(Location: Noble Academy - Courtyard of Festive Misjudgment)
Let's set the scene. The sky was a soft gold, birds chirped with ominous enthusiasm, and streamers hung like the Academy's reputation—slightly crooked and full of glitter.
The Mid-Year Festival had arrived. A celebration of magical growth, academic mediocrity, and—of course—the sacred tradition of lighting a ceremonial torch using one's magical affinity.
And who was chosen to be the student torchbearer this year?
Inner Me: Why ask questions we already regret the answer to?
Yes. It was me. Kael Reinhardt. The guy who once confused a self-destruct glyph for a glowing snack wrapper.
---
### Torchbearer Duties and Public Humiliation: A Kael Specialty
Headmaster Arkwright—who looked like a walking stack of old scrolls with eyebrows—stood atop the stage with his ceremonial owl hat perched firmly on his balding head.
"Today," he declared, with the gravitas of someone addressing the gods themselves, "young Reinhardt shall light the Flame of Academic Ascent."
The crowd clapped politely. A squirrel sneezed.
Inner Me: Can a ceremony file for restraining orders against participants?
I stepped onto the platform. My robes—carefully pressed by the dorm's enchanted laundry golem—fluttered dramatically. Behind me stood:
* Belladonna, chewing on a petal she claimed was for focus.
* Seraphina, arms crossed, expression halfway between worry and "If you explode, I'm not claiming the ashes."
* Aureline, smiling enigmatically as usual.
* Virellia... just sharpening her blade like this was a combat trial.
The torch sat in the center of the stage, an ornate bowl filled with spell-treated incense and ceremonial oil.
"Channel your magical affinity, young Reinhardt," the Headmaster prompted. "But do keep it contained."
---
### Magical Fire and Its Many Poor Decisions
Right. No pressure.
I held out my hand, visualized warmth, focus, control—
—and something completely else happened.
My palm flared with chaotic blue light. The fire didn't so much flicker as *yawn*, stretch, and then projectile itself like a sarcastic phoenix. It struck the torch, bounced, spiraled into the banners above, and—
BOOM.
The festival streamers caught fire in slow motion. A chorus of enchanted balloons panicked and exploded like glitter grenades. A confetti rain began, assisted by the smoke alarm golems who screamed, "FIRE! PARTY! FIRE!"
Belladonna: "It could've been worse."
Seraphina: "It *is* worse, you just haven't noticed yet."
Inner Me: I regret waking up.
The torch, by the way? Still not lit.
---
### System Ping: An Update Nobody Asked For
Right in the middle of the chaos:
\[SYSTEM UPDATE: FLAME AFFINITY UNLOCKED. LEVEL: "UNSTABLE"]
Me: "Now you show up?"
\[SYSTEM: YOUR CHAOS STAT HAS INCREASED. CONGRATULATIONS?]
The Headmaster waved smoke away from his robes and cleared his throat like a man trying to pretend nothing had happened.
"Ahem. Young Reinhardt, I commend your... enthusiasm."
Inner Me: That's code for, "We can't legally expel you in front of sponsors."
Belladonna, charred hair and all, grinned. "I rate that fire a solid 7. Could use more screaming shrubs."
---
### Surrounding Reactions: Shock, Awe, and Mild Concern
From the stands, the students were abuzz:
* A third-year took notes, whispering, "I think he awakened a new elemental subclass."
* A professor muttered, "That fire spell... it curved. Like an insult."
* Bartholomew the parrot (now a semi-regular guest) squawked, "AND YOU THOUGHT MONOCLES WERE OUT OF STYLE."
Inner Me: Even the bird's judging me now.
Seraphina stepped forward and—without blinking—used her wind magic to extinguish the remaining sparks.
"Try again. With less flair."
"I wasn't trying to—"
"Don't argue with the person holding a wind blade."
Fair.
---
### Second Attempt: Mild Success, Major Side Effects
This time, I focused harder. Less chaos. More *warm noble boy lighting a cultural torch* energy.
My hand glowed. A gentle flame appeared—too tiny to roast a marshmallow, but precise.
The incense bowl ignited. The torch flared up properly. The crowd clapped.
System Message:
> \[YOU HAVE COMPLETED QUEST: "FIRE STARTER (HOPEFULLY LEGALLY)"]
> \[REWARD: +1 Public Image | +1 Fire Resistance | -2 Festival Decorations]
Belladonna gave me a thumbs-up while still smoking slightly from the earlier boom.
Seraphina nodded approvingly.
Aureline whispered, "You made the flame bend to you. Interesting."
Virellia just said, "Hmph."
Which is basically a standing ovation from her.
---
### Later That Night: Reputation, Rest, and Roasted Grapes
Back at the dormitory, I found three muffins on my desk—each with a tiny flag that read "LONG MAY YOU BURN."
Inner Me: I really need to stop inspiring cults.
Belladonna barged in, followed by Aureline.
"I saved a spark for study," Belladonna announced, pulling out a vial with a twitching ember inside.
Aureline sat beside me. "Your control's improving."
"Tell that to the flaming peacock mascot."
She smiled slightly. "I think it liked it."
Seraphina entered last, holding four teacups. "I brought calming blend. You need it."
We sat there. Tea in hand. Quiet.
The window sparkled faintly with leftover firework magic.
System Message:
> \[HAREM BONDING MOMENT DETECTED. SOCIAL COHESION INCREASED.]
Inner Me: Don't ruin this, System.