Episode 20
Episode 20
Having stayed with the Wardanaz family for so long, I'd forgotten just how much imperial nobles love to put on airs.
Imperial nobles value honor more than life itself! Even on the brink of bankruptcy, they consider lavish dining a matter of pride!
'Ugh. I went through unnecessary trouble.'
"Excellent! Two students from the Blue Dragon Tower have succeeded."
"?"
Lee Han turned to look.
The Princess had also raised her hand. Not only that, she was currently throwing a glance at Lee Han.
And that gaze wasn't particularly friendly. Her blue eyes held a cold emotion.
'What's this about?'
Lee Han fell into thought.
Being disliked by the Princess, one of the Blue Dragon Tower's most talented students, wasn't exactly beneficial.
Moreover, Lee Han couldn't recall having wronged her in any way.
If anything, he'd only shown her kindness.
They'd hunted boars together, shared useful lectures that would help students...
'I even made plans to get her help with assignments and exams later. Why is she acting like this? Is it because I've been hanging out with Gyeinan?'
Tap tap-
"Wardanaz."
Ashan Dalkard whispered quietly.
"Her Highness seems to believe some strange rumors circulating about you, Wardanaz."
"Strange rumors?"
"Rumors that you're looking for ways to slack off without dedicating yourself to magic. Absolute nonsense, of course."
Ashan looked as angry as if it were his own matter.
After all, there's no way someone from the Wardanaz family would do such a thing.
But Lee Han was shocked.
'Wait. That's accurate? How did she know?'
It was so precisely on point that it sent shivers down his spine!
And Lee Han didn't particularly feel ashamed about it.
Because it was true.
However, Ashan appeared to be extremely, extremely angry about such ridiculous rumors.
"I'm disappointed in Her Highness because of this. Of course, the person who spread these rumors is the worst, but to believe such nonsense..."
"Well... it's somewhat believable, isn't it?"
"...?!"
Ashan was astonished.
Wardanaz...
Just how magnanimous are you planning to be!
Though students from the Blue Dragon Tower come from great noble families, none showed the very essence of nobility like Wardanaz before Ashan's eyes now.
Ashan suddenly realized why his family had sent him to this school.
They must have sent him to meet someone like this.
"You're truly remarkable, Wardanaz."
"??"
Lee Han was puzzled by Ashan's reaction.
'Did he eat something wrong?'
"Light, come forth!"
"Shine."
Both Lee Han and the Princess successfully cast the <Light Creation> spell.
A glowing sphere of light formed at the tip of their wands, remaining there like a lantern.
The Princess's <Light Creation> magic gave off a cool, sharp impression, while Lee Han's <Light Creation> felt like a fiercely burning sun.
Professor Garcia clapped her hands in delight.
"Wonderfully done! It's rare for students to succeed with luminescent magic in the first week. I'm delighted to meet such talented individuals. Of course, there's no need to feel anxious or disappointed. Luminescent magic is the most basic of 1st Circle spells, the one that teaches you what magic is. Being slightly faster or slower won't determine your path in magic."
'That doesn't sound very convincing.'
That's what Lee Han thought.
True, as Professor Garcia said, this <Light Creation> spell couldn't be used to assess students' talents.
To compare it to mathematics, just because someone gets comfortable with addition faster doesn't mean they'll be good at solving complex problems like calculus later.
But there was no way such words would reach the currently competitive students.
In reality, everyone was burning with thoughts like 'I'll definitely master this before those other tower bastards!'
Professor Garcia continued with a bright smile.
"The reason we're learning <Light Creation> first is... because the magic we'll study this semester is Elemental Magic. By learning <Light Creation>, you've unconsciously picked up the knack for using Elemental Magic."
"!"
The students straightened their postures with excited expressions at Professor Garcia's words.
Elemental magic!
Elemental magic fundamentally included everything from easy attributes like fire, water, earth, and wind to more difficult ones like darkness or plants.
And this elemental magic served as a solid foundation before learning other complex and difficult spells.
Want to summon spirits?
If you wanted to summon a fire spirit, you needed to learn fire elemental magic to some degree. Otherwise, you wouldn't be able to control the fire spirit.
Want to create artifacts?
If you wanted to handle fire-attributed gems or imbue fire-related magic, you naturally needed some proficiency in fire elemental magic.
Going on a distant journey or assigned to work in remote imperial lands?
Even with just basic elemental magic, wizards could earn respect. Simply being able to light campfires or prepare drinking water made you incredibly valuable skilled labor.
Thus, elemental magic—starting with relatively easy spells and extending to applications for other magics—served as fundamental education that all novice wizards needed to learn.
To make a crude comparison, it was like learning addition and subtraction before studying higher mathematics.
"Today we'll practice <Light Creation> magic again, but at the same time, I'll have you test various basic elemental magics. Everyone has an element that suits their aptitude, and finding that element is important too."
The students whispered excitedly.
Truthfully, wizards didn't need to learn all magic. They only needed to study fields they were interested in and wanted to learn.
Thus, rather than mastering all elemental magics, it was better to find the element that suited you and focus on learning it diligently.
This was precisely why Professor Garcia wasn't fixated on <Light Creation> magic.
"Now then..."
When Professor Garcia tapped the classroom floor with his large staff, candles appeared before each student and burst into flame.
"The technique is the same as last time with <Light Creation>. But this time, instead of light, you're making fire burn. You'll want to be more careful. Unlike light, fire can burn people."
Gulp—
Some students looked nervous.
"With the incantation rising from your heart... Burn!"
A blazing fireball appeared before Professor Garcia—a mysterious magical flame burning on its own without any fuel.
"Go ahead, everyone. There's no need to be too afraid. I'll be right here with you."
"Burn bright!"
"Flicker flicker..."
"Sizzle sizzle..."
"Whoosh..."
The students concentrated hard, trying to conjure images of 'fire' in their minds.
A few quick-witted students, realizing Professor Garcia's intent, brought their hands close to the candles or stared intently at the flickering flames.
When focusing your mind, having the actual target nearby made it much easier to form mental imagery.
Using a wizard's unique mental power to visualize fire.
Channeling mana and reciting the incantation with the intense will to create that fire!
Lee Han also focused, intending to learn fire magic properly this time—unlike with <Light Creation>, where he'd been fooled by others.
"Wait. Hold on."
"?"
But Professor Garcia stopped Lee Han.
"Lee Han. Don't practice ignition magic."
"???"
Lee Han was puzzled.
Now that he looked, only Lee Han didn't have a candle. Instead, there was a copper bowl filled with rippling water.
"Why is that?"
"It's dangerous."
"......"
Lee Han understood.
Even during <Light Creation> practice, he'd frequently lost control, causing the light to explode.
At least with light, explosions only made your eyes sting—no real harm done.
But if fire exploded?
'Hmm. That'd kill several people.'
Lee Han nodded in acceptance. The reason was undeniable.
"It'd be better to try once your mana control improves and your sensitivity to elements becomes more refined."
"Understood."
"Until then, practice <Water Creation> magic. Even if you fail with <Water Creation>, it won't be dangerous."
Water.
Like fire, it was one of the fundamental elements.
While it might be difficult to vividly conjure up images of metal or lightning, few people would struggle to imagine water.
It was that easy and familiar of an element.
Moreover, unlike fire, it wasn't dangerous even if you failed.
But...
'Water is a bit... ambiguous.'
The downside of water elemental magic.
It wasn't that it lacked coolness...
...Well, that too, but—
'Though that's also true, its practicality is a bit ambiguous.'
Its usefulness was just... questionable.
For offense?
Fire or lightning were better.
For defense?
Earth or metal were superior.
If he had to pick an advantage, it was that he could create his own drinking water while traveling, but...
'What a painfully niche advantage.'
For Lee Han, whose goal was to land a cushy, sweet job as an imperial mage, such survival-oriented utility felt rather underwhelming.
But what could he do?
He couldn't risk setting everything on fire while practicing flames.
"Spring forth!"
"Wardanaz. I'm jealous. Getting special instruction from the professor."
Ashan, who was practicing nearby, spoke with envy.
Of course, to Lee Han, it just sounded like nonsense.
'Does this look like special instruction to you?'
He, too, just wanted to learn fire magic like everyone else.
Instead, he was stuck with this element of dubious practicality...
"Spring forth!"
"Spring forth!"
Splash!
On just the third attempt, a fist-sized mass of water materialized in the air.
"!?"
Not droplets—an entire fist-sized glob of water!
Lee Han was stunned, and Professor Garcia looked equally shocked.
Even accounting for his recent success with luminescence magic, mastering water creation in just three attempts?
That wasn't something you saw every day.
And not just droplets—a solid mass of water.
This was only possible with an exceptional natural affinity for the element.
'Incredible!'
"Everyone, look here! Student Lee Han has successfully cast water elemental magic!"
"Whoaa...!"
"Amazing!"
"As expected of Wardanaz!"
The students of the Blue Dragon Tower watched with delighted expressions, while those from the White Tiger Tower scowled, their gazes tinged with jealousy.
Clap clap clap—
Professor Garcia applauded as she spoke.
"Student Lee Han is outstanding. You would all do well to learn from him. But, everyone—there's no need to feel impatient. Each of you has an element that suits your disposition. Once you find yours, you'll grasp the knack in no time. Those raised near volcanoes or forges will excel with fire, those from riversides or coasts with water, those from windswept barren lands with wind... The elements you're most familiar with will be the easiest to visualize and control."
Listening to this, Lee Han tilted his head in confusion.
'But I didn't grow up near a river or the sea?'
The only water-related memory in his life was getting pranked by the professor.
Was he just naturally attuned to water?
Not that it was a bad thing, but still...
'Would've been nicer if I had an affinity for something rare, like lightning or ice.'
It was an advantage, sure—but such a weird one that it left him feeling oddly conflicted.
Suddenly, he felt a gaze on him and turned to see the Princess quickly look away. She must have been staring intently just moments ago.
'?'
The moment his focus wavered, the floating mass of water lost its shape and splattered onto the floor.
Professor Garcia nodded approvingly.
"Student Lee Han, your next task will be to maintain and stabilize the water after creating it."
"Understood, Professor."
Now that he'd grasped the basics of water creation, maintaining focus to sustain it should be easier.
Lee Han answered absentmindedly—then suddenly frowned and asked,
"Professor. How long do I have to maintain and stabilize it?"
"Ah, normally, your mana would run out long before you'd need to— Wait. Hold on."
For most novice mages, their concentration would give out before their mana did.
But this freshman was the exact opposite.
With his monstrous mana reserves, that wouldn't be an issue.
Professor Garcia nodded cheerfully.
"Just keep it up until the end of class!"
"...???"
Lee Han doubted his ears.
Uh...
Wasn't that just punishment?