Chapter 59: The First Class
A few minutes earlier, the Second Year Class S classroom was full. All the students were sitting neatly, some tense, some pretending to be relaxed. Then the classroom door opened.
In walked Lyla Maryam.
The woman smiled softly as she stepped in with an aura of "deadly beauty" that made half the class swallow simultaneously. She placed a thick stack of books on the teacher's desk, and thud... the sound alone made Amy's notebook tremble.
"Good morning, Cadets," Lyla said with a voice that was warm but still carried the pressure of reading a sentence verdict. "Today, we begin the first class of the second year."
All students: "G–good morning, Professor!"
Ren sat up straight, trying to look normal. Leon turned and whispered, "You look tense?" He blinked a few times, then a flash of electricity sparked in his eyes.
"Ah…" Slowly but surely, he gave a mischievous grin until his eyes narrowed. "So that's how it is, huh?"
As for Ren, he remained silent—staring straight ahead, ignoring Leon, who was looking at him with a mocking smirk.
To others, Ren looked no different. But inside Ren's mind...
"Why did it have to be her!?" he cursed internally.
[I believe the Host's luck has run out.]
"Hey, damn you, Noll! My luck has been non-existent from the start!"
While Ren was arguing with Noll in his mind, Professor Lyla's voice sounded, making Ren snap back to attention.
"Alright," Lyla looked at them, "but, since today is the first class after advancing a year, I will only be teaching theory first."
Lyla turned to the magic board and tapped its surface with her fingertip. A pale blue light spread, forming a complex, slowly rotating circular diagram.
"Today we start with advanced fundamental theory. Our focus: the structure of the magic core and the stability of the current," she said, looking across the entire class… then stopping precisely on Ren for one second too long.
Several students exchanged glances. Leon just let out a short sigh but couldn't hide his amused smile.
"That's obvious. First class and you're already the target."
Ren restrained himself from staring at the ceiling, wishing it would carry him away.
Lyla lifted a magical chalk and began drawing a pattern shaped like a mana web in the air.
"Every spell has three main elements. The energy core, the current path, and the binder. Yet most cadets only know the usage, not the mechanism."
The diagram rotated faster, small points glowing.
"Cadet Ozawa," Lyla called suddenly.
'Of course...!'
Ren slowly turned his head. Lyla's smile… was too gentle for the situation. Ren unconsciously flinched slightly, though it only looked like he was shifting his position.
"Yes, Professor?" Ren responded in a calm voice, even though his eyes and mind were screaming, "Please don't."
"Explain the function of the energy core."
Ren stood up. He had no choice.
His movement looked casual, but the elegant aura was clearly an attempt to mask his desperation. Ren, standing up from his seat, glanced at the diagram, then spoke in a calm and steady voice.
"The energy core is the center of mana formation. It combines pure mana with the user's directional intent. Core stability determines consumption and the final result."
Lyla smiled faintly. "Very good. As always."
Some students sighed in frustration. Amy closed her notebook, her face red with annoyance. Leon just watched Ren while leaning back.
Evelyn, though ignored by them because they were used to it, had actually been staring at Ren the whole time with wistful, wet eyes.
Lyla then drew a circulating current path line.
"Second. The mana current path. Many spells fail not because of power, but because the current does not flow according to the body's rhythm."
She looked at the class, then returned her gaze to Ren.
"A simple example?"
Ren shifted his weight to one side and stared straight ahead. "If the current rises too fast, the body loses synchronization. The effects are trembling, loss of focus, or the spell exploding faster than it should."
Some students immediately shivered. They still remembered last year's incident. Ren certainly remembered… because he was the one who put it out.
"That is absolutely right," Lyla replied, leaning her hip against the desk, her eyes never leaving Ren. "Perfect."
Ren returned to his seat calmly, as if nothing had happened. Yet Leon immediately elbowed him.
"Confident, as usual, of course."
"Shut up, shithead." Ren then looked straight ahead to avoid Leon's murderous stare. "I don't want to talk about it."
Lyla continued, tapping the third part of the diagram.
"Lastly, the binder. The component that determines the final form of the magic. The binder dictates whether the magic will be pure fire, solid lightning, or just a weak spark."
The diagram shrunk, then expanded again.
"The binder is the most difficult part. It requires high concentration," she looked around the class, "but of course, you have all studied."
She concluded the explanation with a smile to the whole class, then… looked at Ren again as if on purpose.
"That's just the basic material. Next week we start learning how to coat your hands with magic."
Lyla said, tapping her desk.
"So prepare and be excited, mages."
The classroom atmosphere suddenly became tense but they could not hide their happiness.
Lyla then spoke again. "Good. To close the class… are there any questions?"
No one dared to raise their hand.
Silence.
Then Lyla added, her tone soft but her gaze seemingly giving instruction.
"Ren. After class, come to my office for a moment. I want to ask you 'something'."
Ren closed his eyes briefly. And Leon patted his shoulder with feigned pity.
"My best wishes to you, brother."
Ren remained seated upright, looking cool, elegant, and completely resigned. Then Lyla's voice sounded again.
"Alright, stay here, as another Professor will be arriving."
Meanwhile, in the First Year Class S classroom. They were also studying magic theory with Professor Mira. She looked around the class with sharp yet attentive eyes—and was she nervous?
"Are there any questions?" she asked.
Mira's tone sounded normal, but if you looked closely, a small bead of sweat appeared on her temple. Yes, she was nervous.
How could she not be nervous?
There were many intriguing and high-ranking figures in this class, such as: Sitting in the front row were Abel Montain, Lira Tempest, Lia Elamin, and Mia Ohan.
Then in the back were: Kyle Ohan, Lucius Eirandel, and Noah Raven.
And the last, the ones who made Mira even more nervous, were here in the middle seats: Inara Astria, Luna Starlet, Umara Sylvarin, and Maira Paradiss.
Mira chuckled hollowly to herself. 'This class is insane…' She then looked at all of them. 'Is this what they mean by the Golden Generation? Truly, unbelievable…'
And out of all those people, there was clearly someone else, and a person whose soul was about to leave them from fear and nervousness.
That person was Azel Monzain. He sat in the last seat near the window, cold sweat dripping from his temples.
People saw him as ordinary—just a handsome young man with brown hair and eyes. But for two people, Lia Elamin and Lira Tempest, Azel was a crucial figure.
Lira turned back, glancing at Azel. Then she said internally with curiosity.
'Is that the protagonist?' Lira narrowed her eyes slightly. 'He looks weaker when seen directly…'
Lira quickly shook her head, even if only internally. She faced forward again, looking at Professor Mira.
'Well… Like the saying goes, don't judge a book by its cover, I guess?'
Then someone's voice sounded inside her, Nyx.
[What are you thinking, Kid?]
'Hmm? Nothing, just distracted by something else for a moment.'
Meanwhile, Lia was engrossed in looking around with curious and amazed eyes, although she hid it.
In her previous life, she was very arrogant because she lived an easy life. But look at her now? She was like a small child looking at a cute toy with shining eyes.
Maybe it was the influence of her village friends? I don't know either.
'The contents of this class are all legends! Living legends!'
Currently, Lia sat with Amy on her left. But her gaze never stopped scanning the room. Then her gaze stopped at the brown-haired man near the window.
Lia tilted her head slightly, trying to remember if that man was also a legendary character. Then, a few moments later, she grasped it.
'What—Is he that person??' her eyes widened, just for a moment, 'The one nicknamed the War Devil!?'
Now, now Lia remembered that person. That man, Azel, was the mentor of the game protagonist Lia played. He was also one of the living and very powerful legends.
Lia let out a small sigh, not expecting to forget about that.
Then her eyes glanced at Lira, and unexpectedly, Lira also glanced at her. And the two of them simultaneously muttered internally.
"I never heard his name in the novel."
"I never saw him in the dream scenarios in the game."