The Inauspicious Route to my Happy Ending

It was the second official day of classes. This was the day he dreaded while looking the most forward to. It was the day he had Mana Control and Elemental Training. From his understanding, they were rolled into one class that was three hours long.

He got up early, way before the sun even rose. After he changed into sweats and a long-sleeved shirt, he went out for an early morning walk.

Lined up against the edges of the pathways at evenly-spaced intervals were black-iron lampposts. The golden-white light they emitted was from Mana Crystals that had been imbued with the Light property of Light Magic.

This world had running water and steam engines. From the Original's memories, he had learned that they were working on attaining electricity. Adrien couldn't wait until they figured it out, he just hoped that it was released to the public and not one of those things that only royalty and near royalty could afford to have.

After his walk, he headed back to his room for a shower and a change of clothes. He then headed out the door and made his way toward the Training Grounds, which wasn't too far away from the boys' dormitory. It was about a five-minute walk from the side entrance of the dorm and was situated near the woods.

As he approached the training ground, he heard the clashing of swords and the enthusiastic shouts of students. The Mana Training field was located next to the Training Grounds dedicated to those who were in the Physical Department. The Physical Department was mainly made up of those who were aspiring to be knights. And he knew from the book that Crown Prince Nathaniel was enrolled in the Physical Department.

He was heading toward the Mana Training field for his only class of the day. It was the class he was looking forward to the most since he would finally be able to learn to control his Mana and begin learning how to control his Elemental Magic.

His old world didn't have Mana or Elemental Magic, or any kind of magic, so he was excited to see it in action. He was even more excited to learn how to control and use it for himself, especially after his failed self-study sessions. He figured that learning to use Mana was one of those things where physically trying it was more proficient than by reading about it.

The path leading toward his destination brought him to where the Physical Department students were practicing their swordplay. Adrien nearly tripped over his feet when he caught sight of a head full of silky, golden-blonde hair.

Prince Mikyle had a sword in his hand as he just barely dodged his opponent's attack. Adrien found himself slowing down as he watched the scene, mesmerized by the way Prince Mikyle's arm muscles coiled and flexed right before striking.

Why is he this good-looking? With his looks, build, and height, he should have been a male lead, not a side character who didn't even make an appearance.

Prince Mikyle struck a side swing with his sword. His opponent managed to block it just in time.

Adrien was no expert nor did he try to understand the ways of a sword, but he could tell that these two were evenly matched in both skill and strength. He pulled his eyes away, continuing on his way before he was late.

When he reached the field where the class was being held, five other students were already there.

"Good, everyone is here." The professor was a burly man with long, curly hair that was as green as the leaves found on poison ivy. His muddy-brown eyes scanned the students before him. "Welcome to the low-grade Mana Control class, where you will be perfecting how you use and control your Mana while learning the different aspects of your Elemental Power. You sorry-sods were deemed as possessing very low amounts of Mana. Worry not, that will change by the time I'm done with all of you."

Wait, there's only six of us? Half of the students here are enrolled in the Physical Department.

"Since I wasn't there to witness your Mana Capacity Test, I would like all of you to demonstrate it for me so I can see what I'm working with." The professor spoke with his hands behind his back, looking much like a military drill sergeant.

Adrien started to have a bad feeling about this. Pulling forth his Mana was extremely difficult for him to do. It was also very draining on him, both mentally and physically.

He held out his hand and closed his eyes when the professor gave the go-ahead. The cold, icy feeling surged through his veins, slowly edging its way to his hand. Unlike last time, Adrien could feel something similar to a lid blocking the freely moving Mana, preventing it from fully releasing itself.

"Boy," came the professor's voice from right beside him, "Don't you know how to feel your Mana, or do you really possess this punitive amount?"

"I-im not sure?" He found himself feeling embarrassed with how the professor was talking to him, and confused by his words. What does he mean by feeling the Mana? Is that what I'm doing now when I feel it move through my veins? I still haven't read that much of any of those Mana books that I bought the other day. Against his better judgment, Adrien had been absorbed in reading that book that he was certain was based on the second prince.

Adrien opened his eyes in time to see the professor shake his head.

"I can feel the Mana flowing through my veins, is that what you mean?"

Muddy-brown eyes narrowed at him. "You can sense it moving?"

"I think so."

"Continue practicing." The professor then turned to the other students. A girl with yellowish-green hair had a green glow around her and small, white flowers were blooming in her hair. Another student had a brownish-red glow around him and his hair was standing on end, but there were no other visible signs other than that.

So there are supposed to be signs of your Element emerging when you release your Mana? I guess that makes sense since one's Elemental power is connected to their Mana.

Class ended three hours later, and Adrien still showed no signs of improving. He was really starting to wonder if something was blocking his Mana. He grabbed his satchel from where he had dropped it on the ground. Sweat poured off of him and his muscles ached even though he had stood in the same spot the entire time.

Making his way back the way he had come, Asrien noticed that the students who were dueling were exiting from the shower house. As he watched, his already weak legs started to shake.

Even though the dorm is close, I still have quite a distance to go.

Adrien looked down at the vibrantly green grass that looked soft to the touch. Placing his satchel down, he sat down to give his exhausted body a break.

He pulled out the sketchbook that he had placed inside the bag. Watching the students practice their Mana Control had made his fingers itch with the need to draw.

After he pulled out the sketchbook, he pulled out the ink pen, which he had just learned was called a fountain pen from some of the memories that he had recovered during his sleep the night before.

His hand glided under the influence of the pen. The emotions he had felt while watching the girl with the Earth Element bubbled to the surface, fighting to be seen on the page as it brought the drawing a life-like feel.

"Hmm. You're pretty good."

The pen slid unnaturally across the page as he was startled by the voice. Looking up, he found the second prince standing in front of him, looking down at the open page on his lap.

When did he get here?!

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