Whistle spoke triumphantly.

"I told you the name of this technique is 'A Different World.' My power is still weak, so I haven't been able to fully realize it yet."

A Different World(別天地).

There was hardly a name more fitting.

The hospital room seemed like a world apart, disconnected from reality.

The distant sky, dazzling yet not warm sunlight, the beautiful yet scentless flowers—all of it.

"Amazing. To be able to create such a perfect illusion."

Luca sincerely marveled.

He had seen such staging often in comics or movies, but this was the first time he had witnessed the background literally change before his eyes.

'I've seen many wonders since coming here, but it still all feels so new.'

However, Whistle did not seem pleased with his response.

"An illusion? If only you could realize it properly—this is a supreme technique that creates a mental world! It's the fruit of arrogance, a human imitating creation!"

"... Yeah. I get it."

He wasn't quite sure what Whistle meant, but apparently, his pride had been wounded.

Whistle went on for a while, using different vocabulary to extol the greatness of this technique, before regaining composure.

"Ah, anyway. If you, master, learn to control the clouds, you too will be able to use this technique. When that time comes, you'll understand what I'm saying."

"Alright. Understood."

As Luca replied indifferently, Bella whispered to him.

"Whi-Whistle's way of speaking—has it always been like that?"

"... You can hear it?"

From her mention of his tone, it seemed she actually could hear Whistle.In response, Whistle once again spoke with pride.

"In here, I can even create my own voice!"

"... That's impressive."

He could only admire the declaration that Whistle had even created a voice.

A true imitation of creation, indeed.

Whistle flapped his wings.

"Clouds are different from lightning. Lightning has destructive power on its own, but clouds can't unleash much power by themselves. That's why you need to know how to handle them."

Indeed.

The power of lightning could be used from the beginning, but even though he'd obtained the power of the cloud some time ago, Luca still couldn't quite sense what it was.

"But if you learn to control the cloud properly, then any other sky powers you gain in the future, and even the lightning you have now, will become stronger!"

"Then, what do I have to do in here to be able to control the power of the cloud?"

"It's simple. You only have to transform anything here by your will."

As he said this, Whistle picked up a flower blooming by the bed.

"If you can transform this, or anything else, into something different, you'll be able to control the cloud's power!"

"Isn't that a little too simple?"

"It would be nice if it were that easy, but..."

Whistle let his words trail off.

He had had many confident masters like Luca, but most had not been able to properly handle the power of the cloud.

Some had literally said "It's like grabbing at straws," and simply given up on the cloud's power.

'This master has a strong will, but... how should I put it... when he fights, he can be more like a beast than I am...'

You can't master the power of the cloud through intuition alone.

The crucial thing is the ability to understand, imagine, and harmonize.

To Whistle, Luca didn't seem particularly gifted in that area.

"I was worried when you said closed-door training, but this isn't much."

"If, by any chance, you manage to control the clouds right away, I'll teach you something even more advanced!"

"I'll look forward to it, then."

With that, Luca grasped the flower with confidence.

After sitting quietly for a moment, he looked at Whistle.

"So, what should I transform this into?"

"That's for you to decide, master."

"I'd appreciate if you'd give me an example."

Luca's request was met with a shake of Whistle's head.

"If I give you an example, you'll get stuck on that idea. It's hard to handle clouds if you're caught up in one way of thinking."

"..."

Hearing those words, Luca looked down at the flower and thought.

'She's telling me to chase after clouds.'

But he more or less understood.

Even if it was tough for Luca Traverse, for the Luca who had read many novels, it wasn't that difficult a concept.

'These days, the only novel I remember clearly is The Savior of the Academy.'

Even so, he probably had more imagination than Luca Traverse.

'Let's at least try changing the color first.'

The flower Whistle had picked up was red. Luca decided to try changing it to blue.

'How should I do it? Should I just think, "turn blue," or should I imagine it being dyed blue?'

It was certainly daunting.

He could wield the power of lightning just like handling magic power, relying on Luca Traverse's memories, but cloud power was different.

He could sense the power of the cloud.

He could move it, too.

But the idea of doing something with it was still elusive.

Luca tried channeling the cloud's power into the flower. No change.

He tried enveloping the flower with the energy. Still no change.

'I really have no idea what I'm supposed to be doing yet.'

"Don't rush, master. The cloud should be caught with a calm heart, as it flows. Otherwise, it'll slip through your fingers. Take your time."

As he watched Luca quietly stare at the flower, Whistle offered advice.

"Whistle."

"Yeah?"

Luca, not even looking at Whistle, said,

"Shut up. You're distracting me."

"... Okay."

He thought he might get hit if he wasn't careful.

* * *

Even despite such incidents, time passed quickly.

Unlike Luca, whose bones all over his body had been shattered, Ottbo's injuries healed quickly enough that he had to attend classes.

It wasn't so bad.

"Hey, Ottbo. Archiond was talking about you. Said you're a fun guy."

"Huh? R-Really?"

"Something about... Monthly Party People? Never thought I'd meet another guy who reads that."

"?!"

"Just kidding. Sorry I hit you last time. But I got punched by Luca Traverse, too, so we're even, right?"

He didn't know by what means Archiond had intervened, but Igar Hetoff, who had picked a fight with Ottbo last time, came over first and apologized.

He explained that it had bothered him that Ottbo got into S-Class by family influence while not even paying attention in class.

"Still, I heard you gave it your all during the last practical. When that special-type monster appeared and the others were in danger, you fought hard enough that your family's secret weapon got wrecked, huh?"

"Ah, yeah. But it wasn't just me. Everyone was desperate."

"Right. I heard the guy who blew me away is still recuperating in the hospital. Should I say 'serves him right'? Ha!"

Apparently, that was how word of the incident during the last practical exercise spread in the academy.

Igar Hetoff had a mischievous streak, but now that the misunderstanding was cleared up, he treated Ottbo nicely.

"Do you have time after class today?"

"Time?"

"Yeah. Sorry again for last time, so let me buy you a good lunch. I'll introduce you to some other people, too."

Ottbo hesitated and then shook his head.

"Sorry, I have plans today. Let's eat next time."

"Really? Alright. Next time, make sure we eat together."

"Okay!"

As soon as morning classes were over, Ottbo approached Milia.

Milia glanced at him and spoke in a blunt tone.

"Shouldn't you be eating with your other friends?"

"Huh? Ah... you mean Igar Hetoff?"

"It might be your last chance to get out of being ostracized, you know."

The word "ostracized" made Ottbo briefly look rather downcast, but then he brightened up with a smile.

"It's fine. I'd rather eat lunch with you guys anyway."

"... You and Luca. You're such kids."

Milia turned her head away in mock annoyance.

Ottbo, flustered, thought, 'Aren't we still only first-years...?' but Milia didn't seem to be in a bad mood.

"Young lady! Sorry I'm late. I had to fight in a duel for Luca Traverse's sake..."

"It's fine. Let's just go eat lunch."

"Yes, Ma'am!"

Just then Isella arrived. The three of them headed to the student cafeteria.

And someone watched the three of them go.

"How did Ottbo Gress get so close with such pretty girls?"

"Yeah, he never focuses on studies, but why are people nice to some flirt like him?"

It was Igar and his friends.

They looked at Ottbo with sour expressions.

Apparently, it wasn't just family influence that made them dislike Ottbo.

"Let it go. Archiond said to try getting along, so we have to play along."

Even Igar looked displeased, lips stuck out.

He couldn't ignore Archiond, the eldest son of the influential Marquis Robette family, especially since they were both from marquis families.

"Just get close for now, then mess with him and call it a joke. If he complains, say 'can't friends play pranks?' Easy."

"Ha! As expected of you, Igar. So sly!"

"... Are you insulting me?"

"J-just a joke. That's all."

"Already preparing what you'll do to Ottbo? Funny. Shall I practice on you?"

The boy who joked fell silent as Igar glared at him.

Igar clicked his tongue, looked in Ottbo's direction, and muttered through clenched teeth,

"See you later, Ottbo."

Ottbo's path ahead was still dark.

* * *

After afternoon classes were done.

During free training time, Ottbo was getting a private lesson from Milia.

Having declared she would turn Ottbo into a capable person, Milia looked entirely serious, leaving no room for leniency.

Ottbo was enthusiastic but looked a bit worn out.

"Ugh... My head feels like it's about to explode..."

"Drive magic is supposed to be even harder than this. Why can't you learn such basic magic?"

Milia looked genuinely perplexed.

To be precise, what she was teaching wasn't quite basic.

But at Hernan Academy, even E-class students generally knew this much.

"Well... with drive magic, it's like... I just know how to do it, intuitively?"

"What are you talking about? Magic is all about understanding the principles."

"That's the thing; with drive magic, I can just get the principle. How to move magic power, how it interacts with other magic—I just get it, somehow."

Ottbo's eyes sparkled when speaking about drive magic, and Milia could only shake her head.

"I can't tell if you're clever or just dense."

"Ugh... I'll do my best."

"You better do extra best. Even that person you met last time has high expectations for you."

At the mention of 'that person',

Ottbo swallowed hard.

The day Luca went to the party, Ottbo had met someone together with Milia.

"I was a bit surprised you already knew that person."

"I-it wasn't much; we just spoke briefly because of the incident in Pia Forest."

"Still, you have a connection. She even remembered your name. We're talking about Professor Sletl Magus, the S-Class instructor of the School of Magic Studies."

If Luca had been there, he would have been very surprised.

Because Sletl Magus was—

—It's a shame. I wanted to research a little more into the power of the gods you possess.—Please don't resent me too much. If my research had been completed thanks to you, this wouldn't have happened.—Well then, goodbye. Savior of the Academy.

In the original novel, he had been the villain who betrayed the academy.

-------------= Clacky's Corner -------------=Hmmm, is Sletl the one who experimented on the previous owner of the Skybird?【ദ്ദി(⩌ᴗ⩌)】

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