Magical Self-Introductions
Ruen's lectures had no grade restrictions.
Though based on Magi Studies, they weren't tied to any specific major—it was a kind of special elective.
Out of the academy's 2,000 students, 400 had audited the first session of Magic Understanding.
That was just the number who'd rushed into the grand hall on a first-come, first-served basis before official enrollment even opened.
But.
"What do you mean, only 47 spots?!"
Compared to that, the number of students who could actually take Ruen's classes formally was absurdly small.
"Why are you asking me?"
Oswald's office threshold was already worn to nothing from the traffic. Piles of angry protest letters from students stacked up like mountains every morning. The hallways echoed nonstop with upperclassmen's demands to expand the class size.
"Isn't this administrative negligence? We formally request you increase the enrollment limit."
This time, a dozen students had shown up with a group petition.
"Haa…."
Oswald let out a deep sigh as he eyed the thick stack of parchment slammed onto his desk.
"I understand your feelings, truly. But Professor Ruen is a specially invited instructor we've brought to the academy. As headmaster, I have to prioritize her educational philosophy."
The fourth-year top student, acting as representative, twitched an eyebrow at Oswald's words.
"What philosophy could possibly be in a number like 47? At least let us take an exam for it."
The students behind nodded in unison, pressuring the headmaster.
"Haa……."
Oswald rubbed his dry face.
Truth be told, he hadn't neglected to plead with Ruen himself to expand the quota.
But her response had been….
— No? I don't wanna.
There was nothing more to say to that blunt refusal, devoid of any explanation.
He couldn't relay it straight to the students, either. Doing so would shatter the carefully maintained image of Ruen Eternos: the mysterious young invited professor with immense power.
"Alright, alright. I'll… negotiate with Professor Ruen once more. So please, withdraw for now."
"We appreciate it."
The moment the door shut after soothing the students out, Oswald slumped into his chairback.
"I'll be the one expelled first at this rate……."
He sighed again.
But it had been his judgment to publicize Ruen's debut lecture, so he had no one to blame.
Clutching his throbbing head, he stroked his beard.
What a mess in his old age.
Knowing it was futile, Oswald still penned a letter with trembling hands.
It asked if she'd consider expanding the quota.
"What the heck is this now."
The letter arrived at the Solaris Dormitory supervisor's office about an hour later.
Ruen skimmed it without pulling out fresh parchment.
On the back of the letter itself.
— No.
Magic Understanding. The second session.
It was held in a small classroom.
Even in that tiny space, the seats were mostly empty.
Average classes held around 100 students, so with the low quota, it was only natural.
The gathered students shared similar thoughts.
Over 800 of the academy's 2,000 students were dying to take this class.
Yet the limit barely topped 50.
And yet….
'Why me?'
Among the 47 selected, there were students who'd barely scraped a passing grade, and elite top-scorers.
No discernible criteria for selection.
But 'relief' bloomed in all their minds regardless.
As the lucky enrollees waited in a mix of relief and excitement for that one person.
Pat pat.
The light footsteps they'd been waiting for echoed from the hall.
All eyes turned to the window. Only a peek of white hair poked into view.
Their gazes, fixed on that bouncy lock.
— Creak.
Shifted to the lightly opened classroom door.
Ruen Eternos.
The students thought her name in unison. Recalled her inscrutably profound debut lecture.
They'd grasped only a speck, but her demonstrations were burned into their brains.
"Mm…."
Ruen walked to the podium, a square wooden block under her arm.
What was that for? Related to the lesson?
Their questions didn't linger.
She dropped it with a thud right before the podium and stepped atop it.
"………."
An awkward air filled the quiet room.
Nearly all stifled leaking chuckles.
"Ahem."
Ruen ignored it, loosening her throat from atop the block.
She scanned the seats.
"Everyone's here."
Solraum Imperial Academy had no attendance policy. Yet all had shown up without fail.
The students, smiles wiped away, sent expectant gazes.
"I'm Ruen Eternos, handling Magic Understanding this semester."
Bathed in their anticipation, Ruen calmly snapped her fingers.
— Snap.
Chalks floated up behind the podium.
"So today's lesson is…."
She paused. In that time, the chalks danced across the board.
Finally inscribing one phrase.
Today's Topic — Self-Introductions
The lesson's theme.
"We'll start with self-introductions."
A topic utterly detached from Magic Understanding sparked questions in their heads.
Self-introductions.
The topic I'd chosen after five minutes of agonizing on the way to class.
To understand your personal magic, first understand yourself.
Plus, nothing better for killing time.
"Ahem."
I smiled, stepping down from the block.
"I already said my name, so skip that…."
Self-introduction. Mage-style, of course.
I trailed off, raising both hands.
— Humm.
Nature's mana welled up. A rainbow flow bloomed from my hands.
It soon coalesced. Forming equations, floating in the air.
"This is how I use magic."
My unique method: leveraging this world's absent knowledge to manifest physical phenomena.
Turning back, I saw students staring blankly.
"That's my intro, anyway."
I pointed to the leftmost seat.
"Start from there, go in order."
Rufus Fontaine's spot.
Rufus, staring dumbly at my fingertip, slowly rose.
Thud.
Fine leather boots met the floor.
Moments later, he stood beside the podium, facing me.
"…Rufus Fontaine."
"Suck. Talk to them."
I nodded toward the seats for the Rufus fixated on me.
"Haa……."
With a small sigh, he nodded and turned to the class.
"Rufus Fontaine. I use water mana."
A blue water orb rose in his lifted right hand.
A massive droplet flowing in a circle.
"Hmm."
The moment I took in Rufus's magic, its principle clicked.
His mana control stuck faithfully to this world's textbook methods.
Drawing condensed energy from his mana core, pouring it flawlessly into water's elemental mold.
"Hold on."
Improvements jumped out too.
I stepped beside him, flicking the droplet with a finger.
Tok.
At the simple gesture, the orb stilled instantly.
A floating water sphere, yet its ripples vanished like a transparent glass bead.
"……!"
Rufus whipped his head toward me.
"Too much friction resistance. Forcing mana in creates internal vortices."
I'd just aligned turbulent flow to laminar. Efficiency doubled.
"How—"
"Alright, everyone applaud!"
Rufus's words drowned in the seats' applause.
A one-hour class. 47 intros meant about a minute each.
"Sit quick. Next!"
Another student dashed to the podium on Rufus's heels.