Beyond?

“Quinn is a wondrous country. Their culture is vastly different from ours. I couldn't avert my eyes from their buildings while I travelled their streets. Every single house of theirs is a work of art with paintings all over it. And the people are dressed in so many different clothes that I always had the impression that some kind of festivity was taking place.

But even a place like that can cast a shadow onto the people who live there. The people of Quinn despise all magic like we despise the dark arts. All those who bear magic are forced to join the temples and serve the country. None of them are allowed to possess anything of their own, nor are they allowed to have relationships.

This is a state of things which will meet its own bitter end in time. That I am sure of.”

-Mile Riverick, Merchant

***Free City States of Nict, Nict***

***Azir***

“Um, why is everyone staring at me like that? Hey, say something!” I wave my hand in front of the teacher's face. There is a heavy silence all over the training field.

“Did... Did you just form the gathered mana into a magical circle to cast a spell?” The teacher gasps.

I smile and nod. “But runes work just fine too. What did you think of my space time magic? Deserves a perfect score doesn't it?”

The teacher grabs me by my shoulders and shakes me. “That's unheard of! Since when can the Zait do something like that! To cast spells from natural mana without absorbing it first! Do you know how powerful that is!?”

I twist myself free and step back. “Duh! Don't be so shocked. Isn't that a basic thing to do when you can shape mana according to your will?”

The teacher drops to his knees with a dead expression on his face. “You pass. All of you pass.”

“~Hohoho!~” I hear the mad laughter of my mother and turn to face her. Seems like she came down from the stands to congratulate me. “That was wonderful Azir. You blew their minds away. I am sure that they see the Zait in another light now.” She bends down and hugs me. “And we can surely use this to our advantage!” Valda whispers into my ear.

She lets go, but keeps kneeling in front of me. “The Veit intended to make a big show out of this event, but you stole the spotlight from their prodigy.”

I blink. “Show? Spotlight?”

Valda points at a group of adults. The orange haired enchanter girl from earlier is with them. The whole group is eyeing us with ill intent. “This event is a little more than it seems. The clans are using it to show off their power and to compete with each other. If a clan can show that they have powerful heirs and a bright future it has influence on the political landscape.”

She grumbles and stands up again. “The Veit tried to persuade the Gejene to take away some of our clan's landholdings within the capital. They are the current rulers of Nict and the capital is their territory, so it is within their rights to do so. Our clan is already seen as very powerful, though a display of power could have changed the Gejene's mind about it. By showing them our full potential today, the Gejene will surely think twice about handing our holdings to the Veit. The Gejene will avoid getting on our bad side from now on. Even if they are the rulers.”

Valda waves at the group while the grin on her face is turning vicious. “Do you see that orange haired girl who looks like she wants to break off your horns and stab you with them? That's Olivia Veit. They proclaim her to be the future of the clan because she can apply enchants from a distance.”

I frown. “But wasn't revealing my ability really bad in that case? I am the only one in our clan who can use his ability like that.”

“Not for long.” Valda smiles while she forms a rune for fire above her hand. It ignites and turns into a flame. “Don't worry. Your mother isn't the head of the clan for nothing. I've trained the new method of spell-casting since you first showed it to me a few years ago. Even though I am nowhere as good as you, I am good enough to give a little show. I also changed the training schedule for all of our younger children. Once they have control over the old style, they'll learn the new one. Your sister isn't the only one who'll learn the new techniques.”

Mother is surely a frightening existence. To train in secrecy in order to keep up with me. “Dad was right when he said that you can't stand it when someone is better than you. Is there anything else I should know about our political situation that you haven't told me?”

Valda pulls at her lower lip while thinking. “Not that I know. We are on very good terms with the Anja, since your father is from their clan. We are at odds with the Tinn, but you know that already. And today we stepped onto the toes of the Veit. I think our relationship with the other clans can be called neutral.”

My friends join us and Talia forms two fists while jumping in front of me with sparkling eyes. “That was so cool! Can I learn that too?”

“S... sure.” I try to force a smile onto my face.

Valda reprimands Talia with a raised finger. “You'll learn it once you can stop your sphere from going out of control. Spinning it like that could kill you.”

Talia presses her lips into a thin line while she is thinking about an answer. “I don't know what you are talking about. Spinning the protective sphere is my trademark move. It's best to move around, you don't even need a carriage.”

Valda raises an eyebrow. “You clearly tried to get it back under control while it spun. Did I, the clan head, just hear a lie from a member of a branch family?”

“Forgive me! Forgive me! I'll work on it! I lost control! I admit!” Talia prostrates herself onto all fours in front of my mother.

“Well, I think I'll retreat for now. There is something I have to discuss with the Veit.” Valda leaves us behind and walks over to the group which is glaring at us.

***Free City States of Nict, Tri***

***Louise***

We are back in our classroom. There is nothing to do at the moment, so we are just idling around. Azir busted the whole event with his show. I can't believe that he had no idea how powerful this new technique of the Zait is.

Using natural mana to cast your spells is like using a cheat. It means that the Zait can continue to cast spells as much as they want. The only restriction is the mana which is available in the area. A magician who has such an ability can keep casting spells long after everyone else has run out of mana. There is vastly more mana in the environment than any magician has in his personal mana pool.

The only restriction is their own concentration and endurance.

I eye Azir while he is lolling in his chair and watching the ceiling. Sometimes I really want to know what's going on in his mind. He is trying to hide it, but I am sure that he is far ahead of everyone in his generation.

When his mask slips from time to time he is just like an old grandfather who is teaching some youngsters a new trick. I went through great efforts to adapt my teleportation spell in order to being able to use it during combat.

A normal teleportation would require long preparations and cast times. I worked hard to shorten the cast, but that meant increasing the complexity of the spell. He helped me to adapt the spell and even though he tried to make it look like he was just giving a helping hand, he couldn't hide that the end result was probably known to him beforehand.

The door to the classroom opens and a familiar orange haired girl enters the classroom. Her eyes lock onto Azir and she walks over to our group. “Hey!”

Azir's eyes wander to her. “Hi.”

“Don't call me 'Hi'! I am Olivia Veit!” The orange head proclaims while touching her chest with a high and mighty demeanour. I think I was like her some time ago, before Azir made me join his group.

Azir mumbles something and sits up straight. “Then don't call me 'Hey'. I am Azir Zait.”

The girl ignores him and continues with a grand speech of her own. “I, Olivia Veit, judged you to be a worthy opponent. From now on we are rivals! Prepare yourself!” She turns and walks towards the exit.

I see Azir's eyes twitch and immediately recognize that he is annoyed. He tends to do that before he does something nasty! Without thinking I jump forward and grab his left hand which was pointing at Olivia.

His right hand is caught by Stella who is also good at judging his tempers. Our group got used to his outbreaks and we are trying everything in our might to stop him from doing unfortunate things which could affect our whole group.

“What do you guys think you are doing?” He looks left and right while we are both holding onto his hands.

Stella calls out. “You were about to attach a nasty curse to her! Think about what the teachers would say!”

“I don't care! She came in here and declared war! Naughty children have to be educated while they are still able to learn! It's too late once they are older.” He tries to pull himself free, but I don't let go.

“Help us! Talia! Karsen! We have to restrain him! His mother surely doesn't want an incident with the Veit right now!” All of us throw themselves onto Azir to restrain him. A wild scramble enfolds and all of us go to the ground. Only Karsen doesn't help and stays out of it.

“B... B... B... Brother!”

We turn and find Valeria in the entrance to the classroom. Then I realize what our current situation looks like. I am leeching on to his left hand with my legs around his waist while Stella is holding down his right. Stella's tail is entangled around Azir's legs. Talia is sitting on top of him to keep him from getting up.

Then Valeria bulldozes into Talia. “Don't rape my brother! Not allowed! T... Too young!”

Wait? Does that mean she is fine with it once we are older?

.