Disaster Strikes the Class
Solarrium Academy's Faculty of Magic, the empire's premier imperial academy. Here, the curriculum was clearly divided by the students' ages.
The lower years spanned from ages 13 to 15. During this period, students weren't tied to any specific major; they had to master the complete fundamentals of magic. Only after completing these three years of lower-division coursework could they advance to the upper years at age 16, where they used entirely different buildings.
To enter the upper division, this process was mandatory. There, students chose one of various specialized fields and delved deep into it. In other words, the next three years were all about solidifying the foundations of magic.
Yawn. Breakfast was good this morning.
Rian yawned as he stepped into the first-year Diamond Class lecture hall. It was finally the day the academy's classes began.
Typical university lecture hall setup.
Rian scanned the interior. The floor was tiered in steps, rising higher the farther back from the central podium. Each tier had long desks and chairs lined up for students to sit in rows. Staircases broke it into three sections midway.
He plopped down in an empty seat about midway back, resting his chin on his hand and dozing off as he waited for class to start.
"Rian! Sit together!"
"I'll sit here too."
Familiar voices came from both sides, accompanied by a pleasant fragrance. It was Vesperia and Ardelia de Solarrium. The two girls naturally took the empty seats flanking him.
"Damn, what the hell?"
"Why are those two sticking to that commoner again today?"
The sight of the high noble duke's daughter and the imperial princess—who would rule the empire—seated on either side of a commoner again today left the other students baffled.
That vulgar bastard.
Asrion, seated up front, glanced back. His gray eyes burned with deep displeasure. He clearly remembered the bluff Rian had thrown at him last night in the dorms.
Diamond Class's first lesson. The magic faculty professors aren't pushovers.
Asrion smirked inwardly. Today, that commoner's lies would be exposed for all to see. Anticipating Rian's humiliating failure in front of everyone, he straightened his posture.
The front door creaked open, and an elderly man with a long white beard entered. Known in the academy for his extensive experience, Professor Noerden took his place at the lectern.
"Pleased to meet you. I am Noerden, the one who will teach you basic magical calculations. Address me as Professor Noerden."
After introducing himself, his gaze swept over the students. When it landed on Rian, Noerden's shoulders twitched ever so slightly.
Damn it. Of all the classes, I have to handle this natural disaster's first one!
Professor Noerden ignored the cold sweat trickling down his back. The dean had emphatically warned him never to upset that monstrous boy. Yesterday's magic demonstration was terrifying enough, but the process of him reaching 4-Circle had been even more horrifying.
They said knowing more lets you see more. With his own substantial knowledge as a professor, Noerden found Rian's ascent to 4-Circle far more grotesque and fearsome than his flame magic.
"Ahem! We'll start today's first class lightly. I'll check your current Mana Circle levels."
Noerden cleared his throat and focused. He was a professor, after all. Class had to begin. Following the standard curriculum, he started the most basic procedure to gauge the Diamond Class's level.
"First, those who have formed a 1-Circle, raise your hands."
Hands shot up around the lecture hall. As talents assigned to Diamond Class, most had already achieved 1-Circle.
Vesperia proudly raised hers. Ardelia followed with an elegant motion. Even with knowledge up to 4-Circle, reaching 2-Circle required time for their bodies to prepare.
"Good. Excellent. Lower your hands."
Noerden nodded.
"Next, those who have reached 2-Circle, raise your hands."
This time, far fewer hands went up. Reaching 2-Circle at 13 was genius-level talent.
Only three students in the vast hall raised their hands proudly.
"As expected of Diamond Class. Three 2-Circles in first year—impressive results."
The praised trio puffed up with pride.
Noerden spoke again. "Then, has anyone achieved 3-Circle?"
Silence fell over the hall. 3-Circle at 13 transcended mere genius; it was era-defining.
All eyes turned to Asrion in the front row. With arrogant confidence bordering on hubris, he thrust up his hand.
"I am 3-Circle."
The bold declaration sent the hall into an uproar.
"The rumors were true!"
"3-Circle at 13? Insane!"
"I thought it was just hype, but real 3-Circle at 13!"
Admiration and envy poured onto Asrion from the gathered students.
See? This is what an era-defining genius looks like!
Asrion savored the attention, glancing back. He anticipated the reactions from Rian, the duke's daughter, and the princess. What faces would they make at the might of a true genius versus that braggart?
But he got no satisfaction. The duke's daughter and princess merely murmured, "Oh, really?" Even the commoner Rian yawned. Notably, Rian hadn't raised his hand once.
The other students noticed and began whispering about him.
"That commoner never raised his hand?"
"Yeah, not even for 1-Circle."
"No way a commoner hasn't hit 1-Circle. How'd he get into Magic Faculty Diamond Class?"
Open mockery and disdain targeted Rian. Asrion's lips twisted into a sneer. Soon, Professor Noerden's wrath would fall.
Heh, trash. The academy isn't the playground you think.
But Noerden's reaction shattered Asrion's expectations. As the whispers swelled, the professor's face paled.
You idiots! Shut up! That guy's already a monster with great mage-level mana reserves equivalent to 8-Circle! Give him time, and he'll become even more terrifying!
Noerden screamed internally. The monster had 8-Circle great mage mana at 4-Circle. He'd leaped to 3-Circle minutes after starting magic. 4-Circle in two days. 5- and 6-Circle would take days at most. Imagining what came next chilled him.
Before the foolish moths could scorch themselves on that flame, Noerden acted.
"Ahem! Quiet down, everyone! I strictly forbid speaking without permission!"
His icy command silenced the room. He glanced at Rian. These clueless kids needed a quick lesson in humility.
"...Then, 4-Circle. Anyone who has reached 4-Circle, raise your hand."
The abrupt question stunned the recent whisperers.
Eh? 4-Circle?
Impossible. Who's 4-Circle here?
4-Circle at 13? Even as a joke, it crossed the line. But before the words fully settled, Rian—who'd sat silently—casually raised his hand, then dropped it.
"Yawn. So sleepy."
He yawned and resumed dozing as if nothing happened.
"......"
Silence blanketed the hall. Students doubted their eyes. He raised his hand to that?
"What the hell's with that lunatic?"
"Joking with the professor?"
Chaos erupted immediately. Asrion tsked in disbelief. Bringing that shameless lie to sacred class time? Mocking magic had limits; this audacity was unprecedented.
"Hey! Think class is a game?"
"How dare he joke here?"
"Professor, don't let it slide!"
Demands for Rian's punishment rang out. But Noerden's face twisted in stress.
I said quiet! Dare ignore me?
The ones deserving punishment were these arrogant kids defying his order. 13 or not, this was intolerable.
As Noerden opened his mouth to roar—
"It's not a lie!"
Vesperia beside Rian shouted.
"I saw it! The professors did too! Rian is 4-Circle! He reached it yesterday in front of everyone! Great Mage Iril confirmed it!"
Her sudden cry cut the accusations short. Eyes turned to her—the duke's daughter vouching for Rian? Shock rippled.
"Right, Princess? You saw it too."
Ardelia nodded. She stood.
"The duke's daughter speaks truly."
"I, Ardelia de Solarrium, vouch on the imperial name. Rian reaching 4-Circle is undeniable fact. Witnessed by myself, the duke's daughter, Great Mage Iril, the dean, Professor Noerden, and numerous faculty on site."
She added with a smile. "Or are you saying Great Mage Iril, the dean, and all the professors lied?"