Anime Fantasy: Mage's Path

Wearing a basic tunic he had bought for 20 copper coins, Merlin left his room at the inn, stretching both his arms and legs.

A week has passed since his arrival in this world, which means today was the day he promise to meet-up with Kazuma at the city gates.

As he walked down the stairs, he was greeted by Vander who was brooming off any littered junk he saw caused by last night's customers.

There were a lot of trash, but wasn't much of a hassle for him to clean.

Not a lot of people visited the inn during daytime, it was mostly when dusk or night came where most patrons come around.

Vander who heard his thudding steps on the stairs, turned to look who it was.

"Working early today? Doesn't seem like the type of thing for you to do." Vander comments after seeing him, it was unusual for him to see Merlin up this early in the morning.

Cooping up in his room during the day practicing magic has been Merlin's norm from the time he learned he could use magic.

Since he only worked during the noon up until night, he had plenty of extra time —only coming out for breakfast to eat when he was hungry.

Of course, he didn't tell Vander he was practicing magic since he wanted to stay on the low.

Since Merlin was still cautious of every person he met, broadcasting his abilities sounds like a bad idea as it might be used against him.

He even stopped practicing during work, scared he might get caught by the head librarian for the same reason.

Merlin shook his head, "I'm just meeting a friend of mine."

Not wanting to stick his nose any further into matters that were not his, Vander asks, "Alright then, breakfast?"

Although Merlin was a bit peckish, he planned to jog a bit on the way to meet Kazuma. So ultimately, he had to decline.

Vander seemingly understanding his intentions replied, "If you want to eat it during lunch or dinner, just say the word. You still paid for it."

Merlin thankingly gave a smile.

He was a man that didn't like wasting his time doing nothing. To accomplish his goals, he needed to at the very least sacrifice that much.

A game addict he was, yes. But he did not have a lot of time during college to play, only when he wasn't so busy and had a few hours to spare.

Walking out of the inn, he was greeted yet again by the bustling atmosphere of the city.

After doing a little research, it seems that the kingdom was divided by two cities.

The first city was where he currently was at which was where the lower and middle-class people lived.

Furthermore, the inn, the library, and the academy were all situated at the border of both cities.

As of now, he wasn't able to notice the lower-class part of the city—assuming it was somewhere farther from the main road.

Perhaps it was done deliberately by those in higher power to make the city more attractive for foreigners from outside.

After a while, Merlin started running towards the city gates.

The distance between the inn and the city gates was about 7 kilometers away from each other.

Considering he mainly focused on magic rather than fitness, Merlin thought it was a great distance to start off at.

Not too close that it will be a breeze to complete but also not too far that he will be exhausted after.

If only he accounted for one thing.

Which was his current body was actually a bit weaker than his previous one.

"Fuck..Fuck...Fuck!"

Halfway through the run, Merlin felt his legs buckle tremble as his muscles were unable to find the necessary strength to continue.

"I have to... speak with last owner of this body and... ask why he is so goddamn weak!" Merlin's words came to a halt from time to time due to the lack of oxygen causing him to take a few short breaths.

At the minimum, he expected to be able to finish it with enough energy for a quick one on the way home. It was not the case.

Even though his body told him not to continue, his willpower pushed him to carry on running.

Once he arrived at his destination, Merlin couldn't help but fall flat on his butt.

"Pant... Pant..."

Sweat dripped down his face while he gasped for the delicious air that he lacked.

He was tired already, so tired in fact that he just plans to walk on the way home. Dismissing his thoughts of running back to the inn as well.

He literally might actually die if he does so.

Merlin took a look around, trying to see if Kazuma had already arrived before him.

The sun was still rising from the horizon and most people are just starting their day, so Merlin would immediately spot Kazuma if he saw him.

And there Kazuma was, sitting on a nearby wooden bench, also looking at him.

When their eyes met, Kazuma's face scrunched as if saying, 'Bitch, Is that really you?'

In addition to his uneven breathing, his form which was fine at the start—was already disheveled and flimsy.

Kazuma had a hard time believing that the well-dressed Merlin he saw last time is the same scruffy person in front of him.

'It must be because it's his first week in another world. He must be having a hard time.' Kazuma thought about his first few days after his reincarnation, with nothing but Aqua by his side. It was truly hell.

After a few seconds he inwardly grinned, 'Serves him right! Every transmigrator should experience the same thing I did!'

Unaware of his thoughts however, Merlin waved his hand and called out, "Kazuma?"

Kazuma stood up and walked towards him upon hearing Merlin call his name.

Once he got a bit closer, he asks Merlin "What happened to you? You look miserable."

"Ah this, I was just doing my morning exercise. What's up, any the news about your party." Merlin looked over Kazuma's shoulder to see if he was with anybody, only to find that he was all alone.

It seems he wasn't able to find them.

A sigh escaped from Kazuma's lips, "That's the thing. It seems that whatever strange thing that happened to you, also dragged me into it."

Sensing something strange, Merlin asks "What do you mean dragged you into it?"

Kazuma continued with a serious expression, "What I mean is that, I'm not in the original world where I was reincarnated into. Axel doesn't even exist in this place."

"What?"

"Which shouldn't even happen, the gods in my world don't have that kind of power."

If what Kazuma is saying is true, it would mean that there is something more hidden at play.

Or at the very least, someone.

'I know the concept of a multiverse is a thing, I truly believe it now that I'm in this world, but for the reason I'm here? I don't know.'

While Merlin is thinking deeply about his situation, Kazuma was left standing idly in the road, Kazuma didn't mind though since it really was a big deal that concerned them both.

Merlin looks up to Kazuma, "We should find some clues regarding this, I have something in mind but it might take a while."

Kazuma's brow lifted upwards "Really? What's your plan?"

"Parada Academy, it's one of the few places where we might get a clue."

He came to know from Vander that the academy boasts itself as nurturing few of the greatest people to ever exist it in the world.

If there was a clue about their arrival, it would more or less be there.

"Parada Academy, got it. So how do we get in there? Do we just apply for studentship?"

Merlin impulsively scoffs.

"That's the neat part, we don't."

"What are you saying?" Kazuma's eyes narrows.

Merlin continues, "To be a student or at least have a chance to be one, one would need to have a letter of recommendation."

"So where do we get that then."

"I have no fucking clue."

Kazuma couldn't believe what he was hearing from Merlin. Their plan was literally to have blind faith that they will stumble upon the letter.

Which wasn't even a plan, it was blind luck.

It was the truth, Merlin had no clue how to get the letter of recommendation. Vander only told him that Powder was given hers when she invented something extraordinary called the Magic Gun, while Violet got hers by saving a noble that was getting harrassed by lower-class thugs.

Kazuma couldn't help but sigh, "Alright, let's not charge into this without being prepared. Tell me, what have you been doin this past week. I registered myself again on the adventurer's guild, my identification didn't seem to be valid here."

Apparently, they use a different kind of assessment to determine an adventurer's capabilities through tests and not a simple glass orb.

Seeing Merlin's sorry state however, made Kazuma feel a tad bit bad since he did just leave him to survive on his own. "If you need any mone-"

Placing a finger on his chin, Merlin began to recall all he did this past few days.

"Well,when we parted ways I found a job as a librarian at the Parada Library, it gave me a decent sum for my daily necessities. I'm mostly staying at an inn nearby it's pretty nice. My priority right now is to focus on my magic capabilities since I seem to be more adept in that department rather than hand-to-hand combat."

It wasn't much but it was a start, he mostly has to manage his spendings, only buying food when he is hungry and nothing else.

"Yeah, that's about it." Merlin finishes as he stands, dusting off the dirt on his pants.

He glances to Kazuma who appeared to be... shaking?

With his head down to the ground and fists visibly shaking, Kazuma muttered something repeatedly underneath his breath.

"Die. Die. Die. Die. Die. Die..."

Merlin unconsciously took one step backwards. "Hey, what's wrong with you!"

All he did was tell Kazuma what he wanted to know, so he had no idea why he was acting this way.

Did he say something to offend him?

"You are the bane of my existence. An anomaly that must be disposed of. HOW ARE YOU DOING SO WELL WITHOUT ANY EXPERIENCE!" Kazuma leaned back as he clutches his head in angers, shouting at the sky.

In his first few days, he even had to beg for a few measly scraps just to not starve to death. But after finding out that Merlin was living decently with a stable financial income?

It was unacceptable.

After a few minutes of trying to calm down the rageful Kazuma, they talked about what they should do while trying to find a way to get their recommendation letter.

The two agreed to meet here at the same place and time every week to discuss their progress, it was crucial for them to stay in contact with each other.

If they one of them were unable to arrive or come to the meeting place without any prior notice, it would be best to assume something bad happened.

Kazuma planned to stay as an adventurer since that was what he was good at and will be trying clues in places he will explore.

On the other hand, because Merlin still has no means to defend himself due to his magic still being too weak for combat—he decided to continue with his daily routine of magic training and working as a librarian.

After a eventful meetup, the two parted ways again as the sun finally rose from its slumber, lighting the whole kingdom in its bright light.