Class 2: Dozing Off and Duel Drama
“Kesera, Kesera! Wake up!”
“...Yeees...”
Someone poked me awake with a stick from the side, and drool was streaming all over my textbook. Hahat☆ Guess the class was way too boring and I conked out.
But... there's a professor throwing a total fit right in front of me?
“Kesera! You saying you can't even listen to my class? Get up here and solve it!”
The pint-sized professor had a bunch of magic circles spread out on the podium. But to me, they just looked like dead-simple formula breakdowns. I mean, stuff on the level of 121 minus 130 times 20—what do you expect from elementary-school math...
“This one, right—?”
“Yeah, that's it! Solve that, and I'll let your napping slide today.”
I headed up to the podium, and damn, the professor was seriously my height. Kid-like face too—is she really a professor?
Anyway, I mulled over how to solve this basic equation.
“It's tough, right? That's why no sleeping, got it?”
So... derive it from the analytic definitions of basic arithmetic? Nah, that lame☆ little squirt wouldn't get it. I just spat out the easy answer.
Multiplication first is obvious logic.
Sure enough, once I gave the answer, my magic circle showed an ice whirlwind splitting into four prongs. The whole classroom went “ooh!” in awe at my instant solve.
What, are they all morons?
Well, maybe only I see magic as straight-up math. No way to intuitively abstract it from professor lectures or magic tomes. Magic theory just shoehorns it into natural phenomena with zero logic, and that's the empire's foundation—what can ya do.
“Ooh…! Uh, no! Even if we're the same height. Miss Kesera! Don't underestimate a teacher just 'cause she's a sylph, got it?”
“Got it☆”
Now that I think about it, her face was a tad different from the humans. Sylph, huh.
I hopped down casually, and Naru stared at me all dumbfounded. Jealous again? Her face screams “I coulda done that too.”
“Right, the magic freshman Kesera solved is called the Ludenruph Proof. Good prep study. If only you stayed awake!”
“Didn't prep-study~☆ Problem was too easy?”
Calling doodle-tier magic a “proof”? What~ This world's so lame.
The spell's pretty, though—maybe that's why.
“Kesera, yes. Academy kids solve this easy these days. But inventing this formula pre-empire? Revolutionary!”
Her tiny limbs hopping to defuse things was kinda cute, so I held back on more teasing. Just elegantly filed my nails like always while class droned on.
Naru kept hesitating to say something—adorable. But the prof, same height as me, looked kinda pitiful up there.
Wonder if I'd look that pitiful on the podium.
“Hmph hmph, class dismissed early today! Ten minutes ahead!”
The sylph prof banged her staff to end it. Students cheered at the early out.
I was stuffing books in my bag when she waddled over.
“Hmph, if there were attitude points, I'd slash 'em! Kesera.”
“Oooong~ It's okay♡, Professor.”
“Ugh—!”
Her stomping exit was pretty cute.
“Professor's super pissed. Kesera, you're screwed—she'll drag you up daily for problems now.”
“Whatever~☆”
“Love how chill you are. Kesera, lunch together?”
“Nope☆”
Naru called out, but I beelined for the cafeteria without a glance back.
“Hey! Kesera! Keseeraaa—!”
Seeing the prof huff at my back, maybe I overdid it. But... growing age means killer sleepiness—what to do.
Does Naru only share Four Elements class? Didn't tag along after.
She signed up for like 20 credits? No chattery kid means afternoon classes were extra dull.
No attendance score, I'd nap under a tree—
But 32 credits? I'm the idiot. For early graduation... gotta suck it up.
Thankfully, last class was 5pm sparring. 4+1 credits—everyone takes it.
Imperial Academy's all about magic combat, after all.
Sparring field was the entrance exam spot, colosseum-style.
Tailing the crowd inside, eyes everywhere. Not on me, though—over there.
“Whoa, ranking match!”
“Where?”
“3rd-year Red challenged White?”
“No way, that Red?”
“Yup, Rosirden rival vibe.”
“Gonna scrap with Larosita and Minailia again.”
Students forming fan clubs and swarming? Kinda baffling. Never saw that in my past life—novel stuff.
You elites entered this elite academy too, right? Lame☆
Deeper in, freshmen clustered. Sparring prof in sight.
...That discipline lame uncle from before?
Next to him, lady TA with 7th-year tag.
Ah, grad student soon? Poor thing...☆
Freshmen already grouping, yapping away.
TA spoke up after a bit.
“Hello, I'm Seris, TA for Sparring. This is Professor Asterion Le Sorden Jekarimorium, Discipline head and sparring instructor. Duties kept him away last week, but he's here now. First class for freshmen, right?”
“Hrm... yes. I'm Asterion Le Sorden Jekarimorium. Pleased.”
Scary mug? Freshmen shut up instantly.
“Call me Professor Asterion. Learn from your spars—and others'.”
Guy looks ready to murder, total conviction.
Felt it investigating: call him lame~ and eat a fist.
“We'll watch 3rd-years spar. Scores let you challenge rankings—not just Sparring.”
Heard basics, but review's fine. Ties to my early grad.
“Challenge anyone. But semesterly irrefusable duel locks challenger out rest of term.”
Huge penalty, explains rarity.
“Empire history's system-defense wars—you know. Spar anytime. Don't slack self-defense.”
““Yes, Professor!””
“Explanation done. 3rd-years' ranking match—move.”
Freshmen—including me—trailed the scary prof without a peep.
Field arrival: 3rd-year Red and White glaring like beasts.
Boring lame fight anyway?
But nagging bad stare... that filthy Black from class?
Soul-snatched slimy husk.
Tamer vibe than that night, still creeps me out.
Luca's head felt totally clear since fainting.
That day was dreamlike—woke in some woods.
Worsened since enrollment: rage whispers urging world-upend for true equality, dozens, hundreds times. Near madness.
So... enrollment day, slum-rat Luca envied that pureblood kid.
She wouldn't hear the maddening murmurs.
Fell for her magic, but bloodline hate spiked inexplicably.
Paradox: she freed him from rage.
Whispers gone now.
Stealing glances to thank, the kid shot him a glare.
“Hey, lame.”
Contempt worse than vermin—tsk echoed.
Hearing Kesera's voice, weird flutter in his solar plexus.
To Luca... her voice was utterly seductive.