Chapter 20

Chapter 20

“Sirone, how cold do you feel right now?”

Sienna had already surmised that the boy would feel cold rather than hot, and her assumptions proved accurate.

“It’s quite cold. It’s quite intense, actually,” he replied.

A chill was the most intense cold one could experience in the third testing ground. Acknowledging this, Sienna nodded and began to jot down her observations. She assessed that Sirone was a swarmer, defensive, and had exceptional durability. However, even taking that into account, the size of his Spirit Zone was abnormally large.

Sienna wondered if such cases had been documented before. Although she had been a professor for over four years, it was rare for her to encounter someone whose Spirit Zone exceeded their mental inclination. However, this was an inevitable outcome resulting from Sirone’s choices and focus.

He had immersed himself in history books to compensate for his lack of magical knowledge in a setting where he couldn’t learn magic. Thus, he focused solely on refining his Spirit Zone, resulting in this impressive foundation.

“You’ve done well. You can now leave your Spirit Zone. We’ll convene to determine your class, so please wait outside for a moment,” one of the professors instructed.

“Well done, thank you.”

Sirone bowed slightly and exited to where the other students were gathered. As the door to the examination room closed behind him, the previously silent professors began to share their thoughts.

“He’s quite an exceptional student,” one noted.

Thad, with a hint of disdain in his expression, responded, “Instead of exceptional, I’d say he’s just well-balanced.”

Sienna interjected, “He’s so well-balanced that it’s considered exceptional. A seventeen-year-old boy, ignorant of magic, with a Spirit Zone spanning over thirty meters in diameter, is quite extraordinary, especially for someone with a swarmer inclination.”

“As the Spirit Zone expands, its density usually decreases. Yet, his density impressively stands at 86.7 percent,” one professor observed.

Another added, “While we can guide students on enhancing their density, he has reached this mark solely through sheer mental strength. An 86.7 percent density is on par with the mental stability of an advanced practitioner training in the mountains.”

While the professors offered nearly unanimous praise, Thad, who had voiced critical opinions, grew more pensive. “Well, he’s still just at a student’s level. There’s still much more to observe.”

Sienna coldly retorted, “What do you mean ‘just at a student’s level’? Isn’t this a school where students come to learn?”

Thad’s face reddened. Had she not been so beautiful, he wouldn’t have tolerated such humiliation. As the two exchanged intense glances, the other professors momentarily held their tongues. Thad of the Flame and Sienna of the Frost were well-known for their spirited rivalry within the school.

Stepping in, Alpheas inquired, “What class should we place Sirone in?”

Sienna was quick to offer her thoughts. “Isn’t Class Five appropriate? Considering his high potential and unique inclination, I believe he needs intensive guidance.”

Thad quickly countered, “He doesn’t know a single spell. Putting him in Class Five might inflate his confidence and make him susceptible to mishaps.”

“Some students might mirror your tendencies, Professor Thad, but not all do.”

“Sienna! There’s a limit to my patience with your remarks! Admit it! You want to personally oversee him because you’re in charge of Class Five!”

“And what’s wrong with that? Is there a problem with a professor wanting to mentor a promising student?”

“You’re overreaching. He doesn’t know any magic, and being able to transform his Spirit Zone is beyond him currently. No matter how highly you think of him, Class Seven seems most fitting.”

Alpheas then solicited opinions from the other professors. Suggestions ranged from gradually fostering him in Class Ten to delaying his class placement to observe him further.

The owl-like professor offered a compromise. “I believe Class Seven is suitable. Assigning him to a beginner class might curb his enthusiasm given his age. And in Class Seven, he’d also get foundational training for the Spirit Zone. If he truly demonstrates remarkable skill, we can always promote him.”

Alpheas concurred with his statement. To hone Sirone’s budding talent, reinforcing the basics was crucial.

“Very well. He’ll join Class Seven,” Alpheas announced.

With that decision, the entrance exams for the new students came to a close.

***

Class Seven was regarded as an advanced class, and because of this, Sirone had the privilege of staying in the dormitory alongside his peers.

To his surprise, he was given a room to himself. Given that the school catered to nobles, the funding was extravagant, ensuring that students enjoyed the utmost convenience. Thanks to his support from House Ojent, Sirone also didn’t need to feel self-conscious.

His room, 707, was located in the boys’ dormitory. To other nobles, it might not be impressive, but for Sirone, it was the size of the living room in the cabin he used to live in. Everything, from the bed to the desk, exuded luxury. There was a bookshelf on the wall, and of course, it was completely empty.

While giving him a tour, the staff member informed him that classes concluded at five o’clock, after which students had free time. Although outings were restricted on weekdays, the vast school grounds housed every amenity a student might need.

Students also had the option to form research clubs based on their interests. With enough members, they could even secure funding. There were four libraries open around the clock, and the borrowing policies were quite lenient as long as students adhered to the due dates. Sirone couldn’t have been happier. It was the ideal setting for academic pursuits.

As a final point, the staff member warned against unauthorized magic use. Outside of the labs, using magic post-curfew was forbidden. Those dabbling in forbidden magic could face severe consequences, irrespective of their justifications. As for prominent examples of forbidden magic, there was the necromancer’s soul-binding spell, and among them, anti-magic was also included. Upon inquiring why anti-magic was taboo, the staff member only replied that they didn’t know and departed.

“Hmm, in that case...” Sirone stretched out on his bed, contemplating his next steps.

He didn’t feel the need to join any clubs immediately. Apart from concerns about being a commoner, he was still uncertain about which specialty best matched his aptitude.

“I should visit the library. After two years of focusing on history, it’s time to acquire a broader range of knowledge.”

Sirone was confident. Wasn’t it for this very reason that he suppressed all kinds of curiosity to build the backbone of his knowledge? From now on, all that remained was to voraciously devour knowledge.

A beautiful piano melody echoed through the ceiling, rousing Sirone from his sleep.

“Is it morning already?”

The sound, delivered through a spell called “ether resonance,” came from a music student’s performance. However, no matter how sublime the piece was, it couldn’t rival the time he had spent playing with Leina. Suddenly, memories of those from House Ojent surfaced. Are they all well? Is Lian also awaiting his first class with bated breath like I am?

With these musings, Sirone completed his morning routine and made his way to the dining hall for breakfast. In the distinct male and female dormitories, the dining hall was the singular space where all could congregate.

Sirone chose a secluded corner to sit in. While conversing with others was enjoyable, he cherished peaceful meals the most. Because of this preference, there was a time when he was teased by the woodsmen’s children for being reserved. However, many students here shared Sirone’s temperament, so nobody cared whether he used a fork or ate with his hands.

Yet, the issue of gender was separate, and the matter of his attractiveness was distinct. His appearance drew the eyes of many female students, leading to whispers and giggles. Despite his efforts not to be conscious of them, he finished his meal and practically fled to his room.

Following the schedule, Sirone left his room with a noticeable strain on his shoulders from the weight of the books. Transitioning from the introductory advanced class of Class Seven to the more advanced classes meant there was an overwhelming array of subjects to study in earnest.

Naturally, the classes were challenging. When compared to the noble students who meticulously prepared beforehand and reviewed afterward, Sirone’s knowledge appeared rudimentary. The reason he could keep up to some extent was due to his shallow yet extensive backbone of knowledge.

My judgment was right. With that in mind, Sirone categorized the subjects he would undertake in the future, establishing a blueprint for his studies, and concentrated on his classes.

Post-lunch, the afternoon was reserved for integrated training of the Spirit Zone. From Class Seven to Class Four, all 280 students from the advanced classes gathered, exchanging pleasantries and making the grounds abuzz with chatter.

“I did well in the test, thanks to your assistance last time,” a young student said as he respectfully bowed to his upperclassman. Gratitude filled his voice. “Thank you.”

Meanwhile, another student waved energetically at a different upperclassman, calling out with enthusiasm, “Over here! I’ve saved you a seat!”

Initially, Sirone presumed it was just friendly banter. But listening in, he perceived the nuances of senior-junior relationships. Observing a visibly older student courteously greeting a younger peer was intriguing. Even within the advanced classes, the hierarchy was palpable.

In society, whether officially recognized or not, a mage’s status is gauged by their level, crystallizing the pecking order among students here. Of course, there could be instances where a once-junior leapfrogged a senior, but seniors naturally asserted their dominance over juniors. It seems rank reversals are seldom. Sirone intuited the difficulty of advancing even a single class level.

The Spirit Zone instructor was a certified level-six mage named Etala Romi. She didn’t look to be older than in her mid-twenties. With simply tied brown hair and prominent glasses, she exuded a gentle demeanor, not the usual aura associated with professors.

“All right, everyone. We have a new student joining the advanced class today. Sirone, please stand up and introduce yourself.”

All gazes settled on Sirone, inevitably including Amy’s.

“Oh, Amy! Isn’t he the guy we saw yesterday? His name must be Sirone.”

While her friend babbled excitedly, Amy was deep in thought. Though his presence felt familiar, the name Sirone was foreign to her.

A junior from Class Five chimed in, “Do you know him, Miss Amy? He’s a new student who was placed directly in Class Seven. Rumor has it the faculty is keeping a watchful eye on him.”

“I like him even more now. I wonder which noble family he’s from. Do you know his last name?” asked Amy’s friend.

Suddenly, Amy blurted out, “Holy sh*t!”

Such an outburst was uncharacteristic of her, prompting her friend to ask, “Amy, what’s the matter?”

“Oh, um... It’s nothing.”

But it was far from nothing. Recalling times when she was enveloped in darkness, she recognized her involvement in some regrettable incidents. He did have talent back then too. But he’s likely a commoner. How did he manage to enroll in a magic school?

Sirone began his introduction. “Hello, I’m Sirone Arian. I’ll be joining you in Class Seven. thank you.”

He was met with a warm round of applause. While seniors were thrilled to have a new junior, the girls were pleased by the addition of another boy. Yet, among them, suspicious glances lurked. The emergence of a potential rival was evident.

Setting aside the new student’s buzz, Etala commenced the lesson. “Now, everyone, what is the Spirit Zone?”

“A mage’s mind made manifest,” someone answered.

“Exactly. The Spirit Zone is the manifestation of the mind. Initially, it takes the shape of a sphere due to the importance of concentration. However, in real-world applications, this spherical form can sometimes be inefficient.”

Etala stepped into a magic device called the “Image Zone.” Similar to the entrance exam venue, a floor adorned with concentric magic circles became visible. As the floor disappeared, Etala found herself enveloped in a seemingly dark, empty void, giving the illusion that she was floating in mid-air. However, when she expanded her Spirit Zone to about ten meters in diameter while in that state, something astonishing happened. Its form became visible to everyone present.

That must be the Image Zone device I’ve only heard about. It materializes the mind into reality.

This device could only be crafted through top-tier magical engineering and required a tremendous amount of funds. However, the ability to see the Spirit Zone with the naked eye significantly enhanced the effectiveness of the lessons. This was one of the reasons why the Alpheas School of Magic was recognized as one of the five prestigious institutions in the Kingdom.