Ascension Of The Failed Mage

[Story so far]

A rumor is flying around the Institute about Ciara being a Tier 3 Mage and her being the sole person who defeated Mia.

While this is true, it is in Ciara's best interest that the secret remains hidden.

At the same time the rumors begin to fly, Mia resumes classes. Suspicion falls on Mia, who seems to have turned over a new leaf, though Ciara doesn't buy the new change.

Ciara is challenged by seniors, and she emerges victorious. In the process she begins to realize that her power seems to be intoxicating her, making her seem more like Mia, whom she despises.

She spares the seniors, who flee in fear, causing her to leave the devastated scene to rest in her room.

The thought haunts Ciara in her mind...

... What changes are beginning to occur within her, and the growing fear of becoming the bully she resents.

**************

Ciara woke up with a heavy headache. She felt miserable for no reason. It took a while before her memories of the previous night returned.

"O-ohh..." She murmured, suddenly losing more motivation than before.

What a crappy way to start a morning.

She shook off the gloomy feeling that hung around her. She wasn't Mia... She wasn't to blame. They attacked her first. She was only defending herself.

"I should get ready for class," She sighed, rising from her bed.

She was the Class Representative so she had to set a good example for her fellow classmates.

She felt like taking a day off. With the spread of the rumors about her, Mia's sudden return, and then last night's incident, simply didn't feel like school—and for good reason.

"Come on, Ciara. Shake it off"

She hurriedly went to the bathroom and freshened up. She looked at herself in the mirror after a thorough preparation for her lecture at the Institute.

"Not bad," She said to herself, smiling brightly.

Ciara ran to her lecture hall as fast as she could. That way she was able to avoid any clash with fellow students or even hear what they said about her.

Before she knew it she arrived in class, much earlier than she planned.

"Oh well, it can't hurt to be the first to get to class every now and then," She mutterrd, maintaining her radiant smile as she entered the hall.

The radiance of her smile and even the smile altogether faded as she saw the last person she wanted to see—Mia—in the hall.

It turned out she wasn't the first to get to class, after all.

Mia, who was reading a book looked up and saw Ciara.

Their eyes met for a moment until they both looked away immediately. The moment of awkwardness seemed to last forever and the silence was unbearable.

'Oh, why? It's like my day is just fated to be terrible.' Ciara wailed internally.

She had tried her best to be cheerful yet she ended up being alone with Mia, of all people, in the class.

She decided to shake it off. She moved forward and passed by Mia, who buried her face in her book.

'Let's do this.' Ciara placed her materials on her usual seat and opened a book to read as well.

After a few minutes passed, she realized she couldn't concentrate.

The tension was just too much. She checked the time and found out it would take about 30 more minutes before any early comer would even arrive.

'Why is she even here early?' Ciara asked herself.

She decided to take a little peek and see what Mia was up to.

She slowly and subtly looked toward Mia's direction, only for their eyes to meet again. Immediately Ciara took her face away.

'W-was she staring at me?' Ciara questioned.

Mia's behavior was weird ever since she returned. She was quiet, reserved and now she's an early comer?

'Is that really Mia?'

The tortuous moment seemed to last forever until finally, students began to trickle in. After some time, the hall was nearly occupied entirely.

Ciara went ahead to converse with her fellow Magic students and ended up brushing away some of the unease she was feeling.

She only hoped the seniors she had taken care of the other night kept their mouths shut. Ciara took things a little too far, she was very much aware of that.

'And I even avoided using Tier 3 Magic too' She sighed to herself.

Thankfully she had not been discovered as a Tier 3 Mage, and she hoped things stayed that way.

"It's time for Homeroom!" Ciara announced to the class when she saw their lecturer—Mr. Lawcroft—enter the Lecture Hall.

The students all took to their seats and readied themselves for class.

*

*

*

[BREAK TIME]

After class, Ciara hung out with Serah and Sam as usual, and also with her other friends. The unease she had tried her hardest to forget slowly crept back in, causing her not to enjoy their discourse as she normally would.

Also, for some reason, she kept glancing at Mia, who was alone throughout. She kind of felt bad for her.

'What's wrong with you, Ciara? Mia doesn't deserve any sympathy!' She scolded herself.

***************

Before she knew it, break time was over, and then the lectures ended without a hitch.

Contrary to her bad feelings, not counting her awkward encounter with Mia, the day was actually uneventful.

"Looks like I was worried for nothing" Ciara sighed to herself.

She decided to go with Serah and Sam to her residence. Totally normal and uneventful... as she had imagined.

Unfortunately, things ended up switching for the worse just as she thought the day was almost done with.

On their way home, the three were suddenly surrounded by strange students. Before Ciara could fully understand and comprehend the situation the students had gathered around them.

"What the—?!" Ciara's voice whispered in downright surprise.

"What's happening? What's the meaning of this? " Samuel asked in a panic.

The students smirked, they were well over thirty in number.

Ciara began to panic and her heart began to beat fast. So this was the reason she felt so uneasy all day.

"Hey retards!" A tall and muscular-looking guy stepped out of the crowd.

Sweat formed on the face of the trio.

"Which one of you is Ciara?" He asked with a dangerous smirk.

Ciara gulped instantly.

'This is bad...'