Black clouds were gathering, and lightning seemed to form waves that rolled across the sky.
Teng… Teng… Teng…
The bell rang, signaling the start of the next class. They headed toward the classroom.
Inside, a man entered holding a blue rose, walking gracefully. He wore elegant clothes, accompanied by the scent of roses.
Instantly, he became the center of attention. In front of everyone, he smiled, holding the blue rose.
"Good afternoon, everyone… My name is Lucerius. It's a pleasure to teach students like you."
'Is he the one teaching magic?' Free thought to himself.
The atmosphere in the classroom felt comfortable and light. Lucerius walked toward a student desk nearby.
"Magic is created when Mana, which fuels it, is transformed into what we desire. The first magic ever created was non-elemental magic, a simple form. However, simplicity only applies to those with abundant Mana. Examples of non-elemental magic include Telekinesis, Healing, and Space-Time Magic."
His voice was gentle, allowing all students to listen calmly. He walked to his desk and sat elegantly, like a noble.
"Do you know why using Non-Elemental Magic requires large amounts of Mana? It's obvious—it's because the formula must be structured. Unlike Elemental Magic, which can be cast with instant incantations."
Lucerius stood again, walking to the center of the classroom.
"A simple example is when you use fire magic, like Fire Ball. Look at this fireball in my hand—the shape and properties manifest immediately because we already know the intended result. But we rarely think about how the fire is formed, its origin, what triggers it, and what gives it heat. With Non-Elemental Magic, you must imagine how an event comes to happen."
One student raised their hand.
"Sir, does healing magic also use a lot of Mana?"
Lucerius approached, focusing his gaze on the student.
"Of course, if overused," he said with a faint smile.
"That's obvious, sir." Gil interjected, feeling a bit foolish.
Lucerius glanced at Gil and walked to the center of the students.
"Specifically for healing magic, it doesn't require much Mana. If you use it for minor cuts or to restore stamina, the Mana required isn't as much as other magic. Simply put, the Mana usage for healing magic is about the same as standard Elemental Magic."
All the students nodded in unison.
"Ohhhh… I see…"
Lucerius gave the students a sharp look.
"Do you know why the first magic created was non-elemental? Why not elemental? And who created it?"
The students fell silent, whispering to each other, debating possible answers.
"Because non-elemental magic is fundamental, which means all Elemental Magic originates from Non-Elemental Magic. Non-elemental magic cannot be created by living beings—it was created by the universe itself."
Teng… Teng… Teng…
Lucerius smiled, his expression bright and passionate.
"I hope you all understand today's lesson. Don't forget to study both Elemental and Non-Elemental Magic further. Knowledge is one of the greatest weapons for a wizard."
The afternoon class ended. Students dispersed freely. Free sat quietly, staring out the window.
Seria tilted her head, curious.
"What's wrong, Free? You seem deep in thought."
Seria's words broke Free's reverie. He looked at Seria standing beside him.
"Oh, Seria. The others have already left, right?"
"They have. Aren't you going to leave too?" Seria's eyes widened in curiosity.
Free got up from his seat and glanced at Seria who asked.
"I'm going to take a walk to the market. Do you want to come?"
Seria accepted the invitation immediately. They walked out of the academy toward the market. From a distance, they saw people crowding the marketplace in an orderly fashion.
They wandered through the market, observing the various stalls. Seria noticed some bread that caught her eye. She immediately approached the stall and invited Free to come along.
They bought the bread. As Free was about to take a bite, he was bumped from behind, causing the bread to fall. He turned around and saw a small child holding another piece of bread.
The child looked frightened, on the verge of tears, and quickly apologized.
"I-I didn't mean to…" the child stammered.
Free looked the child over, from head to toe. His eyes focused on the child's hand holding the damaged bread, then at the bread on the ground.
Free bought a new bread for the child, this time holding two pieces in his hands. He approached and crouched down.
"It's okay, I bought a new one for you. From now on, be more careful when walking, especially in crowded places."
The child hesitated but, seeing Free's kind demeanor, took the bread, thanked him, and left.
Seria chuckled, swinging her hand and lightly patting Free's shoulder.
"That was dramatic—giving advice like an adult."
Free adjusted his breathing, glancing at Seria who was laughing at him. He continued walking, eating his bread, ignoring her laughter.
The sky darkened further, black clouds covering the evening sky. Lightning struck in all directions, signaling the turbulent state of nature.
They returned to the academy. In the corridor, they met Gil.
"Hey…!"
Gil waved, but his eyes looked tired.
"Where have you been? You went out without me—how mean…"
Free crossed his arms, observing Gil's condition.
"You look exhausted. Are you okay?" Free asked, slightly concerned.
Seria let out a small sigh and shrugged.
"You should head back to the dorm and rest. You've been in extra classes, right? That must have been taxing on your body."
Gil could only sigh in resignation.
"I'll rest soon. Seems like the weather tonight is going to be rough."
Seria returned to the women's dormitory, while Free and Gil exchanged a glance.
"Gil, I bought red bean bread for you," Free broke the silence.
Gil's eyes lit up, his stomach growled loudly, saliva dripping from his mouth.
"You know exactly what I needed."
Free gave a small smile.
"Let's go back to the room. You need to shower first before eating."
Gil patted Free on the shoulder.
"You too, buddy. You're not fit to lecture me."
The two walked back to their rooms, passing through an ordinary day in the life of Crenia Academy students.
That night, a fierce storm raged outside. Heavy rain, strong winds, and thunder claps filled the night's chaos.
In the academy corridor, footsteps echoed. A man in elegant attire, holding a blue rose, walked alone.
He paused for a moment to look out the window. His bright blue eyes were patterned like a rose.
"A busy night…" he murmured. His tone was soft and emotionless, creating a mysterious aura.
He walked on, lowering his eyes beneath a fur-trimmed hat.
A woman in glasses and tight, revealing clothing walked in the opposite direction, carrying a book.
They passed each other. The elegant man stopped.
"What is a seducing devil doing here?" he asked, still keeping his voice gentle.
The woman halted, glancing sharply at him.
"You know my identity?" her bright red eyes glimmered.
The man turned, looking at her with a condescending smile.
"Nothing is hidden from my eyes."