The classroom buzzed with excitement as students shuffled to their seats with eager anticipation. A boy sat at the front of the room, a sense of unease gnawing at his gut. His foot couldn't stay still as his heart pounds fast.

"Welcome to your first day at college. I'll be your homeroom teacher for this semester." The teacher opens with an unenthusiastic greeting. "All of you, introduce yourself, starting from the front row," He announced, and one by one, the students introduced themselves, until it got to one particular boy.

After stating his name, a hushed murmur rippled through the classroom as his classmates exchanged curious glances, whispers of recognition and speculation swirling in the air like a gathering storm. And then, came the question he had been dreading.

"Hey, are you related to the CEO of Shiranobu Corp?" a voice piped up from the back of the room, its owner leaning forward with a look of unabashed curiosity.

The boy swallowed hard, steeling himself for the inevitable onslaught of attention that would follow his answer. "Oh, yes," he replied, forcing a tight smile. "He's my dad."

"That's cool," came the enthusiastic response, followed by a chorus of nods and murmurs of approval.

And then, like a tidal wave crashing upon the shore, came the flood of inquiries and invitations, each one a testament to the power of his family name.

"Hey, wanna be friends with me?" one classmate asked, their eyes wide with excitement.

"Me too. I'm looking forward to being friends with you," another chimed in, a chorus of agreement echoing throughout the room.

The boy forced a smile. He could see right through them, behind the all too familiar facade of acceptance and camaraderie lies their true intent. And he refuses to get hurt from their deception ever again.

.

.

.

.

.

I am quietly eating breakfast with my parents at the large dining table.

"No, I don't think that's a good idea..." My father uttered.

"Why not?" Mother asked. "They're family, dear. We should invite them at the least."

Apparently, the two of them are talking about my upcoming fifth birthday party and mother mentioned that she wanted to invite father's family over.

Father scoffs "They won't come," He said as he drank his coffee. "They're too busy scheming, sabotaging, and killing each other for the Asuran throne. We're better off not getting involved with them."

Mother was about to respond, but then a male servant suddenly entered the dining area. "Sir, a mage has arrived," He informed my father. "She claims to be the instructor you hired."

"That's Alex's magic tutor," Mother said with an excited tone in her voice, seemingly forgetting what she was talking about with father. "Let's see what she's like."

***

So the tutor my parents hired had finally arrived.

I pondered what my teacher would be like. Probably some old retired guy, I thought, the kind often portrayed in fantasy media. A typical wise old mage with years of experience. But my expectation was soon proven false.

In the entrance hall stood a petite, pale-skinned female Elf with piercing green eyes and long silvery-white hair tied into two pigtails. Like all Elves, she had large, pointed ears, just like those depicted in fantasy stories back in my world.

She wears a striped black and white shirt, along with a white jacket with gold embellishments tucked into a matching skirt with a black belt. Over her jacket, she wears a short white and gold cape with a high collar. She also wears black tights and brown boots, and a pair of sleek gold and red earrings.

In her right hand, she held a sleek red and gold magic staff with a large red gemstone at the tip, and beside her, a large brown briefcase was placed on the ground.

"My name is Frieren. Nice to meet you," She introduced herself with a slight bow.

"I'm Galen," my father replied, gesturing to my mother standing beside him. "And this is my wife, Aveline."

"So you are the magic tutor who took the job?" Mother inquired, leaning down a little.

"Yes." She answered.

Father clasped his hand. "We're happy to have you, Miss Frieren. As stated in the commission, a room and all necessities are provided. I'll have someone guide you to your room."

She nods "Before that, who is the student I am supposed to be teaching?"

"That would be our son, Alex." Mother nudged me forward.

"I see," she replied as she turned to look at me. I expected her to be surprised that a three-year-old would be her student, but she seemed unfazed. Perhaps such things were normal for her.

"Then come along. Let's start your first lesson," Frieren said, turning around and starting to walk out of the house.

I raised an eyebrow. "Huh? We're starting now?"

"Yes," she answered without looking back, and I had no choice but to follow her outside.

"Good luck, son!"

"Don't push yourself too much!"

I heard father and mother shout words of encouragement from behind as I walked out the door.

***

We now stood on a vast open field just a few distances away from the town's border.

Frieren walked in front of me. "Before we start, how much do you know about magic?"

"I know everything in this book," I replied, showing her my magic textbook which I brought along. She took it and flipped through the pages for a brief moment.

"You've read the entire book?" she inquired, still scanning the pages.

"Yes."

"Prove it. Show me the best you've got."

I held out my right hand and took a deep breath.

Water Cannon... I remember the feeling of it when I cast it previously.

A spell that shoots forth a large mass of water. In other words, an enhanced version of Waterball. All I needed to do was cast Waterball but drastically increase its mass and speed.

I focused, picturing the spell, feeling mana gathering in my hand, and soon after, a large orb of water appeared before shooting forward at incredible speeds. The torrent of water traveled at least a few hundred meters before dispersing.

"You didn't recite the incantation," Frieren remarked, a hint of shock in her voice. It's the first time she showed any sense of emotion.

"Yes... I've learned to cast without it."

A slight smirk tugged at her lips. "Looks like this one is worth teaching after all."

And so, begins my apprenticeship with Frieren, or as I call her now, Mistress Frieren.

From the moment I stepped under her tutelage, I knew that my life would never be the same. There was just this aura surrounding her, telling me that she was not just some random mage, and that I should probably take my studies with her seriously.

Under her guidance, I learned far more than when I was relying on the book. Having an actual person tutoring me made a massive difference.

Gone were the days of poring over the magic textbook alone in my room, trying to decipher complex incantations and theories. Instead, I had a living, breathing tutor right there beside me, guiding me through the intricacies of spellcasting with patience and expertise.

It's amazing how much difference having a real person to teach you can make. With Frieren's hands-on approach, I found myself grasping concepts and techniques that had eluded me for a long time. Her explanations were clear and concise, and she always had a knack for breaking down even the most complicated spells into manageable steps.

It also helps that she, like me, also has the ability to use magic without incantations. She gave me a lot of advice and tips on how to improve my silent casting. I can now cast quicker as a result.

For example, it used to take me around two seconds to cast Waterball, but now, I have narrowed down the time to half a second.

On the subject of silent casting, one day, I finally decided to ask Frieren about it. The questions that I've been pondering ever since I've accidentally done it.

"Is it normal to use magic without incantations?"

"No. There are only a few mages that are able to cast without incantations. I can count with my hands the people I've come across with that ability." Was her answer.

So, I guess I could really say that I'm built different.

Other than practicing spells, she also taught me other stuff like battle tactics amongst other things. Insisting that I will eventually be involved in combat.

She was quite a stern taskmaster, demanding nothing less than my absolute best at all times.

Although she could be seen as insensitive, beneath her exterior lay a heart of gold, a deep well of knowledge and wisdom that she generously shared with me.

Each day brought new challenges and lessons, as Mistress Frieren pushed me to my limits and beyond. With her guidance, I learned to harness my potential.

She is mostly an excellent teacher for me, though she does have her shortcomings, such as her difficulty getting up in the morning. There have been numerous occasions when I've found her still asleep in the afternoons, prompting me to wake her from her slumber.

In addition, she can be quite aloof at times, but I sense that she is gradually warming up to me.

As the weeks turned into months, I grew stronger and more confident in my abilities.

"Your casting speed is exceptional." She praised me.

We are now at the usual field as I'm doing the usual training drills which consists of firing a variety of beginner spells on makeshift wooden targets.

Yes, only beginner spells like Waterball, Fireball, Rock Bullet and Sonic Boom.

"However, your accuracy is lacking." She continued. "Keep at it."

"By the way, Mistress Frieren, shouldn't I be moving on to Intermediate and Advanced magic now?" I finally decided to ask her.

"Perhaps, but your foundations can still be improved." She explained. "Beginner spells are perfect to train your understanding of magic in general. After all, all of the higher tier spells are, at its core, variations or enhancements of basic spells."

I tilted my head. "What do you mean?"

"The Intermediate spell Water Cannon is only an enhanced version of Waterball. The spell Ex-Flame is a stronger Fireball. The Saint-tier spell Cumulonimbus is what happens when you carefully manipulate water, fire, and wind together to form a thundercloud." She explained. "So you see, they are only basic spells, only amplified, shaped and composed differently."

"I see..." That makes a lot of sense.

In order for me to cast Water Cannon previously, I only had to think of casting a bigger Waterball and launching it at a higher speed. But in that case, does this mean it is possible for me to develop unique spells that are not documented in books?

"We'll work on them until you're perfect." Frieren continued. "Then, and only then we will move on to more complicated spells, where you will also train them to perfection. Understood?"

"Yes, Mistress Frieren."

With that, I continued my drill.

Now this is getting interesting. Based on what she said, it is possible that I can create my own spells. As long as I have enough mana, the possibilities are endless.

But, as I've reminded myself many times before, I shouldn't get ahead of myself. I should take this one step at a time.

***

Currently, Mistress Frieren is conducting her usual evening class in the library. She wants to go through the history of magic this time. I'm usually not fond of the subject of history, but this one seems interesting.

"When the world was in chaos and disorder, the High Elves race entreated with the spirits to control natural inorganic elements like the wind and the earth to defend themselves from external threats." She reads to me from a textbook.

She continues. "In this manner, the first magic spells were born. Modern forms of magic evolved from humans imitating the spells used by the High Elves in battle and reworking them to convenience."

So it's kinda similar to my world, where the development of technologies of weapons are accelerated during times of conflict and wars.

"Magic was mostly used only in battle and fending off threats." She continued. "As a result, a large portion of the spells that came to exist are combat spells."

I raised my hand. "Why is that?" Is the question I've been pondering for a while, and I now finally have the chance to ask someone about it.

"What do you mean?" She inquired.

"Why not incorporate magic into everyday routine?"

"Ah. Well, there are some people who do that." She started explaining. "But to most, it's more convenient and faster to use tools than relying on magic."

"Oh. Is that so...?" I asked and she nodded.

"Remember, unlike you and I, most people need incantations to perform even the simplest of spells. Not to mention the amount of mana required."

I see now. Even though magic is accessible to most people, tools, and devices are simpler to use than magic. That makes sense.

If you need a light source, it's still easier to use a candle or lantern instead of reciting an incantation of a fire spell and then having to constantly pour mana into it.

With that out of the way, Frieren continued her lesson, proceeding to the evolution and research of different spells.

***

One day, I was in the library on my own, flipping through the pages of the magic textbook for probably the umpteenth time by now.

"So this is where you are." I heard the familiar voice of Mistress Frieren behind me. "Do all you do is study?"

I only nodded as she went to sit next to me. "You're one peculiar child. Children your age should be out and about, playing with friends, or whatever. Not cooped up in a room studying all day long."

"With friends, huh...?"

"Speaking of, I never once see you going outside other than when we go training. Why is that?"

I forced a smile. "I would rather not. I'm perfectly happy learning magic." Is the only reply I could think of without outright telling her the truth.

"Is that so?" She asked. "Are you really happy?"

I looked away, my smile disappearing and I fell silent, not able to answer.

She then let out a sigh and stood up. "You should think about what you want, Alex. You are young, you still have a whole life ahead of you, so think about how you want to spend it. Don't leave behind regrets. Take it from me." With those words, she turns and walks out of the room, leaving me to my own thoughts.

"Are you really happy?" Were the words she said that repeated in my mind since she uttered it. It was such a simple question, but it made me rethink what I said.

Am I happy?

I'm having fun, and enjoying myself, but why don't I feel fulfilled? What am I missing?

What exactly do I want in this life?

I had trouble sleeping that night as I pondered that question, and I've yet to come to an answer.

***

Eight months later, I was able to cast Intermediate-tier spells with ease, although I do think I can further reduce my casting time, but that is something that will come with practice.. Around that time, Mistress Frieren had announced something new for my training.

I stood in the center of the expansive field, the familiar training ground where Frieren and I had spent countless hours honing my magical abilities.

Frieren stood a few paces away, her slender figure poised with an air of quiet confidence, holding her staff, the gentle breeze making her long hair sway. Her expression was inscrutable, betraying nothing of her thoughts as she observed me with keen interest.

"Today, my apprentice, you will start to develop your very own spell." She said.

"My own spell?" I repeated.

"Yes." She answered. "You will use everything you have learned about the basis of magic to develop and create a unique spell, which needs to be as powerful as a Saint-tier spell."

Her words hung in the air as I started to feel the pressure on me.

Create a spell? Am I even capable of doing that? Is what I wanted to ask. But I realize that if she was ordering me to do so, then she surely believes that I can do it.

"You will have until your graduation to show me your completed spell." She continued. "Is that clear?"

I nodded, accepting her assignment.

"Good. Now get to it. I suggest you start with an element that you have an affinity to." She said before walking off to sit under a tree, leaving me to my own.

Affinity, huh? I'll be creating a fire spell, then.

Holding my hand up, I created a fireball, the most basic fire spell. It should serve as a foundation from which I would build my spell.

Now how could I improve this? If I make it bigger and a bit hotter, that would be the same as the Intermediate spell Ex-Flame. If I compress it and make it explode, it would be the same as Explosion.

I know. What if I make it spin?

The orb of flame in front of my hand started to spin, but then I realized that this didn't exactly do much. This is harder than I thought...

Maybe instead of a fireball, I make a ring of fire...

The hours passed by quickly, and I mostly spent the time thinking of what-ifs and maybes. And before I knew it, the sun had started to set, ending the day.

"That's enough." Mistress Frieren said as she approached me. "You can continue developing your spell later."

I nodded.

"I think I have an idea of what to do," I said before turning to her with a smile. "I promise to make a spell that you will be proud of."

Frieren returned my smile, her eyes shining with pride. "I have no doubt about that, Alex," she said. "Your talent knows no bounds. You'll become a better mage than me in no time."

"Would I really?" I raised an eyebrow.

"I'm sure of it. I can see your potential. You're talented, and smart, and your mana capacity is beyond a normal mage at such a young age."

She smiled as she then turned and pointed far out towards the horizon. "Listen here. Far north from here, lies the Kingdom of Ranoa. There's a place called Ranoa Magic Academy, the best school of magic in the world."

She then knelt down to my level and looked at me. "If you want to keep walking down the path of magic, I strongly recommend you to study there."

"But... Why can't you keep being my teacher?" I asked with a frown. There's probably a good reason, but I figured I should ask anyway.

She shakes her head. "The school offers advanced lectures, using modern theory. Of course, at its core, magic hasn't changed much since its inception, but new techniques and innovations are always being made." She explained. "Someone like me, who is stuck in the past, is unfit to train a mage of the modern world."

"I... I understand..." I uttered. I hoped I could learn under her for much longer, but it seems that it couldn't be helped.

"Besides, there are still other things I'm not good at." She continued. "Healing and Summoning magic, for example. There are things that only you can discover on your own."

I only stayed silent with a lowered gaze and let out a sigh.

Perhaps sensing my disappointment, Frieren reached out and patted my head. She didn't say anything and only smiled at me, but that simple gesture somehow lifted my mood immediately.

The moment didn't last long though as she stood up and saw that the sky was turning dark.

"Let's return home." She said, and I only nodded as I followed behind her.

And as we walked back to the house together, the stars twinkling overhead, I felt a renewed sense of motivation burning within me. The road ahead might be difficult, but with Mistress Frieren by my side, I know that I'll be okay.

***

As they say, time goes by quickly when you're having fun. Before I knew it, I was already five years old.

Tonight, a special party was held to celebrate my birthday. All of the people of the town are invited to make the celebration more festive.

Birthdays weren't a yearly celebration in these lands, unlike in my old world. At ages five, ten, and fifteen, it was customary for one's family to celebrate and give gifts.

You were considered an adult at fifteen, so I guess that made some sense.

"Happy fifth birthday, Alexander!"

Everyone cheered all at once, and the awaited party commenced.

There was an abundance of food served on the tables placed at the entrance hall, where everyone was gathered.

The party was quite lavish, to say the least. There was food and drinks, laughter and music, and everyone in attendance was having a good time.

Mistress Frieren, though, had suddenly disappeared midway through the festivities. I expected her to help herself with the large serving of meat, but she was nowhere to be seen.

Maybe she doesn't like the crowd? I'm not much of a fan either. If this hadn't been my birthday party, I probably would've left too.

"Alex, come here." I heard my mother calling me, and I walked to her, where my father was standing next to her.

My parents gave a brief nod to each other as my father then walked up to me.

"Happy birthday, son." He said as he presented me with a thick book with a leather cover, embossed with intricate designs of swirling vines and gilded accents. "It is an up-to-date version of your magic textbook. Although you're plenty good already, I think you should find it helpful."

"Thank you, father." I took the book in my hands. Unlike my old one, this feels brand new. I can tell that I'll be spending a few hours reading it to see if there is any new knowledge inside. I can't wait to get started.

My mother came next. "My dear Alexander. I want you to have this." She pulls out a necklace with a beautiful gem encased in gold with an intricate design.

"It's our family's little tradition to give it once our children turn five. It will grant you protection from evil." She smiled as she slipped the necklace on me. "I hope you like it."

Ah. So there are superstitions like these in this world too, huh?

"Thanks, mother." I smiled and accepted her gift, making sure to show my appreciation. "I'll take good care of it."

She wraps her arms around me in a warm embrace, and I returned her gesture as my father also joined in.

It was then I realized... That there actually was a genuine smile on my face. I wasn't forcing it to keep a facade.

As I was released from the hug, I took a moment to step back and take in the scenery around me.

Back in my past life, my birthdays were never celebrated. And even when my parents finally had time off from work, the most they did was wish me a happy birthday and put some money in my savings account as a gift. There were no parties, no cakes, and there were certainly no celebrations. They don't see the value of sentimental actions such as celebrating birthdays.

Here, I'm acknowledged and appreciated. My parents took time out of their busy schedules managing the town and spent time with me if I was not busy doing something else. I never felt out of place.

Somewhere along the way, I started to feel more at home in this world than in my old one. I felt more alive in this world compared to my old one.

"There you are." I heard the faint and familiar voice of Mistress Frieren, breaking me out of my train of thought. "Alex!"

"What is it, Mistress Frie-." My word was caught in my throat as when I turned around to face her, I saw her carrying a huge plate of what seemed like a giant circular slab of meat.

"This is my present for you." She smiled. "Come, sit down." She said as she walked over to one of the tables.

"It's so big... Why is it so big?" I asked as I sat down at the table. The size of the portion could honestly feed two or three people, no doubt.

"It's just how hamburger steaks are." She answered as she then placed the 'hamburger steak' on the table in front of me "Eat up."

I only nodded as I grabbed a fork and a knife and started to dig into my meal.

My eyes widened slightly as I had my first taste of the food. It's really good. I didn't know that Frieren could cook. Though, it's a bit too big for me, and I feel like I'm gonna get a heart attack just by looking at it, but Frieren made this for me, so I just kept eating.

"Another thing. This is for you." She places what looks like a magic wand on the table. It is a wooden stick, roughly thirty centimeters in length with a red gemstone at the tip. It was a simple design, only decorated with bits of gold at the tip where the gemstone is and at the other end.

"I forgot that masters these days are supposed to give wands or staffs to apprentices who have learned Beginner spells." She explained. "It's something that I bought in the town at the last minute. My apologies for forgetting."

"No, Mistress Frieren. This is perfect." I smiled as I took the wand in my hands. "Thank you so much. I'll take good care of it."

She smiles and nods. "And don't forget to have a good rest tonight." She suddenly spoke out. "Because tomorrow, I'll be conducting your final test."

I raised my eyebrow. "Final test?"

"Yes. The test that will determine whether or not you graduate."

Ah, I see... So it's time already, huh?

Time really does fly when you're having fun...

***

At dawn the next day, we set off from the house, walking towards the far outskirts of the town. I was surprised that Frieren was even able to wake up this early.

She said that the test needed to be conducted far away to somewhere more secluded. I agree with her, because this spell I've developed is destructive, to say the least.

After what felt like an hour of walking, we arrived at an empty field, far from any traces of civilization, and Frieren wasted no time as she walked up to the middle of the field before turning towards me.

"Today, you will show me the spell you've developed." She spoke out. "Impress me."

I nodded as I stepped forward and held out my wand upwards, pointing up to the sky. I closed my eyes, focusing my mana on the tip of the wand, and started to cast the spell which I had developed over the past year.

The air around us begins to heat up rapidly as I summon flames and spiral them around. The flames grow in intensity, swirling faster and faster until they form a raging vortex of fire, reaching tall. The flames roar and crackle with ferocity, casting a crimson glow that illuminates the surrounding area.

It is getting quite hot as the flames swirl around us. I need to finish casting the spell quickly.

I thrust my wand forwards, and the vortex of flames expands outwards and away from us, engulfing everything in its path. The very ground crackles and the grass burns and blackens beneath the intense heat. The air becomes thick with smoke and ash as the firestorm rages on, leaving destruction in its wake. The sheer force of the firestorm engulfs everything in a blazing maelstrom of destruction.

After a brief but devastating display of power, the flames begin to dissipate, leaving behind smoldering ruins and charred remnants of its passage. The affected area reaches around at least a kilometer in diameter.

"How was that, Mistress Frieren?" I asked as I turned around, awaiting her response. There was a moment of anticipation as she stayed silent for a while.

"Well done." She smiled. "I always underestimated you. Now all that's left is to name your spell."

"It's called Firestorm." I replied.

She walks a few steps away, observing the destruction caused by my spell and nodding approvingly, before turning towards me. "Congratulations. Alexander Arias Asura, you are now a Saint-level Fire mage."

***

The following day, it was finally time for Frieren to leave. Of course, she overslept again and had just packed her things. We're now seeing her off just outside of the gates.

"Feel free to visit us anytime." Mother said. "I'm sure Alex will be happy to see you again."

"You're always welcome here." Father continued, and Frieren only nodded as she placed her briefcase on the ground and walked over to me. I was completely silent the whole time, standing next to my mother.

"I'll be going now, Alex." She said to me, kneeling to my level. "I'm looking forward to seeing what kind of mage you'd become."

"Can't you stay?" There, I said it. I already knew what her answer would be, but, I know I will regret it later on if I don't at least ask.

"No. You see, I am on a journey." She answered as she reached out a hand and rubbed my hair like she always did. "But, I'm certain we will meet again. When you've become a better mage in a few years, come find me. I'll teach you a few ancient spells." She winked.

With that, she stood up and picked her briefcase back up and with a final wave of farewell, she walked away.

I didn't notice when it started, but as I watched her getting farther away, before I knew it, tears were running down my face. This is probably the first time I shed tears since entering this world.

Mistress Frieren... I promise to become a mage you will be proud of. No, not only as a mage but as a person. And when we meet again, I can hear her say how proud she is of the person I am.