Silvana School of Magic. The only school in the kingdom that trains spirit mages.

　I was about to undergo a ceremony that would determine my future destiny at the age of fifteen in my seventh year at the school.

''Glass Weed. We will now conduct your 'Rite of Election'.

　I came to the academy's ritual room and was told so by the head teacher, Mr. Hendrick.

　Students who have turned fifteen years old are to undergo the 'Election Ceremony' on the day of their birthday.

　Spirit mages use magic with the help of spirits. The ceremony of selection is to make a contract with the genie, but the student does not know which genie will be chosen until the contract is made.

　The spirits of the four elements, earth, water, fire and wind, are of the highest rank, and those who are able to make a contract with them are considered to be superior.

　However, there are also spirits that reside in matter and other living things, and they are considered to be subordinate and are called "outliers", so to speak.

　A lot of the time, it's a good idea to be able to have a good idea of what you're looking for.

　--I'd like to draw a 'hit' too, if I could.

　If you do that, your dream of becoming a court mage will surely come true. It's not just a matter of time before you'll be selected for the position.

　Just like her sister-in-law who became the head of the academy at a young age, she wanted to become a court mage and not be ashamed of being a member of her family.

''Then, I will make a final confirmation of the 'Spiritual Guide Seal'. Glass-kun, have the two of you go over it.
Yes, sir.

　I take off the shirt I was wearing. In advance, a "Spiritual Guide Mark" is written all over your body before attending the ceremony - this is a mark for the spirit to dwell in a mage's body, and it will fade and become invisible once the contract is completed.

　Hendrick-sensei has the two female students he brought in as assistants to check the markings on my body. Even though it is necessary, there is something embarrassing about being seen - because one of them is my friend, Leslie.

　He's three years younger than me, but Leslie has always been comfortable with me. But now, he seems a little nervous - the assistant in the Election Ceremony is by request, so Leslie volunteered to come, but I wasn't informed, and I can't think of any reason why Leslie would want to come and observe There was none.

I'm just trying to keep an eye on my brother Glass as he pulls the plug.

　Leslie whispers in a very quiet voice as she approaches to check the marks on her back. She doesn't say things very straightforwardly, but that's always been the case, so I'm not particularly angry with her either.

　After the confirmation, I'm the only one left in the magic circle to perform the contract. Leslie, with her shiny black hair and eyes of the same color, is deeply hooded like the other student, her expression obscured.

''Mr. Glass, which spirit you sign up with will be determined by your natural bloodline, the nature of your magic power that has been brewed over the past fifteen years, and your personality. The academy will not be responsible for what kind of spirit you end up contracting with. If that's okay with you, I'd like you to put your blood seal on this contract.
I understand.

　I replied briefly and put the dagger blade shallowly against my thumb and stamped my thumbprint on the contract with the streaked blood. I applied a powdered herb for stopping the bleeding, which was stretched out with oil, and the bleeding stopped immediately. This is a very effective family remedy that has been handed down in my mother's family for generations.

　Finally, the ritual begins - I close my eyes, take a deep breath and try to calm myself down, believing it will be a good result.

'O ruler of all things, or the great one in all things! This one, Glass Weed, calls for a bond with his blood. Follow his guidance and come to him from beyond ......!
Huh. ......!!!



　--I saw a strange landscape that I had never seen before, but which I felt very nostalgic about.

　It was a deep forest. In the midst of flowers and grasses I've never seen before, bathed in sunlight, there is someone waiting for me.

　I felt that this someone was waiting for me.

　A girl in white clothes that shine back the light, so beautiful it's hard to believe it's out of this world.

　Beautiful - so beautiful - that I'm cursed to have only such mundane impressions of myself.