"Come in," called out Dean Konoemon Konoe the man in charge of Mahora Academy.
The door to his office opened and Negi Springfield, a red haired 10 year old mage-in-training and class teacher entered.
"You requested my presence Dean Konoe," said Negi, stepping up to the desk.
"Yes, I apologise for the tardiness of all this." The old gentleman gestured for Negi to sit down.
"Think nothing of it, the class was just about to wrap up, I don't think they mind an early mark," replied the boy. "So what appears to be the problem?" he asked, eyeing the paperwork stacked on the desk.
"Well as you can see I've been very busy this past forty eight hours," said the Dean. "There's been an unusual favour from your father to his friends that has just been invoked.
Negi started at this news. "Really? Did he make contact or something?"
The recent meeting Negi held with Albireo Imma had raised hopes of the survival of his father. The Dean answered, "This dates back before you were born."
"Oh…" Negi curled his lips, hiding his disappointment and leaning back. "So what is it?"
The Dean opened a safe inside his desk and pulled out an open letter.
"It says here that these individuals are to be provided with 'specialist' training on campus. At the same time the Academy is an appropriate location to nurture and develop their magical capabilities." He paraphrased the contents.
"Umm… ok," said Negi, a little confused. "So they're capable of magic, but then what is this 'specialist' training you mentioned?"
"Think Counter-Strike 1.6," said the Dean with a twinkle in his eye.
Negi was taken aback by this. The principal was generally regarded as a progressive man but who knew he was in touch with Generation Y to this extent.
"Wait… are you saying they're like commandos or special forces? Why here of all places?"
"Well for one." The principal opened a folder on his desk. "They're teenagers and won't you agree that sending them off to be trained by someone like Gunnery Sergeant Hartmann is a little harsh?"
The young mage gulped, remembering the film he and Kotaro Inugami watched alone in the middle of the night. He covered his mouth in shock when he realised something else…
"Yes, I know you and Kotaro-kun were just curious and I doubt the girls would have wanted to spoil your innocence by letting you see such a violently entertaining film." Negi's superior chuckled before continuing, "Their military education will be gradual and a trainer will be outsourced for them. At the same time you will assist in their magical education."
"Are you saying I'll be training them?"
"Not just that, they'll be involved in daily classes. Ideally you won't have to overexert yourself; it'll be a gradual process."
Negi thought for a while. It will be a major change. Chao Lingshen had recently left after the school festival and the battle to keep the existence of magic secret. Thirty three students shouldn't be too much of a burden. Besides, if their skills could be useful in the future.
"Alright I'll accept this assignment."
"Good, I knew I could rely on you," said the Dean as he handed over a file. "Take some time to read their profiles. They should be arriving in a few minutes."
"Wait, do we tell them about magic straight away?"
"Hmm, no. Not yet. We have yet to see anything manifest but your father left instructions that they must be trained nonetheless. Wait and see what happens."
Joseph, Simon and Gary could barely believe their ears after hearing Shizuna's explanation.
"Ok, so why were we chosen to come here? I don't remember filling out any overseas scholarship applications," said Joseph, staring into the back of the seat in front.
"I can't exactly say," answered Shizuna. "But you will find out once we speak to the Dean."
"Right…" said Simon. He turned to the boys on either side of him. "How did your parents react when they found out?"
Gary shrugged. "Proud I suppose, I was due to go to Eton. Seems prestigious enough."
"Mum and dad argued over it for a full day straight. I'd upped and left by then," said Joseph.
Now that their collective attention was on him Simon said, "Well the letter saved me from having to face a juvenile court."
"Really? What the heck did you do?" asked Gary.
"Misusing the school computers to set off a fire drill during a test. That was the last thing on the list they had for me."
Shizuna frowned while Takamichi made a note of this.
After a moment of silence he pointed out the window as the car turned onto road winding around a mountain.
"There's the school down there."
Joseph gave a low whistle, looking out his window while the other two leaned over to see. Down below the entire school campus was laid out almost like a model. The giant tree Shizuna had described earlier was visible, almost incongruously resembling a broccoli amongst the red and brown tiled roofs.
"Wow, look at that…" said Gary, who had planted his elbow in the small of Simon's back.
"Oi, get off me!" Simon shoved Gary back but ended up spilling the coke bottle Joseph was clutching between his thighs.
"What the-!" Gary tried to push back against Simon but accidentally poked Joseph in the eye.
"Hey! You're in for it now!"
Before long there was a three way fight between the boys. Shizuna's frown deepened so she plugged in her IPod while Takamichi put his foot on the throttle. The faster they got there the better.
A few minutes later they'd stopped in front of the main administrative building. There was no one outside but the bell was due to sound in a few minutes.
"Ok we're here," said Shizuna, opening the back door and dragging out Gary who simply slumped onto the asphalt, followed by the other two.
"That was quite lively, good thing it was only playfighting," commented Takamichi before saying to Shizuna. "But boys will be boys so try not to frown so much."
The three of them got up groggily and stretched.
"Geez, I hate having to stay cooped up like that for ages," said Joseph. "Had to go walk the whole plane every twenty minutes to stretch my legs."
"Tell me about it," said Simon.
"You boys satisfied now?" asked Takamichi, "We're running late."
As they proceeded to get their luggage, Shizuna said, "Someone else will handle those, just follow us."
The five of them set off at a brisk pace, entering the lobby and heading up the stairs to the Dean's office. Meanwhile class 3-A had left class early due to Negi's absence and had spotted the group entering the building.
"Say what's Takamichi and Shizuna-sensei doing with those guys over there?" Konoka Konoe, granddaughter of the Dean asked Kazumi Asakura.
"Well I didn't see their faces. Just visiting the Dean perhaps? If they turn up again I'll keep an eye out," answered the resident class journalist.
Whispers were quickly exchanged amongst the girls for a while as they milled about until the noon bell rung.
There was a knock at the door before Takamichi, Shizuna, Gary, Joseph and Simon entered the office.
"Ah there you are, we were getting worried for moment," said the Dean, getting up and to shake the newcomers' hands.
"Welcome to Mahora academy, I'm Dean Konoe. Please sit down."
As they did so the Dean went on, "I would like to thank all three of you for responding so promptly to the invitation. You must be wondering why you've been sent here?"
Simon felt like saying, "No shit sir." But he thought better of it. His skull T-shirt looked out of place as it is.
"Here at the school we're interested in nurturing the natural abilities of our students. Many of them are unique and gifted in some way or another. You'll see when you attend your first class."
"Right... doesn't sound different from any other school that prides itself on talented young overachievers," thought Joseph.
After a few minutes of the principal talking Gary's attention wandered over to Negi who was seated apart from them. He took in the younger boy's clothes and then the staff which was propped against his chair.
"Have you boys experienced any unusually vivid dreams or hallucinations lately?" the Dean asked suddenly.
"Excuse me?" asked Simon, leaning forward.
"Yes, I asked since your collective attention was beginning to waver," answered the Dean, "You will do well to pay close attention in class."
Joseph broke the awkward silence that followed. "Well yeah, sometimes stuff like that happens. Just randomly whenever I sleep or sometimes when I drift off. Almost like a videogame."
The other two nodded at this. Joseph decided not to include the disturbing content of a few of these dreams.
"I see. Ever displayed aptitude at anything like fieldcraft, paintball, martial arts, languages without even knowing?" the Dean persisted.
The three of them shifted uncomfortably.
"Well, yeah. I once field stripped a gun without even knowing during an open day at a Royal Marines barracks," said Gary.
The Dean and Takamichi looked at each other while Negi merely looked confused.
"Simulated war-games. I came first in my school JROTC for the last two years," said Joseph.
"Go on."
Simon looked up. "The SERE (Search, Evade, Resist and Escape) course run by some ex-SAS guy. Found it on the net and I was dared to try. Survived longer than anyone else."
"Impressive, would I be right in saying that there's more than just this?"
They nodded.
The Dean then decided to drop his bombshell. "Off course, basically what your career paths resemble are Special Forces operators."
The boys sat there stunned for a moment.
"That's what the guy said to me," Simon blurted out.
"You see." The Dean smiled. "Already it's clear. You're training will commence from this day at Mahora."
"Whoa! Wait a second!" Gary held up his hand. "How do you even know if we want to go commando? I mean we only just heard now that our career's one of jumping out of planes and blowing up planes. How the hell do you know this stuff?"
Takamichi smiled and said, "Well according to your files your career counsellors say that you guys have all the potential and skills that just don't apply to civilian life."
Shizuna picked up after him. "Basically we ran an evaluation on all of you and generally the three of you are smart, brave and unconventional. Among many other qualities that fit the dangerous lifestyle of a spec ops trooper."
Gary conceded with a nod while Joseph asked, "If that's the case why here?"
"Well, we are interesting in nurturing and-," the Dean gave his spiel.
"Ok!" Simon couldn't stand it any further. "So somehow we're going to be taught to play commando at what looks like Hogwarts. I hope whoever's training us is good."
"A specialist will be here within the week. In the meantime you will also be attending regular classes here," said Takamichi.
"Oh so who's our teacher?" asked Gary.
"Negi Springfield will be your teacher," said Shizuna, gesturing to Negi.
He stood up and offered his hand. "Hello, I'll be very pleased to make your acquaintance Gary, Simon and Joseph."
The three of them stared back at him until Simon burst out laughing.
"Haha, very funny. We're going to be taught by this little punk! Pardon me." He recovered as soon as he caught the Dean's eye.
"No shit," he whispered to the others. "This guy's serious."
Negi remained standing there with an outstretched hand until Gary and Joseph stood up and shook it.
"Nice to meet you," they both mumbled.
Simon snickered for a bit before grasping Negi's hand.
"This is going to be a fun year," he said. "You'll still be a punk in my eyes," he added in a whisper before smiling evilly.
"Uhh, yes I hope it will be fun Reilly-san," Negi managed to stammer.
Later, in the last period of the day 3-A were back in their classroom. The rest of the afternoon had passed without a sign of their young teacher and the girls had grown restless.
"Where's that brat disappeared to?" Asuna Kagurazaka wondered aloud, laying her head on her desk.
"Dunno, maybe it's got to do with those guys we saw earlier," said Albert Chamomile. The talking, chain smoking ermine sat on desk.
As he pulled out a cigarette and lit it Konoka commented, "Careful there Chamo, that lectern's heavily lacquered or you might set yourself alight."
"It hasn't really worried me. I light up whenever and wherever I want, I mean panties made from cotton will crumple up and burn like paper. Now with synthetic fibres, they'll melt and stick onto you. That's the only time when I won't light up. And to my knowledge no one here wears synthetics."
"Eww," Asuna and Konoka shuddered at the thought while the other girls (only those aware of magic) nearby rolled their eyes. The perversity of Chamo was something with which they had to put up for months.
"Maybe I should ask Sayo to go look for him," Kazumi said to Ku Fei.
"Don't worry he should turn up before the bell rings to dismiss us. I certainly won't fancy getting stuck here till six."
The twins, Fumika and Fuka Narutaki were plotting their revenge on Negi.
"This will teach him for leaving us hanging like that. He promised me the answer to that puzzle after lunch and now where's he gone?" said Fuka.
"Heh, I like this Bouncing Betty design we got," said Fumika, tying a tripwire in front of the door while her sister hid their trap under a Styrofoam cup.
The sound of footsteps down the corridor outside was everyone's cue to return to their seats. As Negi opened the door everyone waited with bated breath as he stepped over the tripwire. He since learnt to avoid traps set by the twins whenever he had entered the classroom at any unusual time.
Gary hadn't yet learnt this. As soon as he stepped on the wire the cup on the floor in front flew up.
"Ambush!" shouted Ghost.
A disc shaped land mine concealed in the long grass suddenly popped up in front of him. Roach watched, mesmerised as it spun in mid air. As it reached its zenith he threw himself prone on the ground, as though a PT instructor had ordered him to begin push ups. There was an awful ear splitting crack as the mine exploded right above his head, the shockwave could have decapitated him if he'd been a fraction of a second late.
"Targets! Left side! Left side!" Roach heard Ghost bellowing orders to the other Task Force members.
He did as he was told and turned his head to look up at the hostiles pouring fire from the rocky hill on the left.
Gary looked up and to the left at the class, all of whom were staring open mouthed at him as well as Negi. It was then he realised he was lying on his stomach. The Styrofoam cup which hid the bouncing sneezing powder bomb lay on its side in front of him. He jumped to his feet and heard a loud sneeze from behind.
Joseph and Simon didn't see the bomb until Gary had hit the floor, by then it was too late and both of them had caught it in the face.
"Gary, Simon, Joseph! Are you alright?" Negi rushed back to the door, his voice full of concern. "I'm sorry about that. Some of the girls in my class occasionally pull pranks on me. I assure you that it was unintentional."
"I'm ok," Gary replied, dusting himself off and entered along with Simon and Joseph who were still sneezing.
By then the class had recovered and there was a strong buzz of conversation as they regarded the newcomers.
Joseph and Simon stopped rubbing their noses long enough to notice Fuka and Fumika standing in front of them, each with a tissue box and a goofy grin.
"Sorry about that!" They both bowed as the boys pulled out a few tissues.
"That's alright," said Joseph. "At least it was harmless."
Simon meanwhile returned Fuka's endearing eyes with a smile of his own. The girl blushed a little, before taking her sister's arm and returning to their seats.
The boys then regarded the class. The class stared back.
Puzzled Simon leaned over to Negi and muttered out the corner of his mouth, "I thought this place was co-ed."
"No this section of the campus is girls only. This is the class I teach and since I've been assigned as your teacher you'll have to join this class," answered Negi.
"Right…"
Negi cleared his throat stepped forward to address the girls, "Class 3-A, this is Joseph Allen, Gary Sanderson and Simon Reilly. They will be joining us while they complete their specialist training on campus."
By then the class had begun to form their own opinions. Haruna Saotome immediately detected the bad boy aura radiating from Simon and tried to catch his eye. The problem was that nearly half the class agreed with Haruna while Simon deliberately kept had a look a disinterest on his face.
On the other hand Joseph shuffled around a little, he was slightly shorter than the two Brits but the way in which he his eyes blinked as they looked down shyly and his neatly combed hair was all too endearing. To that effect it elicited "Awws" from the other half of the class.
Gary who stood between the two was just plain old Gary. Except for being a little taller than the rest there wasn't anything remarkable about him.
"He'll be the one to get an interview off the easiest," thought Kazumi. "Simon seems like the type who thinks he's too cool to talk to girls. I don't think I'll get much out of that Joseph fellow; he doesn't seem comfortable here yet. "
Negi continued, "Since tomorrow will be the start of the weekend I think it will be a prime opportunity for all of you to get familiarised with each other. They'll be living in the dormitories with us but they'll have their own room don't worry."
A few of the class seemed a little disappointed while the Simon and Joseph fist bumped in relief. Gary didn't mind either way.