Both Alec and Taryeon flinched and jerked away from the head that had suddenly appeared at the edge of the table. Once they looked, though, they realized that it wasn't just a head. It belonged to a man crouching by the table with his chin and fingertips on the table's edge.
Alec and Taryeon glanced at each other before looking back at the mysterious man who appeared seemingly out of nowhere.
Hair even blacker than Alec's, and his light grey eyes made them feel like he could see right through them.
"W-what do you mean?" Alec eventually managed to stutter out, trying to pretend like nothing had happened.
The man smiled, his eyes glinting cheekily.
"It may be unlikely, but if that Mason boy decides to make this official, what do you want me to say when asked about what happened today?" The man clarified, seemingly enjoying seeing Alec squirm in his chair.
"Uh, just to make sure, but if I ask you not to say anything that would put me in trouble, would you do that?"
"If you want, I'll make sure you won't be condemned guilty for insulting a member of the kingdom's nobility."
"Thanks—Thank you. I appreciate it."
The man's wide smile stayed on his face, and he stayed crouched as he looked at Alec.
"How's the Aether coming along?"
"Uhh…" Alec wasn't sure who this man was or what he wanted, but he could tell that he wasn't ordinary. So for now, he played along.
"Not as well as I would have hoped, if I'm being honest."
"I see. Well, how quickly you awaken to Aether is just an indication of your talent and the ease with which you will advance in the future. It's not a guarantee that just because you awaken Aether soon, you'll become a great mage quickly."
"I see. Thank you for the kind words."
"Of course, it might also have to do with your condition. I've heard that mages who try to stick with formless mana have a harder time progressing since it's harder to visualize than elemental mana."
Alec could only nod. He wasn't sure if this guy was trying to comfort or humble him.
"That said…" The man turned to Taryeon.
"Lightning…It's not the easiest, either. How is it going for you?"
"Better than I thought it would." Taryeon held up a hand and let a few sparks fly from his fingers. It wasn't magic. It was just pushing his mana to the surface of his body and letting some of it slip out. But it demonstrated how far he had come in amassing mana and in learning how to control it. He was a few steps ahead of Alec.
The man's eyes narrowed.
"Were you born in the middle of a thunderstorm?" The man suddenly asked.
"I…" Taryeon blanked. "I wouldn't know. I don't exactly remember my birth. But I have always felt at peace during them."
"There's going to be one next week. Climb to the top of the central building. You should probably bring a rope."
He then turned back to Alec without waiting for Taryeon's answer.
"Can I see your condensation method?"
Alec's eyes narrowed.
"I…don't have it on me."
"That's fine. Do you have it memorized? If not, what's its name?"
"I have it memorized. Do you want me to write it down? Right now?"
"Reciting it verbally is fine."
Alec was pretty sure it wasn't common practice to share your condensation method with complete strangers. Reina had shared hers because they were no longer relevant and because she was taking Alec on as her research assistant.
However, Alec didn't even know this man's name or position at the Academy.
It shouldn't have been a good idea to share such details with him, not when condensation methods could reveal weaknesses in the person's mana or magic circles.
At the same time, though, Alec's novel senses were tingling. This was an opportunity—a so-called chance encounter with a mysterious master.
The reason or the man's identity didn't matter. What mattered was his strength, which might give Alec insight into the condensation method and awakening to Aether.
Alec stopped hesitating and recited the Hollow Gale Magic Circle Condensation Method word for word without a single mistake. If it had been a week ago, he would have needed [Reader]'s help. But now, he had actually memorized it.
"And it's called Hollow Gale."
The man nodded.
"Makes sense. It's a method that focuses on the emptiness and movement of formless mana. Why do you think you aren't able to use it to awaken to Aether?"
"Because I don't understand it."
"I see. Have you tried understanding it?"
Alec stared at the man.
'Are you saying I've been doing nothing the past week and a half?'
"Yes."
"What do you think formless mana is, Alec?"
"Well…" Alec shrugged since he wasn't sure before continuing.
"I think it's mana without properties. It doesn't have a fixed function, appearance, or shape. It doesn't conform to any one standard."
"You're not wrong, but I think you're thinking about properties too lightly. Reevaluate your definition of the word and try again."
The man turned around and looked into the library.
"It seems like your friends are looking for you, so I'll take my leave here."
"Hey, wait, who…?!" Before Alec could ask who he was, the man had already disappeared from the spot.
He turned to Taryeon with a pale face.
"Was that a ghost?!"
"Was what a ghost? And have you two been sitting here all the time? Because I could swear that we checked just a few minutes ago, and there was no one here." Maura looked around in confusion as she inspected the corner of the library that Alec and Taryeon had claimed as theirs.
Taryeon met Alec's eyes.
'I have a feeling we shouldn't talk about that man.' He tried to convey his thoughts to Alec.
'I agree.' Fortunately, Alec had learned to read Taryeon's expressions after the times he used non-verbal communication to stop him from doing something stupid when Benjamin was nearby.
"Nothing. Anyway, how'd it go?" Taryeon asked, subtly changing the subject.
Maura scratched the back of her head with a pained expression.
"I don't know. Think I did well on the reading part, but writing…I mean, when am I ever going to need to write something outside of the Academy? I'm a mage for goodness' sake. If I can't solve it with a spell, I won't be able to solve it with words on a piece of paper," She complained as she sat down next to Taryeon.
"Filing taxes, applying for research grants, writing letters to friends and family, signing paperwork," Taryeon pointed out.
"Those aren't real problems. I'll kill a bunch of monsters and be pardoned for any mistakes."
"That's…not how it works."
"And what would you know…"
"I know…"
Taryeon's and Maura's words faded from Alec's mind as he sank deep into thought about what the man had said.