Chapter 1479: Chantless Magic
"What’s your first class?"
"I’ve got maths."
"Same for me."
"I’ve got Alchemy class first."
Such murmurs filled the air as the first years students all gathered outside the Auditorium building and checked their schedules.
We were given some kind of magic book that was basically our personal handbook and guide that had our classes printed on them and would even magically update itself accordingly in case the student changes classes or there’s changes to the schedule.
It’s pretty handy, pun intended.
My girls were gathered around me as I opened my own handbook to check my schedule and I found that the very first ’lesson’ for me was to meet with the Chancellor.
I guess that was to be expected, since I was her apprentice after all.
I split up with my girls as they went for their own classes while I carried my egg to head towards the teleportation platform.
As I went there, there were a few more murmurs from my school mates, though these were directed at me instead.
"That’s her?"
"Yeah... Got the Grand Chancellor involved..."
"When was the last time a student was an apprentice of the Grand Chancellor?"
"I dunno? Years? Decades?"
"What’s so special about her? Just because she’s a little good looking?"
"Probably... Do you see those tits?"
"Shit... Yeah... Ok, those are pretty good reasons... Think I have a chance?"
"No shot."
"Psstt... Hey... You guys weren’t there for the test huh... You shouldn’t mess with her, seriously... She’s a monster."
Hey! I’m not a monster! I’m completely normal, ok?!
I huffed to myself but decided to ignore them and head towards the teleportation array to teleport myself to the Grand Spire where the Grand Chancellor was.
The Grand Spire appeared in front of me as I teleported to the teleportation array closest to it.
Without hesitation, I stepped towards the building to see guards standing in front of the entrance like usual.
All of them turned to me when I approached and the one at the front raised his hand, "Stop there. What’s your business here?"
"I’m here to meet with the Grand Chancellor as her apprentice."
The guard looked me up and down before frowning, "The Grand Chancellor’s apprentice? You?"
What the heck was that supposed to mean?
I wordlessly pulled out my handbook and showed him my schedule where it showed I had to meet her at the Grand Spire.
The guard narrowed his eyes before nodding, "Very well, head on in."
I stepped past them and went up to the giant doors that opened up automatically as I approached, entering the same looking hallway as I had before.
I didn’t hesitate and walked through the hallway, only for a flash of light to appear in front of my vision before I found myself standing inside the Chancellor’s office.
Turning around, I realised that the Chancellor herself was knelt in front of me with her head bowed low.
"Apostle Aster... Thank you for gracing me with your presence."
See? I was worried things like this would happen...
I cleared my throat, "Ahem... Chancellor Vastraea? Umm... You can stand up, please..."
"Yes! Thank you, Apostle Aster!"
Gods... Am I really going to need to keep dealing with this?
She straightened herself though she still maintained a posture where her head was slightly lowered in deference.
I cleared my throat again, "Ahem... So err... I’m assuming from the schedule that you called me here for my first lesson?"
She straightened herself, "Yes, Apostle Aster! I felt that it would be necessary for me to at least be your first teacher before anyone else. If... If you would have me, of course..."
"Of course. That’s what you are here for, right? And this is also something I asked for."
"Yes, of course, Apostle Aster."
She then gestured to her study desk and we both walked over to it where I sat in front of it while she remained standing beside me.
Instead of starting, she seemed to be at a loss on what she should do first as I could see that she was fiddling with her fingers and looking around nervously.
I decided to help her a little by nodding at her, "Like I said, you can just treat me like a normal apprentice and just deal with me that way."
She gave me a wry smile, "That’s not it, Apostle Aster... You are... A special case even amongst the people I have taken as apprentices... I am still unsure of the best way to start for you..."
I tilted my head, "What do you mean? Is this related to me being acquainted with Isre?"
She shook her head, "No, no... Umm... Maybe partially the reason, yes... But it’s more that you are proficient in so many different kinds of magic that I do not know what I should start with... I’ve seen that you have also signed up for a lot of these classes and I think it would be better if you learn directly from the teachers in charge of those subjects instead of from me... So I’m at a loss on what I should even teach you..."
"Hmm... Then why not just teach me something that is usually outside of the syllabus? Like something that normal first years would not be able to learn?"
I was asking this because I was hoping she would teach me one of the other types of magic that isn’t part of the standard few that was widely used by others.
She seemed to think about it for a moment before she nodded her head, "Hmm... I suppose that could be a good deal. In that case, I suppose I can train you in something that we will only teach students in their fourth year who have managed to master the Mana Management skill."
Oh? That actually sounds promising!
I leaned forward and sat at the edge of my seat, watching her attentively as I waited to see just what kind of skill it was.
She took a few steps back and stretched out her hand, pointing her palm at a target that suddenly popped into existence in the middle of the study.
She said nothing as her brows lowered in concentration, right before a ball of water appeared in her palm and shot itself forward to explode against the target, drenching it.
I was expecting more to happen but... That was quite literally just it...
The target was literally just drenched with what was basically her shooting an [Aqual Ball] at it and nothing else... There wasn’t even a follow up spell or something...
She then turned back to me and was even giving me a look of triumph like she was expecting me to react to what just happened.
I blinked at her, then looked back at the target to see if I missed anything but I really didn’t see anything special about this.
Maybe it’s just that my skill is too low? I really don’t understand what she’s trying to show me...
Chancellor Vastraea faltered a little when she saw my lack of reaction.
"Umm... Apostle Aster? Are you... Alright?"
"Err... Yes?"
"Do you... Not have any comments about this?"
"Oh... Umm... I’m sorry but... I think I might not be advanced enough to understand what happened... Could you tell me what this was about?"
She blinked a few times before gesturing at the space where the water ball had first appeared, "Apostle Aster... I did not chant..."
...
Oh... Ohhhhh...
Wait a minute...
I pointed at her, "You’re telling me... It actually isn’t necessary to chant to cast spells?! Have we all been lied to this whole entire time?!! We can just cast spells without chanting?!!"
She nodded her head, "It is possible, but it is an advanced technique that requires a very high control over one’s mana to achieve it."
"Then what are all these spells for?! Why do we get these chants imprinted in our heads when we advance in our proficiencies in them?!"
"That is the fail safe for the magic system that Isre has gifted to the world. People are easily distracted and if you are distracted while trying to cast a spell, it could lead to catastrophic results. The spell chants are meant to hold your focus and aid in directing your intent so that a mage does not accidentally blow themselves up when channeling their mana."
"Wait... So you’re telling me... If I were to go out and just toss magic around without chanting, people won’t see me as weird?"
"Unfortunately, they would. This technique is a very advanced technique that is extremely rare even amongst mages. Only few could even achieve such levels of control and that also requires years and years of practice."
I cleared my throat, "Well... I don’t know what to tell you but... I could do this back when I was like... Three years old?"
I then waved my hand in the air, creating balls that were made out of fire, water, air, earth, lightning, light and darkness to make them float above me.
The Chancellor stared at the balls floating above me... And then collapsed.
Great...