Annie's Otherworldly Adventure

14 The Great Magician Garget

Anne was quite surprised when the students of the academy conveyed the invitation from the Minister of Magic.

Among the students who came was someone who had participated in the joint protest. That person looked at Annie with a strange, mocking smile on his lips and his head held high.

Anne followed the student who was leading the way to the principal's office, looking puzzled.

His short, curly beard lay loosely on his face, and he had a round nose and smiling eyes. He wore a wizard's robe and was kind and approachable. His not-so-tall stature only added to his friendly demeanor. A kind little old man—that was Garrett's first impression of Anne.

"Child, you are Annie Aishi?" Garget smiled, his arms crossed, his hands hidden by his large magic robe.

"Greetings, Your Excellency!" Anne gave a noble greeting.

"Child, do you know why I called you here?"

"Your Excellency, I do not know."

Garrett smiled mysteriously, reached out from his robe, and handed the joint letter to Anne.

Anne took the letter and opened it with a puzzled look.

This is actually a letter demanding that she be expelled?

Anne read the contents and saw Lily's name listed. She immediately realized it must have been the work of those aristocratic students. However, she wasn't concerned with the attitudes of those kids; she was more interested in Galerte's stance, because as the school's leader, Galerte had the right to expel her.

After reading the letter, Anne returned it to Galerte and bowed to him again.

"Your Excellency, may I have a chance to argue my point?"

Gareth nodded with a smile.

Annie's poised and unhurried demeanor left a good impression on him, and he was really looking forward to what the little one would say.

“Your Excellency, I admit that setting up my little stall at the entrance will have a negative impact, but it’s the only option for a determined student who really wants to study at the Royal Academy of Magic, Kane.” Anne paused, then adopted a sorrowful tone.

“I came from the distant city of Prisat, but I was attacked on the way. My loyal guards died protecting me. In order to study at the magic school, I came to the capital alone, spending all the gold coins I had. I finally managed to take the exam, only to learn that I could not enroll because of my nationality. I was extremely saddened.”

Anne lowered her head and continued plaintively.

“My country and my family have suffered a great disaster, but I cannot go back because I came here with the mission of my family. My guards even lost their lives for me. I know I cannot go back. I must wait for next year's entrance exam. I want to retake the exam and enter the Royal Magic Academy of Kane!”

Anne raised her head, her eyes shining with determination.

"But I... but I have no money left. I can work, I don't care about being a servant, as long as I can support myself with my own hands... I got a short-term job at Uncle John's canteen, but soon his buddy Jack came back, and I lost my job and had no source of income. So, that's why I set up a stall at the school gate. I hope that I can support myself in the capital city until next year's entrance exam with my own hands!"

Anne's words deeply moved Galert. She was just a 12-year-old girl, yet she possessed such resilience, such perseverance, and such effort.

Garget felt as if he were seeing himself many years ago, when he first ventured out of his home.

"Poor child!" Garget exclaimed.

"Your Excellency Garget, who is upright, kind and great, I beg your permission to rent a small shop in the school cafeteria. I am not yet sixteen years old, and without your permission, I cannot rent a shop in the cafeteria. In that case, I will have to continue this pitiful livelihood in the heavy snow and cold wind."

Anne put on a pitiful expression.

Garrett's lips twitched. If he didn't agree to Anne's request, it would be as if he had become a great villain.

“Poor child, I will consider your suggestion, but I’d like to know more about your opinion on telling everyone that you’ve blasphemed magic?”

This is the crux of the matter; Anne's evasiveness did not make Galerett forget this key point emphasized in the joint letter.

“Your Excellency, I know my magical talent isn’t great, but even a slow bird can fly first, so I’ve always been diligently practicing magic. I try to use every spare moment to practice magic, whether I’m walking, eating, or working,” Anne continued.

"In my view, magic is the most intimate existence. Magical elements are scattered all around us, so kind and approachable. Magic is not a weapon born for battle; magic is a medium through which we communicate with nature. Although my magical talent is not high, I love magic, and I always remember to be close to it. Your Excellency Garget, may I ask, have I done something wrong? Your Excellency, is the nobility of magic manifested by using it in battle and causing bloodshed?"

Anne's words silenced Garrett.

Yes, magic is not a weapon for fighting. God endowed mankind with magic not for them to use in battle. Magic is the mystery of nature, and magical elements are the most intimate existence.

On the continent of Gerson, where strength is revered, the nobility of magic, to put it bluntly, stems from its immense destructive power. To put it even more bluntly, the nobility of a mage is simply because he is a powerful killing weapon.

Garrett never expected that Annie, at such a young age, could grasp such a principle. He, Garrett, the highly respected Saint Magister of Kane, had only become indifferent to fame and fortune in his middle age and learned to enjoy magic, which is why he chose to come to Kane Royal Magic Academy.

Anne's idea was simple: to use everything she had learned, just like Chinese martial arts, which, although it could be used in combat, had a greater purpose in strengthening muscles and bones and building a strong physique.

Magic, such a wondrous power, can make life more convenient, so why not use it? In her view, using magic only for combat is a desecration of magic.

However, since they were not from the same time and space, Anne could not make others understand her thoughts.

Garrett was certain he liked the child, not because nothing was wrong, but because of who she was. He agreed to let her open a shop in the cafeteria, and as for the blasphemous magic, Annie reluctantly promised him that she would try to stay in the kitchen and perform her magic discreetly so no one would find out.

In just a few minutes, Garrett and Anne became close friends despite their age difference. Garrett asked Anne to cook special meals for him often and to save him a portion of any new dishes she invented.

Anne was particularly surprised to discover that Garrett was a glutton. Associating with Garrett would be of great benefit to her, after all, having a principal friend as a backer would make her future life at school smoother.

However, the Royal Academy of Magic, Kane, is a state-owned school, and many of its rules and regulations cannot be changed by one person. Considering the gradual nature of magic learning, the academy does not allow students to transfer into classes. Therefore, Annie will have to wait until next autumn to retake the entrance exam.

Annie's konjac snack shop began operating in the cafeteria.

The dining hall at the Royal Magic Academy of Kane has a second floor where rent is charged based on the size of the space, and the space can be freely decorated in any style desired.

The cafeteria on the first floor has a fixed size, with a counter in the front and a kitchen in the back. Behind the kitchen is a small storage room for storing ingredients. If there are not many ingredients, they can be piled up directly in the kitchen, leaving the storage room as a rest area.

The shop that Garrett arranged for Anne used to be a store that sold all kinds of drinks from the continent, and the storeroom at the back of the store was converted into a lounge.

The converted lounge is only suitable for adults to rest occasionally. It contains a simple bed and is quite small, with only enough space to turn around besides the bed.

Anne is only 12 years old and quite small. This small lounge is enough for her to move around in for the time being, so Anne decided to cancel her stay at Aunt Mary's hotel and move into the dining hall.

With the rent saved, Annie bought clothes and bedding, and finally felt truly warm.

The snack shop still only sells one hundred servings a day. In the afternoon, after closing time, Annie can retreat to the lounge and begin her meditation and magic practice.

In the vast Royal Academy of Magic, in her tiny corner, even the slightest magical fluctuation wouldn't attract anyone's attention. Once the door was closed, she could practice magic with complete peace of mind.

As time went on, Annie absorbed magical elements faster and faster, especially spatial magic. Her basic magic became more and more proficient, but her spatial domain showed no signs of forming. However, Annie wasn't in a hurry. At 12 years old, she had no one to whine to, no one to throw tantrums at, and no one who would feel sorry for her yet helplessly disappointed in her.

Anne Ash, from Gerson, is working hard in this world, carrying the prayers and blessings of her loved ones on Earth.

On the continent of Gerson, Annie no longer needs to be forced to study. Without being forced, she will study diligently and earnestly, just as her loved ones once expected. On this planet, she will live up to the expectations of her dear family.

Infected by its master's positive attitude, Abag also diligently comprehended the various abilities within its bloodline. The two, one human and one dragon, were single-minded and focused, growing rapidly during this winter.

As winter drew to a close amidst the monotonous and repetitive days, the Royal Magic Academy of Kane celebrated a two-week festival.

Students from the Royal Academy of Magic, Kane, who are away on trials, must return to the school before the festival to report their progress to their instructors. This means that Kerry and Mark, who are away on trials, will also be returning.