"Uuuurrg....!"
When Ian regained consciousness, the first thing he felt was nausea. The nausea was so bad he felt like throwing up.
'What happened?'
Hurriedly, he searched his chest. Blood, wounds, pain—he felt none of it. He was sure something unusual had happened.
"Ian, what's wrong with you?"
Ian's heart skipped a beat. Even the nausea disappeared for the moment. An unforgettable and familiar voice. That memorable voice, the voice he missed so dearly, tickled his left ear.
"Mo, mother...?"
His mother who had long passed away. The voice of 'Vanessa Page.' Never could Ian have known that a day would come when he would meet her again.
'Did I succeed?'
Or did I fall into the world of the dead? Clasping his mother's hand tightly, Ian looked around.
"Next!"
"Je, Jess from Lloyd Village!"
"Lloyd? There's a village named Lloyd?"
"The village is very far away and rural...."
"Hmph! Doesn't matter, go in."
"I-is there really, a real Mage inside?"
"Well, you'll know once you go in, won't you?"
"Ah. Yes!"
A line of thousands of children seemed to have queued up for this. Mixed in this line were Ian and Vanessa. Controlling the swarming crowd were rough and ugly-looking soldiers from the lord's castle. A flag bearing the symbol of the Ivory Tower fluttered above a pristine white tent.
Taking in the sight, Ian could assess his current situation.
'It seems I have succeeded....'
His small hands were further proof of his success.
He had traveled exactly 30 years into the past. Back before the Continent was United under the name Greenriver. He could guess the year because of the current situation. All these children gathered to be 'examined'; every region was forced to conduct a 'Mana Reaction Test.'
'It was a mandatory test for every 10-year-old child.'
Before returning, Ian was forty years old. By logical deduction, he had traveled back 30 years into the past.
'I've returned further than I thought possible.'
Not 10, not 20, but 30 years. Of course, this wasn't a bad result. No, it was rather fantastic.
'I was only trying to wash the blood off my hands.'
The reason he learned the Dragon Chant, pursuing Time Magic, was to erase the evidence of the destruction he caused with his magic. To uproot the branches and roots of history, and change it entirely. That was his justification before he was poisoned by the Emperor.
'Well, I can't let it end with a knife in my back again.'
Under the pretext of being friends, he had made many concessions. Being loyal, he was more than tolerant. This had led to infinite misery. His best friend, Emperor Ragnar, turned traitor. Becoming accustomed to his life, in the end, it all led to his death.
'This life has been given to me, I will not be led by anyone.'
For such a conviction to prove true, he had to find it again. The power of an 8th Class Mage, and advance beyond that power. Why not? Because he had already walked that path once. He would sprint towards it in a single breath and aim even further ahead.
"Next!"
As Ian reached a resolute decision in his heart, it was his turn for the Mana Reaction Test.
"I'll be right back."
Ian tried to comfort his mother, whose face was full of worry.
Walking forward towards the soldier in front of the tent, he spoke, "Ian, from Mogrian Village."
"Mogrian... Ah, are you our Vanessa's son?"
Ian's mother was a kitchen maid in the lord's castle. For a kitchen maid, she was beautiful to a fault, which made many soldiers fawn over her. They saw her as an easy target, since she was a widow and a kitchen maid.
"Go ahead and don't bother the Mage with useless questions."
The soldier's eyes were wet with lust as his gaze focused on Ian's mother. Something Ian couldn't have noticed in his youthful ignorance.
'Maybe I should fix his gaze soon.'
Swearing an oath, Ian entered the tent. Inside the tent were a young delegated Mage and three Knights standing guard.
"Sir Aaron, how many children are left?"
"I believe you still have to spend a few hours on this task."
"Hah....."
Was it because the Mage had already tested several hundred children? The Mage's voice was full of exhaustion.
'This brings me back to the good old days.'
During his time as an apprentice Mage, Ian was sent to conduct one of these tests. Although he wasn't as exhausted as the Mage in front of him, that was surely because the village was rural and quiet.
'The situation here must be different.'
This is the Mogrian province. One of the four largest territories in the Empire, it was called a 'Great Province.' The territory was vast enough that there must be thousands of children who had to take the test.
"Right, kid. Come closer."
With a soft voice, the Mage called Ian. Aside from being a Mage, he seemed to be a well-mannered noble. Even though Ian was a Mage, the arrogance of most Mages knew no bounds.
'If they could be worse than nobles, they were.'
Mages were extremely precious. So rare were they, that most commoners would be hard-pressed to meet one in their lifetime. Given the value of a Mage, their sheer numbers were small.
Among Mages, 90% stayed at the 1st Class for the rest of their lives. The authority of a 1st Class Mage was the next best thing to being a minor noble. From the 4th Class onwards, they weren't even afraid of the power of greater nobles.
'They say the number of Mages is proportional to a nation's power.'
Therefore, they conducted mandatory Mana Reaction Tests. To find and nurture just one more Mage for their country.
"For now, won't you bow your head a little?"
The first attribute, 'Mana Brain.' The part of the brain that takes charge in manifesting magic. This attribute cannot be acquired; a person is inherently born with it.
"I will lightly prick your head with Mana. You might feel dizzy, but this is only for a moment so don't worry."
Speaking like that, the Mage placed his hand on Ian's head. As he explained, Ian started to feel dizzy. This was the obvious result, a side effect of stimulating the Mana Brain.
"Good. Now, turn around so your back faces me."
The second attribute, 'Mana Heart.' The place that stores, creates, and circulates Mana, the all-encompassing organ. The place where he pierced the engraved magic formula.
"Hmmm."
The test ends upon proving the existence of a Mana Heart. If both attributes are proven, the examinee is given the privilege of directly attending the Magic Academy.
As in the past, Ian didn't feel confident. He felt something was missing.
"Why are you standing still?"
Ian hesitated, seeing the Mage rushing. As if it reminded him of something, the Mage started to speak.
"Ah, I just found your Mana Brain. Do you know what that means? It means that your life is about to turn around right in front of your nose. But only if, you have a Mana Heart. So hurry up, and turn around."
The Mage never imagined a reaction would appear this year.
Hearing the part about his "life turning around," Ian hurriedly turned around to proceed with his Mana Heart test, but he stopped because he had higher ambitions than a simple change in life.
'Simple Academy admission is not enough.'
Ian needed the best head start, right from the starting line. While he lacked in Mana, that didn't mean there were no other ways. Should he be a little bolder?
"Uh, Mr. Mage."
Making a decision, Ian opened his mouth. His childish voice still felt strange.
"There is something I want to show you."
"A letter? Yes, something like that....."
Yes, there were many like that. Children bringing 'letters' or 'gifts' as a tribute. The similarly-minded Ian had also experienced such things. Without a doubt, this noble also had similar situations.
"Nothing like that."
But what Ian wanted to show was something entirely different. Something that would increase his value exponentially.
Magic. What else?
Whoosh!
In Ian's hand, a small fist-sized fire erupted. Basic magic belonging to the 1st Class, 'Fireball.'
"Fireball...?"
At the Mage's reaction, Ian felt satisfied. In his other hand, Ian created a teardrop-shaped ball of water. This time, it was 'Aquaball.'
"Double Casting...?"
The Mage's eyes opened wide. The Knights watching nearby had the same reaction. This little boy was using magic? Without having crossed the threshold of the Academy, this boy was using magic during his Mana Reaction Test? And on top of all that, Double Casting?
This was truly a massive incident with no precedent in history.
"I don't really know."
The Mage's face yearned for answers, and Ian looked straight into the Mage's face without flinching. Without dropping a single syllable, Ian continued.
"One day it just started working."
"......What?"
What nonsense was this boy spouting?
This boy, he was suspicious.
"Perhaps, did someone teach you such skills?"
"Not really. I don't remember any such thing happening."
"Really?"
The Mage cast Interrogation Magic as he asked his question. The magic checked for instinctive biological responses like spikes in heart rate or pupil dilation.
"Think clearly before you answer. Any lie could have you declared guilty of treason. What I mean is that you, your family, even your neighbors could be executed."
The Mage's words were not meant to instill fear lightly. With benefits beyond one's imagination, the existence of a Mage was also strictly regulated. Every Mage was under the administration of the Empire and the Ivory Tower. Any unregistered Mage was considered a traitor. Likewise, teaching magic without permission. This extended to establishing a special organization to observe their every action.
"What reason would I have to lie to you?"
Ian knew that reality better than anyone else. He even recognized the Interrogation Magic the Mage had invoked. But he still proceeded with his falsehood.
'Because I truly didn't learn it from anyone.'
Basic Mana prayers and a few magic spells. All of that, he realized through self-study in his previous life. All of that, in the period of exactly 3 months between passing the Mana Reaction Test and waiting for the new season of the Magic Academy.
'A friendless genius doesn't sound bad.'
The first Ian was a certified genius. Was he not humanity's first 8th Class Mage ever seen? It's just that in his previous life, he was an ordinary genius. In this new life, he would become a legendary existence among Mages, a genius among geniuses that would link him to the 'First Mage.'
"Huhu...."
The Mage's mouth split open and out came a laugh. There were so many suspicious angles to the story the boy spat out. But the problem was, the Interrogation Magic wasn't working. Could the boy control his basic instincts intentionally? Fooling the Interrogation Magic?
'But that makes no sense.'
The Mage could assert, such an action was impossible. Only the most vital spies who assimilated daily and underwent the most extreme training could be this unresponsive.
'There are two conclusions to this.'
Either this boy is the most important spy in history.
Or.
'He possesses the talent of the 'First Mage.''
A legend the Mage must have heard of, at least once. To the laymen, they believed magic was rooted in Dragons. To the Mages, they believed in the 'First Mage.'
'Both sides are beyond my wildest imagination.'
As the Mage's deepest thoughts started leaning towards the latter....
"Hey, please stop this!"
"Shoo, shoo! Don't you know there are important people inside?"
The sound of an argument could be heard outside. Between the soldier guarding the tent flap, and Ian's mother.