Basic Magic Class (2)
Deneb and Charlotte took turns practicing the basic spells written in the textbook. Controlling mana within the body was common knowledge that students were expected to master before enrolling at the academy, so there was no need to start from there. If handling mana was like basic arithmetic, then spells were a kind of formulaic system. Even for first-time spells, as long as you knew how to manipulate mana, just following along would make something happen.
“Shh, Shield!”
“……Oh?”
“Y-Young master! I did it! Wow, it actually worked?!”
“It's a barrier spell, right? Looks even better than the one in the book.”
Yozef was seated too far away for any interaction, so Deneb and Charlotte took turns observing each other's magic and demonstrating them one by one. In truth, even before coming to the academy, they'd experimented with makeshift spells from books back at the estate, so it wasn't anything new. But practicing in this spacious, well-equipped lecture hall under a professor's guidance made it feel like they were finally learning for real—his heart raced with excitement.
“Oh, a defensive spell, Shield.”
Meanwhile, as Charlotte deployed a mana shield in front of herself, Professor Danei approached and offered some advice.
“Among general magic, defensive spells like this are quite rare and valuable. Wizards tend to prefer piercing through things rather than blocking them, after all.”
“R-Really?”
“It seems Miss Charlotte has a real talent for this field. If you're interested, focusing on defensive magic might be a good path.”
“Hehe……”
Deneb secretly thought Charlotte's personality was influencing her magical aptitude. She'd always been good at protecting others, even as a child. Whenever another maid accidentally broke a plate or made a mistake, Charlotte would step forward first, claiming it was her fault to cover for them. Of course, his parents and siblings knew it wasn't her, so she never got harshly scolded.
“On the other hand, for Deneb……”
In contrast, Deneb wasn't exceptionally skilled at any of the spells he tried. Mental magic and summoning magic didn't work at all despite attempts, suggesting zero aptitude, and debilitation magic had pathetically weak effects. General magic was average at best—nothing more.
“Wait, are you skipping blessing magic?”
“……Yes.”
Deneb scratched his head sheepishly. The reason he hadn't practiced blessing magic was simple.
‘Not really appealing, huh?’
According to Professor Danei's explanation, blessings were magic used by priests to support others. Deneb had no desire to live as a priest in this life, nor to just hang back assisting someone else. So he'd quietly skipped over blessing magic, but Danei had caught him red-handed.
“Let's give it a try. Start with the haste spell, Haste.”
“Who should I cast it on?”
“Try it on me.”
Without much expectation, Deneb cast the spell on Danei. He was simply thrilled at the idea of learning magic, not particularly aiming to excel. Above all, he'd never once imagined he'd have outstanding talent solely in blessing magic.
……But the result was completely unexpected.
“U, aaaaah!”
“Professor?!”
“I-It won't stooop!”
“Cancel! Cancel! Wait, why won't it cancel?!”
He'd only taken one step forward to test the spell's effect, but Danei shot across the lecture hall and nearly smashed into the wall nose-first. Trying to walk back at normal speed sent him crashing toward the opposite wall forehead-first. Then, suddenly, he returned to normal speed.
“Gah, hack……”
“Professor, are you okay?”
“Young master, that was your spell just now, right…?”
“I don't know, I have no idea what happened……”
As Deneb watched Danei slump to the floor, quelling the nausea of the other students, he averted his gaze elsewhere.
“……Hmm.”
The girl in the next seat over, who had been sleeping soundly until moments ago, rubbed her sleepy eyes and pointed at Professor Danei with a finger.
‘No way……’
The thought flashed that perhaps the girl had helped restore Danei's speed. Just then, she stared straight at Deneb again. But before she could part her lips to speak—
Danei, having tripped while struggling with the speed, rushed over and planted himself in front of Deneb.
“That Haste just now—was that your spell, Deneb?”
“Uh… yeah? But Professor, your clothes are filthy.”
“This is nothing. When you've found a promising magic talent, who cares about a little dirt?”
“A magic talent?”
Deneb glanced around, then pointed at himself.
“Me?”
This was his first real magic lesson—what nonsense. But Danei kept his voice calm, as if ready to explain why Deneb was a magic genius.
“No, Deneb, you're not talented in all magic. Historic prodigies usually handled every type freely—general magic and beyond.”
“……I see.”
“Yes, but these days, with magic specialization, wizards who master one narrow field outnumber the broad generalists. Specialization, you see.”
Deneb nodded at Danei's words. Makes sense—ancient wizards handled everything solo: fireballs as basics, hypnosis, blessings, debilitations. That's why their value was sky-high.
“But Deneb, you have genius-level talent in blessing magic specifically.”
“That much?”
“You can't control the output yet… But there's a wizard's adage: underpowered is bad, overpowered never is.”
“I like that one.”
“Indeed. With power like that Haste, just a few years of honing, and you'd be a promising blessing mage.”
He hadn't expected much from magic—combat was his thing—but talent here? Not bad at all. The gripe? It was blessing magic, specialized in helping others, not flashy general spells, versatile debilitations, mind tricks, or exotic summons.
Why blessings, of all things?
“Aren't blessings mainly for priests? I don't really want to be one.”
His slightly disappointed tone startled Danei, who seemed worried his explanation might deter a prodigy and quickly added more.
“Ahem… Because of your aptitude, Deneb, but no—blessings aren't exclusive to priests.”
“Really?”
“Some warriors cast them on themselves mid-battle. It's rare, so I skipped it in class—forgive me.”
“Self-blessings……”
Danei's addition sparked interest in blessings. Aptitude means nothing without appeal. Deneb couldn't just support from the rear—he wasn't wired that way. But slathering his frail body in blessings for combat? That erased his weaknesses. Solid merit.
“Of course, it's no easy feat. Casting while moving and fighting? Extremely hard. If anyone could, there'd be no warrior-mage divide.”
“Got it. Thanks for the advice. I'll give it a shot.”
Unexpected gain from the first class. He'd come to learn magic, not expecting personal talent. Even in his past life, a resistance mage comrade had said Deneb had zero gift—stick to assassination. Same soul, new body, but apparently magic-friendly.
“Heh, heh heh……”
As Danei moved to help other students, an unsettling chuckle escaped Deneb. Not just combat prodigy, but magic too? Bliss.
Then, another gaze prickled. No need to turn—he knew it was the white-haired girl from the left seat, who'd stared earlier.
‘Does she really have something to say?’
Earlier, she'd tried speaking but Danei interrupted. Curiosity peaked; should he ask first? But this time, vowing not to just stare, the white-haired girl finally addressed him directly.
“Deneb Lehinar?”
“……Uh, how do you know my name?”
“Do you know where magical aptitude comes from?”
“Out of nowhere? Wait, my name—?”
Ignoring his questions, she continued.
“It's personality. Some seem unrelated, but personality and magic are deeply linked.”
“……Yeah?”
No clue why she was approaching him, but it intrigued, so he listened.
“That girl beside you has defensive talent because she inherently wants to protect others. You feel it, don't you?”
“G-Girl? First meeting and that's harsh……”
“Quiet.”
“Yes……”
Charlotte, cringing, hid behind Deneb. The girl's words echoed his thoughts about Charlotte, heightening interest. Eyes sparkling, he asked:
“Then me? What about me?”
“You saw— you're gifted in blessings. Far more than her defenses.”
“Ooh……”
Matched Danei's words, but somehow more convincing. Plus, questions piled up: how she knew his name, her eerie resemblance to Yustina. Half-suspecting it was her, but mid-magic talk, he held back, observing.
“Surely tied to personality. Those who excel at supporting from behind, aiding others.”
“I help people…?”
“Not just 'helping.' Raising plants or animals well also signals blessing aptitude. So……”
“So?”
Suddenly, the white-haired girl flushed, hesitating.
“So, have you ever……”
After agonizing, she squeezed her eyes shut and blurted:
“……Um, raised children before?”
“Children?”
After a brief think, Deneb answered.
“No.”