“Alright, everyone! Today’s a picnic—uh, I mean, outdoor class!”

Teacher Lorl’s cheerful shout sent a wave of excitement through the students.

The spring sunlight poured down gently, and the sky was high and clear.

Today was a school-wide field lesson at the Magic Academy—something they called “magic adaptation training.”

I walked alongside Rei, practicing how to sense mana while pointing out flowers and plants.

Rei, meanwhile, looked completely drained.

“How is this class? It’s just a hike…”

“It is part of class. Now quit whining and walk!”

And then—on the breeze—I caught it.

“…Help…!”

The faintest cry.

The instant I heard it, my legs were already moving.

Even Rei’s shout—“Hey, wait!”—barely reached me.

I tore through the grass and found a little girl collapsed on the ground.

Around her prowled a pack of hairy little monsters—Spring Wolves.

(This is bad—those things can seriously injure a child!)

“Don’t worry! I’ll save you!”

A faint glow gathered in my hands.

“《Flash Wind》!”

Blades of wind sliced the wolves’ legs, making several of them stumble.

I seized the chance, scooping the girl into my arms and leaping back.

“Hold on tight!”

With her clinging to me, I focused my mana, feeling the threat at my back.

“《Leap》!”

Mana surged through my legs, launching us upward.

We bounded over branches, sprinted up a slope—

And at last, the presence of monsters faded behind us.

“…Haah… we made it…”

The girl trembled in my arms, then lifted her face to me.

“That was amazing… your magic was amazing…!”

Her eyes sparkled, her cheeks flushed pink.

“Thank you. I—I’m going to be your fan!”

…A fan!?

In my past life, I had fought unseen, hidden from the public.

To hear those words now was… startling, and strangely sweet.

“Hehe… thank you. What’s your name?”

“Ami! I’m not good at magic yet, but… I want to be like you, Mai!”

Her shy, blushing smile lit a warm flame in my chest.

Macikado Mai, age six.

The day I found my very first “fan”—and took my very first “picnic” step toward the future, under the bright spring sun.