Convincing the Director to grant permission was easy. Kyle, Ladd, and Noe volunteered to help the cooks on Sundays, and made sure to feed the strays with the scraps. They tidied the classroom after lessons on weekdays, while the other kids played, and then went on chaperoned “patrols” to make sure the neighborhood children were able to get to their homes safely. Whenever newcomers arrived at the Orphanage, Kyle sent Ladd to give them hugs and invite them to their games. The only task Ladd was able to pass on was teaching. Noe, who was happy to tag along with his friends wherever they went, was surprisingly quick to understand whatever Kyle showed them and so took it on instead. Often, Ladd would skip out on tutoring to go exercise with the older kids. Sometimes they raced, other times they wrestled. Kyle noticed that Ladd was picking up fighting habits from them. He decided Ladd would be a protector and found books about heroes for him. Of course, Ladd was also made to give oral reports on what he read. He didn’t mind, though. Noe would get carried away with questions and make Kyle give up on it before long.

Noe turned seven, which meant that Kyle was due for placement evaluation before the trial semester at the Academy. Kyle had received a monthly calendar for his recent birthday, and he now kept it by his side at all times, glancing at it and itching to check off each day. Ladd had never counted down to an event before this, and he felt disappointed that Kyle was excited about leaving him behind. Kyle’s promise to teach them everything he learned at the Academy did not make it better. That is, until the Examiner declared Kyle’s affinity for Water type magic.

Kyle pulled the two boys over to the bunk room to tell them what had happened and sighed in resignation. Ladd stared at him in shock.

“You’re a mage?!” Ladd was shaking Kyle’s shoulders hard enough that Kyle nearly lost his balance.

“I suppose.” Kyle sighed again.

“Why are you not excited? This is so cool!” Ladd started skipping around his friend.

“I have to be a mage now, don’t I?” Kyle pouted.

“You don’t wanna be a mage?” Noe poked his head around from behind Kyle, who jumped at the sudden appearance. Ladd stopped skipping.

“It’s not that... I don’t want to. It’s just, I really wanted to study in the MSM School.”

Ladd gave him a blank look. Noe bit into a wafer he’d taken without asking. “De whad?”

“What did I tell you about talking with your mouth full.”

“Shorry.”

“The School of Math, Science, and Medicine. Everyone calls it MSM School for short.”

Ladd’s eyes rolled. Noe’s sparkled. Ladd patted Noe’s head.

“You little nerd.”

Noe beamed. Ladd turned back to Kyle.

“Do they make you study magic if you don’t want to?”

“No, but they try their best to convince you. And if you go to a different School when you could do magic... it can get, well, ugly.”

“Why?” Ladd.

“I have no idea. People are just like that.”

“Why?” Noe.

“Also, no idea.”

“What if I say something to anyone who bothers you.” Ladd punched a fist into his palm, a threat.

“Violence is bad, Ladd. You can’t hit people. Don’t be a dummy.”

“I’m just saying. If people wanna make things ugly, I can do ugly.”

“No, you can’t. You’re not even eight yet. The students are all ten and up.”

“You’re ten. I can take you.”

“And. Up.”

“...Right, okay. Fine. But just – ugh. It shouldn’t matter. Isn’t it just a trial anyway? Doesn’t school start in the winter?”

“Yeah, I’m gonna see what it’s like there. If I can’t go to MSM then I don’t see a point in attending.”

“Why, do you hate the idea of being a mage that much?”

“... I hadn’t thought about it.”

Ladd nodded, understanding. 

“Why not?”

“I didn’t even know I could do magic until today, Noe.”

“You don’t feel it?”

“Nope. I think people start feeling it after they learn how to use it.”

“Huh?” Ladd was not as done with questions as he’d thought. “Then doesn’t that mean anyone can be a mage, if you can just feel it after you learn? Like, what, like the rest of the Academy courses?”

“No. That’s not it, either. You need an affinity to a magic type first and then they teach you how to harness it. I don’t actually know if anyone feels anything, to be honest. The books don’t say a lot.”

Ladd’s eye grew wide.

“There are books?!”

“Why are you yelling? Yeah, of course there are books. We just don’t have any good ones here.” 

“Noe.”

“Yeah, Ladd?”

“Wanna go to the Library?”

Noe clapped his hands. “Always!”

“Okay, just go wash your hands first so you don’t get caught stealing snacks when we go to the Director to get the leave pass.”

Kyle snorted. “I can’t tell if I’m doing an amazing job raising you two or an awful one.”

Ladd winked at him. “Ignorance is bliss.”

Kyle laughed. “Hm, true. But knowledge is power.”

“...You nerd.”

“Says the one who asked to go to the Library.”

“Guys, come on!” Noe was already turning the corner at the end of the hallway.