Chapter 30: Titus Alexius
As time goes by, Aladdin and Vulpi continue their studies at Magnostadt and when few months have passed, Vulpi took Iktiyar by using water creating a water dragon which shocks the students and teachers alike and immediately move up to 1st kodar. And soon a year has passed…
"Cheers! Cheers! Myers!" The students from Myers class cheers as they lift her up into the air.
After that, they begin to eat dinner as Aladdin eats with Sphintus and Vulpi.
"Who knew that you'd be named top student?" Sphintus says as he feeds his snake.
"We still don't know about that yet." Aladdin replies.
"Besides, you made it to the 1st Kodar too, Sphintus." Vulpi points out as she feeds Ryuko.
"Just barely, yeah."
"Listen up! You scrubs really gave it your all!" Myers says. "Out of the 123 students of the third crop of transfers, you twenty were the only ones to survive. But as you all know, 2nd Kodar and under will have to repeat their grade. Of all your classmates, the following three 1st Kodars will be promoted to the second year!" Myers points to the three students who made it to 1st Kodar. "Aladdin of Sindria… Vulpi also of Sindria… and Sphintus of Heliohapt!"
Two of Aladdin's classmates go up to Aladdin. "We're gonna move up next year, too – for sure!"
"Good luck to the three of you! Do it for us!"
"Sure!" Aladdin replies.
"Especially you, Aladdin… There's no doubt in my mind that you'll be named top student. You're the pride of our class!" Myers tells him.
"Yes, ma'am! Thanks, everybody!"
When it's time for the students to go back to their dorms to sleep, Vulpi sits on her bed while stroking Ryuko on her lap as her roommate is sleeping. Vulpi then looks out the window where the moon is shining through.
~Next day~
All the students gather in the hall as five instructors are present.
"All right, I will now reveal the name of the top student representing each grade. This year, of the first years, graduating at the top of the class is…"
All Aladdin's classmates look at Aladdin since he is the top of their class.
"12th generation, Titus Alexius!"
Every student is shocked to hear that except for two other students.
"All right!"
"That's our Titus-sama!"
Everyone looks at the student with two others cheering for him.
"No way."
"Just hold on a second! Aladdin's the top student!" Sphintus shouts.
"That's right!" The other students shout in agreement.
"True, this year we had two talented transfers students. First of all, Aladdin. Despite only a slightly above-average level of magoi, he had a brilliant knack for fusion, particularly for Type 1 and type 2 magic and watching him at work brought the legendary genius, Yamraiha, to mind. However, this young man surpassed even Aladdin. Titus, come up to the dais."
"Yes, sir." Titus replies and walks up.
"Despite having transferred to the most recent 12 generation, in the short time he's been here, he's recorded eye-popping scores, which exceeded even those of Aladdin's."
When Titus walks pass Aladdin and Vulpi, they widen their eyes seeing how much Rukh he is emitting.
"This amount of Rukh… What in the world is he…" Vulpi thought.
~Later~
Aladdin, Vulpi, and Sphintus are walking together to their new rooms with the other students who have their things with them.
"This is total bull. Right, Aladdin?" Sphintus asks.
"It can't be helped. After all, it was up to the instructors." Aladdin replies.
"Well, that's true…" Vulpi says.
"Never mind that! Now that we're second years, we're moving to different rooms, right?"
"It would be cool if we could be roomies again."
"Really?"
"What!?"
"Aladdin. Would you stop teasing him." Vulpi tells him.
"And how about this? The thirty 1st Kodars who have been promoted to the second year with be granted Magnostadt 2nd Leven Citizenship status."
"Citizenship level? Wonder what that's all about?"
Aladdin hums thinking about it as Vulpi cups her chin when Aladdin bumps into two students.
"Hey, it's Aladdin of the 3rd generation and Vulpi, and… the other guy."
"That's Sphintus-sama to you!" Sphintus shouts.
"Hey, listen, could you do something about this?"
Both Aladdin and Vulpi take a closer look to see two students are bullying two female students in front of a room.
"Of all the rooms in the dorm, I was told that is one is the biggest and most decent."
"Therefore, this room belongs to Titus-sama!"
"You've made your point, so…"
The two students begin to bully the girls again.
"See how tyrannical Titus' hangers-on are?"
"Hangers-on?" Aladdin repeats.
"The two 12th generation second years besides Titus are now firmly under his control."
"Aladdin," Vulpi calls and puts her stuff down as Ryuko perches on her shoulder. "Watch over my things."
"Vulpi-nee?" Aladdin looks up at her before she charges at the two bullies and crouches near the two. She then thrusts her palms at them, sending the two to the wall behind them, saving the two girls.
The students around her clap their hands as Vulpi then kneels down at the two girls.
"Are you two all right?" She asks.
"Y-Yes."
"Thank you for saving us."
"As expected from the 'Protector Vulpi', always helping and protecting people from bullying without magic." Sphintus says.
"Yeah." Aladdin agrees.
Then Titus turns his head towards Aladdin and walks over to him.
"Hey, here comes the little prince himself!" Sphintus exclaims.
"Little prince?" Aladdin asks.
"The Alexius family runs the Leam Empire's senate and is like the mother of all distinguished families. Just watch." Sphintus gestures at the other students who are avoiding eye contact at the blond boy. "No one can defy him… That's because he's from Leam's ruling class. That pisses me off!"
"I see. You did say you were the heir to the heir of all bankrupt dynasties!" Aladdin bluntly says which his former roommate gets angry and his teeth turn sharp as his eyes are oval and blank.
"Shut up!" He yells at the blue-haired boy.
Just then Titus grabs Sphintus shoulder and pulls him away from Aladdin as his lackeys stand behind him after recovering from Vulpi's impact.
"Aladdin, I'm going to make you a friend of mine." Titus announces as he outstretches his hand at the boy which his lackeys clap their hands. "I'd heard that there was another talented magician besides me. Even if the other students had absolutely nothing to recommend them."
Sphintus angers at the blond teen statement and sputters nonsense in anger. "You and I are special. Why don't we be friends?"
"Please don't shake hands with this guy like that, Aladdin…" Sphintus prays silently in his thoughts.
"Ah, excellent! This is the moment that this year's two top students establish their friendship!"
"Wait one second!" Everyone turns to Vulpi who stands on her feet glaring at Titus.
"If I'm correct, you are Vulpi?" Titus asks.
Vulpi didn't answer and she walks towards him. "What makes you think that the other students should tell you what they can do? By the sound of what you said, it sounds like you're a tyrant. Aladdin has the right to make his own friends by himself." She says.
"What makes you think like that? Isn't it proper that two talented magicians should be together?"
The two stare at each other while Aladdin looks at both of them. A few seconds later, the stare down continues until the red-orange-haired girl speaks, "Looks like we can't agree on the subject." She states.
"Yes. You're right." Titus agrees.
"Something about Titus-kun struck me because the Rukh were swarming about him…" Aladdin thoughts.
"Vulpi, just let that fatassed prince have it!" Sphintus cheers as the sparks between the two appear.
"He's sure turning out to be a pain in a butt!"
"You there, what are you fighting about?" An old magician questions as he walks down the stairs with two instructors following him.
Immediately, the students gasp at the old man's appearance and kneel down while Aladdin and Vulpi are surprised at this as the two looks around.
"Who's that?" Aladdin asks to Sphintus.
"Moron! Haven't you seen his portraits all over the damn school? That man happens to be director of this school… Ruler of this nation… Matal Mogamett-sama!"
Aladdin and Vulpi gasp at this and turn when the headmaster and two instructors are in front of them, making an intimidating aura.
"This man?" Aladdin questions in his head.
"The ruler of Magnostadt?" Vulpi thoughts.
The two then remembers one of Dunya's memories that Isaac was killed in front of her and what Yamraiha and Sinbad told them about the country and the discrimination between magicians and ordinary people.
"Are you two… Aladdin and Vulpi?" Matal questions getting the students attention as Aladdin swallows his saliva and a bead of sweat rolled down Vulpi's cheek. Then Matal reaches out to the blue-haired Magi causing the boy to brace himself when the old man rubs his head as he chuckles. "If I had a grandson, too, would he would be about your age?"
Some students go wide eye at the headmaster's action and Aladdin touches his head while Vulpi narrows her eyes at Matal.
"If he's the ruler of the country, why can't feel bloodlust from him?" Vulpi thoughts.
Matal then looks at Vulpi. "As for you, you look like my daughter when she was young." He says
"Mogamett-sama." The female instructor next to him calls.
"Really, such a tiny genius magician… Don't mind me." Matal replies.
Looking up at him, Aladdin scratches the side of his head. "Somehow… he only seems like an ordinary old man…" He thought.
The female instructor takes a few paces forward as she opens a scroll. "Aladdin and Titus Alexius. You are both hereby ordered to take part in a battle exam tomorrow." She announces.
"Battle…"
"…exam?" Titus and Aladdin repeat.
"That is correct. Starting from the second tear, the instructors select only the best students to teach. That is what this battle exam is for." The instructor closes the scroll. "In other words, the losing student is not chosen and cannot learn anything." Both Aladdin and Titus gasp at this. "If you wish to grasp the truth about magic, show us your power! In a battle."
The next day, both Aladdin and Titus point their wands at each other in a stadium while the students and the instructors are in the stands about to watch the battle to begin.
"Until you receive the signal to stop, you cannot leave the area inside the barrier. Both of you, exert your full power. Do you understand?"
"Aladdin…" Vulpi mutters with Ryuko on her lap.
"I never dreamed that I'd be going into battle against Titus-kun, but…" Aladdin remembers the time Alibaba holding Cassim's deceased body in his arms as he cries and the night Dunya died. "There are things that I have to investigate in this country…" A red light appears on Aladdin staff as yellow light appears on Titus'. "So… I can't afford…"
"Begin!"
"…to lose!"
The two immediately charges one another into a deadlock before separating from each other before flying upwards in a spiral.
"How did he power up his Gravity Magic to that degree?"
"It was thanks to this magic tool that Ugo-kun gave me. I've learned how to borrow the power to fly without taking out my turban, and just having it on me." The boy explains in his head.
Aladdin stops at mid-flight as he swings his wooden staff. "Flash!"
"Sharrar!"
After the Magi sends a blast of light at the teen, Titus simply counters it with Water Magic on the same scale.
"Ramuz!"
"Asphal!"
Aladdin creates a small ball of lighting and sends it at Titus but the teen creates a wall of wind to diffuse the Lightning Magic.
"Harharl Infigar!"
Sending a blast of heat wave at Titus covering him and around the teen before smoke rises while the students gasp at the output. Then Aladdin descends towards the ground.
"That's Aladdin's signature move. This match is over!" Sphintus exclaims.
"No…" Vulpi thoughts, narrowing her eyes through the smoke at it dissipates, revealing ice protruding outward in the size to counter Aladdin's magic prior.
"Is that the best you can do?" Titus asks looking at the boy.
"It's no good, no matter what Aladdin throws at him, Titus will cancel it out with the opposite element at the same level output!"
"What's he's gonna do, then? Aladdin!" Sphintus questions.
Now back on the ground, Aladdin smiles as he points his staff at the teen. "Okay then, next I'll be using my ace-in-the-hole Gravity Magic spell."
Black light appears on the staff as it touches on the ground, making the sand to rise.
"Manipulating sand with gravity?" Titus questions.
As the sand continues to rise, Aladdin spread his arms upwards. "I haven't given this spell a name yet. But if I were to name it, I'd borrow the name of a dear friend."
High above the boy, the sand forms into a fist as the students except Vulpi who smiles are flabbergast at the figure that Aladdin made. Then fist slams behind the Aladdin.
"Ugo-kun!" Aladdin calls.
The golem throws his fist at Titus who uses Borg in time to block it.
"Heheh. What a fool. That's nothing but a clay doll! Mere physical attacks, I can block them all with my Borg!"
But then the golem throws a hook punch which sends Titus against the barrier and bounces forward.
"Are you sure about that?" Aladdin asks when he bends his wrist down.
"What?" Titus says as the golem grabs him with both hands while the Borg is still on trying to crush it.
"That giant is so awesome! Titus' Borg is gonna get destroyed, won't it?" Sphintus asks.
"As if a physical attack would work on Titus-sama's Borg!" One of Titus' lackeys' retorts.
"No… it will work." Myers says. "Assaulted by such an overwhelming power, the Borg will…"
Suddenly, both the Borg around Titus and the golem's hands are destroyed.
"The Borg was…"
"…breached?"
"No, that's not it! Ugo-kun!" Aladdin shouts as the sand golem collapses leaving Titus unharmed as his Borg disappears.
"Oh no, he up and died, huh? Your little friend…" Titus comments leaving Aladdin to go wide eyes and opened mouth.
"D-Damn that Titus… What did he do?" Sphintus questions.
"Aladdin, your magic is too simple! The true value of magic can only be unlocked with combos! For example, like this… Sharrar!" Titus summons water in liquid state. "Harharl! Zorf!" Fire appears in the water before they gather and compress at Titus staff creating a small black ball.
Noticing this, Matal looks at everyone. "Everyone, retreat behind me." He says gathering confused look at the headmaster.
Titus lightly throws the black ball at Aladdin which he steps back thinking that it won't do anything, however, the moment when it hits the ground it explodes with the water and debris from the blast hits the barrier. Seeing the aftermath of the explosion the students are shocked.
"What's this?! It burst!?" Sphintus exclaims.
"That's Aberrant Magic." Myers says.
"Aberrant? What's that?"
"A 'Calamity'. Most magic, like fire, water, and wind are phenomena usually caused naturally by Rukh. But it's different with Aberrant Magic. It commands the Rukh to forcibly bring on earth-shattering natural disasters that would only ever occur under the rarest of conditions."
"Type 1, Type 2, and type 8 Composite Magic, eh?" Matal comments. "Purging steam that's been compressed by high pressure… It's the same principle behind volcanoes. He needed to combine at least 180 different commands to make that happen. He did well to come up with that. Good lad, Titus!"
Titus then flies upwards, above where Aladdin is. "Destruction! Get lost, you pedestrian magician!" He throws many 'destruction' at Aladdin as the boy runs away from the blast.
"He's a monster! There's no way he can beat that guy!"
Titus laughs. "Of course not! I happen to be special! I've never lost a magic showdown, not even once!" He shouts as he throws the magic once more, breaking Aladdin's Borg subsequently being tossed to the ground.
"My magoi… will be depleted soon…" Aladdin thought.
"That's enough, Aladdin! Just surrender!" Sphintus shouts.
"Aladdin!" Vulpi calls out.
Despite the calls, Aladdin stands back up as Titus descends towards the ground.
"Okay, then I'm gonna… use Combination Magic, too!" He exclaims and around his staff, the air vibrates and some sort of sound coming off from it before running towards the teen.
"What's that strange sound coming from his staff?" Titus questions and says, "Is that your final spell? Why don't you let me see it?" However, instead of throwing the magic, Aladdin hits his staff against Titus' Borg which confuses the blond teen. "What are you doing? Have you lost your mind?" Suddenly cracks appear on the Borg, surprises Titus. "What?" Seeing the cracks on his Borg, the teen jumps back away from the blue-haired boy.
"That's no ordinary staff, is it now?" Matal says.
"Hadika Hadeka! I'm using Sound Magic to make the air pulse at a blistering pace! It's a Type 5 and Type 6 combo move. Its effective range is limited to the area around this staff, but it doesn't consume much magoi… and just by touching it, this is what happens!"
As Aladdin lowers his staff to the ground as it turns to sand the moment the staff touch with a small area.
"The ground… turned to dust?!" Sphintus comments.
Then Aladdin charges towards Titus once more as he hits his staff against the teen's Borg making more cracks with martial arts.
"You're a magician and you're relying on martial arts?" Titus questions.
"He moves well. Myers, did you teach him the basics of martial arts?" Matal asks her.
"Yes, my students… aren't overly reliant on just magic… nor do they cling arrogantly to their staffs, unable to blaze their own trails with their own hands… unlike spineless cowards!" She explains as Aladdin breaks through Titus' Borg after hitting it many times.
"Keep that up, Aladdin!" Sphintus cheers.
"Dammit! Harharl! Titus yells.
"I won't let you!" Aladdin exclaims, charging towards him with his staff forward.
Both staffs pass each other as Titus' staff rips through Aladdin's bandage to hide the magic tool that Yamraiha gave him while the Magi's rips through Titus' sleeve.
"Oh no!" Aladdin exclaims in his head.
'Listen to me, Aladdin-kun. You mustn't let anyone take these stones from you. And Vulpi, you must keep these hidden from the others as well. Because if they ever spotted you'll fall under suspicion… This device… along with hiding your true identity…' Yamraiha's voice says as the boy remembers the day Yamraiha gave the stones to him.
"But that's…!?" Titus silently exclaims as Aladdin also sees a red oval stone embedded Titus' arm as well.
'In other words… it is a proof that you're a magi…'
"Why do you have that same thing on you?" Titus questions.
Vulpi immediately stands up seeing the red gem on Titus' arm in shock and surprise. "That's…!"
Both Aladdin and Titus immediately retreat from each other for both of them to hide the gems on their arms; Aladdin wraps the remaining bandage on his arm as Titus pulls down his ripped sleeve.
"Don't tell me… Don't tell me…" He thought as he and Titus charge each other and clashes once more. "That he's a magi, too!" The two jumps back once more away from each other. "But then, I'm here too, hiding my identity… Is that why the Rukh were swarming around him then? The moment that I met that man named Judar-kun, too… I could sense something different about him… But I can't be found out in front of this crowd…" Aladdin then charges forward. "I've got to keep on battling…"
"Stop this battle!" Matal announces causing both the boy and Titus to stop their tracks while the headmaster enters the field and walks towards them. When he stands in front of the two, Matal puts his hands on their shoulders. "This match has ended in a draw." This statement surprises both students. "I can see what your abilities are. Titus is capable of unleashing brilliant Composite Magic spells. He's like a magician armed with one hundred or two hundred years of experience… On the other hand, Aladdin is adept at compensating for what he lacks in magic skills with martial arts and is superior in boldness and judgment. Not to mention, he seems battle-tested despite his young age. I shall recommend you directly to several seminars myself." He says and walks away.
"A-A direct recommendation from the director?"
"Way to go! Talk about a huge vote of confidence!" Sphintus comments.
Just as Matal leaves the area, Titus about to leave as well when Aladdin notices this.
"Wait!" He grabs Titus' hand preventing him from walking away. "Titus-kun! Who are you? If you're the same as me… why are you here? I'd like to talk to you a bit…"
Hearing what the boy said, Titus turns around and offers his hand to Aladdin. Seeing this the staff smiles at the action.
"Ah, after battling, they're acknowledging each other, eh?"
"Looks like they're going to be good friends."
Just after Aladdin grabs his hand, an orange glow appears on Titus' staff as the teen whispers to him, "I'm sorry…" He pulls Aladdin towards himself with his staff and 'destruction' pointing at the boy's face. "With you around, I can't complete my mission!"
Seeing this, Myers runs up to them to stop Titus from using the magic but instead, Matal points his staff at the teen and flings it upwards and the Aberrant Magic explodes above the two. However, even with the Borg, it gets shatter as Aladdin is being tossed backward.
"ALADDIN!" Sphintus shouts out as Vulpi jumps into the field, running towards the fallen Magi.
Myers goes up to the boy to see blood going down from his head as Titus just stares at him in complete shock.
~Night~
Vulpi, Sphintus and the two students are in Aladdin's new room, looking after him after the battle.
"Aladdin hasn't woken up yet…"
"Where's Titus?"
"He's locked up in solitary." Sphintus replies. "Well, personal attacks against fellow students are forbidden. Serves him right! More importantly… Will Aladdin be okay?" He questions and turns to Vulpi. "Hey Vulpi, you know Aladdin the longest. Is he going to be okay?"
"I don't know." She replies looking down with her ears drooping. "But this happened before so I'm sure that he's okay."
"I see."
"Also, he's probably having 'that' dream again…" Vulpi thoughts and turns to the others. "I'll take care for him, so everyone should go back to your rooms." She says.
"Okay."
"We'll leave him to you."
The three exits the room to go back to their new dorm rooms. Once they left, Vulpi turns back to Aladdin and notices a paper bird enters through the window. Sticking her finger out, the bird lands on it as she closes her eyes, letting the information that the bird has gathered after flying around the country. She then opens her eyes.
"I see. There really is a secret hidden in this country." She says as the bird unfolds itself into a flat strip of paper. Vulpi grabs the paper between her fingers and puts it away beneath her robes. She then turns to the young Magi. "Aladdin…"
Later at that night, Aladdin finally opens his eyes after recalling his dream about the time under King Solomon's reign and the end of it.
"That dream again…" He thought sitting up. "Because magicians and non-magicians hated each other in the past… If the same thing happens today, the world will end… I want to stop that."
"The key is… somewhere in this country, I feel…" He says.
"If Titus is a magi, too, did he come to investigate that, too?"
"No, that's not likely. Because I'm not like the other three." He mutters. "Not just those three… I'm not like Vulpi-nee, Alibaba, or Mor-san, either." Aladdin grips on the blanket before looking at the moon through the window. "Here, there's no one who's like me…" He then feels moving on the blanket and sees Vulpi lying beside him sleeping with Ryuko next to her. "Vulpi-nee?"
"Aladdin…" She calls, talking through her sleep. "You're not alone…"
"Vulpi-nee…"
Elsewhere
Titus is in an isolated room sitting on the chair hugging himself with his sleeves up.
"Forgive me… I panicked when my cover was blown…" He says as he is still panicking. "I never thought that the subordinate of another magi would be here… What in the world should I do now?"
"Keep your head about you. You must complete your mission. That is precisely why you were brought into this world…" A female voice says. "Titus, battle to the end no matter what. In order to protect the Leam Empire."
"Yes."