Field Training (1)
A week after Instructor Karon explained the assignment.
The four students gathered after the lecture for a midpoint check.
They sat side by side around a table, placed the Resistance Stones before them, and gauged each other's reactions.
"How is everyone doing?"
The first to speak was Flora.
She fiddled with a fork, her gaze sweeping quickly from Ayla to Gilbert, and finally to Camilla.
Every face wore an expression as grim as if the sky had fallen.
"Um... everyone?"
They had clearly agreed to check on their progress daily, starting the day after they received the assignment.
The plan had been to share their current status, provide feedback, and push toward improvement together.
The first and second days had been convivial.
A sense that they could at least get halfway there had been overflowing.
Watching this, Flora had wondered whether the assignment had simply turned out to be an ordinary one after all.
Alcyone had started screaming for help from the very first day of the Crash Course, after all.
But paradise had shattered in five days.
No matter how much mana they poured in or how late they stayed up trying, the Resistance Stones remained unyielding.
There was a reason Resistance Stones were used in Magic Devices and specialized facilities.
They were plastered all over places with high security requirements.
The Special-Class Fugitive Prison Block was a prime example.
'In a place practically built out of Resistance Stone, what exactly did Boss do?'
Flora admired Karon's ability as she toyed with the Resistance Stone.
With her natural instinct, she smoothly compressed and contained her mana within it.
'Hmm, I think I've put in about thirty percent...'
Among the people gathered here, she was in the lead.
Flora being Level 5 helped, as did having watched Karon use the High-Purity Resistance Stone training method up close.
Ayla, who could not have known this, wore a dejected expression.
"I'm at five percent right now, and I honestly can't see a way forward."
"Me neither. Camilla, what about you?"
"Same here."
Starting with Ayla, they each reported their status in a rush. Unlike Flora, they had barely managed to fill a little over five percent.
In that moment, Flora realized something.
This wasn't the time to celebrate reaching thirty percent. If anything, she needed to report a lower mana percentage.
Her highest priority was supporting Boss.
If she revealed the truth right now, it might harm her precious Boss.
She had to keep in step with those around her as much as possible.
'There's no need to do anything that makes me stand out.'
She had heard five percent mentioned in the earlier conversation, so she settled on a plausible figure.
In her estimation, seven percent would draw a bit of attention and then be forgotten.
"How much have you filled yours?"
"About seven percent."
"Really?"
At those words, Ayla's eyes sparkled as she grabbed Flora's hand.
Gilbert and Camilla, on either side, also wore genuinely earnest expressions.
"You went up by two whole percent in a single day? How did you do it?"
"Miss Flora, could you please tell us?"
"Please!"
A more intense reaction than she had expected followed.
Flora had no idea how she was supposed to explain it.
She had just forced her way through with raw natural instinct.
"Uh, um... well, you see."
Flora's voice, as she glanced around nervously, gradually grew quieter.
The more she hesitated, the more their expectations seemed to rise exponentially.
"I don't really know either. It just sort of... worked?"
"..."
In an instant, the expressions of everyone except Flora darkened.
It was impossible to criticize that answer.
From their perspective, they truly believed that Flora had simply managed it by accident.
As one, they decided to stop hoping for a lucky break.
"The first inspection is tomorrow, right?"
"Yes. That's right."
"It won't be easy."
At Gilbert's remark, made while he checked the lecture schedule, the tension on everyone's faces was obvious.
Only Flora was quietly cheering them on in her heart.
Time remaining was roughly twenty hours.
Ayla didn't want to disappoint Karon.
No matter what she did, she couldn't produce meaningful results in the time left.
So instead, she wanted to leave behind proof that she was striving to learn.
"Let's do everything we can tonight. Something's bound to come of it, right?"
Having steeled her resolve, Ayla clenched her fist tightly.
Gilbert and Camilla wore resolute expressions and nodded.
After that, the Resistance Stone alliance, spearheaded by Ayla, promised to burn the midnight oil and see it through together to the end.
* * *
The results after checking their Resistance Stones one week later were perfectly reasonable.
For people starting from a blank slate who knew nothing, this level was decent.
Ayla had achieved six percent, while Gilbert and Camilla had reached five percent.
I had predicted a range from three percent on the low end to seven percent on the high end, which turned out to be accurate.
Flora, on the other hand, had distinguished herself by reaching thirty percent.
Even without being taught directly, her ability to absorb and apply what she glimpsed over someone's shoulder was outstanding.
So rather than Flora, who was in a good position, I focused my attention on managing the rest.
"Camilla, you're at five percent."
"Yes..."
I nodded as I recorded the Resistance Stone's status in my notes.
Camilla said nothing and remained silent.
"You've worked hard."
I moved past the gloomy Camilla and stopped in front of Ayla, who was next.
Ayla was visibly tense when our eyes met.
"Instructor..."
Her unfocused gaze wandered before dropping to the floor.
Her fidgeting fingers gave away her anxiety.
"...What about me?"
"Six percent. You really put in a lot of effort."
"It feels like our collective hard work paid off. Thank you."
The information I could glean from the Resistance Stone and Ayla's answer matched.
They had all been tormenting their Resistance Stones late into the night.
But I did discover a surprise.
I hadn't expected her to raise it by one percent in such a short time.
Ayla had solved it solely through her own strength, without anyone's help.
An uncut gem possessing both talent and diligence was indeed exceptional.
Unfortunately, Gilbert and Camilla had failed to produce meaningful changes.
Still, the fact that they hadn't given up and had worked hard counted for a great deal.
Thinking back to Alcyone screaming for help at the start, these students were a pleasure to teach.
I looked at the satisfactory results written in my notebook and returned to my place.
"The first inspection is a process to see how much you can accomplish on your own. Don't worry too much about the results."
Perhaps because their tension had eased, their complexions brightened considerably.
A bit of well-timed praise at this point was bound to boost their motivation.
"In fact, I highly value the fact that you didn't give up and kept trying. Next, I'll teach you how to handle mana."
With a light flick of my fingers, I picked up a piece of chalk.
'What is the standard for distinguishing Levels?'
I wrote a topic on the blackboard designed to provoke curiosity.
I subtly added points of emphasis to make the keywords stand out.
As if she had been waiting for this moment, Ayla shot her hand up and gave a model answer.
"It's the amount of mana and the ability to control it."
"Correct."
I nodded and added an explanation.
"Everyone has a unique Mana Circuit, and it has to be able to handle the amount of mana appropriate to that Level. Knights are similar, though the method is a little different."
I turned my gaze directly to Flora.
Even without my having to state what I wanted, she acted at exactly the right moment.
"Mages release their mana outward. For knights, in my experience, it feels more like making it explode."
"That's a good analogy."
With a useful analogy now on the table, I naturally pivoted toward an approach based on a mage's method.
"Then, how would an early-Level 3 student emit mana at the level of a late-Level 3?"
Once I gave them a moment to think, a serious discussion broke out.
After the discussion went back and forth, their opinions seemed to converge, and Gilbert answered for the group.
"Wouldn't it be resolved just by reaching late-Level 3?"
"That is the most accurate method. The orthodox answer."
Possessing the appropriate capacity for one's Level.
It was the most ideal and certain path, one that no one would dispute.
I thought so as well.
However, the path of magic had no end.
People never stop striving higher instead of settling for where they are, and endless effort and persistence had eventually produced another method.
"There is a way to emit it while still at early-Level 3. To do this, you must be thoroughly familiar with your own Mana Circuit."
The lecture hall stirred at this idea they were hearing for the first time in their lives.
Even Ayla, who had observed many things while living in the Magic Tower, was no exception.
The shock lingered in the heated atmosphere and showed no sign of dissipating.
As if it were nothing special, I quickly sketched a hypothetical Mana Circuit.
"As an example, let's assume a low-Level mage is using their Mana Circuit."
I used color to differentiate the circuits commonly used when performing familiar magic from those that were dormant.
Just as people have muscles they use frequently and muscles they rarely use, the same applied to mana circuits.
Using parts you normally left dormant would tire them out quickly.
That particular issue, as Gilbert had answered, would resolve itself naturally as one's Level rose and proficiency accumulated.
But the question I was posing wasn't the orthodox one.
I was asking about what would happen if one forged a new path.
"If you were to awaken the remaining areas, excluding the commonly used parts, what do you think would happen?"
The ripples that had arisen in the small pond refused to subside easily.
But I had already handed them the answer. All that remained was for them to learn it through experience.
"You are going to confirm that with your own two eyes. Everyone, bring your Resistance Stones and follow me."
I closed the attendance book and was about to leave the lecture hall when I heard Ayla's voice behind me.
"Where are we going?"
"We're heading outside the Academy."
The materials I had borrowed from the library emphasized that students must always be the top priority, and that the flow of teaching must never be interrupted.
Among the methods for maintaining that flow, the material said Field Training could be especially effective.
Since this was something learned through direct experience, I couldn't help but agree.
So I had wanted to conduct Field Training, but as luck would have it, the chancellor had been so busy that I'd had no chance to meet with him for the past week.
I couldn't give up on the synergy between the first inspection and Field Training just like that.
I had promptly dropped the plan off in front of the chancellor's office and acted on it.
I was going to produce students who could pass the Magic Tower exam. Why would the chancellor object to that?
I didn't think so.
The chancellor might find it dubious now, but once he heard they'd passed the Magic Tower exam, he'd have to acknowledge the results.
"Alright, let's go before we're late."
Amid the peculiar atmosphere blending anticipation and worry, someone poked my right arm repeatedly.
I turned my head and locked eyes with Flora.
"...Instructor?"
She tilted her head as if flustered, the gesture seeming to ask, 'Are you going there all of a sudden?'
She was likely not trying to stop me, but rather to confirm my definite intention.
I answered with a nod, and Flora performed the role she had taken on.
We walked side by side, slowly matching our strides.
Chatting about small things with the students as we walked, we eventually arrived at our destination.
We stopped in front of a modest Magic Device Shop in an alley a little way off the main street.
A single notice, written in large letters.
[Closed Today for Our Regular Day Off.]
Seeing the holiday notice, Ayla tilted her head and peered intently through the glass window.
Realizing no one was inside, she reacted with visible dejection.
"Instructor Karon, what should we do?"
Gilbert and Camilla also looked unsure what to do.
They were probably caught up in the thought that we would have to return empty-handed.
But to carry out the Field Training, we had absolutely no choice but to come on a regular holiday.
Still, since I was returning after a long absence, a peculiar feeling crept up my spine.
'Surely I haven't been removed from the entry list just because I was away for three years?'
If it didn't open, I was prepared to forcibly disable the Magic Circle.
The moment I channeled mana into the Magic Circle hidden in the floor, half in doubt—
"That's a relief."
Click.
The lock that had been firmly shut clicked open as if welcoming us.
I'd thought I'd been removed during my brief stint in prison, but apparently not.
"Just follow me."
I led the students, who could scarcely believe their eyes, into the empty Magic Device Shop.
'It's welcoming me this much?'
A mana fluctuation I sensed in that instant.
For some reason, the owner of this place was giving me an enthusiastic welcome.