EP.173 Madmen and Nightmares (3)
The new semester has begun.
Students move their feet according to a pre-planned timetable. There is a sense of vitality within the academy, which has been so quiet for the past couple of months. And, there is one person watching it all from afar.
“······.”
Fourth princess, Ayla.
Looking out the window from inside her dormitory room, she thinks about the information she heard a few days ago.
“The madman, Kelhalm, has arrived in Aplia.”
This was information I heard through Hound, who was hiding in Aplia. “It’s coming,” Ayla muttered, biting her lip.
The meaning of the prophecy whispered by the star is still unknown.
However, it was clear that the situation that required the prophecy was approaching at every moment. It may be tomorrow, or it may be sand… but you should never relax.
‘···You must not believe in anything.’
You have to be wary of everything.
Ayla sharpened her nerves. The stars remained silent, and Ayla was left to fend for herself. She pulls herself together and leaves her dormitory.
A starless day begins again.
Amidst the unfamiliarity, Ayla caught her breath.
2.
A customer came to Aplia.
The bachelor’s staff introduced him as a talented wizard from a distant, foreign country. In most cases, he comes with a warning not to approach him.
‘He is someone who hates being interrupted in his time of thought, meditation, and agony more than anything else. If possible, don’t talk to him or go near him and talk to him.’
This was a recommendation made by Dean Aaron.
‘Anyway, don’t get close!’
This was the first time the always gentle dean had made such a strong statement, so the academic staff, including the students, did not approach guests from outside unless there was something special to do.
Only occasional eyewitness accounts are heard.
I saw him walking around the garden built on the campus, and I saw him sitting on a bench looking up blankly at the sky… There are also stories of him talking to me and asking me something.
Students listen to the story. Students are interested in a guest from a foreign country.
I don’t know his identity or name, but he is a guest whom Dean Aaron treats with courtesy. There is also an eyewitness story going around among students that Dean Aaron was in a cold sweat and repeatedly bowed his head towards him.
Interest and curiosity.
And, it continues to increase in size.
A young wizard who appears to be in his mid to late 20s.
A wizard whom Dean Aaron treats with contempt.
An unidentified person who is said to have come from a foreign country.
It is around this time that students begin to pay attention to its mystery. A notice was posted on the academic bulletin board. It was an announcement about a short special lecture to be held at the beginning of the semester.
<Use of elemental magic>
A special lecture on elemental magic, which Wizard class students major in. There is no detailed information about the lecture. There is even only one sentence about the professor in charge.
<Professor in Charge: External Invited Lecturer>
Origin unknown. The name is also unknown.
There is only one line written, ‘External invited lecturer’. However, that one line was enough.
‘It’s definitely him!’
A customer I heard about through a rumor.
Driven by curiosity and interest in the guest, most of the Wizard Class students applied for the special lecture.
“oh.”
And, students are not the only ones who sign up for the course.
A professor standing in front of the academic bulletin board made a brief exclamation and touched his chin.
“There is a foundation.”
A professor with gray hair.
Rania Van Trias nodded slightly and ripped open the lecture application form attached to the notice.
“···Professor Rania?”
The professors who saw this swallowed their saliva.
What they remember is what happened last semester.
[Purpose of observation: Reference to teaching methods.]
An incident where a class observation application form with only that one sentence written on it was handed out to all classes as if it were a challenge. Those who remembered that incident gulped and swallowed dry saliva.
‘What are you planning to do again?’
There are professors who, upon receiving her challenge, were so heartbroken that they canceled classes for several days. There were a lot. They glance at Rania with suspicious eyes.
Gray hair.
A color that has now symbolized nightmares.
She, who was receiving a lot of attention from the professors, just walked down the hallway with light steps as always.
* * *
The next gray magic tower lord, Resty Eleanoa.
She was having a very busy day.
Majoring in both Summoner and Wizard classes, her timetable was tighter than that of other students.
Two majors.
In addition, a special lecture by Professor Rania.
And, even the minor tasks and personal research of the magic tower.
Resty is doing all of that at the same time. Even the teaching assistants, who barely sleep at night, are shocked by the murderous schedule… but in fact, Lesti himself does not show any sign of hardship.
‘Because we’ve done this before.’
I even recently applied for one more special lecture.
Resty was walking to listen to the lecture. As you walk along the noisy hallway, a classroom full of people comes into view.
-That’s him…
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-Yes, it came from outside…
There are many students who stick to the small windows of the classroom and look inside. Lesti gently pushed them away and entered the classroom.
Grumble.
When I opened the door and entered, there was a man dressed in a neat robe standing on the platform. Resty made eye contact with him. He was a younger wizard than I thought.
‘This person is the one of the rumors…’
Gray eyes and dark black hair.
That first impression, for some reason, reminded me of Professor Rania. There was a resemblance between him and the young professor in that he exuded some mystery.
“······.”
Resty bowed his head slightly without saying a word.
He raised his bowed head, but the professor standing on the podium was still looking at him. For some reason, I felt an unpleasant feeling in those eyes.
“Oh, Resty.”
It was then.
“You applied too?”
A familiar voice rang in my ears.
Resty turned his head back. Standing behind me was the person I expected.
“Professor Rania?”
“huh. Why are you standing here? “Go and sit down.”
Rania walked to the backseat with Resty half-pushed. As she passed Professor Zen on her podium, she muttered something to herself.
“···Be careful.”
The man answered briefly as if he had heard a murmur.
Resty, who could not hear the sound, tilted his head.
“What did you say?”
“huh? no. “Let’s go and sit down.”
The two sat down, and after about five minutes, the bell rang. Amid the ringing bells, the professor standing on the podium opened his mouth.
“nice to meet.”
It was a voice with no discernible pitch.
“I will explain the outline first.”
Class began as soon as the bell rang. Without a single error, he announced the start of the class.
“I don’t know how much you know about elemental spells. I won’t be staying in Aplia long enough to fully understand your level. “It is not a long time, so I will use it efficiently.”
Therefore, he said.
“If you chose the Wizard class, you probably know the limitations of elemental spells. “We will discuss how to overcome those limitations.”
He took a piece of chalk and wrote words on the blackboard.
He said, pointing to the completed letter.
“I define the limits of elemental spells this way.”
compatibility.
“Compatibility is the limit of elemental spells. No matter how powerful a spell is, elemental spells inevitably have compatibility.”
A circle with your right hand.
Draw a triangle with your left hand.
He cast a spell, one in each hand. The students held their breath as the double casting continued like water.
“Fireball and water polo. “This is the most representative example.”
He waved his finger.
Flame and water collide in the air. The same amount of magic power is given, but what remains is water. It was a natural result. Standing on the podium, he focuses on that obviousness.
“Fire to water, water to ice, ice to fire. It is the most basic compatibility of the three cycles. Even if the order level is low, we can respond as long as we match the order.”
The spell appears again.
Although it is a smaller water ball this time, it still engulfs the fireball.
“This is the blind spot of elemental spells. Most wizards specialize in one attribute. “This is because a significant amount of time is invested just to explore one attribute.”
This is why the Wizard class is criticized for its efficiency. Wizards who can freely manipulate all kinds of attributes are truly rare.
“There are often cases where a first-class wizard who masters one attribute to the limit is defeated by a third-rate wizard who can moderately handle two attributes. So, is it better to unconditionally learn various attributes?”
He asks a question.
It’s an old question. It was an inconclusive topic among those majoring in wizard classes.
‘Is it right to treat one attribute to its limit?’
or.
‘Is it better to deal with various properties evenly, rather than limiting them?’
“The answer is no.”
On an inconclusive topic, he brings a conclusion.
The students’ eyebrows furrowed at that conclusion. Some of the professors observing the class also looked uncomfortable. Regardless, he continued his explanation.
“Exploring one element to its limit. However, if you not only think about simple power but also explore how to use it… the compatibility can be ignored as much as you like.”
Explore how to use it.
As he said that, he waved his finger.
“Utilization is the means to overcome limitations.”
In one hand, the same ball as before is engraved, and in the other hand, a fireball circuit is engraved.
“Think.”
However, its shape is different from before.
“It’s okay if you can only handle one spell. If he knows how to use it to the limit, he is superior to a wizard who has only memorized hundreds of spells.”
One stroke.
Cuts the fireball’s circuit in half.
“The use of spells is not limited to adding and modifying circuits.”
Two strokes.
Divide the circuit in half again in half.
“Everyone can edit and add things. “There is an answer to what everyone can’t do.”
One circuit becomes four.
“Split it.”
Mana permeates the four circuits.
“Split one spell.”
The circuit is divided into four parts, but the order is still one.
“And tie it up.”
Two strokes dividing the circuit.
He placed his finger on the center and pulled on the split circuit. He put it on his finger and rotated it as if he were slinging a sling. Changes occur in the circuits permeated with mana.
Hwareuk.
The embers burned.
Four small fireballs rotate around one point. He lightly threw a spinning fireball.
A water ball and a fireball collide.
It’s the same experiment as before, but the results are different. A fireball came out through the water pipe.
Chi profit.
The two fireballs have disappeared, but the two remaining fireballs are spinning. It is a spell that breaks through compatibility. The students’ eyes widened as they saw how to use it for the first time.
“Do not be bound by the given formality. “Magic is the most free discipline.”
He lightly shook his hands.
The fireball melts into thin air.
“I wrote the introduction of the lecture because it is about the use of elemental spells, but it would be irrelevant if you think of it as how to use circuits. Anyway, this is what I will teach you.”
He opened his mouth while the students remained silent.
“···I’ve been hearing funny noises lately.”
He speaks with an expressionless, still pitch-less voice.
“There are clear limits to elemental spells. That limitation cannot be overcome, so it would be better to change jobs to the Battle Mage class. “I heard that story often.”
Battle Mage.
A professor who was sitting at those words was shocked and shook his shoulders. Regardless, he continued speaking.
“I admit that Battle Mage is an efficient class. However, because you can’t overcome your limitations, you run away to another class? People without such grit quickly face a wall. “These are people you can’t interact with.”
He declared while tapping the blackboard.
“Most battle mages are baseless. “Don’t forget your roots.”
They are students of the Wizard class who have been compared to the Battle Mage class, knowingly or unknowingly, and have had their pride hurt. Their eyes light up at the words of the professor on the podium.
“No matter what anyone says, the root of a wizard is a wizard.”
Nod, several professors nod.
Students in Wizard class feel attracted to the professor standing on the podium. Additionally, they feel proud that their class has been recognized by a capable wizard.
“I will continue.”
The lecture continued in a much softer atmosphere.
3.
“Look. There are several ways to use it. There are three main ways to use it that I will cover today…”
The lecture continues.
The level is high and the explanation is smooth… but it doesn’t reach Rania’s ears.
“These are things that have no basis.”
One sentence lingers in her ears.
Rania lowered her head and her shoulders trembled. Even though she didn’t know, she was in a class that she had created herself. She feels as if her own child is being scolded.
‘Why are you discussing the fundamentals, you f*cking idiot. Do you fight better than me? Have you tried all the Four Heavenly Kings? uh? You’ve picked it up! ‘
Those words well up in my throat… but I can’t bring myself to say them out loud. It wasn’t because there were many students around. Because I could talk even after class if I wanted to.
‘f*ck, f*ck!’
But, I don’t feel like doing that.
“You’re a battle mage, right? “That class without roots?”
She also has a conscience.
Rania’s face turned red as she recalled the words she had said herself. Of course, she said what she said when she didn’t know the whole story… but it doesn’t change the fact that she made those remarks herself.
“Is this a class created by some kind of idiot?”
You idiot.
Rania’s shoulders trembled.
She raised her head slightly and glared at the man standing on the podium. It was the moment when the four-character name ‘Kelhalm’ was engraved on Rania’s death note.
···When receiving criticism based on fact, small-minded people often criticize the person who said the fact.
‘You, I will hold you someday.’
The petty wizard gritted his teeth.
