Disclaimer: I do not own Mahou Negima Sensei nor do I own Mana Khemia: Alchemists of Al-revis.


Chapter 3: Alchemic Ally

Roxis continued his trek around campus, he felt like he'd gotten a good feel of the area, he'd even managed to turn a few heads, accompanied by;

"Who's that?"

"Isn't that the new guy who enrolled into Mahora Boys Academy?"

"I heard he kicked Shino's ass."

"What!? No way, Shino's too tough to be beaten."

Roxis shrugged all of this off, but the issue of money was still a bit of a problem. Where am I meant to find work? An alchemist of my abilities, there SHOULD be something here which I can do.

His problem was solved in an instant as he'd noticed a sign in a window, 'Help wanted.' Though he didn't know what the job was, it was the only choice he had. A bell chimed as he opened the door into the store and approached the counter. "Excuse me.." Roxis cleared his throat to get the clerks attention.

The man behind the desk looked up from his news paper and eyed Roxis, "Yes?" The man looked to be in his mid 30's. "What can I help you with?"

"I saw that you needed some help here?" Roxis motioned towards the window where the sign hung. "Is there a way for me to apply here?"

"Oh that.. Look, we'd recently lost a couple of our workers, they were siblings and were transferred from the school. They now study in America. Our best worker so far is still here though, but we could always use the extra help. She can't possibly keep up her double shifts."

"Err.. Okay, but what do I have to do?" Roxis wondered, he'd just entered the building as it stated it needed help, and he needed the money. "Is this a store?"

"Not exactly.. We deliver newspapers."

"..Newspapers?" Roxis had wondered into a delivery service, though he wasn't all that fond with running, he didn't really see any other stores needed help. "Very well then."

In front of him were papers and a pen. "Great, just sign your name and details here. If you're a student of the school, just give us your room number and we'll have your pay sent over to you at the end of every month." Roxis did as he was asked and the papers were taken in along with the pen.

"Great, I'll see you tomorrow then. Be here by 5 am."

Roxis felt his stomach flop, "F-five in the morning?" Roxis wanted to clarify that he wasn't going deaf as the man merely nodded and smiled at him. Maybe I should have asked more about this.. I'll be sure to keep that in mind next time I need work.

Roxis left the building, noting where it was. He sighed as he continued down the road, atleast he now has a job.

--

Chisame skimmed through the pages, having read through over 50 pages already, she wasn't showing any signs of stopping, her eyes were glued to the pages, slowly starting to understand more and more about the basics of alchemy. This thing's like a manual to alchemy.. it shows almost everything, how to make new items through synthesis, the proper way to gather materials.. Even proper cauldron maintenence. She allowed herself to be dragged deeper and deeper into the world of alchemy. She turned the next page and slowly started to smile to herself.

The page she looked at was made for alteration of clothing, either changing attributes or changing it's looks. But Chisame saw this as an opportunity.. She didn't need to worry about buying new costumes now..

--

Roxis had by now trekked the entire town, though he didn't really do much, he felt exhausted, the journey was still weighing on him, he looked up to the sky to notice the orange sun setting behind the world tree. Sighing, he decided it was time to head back to the dorms. He made his way back to the tram station. He forced himself awake after nodding off once or twice. Erg... As an achemist I must learn to endure things like this. Fatigue must not weigh me down.. He started drifting again, only to be jolted back awake by the tram. He rubbed his eyes as he stood up and exited, making his way back to the dorms.

Roxis stood in front of his door, unlocking it. He stepped inside and closed the door behind him, walking over to his bag. He threw his book onto his bed and from the bag he took out his notepad which he wrote in when he'd first arrived. He read through his 'to do list' he wrote up the day before and drew a line through them. That's done.. He brought it over to his bed in which he sat and wrote up his next tasks:

'Review – Synthesis, Ingredients & Gathering.'

This school may not be an alchemy based one. But that doesn't mean I should let up on my own study. Roxis tucked the book away to the side and pulled out one of the Mahora text books. He read through the Maths book, scanning each question and answering them in his head.

--

"Takahata, you've met your newest student yes?" The old man smiled from behind his desk, finally stacking up the last of his paperwork. "What do you think of him?"

"He seems to have quite a calm exterior, Shino-kun actually tried to start a fight with him." The white haired man laughed, cleaning his glasses with his tie. "Though I'm not really sure why he would want to start a fight with the boy. Shino would only attack those who have humiliated him in the past."

The dean laughed, "I'm sure it's nothing, Shino probably can't help but pick on the new one this time." His heartful smile quickly transitioned into a serious face. "Do you think we could apply his abilities to aid us?"

Takahata also transitioned into the same kind of face, "Alchemy and Magic have never gotten along all that well, surely you realize this sir?" Takahata stuffed his hands into his pockets. "But I think that he could aid us."

The dean's face reverted to its smile. "Wonderful, we shall let him know tomorrow then. You are dismissed."

Takahata allowed the door to click as he left the room, sighing heavily. Al-revis... That's the school that Roxis wishes to enroll into.. This could get a bit messy.

--

"What the hell!? Can you even FIND these ingredients around here?" Chisame gasped at the ingredients for each synthesis, most of them she'd never heard of. Puniballs, Tufts, they were all new to her. At first she thought she misread the ingredients, but after re-reading it multiple times, she finally realized that they were as they were written.

She placed the book to the side and took of her glasses, she laid down on her bed, she turned her head to the side to see the leather binder of the book again. She flashed back to Roxis's rescue and how he made a blank book unravel the mysteries of Alchemy.

She'd finally drifted to sleep after staring at the leather binder for a few minutes.

--

"Asuna-san, have you seen my staff?" Negi asked while he scouted the dorm room.

"Nuph." Asuna replied, the chicken still in her mouth. "wuhy?"

"Takamichii is preparing me for some event that's going on tomorrow, but he never told me what was going on. I know I left my staff here this morning.." Negi was interrupted by an opening of the dorm room door. Negi and Asuna's head turned to Konoka's who peeked in with her usual cheery 'hello'. She walked in carrying Negi's staff followed by Natsume and Kotarou.

"Hi hi! Sorry we had to take your staff without permission, but Natsume really needed it." Konoka explained the reason to Negi. Natsume was rehearsing another play about a magician living in america struggling to keep her abilities a secret. Negi chuckled at the similiarity between the story and his own position.

"I don't like that magician in your play Natsume Nee-chan. She sounds weak. Probably a western mage. Atleast Negi here can last in a fight." Kotarou crossed his arms, wagging his tail vigorously.

"A-anyways. Sorry again for using your staff Negi-kun." Natsume sighed, dragging the dog hanyou out of the room with her.

"Wha- Hey! Don't drag me by the tail! THAT HUURRTTTSSS!!!!" Kotarou's voice faded as they left down the hall. Konoka closed the door behind them.

"Well, they're certainly a lively couple." Konoka smiled.

"Almost like brother and sister." Asuna sighed, putting the dishes into the sink.

--

The dean sighed and stared into the ceiling of his office. "Bernard... what are we going to do..?" He pondered for a while, finally lowering his head into his desk and sighed once more.