I Reject Quests

4th Grade Training Ground.

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MP: 125

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Rewen frowned. Not because of the amount of MP he currently had.

He walked to Instructor Venitt who was watching over his classmates.

"I have a question."

"As long as it's not stupid." Instructor Venitt turned to the young man whom she had already black-listed.

Rewen pretended to ignore her comment. "How would I know if I reached Rank 0? It states in the books that one usually needs 100 MP to become a Rank 0 Mage but how do people know that they reached Rank 0? Is there some kind of equipment?"

Instructor Venitt's eyebrows perked up. This brat actually asked a good question. "Yes, there is equipment which keeps tracks of people's progress with mana storage. Keep in mind, it only shows your mana storage. Not how much mana you currently have. Have you never seen Denny use it?"

"I didn't." He wasn't surprised that she was familiar with Denny. Denny was a cadet from 2nd Grade Class - one of the two Special Classes. If it wasn't for her mana resonance, she could have easily been admitted into 1st Grade Class. It must be known that people in 1st Grade Class aren't just in 1st Grade due to their high mana resonance. They have a physique similar to Martial Artists. Denny was a prodigy in close-combat fights in high school. 

"Well, she wears a watch every time, right?"

Rewen nodded. "That's an expensive watch. Cal brought that on her 15th birthday. Don't tell me that the watch is the equipment you are talking about?"

"Yes and no. After she reached Rank 0, I gave her a sort of small chip which can be embedded into the watch. From there onwards, the watch gave her both the time and her progress."

"Ah."

"Now, if you would be so kind as to focus on your progress rather than bothering me."

***

Zaplin yawned while walking down the hallway. "I don't wanna become a Mage."

Vin, who was talking with Rewen, suddenly turned his head. "What's with you all of a sudden?"

"There are so many professions. So many colleges and I had to pick up the path of the Mage."

"The session's just started and you are already bored of it?" Rewen had an amused look.

"It's not that. Today's Sunday. Fricking Sunday. So why the hell is the Academy open?" Zaplin was someone who likes to lay down on the bed on Sundays.

Vin had a bewildered expression on his face. "Don't tell me you didn't know about it?"

"I knew. But it still feels annoying."

"Yeah. From what I have seen, except for Summer and Winter Breaks, there aren't any holidays. Even in those breaks, there would be events which are mandatory."

Just as they were chatting, Zelic skipped over to them.

"Hm? What are you talking about?" She asked with a bright and cheerful face.

Rewen grinned. "We were discussing about your crush."

"Nonsense!" Zelic stomped her foot and looked at the trio. "You three pretend to be all serious and proper but are actually hidden pervs. Always discussing about girls."

"Wait, how are we pervs? Like Rewen said, we were discussing about your crush." Vin had a lopsided grin on his face. He said the word "Crush" louder than normal.

"Yeah, it's very normal to discuss about crush." Zaplin also joined in.

Zelic's face turned red as she pushed the trio out of the crowd.

When the group reached the class, Rewen didn't see Svety standing there like usual.

"See you tomorrow." Zaplin and Vin took their bags from the classroom and exited the First Year Campus.

Rewen picked the bag while Zelic asked from behind. "What's wrong? Did you have a fight with Svety?"

"Correct. I'm shocked that you can actually make correct guesses." Rewen chuckled.

Zelic pouted. "It's a woman's intuition. Ah! By the way, Mother invited you. You don't have to eat in the canteen."

"Aunt Presilla?" Rewen had a good impression of her. Unlike his strict and rarely-smiling mother, Aunt Presilla is the exact opposite of her. She is cheerful, funny and gentle. 

Zelic nodded. "Today, Mother is cooking the most favorite delicacy of Klofars - Steamed Chicken with Extra Toppings!"

Rewen wryly smiled. 'That's not a special dish at all but it's true that it's the most liked delicacy of Klofars.'

"What? You don't want to go? Good for me. I'll have your portion as well." Zelic whistled.

"Of course, I'll go." Smiling at the childish Zelic, he flicked his fingers on her forehead.

***

Dynette Residence.

"Rewen! How tall you have grown!" A beautiful middle-aged woman hugged a red-haired young man at the entrance.

"Uh yeah. You also look very beautiful." Rewen didn't know how to deal with her. He was not used to receiving so much affection from a stranger.

"My, our boy has a sweet tongue." Squeezing his cheeks, Aunt Presilla gave a small peck on his right cheek. "Come inside. Your Uncle is also home today. Wait, let me just call him."

Rewen stood there blankly.

Zelic nudged his arm. "What are you thinking of? Let's go."

"I was wondering if my mother and Aunt Presilla are even related."

Zelic sneered, then her face quickly turned grave remembering the incidents from childhood where Aunt Viviana basically tortured her because she was being mischievous in her studies. "She is scary as fuck!"

"By the way, do you have pictures of Ron?"

"Huh? Yeah, of course. He is cuter than you would ever be." While walking towards the living room, Zelic took out her smartphone.

"That was unnecessary." Rewen also took out his smartphone and saw a bunch of pictures on his SmallTalk account. Looking at the pictures, he smiled and set one of the pictures as his wallpaper. "Doesn't this look like your house?" Rewen saw one of the pictures was identical to the color of the house.

"Oh, I forgot to tell you that a few months ago, Aunt Viviana came here along with Ron."

"They came here? I guess she never felt the need to visit me." Rewen spoke his mind. He had a sort of weird relationship with his parents. To him, they were senior figures but a far cry from a parent. 'A parent is someone who stays close to their children and looks after them. Not some people who are self-indulgent overlords seeing their children as some sort of tools just there to live up to their expectations.'

Zelic had an awkward face.

Just Rewen was about to say something, two people came out.

One was Aunt Presilla. The other was a middle-aged man.

The middle-aged man patted Rewen's shoulder. "Good to see you again, Rewen. I have heard of your condition. It's true that there's no cure to this but it doesn't mean that you have completely changed."

"Yes, Uncle." Rewen seriously nodded.

"Keep the serious talk for later. The food is getting cold."

***

"Viviana taught me this few years ago. It looks like I forgot and messed up a little of the toppings." Aunt Presilla commented while chewing.

"No, it tastes great." Rewen wasn't a food critic and gave his honest opinion.

"I'm glad you like it."

"Yes, this doesn't taste half bad." Aunt Presilla's husband complimented with a smile.