Chapter 10. Trash Heap
Rhys rode with the mage, following wherever she took him. After riding a giant flower earlier, the giant sword didn’t shock him too much. He didn’t really know what to do. Straw was a monster, hunted by the mages. It wasn’t practical to stay with him. So in the end, going to learn from some other mage in a proper school wasn’t really a loss for him.
The only real shame was being separated from Bast. He’d grown quite close to the boy since his arrival here, and he didn’t want to be apart. But he couldn’t interfere with Bast’s progression, so they’d have to part here for now.
He looked back. I’ll look forward to seeing how much you grow, friend.
The earth flashed by. It reminded him a bit of flying in an airplane, if the sword was a bit more precarious. Still, his body was far stronger than it had been in his first life, and his sense of balance likewise enhanced, so he didn’t feel the fear he might have if he were a mortal riding a sword. Instead, he stood behind the mage and took in the sights, his hair swirling in the wind.
The mage glanced back. “Your reactions are too boring.”
“Huh?” Rhys asked.
“Usually, young disciples are all agape at seeing the world flash by. But you, it’s like you’ve seen it a thousand times,” she replied.
“It is very impressive. Don’t get me wrong, I’m enjoying the view,” he reassured her.
The mage glanced back. She snorted. Turning back forward, she tossed her hair and declared, “I am Magus Aquari Gibron, Schoolmaster of the Infinite Constellation School. We are a relatively small school with small renown. You should not consider yourself personally selected by the Schoolmaster, but instead, inducted normally. I will inform all the other teachers to treat you normally, so don’t think of taking advantage of this situation.”
“Huh? Er… no, I wouldn’t,” Rhys said, taken aback. Was this something that could be taken advantage of? Hold on. Maybe I should take advantage of it.
She narrowed her eyes. “I know your type. Don’t think you can fool me.”
Rhys hummed to himself. If she was going to treat him the same way either way, he might as well try to take advantage of everything he could. Already, he felt no allegiance to this school. Being stolen from Straw, then treated coldly and with suspicion… why would he care about anyone where he was being sent? Especially when this was so obviously his consolation prize.