My Second Chance in Life in Another World-Chapter 54: AN UNRAISED HAND

The morning sun rose steadily, its golden light spilling across the academy grounds, signaling the start of another day. Today marked the second day of the second week since classes began, and I found myself walking to the training field alongside Raiden and Tyiyn. The crisp morning air was refreshing, but my thoughts were elsewhere.

Earlier at breakfast in the bustling cafeteria, I had deliberately announced to Chris that I would be joining the Earth magic classes starting today. My intention wasn’t just to inform her, but also to ensure Crestia overheard. I hadn’t been able to tell her yesterday, and this seemed like the easiest way to deliver the message without raising suspicion.

The training field was already alive with the sounds of students preparing for the day’s exercises. Instructor Gord, standing with his usual commanding presence, wasted no time. "Twenty laps, everyone. Get moving!" he barked, his tone as sharp as the edge of a blade.

As we started running, the rhythmic pounding of feet on the ground filled the air. It was familiar by now, the steady pace of the laps soothing in a way, but there was something else I couldn’t ignore—Alad’s gaze.

Just like yesterday, he watched me with that same unsettling intensity. His lips curled into a faint smile, one that might seem harmless to anyone else, but to me, it radiated malice. His hatred was palpable, like a weight pressing against my back. But as long as he didn’t act, I had no choice but to ignore him.

By the time we completed our laps, most of us were catching our breaths, the air around us heavy with the scent of sweat and exertion. I expected Instructor Gord to give us some free time like yesterday, but he had other plans.

"Pair up," he ordered, his voice cutting through the chatter. "We’re doing sparring drills today."

Tyiyn was quick to approach me. "Will, partner with me?" he asked, his tone hopeful.

I nodded. "Sure. Let’s do it."

We squared off against each other, the sun beating down on the training field. Tyiyn had caught my interest ever since his performance during the practice match last week. There was something about the way he moved, the confidence in his stance—it hinted at potential beyond what he usually showed.

But as we sparred, I couldn’t help but feel a tinge of disappointment. He didn’t display any of the exceptional techniques I’d seen last week. His movements were competent, sure, but nothing extraordinary.

As our wooden swords clashed, I couldn’t help but wonder. Was last week just a fluke? When he said it wasn’t a coincidence, was he just trying to save face? Or was there more to him than what he was showing now?

The sparring session passed quickly, and soon it was lunchtime. Tyiyn, Raiden, and I headed to the cafeteria, where Tork was already waiting for us. He waved us over, grinning as he gestured to the empty seats at his table.

"I’m glad I’ll finally have someone to accompany me in learning magic," Tork said, his tone cheerful as he dug into his plate of food.

I picked up my fork and took a bite of my own meal before responding. "We’re not going to the same class, though," I pointed out.

"That’s true," Raiden interjected, his curiosity evident as he looked at me. "But I don’t think you’ve told us the reason yet. Why the sudden interest in magic, Will?"

Tyiyn nodded enthusiastically, setting his fork down to point it at me. "Yeah, that’s right! You’re already pretty good with a sword. If you just keep training hard, you’d be able to pass as a soldier without any problems. Why bother learning magic?"

"Hey, bad manners," Tork scolded, nudging Tyiyn’s arm to make him continue eating.

I chuckled at their antics before answering. "Well," I began, choosing my words carefully, "since I have the affinity, I figured it’d be a waste not to try mastering it. If I only focus on swordsmanship, I might miss out on other opportunities."

Tyiyn tilted his head, considering my explanation. "Hmm, you’ve got a point," he admitted reluctantly.

But Tork wasn’t as easily appeased. "Still, I can’t believe you lied to us about having an Earth magic affinity," he said, his tone tinged with mock indignation.

"I’m really sorry about that," I said sincerely, meeting his gaze. "Back then, we were strangers, and I wasn’t sure if I could trust anyone yet. It wasn’t personal."

The truth was more complicated. Last time, I had only told them about my affinity for water magic and my talent for swordsmanship. I hadn’t mentioned my affinity for all types of magic because I didn’t want to stand out. The thought of that information spreading made my stomach twist. Being singled out wasn’t something I could afford right now, not with everything else going on.

"So now you’re not hiding anything from us?" Tork asked, brushing off the crumbs on his shirt after finishing his meal.

"Yeah, I’m not hiding anything anymore," I replied, pushing my empty plate aside with a practiced smile.

The words came easily, but they left a bitter aftertaste. Another lie. I felt the weight of it settling in my chest, but it was a necessary one. If I wanted to protect my secret and keep my life at the academy as peaceful as possible, I had no other choice.

Tork seemed satisfied with my answer, nodding as he leaned back in his chair. "Good. Just remember, we’ve got your back now."

I forced a smile, silently hoping he’d never have to find out how much I was actually hiding.

As the clatter of plates and chatter of students surrounded us, Tork and I stood up, bidding farewell to Tyiyn and Raiden, who were still in the middle of their meals. "Don’t take too long, or you’ll miss your classes," Tork called out with a teasing grin.

Raiden, still chewing, waved us off, while Tyiyn laughed. "We’ll catch up. You two go ahead and play babysitter with Chris’ group."

Tork and I shared a knowing glance. We’d promised to walk with Chris and her group to the magic classrooms—a plan I’d carefully orchestrated to ensure I could be near Crestia. While Tork and Chris had eagerly agreed, neither knew my true reason for tagging along. This arrangement gave me the perfect excuse to keep an eye on Crestia and step in if Alad tried anything.

As we made our way across the cafeteria, the noise of students chatting and laughing created a lively backdrop. Chris’ group was still seated, their laughter rising above the hum of activity. Chris noticed us approaching and immediately stood, her movements fluid and confident.

"Shall we go?" she asked, her bright smile making her enthusiasm contagious.

"Yeah," I replied, nodding.

The six of us—Chris, Lana, Lucia, Crestia, Tork, and I—made our way toward the magic classrooms. The sun was high, its golden rays filtering through the tree-lined paths that crisscrossed the academy grounds. The sound of rustling leaves and distant chatter added to the serene atmosphere.

Chris led the way, her usual energetic demeanor evident in her quick steps. Lana and Lucia trailed behind her, their conversation peppered with occasional laughter. Crestia, as always, walked quietly, her gaze fixed ahead, and I stayed just a step behind her, ensuring I could intervene if needed.

When we finally reached the magic classrooms, it was time to part ways. Chris turned to the group, her expression bright. "Alright, see you all later!"

"See you," I replied, giving her a small wave.

Tork and Chris entered the fire magic classroom together, their easy camaraderie evident. Lucia headed toward the wind magic classroom, her pace as light as the element she studied. Crestia and Lana disappeared into the water magic classroom, leaving me alone to face the earth magic classroom.

As I stepped inside, the atmosphere shifted. The classroom was noticeably quieter than the others, its sparse population reflecting the rarity of earth magic students.

I scanned the room quickly. As expected, there weren’t many students—only about 23 in total, scattered across the seats. Earth magic was known as the rarest and most difficult of the four elemental magics. Mastering it required patience, precision, and a deep connection to the natural world. Even after a week of classes, the students here were still working on the basics.

For me, who had already mastered the fundamentals of two elements, I couldn’t yet tell if earth magic would be as challenging as its reputation suggested. That was part of the reason I’d chosen this class. If it truly was as difficult as people claimed, I’d learn it alongside everyone else from scratch, blending in without drawing attention.

I chose a seat near the back, next to the window. The view outside was calming—a stretch of green grass and tall trees swaying gently in the breeze. I let my gaze linger for a moment before turning my attention to the room.

The other students were already whispering, their curious gazes darting toward me. It wasn’t surprising; a new face in a small class like this was bound to attract attention. Some seemed intrigued, others wary.

I ignored the stares, instead focusing on settling into my seat. The wooden desk was smooth beneath my fingers, its surface worn from years of use. The faint scent of chalk hung in the air, mingling with the earthy aroma that seemed to naturally permeate this room.

My thoughts wandered as I waited for the instructor to arrive. What kind of person would they be? Would they call me out to introduce myself in front of the class? I wasn’t particularly fond of standing out, but I’d prepared myself for the possibility.

As I was lost in my thoughts, the sound of the classroom door creaking open brought me back to reality. A collective murmur rippled through the room as thirty-two students filed in, their presence commanding immediate attention.

These weren’t first-years like us; it was obvious from their confident demeanor and the way they carried themselves. Some of them wore badges indicating their seniority, and their polished uniforms suggested a higher level of expertise.

Among them, one figure immediately caught my eye, and I felt my stomach drop in recognition.

Standing at the forefront was a girl with striking short auburn hair. Her sharp, brown eyes scanned the room with a commanding presence that felt magnetic. Even if someone hadn’t been paying attention, they’d recognize her immediately.

It was none other than Fia, the academy’s top-ranked magician, whose reputation preceded her. She was practically a celebrity within these walls.

"Hello, everyone!" Fia’s cheerful, energetic tone filled the room, making it impossible not to focus on her. "Because of some urgent business, Instructor Refu won’t be here today. So instead, all of us—fifth-year earth magic students—will be your instructors for the day!"

Her introduction sent a ripple of excitement through the class. Fia was known not just for her skill but also for her friendly, approachable demeanor. To have her teaching us was a privilege none of us had expected.

For me, her presence was even more surprising. My mind flashed back to our first day at the academy when Chris and I had been hopelessly lost. It was Fia who had kindly guided us to the venue for the opening ceremony. Seeing her here now, leading this group of senior students, felt almost surreal.

"If I remember correctly," Fia continued, her gaze scanning the classroom, "there are only 23 of you, right?"

"Yes," a boy with dark hair and glasses replied from the front row. "There were 23 of us before, but someone just joined today." His eyes flicked toward me, drawing attention I hadn’t anticipated.

Fia’s gaze followed his, landing squarely on me. I shifted uncomfortably in my seat, suddenly feeling very exposed.

"Thank you," she said with a nod before addressing the class again. "For today’s lesson, we were tasked with teaching you how to cast the easiest spell in earth magic: Rock Bullet."

Excited whispers broke out among the students. Casting an actual spell? That was a significant step forward.

Fia raised a hand to silence the murmurs before continuing. "I know it’s only been a week since your classes started, and I personally think it might be a little early for this. But this is what Instructor Refu asked us to do, so we’ll follow through."

Her tone remained warm, but there was a hint of skepticism in her words.

"Since this classroom is too cramped for spellcasting—and we don’t want to accidentally damage anything—we’ll conduct the lesson outside."

A murmur of agreement swept through the room. The thought of stepping out into the open air to practice magic was thrilling.

"But before we head out," Fia added, her voice taking on a more practical tone, "we’ll need to pair up. There are 32 of us and 24 of you, so we’ll pair each student with one of us. That way, the teacher can focus on just one student, and the student can ask questions freely. Does that work for everyone?"

"Yes!" the entire class chorused eagerly.

Fia clapped her hands together, clearly pleased with the response. "Great! Let’s pair everyone up. Now, who wants to be my partner?"

Almost immediately, every single student in the room shot their hand into the air.

It was an amusing sight—23 hands stretched as high as they could go, their owners practically vibrating with anticipation. After all, who wouldn’t want to learn from the academy’s top magician?

I, however, didn’t raise my hand.

It wasn’t that I didn’t want to learn from Fia—quite the opposite, actually. But sitting at the back of the room, I knew the odds of being chosen were slim. She’d likely pick someone from the front row, someone whose enthusiasm was impossible to ignore.

As I stared down at my desk, lost in my reasoning, a sudden shift in the room’s energy caught my attention. A presence loomed near me, stopping directly in front of my desk.

Startled, I raised my head—and froze.

Fia was standing right there, her confident smile as radiant as ever.

"You," she said, her tone playful yet curious, "why didn’t you raise your hand?"

I was taken aback by her question, her sudden attention making me feel like I was under a spotlight. My thoughts raced as I tried to formulate a coherent response. Why didn’t I raise my hand? There was no single answer, just a mix of thoughts swirling in my mind.

Finally, I managed to blurt out an explanation, though my tone was tinged with nervousness. "I thought I didn’t really need your teaching since it’s just the basics of the basics, and anyone from your class has already mastered the spell, right? Besides..." I hesitated, glancing at the raised hands of my classmates, "...even if I raise my hand, I know I won’t get picked since so many of us are eager to learn from you."

My words spilled out quickly, almost panicked, as though I was trying to defend myself against some unspoken accusation.

Fia raised an eyebrow, clearly intrigued by my response. Her expression shifted subtly, a mix of curiosity and amusement playing across her face. "You don’t want to be taught by the top-ranked magician?" she asked, her tone teasing yet probing.

"Of course, I want to!" I exclaimed, my voice a bit louder than intended. Then, realizing I’d sounded too defensive, I quickly added in a calmer tone, "But I think others deserve it more since I’m fine learning from anyone."

Fia tilted her head, her brown eyes narrowing slightly as if she were analyzing me. Her lips curled into a faint smile, one that sent a shiver of unease down my spine. It wasn’t malicious, but it carried a sense of playful authority—as if she’d just stumbled upon something interesting.

"Hmmm," she mused, tapping a finger lightly against her chin. Then, with an air of finality, she said, "Then you’re the one. You’ll become my student."

Her declaration felt like a thunderclap in the otherwise quiet room.

"Huh?" The word escaped my mouth before I could stop it. My confusion must have been plastered all over my face, but I barely had time to process it before the rest of the class erupted.

"Huuuuuuuuhhhh!?" My classmates exclaimed in unison, their shock echoing through the room.