Many stufons looked at their classmates in confusion as they muttered curses at me through clenched teeth. It was obvious that quite a few of them had either already forgotten about the duel or had missed it entirely.
I desperately wanted everyone to forget about that match as soon as possible so I could study at the academy in peace, without drawing unnecessary attention from the powerful figures of this world.
Lost in thought, I didn't notice when I arrived at the classroom where the lesson was supposed to take place. Peeking inside and seeing no one there, I simply shrugged and decided to settle in early.
Sitting by the window, I watched the stufons relaxing in the courtyard below—some sat on benches, while others lounged directly on the grass.
Soon, I noticed a familiar face among them.
It was Nreu, and judging by his expression, he was displeased about something. Thanks to my enhanced eyesight, I could tell even from this distance.
He was walking toward the academy and, if he really wanted to, could have noticed me. But he was far too absorbed in his own thoughts and wasn't paying attention to his surroundings.
I wondered whether he had already let go of what happened between us or if he still held a grudge.
Though, knowing Nreu, I was far more inclined to believe he was either plotting revenge or at least searching for some way to get back at me.
The offer to enter the service of the Krey Empire still felt amusing to me.
No matter how hard I tried to keep my training quiet and inconspicuous, there was always something—or someone—dragging me out of the shadows and putting me on display for everyone to see.
Gradually, I noticed the classroom beginning to fill.
Heya sat separately, while the rest of my classmates clearly had no desire to sit beside me, leaving me alone once again.
I could hear them discussing something, though I didn't bother listening. Perhaps the conversation was still revolving around alpha monsters.
A few minutes later, a girl dressed in a professor's robe entered the classroom.
Unlike Professor Craig, who wore the traditional robes of a mage, hers was the robe of a swordsman, which immediately caught my attention.
"Good afternoon, class. My name is Cho'Lin, and I will be teaching you High Magic. You're probably wondering why this subject is being taught by a professor from the swordsman wing, but you'll learn the answer to that question in today's lecture." Cho'Lin greeted everyone.
She had a pleasant voice.
Her medium-length dark hair was tied into two braids resting over her shoulders.
She was short, and her robe concealed her figure, making it difficult to tell whether she was slender or more full-bodied.
"Who among you knows what High Magic means?" Cho'Lin asked, scanning the classroom.
I was about to raise my hand, but noticed many others already doing so and decided to listen first.
My knowledge in this area was far too shallow compared to those who had been mages since birth.
Cho'Lin carefully surveyed the classroom, deciding whom to call on.
She noticed how the half-elf had intended to raise his hand but changed his mind at the last moment.
She had already seen his performance during the trials, as well as his duel against the princesses.
She was curious about where he came from and who stood behind him.
She didn't believe such talent could have emerged from some village family or grown up on a farm.
Still, Cho'Lin decided to leave those questions for later.
She had many years ahead of her to learn as much as possible about this half-elf.
"stufon, stand up and tell us what High Magic means," Cho'Lin said, pointing at Heya, who was seated behind me.
Heya stood up and glanced around the classroom, as if to demonstrate that out of everyone present, she had been chosen.
"High Magic consists of spells whose power and casting time greatly surpass even strong spells. It is believed that a single High spell is capable of destroying an entire large nation," Heya said, looking at the professor.
Cho'Lin nodded in approval.
Heya's answer was correct, but it only reflected part of what High Magic truly was.
"Can you add anything else, stufon?" Cho'Lin asked, narrowing her eyes slightly while continuing to watch Heya.
It was obvious Heya had fallen into thought, sorting through various pieces of information about High spells.
"I suppose that is all you can tell us. Sit down. You explained the principle of High Magic well, but not completely," Cho'Lin said, gesturing for Heya to sit.
After Heya returned to her seat, the professor addressed the class once more.
"High Magic consists of spells cast not by a single person, but by a group of extremely powerful mages. You're probably wondering why."
She looked over the class, and seeing many nod in agreement, continued.
Walking to the board and picking up a piece of chalk, Cho'Lin drew three circles: one large circle, a smaller one inside it, and another tiny one inside the second.
After labeling each, she marked the largest as High Magic, the middle as Medium, and the smallest as Low.
"High Magic is, above all, the control of your mana and its conversion into spells—or more specifically, into circles," Cho'Lin said, glancing around the room.
"In Low Magic, circles are absent because these are simple spells. For example, washing dishes, removing dust, and many other household spells accessible even to weak mages."
As she explained, Cho'Lin drew several small circles around the large one.
"Medium Magic contains one to two circles, since it is only used by experienced mages with large mana reserves," she continued.
While speaking about Medium Magic, she paused briefly before drawing additional circles connected to the larger one, labeling them as she went.
"High Magic contains anywhere from one hundred to one million circles, depending on the spell itself. The use of this type of magic is prohibited without authorization from the Magic Union. What does that mean?" Cho'Lin asked, turning back to the class.
Noticing Lei'Syu raising her hand, the professor allowed her to stand and answer.
"Because these spells border on causing mass destruction and the loss of countless lives, their usage must be approved by the Magic Union. Additionally, the group casting such a spell must be at roughly the same level of strength," Lei'Syu said before sitting back down.
Cho'Lin looked pleased.
These stufons did not bear the title of the academy's elite stufons for nothing.
"You are entirely correct, stufon. However, not all High spells are designed for destruction. There are also spells of creation. But what is considered a blessing for some may become a nightmare for others. For example, one could create a spell capable of turning the Great Desert of Death green, but then all fauna in that region would be forced to migrate elsewhere, inevitably provoking conflicts between monsters and other beings," Cho'Lin explained.
Surveying the classroom, Cho'Lin briefly let her gaze linger on Trey.
From his expression, she could tell he was carefully memorizing everything she said, while writing down the information he personally deemed most important.
She could only hope that the knowledge she passed on to these stufons would truly help them in the future.
"Now, let us discuss what can happen if, during the casting of a Medium or High spell, there are not enough sufficiently powerful participants among the mages," Cho'Lin said thoughtfully.
From her eyes alone, it was clear she was no longer speaking purely in theory.
Turning back to the board, she erased the circles and drew a triangle.
At each corner, she placed three small plus signs, with minus signs beside them, gradually alternating them all the way toward the center.
In the middle, she drew a circle divided in half: on one side was a large plus, and on the other, a minus.
"What do you think is depicted on the board?" Cho'Lin asked the class.
It was obvious the entire class had fallen deep into thought.
Some immediately raised their hands, while others began arguing with their desk partners.
"Very well. Since you cannot come to a common conclusion, I will ask the quietest among you. stufon Trey, give your answer—what do you believe is depicted on the board?" Cho'Lin addressed me.
Caught off guard by being called on, I froze for a moment.
During Cho'Lin's lesson, I had already learned quite a bit of useful information—even the teachers at the castle had never taught me what she was explaining.
I liked the way the professor conducted her classes.
She didn't simply dictate information from books but forced us to think and express our own ideas.
For me, it was something refreshing.
But hearing my name, I instinctively tensed.
Feeling the gazes of my classmates on me, I slowly rose to my feet, keeping my eyes fixed on the board as I tried to understand what exactly was drawn there.