Going back a bit from the half-year mark after enrollment, this happened one day.

  I was practicing magic hidden from everyone in a wooded area behind the training grounds.

  At first, I used the outdoor training ground normally and practiced boldly in front of everyone. Practicing magic written in grimoires, or trying out magic I thought of myself. But doing it almost every day, since I often use weird magic and make weird failures, gradually the eyes of those around me gathered.

  I couldn't help but be bothered by it, so I was looking for a place where I could do it in secret. This place is a blind spot from the surroundings and hard to see, a secret spot I finally found just the other day. It's my favorite place.

  Let's start by reviewing yesterday's practice. Standing in front of a rather large tree, I thrust out my left hand and solidified the image of magic in my brain. And release.

  《Rafalus》

  Blades of wind flew out, chopping up the tree in front of me, leaving several shallow cuts.

  Alright. Success. I kept the power low so as not to accidentally knock down the tree.

  《Rafalus》 is something I tweaked to my liking based on the intermediate wind attack magic 《Rafal》 that originally exists in this world.

  《Rafal》 is a magic that shoots a single spear-shaped wind blade. In contrast, 《Rafalus》 shapes the wind blades like the blade of a Japanese katana (sword) and increases the number to six. By the way, the "s" in 《Rafalus》 stands for "Slash."

  Wind Magic is nice after all.

  Among many types of magic, I especially liked Wind Magic.

  Magic can manipulate things that are there from the start, or create things that are not there from Magic Element (Mana) through imagery. Generally, the latter consumes more Magic Power than the former because you have to create things from scratch.

  For example, using Water Magic in a place without water is theoretically harder than manipulating water directly with magic. In that respect, Wind Magic is convenient. Air is abundant from the start, so I only need to use Magic Power to manipulate the wind. Therefore, compared to other systems of magic, it is easier to suppress Magic Power consumption.

  Furthermore, one of its features is that the trajectory of the magic is hard to see and hard to dodge.

  Well, there are such practical advantages, but the reason I like Wind Magic was actually simpler. The reason is— It lies in the magic I'm going to practice now.

  I concentrated my consciousness, took in a large amount of Magic Element, and filled my whole body with it. Consuming it generously, I manipulate the wind with my whole body. I will it to create a strong updraft.

  Then, my body left the ground on the spot and floated softly.

  Yes. If you control the wind, it is possible to float in the air like this. Everyone has dreamed of it at least once. Being able to fly in the sky! Since hearing that magic can be used in this world, it was something I wanted to try all along. There was also pure longing. I practiced again and again, and when I actually did it for the first time, I was happy enough to die.

  However, unfortunately, I'm actually still struggling just to float. I need much more practice to be able to fly freely.

  Moreover, while floating, I have to keep using Magic Power. Even within Wind Magic, which excels in energy saving, this is exceptionally terribly fuel-inefficient. Even with my amount of Magic Power, it doesn't last long, so practically, its use will be limited to those with considerable Magic Power values.

  Rather than such difficult and inefficient self-powered flight, it is much more rational to borrow the power of someone who can fly from the start, like Alice's pet bird Aln. It's a dreamless story, but that is the reality.

  When I searched for flying magic in this world, it wasn't listed in any literature. But it is hard to think that no one thought of the wonderful and simple idea of flying in the sky with wind. It is probably judged as simply unusable or impossible.

  Still. Even if I can't fly for long.

  Being able to use Flight Magic was quite meaningful to me. The time when the danger level is highest when moving worlds is immediately after arrival, when I have no knowledge about that world and cannot borrow anyone's power. At that time, I think just being able to fly in the sky dramatically increases the survival rate. For example, whether searching for a place where people live or searching for food, just being able to view from the sky would change the scenery considerably.

  I practiced flying for a while, but the moment I tried to move sideways while floating, wind control became difficult immediately. The wind for moving vertically and the wind for moving horizontally interfere with each other, and it doesn't go well at all. To fly freely, magical technological innovation is also necessary.

  Phew. Shall I stop soon? It should still be okay, but if I run out of Magic Power, I won't be able to try the next magic.

  Magic activates by using Magic Element stored in the body, but it seems it takes about a day of cooldown for a body that has emptied its Magic Element once to accept it again. Therefore, if you use too much magic, you fall into a state commonly called Magic Exhaustion. I have to be careful. I stopped floating and landed on the ground.

  Now, let's go to the next one.

  What I have in mind is the physical enhancement by Qi (Life Force) that I acquired through training with Inea-sensei. The difference in movement level between having that and not having it is like heaven and earth. In fact, when I ran through that Lasil Great Plains, where I once wandered on the verge of death, even though it took two whole days and I was exhausted, I was surprised myself.

  Inea-sensei said it is difficult to do something equivalent to Qi enhancement with magic. But I can't help but wonder if I can somehow do it even in my current female state. That's how much I realized its power.

  Well, I could just transform into a man only when I want to use Qi... But it's different. I can't transform in front of people, so I can't do it whenever I like. It goes without saying that having a way to improve movement while remaining a woman for emergencies is better.

  Yeah. So what do I do?

  Unfortunately, this body has absolutely no Qi, so I can't imitate what I do as a man. So I thought. Wind Magic should be useful here too.

  The principle is simple. Just boost with wind according to movement. If I can do it well, even if the body itself is not strengthened, the movement should become reasonably fast. Nothing ventured, nothing gained. Let's try it right away.

  Just as I kicked the ground and jumped up, I sent wind backwards and pushed my body forward.

  About this much? Then, my body moved forward a little fluffily, but there wasn't much momentum. Was it a bit weak? Let's make the wind force stronger.

  Then, this time it was too strong. Misjudging the control, the force of the wind worked as a rotational action instead of advancing. My body rotated half a turn forward, and I hit my forehead hard against the ground.

  Thud!

  "Ouch ouch ouch..."

  Failure, failure. I'm glad it was soft soil ground. But, my hair that I took care of got dirty... I didn't really understand why my heart sank so much. Did I ever care about dirty hair when I was a man? Well, I can wash it later.

  Pull myself together and try again.

  This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

  After that, practicing without being discouraged by repeated failures, I gradually got the hang of it. Shall I make the power stronger and increase the speed soon? Thinking so, I increased the wind power and accelerated forward sharply.

  It was at that moment. Suddenly, a person appeared in front of me!

  It looked like a male student with burning red hair. Bad. At this rate, I'll crash! Anyway, I have to dodge! But having just accelerated, my body won't stop. I tried to blow wind sideways to change direction, but I panicked and it didn't go well.

  My body spun around, and my orientation just changed from vertical to the ground to horizontal. The situation worsened. There's no time or way left. No good! I'm gonna crash!

  "Waaah!"

  I closed my eyes involuntarily. Just as I thought I was about to crash, there was a sensation of being caught firmly by strong arms.

  "Whoops, are you okay?"

  Opening my eyes fearfully, his face was reflected right nearby.

  He had well-defined features, probably falling into the category of handsome (Ikemen). Brown eyes were looking into mine worriedly.

  "I'm sorry."

  "It's fine. You flew in suddenly, so I was surprised though."

  "Haha..."

  Thank goodness. It didn't turn into a disaster.

  "What were you doing in my place?"

  "Your place?"

  "Yeah. The surroundings are noisy, so this is a place I found."

  Oh. Is that so.

  "Ah. I'm sort of the same."

  "Heh. You too..."

  With that, we ran out of things to talk about, and we remained silent for a while looking at each other's faces.

  During that time, although he pretended to be cool, his face seemed a little red. And I feel like he's strangely restless. Why? As I was thinking that, he said looking a bit awkward.

  "So, how long do you intend to cling to me?"

  "Heh?"

  Only after being told did I become clearly conscious. I was being held firmly in his arms! (Princess Carry style!)

  I see. That's right. If he's holding a member of the opposite sex, he wouldn't be calm. I was defenseless. In such a spoiled pose, to this person, I—

  Once conscious of it, my heart suddenly started pounding too. Embarrassment wells up at once. I can't look at his face properly.

  "P-please put me down quickly!"

  "O-ou."

  He put me down gently like a gentleman. I distanced myself from him as if fleeing in a panic. I can't face him. My heartbeat won't settle down at all. It's strange. True, it's embarrassing, but it shouldn't be something to get this flustered about. Why am I so conscious of it? I don't know, but anyway calm down. Deep breath and calm down.

  "Sorry if I made you uncomfortable."

  Seeing me breathing in and out deeply with my chest rising and falling, he perhaps thought he did something wrong and apologized. No, you're not wrong. I'm just confused.

  Phew. Taking a breather, I calmed down a little. Finally raising my face, I faced him.

  "No, I'm sorry for getting flustered."

  "I see... Then that's fine. Right. I haven't heard your name yet. You're a student of this school, right?"

  "Yes. I'm a first-year, Yu Hoshimi."

  "Yu—Ah. I thought I heard it somewhere. Are you perhaps that Explosion Girl?"

  Hearing the dishonorable nickname rumored everywhere, I became a little grumpy.

  "That's right... And you are?"

  "What. You don't know me?"

  When I nodded, he made a face as if it was unexpected.

  "I'm Argus Ozbein."

  Argus Ozbein. The genius since the founding of the Magic Academy, and the eldest son of the prestigious Ozbein family. I've only heard the name, but so this is him.

  "Then, you are that..."

  "You know the reputation. I'm telling you, I am me. Everyone is so noisy about genius this and that, it's annoying."

  He struck a pose of "good grief" with both hands, but he didn't seem entirely displeased.

  "I see."

  "By the way, that thing where you flew in. You were practicing some magic, right?"

  "Yes. That's right."

  "Can you tell me what you were doing?"

  "That was accelerating with Wind Magic."

  Those words seemed to touch a chord in him.

  "Acceleration, huh. You think of quite interesting things. Tell me the detailed method."

  When I explained the magic method, it seemed to ignite a fire in his heart. With an enthusiastic tone unlike his cool appearance, he presented improvement plans bluntly. I was just overwhelmed by his figure.

  Then, pushed by his enthusiasm, we decided to improve the acceleration magic immediately. While arguing this and that, sometimes mixing in practice, the acceleration magic took shape brilliantly.

  Named 《Falspeed》.

  The prefix "Fal" used when expressing Wind Magic in this world, and the English word "Speed." A naming with no twist, just combining these. When I named this magic, I was asked the meaning of Speed. I couldn't say it's English, so I said it's a random coined word, and he grinned awfully and adopted it immediately. Did he think I have Chuunibyou...?

  Anyway, Argus and I, who hit it off completely through this joint work, continued talking enthusiastically, forgetting the passage of time. Eventually, the conversation extended to flight magic.

  "Flying in the sky, huh. To think there was someone who seriously thought of such a childish idea..."

  "You think so too?"

  "Well yeah. If you really want to fly, you can use various things. Are you actually an idiot?"

  What do you mean idiot. Idiot.

  "Because, if you could fly by yourself, it would feel good, wouldn't it!"

  Setting aside the desperate reason that it might be useful in a different world, I stated my honest true feelings, but Argus looked slightly exasperated.

  "Is that so. So, how far did you actually get? Could you fly?"

  "About that. I'm trying to fly using wind, but I'm barely managing to float by blowing wind against the ground. To move sideways, I have to emit wind horizontally too, but when I emit wind from two places simultaneously, they interfere with each other and it doesn't go well."

  "I see. Well, the idea itself isn't bad. Hmm~, maybe it's interesting to go along with an idiot once in a while."

  Crossing his arms, he nodded as if convinced by himself.

  "Since long ago, my family has managed a certain system of Lost Magic for generations. A type of Space-Time Magic, Gravity Magic."

  He pointed his index finger up triumphantly. Gravity Magic. A magic that sounds amazing came out.

  "The others in the family are incompetent and can't handle it, but only I can master it. What is your Magic Power value roughly?"

  "Ten thousand."

  Hearing that, he grinned.

  "Excellent. Then you can do it. It's a family secret so I can't teach you everything, but I'll teach you a simple Anti-Gravity Magic just enough to float yourself."

  "Really!?"

  I'm super excited. To be taught special magic by a genius, I'm super happy.

  "Yeah. If you combine that and the Wind Magic you were doing, you can probably fly. You know how to do it without me saying, right?"

  "Ah...! Indeed, that would work! Thank you!"

  Adjust the vertical direction with Anti-Gravity Magic and move horizontally with Wind Magic. With this, the interference problem disappears, and it's much easier than using only wind. Completion of perfect Flight Magic!

  Seeing me unintentionally relaxing my cheeks in happiness, Argus scratched the back of his head shyly.

  "It's fine. In exchange, there are about two conditions."

  "Conditions?"

  What is it?

  "First. Won't you accompany me in my magic training sometimes?"

  That's an unexpected proposal. No, maybe not.

  "I've been bored lately. You seem to have interesting ideas, and your Magic Power value is closer to mine than other guys. It seems fun to do it together."

  "Then with pleasure."

  I understood well after developing the acceleration magic together today. If I train with this person, what I gain will be enormous. I think I can reach a level I could never reach alone. It was something I could only wish for.

  "Okay. Then, second. You know about the Stardust Festival, right?"

  "Yes. What about it?"

  The Stardust Festival is a festival held by all of Sacris every year in the Star Month (around November on Earth). I heard from Alice that there is such a festival.

  "It's an annual event. A Magic Combat Tournament by students here will be held. You, enter the individual tournament there."

  "Heh?"

  This time I was dumbfounded by the unexpected proposal. Magic Combat (Magibattle). As the name suggests, it's a competition where you fight with magic. Although attacks contrary to humanity are prohibited, basically anything goes in the rules. If you make the opponent unable to stand, faint, or surrender, you win. Killing is a foul loss.

  Still, it is a moderately dangerous competition where deaths occur rarely. Originally, it's not something students should do, but the school culture of Sacris Magic Academy was to raise professional mages who can fight properly, not just be book-smart. Therefore, it is a competition that is rather encouraged than prohibited.

  But why me?

  "Why?"

  "Nothing. Not a big reason. It's just to kill time. I'm famous so I have to participate, but it's boring if the opponent isn't challenging."

  "But, can someone like me be a worthy opponent?"

  "It'll be fine. You're probably still weak now, but I saw that you'll become quite a handful if trained properly."

  "Haa."

  If Mr. Great Genius says so, maybe it's true. I'm not very confident though.

  "Until a month before the tournament, I'll train you directly during practice. For the remaining one month, we prepare without showing our hands to each other. Try your best to entertain me."

  With the table set that much, I couldn't refuse. Besides, if I accept this, he'll teach me Anti-Gravity Magic. I nodded immediately.

  "Understood. I'll accept those conditions."

  Before I knew it, the surroundings were dyed in sunset. Unlike Earth, the sunset in this world shines like gold. It's because there is Magic Element in this world.

  "Is it this time already? We talked quite a lot."

  "That's true."

  "Well, I'm going soon."

  "It was fun today. Goodbye."

  He, who was about to leave, stopped and turned around.

  "Ah, actually three conditions. Stop that tone."

  "Eh?"

  "That 'you (polite)' or 'desu/masu'. We became friends, so isn't it stiff?"

  "That's true, but you're a senior (Senpai) technically."

  "Don't worry about that. You can call me Argus or 'you (casual)' too."

  Heh. So he says. I was happy because it felt like the distance became closer. Well, I like talking casually more than polite language too, so let's obey honestly here.

  "Understood. Let's do that then. Argus."

  "Woah, quick switch. Were you wearing a cat (acting)?"

  "Who knows."

  I replied lightly. Having said it himself, he looked a little confused.

  "Hey... Well, fine. See ya. Let's meet here again."

  Thus, Argus and I became buddies who sometimes share magic training in this place.

  We enjoyed bringing magic we thought of together and trained each other. His advice was always precise, and I was often surprised by his unique ideas. I think real geniuses exist. I was allowed to absorb truly many things from him.

  Honestly, I don't know if I could give him anything. But he always looked like he was having fun, so maybe it was okay.

  I'm pretty sure it was from then. That I started to be called the genius girl second to him. In short, it seems I was pulled up by him.