The Legendary Programming Mage

First Class of the Year: Magic Combat.

Well, it was more like a chance for cadets to beat each other to a pulp, but since no one disagreed, the tradition continued.

And today was the day of that class.

The moment I woke up, the first thing I did was make sure my active flow (mana) was full and practice some control.

During my spare time, I had tried to integrate a virus spell or decoding spell into my magic, but failed miserably.

"I guess I'm still too weak for that."

Being able to decode any magic was indeed too overpowered, since I could just stop it from being cast.

I glanced left and right on the street as a small white electric cab passed me with students inside.

Apex was like a normal city.

Taxis, restaurants, malls, bars—everything one would need.

Actually, I could even say it was freer than certain countries back on Earth.

My life wasn't as safe as others though.

That was why I wanted today's class to come so badly.

I needed to show real dominance.

I needed to make sure none of the students ever thought we were equals.

For me, it didn't matter when you started, I would always be better than everyone.

Because, I—

My internal monologue was cut short by a slap on my back.

"Bro!"

My eyelids twitched. "Edo, you know you can speak without touching me, right?"

"Nah, man," he replied. "What would be the fun in that?"

His eyes narrowed. "So how's life been treating you?"

I shrugged. "Pretty well, really. A handful of pigs can't frighten a lion."

Edo nodded. "I'll have to write that down for another time when I need to say something badass."

He paused. "And bro, my name is Ikenna. Surname's Edo."

I stared into his eyes.

He was taller than me.

And I was looking up at him.

I know it meant the same thing, but still, I hated the feeling of being blinded by the sun when staring at someone.

Plus, it felt like it was slowly draining my self-confidence.

I clicked my tongue and quickened my pace.

Edo Ikenna slipped his hand into his pocket and matched my steps.

"So..." he began. "What plan do you have for today?"

I scoffed. "Why would I need a plan?"

He glanced at me briefly before facing the road. "Is that so?" He paused again. "If you need help, don't forget to call me."

He smirked. "Bros before hoes, never forget that."

I couldn't help but smile. "I'm sorry to disappoint, but since I'm not gay, hoes come before bros."

"Hey, how can you say that?"

Immediately, a platinum blonde woman came into sight.

She took two steps forward, then nearly tripped.

"Vivy."

Edo called out, then shot me a glance with that "sorry dude, my wife is on her period" look before taking one hesitant step forward.

After that, he dashed ahead, flashing me a final smirk. "Don't forget, bros before hoes, my brother."

He turned back towards the woman and shouted. "Vivy, what happened!"

I exhaled sharply. "As if. Fucking simp."

However, his whole antic reminded me that I also had male friends.

"That just shows how good my personality is."

I stared up at the sky. "Now I feel lonely. Why can't I also have a girlfriend?"

Smack!

Another sting shot through my back as Sylvia appeared.

"Why are you just standing here?"

She could have just called out.

I sighed. "Well, Edo Ikenna was busy simping for his fiancée, and I was thinking about how lonely I was despite my pretty face."

Sylvia turned to me with wide eyes.

"What?"

She continued to stare at me like I had committed some crime.

Yeah, Quincy liked me, that much I was sure of, but that was because we were childhood friends—and I wasn't even sure if it had reached that stage.

Beatrice was just my master, Valentina wanted blood, and besides them, I knew no other girl except Sylvia.

I pointed at her skeptically. "Then do you like me? Are you my sugar?"

She scoffed. "As if. I already like someone."

My gaze shifted to the spotless ground. "And who's that?"

Sylvia lingered for a full minute. "Well, I like two people actually. I'm not quite sure which one I should pursue."

What is she even saying now?

She likes two men? Doesn't that mean she just has a crush?

Sylvia continued without my input. "It isn't just a crush, but both of them seem so impossible to me."

Damn, girls' love stories sure are complicated.

"One is a criminal, and the other a video game villain. Can you believe it?"

"How could I?" I answered flatly, my mind already drifting elsewhere.

She sighed. "However, the criminal died, and the villain is destined to end the world and has a lot of female companions far better than me."

I stared at her for a moment. "Is this a show or something?"

She paused, then shook her head. "No."

"Then..." I asked. "Why does it sound like you're actually talking about someone you know?"

"Hmph!" She pouted. "I'll keep my thoughts to myself."

I chuckled lightly. "Sorry, sorry."

"Maybe the two guys are just assholes for not liking you."

Sylvia's face brightened at my words. "Right? They're such assholes, and idiots, and morons too."

The way she sounded was so funny that, without realizing it, I agreed. "Yeah, they're complete fools."

Sorry, whoever this is.

Sylvia let out a satisfied breath. "I feel alive again."

She took a step forward. "Now, I'm heading somewhere. Don't get in trouble, or kill anyone, or touch anything that might explode."

Why is she acting like a mom?

I nodded. "Bye."

She waved at me as she turned the corner.

After a few more steps, I stopped.

Shit.

It had completely slipped my mind.

Quincy...

Quincy knew nothing about directions.

***

Meanwhile, somewhere on the outskirts of the academy.

A young woman with whitish-blue hair and golden eyes walked through an empty street.

She looked left and right, then placed a hand on her neck.

"Uhmm... Where did everyone go?"