Chapter 99: The First Lesson
Chapter 99: The First Lesson
The classroom was gradually filling with students.
Andras sat quietly at his desk, leaning back in his chair as he observed the lively atmosphere around him.
The voices around him grew louder as more students entered.
Andras paid little attention to the conversations.
Until—
A familiar presence approached.
Seraphina Valebright walked into the classroom.
Her sapphire eyes swept across the room before settling on Andras.
Without hesitation, she walked straight toward him.
Andras watched her approach.
There were several empty seats scattered throughout the classroom.
Yet Seraphina ignored every one of them.
She stopped beside his desk.
Andras raised an eyebrow.
Seraphina pulled out the chair beside him and sat down.
"Oh."
Andras glanced at her.
"You’re sitting with me?"
Seraphina turned toward him with a faint smile.
"Of course."
She tucked a strand of silver hair behind her ear.
"I’m sitting beside my fiancé."
There was no hesitation in her voice.
Andras chuckled softly.
"I suppose that’s true."
The two began talking about small, insignificant matters.
Their conversation wasn’t particularly serious.
They discussed the academy, their rooms, and what they expected from their first day of classes.
While they were talking, someone approached their desks.
"Good morning, Lady Seraphina."
Andras turned his head.
A familiar young man stood before them.
Romeo Ravenhart.
He wore the academy uniform neatly, his posture relaxed and his expression friendly.
Seraphina offered him a polite smile.
"Good morning, Romeo."
Romeo nodded.
"And congratulations on securing second place in the entrance examination."
"Thank you."
Romeo’s gaze shifted toward Andras.
"And you must be Andras Darkmoor."
Andras nodded.
"That’s right."
"It’s a pleasure to finally meet you."
Romeo extended a hand.
"I’ve heard quite a bit about you."
Andras shook his hand.
"Likewise."
Romeo’s smile widened.
"Congratulations on taking third place. I have to admit, I was surprised when I saw your name."
"Thank you."
Andras released his hand.
"You did well yourself. Thirtieth place isn’t bad."
Romeo laughed lightly.
"Compared to the two of you, I’m only average."
He glanced between Andras and Seraphina.
"Second and third place..."
He shook his head.
"I can’t exactly compete with that."
Andras smiled faintly.
"There’s always room to improve."
"Perhaps."
Romeo glanced toward the empty seat assigned to him.
"I should probably take my seat before the professor arrives."
"See you later," Seraphina said.
Romeo nodded.
"Of course."
He turned and walked toward his desk.
The moment he sat down, his friendly expression faded.
Romeo quietly exhaled.
Relief washed over him.
So they don’t know.
He had been watching Andras carefully throughout their conversation.
There had been no hostility.
No suspicion.
Nothing in Andras’s words or expression suggested that he knew the truth.
If Andras or the Darkmoor family had discovered who had ordered the assassination, this conversation would never have happened so casually.
Romeo had heard enough about Andras’s personality to understand that much.
If Andras knew that Romeo had been responsible for sending assassins after him...
He wouldn’t have spoken to him so calmly.
Romeo lowered his gaze.
Good.
Everything is still under control.
What Romeo didn’t notice was Andras watching him from across the classroom.
Andras leaned back in his chair.
So that’s what you were doing.
A faint amusement surfaced in his mind.
He had noticed the subtle changes in Romeo’s expression.
The careful questions.
The brief moment of relief after their conversation.
It wasn’t difficult to understand what Romeo had been checking.
Andras almost laughed.
This guy was trying to find out whether I know he sent the assassins.
How cautious.
And how predictable.
He turned his attention away.
There was no reason to confront Romeo yet.
Let him believe he was safe.
It was far more useful that way.
More students continued arriving.
One by one, familiar faces entered the classroom.
Aurelia Aurelmont.
Lenore Noctis.
Vespera.
Lucian.
Soon, nearly every seat was occupied.
The classroom became increasingly noisy.
Students introduced themselves to one another, discussed the examination results, and exchanged their impressions of the academy.
The atmosphere was filled with youthful excitement.
Andras remained relatively quiet.
His gaze occasionally wandered across the classroom.
Everything was exactly as he remembered from the original novel.
At least for now.
Then—
The classroom door opened.
The noise immediately began to fade.
A woman stepped inside.
The moment she entered, the remaining conversations died completely.
Andras’s eyes settled on her.
So...
I’m finally meeting Professor Elowen.
Professor Elowen walked calmly toward the front of the classroom.
She possessed the unmistakable features of an elf.
Long, elegant ears framed her refined face, while her flowing hair fell gracefully behind her shoulders.
Her presence was tranquil, yet strangely commanding.
She didn’t need to raise her voice to capture the room’s attention.
The moment she reached the teacher’s desk, she turned toward the students.
"Good morning, everyone."
Her voice was gentle and serene.
Several students straightened instinctively.
"My name is Elowen."
She offered them a faint smile.
"I will be your spell-casting instructor."
A few students exchanged glances.
Others stared at her with open admiration.
Her beauty was difficult to ignore.
Several of the female students quietly compared themselves to her, while more than a few male students found themselves blushing beneath her calm gaze.
Elowen appeared completely unaffected by the attention.
She simply continued.
"I’m particularly skilled in spell casting, so I hope you’ll learn a great deal from me."
She paused.
"However, before we begin today’s lesson, I’d like to ask you a question."
The classroom fell silent.
Elowen turned toward the students.
"What is the difference between a talent and spell casting?"
Several students immediately raised their hands.
Elowen’s gaze traveled across the room before settling on Aurelia.
"Student Aurelia."
Aurelia stood gracefully.
"Yes, Professor."
"Please answer."
Aurelia nodded.
"A talent is an innate ability that exists within a person from birth. In most cases, it awakens around the age of fifteen, although some talents may awaken later."
She continued without hesitation.
"Spell casting, on the other hand, is the process of manipulating mana to construct a magic circle and produce a magical effect."
Elowen nodded.
"Correct."
Aurelia returned to her seat.
Elowen faced the class once more.
"That was a basic question."
Her eyes swept across the room.
"Everyone here should already understand the distinction. After all, you wouldn’t have been admitted to Ambrose Academy if you didn’t possess the fundamentals."
A few students smiled awkwardly.
Elowen continued.
"So let’s make things slightly more interesting."
The room grew quieter.
"Between talents and spell casting..."
She paused deliberately.
"Which one is used more frequently by a mage?"
Several students exchanged uncertain glances.
Elowen continued before anyone could answer.
"And more importantly..."
"Why?"
The question immediately drew everyone’s attention.
Some students lowered their gazes in thought.
Others began whispering quietly among themselves.
Elowen allowed them a few moments.
Then her gaze settled on another familiar figure.
"Student Seraphina."
Seraphina looked up.
"Yes, Professor?"
"Would you answer the question?"
Seraphina slowly rose from her seat.
Her sapphire eyes swept across the classroom for a brief moment before settling on Professor Elowen.
She took a breath.
"A mage uses their talent more frequently than spell casting."
Elowen listened attentively.
Seraphina continued.
"The main reason is that a talent is something we are naturally born with."
"Once a person’s talent awakens, they already possess an innate affinity for it. Because of that affinity, using a talent is generally much easier than casting a spell."
She paused briefly.
"A talent can also be developed through practice. The more familiar a mage becomes with their own talent, the more effectively they can use it."
Her expression remained composed.
"Spell casting is different."
"Spells have to be learned."
"The mage must understand the spell, learn how to control the required mana, and construct the appropriate magic circle."
She glanced around the classroom.
"That process takes time and practice."
"And even after a mage has mastered a spell, casting it usually takes longer than activating an innate talent."
Seraphina’s voice became slightly more emphatic.
"In battle, that difference can be extremely important."
"If a mage can activate their talent almost instantly, while an opponent needs several seconds to complete a spell, the mage with the faster activation has a significant advantage."
She paused.
"Because of that, most mages rely on their talents more frequently than spell casting."
The classroom remained silent.
Several students nodded in agreement.
Seraphina lowered her gaze slightly.
"That’s my answer, Professor."
Elowen smiled.
"An excellent answer."
She gestured toward her seat.
"You can sit, Student Seraphina."
Seraphina nodded.
"Thank you, Professor."
She sat down beside Andras.
Elowen turned toward the rest of the class.
"Just as Student Seraphina explained, most mages rely on their talents more frequently than spell casting."
She walked slowly across the front of the classroom.
"A talent is an ability naturally suited to its wielder."
"You possess an innate affinity for it. You understand it instinctively, and with sufficient training, you can gradually push its limits."
She raised one hand.
"Spell casting, however, is different."
A faint glow of mana gathered around her fingertips.
Several students immediately focused on her hand.
"Spells must be learned."
"The principles behind them must be understood."
"The required mana must be controlled."
"And the magic circle must be constructed correctly."
The glow around her fingers faded.
"Even a simple mistake in the structure of a spell can cause it to fail."
She turned toward the students.
"So if talents are easier, faster, and more natural to use..."
Elowen smiled faintly.
"Why do you think spell casting remains so important?"