Basic Magic Class (1)
Meanwhile, rewinding the clock just a bit earlier—while Deneb and Charlotte chattered excitedly about the classes ahead—a girl peeked her head around the classroom entrance.
Her name was Yustina. The academy's chairwoman and a dragon, yet here she was in a crisp school uniform, her face innocently youthful. The idea from yesterday to disguise herself as a student had seemed fine at first, but the thought of studying alongside humans centuries her junior suddenly made her chest tighten. Was this really the right call? Should she have listened when Zerniel tried to talk her out of it?
“Ughhh……”
“Who's that girl?”
“Never seen her before.”
“She's gorgeous.”
Leaning against the doorframe as she peered inside, Yustina drew the eyes of every passerby. But the only thing she cared about was one specific seat in the classroom: Deneb Lehinar's left side.
His right was already taken by Charlotte, so if she wanted to sit next to him, the left was her only option.
Sitting right next to him out of nowhere—won't that look suspicious? If he's not Dane, what a sleazy spectacle that would be. Though... even if he is really Dane, getting caught would be a problem too...
The urge to observe him up close and confirm if he was truly Dane clashed with the desire to slink into a corner and watch from afar.
For now, just in case... a little precaution.
In the midst of her indecision, Yustina cast a faint mental magic spell on Deneb's left seat to keep anyone else from taking it. Anyone who approached would feel an inexplicable aversion, urging them to choose somewhere else. Thanks to her spell, that prime spot in the classroom remained empty, bypassed by every student.
Wait! Not there!
But then a wrinkle appeared in her plan. None other than Prince Yozef was heading straight for Deneb's left seat.
Having cleared the Trial of Terror in third place upon enrollment, Yozef had considerable resistance to mental magic. With no time left to delay, Yustina let impulse take over. She shoved him aside and claimed the seat next to Deneb.
Wh-what should this Yustina do now?!
The first time they'd spoken, her heart had nearly burst. Once she'd calmed a bit, she'd stared openly to verify if he was really Dane—but she'd gleaned nothing definitive. If he was truly reincarnated, his appearance would have changed completely anyway.
I can't tell just by looking!
If she could confirm he was Dane reborn with Deneb's memories, she'd reveal herself at once. But looks alone offered no proof.
She had confirmed he'd taken the dagger from that room, but even that didn't prove he was Dane. A seventeen-year-old might simply have pocketed it out of treasure-hunting glee.
And of all families, the Lehinar house...
As an objective powerhouse, Yustina had prepared minor safeguards to protect him from “her” when Dane reappeared. But those precautions might look like kidnapping or imprisonment to outsiders, so caution was essential. Deneb wasn't some commoner or minor noble—he hailed from the Lehinar family, deeply tied to the imperial house that dominated most of the continent. If the palace protested formally over a Lehinar's safety, even Yustina would face trouble.
Above all... that child is in the palace. This Yustina hasn't lost her reason—she has no intention of starting an all-out war.
Over the past five hundred years, how many times had she spotted someone resembling Dane, only to be disappointed? She could barely recall the number anymore. Ironclad proof was essential now—irrefutable, beyond doubt. For Deneb's sake, and her own.
I'll have to judge by watching him fight, after all.
She did have one solid belief: Dane had been a master assassin, so Deneb's combat prowess should reveal the truth.
But this was basic magic class. No chance to move or fight.
Combat class is tomorrow, right? I'll check the schedule.
Meanwhile, oblivious to the chaos in Yustina's mind, the professor for magic arrived, and class began.
“Pleased to meet you all, freshmen. I'm Danei, your instructor for basic magic. Looking forward to a great semester.”
The young professor, who always spoke politely, started the lesson. Exactly ten minutes in...
“Hmnya... uuum...”
......Unable to endure the tedium of a class on the absolute basics of magic basics, Yustina soon dozed off with soft snores.
“Hmnya...”
How was I supposed to interpret this?
Just moments ago, the girl next to me had been staring right at me. Now, barely five minutes later, she was out cold.
Basic magic was exclusive to first-years, so she had to be a freshman too. Sleeping through the very first class?
Kids these days...
She'd startled me at first—resembling Yustina so closely—but seeing her like this swung my thoughts toward “just a lookalike.”
That was a real shock earlier.
For a split second, I'd thought Yustina had come for me. My senses, my instincts, screamed it was her.
But rationally, this girl couldn't be Yustina. The chairwoman position was all but confirmed as hers. Why would she bother disguising as a freshman for a basic class freshmen take?
“……”
Forcing reason over my perfectly functioning senses, I tried to focus on the lesson.
Still, just in case she is the Yustina I know...
But my efforts faltered. My mind kept drifting—to her, mostly.
She's come right to me, but hasn't locked me up on sight.
Two possibilities: she wasn't certain I was Dane, or the Yustina in the dagger's memories had changed her mind. I'd prefer the latter, but if it was the former, I'd decided on “wait and see” for now.
My senses warned she's dangerous, Yustina or not.
Once observation confirmed she posed no threat, then we'd have our joyous reunion. Until then: hold off.
“We've covered how most mages cast spells using mana from within... Now, shall we look at magic classifications?”
That said, I quite liked Professor Danei. Too early to judge his lecturing, but his gentle demeanor and expert air embodied Denebergen Academy's prestige. I focused intently, absorbing every bit of magic he taught.
“Magic's possibilities and potential evolve even now, so classifications aren't fixed. But for students, we teach five types for ease of learning.”
Even among weapon users, some wield close-range swords, others prefer ranged bows. Close-range splits further into swords, axes, spears, and more. Mages had schools too.
“First, the most well-known: general magic. This covers the classic image—fireballs, lightning from the sky.”
Danei demonstrated live as he lectured. With a brief incantation, icicles formed in midair, darting around the room like daggers on strings.
“Gahhh!”
“Whoa, Professor, that was close!”
“Haha, precise control means no worries. Most things fall under general magic. What follows are the exceptions.”
The icicles hovering over the podium melted away in an instant. Before anyone could recover, another spell unfolded.
“Huh?”
“Wh-why are there two professors?”
“What're you talking about?”
“Two professors means double the class?”
Some students yelped in shock; others just tilted their heads.
“Charlotte, what do you see?”
“Nothing unusual for me...”
I saw one professor, fine as ever. Charlotte too. In the confusion, Danei snapped his fingers, drawing eyes.
“That was mental magic. Freshmen, you all faced it entering yesterday—familiar, right?”
Some glanced around sheepishly. Right—non-trials got in after evening. Probably those who'd skipped the Trial of Terror.
“Of course, the chairwoman's barrier is leagues above my mental spell. I'm no specialist, haha.”
“Professor, I didn't see it—what happened?”
“Excellent question.”
The boy with dark skin who'd griped about unfairness during the trial raised his hand. Like him—and me—those immune to the spell nodded curiously.
“I'm no mental magic expert, and some of you have strong resistance. Less innate talent, more willpower or mental fortitude—abstract like that.”
Students nodded in understanding. The unaffected shrugged; the affected sulked. But when Danei added anyone could build resistance with effort, smiles returned.
“Third and fourth are support types, though still magic. Blessing magic amplifies abilities; weakening magic does the opposite.”
Blessings were common for healers and supporters. Weakening saw darker uses but deserved respect as a magic branch, Danei said.
“One key point: weakening magic isn't black magic. Black magic doesn't fit these categories—curses, necromancy, that sort.”
The murmurs died. At “black magic,” I thought of Elfin.
Even after five hundred years, black magic stigma persists.
I'd hoped views on necromancy or curses might improve over centuries. Nope. Imperial black mages had even terrorized once, worsening it. Hopefully Elfin's sword and necromancy talents hadn't caused her grief...
“Finally, summoning magic. Rare aptitude means I can't demonstrate. I trust you've grasped the basics.”
First-years took basics; second-year onward, specialize in one of the five. For now, experiment to find my aptitude.
“Alright! Explanation's done—time to try. Chant the basic spell on page one from your seats. Test what suits you; call me if needed.”
Danei clapped. I blinked in surprise. First class, hands-on testing aptitudes? Faster pace than expected. The basics were all harmless, safe spells.
Let's see what I've got.
Excitement bubbling, I started reading page one. Then, a soft mutter from beside me.
“Hmnya... uuum...”
......Should I wake her?