Spirits in Romantasy
Ardelia's red eyes trembled in shock at the suggestion that her expression matched Professor Emilia's. Her gaze flicked briefly toward the lectern. Professor Emilia appeared to be running a perfectly normal class. But every time she looked at Rian, her eyes gleamed with that mad, sticky intensity—like a total pervert.
'And I've been making that kind of sleazy, perverted face just now?'
Ardelia's red eyes quivered with an overwhelming shame and astonishment she'd never experienced before.
"Rian! You can't say stuff like that to Her Highness~"
Vesperia, stepping in for the frozen Ardelia, lightly swatted Rian's arm with a gentle scolding. Even in the academy, where status wasn't openly emphasized, talking to the princess like that was downright rude.
But Rian just lowered his heavy eyelids and let out a massive yawn.
"Yaaawn... So what? I just stated the facts. She came at me first with those expectant eyes, like she wanted something. I hate those tiring dynamics, so I drew the line upfront."
There wasn't a speck of malice in Rian's voice. He spoke as plainly as if reciting that one plus one equals two. To him, this was just laying out logical facts. He'd simply cut down any attempt to use him, framing it as mere annoyance.
"......"
Ardelia bit her trembling lips hard, barely managing to compose her expression.
'Right. That kid's just a wild child who never learned to read others' emotions. I have to endure it. I'm the desperate one here.'
Swallowing her aggrieved tears inwardly, Ardelia forced the corners of her mouth upward.
"I... must have overstepped a bit. If I made you uncomfortable, I apologize, Rian. I was simply in awe of your magical achievements and wanted to ask for your guidance. I'd appreciate it if you didn't misunderstand."
She delivered it with maximum elegance—a tone laced with delicate hurt. But Rian was already slumping over his desk, on the verge of snoring.
"Yeah, yeah. Got it. So can I sleep now?"
It was an iron wall of a response. Ardelia felt her insides charring to black but clamped her mouth shut obediently.
Meanwhile, Vesperia was stifling giggles, clearly amused by the whole scene.
* * *
The elemental magic basics class wrapped up soon after.
"Rian, let me know when you have time later. I have some very private matters to discuss."
"Sure, sure~ Yaaawn~"
Leaving Professor Emilia's persistent gaze behind, Rian shuffled out.
"Rian, next up is Summoning Magic Basics!"
By now, Vesperia and Ardelia tagging along beside him felt completely natural. The other students were rising from their seats, heading to the next class as well.
"Hurry up, Rian!"
Vesperia grabbed his sleeve and tugged, urging him on. Half-asleep, Rian let himself be led along, thinking.
'This damn academy's grinding us hard from day one.'
The Solarrium Empire's Royal Solarrium Academy—Magic Division. Its curriculum was sharply divided and systematic.
For the lower years, ages 13 to 15, students didn't touch advanced fields like alchemy, potion-making, artifact engineering, or transformation magic until they hit 15. It was too risky for kids whose mana vessels were still immature; accidents could happen if they pushed too hard. Especially at that curious age when they were prone to mischief.
'Basics of those fields start at 15, and you pick your major at 16.'
So until 15, the focus was solely on perfecting the fundamentals: elemental, summoning, mental, and basic physical magic—the skeleton of all magic. It was all about laying a solid foundation to prevent shoddy work later.
'Which means the summoning class we're heading to now isn't some grand demon lord ritual.'
Rian swallowed another yawn and made his way to the Summoning Magic Practice Room.
The floor of the practice room was entirely gleaming marble. At the center, intricate grooves formed multiple magic circles.
The students took their seats. Soon, the front door opened, and a new professor entered.
"Pleased to meet you all, freshmen. I'm Professor Elmiana, and I'll be handling your Basic Summoning Magic."
Her voice was soft and clear, like a gentle chime. Standing at the lectern was an elf woman, much like Iril. But unlike Iril's sharp, haughty aura, this one was worlds apart.
Her lustrous silver hair shimmered like moonlight, paired with the exceedingly rare pink eyes among elves. The warm smile on her lips made her look like a fairy straight out of a storybook.
'Professor Elmiana.'
Rian's mental database pulled up the original novel's lore in a flash. She was a minor character from the early parts—a unique elf who'd left the secluded elven autonomous forest to live among humans for ages. She'd been teaching at the academy for a whopping 80 years.
With her skills, she could've snagged a tenured spot teaching advanced summoning to upperclassmen. But she'd turned down promotions every time.
"Teaching young children their first steps in magic brings me the most joy."
It wasn't for nothing that Ardelia had thought of her as a good professor in the original. She was the classic "nice teacher" side character who popped up early on.
"For our first summoning magic lesson today, we'll learn how to connect with spirits."
Professor Elmiana's pink eyes sparkled as she spoke. With a wave of her hand, the magic circles etched into the classroom floor began to glow faintly.
"Spirits are pure lifeforms born when nature's mana gains a will of its own. Our goal today is to call forth the spirit from the summoning realm that best matches your unique mana wavelength, name it, and form a contract."
Excited gasps rippled through the students.
"Spirits!"
"I heard our year usually summons cute ones!"
"I hope mine's like a puppy—super adorable!"
The noble girls' eyes shone especially bright. But Rian, watching it all, looked utterly bored.
'Spirits. Total fashion accessories.'
In his memory of the original romance fantasy novel, that's exactly how spirits were treated. No tactical value whatsoever. This was a pure romance fantasy story, tailored to its main audience of female readers. Spirits were just mystical pets and mascots—perched on shoulders for cuteness points, aiding the romance.
Like when they sensed Cassius in danger and chirped warnings to Ardelia. Or cutely sabotaged him out of jealousy whenever he approached her. Pure romantic support tools.
"Alright, then—who wants to step up to the magic circle first?"
At Professor Elmiana's gentle invitation, students went up one by one.
"I'll go first!"
"Wonderful, Martin—come on up."
The first was one of the three geniuses who'd raised a hand earlier, claiming a breakthrough to 2-Circle. His name was Martin.
He stood at the circle's center and channeled his mana.
Whoosh!
A red flash erupted, sparks coalescing at his feet into a palm-sized fire lizard.
"Whoa! A fire spirit!"
"That's cool!"
Martin proudly perched the lizard on his shoulder and stepped down.
Next came Rob, another 2-Circle boy.
"Wow!"
"So pretty!"
Blue droplets gathered in his circle, forming a small water butterfly.
"Nice to meet you. From now on, you're Bertie. Let's get along."
The newly named water spirit fluttered happily around Rob, as if delighted.
Finally, it was Dalla's turn—the only girl among the 2-Circle mages.
She squeezed her eyes shut and released her mana. Earth and pebbles clumped together, birthing a lumpy, round mud toad.
"Eek! A toad! Gross!"
"Hahaha! Dalla must be earth affinity!"
Dalla made a pouty face as she cradled the toad and came down. She shot Rob an envious glance.
"Rob, can we swap spirits?"
"No way."
The classroom buzzed with cheerful energy.
And at last, it was Vesperia's turn.
"Yay! My turn! Rian, I'll be right back! Hehe~ I can't wait to see what spirit I get!"
Vesperia sprang up with a beaming smile. Her amethyst eyes sparkled with thrilled anticipation.
'Obvious.'
Rian knew exactly what spirit she'd summon. No mistaking the one she carried around or perched on her shoulder all the time in the story.
"Yeah, go for it."
But he kept quiet. Spoiling it would ruin her moment of wonder.