Disclaimer: This is a nonprofit fictional story, a FanFiction based on Ken Akamatsu's Negima. I do not own Negima, or most of the other characters included in this work, excepting where it is stated in the author's notes. It is not intended or presented for any commercial profit or personal gain; it is simply a story written for personal fulfillment and presented for public enjoyment, and as an honest homage to the fine story conceived and written by Ken Akamatsu, as well as all the other (innumerable) works that find place herein (and their authors).

Prologue

The late winter air was cool and crisp, and the remnants of snow melted slowly and majestically across the great field surrounding the school. As the clothed and capped graduates fled the building following their final task within, one young man, younger than all the rest, made his slow way behind them all.

"Yo, Kain! Finally made it, huh?"

Kain Lockeheart, age fourteen, turned in surprise and smiled at the sight of his friend. "Lina! Glad you could make it. Didn't you come inside for the ceremony…?"

Lina Inverse tossed her long red hair dismissively at the comment. "Never been much for the pomp and circumstance. That's why I never bothered finishing the schooling myself. I'm surprised you did."

Kain blushed. "Ah, well, I'm not like you…I could never just develop magic well enough on my own like that…."

"Nonsense. You'd be fine. You're almost as good a spell-caster as I am…."

"But of a much more agreeable temperament, eh, Miss Inverse?"

The two turned to see the school's bald, white-bearded headmaster, Konosuke Hammond, descending down the steps towards them. "Although it is quite true that Kain is more than skilled enough," he continued. "Receiving such a degree from this school at age fourteen…such a thing hasn't been done since his father."

"Ah, well…I still couldn't match him…."

"At age ten? No, but you certainly can't believe yourself a failure simply because you can't meet his insurmountable achievements. You're well on the road to emulating him, however, and that is still your dream, isn't it?"

Kain's embarrassed and conciliatory, almost pathetic visage changed instantly to one of determination and resolution. "Yes. I know I've just started on the path to becoming an Archmage, but that is my ultimate goal. I have to tread the same path he did…even if it will take me longer to achieve it."

"Heh, not much longer," Lina finally put in. "So, does this mean you're finally coming to join me in Arcanus Myrror? It's been rather boring doing all this adventuring on my own…."

"Ho, I'm not sure that Kain would want to follow you too closely, Lina Inverse," Konosuke chuckled. "Your infamy is spreading, you know…Bandit Killer, Dragon Spooker, a few other less-flattering titles. Not that I would judge you, mind. But you always were a little more reckless and wild than Kain…."

"Yeah, yeah…wait, Dragon Spooker? What's that about? I've never heard of that one…."

"Never mind. In any case, Kain, having chosen to continue his education through the Archmage Program for Post-Graduates, must fulfill the assignment chosen for him by the Headmaster's Council, before undertaking any personal goals. You'll find it in that envelope I gave you with your diploma, Kain. Why don't you examine it while your friend Lina is here with you?"

"Oh! Right." Hurriedly, Kain ripped open the envelope and examined the contents. "Let's see here…'Kain Lockeheart is hereby charged with…'." Kain blinked and squinted at the paper in disbelief. "Er…teaching English at Mahora Academy in Japan?"

Lina, looking over Kain's shoulder in interest at the paper, also stared in disbelief for a few moments. Then she burst out laughing. "Teaching English? Oh…oh that's rich. Well, maybe you're more suited to that than adventuring, Kain…but, still…."

Kain could only shake his head in surprise. Of course, he had no idea just how much adventure the innocent teaching position would bring him….

Author's Note: Welcome to Mahou Sensei Kain!

This story is, for those who haven't figured it out (or have never seen the original) a fanfiction alternate universe or retelling of the manga universe Mahou Sensei Negima! This work follows, generally, the Negima story and universe, but replaces most of the main characters with some of my favorite characters from other anime, or, in some cases, my own unique characters. Obviously, those who detest fanfiction in general will want nothing to do with this story, so they can save themselves the trouble of reading any further. Each chapter will have these author's notes, including introductions about one or more of the central characters in the chapter (or perhaps recent chapters). This will explain the characters' origins, as well as their place in the Mahou Sensei universe, including any significant roles from the original Negima story that they are assuming. If you are interested in learning more about the Negima universe, the characters from it, and the characters I've used here, read on. If you don't really care, feel free to skip the notes. The entire purpose of this work, of course, is to be not just read, but enjoyed, and the hope is that these pieces will help expand the reader's knowledge and help them understand the work and characters.

In general, this adaption will include many events from the original work, but the overall background and raison d'être of the universe will be different—veterans of Negima who are aware of the magical world's secret, for example, should not assume this universe's magical world, Arcanus Myrror, follows the same rules.

I should take the time to note that while I love the Negima story and setting, the fan service nature of the manga drives me nuts; I consider it a flaw rather than a reason for reading, and that is the real purpose behind this fanfiction—I always put myself and/or my own characters and additions into the books, movies, anime and manga I love and play them many times in my imaginations. This one, however, is such a fine piece (both good and bad) that it screams the need to pare it a little—removing the nonsensical fan service and keeping the heart of the story, and twisting a few other things I like in the places I like them since I'm messing with it anyway. Sacrilege, perhaps, but this kind of thing is my true passion. So, in other words, I will have little fan service and shall not make any vain attempts to describe lewd situations, but since this is a novelization with no illustrations, you'd be silly to expect any.

Otherwise, I should use this first introductory note to introduce Kain Lockeheart, the hero of our story. Kain is, quite frankly, a heroic version of myself created for one (actual, several, to be honest) of my previous story ideas, so this is, in some ways, a Mary Sue Fanfiction (or whatever the male equivalent is). Even acknowledging that many authors feature a heroic protagonist with themselves as the base, I must admit that this is my own most major adjustment to the series. Nonetheless, Kain is a good replacement for Negi; most especially, in this case, he is older, but he is still similar in many ways—somewhat naive, but good-hearted, courageous, and dedicated to his duties. He has been given Negi's tragic past, or most parts of it, which gives him his goal and purpose in life. Still, as he is four years older than Negi, he will show a measure more wisdom and will not be as bumbling.

Lina Inverse of Slayers fame was also introduced here, replacing Anna Kokolova, Negi's childhood friend, but she will be featured in a (much) later chapter with a larger introduction.