“Magic Training?”
“Magic training? Yeah, this is definitely a great spot for practicing on your own. Ahaha.”
Melwood Elion. The name alone sent a chill down my spine. He was the top student in the magic department's fourth year. His elemental affinities were lightning and ice. As the boss of Act 1, he was famous for unleashing insane, flashy patterns. I could still see them in my mind.
He would combine Mid-Tier Ice Magic: Freezing Spear with Mid-Tier Lightning Magic: Thunderbolt. It was a storm that swept everything in its path. The sheer majesty of that boss fight was unforgettable. It was tough. No, it was brutal. He was the eternal nemesis of every new player. I had been one of them once.
Half the newbies who started the game quit right here. They couldn't get past him. That was how he earned his nicknames: the "veteran sprout detector" and the "newbie gatekeeper." On the strategy boards, players would ask for help. The only real answer was to reroll until your control was perfect. Even if you knew the patterns, if you slipped up once, you were dead. He was a true slayer of beginners.
The game was cruel. If even one major heroine died, you couldn't reach a normal ending. You had to restart from the very beginning. The gatekeeper didn't let half-baked players through his doors. To win, you had to convince Lumen Ribens from the knight department to help. Without him, it was an instant game over. A brand-new freshman taking down a genius senior solo just wasn't part of the script.
Even though he was capped at Mid-Tier Magic, I was stuck with three casts of a Low-Tier Wind Blade. I couldn't beat someone who could spam mid-tier spells all day. Without Lumen, it was a forced loss. Every single time.
“……Hmm, I see. So you've been practicing magic here.”
Melwood nodded. I tensed up. My heart hammered against my ribs. What would he do? If he raised his hand and attacked, could I survive? I could probably deflect a few shots and try to run. But what he actually said was the complete opposite of what I expected.
"That's a good stance. If you're learning magic, you have to master the basics first. Fundamentals are everything. Mid-tier spells are just tweaks on low-tier formulas. If your basics are shaky, you'll struggle later on."
“……?”
I blinked. He continued, looking at my confused face. "And it's impressive. Wind Blade is normally just for a single target. It sharpens wind into a blade." He paused, thinking. "But your version condenses it. You release it for an area attack. That's unique."
“Unique?”
"Yes. Repurposing a low-tier spell like that is a real discovery. I actually learned something from you today." He laughed lightly. My head began to spin. This was the guy who was supposed to hate the world? The guy who hated nobles?
"Mind if I try?"
“……Go ahead.”
"Got it. Low-Tier Wind Magic: Wind Blade."
He didn't hesitate. He extended his hand. He cast the spell perfectly. He condensed the wind in his palm and let it burst, exactly like I had. “Ooh……!” He sounded like a child. His eyes were sparkling. He watched the wind shred the grass with pure admiration. "Amazing! I never thought of it that way!" He pulled out a notebook. He started jotting down notes in meticulous detail.
“…….”
I watched him. His face was genuine. He was straightforward. He was worlds apart from the boss who would scream in despair in just two weeks. I couldn't help it. I had to ask.
“Melwood.”
"Yes?"
“What do you think of this year's freshmen?”
His expression turned serious. He scratched his chin. He looked up at the sky. “……Who knows? Hmm. If I had to say? I pity them.”
“Pity?”
He took off his glasses. He wiped them on his robe. He looked me in the eye. "Yeah. They'll end up like me eventually. Four years here is a lot. Midterms. Finals. Festivals. Events. You have to keep your grades up. Third year is the worst. Theses. Graduation prep." He smiled, but his face grew somber. "Commoners like me have it the hardest. Professors push us into grad school. Families want us to be house mages. I just want to graduate smoothly. No drama." His eyes were misty. He looked tired.
“Got a place lined up?”
"Yeah. It's tough to get into, but my grades are good. I plan to pass. Then I'll head home. I want to brag to my family." He smiled. He walked over to pick up his robe. "But don't you usually avoid the lecture halls, Sub-Marquis?"
“I changed my mind.”
"I see. Meeting you was an honor. I was just taking a break."
“No big deal. I'm honored to see the future of the empire's magic world.”
He gave an awkward laugh. “……Sometimes I wish I had your composure. I've been practicing here alone since my first year. But I won't be coming back anymore." He looked over the field one last time. "Please make good use of it." He gave a brief farewell. He walked back toward the halls. I stood there for a long time.
“……What the hell.”
I couldn't believe it. That was the gatekeeper? That was Melwood Elion? There was no hint of the boss in him. So who was the Melwood I knew? The one screaming in despair? The one blasting magic everywhere?
“…….”
If this diligent student was his true self, what happened? He was just an extra in the game. A commoner. I mulled over the word. In this academy, conflict was inevitable. How did the nobles react to a commoner outshining them? “Is that it?” I had a rough idea now. I understood the tragedy.
Tomorrow was the day. The new semester was finally here. That meant the halls were filling up. Adel Hall and Lubrium Hall were bustling. Even the Merin Hall cafeteria was a marketplace of gossip. Everyone was talking.
—Did you hear? The Roheim heir enrolled in the knight department!
—Lady Shukros is back! She's rivaling Lady Wolfgang for the top spot!
And then there was Ebnis. My sister. The person who had me kicked out.
Suddenly, the door slammed open. A student shouted, "Guys! Lady Repelheit just arrived at Lubrium Hall!" The cafeteria went wild. “The prodigy? In both pen and sword?” "Yeah! She's greeting everyone!" The crowd surged out. The room emptied in seconds. Only two of us were left.
I paused mid-bite. I looked across the table. “You not going?”
Kalen shot back. “She's your family. You not going?”
I smirked. I popped the meat in my mouth. “Nah.” I wasn't going anywhere near her. I plan to live a long life. I plan to keep my title. Now, the real story begins. “Tch. What's so special about being noble-born anyway?”
“……?”
Kalen looked at me in surprise. “Is it okay for you to say that?”
“Noble or commoner. They're all just people. No reason to gawk.”
Kalen thought about it. Then he speared another piece of meat. He went back to eating. That was just like him. He only cared about training. “Heading to the grounds after this?”
“Yes.”
I smirked. “Take it easy. Rest is a virtue for a knight too.”
“Yes, sir!”
Hyrin Snowwhite feels more trust toward you.
Current Affinity Level: LV.1
“I'll keep that in mind!” Kalen gave a crisp salute. He looked my way. He was ready for tomorrow. And so was I.