Chapter 22

Chapter 22

Sirone sharpened his focus even further. He refused to fixate on the tangible image, causing his Spirit Zone to expand to more than double its original size.

The upperclassmen’s eyes widened in astonishment when the billboard adjacent to the Image Zone displayed a diameter of forty-one meters. Given that the average diameter for a Class Four student’s Spirit Zone was twenty-four meters, Sirone’s was nearing that of the graduating class.

“H-how is his Spirit Zone that big?”

Expanding the Spirit Zone could indeed be achieved through rigorous training, but this was not just about physical exertion. It required a mental breakthrough. Without attaining the exact sensation, all the training in the world wouldn’t be enough. This underscored the belief that magic was a realm dictated by innate talent.

Etala, too, was visibly impressed. He must have devoted years to unraveling the truths of the world and wrestled with his internal struggles. At only seventeen, he is already an exceptional student.

Oblivious to the awe he had inspired, Sirone focused on constructing the frame. Balance is key. I need to apply pressure all at once.

As he widened his eyes and initiated the defense form, a large sphere seemed to compress around Sirone. The sight of a sphere over forty meters in diameter enveloping him was enough to make the students’ heads spin.

“Whoa...” a student mumbled.

In the next moment, Sirone’s creation came into existence, and gasps of awe could be heard throughout the room.

It’s complete. Sirone inspected the defense form he had successfully created. It felt like being inside a diamond. The perfectly interlocked cubic structure had a diameter of roughly thirteen meters. Although its size had reduced by over fifty percent, its durability seemed to have multiplied several-fold.

“He actually did it. A freshman has performed a Spirit Zone Quaternion on his very first day!”

While his classmates were full of wonder, some of the more envious upperclassmen frowned. Many, particularly the girls, showed open admiration. Amy had not been affiliated with any clique, but now, Sirone was beginning to capture her attention.

That’s right. He’s always been gifted. How could I have forgotten? The reason I vowed to learn magic was due to the humiliation I suffered from him. Who is this kid? It was evident that he had received assistance. Talent alone didn’t guarantee admission to this school. Who’s backing him? Amy’s thoughts deepened, spurred by the memories of her past encounters with him.

In his characteristic innocence, Sirone asked, “Professor, the size has reduced much more than I expected.”

“That’s to be expected. But now, with a solid mental framework in place, your Spirit Zone will resist minor disturbances. It should also endure a certain level of physical impact.”

“I understand.” Physical impact...

In combat, a magician with frail physical defenses was a prime target. If the mind is subjected to shock but the framework remains, the structure won’t suffer significant damage. These techniques converge to create a mage’s practical combat abilities.

Etala stroked her eyebrow in contemplation. I heard he astonished the professors during the entrance exam, and it seems the rumors are true.

Of course, it was still too early for definitive judgments. Setting aside his remarkable insight, his proficiency in executing the defense form was rooted in his swarmer tendencies, which were complemented by his unusually large spirit zone.

Only belatedly did Sirone become aware of the reactions of his peers, and he retreated to his corner with a shy expression. Perhaps it was the intense gazes of the other students that shrouded him, or maybe it was his own concentration on the task at hand, but Sirone remained oblivious to Amy’s intense scrutiny.

The Cold Boy and the Fiery Girl

Sirone immersed himself in various disciplines. While he would eventually have the option to choose a major upon reaching the graduating class, completing all foundational courses was a prerequisite. This comprehensive education was one reason why mages were held in high regard in society. They were esteemed scholars regardless of their magical prowess.

In the classroom of Class Seven, Sirone attended Professor Sienna’s basic chemistry class. Sienna Olypher, the authority on frost magic, was the twenty-seven-year-old second daughter of House Olypher. Undoubtedly a prodigy, she had once been an Olypher Scholar and achieved the rank of a level-six mage solely through her mastery of frost magic.

Her beauty was striking, yet there was a cold air about her. She was the sole female professor among those who had conducted the entrance exam, and her presence of that time, as cold as a chilly breeze, had left a lasting impression on Sirone. Surprisingly, those reasons were precisely why she was popular among the male students, filling the classroom to capacity.

With her purple hair neatly tied up, she stood at the podium, adjusting her horn-rimmed glasses. “Good day. I am Sienna Olypher, and from today onwards, I’ll be instructing the chemistry class for Class Seven.”

The room erupted in applause. Amidst the clapping, a few audacious students whistled and shouted questions about her personal life, all of which Sienna disregarded as she opened her textbook.

Sirone felt a shiver that wasn’t entirely due to the room’s temperature. It appeared she had glanced at him briefly before focusing on her book. He might have doubted his own perception, but Sirone’s intuition was indeed accurate. Sienna normally taught Class Five but had decided to teach an additional class to nurture Sirone’s talent.

Talent is all about timing. If it isn’t cultivated promptly, it risks withering away. It’ll be beneficial for him to advance classes as soon as possible.

Once Sirone was placed in Class Five, it was potential that his talent would somehow catch up. Sienna felt Thad focused too much on the students’ perspectives. She wanted to validate her educational approach through Sirone’s rapid progress.

Unaware of the underlying motives, the students were simply thrilled that their esteemed Class Five professor had introduced a new course.

“Professor, is it really true that you and Professor Thad are dating? Surely not, right?”

“Could you tell us about your first love since it’s the first day of class?”

“Please! Tell us!”

As the playful banter continued, Sienna summoned a large ice crystal beside her. The crystal spun, scattering snowflakes throughout the room, and the temperature plunged sharply.

Initially, the students chuckled, claiming it was “a bit chilly.” But as the cold intensified, smiles turned to grimaces, and even speaking became laborious.

“Professor, it’s... incredibly cold...”

“Let’s start the lesson,” Sienna announced, stepping away from the podium.

As she slowed the crystal’s rotation, the temperature inched above freezing, yet it remained bitterly cold.

“What’s the principle behind this magic?” Sienna asked, holding the ice crystal aloft. “What is cold? What constitutes cooling?” Then, with a firm clench of her fist, the floating ice crystal exploded into countless shimmering fragments. “Coldness signifies the absence of heat, the absence of energy. There is no such thing as cold energy in the world. Therefore, while temperature can rise infinitely, it cannot drop infinitely. It’s a state of zero energy. This is what we call absolute zero.”

Realizing the class had already started, Sirone hastily opened his notebook.

“By removing a bit of energy at room temperature, we can form ice crystals or just common ice. But what if we disintegrated it into particles and induced convection? We could create temperatures as low as those that could take a human to death’s door, just like earlier.”

The mention of death turned the excited students, who had been clamoring for a first love story, pale.

“So, how do mages absorb energy? What enables them to activate magic without any devices or tools?”

Sirone stopped his note-taking and looked up.

“In the realm known as the Spirit Zone, a mage becomes a control tower that governs the world. Whether you think of it as a deity or pantheism doesn’t really matter. The essential point is that two divine-like conditions must be satisfied to cast magic,” Sienna elaborated, pointing her finger. “Omniscience and Omnipotence. Mages use omnipotence, which is like having great power, to cast spells. This power works within a special area known as the Spirit Zone. But having power isn’t enough. You also need omniscience, which means knowing a lot. For example, what to do with that power and how to use it correctly. If a mage doesn’t have this knowledge, their magic won’t work. That’s why mages need to study and learn about the world, just like scholars, to use their abilities effectively.”

Sirone realized why he had been unable to manifest magic until now. Omnipotence and Omniscience. He had only practiced increasing his power and hadn’t learned enough about how to use it wisely.

“Going forward, you will have the chance to study various disciplines with me and other professors. The Spirit Zone is just one part of magic. You need a lot of knowledge to be a truly great mage. Now, let’s start our basic chemistry lesson.” Sienna then turned to the blackboard and began writing.

The lesson was in full swing, with the students’ attention at its peak.

Becoming a popular professor isn’t just about looks, Sirone mused. The trust that the students placed in their teacher fueled their ambition, and Sirone himself was fully immersed in the lesson.

Even though some concepts were challenging, he didn’t dwell on them. His backbone of knowledge was firmly established, and from that day forward, he was committed to expanding his expertise into various other disciplines.

I will become a mage.

***

It was five o’clock in the afternoon. After their final classes, students returned to their dormitories. Sirone, feeling the weight of the day, dragged himself toward his own. Though classes had ended, the day was far from over. Some students snatched a quick meal before heading to the library. Those in research clubs gathered and strode to the labs.

Friendless, Sirone chose the library over joining a club, intending to meticulously review the day’s lessons. Being behind others made the day seem shorter, and even the necessity of sleep annoyed him. He mused about creating a spell to forgo sleep as he made his way to the second library.

Then, abruptly, he felt weightless. Regaining his bearings, he realized he was being carried through the air, someone gripping his back. What’s happening? he wondered, panic rising at the supernatural speed and strength.

The mysterious figure whisked him to a secluded part of the campus garden and dropped him.

“Ugh!” Sirone groaned when he hit the ground hard and looked up at his abductor.

A masked figure scanned the area anxiously. Once sure they were alone, the mask came off.

“W-wait, you are...” he trailed off.

It was Amy Karmis.

“You remember me, don’t you?” she asked.

“Of course. How could I forget? You took me to that strange place and tried to... strip me...”

“That’s enough!” Amy extended her hand. “I get it, so stop. You do remember.” She quickly continued, “But you’ve got it wrong. I might have a short temper, but I’m not the type of person you’re suggesting I am. I’m not particularly interested in guys, and what happened back then, well... That was a one-time thing, understand?”

“Uh... yes,” Sirone replied, still startled.

Amy shook her head. “No, what I mean is... that wasn’t truly me, and the whole situation itself was strange. You can spread any rumors you want about me, but I want you to know and need you to understand that this is the truth.”

Sirone’s confusion deepened. “You didn’t kidnap me over that, did you?” he asked.

Amy was caught off guard, and she blinked and looked away, scratching her cheek. “No! Of course not... I was also curious about how you got into a magic school. Plus, there’s a chance you might get in the way of my school life, so...”

Sirone realized an unexpected fact: Amy was terrible at lying.