If he dies, I die too.

  I mean… I guess it makes sense. He’s summoned me, so of course, we’re bound to have some connection to each other beyond the nature of our relationship. Some stories have explored this dynamic. The Fate Series, Familiar of Zero. If I had to explain it, I’m basically a Gacha character he’s pulled, and I’ll die when he truly stops playing. Yeah, let’s go with that.

  “Nolval?” Mr. Draco called out to me.

  “Uhh… yeah. That’s err.. that’s alright.”

  “Do you need a moment?”

  I took a deep breath to gather my thoughts.

  “It’s… a lot to unpack. I’m basically being told that how long I’ll live with depend on how long Kiori lives.”

  When I was reborn, I was hoping to have a little more freedom to explore the world I’ve been put in. Make my own mistakes, be overpowered, wow any onlookers with my power. Now I’m being told I’ll have to spend the rest of my life looking after someone.

  Is this what it feels like to be overwhelmed with the fact that you have to raise a child? A realization in a phase of your life where you don’t know you’re mature enough to handle the world?

  I don’t condone abuse, but I think I’m a fraction of a percentage more understanding of people who abandon or neglect their own children. They see their children as the biggest obstacle to their freedom. They want to be rid of them, but obligations and societal expectations demand otherwise.

  What do I do?

  “Well, you have 3 days to answer that question.”

  “I… didn’t say that out loud.”

  “You did not. I never saw your mouth move.”

  “I guess that’s a side effect of my ability. Not knowing if I’m announcing or internalizing my verbal thoughts.”

  “Noted. I’ll be sure not to entrust you with any secrets.”

  “That would be for the best.”

  Figuring out how I should deal with my summoner will be an issue that 3 days won’t be able to cover. People are high maintenance, and there’s no way I’ll be able to learn everything I should know about Kiori in that time.

  “I’ll figure out how to deal with Kiori. There’s something I’ve been meaning to ask.”

  “Speak.”

  There were plenty of questions I needed to ask. What is the purpose of this school? What’s the significance of the smoke-covered snake and the murder victims it’s tied to? How come the old man is strongly against my presence? What do I need to know to navigate this world? What’s normal for an inhabitant of this world to know?

  Mr. Draco sat patiently at his desk, waiting for an answer. I wasn’t lacking any questions, but a small part of me felt the need to ask the right one. A question that was most deserving of an answer, and would determine how Mr. Draco would see me from this point forward.

  “Have others been summoned to this world? Aside from your golden dragon and me?”

  “Why do you want to know?”

  “You literally said summoning is illegal!” Was the first thought that came to mind.

  “Well… I’m under the impression that it has a long history. Perhaps something older than both of- uh, older than you. Maybe older than that old man.”

  “That’s a mystery no one in this school could explain, nor can any alumni.”

  “How old is this school?”

  “60 years. The altar you’re thinking about is estimated to be at least 100.”

  “So… have there been any other summons before you and Kiori?”

  Mr. Blonde- Mr. Draco leaned back in his chair, staring at the ceiling. “If there are, I wouldn’t be able to tell you. I simply don’t have the time or resources to investigate this matter.”

  Stolen story; please report.

  “I see.”

  Well, I shouldn’t have put much faith in him having all the answers.

  “If you must know the answers to your questions, there’s one option for you.”

  “And what’s that?”

  “Have an audience with Gasir Uadel, while convincing him not to kill you or Kiori.”

  “Should you, of all people, be suggesting something so reckless? Whatever title you have here, it doesn’t do you any good to encourage students to pursue something that could end in their death.”

  “True, but it’s not like the student I’m speaking to hasn’t found themselves in dangerous, life-threatening situations.”

  “Touche.”

  “Pardon?”

  “Oh, it’s usually something you say in response to a clever point.”

  “First I’ve heard of it.”

  I held back the urge to reply with the fact that I’m from another world.

  “It’s a common phrase where I’m from.”

  “I see. Well, in any case, Nolval, is there anything more you need to ask?”

  “What are the first 3 classes you’ve enrolled me in? I can guess the last 2 are magic-related.”

  “History, Potions Brewing, and Basics of Finance.”

  I put a finger to my chin. What he just said confirmed my hunches. Those classes were basically my world's equivalent of history, chemistry, and economics.

  “Do you want to change them?” Mr. Draco asked me.

  “Huh? Oh, um… I’ve never really thought about changing them. Can you really offer this to someone who has barely been in school?”

  He leaned forward in his seat. “This is a place of learning, Nolval. I wholeheartedly encourage students to pursue their interests. If the subjects you have aren’t of any interest to you, you’re welcome to change them.”

  When Mr. Draco finished, he bent below his desk to retrieve something from a drawer and placed a paper in front of me. It has a list of all class options available.

  I suddenly had an idea.

  “What if I just drop out?”

  I wasn’t exactly looking forward to a second life where I’d have to go to school.

  “I can arrange that; however, you have to pay the full tuition for 3 years yourself.”

  “Wonderful. It hasn’t been a week, and I already have tuition debt.”

  “If you graduate, I’ll pay off the 3 years you attend.”

  Wait, seriously?

  “Isn’t that scholarship? Are you really okay with giving me that?”

  “You know what a scholarship is? That saves me from explaining. Yes, if you graduate, I’ll pay for your tuition in full.”

  I was tempted to ask what the price is, but I believe it’s best if I don’t know.

  “Why would you go so far for me?”

  If I had to guess who, between Kiori and Mr. Draco, has more complex motives involving my existence and utility, the latter would have my vote on having more sophisticated plans for me.

  “Consider it an investment in your potential.”

  He then made an unreadable smile.

  I looked at the class options in front of me.

  Math is something I’m familiar with, but without the calculators and smartphones, it’d be harder to solve problems, and it’d be more tedious to calculate variables. Hmm… maybe I should try using my power to make a working digital calculator.

  Cooking would certainly be a helpful skill. The food here is good, but if I’m to be lacking money in the future, knowing how to cook would do wonders for my spending. After all, it’s cheaper to cook for yourself than to pay a restaurant to do that for you, even if the latter gives more delicious food.

  Basics of Magic Tool creation? I have seen a few instances of phenomena that can be chalked up to magic.

  Joint Megalia-Givilrin training camp? Gives off military vibes. Pass.

  The other option involves tending to plants, farm animals, wildlife, literature, mythology, and religious study. Literature and mythology had a bit of my interest, but everything else didn’t appeal to me for several reasons.

  “Do I need to make my decision now?”

  “You have until before lunch on the 3rd day.”

  “I see, can I take this with me?”

  “You can; I have multiple copies.”

  “Thank you, Mr. Draco.” I got up from my chair and turned to leave when I noticed the yellow hue of the room.

  “Oh, right.” He waved his hand, and the yellow color plastered over the room faded. “Enjoy these next 3 days. I recommend choosing your classes as soon as possible so that you can enjoy yourself to the fullest. If you haven’t decided on what classes to change, I’ll assume you’re content with your current classes.”

  Summoning is outlawed because of Gasir Uadel, and Kiori has the threat of the death penalty hanging over his head.

  I suddenly found myself more worried. One of the things I had planned for the 3-day break was enthusiastically exploring the limits of my power. Figure out what I can and can’t make, and improve my understanding of the ‘fill-in-the-gaps’ aspect of Imagination Manifestation. I mean, I created a working, drivable hovercraft!

  He said certain aspects of my power couldn’t be explained by magic. If I’m violating the principles of magic law on a whim, who knows what could happen if I encounter the wrong people?

  Think, what would happen if someone capable of violating the laws of physics appeared in my world?

  A single person capable of doing things many could only dream of would immediately be a person of interest. Many people would approach said person, asking them to do certain things, because they wield physics-defying powers. Do this, do that, asking what the power could do, the possibilities are endless.

  If such a person exists, a group of people would treat them as a glorified guinea pig, while another would deem them a potential threat purely because of the things their power can do.

  Meaning the most ideal group to stick with is the one that cares about the well-being of that person.

  An odd sound interrupted my thoughts, and I saw multiple horse-drawn carriages pulling into the school’s perimeter, stopping before the building’s main entrance. Multiple students exited the carriage, with some familiar faces emerging from them, with one of those being my summoner, Kiori.

  He ran up to me.

  “Emilie told me you went into town with Alicia, so how did you end up here earlier than us?”

  “We flew on Mr. Draco’s Dragon. Didn’t you see something flying in the sky?”

  “Ah.”

  “There’s something we need to talk about. I think we should meet back at Mr. Draco’s office.”

  His expression shifted, looking apprehensive and suspicious of me.

  “What do we need to…” There was a dawn of realization when I produced a miniature replica of the altar in my hand before making it vanish. “Oh.”