrong with that? It's a big metal object, so it's not strange for it to be heavy.
I was confused and tilted my head. Seeing my confusion, Dion continued to explain.
"Normally, your Jinki is like a part of your body, so you shouldn't feel its weight and should be able to wield it normally.
So it's strange that your Jinki is heavy."
Oh, so that's how a Jinki works.
But why does mine feel heavy, unlike others?
While I was wondering about my Jinki, the two of them started discussing the reason why.
"Maybe... just maybe, your magical talent hasn't awakened yet. It's very rare, but it happens."
That was quite a shock.
I had expected that there would be people who were good and bad at magic, but I didn't expect that you needed talent just to use it.
"Is there any way to make it awaken?"
I wanted to ask for any other possibilities.
I would be a little disappointed if I couldn't use magic or a weapon...
"There's nothing you can do to make it awaken. People like you either suddenly become able to use it, or they never do, so we can't tell if you'll ever be able to."
Seriously? I felt a little complicated.
What if I never get to use magic...
Even if they say I'll be able to use it someday, I'm planning to go back to my world in a year, so if I can't use it by then, it's the same as never being able to.
But it's not all bad. If I don't know when I'll be able to use it, it means I could use it right away.
Instead of thinking I can't use it, I'll hope I can use it soon. With that hope in my heart, I left A Mage's Journey.
We walked through the city in silence.
Dion probably didn't say anything to me out of consideration. The only sounds were the bustling voices of the people in the city.
After walking for a while, we arrived at a large wooden building.
"This is the dormitory for the students taking the exam. Normally, people come the day before the exam, but the exam is a week from now, so you'll have the whole place to yourself for a few days."
This is the dormitory where the people who take the academy exam gather. I wondered what kind of people would come here.
I didn't know what to do with myself for a few days, but I decided to study for the exam.
"This is as far as I can go. You're on your own now. Just tell your name to the old lady inside, and she'll let you in. Here's some money, too."
After giving me the information, Dion handed me ten gold coins.
"Just so you know, one gold coin is worth ten silver coins, and one silver coin is worth ten copper coins. That's all you need to remember."
How much would that be in my world?
I thought about it for a moment, but I'll probably never take this money back with me, so I stopped thinking about it.
After giving me the money, Dion started to leave. I watched him go and then entered the dormitory.
I opened the door, and there was a reception desk right away, where an old lady was sitting just as Dion had said.
I went to the old lady and told her my name.
"Oh... is that so? So you're the one... Yuukon?"
The old lady at the reception desk asked.
No... that's not my name!
Was there a mistake with the registration? I pointed out the mistake.
"No, that's not right. My name is Yuto Shindo!"
I said loudly and clearly so she would hear me.
"Oh... my apologies. I've been a bit forgetful lately. Here's the key to your room, Yuto."
Saying that, the old lady handed me a translucent, thin, square plate. Inside the thin plate, the number [113] was written. I assumed it was the room number. I checked the map of the dormitory near the reception desk, bowed to the old lady, and headed to my room.
As I started to walk, I heard something ominous from behind me.
"Oh? Did I forget something...?"
I pretended I didn't hear anything and went to my room.
I found the door with 113 on it and entered the room.
The room was dimly lit and hard to see, but I slowly went deeper into it.
After walking for a while, I noticed a string hanging from above.
Maybe... I thought and pulled the string. A crystal-like object on the ceiling lit up, illuminating the room.
It probably uses magic instead of electricity from my world's light bulbs... but I don't know the details.
The room had a small bath, but I had seen a large communal bath on the map, and I had been told I would have the place to myself for a few days, so I decided to go to the large bath to relax.
I took the clothes and the key I had bought in the city and headed to the communal bath. I walked a little fast because I wanted to wash away the day's fatigue.
Okay, if I turn this corner, I'll be at the communal bath. As I was about to turn the corner, something leaped out in front of me.
I was told there was no one here, but a beautiful girl appeared right in front of me as I turned the corner.
Why?! I thought for a moment, then froze as I looked at her.
The beautiful girl had long, straight, silvery hair and was about as tall as the sword I had summoned. She was a slender, very cute and beautiful girl with clear blue eyes.
For some reason... I was so engrossed in looking at her that I couldn't move.
And because I was so engrossed, I didn't notice.
I didn't notice the girl screaming, her Maseirin glowing white, and a snowflake-like object the size of her body falling on me...
It hit me squarely on the head, and I collapsed on the floor, passing out for the second time today.