Ruen's First Lecture
Ruen Eternno. The name was undoubtedly at the center of buzz in both the academy and the magical scholarly world these days.
They had one thing in common: the hype. But the reasons differed.
In the academy, it was her youthful appearance that didn't suit her position.
In scholarly circles, it was the weight of the names guaranteeing her skills.
The letters of recommendation that had allowed Ruen to join the academy so effortlessly. The names of those who had personally written them spread like wildfire.
Golden Magic Tower Master Elmaster and the Northern Mage.
"Elmaster" was a pseudonym passed down to each successive Magic Tower Master.
Thus, both were mages using aliases.
Yet their prowess was no secret shrouded in mystery.
The Northern Mage.
No one in scholarly circles could even guess at his true identity.
Some said he was a descendant of an ancient magical lineage.
Others claimed he was a recluse who had devoted his life to magic.
But one thing was clear: the magical perfection of the carriages he created.
The Northern carriages that appeared in the capital once every two weeks, crafted by that unknown designer.
On the days those carriages sliced through the skies, every mage in the capital gathered to witness the feat.
Those who dismissed it as mere coincidence or a fluke were now few and far between.
In the scholarly world, where the chatter had died down, one fact remained.
A genius. Or perhaps a calamity.
The brilliant flow of mana, the Northern prestige soaring endlessly skyward—it all proved his skill.
One spell, not even fully understood, had birthed an entirely new school of magic.
The Northern Mage was growing in presence day by day, now hailed as a milestone of a new era.
And the other who vouched for Ruen? Elmaster, Master of the Golden Magic Tower.
Everyone in the empire knew the weight that name carried.
He had commercialized magical tools once reserved for the elite, systematized magic as a tactical art.
Not just scholars—from common folk to battlefield knights, nobles, and the imperial family.
It was no exaggeration to say the entire empire had benefited from Elmaster's grace.
"Magic studies are divided into tales before Elmaster's birth and after."
It was even printed in the academy's textbooks.
Thus, they were all mages who symbolized the era.
For such titans to vouch for a single young mage.
Ruen's hiring skipped the tedious processes.
Just the recommendations and a brief interview.
And Chancellor Oswald had glimpsed—even felt—the reason they vouched for her during that interview.
That was why he pushed for the public lecture.
He knew her skills and teaching style were beyond reproach.
But.
"A public lecture? How can a lecturer who's barely 19... No, is she even that old?"
"Tsk tsk. Professor Mordo, your voice carries."
There had been only three people in the interview room that day.
The other professors had yet to see Ruen cast a single spell.
Every class period, they stormed the chancellor's office with fierce protests.
"...Please reconsider."
Some protests carried resentment, others genuine concern.
"Considering her fame in the academy right now, nearly every student will show up. It's too harsh for a new lecturer to handle."
Like this very moment.
"Why worry about such things?"
Oswald spoke casually, but he knew full well.
From an outsider's view, all those protests were perfectly reasonable.
No matter the recommenders' prestige, she was still an untested new lecturer.
The professors' common grievance was the same.
'We understand her taking a lecturer position.'
She must have talent, a genius perhaps. But a public lecture was a whole different matter.
It could be seen as a special exception—or a brutal trial.
Yet amid those suspicious gazes, Oswald's conviction stood firm.
"If you're done, off you go. I need some rest. You're the eighth visitor today."
Thud.
Mordo was shoved out the door by Oswald's magic.
"Chancellor! I haven't finished—!"
At the abrupt dismissal, Mordo desperately reached out.
But his fingers grasped only the office doorframe.
—Clunk.
Before he could take a step back, the heavy door sealed shut smoothly.
"Heh heh."
Watching the closing door, Oswald wondered.
Have I always been this quick to laugh?
Human emotions inevitably dull with time.
Oswald, over a century old, knew this deeply.
But...
"Amusing, guh."
Lately, those faded feelings were resurfacing one by one.
A mage, knight, and artist who had tried everything—yet the academy's recent stir was fresh.
"Heh heh..."
Chuckling deeply, he marked a date on his calendar.
Friday.
The day of Ruen's first lecture.
"Ha, damn... What do I do...?"
Less than 24 hours until my lecture.
I sighed at my blank lecture plan.
The topic I'd chosen lightly: "How to Use Magic".
Deliberately something no academy student would care about...
But the chancellor's touch had grandly changed it to Understanding of Magic.
My painstakingly written plan was now worthless.
"What kind of 'understanding' is this..."
I had to lecture on a topic I didn't even grasp. Does anyone truly understand the discipline of magic?
Protesting to the chancellor directly only got me infuriating replies.
'Show us the lecture you want to give.'
His steadfast words and the kindly smile of the white-haired elder left me speechless.
A public lecture. On top of that, a hopelessly vague topic.
"Damn it..."
I vented on my innocent blanket with a kick, pondering on.
Why does nothing ever go my way in life?
From enacting justice on a corrupt count and getting kidnapped by the Northern ducal house.
To somehow developing spells and advancing the North.
All unplanned detours.
"Hmm...?"
But looking back now, it all worked out fine?
My situation and surroundings had only improved dramatically.
"This'll work out too if I just wing it."
I tossed the blank plan off the bed.
Pulled the covers over my head, mentally outlining tomorrow's lecture.
"Better if no one shows up..."
Despite the mix of laziness and anxiety, sleep came easily.
"Ugh."
Tomorrow's me can handle tomorrow.
Solum Imperial Academy teaches everything.
From humanities and arts to combat, magic, and martial arts.
It was more accurate to say there was nothing it didn't teach.
Fittingly, the campus was vast.
Dozens of buildings. Magic department in the Western Academic Building.
But today, every magic student's steps led elsewhere.
Central Academic Building. Grand Auditorium.
A vast hall.
Usually opened only for entrance ceremonies, graduations, or imperial VIP visits.
The auditorium, able to seat over a thousand, was packed.
An hour before the scheduled lecture.
Even with time to spare, students arrived early for better seats.
In the downtime, they scanned the professors in the front rows.
Not just magic instructors—professors from all subjects were there.
Some out of curiosity about the new lecturer Ruen.
Others to find flaws.
All awaited that one lecturer.
One hour, thirty minutes, ten, five. Murmurs grew louder as time ticked down.
She still hadn't appeared, even as the start loomed.
Did the pressure make her flee? Doubts sprouted.
"Ahem, ahem."
A small figure emerged through the seats, parting the noise.
The tiny footsteps hushed the crowd. All eyes locked on.
Shimmering silver hair. Iridescent, multicolored eyes.
Among students outside Solaris Dorm, Ruen was famous for her looks.
An adorably cute face impossible for 19.
Ignoring the stares, the girl slowly ascended the podium.
"Ahem. Ah, ah."
Her voice was husky, like fresh from sleep.
Ruen cleared her throat softly, loosening her drowsy tone.
Students stifled giggles at the cute sight.
"Everyone here?"
Now her voice was calm and steady.
The short check echoed through the hall; all straightened up.
"Well, seems like everyone's here..."
Ruen surveyed the seats from the podium. Not a single empty one.
—Snap.
She flicked her fingers.
A mundane act, but the result was anything but simple.
Even magic novices could see it: beauty. Like a work of art.
"Whoa..."
"What..."
Gasps and awed mutters drowned the snap.
A rainbow feast filled their vision.