"You're so fresh and new. Like a young fawn just learning to walk," said my colleague, Flare Paralem, as she squinted while watching many light cavalry cavalry units displayed on the large screen in the control room.
Her tail, being of the dragonkin race, slapped the floor rhythmically. It’s a habit of hers when she’s in a good mood.
"Don't you think so, Sofi-sensei?"
"Well, yes. We were the same back then," Sofi-sensei replied.
As she said that, I recalled the time when I first entered this academy. Has it been over ten years already?
Just like them now, I was excited to ride a frame gear for the first time, even though it was in a virtual space. It feels like a distant memory... No, no, I’m still young. I’m still young! It’s too soon to feel old.
"Oh, someone fell. …Looks like they’re okay."
"Shouldn’t we have lowered the shock replication rate?"
"Well, if they don’t get hurt a little when they fall, they won’t learn the danger. We’ve taken proper safety measures, and there’s no need to replicate the real machines’ differences."
The frame units faithfully replicate the cockpit movements of the frame gears.
That includes replicating the shocks from taking damage. If the shock is too strong, like hitting the head, it could cause the operator to lose consciousness.
There are very few fatalities from frame units, but I’ve heard of several cases where operators suffered serious injuries after being hit hard on the head or body.
In fact, even when I was a student, similar accidents happened. Most of them were due to mistakes made by the operators.
Forgetting to fasten the seatbelt, reckless behavior because of overconfidence—these are things that lead to accidents.
Even if they get hurt, they can be healed with recovery magic. But the fear they experience at that moment sticks with them in their hearts. That fear dulls their judgment in the crucial moments and causes them to lose duels they could have won.
Well, if you’re going to be a "Mecha Trooper," you need to be mentally strong, too.
"Oh, someone’s already reached the final task. Hahaha! They’re dancing, they’re dancing!"
Flare-sensei pointed to a screen where a light cavalry cavalry unit was performing a rather awkward dance.
On another screen, a light cavalry cavalry unit was dancing a graceful waltz. You can really see the difference in upbringing.
This dancing task is not automatically judged. It’s judged by us, the instructors. There is a set criterion to see if they are dancing while utilizing the machine’s movements, but honestly, it often just comes down to whether it’s entertaining or not. It’s a small joy for us instructors.
"Dances really differ depending on the country of origin. It seems like dances from hotter countries are more energetic."
On the screen Flare-sensei was watching, a light cavalry cavalry unit was performing an energetic dance. It looked like they were controlling the machine recklessly, but the rhythm was still there.
That operator must be from... the southern island nation of Iglett Kingdom. It’s a country famous for resorts, so it seems like a lot of cheerful people come from there.
As I observed the light cavalry cavalry units starting to dance one by one, I began authorizing them to switch to their machines.
Every year, a few students get too excited and perform reckless maneuvers, eventually depleting their magical power.
We have to keep a close watch to ensure that doesn’t happen.
While I was doing that, one of the light cavalry cavalry units on the screen suddenly stopped moving. Here we go again.
"Number 71, can you respond?"
I called out, but there was no answer. The vital signs coming from the frame unit were dropping. It’s a typical case of magical power depletion.
"Please send student number 71 to the infirmary."
"Yes," replied the assistant who was on standby, quickly running to the training room. They should wake up soon if they rest, it’s nothing too serious.
It’s always easy to get carried away during your first time controlling a machine, and before you know it, you’ve used up all your magical power.
Those who have low magical power detection are especially prone to this because they can’t even sense when their own magic is running low.
Of course, even those with a good sense of magical power can end up the same way if their concentration is lacking.
Then, two more students collapsed due to magical power depletion and were taken to the infirmary. I heard that last year, ten students were sent, but... I’ll make sure that number doesn’t increase under my watch.
I sighed softly, looking up at the screen in front of me, when an unbelievable sight popped up.
A lightning frame frame gear was moving through the air.
Well, a light frame with acceleration abilities, like the lightning frame, could do that, but "continuously" is a different story.
Moving through the air using thrusters consumes an enormous amount of magical power. If it had magical amplifiers or booster accessories, that would be understandable.
But that machine is just a plain "normal" unit. Doing such reckless acceleration maneuvers could be life-threatening!
"My god, that’s an incredible amount of magical power. Is that even close to the [Witch of the Blue Storm]?"
Flare-sensei, while watching the screen I was focused on, spoke with a hint of exasperation.
"Indeed, if it’s just the magical power, it might be close to the third-ranked [Witch of the Blue Storm]. But her control over that power looks like nothing more than a beginner’s level."
The problem lies in her power control. Too much waste. It's like using a dragon's breath just to start a fire in a stove. What a waste.
At this rate, she’ll...
"Ah, I knew it."
Flare-sensei must have been thinking the same thing as me. The frame of number 144 issued an alert and entered emergency stop mode.
The machine couldn’t withstand the massive amount of magical power running through it. It was overburdened.
"Of course, if you push a normal machine like that, this is what happens."
In this practical exam, all the parameters were set to match those of an actual frame gear. In other words, if she had been riding a real normal frame gear, the result would have been the same—emergency stop.
Well, there’s no need to worry about mechanical failures in the virtual space, but it’s useful to remember these kinds of issues.
I heard that when the first Grand Duke rode a frame gear, the machine couldn’t handle the massive amount of magical power, either.
...But I’ve never heard of a new student overloading a machine and causing it to enter emergency stop mode. Although, I heard that Zelda, currently ranked first, caused a similar overload, but that was during her second year.
Zelda’s magical power isn’t that high. It’s her swordsmanship, physical abilities, reaction speed, and insight that are off the charts. In her case, the machine couldn’t handle her movements.
It’s her natural talent combined with her unrelenting effort that made her the top-ranked [Sword Empress].
Could it be that this Nero Silhueska will also rise to the same height someday?
"Hehe..."
A month later, I found myself looking forward, just a little, to the [Star Duel] opening.
◇ ◇ ◇
"Overload caused the machine to enter emergency stop... Hehe, I knew it would happen."
Principal Quun, while reviewing the incoming freshman reports, let out a meaningful chuckle.
As expected, that girl is interesting. Quun had been intrigued by Nero, who handled her custom-made armed gear, Achilles, like a part of her own body.
It was a complete mistake to put her on a machine without a magical power control device, but unexpectedly, we were able to bring out her latent potential.
"She’s definitely a 'Descendant of the Lineage.' The second one after Zelda. I’m sure her mother will find it quite amusing."
"Well, that’s for sure. And it's 'double,' you know. She’s the descendant of both Lady Elze and Lady Linze."
"Descendants of the Lineage," as the name suggests, are those who carry the bloodline of the first Grand Duke. They’re not just descendants, but individuals who have awakened to the power.
In the 300 years since then, awakenings are rare. Moreover, it’s extremely rare for both bloodlines to have awakened. For Quun, the daughter of the first Grand Duke, this is a source of joy.
"But, this girl... She’s probably had her abilities sealed."
"Huh?"
Quun looked at Flora, the nurse instructor, in surprise.
"When she was brought into the infirmary, I checked her, and the magical remnants outside of her own power were tangled like chains. Ah, don’t worry. It’s not something bad. It’s a seal meant to protect her... something like that."
"...It’s not impossible, I suppose. Excessive magical power could be toxic to a young body. It’s probably a seal to prevent sudden outbursts. But... who would do such a thing?"
According to Flora, the seal is quite complex. A mere average mage wouldn’t be able to create such a seal. There are a few individuals who come to mind, but most of them are missing, so it’s impossible to pinpoint who it could be.
"She’s from Elfrau, right? Could it be Her Majesty the Queen?"
The Elf Queen, who had ruled the country for over 1500 years, is certainly capable of such feats, Kuhn mused.
"Who knows... Could Her Majesty, who’s not of noble descent, really do something like that? Seems a bit far-fetched."
"Then, it seems like we’re going to have another complicated situation... Well, it’s not harmful, so we can leave it be for now."
Seals like that are designed to be undone when the time is right. When she can control her power, the seal will likely lift on its own. Probably.
"If she shows any signs of physical distress, please have it handled at 'Babylon.' I’ll inform the higher-ups."
"Understood."
Quun’s eyes once again fell to Nero’s file, and a small smile crept onto his face.
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