Exam Period (2)
“Kyle hyungnim… My head, my head’s gonna explode…!”
Evan clutched his head and wailed in agony. Not physical pain, but mental torment. He’d been overworking his brain so much that steam practically rose from his head in the heat.
Evan whined about taking a short break, but that was out of the question.
“Quit complaining and keep solving.”
I ignored him and handed over the problems I’d whipped up in the meantime. I was cranking them out nearly every minute, so by the time Evan finished one, ten more piled up beside him. Pushed and shoved like that, he now had fifty sheets untouched.
“How am I supposed to finish all this?”
“Hyungnim… This, this is way too much! It’s been a week of just theory! When do I even get to use magic?!”
Evan vented his frustration. A week ago, I’d summoned him, but instead of teaching him spells, I’d drilled him on basics and parked him at a desk solving computation problems every day. It had to feel like torture.
“I told you. It wouldn’t be easy.”
“Even so, hyungnim, isn’t learning supposed to start with a taste? You know, tease it a bit to spark interest?”
“I did that on the first day.”
I’d definitely let Evan feel the sensation of handling magic the moment he arrived. But it must’ve been too tantalizing, hitting his limit right away.
“You expect me to be satisfied with just that one time? Mix in some practical stuff with the theory…”
“Haa…”
A sigh escaped from sheer exasperation. I called his name softly.
“Evan.”
“Yes, Kyle hyungnim.”
“What did I say magic was on the first day?”
“It’s not a skill you can just use by manipulating mana.”
“Right.”
Martial arts start simple at their core. That’s why inherited techniques from ancient times keep mana refinement and operation straightforward from the basics. No complex processes needed.
But magic is entirely different. It’s fundamentally about applying the principles of the world to mana and releasing it outward. And bridging those two? Computations. You have to embed formulas into the mana to cast spells.
Our protagonist Evan, though, is a commoner. Far from any formal education. Living his seventeen years in some rural backwater, how much math could he possibly know? Basic arithmetic at best.
In short, Evan lacks the foundation for magic. What good is handling mana without that base? Flinging it from his hand might look like magic, but without refinement, it’s just crude sorcery.
Sure, some genius mages can read incantations at a glance, replicate them, even tweak them on the fly. But Evan doesn’t have that talent.
Still, he’s no slouch mentally—just lacked opportunity. He took time on problems, but never got them wrong.
“I get why you’re whining. But…”
“Whining? I’m not a kid…”
He shut up when I shot him a glare. The kid talked way too much.
“Evan. Like martial arts, magic isn’t something you pick up easily. To gain anything, you need sacrifice. So listen to me. I’ll answer every question.”
“Kyle hyungnim…”
Evan’s eyes sparkled with emotion. Though it didn’t turn into motivation.
“Even so, just a little—a tiny bit easier. Please…!”
He begged with desperate eyes. That’s when Rana chimed in.
“He’s right, Kyle. Grandpa always says moderation in all things. And exams are coming up soon. Doesn’t Evan need to study too?”
“Well, yeah, but…”
Midterms were next week already. I was fully prepped, no issues. But Evan juggling school and my lessons? Tough.
I’d been pacing him well for condition, but still—better safe.
His grades could tank if he slipped, being a top student.
“Fine. That’s enough for today.”
“Uwaaah! Rana sunbae, thank you!!”
Evan teared up in joy and lunged at Rana.
“Good work, Evan junior.”
Rana patted his back consolingly.
“Rana sunbae… Hyungnim’s classes are insane! How can anyone be that ruthless? Even professors aren’t this bad!”
“That’s ‘cause Kyle sucks at teaching. You did great sticking with it.”
“Only sunbae gets me!!”
“Save that for when I’m not around. And I did consider your condition. Don’t exaggerate.”
Anyone’d think I’d worked him all day. I kept saying it—I tailored problems to his limits.
“No way. Hyungnim should never teach anyone. This is hell!”
“You little shit… Whatever, let’s eat.”
We bantered like that through lunch. The student cafeteria’s new menu was galbi lunchbox. Cafeteria food, but the soy-braised short ribs were killer.
With my belly full, a forgotten matter resurfaced. I asked Evan,
“So, how’s the mana circuit work going?”
“Uh, well…”
He scratched his head. From his reaction, not great progress.
“Like you said, hyungnim, it’s not easy.”
“Figured. Got a feel for it?”
“Not even that yet. It’s like… it seems possible, but it won’t click. Is there really an optimal path for me?”
“There is, so don’t worry. You’ll find it.”
Magic and martial arts are distinct powers. Even drawing mana from the same core, operation differs. Sure, you could use it, but efficiency sucks.
Mana cultivation is tailored for martial arts. Circuits optimized for that. Apply it to magic? Something’s gonna grind.
Plus, you can’t mix both seamlessly—different refinement methods. And cramming two systems into one body? Recipe for disaster. Boom—your flesh gives out.
Easier to stick with one, efficiency be damned.
But as I told Evan, find the magic-optimized path, and it’s fine. Just hard work.
Even I, with circuit know-how, can’t pinpoint it easily. Personality, traits, habits—it’s personal. Gotta discover it yourself.
In the novel, Evan noticed the flaw sophomore year, fixed it over three months or so.
I’m just warning him early. For the future, he needs magic swordsman mastery sooner.
“This takes time and effort above all. Don’t rush.”
“I know, but… no progress frustrates me.”
“Keep at it with my advice—you’ll get there. No worries.”
I popped the last rib in my mouth.
“Anyway, skip coming starting tomorrow till exams end. Focus on studying.”
“Got it, hyungnim.”
Time to prioritize tests for now.
Time flew after skipping Evan visits. Soon, it was the night before exams.
“I’m off to bed.”
“Yes, young master. Good night.”
I returned to my room after Elraim’s farewell. It was 8 p.m. I hit the bed and closed my eyes right away.
Usually crashed past midnight, but not tonight. Condition control for exams—needed peak state.
Not making it habit, though. Once I gauged exam behavior, I’d adjust sleep.
Lying still, eyes shut, consciousness faded soon enough.
“Mm…”
Uncomfortable bed. Something kept nagging my nerves, making me toss and turn. Woke me up.
Couldn’t pinpoint why. Anxious vibe—maybe Kyle Arden’s body tensing for exams. Plausible.
Who knows how the wastrel handled tests, but nothing good.
Not just tension—heaviness dismissed that. Next: sleep paralysis. Awake mind, heavy body—fits.
But off. Paralysis weighs whole body; this pressed only my gut, like something perched there.
“Hoo, what the…”
I muttered low, opening my eyes. Dawn—moon high, room bathed in light, illuminating the figure before me.
“……”
It was Elraim. In casual clothes, straddling my stomach.
Luckily, legs planted beside, not full weight.
“Haa, haa…”
Ragged, aroused breaths. Heat so intense, winter breath steamed. Cheeks flushed same.
Gulp. Throat bobbed visibly down her slender neck.
Whoosh! Moonlight surged through the window. Flooded her—silvery hair gleamed, shadows accentuated beauty.
For a moment, it stole my gaze.
“Kyle…”
Her soft call met my eyes. I knew her state instantly.
In heat. Pheromones stirred my lust; faint scent of her made my heart race. Add my feelings for her—I nearly pounced first.
“S-sorry, Kyle… Didn’t mean to, but my body’s so hot…”
Excuses, but no improvement. Eyes glazed more.
“Just this, just this and I’ll go…”
She leaned in. Hands slid up—from stomach, over chest, wrapping my neck. Hugging now.
“Haa…”
Face buried in my neck, she exhaled scorching breath. Sweet, tempting.
“Mm…”
Not stopping—rubbed her face like marking territory.
Then, squirming up, unable to hold back. Faces inches apart.
Eyes lost to lust, no reason left.
“Kyle, one minute… just one minute. Bear with me, okay…?”
Silver strands brushed skin; sweat drops teased. Sultry voice pierced my ear.
Next move obvious. She lunged to pin me.
And I said to her face,
“So, how long you planning to keep up this prank, Cloi.”
Elraim dissolved into smoke, vanishing. Beside the bed, mist swirled—a figure emerged.
“Sunbae, nice early morning~”
Playfully waving: Cloi, of course.