Chapter 75
Chapter 75
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 75
Chapter Title: 15. School's Star
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We arrived last. I folded up the parasol and looked for the girl who had lent it to me earlier. I’m terrible at remembering faces, but after four years together, I’d memorized almost everyone in our grade except the transfers. Names, too—at least half of them, probably. Anyway, I returned the parasol to the girl who’d lent it.
“Here, your parasol. Thanks.”
My awkward thanks made her beam with joy. She made a huge fuss, saying, “It’s nothing! Glad it helped!” Honestly, I’d joked before about Inha and Hansu being the school stars, but now I was the one. Hugging that slight burden, I headed back to my friends.
The kids were sparring on the teacher’s orders or their own initiative, practicing mana flow, or quietly working on spells. I kept my mana circulating around me while practicing magic. Of course, we huddled in a quiet corner.
“What’s that?”
“Uh… a doll illusion made from a handkerchief? So it doesn’t stand out.”
“How do you use it?”
“Does it talk?”
“Eek…”
I pressed down on the handkerchief doll’s head. It let out a purring sound like a cat.
“That’s not talking, it’s crying…”
“I can speak properly, you know?”
“Ooh!”
Hyunho was the most thrilled. Makes sense.
“It’s like my spirit speech magic!”
Hyunho had started using spirit speech magic this year. His favorite use was naming things. Naming a water doll he created with magic would fix its form or even give it personality. That’s the result of tinkering with toy-related spells. He used spirit speech that way to complement his main water magic. Naming real dolls worked too.
“Now you can do weird stuff with illusions.”
“Where’s weird about me?”
Being a handkerchief, it had no mouth, so the voice had an odd echo.
“But isn’t manifesting an illusion harder than just implementation?”
“Yeah. This isn’t manifested.”
“What? Really?”
Minhee poked the handkerchief doll skeptically.
“Can’t tell at all.”
“Hm… Illusions control all five senses. Gotta make it hard to notice.”
“Oh?”
“Yeah.”
It had texture because it was an illusion, not a simple fantasy. Soon after, I made the handkerchief doll vanish with a flick. Vanishing felt like melting into a dream. It disappeared as if it had never been. My illusion motions were getting pretty smooth.
That’s when I sensed kids approaching and turned. Kang Yesl led a group of girls from our class our way.
I flinched. Kang Yesl was the most intimidating right now. She was the president of my… fan… fan clu… Ugh, cringey!
Kang Yesl approached with her usual shy expression lately and spoke to me.
“Um, Eunha!”
She started talking, then fidgeted shyly, like a pubescent girl in front of her crush.
“Could you… maybe watch my magic sometime?”
“…”
We fell silent, exchanging looks. It felt bad seeing someone so openly fond of me get shot down, but with a request like that, I had to ask.
Before I could sort my thoughts, Minhee spoke up.
“Hey, mind if we ask why? Why suddenly ask Eunha to check your magic?”
“Yeah, well… I wanted you to see it once, give some advice maybe. I’m kinda stuck.”
Kang Yesl fiddled with her hair, eyes downcast. I watched her carefully before speaking.
“Um, if it’s that, you should ask a teacher. I’m still learning magic myself, and I don’t know much about your unique magic. Like… I’ve never taught anyone.”
Truth is, I’m just a student, still gobbling up magic. Sure, I’m ahead of my peers and study more, but knowing and teaching are different. Top students don’t always make great tutors.
“Still… could you just take a look? Even just your thoughts.”
Her timid tone, so unlike her usual self, reminded me of a puppy whining at its owner. I glanced at my friends, half-resigned, and nodded. But I focused seriously on her anyway. It was a request; I’d do what I could.
“Eunha, here I go.”
Eyes turned our way. Teacher was away. Kang Yesl activated her magic. Her mana was a blue-yellow, tinged with light green.
Mana shaped around her—not perfectly real like my illusions. It felt like mana tracing lines to form shapes. Yesl filled the area with objects one by one: teddy bear, box, butterfly, eraser, flower ornament… They dropped to the floor as mana shapes. I tilted my head. About ten objects. She retracted her mana, catching her breath.
“What do you think?”
I looked troubled at her question.
“Can’t tell from just this.”
Hansu said it, but I agreed. I pointed at the shapes on the ground.
“What spells are inside those?”
“Yeah, each has a different spell…”
Kang Yesl hugged her teddy bear. The line-drawn bear had an odd three-dimensionality. I eyed it curiously. I’d already copied the spell.
“But the more I use it, the less I get it. I wanna be a combat mage, but I don’t know how to use these in attacks. I’ve tried tons of shapes and experiments, but it just feels like I’m making more and more… It’s confusing. I loved making all sorts during creation…”
I blinked. How to put it—Yesl’s magic was basically like mine in usage. Infusing intent into shapes. Like drawing characters.
“The more shapes I make, the more confused I get on usage… I don’t hate the magic… I love it, so that’s why I’m stuck.”
“…”
“I talked to friends, teachers, but still… So I thought of you, Eunha…”
“Hm…”
I pondered, then shared my thoughts.
“Then pick a basic form?”
Yesl’s head snapped up.
“Like, even simple elementals have forms: light is light, water is water, ice is ice? So set a basic form for yours… Or go formless, just shapes…”
Watching more, her magic felt less like shape-granting and more like drawing. I could draw with mine too, so it felt familiar.
“If setting a form, pick what you like best, what’s comfy. If not, rethink. Wanna make techniques? Build as you go, settle on them. Shape-granting can do lots, so use one by one as needed. And lots of shapes or confusion isn’t bad. No need to force-memorize what’s hard. Just use when needed.”
“…”
“But you’re practicing, training. No rush—try lots, remember what clicks. Might suddenly use a shelved one someday. Plus, you’ll cast tons of magic ahead.”
That’s my take. I’ve developed way more spells than I can remember. Notebook helps, but some I’ve used once and forgot without it. Still, if needed, I’d recall it first. It’s my magic, my technique.
Yesl just overthought it. That’s what I figured.
If unfixed forms bug her, make one she wants. Simple as that for me. Maybe not for her.
Kang Yesl’s eyes widened, lost in thought. Her face brightened. Did my words hit home? Oh, I added one more thing.
“And attacks… I suck at those too… No clue…”
“Mm! That’s enough!”
She bowed to me.
“Thank you!”
Grinning wide, she spun and rejoined her friends, chatting and laughing. Looked like her worries eased. Good? I scratched my head, feeling mixed.
Then Minhee, who’d watched quietly, clapped.
“Surprising!”
“…? What?”
“Just… somehow.”
I tilted my head. Hansu nodded agreement.
“You gave decent advice, surprisingly.”
“Huh? Yesl’s magic is like mine, so I suggested how I use it.”
“Oh, true.”
Minhee agreed. Yesl’s drawing—minus the manifestation—kinda like Eunha’s character magic? Inha nodded too. Yeah, I thought so. Yesl’s similar to mine. Hyunho too, kinda.
Hm. Inha tugged my hand. We chattered till class end.
As school wrapped, Master messaged: wanted to see me today. I was puzzled.
‘Not training, just wanna see? What’s up? Something to say?’
I tilted my head but replied okay. Parted with friends, headed to Master’s.
But it turned into training.
Yeah. Talk led to it. Guess she called to train me. Could’ve just said so.
After, casually, I mentioned today’s thing—Kang Yesl asking advice. Kinda worried about bad influence.
I’m no teacher, barely learning magic myself. So I consulted Master.
“So, what do you think?”
She smiled her usual refined smile, finger to lips—elegant as ever. Twins with Junhwi Teacher, yet so different.
“Not bad.”
“Really?”
I brightened. Whew, good. Didn’t wanna harm a talented kid like Yesl.
“Yeah. Pretty solid advice, actually. Maybe you’ve got teacher potential.”
I blushed, scratching my head. Me, teacher material…
Past life flashed: as eldest sister, I taught siblings sometimes. But got frustrated and yelled… Hard to agree.
“How’s spell copying?”
“Hm, just watching and mimicking, not hard. Sometimes mix-ups, but I remember the mana feel… Slight error, I notice midway.”
“Scary growth. Your sensing talent.”
“Yeah, right…?”
I nodded. True, even to me. Could past me copy others’ magic like this? Not easy for anyone, so it’s impressive. Still didn’t feel real. Genius acknowledged a year ago, same.
“Still weak on offense, but defense solidifying. Relieving.”
“…”
“But remember: if attacked, attack back. Unless you want loss. Or death.”
It hit my heart cold. I nodded, eyes shaky. I’m not that soft-hearted. Just fights feel unreal.
Master gazed, then checked time. Sunset already.
“…Got late. Hold you longer, sun sets.”
“Ah, yeah. Then I’ll…”
“No, wait. Something to say.”
She gestured as I rose. I turned. She sat, gazing at sunset sky.
“Won’t see you awhile. Heavy mission.”
“No seeing?”
“Yeah… Short week, long over month.”
“That long…”
First time, I looked flustered. She’s no fighter. Why suddenly…?
“What… happened…?”
Carefully asked. She brushed it off.
“Organization matter. Not for a kid.”
“…”
I shut up.
“It’s serious for us, so no contact awhile.”
“Uh…”
“Best not message till I do.”
Slightly bummed, but I nodded casually.
“Okay. Got it.”
Turned.
“Thanks for today. Heading out.”
“Yeah.”
“…”
“And…”
She hesitated. I looked puzzled; she shook head.
“…No, never mind. Stay safe till we meet.”
I smiled.
Bowed to Master, used teleport badge. Home front, I felt wistful. Always anticipated her training—full of fulfillment, joy, reward. Month-plus without? Unsettling.
‘Self-training then… Dream world tonight?’
Headed in thinking that. Inha waited.
“Back?”
“Yeah.”
“What’d Teacher say?”
“Something organization-related. No contact awhile.”
“What?”
Inha narrowed eyes curiously, tilting head.
“Why?”
“Dunno. Important, seems.”
“I see…”
Inha nodded. Yeah, Master has duties. Prioritized my training till now. I nodded back.
After, Inha and I chatted, played normal, parted. Alone, I read late in room. Then opened notebook.
Scanned successful spells. Unchecked ones. Post-mana depletion, many new checks. Spotted one.
『Try character magic in dream—possible?』
‘Dreams’ long hypothesized.
What’s a dream? Mental world unreal things manifest, or parallel realm? Mysterious, undefined. Ask dream recall—vague usually. I control dream realm now, so remember fine…
Can dreams be magicked? Feels so, since I built mine magically. Grinned at line.
“Alright. Tonight’s it!”
Bright, checked time: past 11. Washed, bathroom done. Bedtime. Fluffy blanket in summer heat—my stubborn choice. Hugged quilt, closed eyes.
Counted slowly inside: one, two, three. Opened eyes. Starlight poured down.
Dream world hit; smile automatic. Unbelievably beautiful—hard to believe my imagination. Rippling black navy sea. Starry silver Milky Way in black sky. Silver-blue light leaking from horizon. Pre-dawn, sun not up, light creeping.
Time frozen. Stopped dream world. Yet so beautiful.
My lucid dream. Do anything here, natural.
But dream actions usually don’t affect reality. Normally. My illusion magic manipulates minds via dreams.
“Here, magic. What to try?”
Thought. Notebook says character magic first?
‘Dream’ so assumable, but never manifested magically.
Maybe all illusion magic.
“Then… yeah! This.”
Pen in hand naturally, wrote characters. Appeared as wanted.
『Protect my dream from magical intrusion. Erect barrier over dream world. Maintain as dream-only barrier. Allow entry only on my permission.』
Barrier on dream itself. I peek others’ dreams sometimes; maybe vice versa. Or mind magic on me. Test and defense prep.
Characters spread, soaked in. Felt barrier up. Unlike lucid dreaming—more like first dream world creation: certainty. ‘Magic success.’ Years of casting, same feel.
Grinned wide. New method success—indescribable thrill, near ecstasy. Joyed, tried more.
『Recall memory orb.』
『Star color blue!』
『Restore star color.』
『Dream world shifts slightly with my mood.』
『…』
Learned: dream magic uses little mana. Interfering outside or deep mind stuff uses more. But vs. reality, ‘just that.’ So freer here.
Ran out of repertoire testing. Hard to recall on spot. Pondered, last one:
『Door to Inha’s dream world』
Finding specific dreams takes time. Character control here would help tons.
Soon, pure white door appeared. Admired: white door rising from sea—fantastic.
Grabbed handle, opened.
Dazzling world unlike prior glow greeted.
Feather-light flooded view. Floor fluffy feather clouds. Step out—boundless light feathers softly wrapped foot. Pure white, lemon-glow around.
Door closed. White from my side; navy from Inha’s.
Sky warm yellow-tinged white fluff. Fairy-tale fantastical beauty. Feathers surrounded by plush dolls, animals. Endless white, yet cozy, lovely, cute. Adorable, whimsical.
Walked feather path. Soon, Inha: asleep on feather bed. Felt like prince eyeing Sleeping Beauty. Sat, smiled down. Her warmth felt good.
Closed eyes.