Entry number, ah, fourteen, I think:
It's been a week since my last entry. I don't really remember much of what happened after I went after those bandits. I do remember one thing, though. I remember that I did something horrible. I don't exactly know what I did, but my master's been with me since I woke up. I know that he knows what I did, but he won't tell me no matter what. No matter what I say, even if I beg him, he won't tell me what happened. He keeps saying it's for my own good. He doesn't know the I remember a little of what happened. I remember going into the bandits' hideout, some fighting, and my master talking to someone who seems to know me. It was that voice that said that it, not exactly lives, but resides in my grimoire. I don't know what it is, but it's voice is surprisingly serene, yet has a slight chill to it. What I can remember from them talking, I did something long ago that haunts my master, even today. What did I do that scared master so much that he won't even talk about it? I also know that I am, at least, a descendant of master. I guess I should also mention that even though I was out for about a week, master carried me along the route I've been taking. He said he never stopped walking until I woke up. He kept blaming himself for my being, ya' know, unconscious. I tried getting more out of him, but he's always been stubborn when it came to not saying too much. I asked master and apparently it won't take me much longer to get to the Capital. He told me I had made better time than he thought I would, considering the things that have happened to me so far. Oh yeah, he also told me he read through you and that I should read through some of my older entries. I wonder why? Ah, sorry journal. I kind of got off topic. So, it shouldn't take me much longer to reach the capital. A week and a half at most, 2 days if I really hurry. Well, that's if nothing happens. Really hope nothing happens, I really want to take a day or 2 to look around the Capital. Apparently it's about as big as Farandal and it's full of people! Real, living people! People who aren't trying to kill or rob me! Master brought me some money to spend at shops in the capital too! I wonder if there's anywhere to get some more, uh, modern looking clothes. People keep looking at me when I pass them on my way to the Capital. A few of them have actually just came out and told me, "You're clothes look like something people would have worn 100 years ago, get with the times," like I was some kind of weirdo. How am I supposed to know what normal people wear? I've lived my entire life in Farandal! It's nothing but a city full of remnants! None of THEM know what the hell people wore outside of Farandal. I just wore whatever clothes fit me. Were some of the clothes very simple? Yeah. Were some of them extravagant and gaudy? WAAAY more than I'd like to admit. Which ones did I wear for this journey? The most normal looking ones I could find. If people find these clothes weird, so be it. These are the clothes I brought along, and these are the ones I will wear until I get some more in the capital. All those fashion snobs can keep their opinions to themselves. I should probably be a bit quieter. I'm kind of making camp with some travelling merchants. I'm getting A LOT of weird looks. This guy next to me, he said his name was Killroy or something like that, keeps telling me to, and I quote, "shut the hell up and go to sleep so those old guys can get drunk already." I asked him why he isn't drinking with them and it turns out, he's only a year older than me and not allowed to drink yet. So, uh, yeah. I'm going to go to sleep before Killroy and the others beat the crap out of me.
Goodnight Journal. Talk to you in a few days.
Entry 15:
Well, I finally made it to the Capitol. Took 3 whole days to get here while I was with those guys. They were actually really nice, even though they were a bit, uh, crude, I guess. Most of them were older guys, with the exception of Killroy. I kinda asked him what kind of magic he had. Turns out Killroy doesn't actually have an attribute. The thing is, though, almost all of his spells are physical enhancement ones. The one that caught my attention the most was called Speed Demon. Killroy told me it basically increased the speed of whoever or whatever living thing he used it on. Buuuuut, his spells all have a pretty unfortunate side effect. The harder and longer he pushes who or whatever he used his spell on, the worse and longer they would perform with whatever body part was mainly used. The example he used was when he had to use Speed Demon continuously for almost a whole day. He had to run as fast as he could because he had to report alert the Magic Knights of some kind of incident. After deactivating the spell, he said that he couldn't even move his legs for almost 3 whole days. So, yeah, he could do some pretty amazing things with his magic, but would it be worth it once the after effects set in? He said he really didn't mind the after effects, though. Everyone has some kind of weakness. His just happens to be the price he pays once his magic wears off. Ah, sorry. Got a little off topic. Yeah, I finally made it to the Capitol. Killroy and the others said they were staying in the city for awhile to restock their supplies. This place is just… alive. Full of life. It's… beautiful in a way. There's always people awake here. It's as if the city itself is alive. It's… it's… just beautiful. So much life in one place. Never stopping. Never fully asleep. Always moving. Constantly growing, even if the city itself isn't actually alive. I'm staying at a local in until the day of the exam. I think that the innkeeper knows that I'm going to take the magic knight exam. Oh, yeah, I've really got to tell you this. It's really important. I think I've found out Arlin's real name. I saw him walking around with some kind of stupid look, trying to make himself look all superior to everyone else. Piece of shit. Sorry, off topic again. So, I think one of those mindless idiots in his "circle of friends" knew him from before. He called him Zevran. My rage was kind of cooling off, until I saw Zevran. After that, it felt like, I don't know, some kind of fire burst into a raging hellfire deep in my mind. I don't just want to hurt him, I want to destroy his reputation. I want to take it and shatter it into a thousand goddamned pieces. I want to see that arrogance disappear. I want to see a shadow of dread come across that bastards face. I want him to suffer. Soon, he will. I made a plan and Killroy agreed to help. It's only a matter of time.
Goodnight Journal. Talk to you later.
Entry 16:
Hey there Journal. I've just been kinda wandering around city. The Magic Knight exam still isn't for another few days. I got bored so I'm talking to you just to have something to do. Got some new clothes. They aren't really anything special. Just some clothes that a "commoner" might where. Ugh, still hate that word "commoner." The only reason that all these nobles can live in their mansions and eat all that fancy food is because the rest of the citizens work hard just to make a living. But do all these nobles and royals think about that? No. Some of them, probably. But the majority are nothing but a bunch of pompous, arrogant and stuck up idiots who don't know what to to with all their power, so they just flaunt it to show those weaker than them that there's no use standing up against them. I wish this place was like Farandal back in it's glory days. The weaker citizens worked to provide the basic necessities while the strong citizens used their power to protect them, but not here. The farther they are from the Capitol, the more danger the regular citizens are in. And do all those royals and nobles care? No, but at least some of them do. Those who do actually care are the ones worthy of being called noble and royal. Wow, I keep getting off topic. Bet you must get bored listening to just ramble on, huh? It's just that you're still pretty much my only friend. The only reason Killroy agreed to help me is because Zevran is a piece of shit, not because we're friends. It's impossible to make friends with someone that quickly. At least I think it is. I don't really know. Oh yeah, something actually interesting did happen. I stumbled across some kind of hidden market street or something. I bought some kind of necklace. The shopkeeper called it a "Mana storage pendant," whatever the hell that is. Pretty sure I just bought some kind of useless necklace. Wait here, I'm going to see if it can actually store mana. Woah, okay, I was wrong Journal. This thing really DOES store mana. I wonder how much it can store? Time to experiment. Okay Journal, here we go. Putting about a quarter of my mana into this thing.
"WOAH! Damn! Gluttonous little thing aren't you?"
Oh, sorry for the vulgar language Journal. Damn thing took like, three quarters of my mana. Yeah, I'm taking it off now. Woah, I can feel the mana in it, but it's stuck in there unless someone uses it, I guess. Wait, I got another necklace at that place. I wanna try something. Okay, follow me here. This other one has some kind of crystal in it. Not like these ones in my chest, just a regular crystal. Well, not exactly regular. It glows brighter depending on how much mana you have. I tried it on back at the market and almost blinded myself, the shopkeeper and some random passerbys. Turns out, I apparently have what the shopkeeper refers to as "a whole damn lotta mana for some random nobody. Like noble amounts of mana. And not some weak noble, like a strong noble" Still not sure whether to be offended of not. I'm gonna try two things. First I'll put on this thing and see how bright it glows. Yeah, that's what I thought. Not as bright as before at all. Now I'll see if it shows how much mana that other necklace or whatever has. Let's do this.
"Ah shit! My eyes! Shoulda expected something like this."
Okay journal. That was bright and, like, right in my eyes. I'm an idiot. Didn't think this through at all. I need to go to sleep to let my eyes recover a little. Oh, by the way, when I take the magic knight exam, I'm gonna try to leave you open a little to record what happens. Also, from now on, if I start to cry or something while talking to you, I want you to actually record that I'm crying. Do that with those, like, slanty letters you use when recording the voice of others, ok? Thanks. Well, I'm going to sleep to let my eyes recover. Goodnight Journal.
Hey there Journal. This isn't an entry. Today is the day of the Magic Knight exam. I gave Killroy that "Mana storage pendant" and told him to start the plan. I reinforced their merchants wagon with some magic so it can take what's about to happen to it. Talk to you later, and remember. Record what happens. See ya later.
"Hey, who's that guy?"
"I don't know, but do you see his grimoire?"
"Yeah. What the hell's wrong with it?"
"Don't know, but it creeps me the hell out."
"Look at those clothes. I bet he's just some commoner with delusions of being a magic knight."
Heh. You think I can't hear you. Dumbasses. I can hear everything that all of you say. I'll show all of you some real power. Heh heh.
"Hello there Arlin. Or should I call you ZEVRAN?"
"What the hell? You actually made it here. HAHAHAHAHAHA! You think you can actually become a magic knight?! That's ridiculous! You do know that most of us here are at least nobles, right? There's know way you can possibly beat any of us at anything. And since you seem to know my real name now, let me introduce myself for real. My name is Zevran Auruma Argentio. Of the noble house Argentio. I am the most powerful member of my family since my great-great-great grandfather. My family has always been content with serving those higher up than us, but not me.
"I deserve anything and everything I could ever want. Why? Because I'm powerful. More powerful than most of the pathetic peons here. And those stronger than me will be nothing but another problem in my way. And you. You Jona, are nothing but an annoyance that I just can't get rid of, but here I'll break that spirit of yours and send you back to whatever waste-of-space village you come from."
"Heh. You just keep telling yourself that and maybe it really will happen to you. In your own dreams, probably."
"SHUT YOUR MOUTH! YOU'RE NOTHING BUT AN INSECT FOR ME THE CRUSH UNDERFOOT!"
"Hm? Oh, it seems as if the exam is starting. Let's go, oh great and powerful Zevran Auruma Argentio."
Man, I must really be getting to that bastard. His face is getting really red. Ah man, this is gonna feel great.
"Let us begin the Exam."
This guy is surprisingly casual. He should really try to sound more official like, "We will now commence with the 23rd magic knight exam" or something like that. How many exams have there been anyway? Proooooobably more than 23.
"The hell's with that guy? It's like he's trying to show off, but look casual while doing it. Jerk."
"Hey Zevran, what're you doing down there? Why're looking so serious? Thought you said you were going to, what was it, oh yeah, crush me underfoot?"
"Grrrrrah!"
"Ooooo. Growling at me? How scary!"
Wow, I'm really pissing him off! This is hilarious. I might be having too much fun, but I just can't help it. This is awesome.
"Now, on to the next stage of the exam."
Really? Already? All we did was float around on some brooms. And some of these people had trouble with that! This is way easier than I thought.
"The hell's with that bastard?! Again, he's showing off while not even trying to look like it!"
"Man, these targets are easy to hit. If it's this easy for me, I bet Zevran over there is just breezing through. What? He's only hit two? I've hit almost a dozen. He really needs to get serious."
Heh-heh-holy crap! His face is getting even more red than earlier! I didn't think that was possible!
"Now for the final stage of the exam. Please pick an opponent."
What? We're already this close to the end? It hasn't even been… woah. It's almost 6 hours since the exam started. I guess time DOES fly when you're having fun, and man am I having fun.
"Hey Zevran old buddy old pal, how about we fight each other in this final stage?"
"No. Go die and burn in hell you bastard."
"Oh come on. Don't you want to prove that you're stronger than me? Or ARE YOU SCARED?"
"Keep you're damn voice down bastard! You just want to drag me down with you because I took your stuff."
"Maybe back then, but I've gotten past that now. Now I just want to have a friendly match against the person who tested my resolve to get here."
"Bull. Shit."
"Well, I wanted to make it seem like you agreed to a match, but I guess it's come to this."
He could've challenged me himself, or accepted my challenge, but no. Now I'll have to call him out and give him a choice. Either face me like a proud noble and put me in my place, or refuse a challenge from a commoner. And I'm betting I know what choice he'll make.
"Ahem, I HEREBY CHALLENGE ZEVRAN AURUMA ARGENTIO OF HOUSE ARGENTIO TO A FAIR MATCH IN THE FINAL STAGE OF THE MAGIC KNIGHT EXAM!"
"Did you hear that?"
"Yeah."
"He challenged a noble."
"And in front of everyone."
"What do you think Zevran'll do?"
"I HEREBY ACCEPT YOUR CHALLENGE JONA NECROS!"
Knew it. His stupid pride wouldn't let him turn down a challenge, especially one from such a weak and foolhardy opponent. Time to put him where he belongs.
"You bastard. You just had to piss me off. If you hadn't pissed me off, I would've gone easy on you and ended this quickly, but now I want you to suffer like no one has."
"Yeah, yeah. Let's get this over with."
"Now beginning the match between Zevran Auruma Argentio of house Argentio versus Jona Necros."
Let's do this.
"Let's see how you can stand this! Metal magic: Iron spear of rage!"
Holy shit. He's not trying to win! This piece of shit is actually trying to kill me! If I hadn't reacted, that spear would have went through my damned skull!
"Come on! Fight back you pathetic insect!"
"Okay! Magic scythe! Triple scythe!"
Let's see how he reacts to this. 3 floating, spinning scythes flying towards him.
"Hah! Is this all you got?"
He's not showing it, but I know that caught him off guard a little. Mainly because he doesn't know what kind of magic I have. I'll save that little surprise for later.
"Try this! Metal magic: Lumbering Lead Giant!"
Well, this thing is slower than all hell.
"Really? Gaia's sealing embrace."
Well, that things down.
"Raaagh! Metal magic: Silver Slashing Shower! Rain death on this bastard!"
Huh?
"What the- gah! The hell?! It's raining daggers!"
The hell's wrong with him?! He could injure the others with this spell!
"And now, Metal Magic: Titanium Boulder! Ten tons!"
"SHIT! Gaia's protecting embrace! NOW!
The fucking hell's wrong with him?! I almost died! He doesn't give two shits about anything except killing me! And, as much as I hate to admit it, he actually has a lot a bite to match his bark! Have to end this quickly! Damnit Killroy, where the hell are you?! Hurry up, for the love of shit!
"And now that you have nowhere to go, I'll end this already. METAL MAGIC: STEEL SPIKES! SKEWER HIM FROM ANY WHICH WAY YOU CAN!"
Damnit! I can't move while Gaia's protecting embrace is active! I have to-
"Guh! The hell…"
"Hahahaha! Right through the gut! Now, once again, Metal Magic: Titanium Boulder! Ten tons!"
"What the hell? I know he was showing off, but this... this is going to far!"
"Yeah! Hey! Examiner guy! Stop this!"
"No."
"Why the hell not?!"
"As a magic knight, you must be prepared to kill and be killed if necessary. This is still a part of the exam. I will not stop the fight until one of them is unable to fight any longer."
"That's bullshit!! He's gonna kill him."
"If he does, he will be disqualified and tried at a later date for his crime."
Damn. Can't last much longer. He's lost his mind. Can't come to terms that he might lose, especially against me.
Jona.
The hell?
You can win.
The hell's with this voice in my head?
You can use power from the other side of the veil for a short time instead of mana. Use it.
Ah, it's that voice. That one that said it lived in my grimoire. Now it's telling me I can do the impossible.
To others, yes. But you have a grimoire that can allow you to do this.
Ah, the hell with it. What can I lose now anyway? I'm already impaled through the gut and being slowly crushed to death. Might as well try.
Good. Feel the power of the next world fill you. Use it as you would mana.
What the? I feel some kind of power. It's replacing the lost mana I've used up. It also seems to want Zevran to suffer, but that might be just my own thoughts. My body's still impaled, but I can win this thing.
"You dead yet? Huh? Are you?"
"Dead? No, not yet, but close. I have to thank you."
"Even on the verge of death you don't shut up."
"Now that I'm close to death, I can do this. First, Earth Magic: Gaian Goliath. Half size."
"What? Wait. What is that? It's massive! What did you do?"
"Goliath, lift these damn boulders off me."
"How is it lifting twenty tons as if it's nothing? And why do you sound so calm?! Where is your fear?! Or are you some kind of madman?!"
"Honestly, I don't know the answer to any of those. Now, Earth Magic: Gaia's demon. Let's go for full coverage, too.
"You think you still have a chance? Hah! You can't win, not in that state!"
"How is he moving in that state? He was impaled three times, all through the abdomen. He's bleeding out."
"Doesn't matter what you do. You'll fall here! I won't let you stand! A weakling like you should know when to give up! Metal Magic: Silver Slashing Shower!"
"And, finally, to prevent you from casting any more spells. Death magic-"
"What did he say?"
"Did he say death magic?"
"But, he has earth element magic."
"Is he going to kill Zevran?"
"-Death Pentagram. Destroy their magic."
"What the hell's going on?"
"What are the markings on the ground?"
"Look at Zevrans Silver Slashing Shower and his Boulders!"
"What the hell did you do?! Why?! Why is my metal just corroding to dust?! WHAT THE HELL DID YOU DO?!"
"Heh, so that's how it works. You're lucky I didn't want you dead or you'd be dead now. Death Pentagram can do that too. And now to end this."
He can't defend himself anymore. All I have to do is charge forward and punch him as hard as I can, and with Gaia's demon, that's much harder than normal. Going for the center of his face. Breaking his nose.
"No! Stay away! I'm powerful! I'm unbeatable! You're just a weakling! JUST A WEAK NOBO- grk!"
"Shut up already you piece of sh-"
"And the winner is Jona Necros. Will the healers please come to the aid of the examinees?"
"What was that?"
"That wasn't a normal person. That was some kind of demon that thinks it's human."
Ah, how I wish they were right. I'm not a demon, just a person who hides all their problems deep down. I wish I was a demon sometimes, then I wouldn't have these horrible feeling I just did something terrible.
"Huh? Where- where am I?
"You're in still at the exam site, just in a room for the injured. The only ones here are you and Zevran."
"Have they finished the exam yet?"
"No, that match is almost over though."
"Then I've gotta get out there. They're going to announce who got into what squad here in a little bit, right?"
"Well, yes, but you are still quite injured. Not only did you suffer from heavy blood loss, but also minor organ damage and several broken and fractured bones."
"But am I well enough to go out for the selection?"
"Technically, Yes, but I wouldn't recommend that."
"Don't care. I'm going out there."
"And now, we will let the Magic Knight Captains select those of you who passed. If none of the captains choose you, you are not a magic knight, try again next year. If more than one captain chooses you, you are to choose the squad you prefer."
"Is it okay if I go now? I'm kinda injured here."
"You may go now, considering the circumstances. First examinee, Jona Necros. Which captains want Jona Necros in their squad?"
Damn. No hands. None. Nothing. None at- wait. One hand. Ah hell. Any squad but that one. I've only heard bad things about them. Well, looks like that's my only choice.
"Only one hand for Jona Necros. Examinee Jona Necros, you are now part of the Magic Knight squad, the Black Bulls, lead by Captain Yami Sukehiro."
Damnit.
"Now for the next examinee. Please step forward miss-"
"Pardon me, but I'd like to go next!"
"Ah, examinee Zevran Argentio. Yes, I beleive it's fair to let you go next since you are also injured."
Hope Killroy gets here in the next few seconds.
"Now, which capt-"
"Hold on one damn moment!"
Thank all that's holy you got here just in the nick of time, Killroy.
"What is the meaning of this?!"
"I, Killroy Bātā, accuse, uh, that guy-"
"His names Zevran Auruma Argentio, of noble house Argentio, Killroy."
"Thanks Jona. I accuse Zevra Argentio of multiple crimes, including; impersonating a magic knight, extortion, sexual assault, assault, treason, robbery, and multiple accounts of murder."
"Do you have any proof of these accusations?"
"Actually, yes, I do. And multiple witnesses and accomplices."
"How the hell do you have that much evidence?"
"My father and his friends used to be part of an underground, organized crime ring and they kept a lot of contacts. Some of which have assisted Mr.Argentio here."
"Hm, well, we will place Mr.Argentio here into custody and question him at a later date. In the meantime, the witnesses and accomplices will be given room and board at local inns. And, may I ask, what made the accomplices decide to put their own freedom on the lines?"
"They no longer want to have that kind of life, sir. They seem to deeply regret what they've done. They have already accepted their fate of either life imprisonment or death."
"They could have made fine magic knights if they had the chance, couldn't they?"
"Yes sir, most likely."
"Now then, let's get back to the selection process."
I just became a magic knight and I've already helped stop one criminal. Not directly, though. That would have been to much trouble in my current state. Well, time to go and wait for the captain to tell me where to go.