He wasn’t even trying?

Lower plains:

.

..

…

Birds flew above-

The fresh breeze-

The sun smoothly sailing across the sky-

"Al, you'll be late, hurry up!" Yelled the girl at the straggling boy behind her.

"Yeah, yeah." Shrugged the boy, barely fourteen, huffing and puffing.

Both had black uniforms on- and bags on their back-

"Going to school, my lord?" One of the passersby asked.

He wasn't a random passerby but rather someone the boy visited daily to buy bread….

"Yes-" Al said.

Carriages passed them by- carriages powered by machines.

Even just a decade ago, this wasn't even imaginable. And yet- now- they had machines that could do anything. Even breathe fire!

The long tormenting war had been over centuries ago-

Science had progressed-

Civilization had progressed.

So that brought the question-

What was the future of the world?

What was the future of magic?

And what-

Was the future of humanity?

"Al!!!" The girl yelled again-

Frowning.

Blue eyes, golden locks, and a perfectly symmetrical face.

Hands on her hips- she leaned forward. "Are you even listening to me?"

"I'm listening, I'm listening," He nodded vigorously.

She grabbed his hand, pulling fast. "We're getting late. I'd rather not get yelled. Let's go!"

It was quiet- it was peaceful- it was wonderful.

Yet-

Some part of it all… almost felt stagnant… like a cage.

Though a little annoyed. The boy- the blue-haired boy let out a faint smile and… just went with the flow.

***

"So- that's where the use of this Magi engine comes to. As long as we can provide a stable mana source, it can run forever." The teacher had a long stick which she used to point at the blackboard.

A diagram of a complicated machine and its parts were on the board- properly labeled.

"What about those who can't use magic?" A girl raised her hand. Red hair- white uniform.

Commoner.

"Then they'll have to resort to using Magistones."

"And if they don't have any?"

A lot of scowls.

Apparently, she wasn't liked? Or was it that her questions were just stupid?

Or perhaps lineage?

"Then they'll have to not use them, I suppose." The teacher chuckled, making the whole class snicker.

"Please give a proper answer, mam-" Al said, who just happened to be sitting in front of the girl along with the blonde.

Clearing her throat- "The engines fundamentally work with mana, without it, it won't be possible to gain any torque, and thus, no output."

She got a nod from Al, and the class resumed.

Some whispers floated about-

Something along the lines of- "There he goes again-"

"Honor student, my ass…"

But Al ignored them.

His blonde companion though, kept track of it all.

Gaze, sharp.

***

After class-

"Thank you-" The redhead said-

"Don't worry about it." Al shrugged. "How many classes do we have today?" He asked to his right-

"Two more-" The Blonde answered. "You didn't even prepare for any, did you?"

"Nope."

Sigh. "But I guess that's on brand. Third period is swordplay, so try to at least-"

"Make an effort, right?"

"Not disgrace your father- but yeah- effort works too." A chirpy grin.

Al frowned, snorted, and just waited for the next teacher to come.

***

Class eventually came to an end, and after a brief break, half of the class moved to the practical area.

They changed into something more durable. Green padded clothing.

A knight from the Knight Hall had come to teach the class swordplay.

This was a mandatory class once a week.

And that's why Al was even in school today.

Otherwise, he'd be at home, just staring at the sky, doing nothing.

"Lord Alfred," The knight bowed first thing, staring at the boy-

"I'm just a student here. Just get on with it."

"As you wish, my lord."

Students would practice with themselves-

And the knight would watch and correct their stances when necessary.

However-

"Now then-" The knight- in his shining armor- grinned. "Shall we, my lord?" Swords drawn, intentions clear.

Despite being much older than Al- he still wished to spar.

"Is he trying to humiliate that boy?" One of the teachers in the distance spoke-"

"Nah, the kids from the famous Blademaster Family, he'll be fine."

"But he looks like he still cries back to mommy-"

'I can hear you morons…' Al sighed, taking out his sword. That short, slender sword he always carries. "Sure."

They made space for the two-

And as he was about to even glance at the knight- the knight had already launched himself forward- a grin plastered on his face.

'What a weasel-' But- grinning, the boy slowly slid to his right, as though drunk and evaded the thrust-

The knight pivoted fast and swung vertically.

As though, stumbling and falling to the ground, Al again evaded, barely.

A lot of snickers and giggles came from the crowd.

"Please take this seriously, my lord. lest you might get hurt."

Al yawned. "Oh, I'm sorry, you're saying something?"

"Tch-" He spat on the ground, glaring- both hands on the sword, raising it over his head.

'Already showing your nature?' Al of course, didn't charge- and just waited.

Patiently.

Two-handed style- was not from this country-

Meaning-

"HAHH!!" A solid downward swing-

Al swirled- as though one with the wind- evading, his shortsword moving through the air with contrails- eventually stopping just before the man's throat- actually, touching and even cutting a bit- drops of red liquid leaking. "Even twitch for a second-" Al whispered- "And you're dead…" A big wide grin…

"I- I give up…" He dropped his sword, hands up in the air.

"Good boy-" A laugh and he moved to the side, where he found the Blonde just staring, kind of disappointed. "What?"

"Didn't you say you were going to make an effort?" She said, and out loud too.

"I did-"