A Mage’s Plea

“Ah! Well, I… I’m sixteen.”

Ai Ou was somewhat speechless. He couldn’t fathom why his simple declaration had provoked such amusement. Was there truly anything humorous in his words?

“Sixteen, huh? You’re old enough to know better than to spout such nonsense,” one of them remarked, a smirk playing on his lips. “If you’re trying to amuse us, then congratulations, you’ve certainly succeeded.”

“I’m not joking at all!” Ai Ou insisted, his voice firm. “I truly intend to go to the capital. I was just hoping to see if there was a chance to travel on the mages’ ship. My goal is to enroll in the Imperial Capital Mage Academy.”

Upon hearing Ai Ou’s earnest declaration, the two men exchanged another look, then erupted into laughter once more.

“Hahahaha, kid, what you’re saying isn’t funny at all!” one of them scoffed. “Do you even know what kind of ship this is? Do you think a commoner like you can just board it as they please? This vessel is exclusively for mages. Now, go home. This isn’t the place for you. When the other mages return, they won’t be as patient as we are. If you continue to be so stubborn, we’ll have to force you out!”

‘Honestly,’ the two thought, observing Ai Ou. ‘Are people not afraid of mages anymore? Everyone else trembles at the mention of a mage, yet this young man seems utterly fearless.’

To the common folk, mages represented mystery, greatness, and immense power. They were revered as the very embodiment of gods in the mortal realm, inspiring both awe and dread. Mages, in turn, reveled in this reverence, which fostered a unique sense of arrogance and superiority within their ranks.

“Wait, are you saying this ship is for mages?” Ai Ou interjected, a sudden realization dawning on him. “Does that mean if I prove I’m a mage, I can board this ship?”

“Yes, our ship is only for mages,” the younger mage began, shaking his head. “Now, young man, just leave. There’s no way you can… Wh-what?!”

The younger mage hadn’t even finished his sentence when Ai Ou, directly before their stunned eyes, cast a Tier 1 Fireball spell. A small fireball hovered in his palm.

“So, esteemed Mages, does demonstrating magic like this prove my identity?” Ai Ou asked calmly.

Ai Ou hadn’t used his full power. Had he unleashed his true might, he could have conjured a fireball dozens of meters in diameter. However, fearing such a display would be too abnormal and drastically different from the sizes recorded in his notes, he merely used a fraction of his mental energy, controlling the fireball to be only about half a meter in size, just as the notes described.

Yet, even this restrained display left the mage who had been speaking utterly speechless.

“That’s an instant Tier 1 Fireball!”

“And without an incantation!”

This was a skill neither of them had mastered. They weren’t just stunned by Ai Ou’s magic, but by both his young age and his exceptional control.

Typically, someone of Ai Ou’s age would, at best, be a magic apprentice. Simply being able to generate mana within their body would be considered a sign of talent. They themselves had only managed to cast their first spell when they were nearly twenty-five, and even then, they had been left half-dead from exhaustion.

But Ai Ou, at his age, could conjure a Tier 1 spell. Moreover, from his demeanor, it seemed effortless, clearly indicating he had ample power in reserve. A Tier 1 spell was certainly not his limit.

Furthermore, he had performed a skill that only highly proficient mages could achieve: instant casting. The fact that the fireball’s size was comparable to those cast with incantations by others was truly terrifying.

Instant casting sacrificed power for speed, aiming for rapid deployment by eliminating the incantation. Consequently, the power of an instant spell was usually about half that of a regularly cast spell. Only mages with exceptional control over mana and mental energy could minimize this gap. Even then, an instant spell would at most achieve seventy to eighty percent of an incanted spell’s power.

However, Ai Ou’s performance far surpassed their understanding. In his hands, an instant Tier 1 Fireball displayed power equivalent to an incanted one. This implied either that his incanted Fireball would be vastly more powerful, or that his control over mana far exceeded that of even their most revered masters.

Regardless of the explanation, both conclusions were utterly terrifying.

Though they were reluctant to admit it, the single spell Ai Ou had just demonstrated already surpassed everything they had learned in over a decade at the Mage Academy.

Ai Ou, however, remained oblivious to the profound impression his magic had left on the two men.

“Um, esteemed Mages, does this prove I’m a mage? Can I take this ship to the capital now?”

Observing their stunned, bewildered gazes fixed on his fireball, Ai Ou began to worry that he had been too reserved, making them think he was incompetent. He lamented his miscalculation, believing he should have released a bit more power.

“Perhaps that was too weak,” he mumbled. “The journey was quite bumpy, and I’m not feeling my best, so my control might be a bit off. But don’t worry, once I’ve recovered, I’ll definitely be much stronger.”

Upon hearing Ai Ou’s words, the two mages snapped out of their daze.

“No, no! This is already excellent! You don’t need to get any stronger! We beg you!” they exclaimed in unison.

The two were utterly terrified. If this was considered weak, what did that make their decade-plus of study? Were they practically worthless? They pleaded with him not to become any stronger!

The thought of their own struggles to fluidly cast instant spells, unlike Ai Ou, brought tears of inadequacy to their eyes. They had once been so proud of becoming mages and holding such a distinguished identity. But compared to Ai Ou, they now realized that prodigies truly existed in this world.

They feared Ai Ou might demonstrate something else that would shatter their confidence completely. Thus, upon hearing his offer to perform again another day, they were jolted back to their senses.

They faced Ai Ou with utmost deference.

“Young man, you absolutely have the qualifications! Are you planning to study at the Mage Academy in the capital? Then you should definitely take our ship. Our ship’s ultimate destination is precisely the capital’s Mage Academy. We will take a direct route there. If you were to take another ship, you would have to find your own way to the academy. But with our ship, you can arrive directly! So, please, you absolutely must join us!”