Reincarnation Of A Swordsman: The Omni Mage

"I see you're all in high spirits, and I don't blame you. After all, you've all worked hard, and now it's time to head home for a well-deserved break." Dan said with a warm smile.

The students exchanged excited grins and nodded before Dan gestured for everyone to stand.

"Gather your belongings and follow me. We'll be heading to the portal room to get you on your way."

Dan led the group out of the homeroom and through the academy's streets. The excitement among the students was contagious, and even Kyle felt himself growing more energized. Soon, they arrived at a grand hall that was filled with towering portals, each one shimmering faintly with mana.

"This is the academy's portal room," Dan explained, stopping in front of one of the larger portals. "These portals are connected to key locations, including where we'll be going"

The students murmured in agreement, their gazes fixed on the swirling energy within the portals.

With that, Dan gestured toward the nearest portal. "Form groups and step through when you're ready. Don't push; there's plenty of time for everyone."

***

The sudden shift was disorienting. A cool breeze replaced the still air of the academy, and the scent of earth and grass filled Kyle's nostrils. He stumbled slightly as the light faded, finding himself standing in a wide-open field.

The familiar sight hit him immediately. The enclosed field, the dirt ground, the high stone walls surrounding it—it was the very place where their journey at the academy had begun. Memories of their arrival, the Dean's grueling test, and the anxious waiting rushed back to Kyle.

Riya let out a low whistle. "I never thought I'd see this place again."

"Feels like ages ago," Zack added, his usual jovial tone softened by nostalgia.

One by one, more students appeared in flashes of light, forming groups on the field. Moments later, Dan arrived too, his usual stoic expression in place as he assessed the gathered crowd.

"Quiet down!" he called, his voice carrying over the field and immediately, the murmurs ceased.

Dan raised his hand, and with a snap of his fingers, several massive hawks descended from above, their wings casting large shadows over the ground.

The birds were magnificent and their feathers gleamed in the sunlight. Their sheer size dwarfed the students, and their sharp eyes scanned the crowd with an almost predatory curiosity.

"Each of you will return to your homes aboard these hawks," Dan announced. "You'll be grouped based on your hometowns. When I call your group, step forward."

He began reading from a list, and one by one, groups were sorted and directed to the hawks. The birds knelt, allowing the students to climb onto their backs before taking off into the sky.

"Kyle, Zack, Anne, Riya, Orion—Frulia," Dan called.n/ô/vel/b//jn dot c//om

Kyle and his group exchanged glances before stepping forward.

'Thankfully, we were called first,' Kyle thought as he approached the hawk assigned to them. It crouched low and its massive wings folded before the five of them climbed aboard, gripping the bird's thick, sturdy feathers for support.

The hawk rose with a powerful beat of its wings, lifting off the ground smoothly. The air rushed past them as they ascended, and the enclosed field quickly shrank beneath them.

"Wow," Riya murmured in awe. "I forgot how beautiful it looks from up here."

The view was breathtaking as the students below shrinked the higher the flew. Beyond that, the landscape unfolded in a patchwork of forests, rivers, and mountains, the afternoon sun casting long shadows over the terrain.

Orion, seated near the front, adjusted his glasses and glanced back at Kyle. "Don't get too comfortable. We should be trying to understand the relations between this field and the academy. It's obvious that they don't want us to know its location."

"Oh shut up, Orion," Riya said before adding with a smirk. "You're still acting smart even after I beat you in the exams."

Orion rolled his eyes and said nothing more, preventing himself from being provoked by Riya's words.

The journey took nearly two hours with the hawk soaring effortlessly over the changing landscape. Villages and towns appeared in the distance, growing closer as the bird descended. Finally, the familiar outlines of Frulia came into view, its quaint streets and buildings nestled amidst the rolling hills.

The hawk circled once before landing gracefully just outside the village. The group dismounted, their feet touching solid ground again as the bird stretched its wings.

As soon as they were clear, the hawk took off, disappearing into the sky with powerful beats of its wings.

Kyle turned to face the village, a smile spreading across his face. He took a deep breath, savoring the crisp, familiar air before saying softly:

"Home sweet home."

***

The group began walking toward the village together with lively chatter as they took in the familiar sights.

The streets of Frulia were just as Kyle remembered, but he noticed that they were fewer people on the streets. Kyle shrugged it off and passed it out as a coincidence.

Zack clapped Kyle on the back as they passed by his house. "Well, this is where I split off. That's my house over there."

"See you soon, Zack," Kyle said with a nod.

"Don't slack off!" Riya added with a smirk.

"Yeah, yeah," Zack replied with a wave, his usual jovial grin firmly in place as he turned toward his home.

Orion soon found his place soon, leaving Kyle, Riya, and Anne continuing walking down the main street. Before Kyle realized it, Anne had slipped away quietly.

"Did you see where Anne went?" Kyle asked, glancing around.

Riya shook her head. "No, but knowing her, she probably didn't want to make a big deal about saying goodbye."

Kyle nodded, though he felt some disappointment. "Guess we'll catch her later."

The two made their way through the village and eventually came upon their house. The bungalow looked just exactly the same as before.

The sight of it brought a strange sense of relief to them, like a weight lifting off their shoulders. On trying to enter the house, they found the doors to be locked. It only took a few calls for them to agree that Grace wasn't in.

"She's probably in the infirmary," Riya suggested.

Kyle nodded in agreement. "Let's go check."

The infirmary was a short walk from their home, a place Kyle had visited countless times before. They entered quietly, but before they could say anything, Madam Grace had opened her eyes and smiled warmly. She was seated in her usual spot, cultivating as usual.

"Kyle! Riya!" Her voice was filled with joy as she stood to greet them.

Kyle and Riya immediately ran up to her, wrapping her in a tight hug.

[Read Author's Note]