Chapter 26
The classroom was vast and empty, devoid of desks, chairs, or a podium.
The only things filling the space were white circles drawn on the floor.
Spaced evenly, each circle was just large enough for one person to stand inside.
“What… what is this? Did we come to the wrong classroom?”
“No, this is it. Second floor, Broud Room.”
The students hesitated at the entrance, murmuring in confusion at the strange sight.
I, Eddie, sensed the magical aura flowing through the room and quietly curled my lips.
‘Ho… there’s more than one spell at play here.’
I could feel three or four distinct spells.
All were high-level, 5-star or above.
‘Impressive piling work. No trace of mana collision.’
Piling.
The technique of layering multiple spells in the same area to amplify their effects, requiring exceptional mana control.
‘A skilled eccentric, huh.’
I smirked, thinking of the caster who had yet to appear.
As I observed the bewildered students with gleaming eyes—
“Why are you all blocking the door?” came a voice.
Alexein and his entourage, arriving late, pushed through the students at the entrance.
“…What’s all this?” Alexein muttered, pausing at the sight of the circles.
He nudged one of his followers, gesturing with his chin to check the circles.
The student hesitated but, unable to resist Alexein’s pressure, approached a circle.
At that moment—
“You shouldn’t push others to do what you’re afraid of, Dickens!” a booming voice echoed through the classroom.
“What… what was that?!”
“Whose voice is that?!”
The startled students looked around, but the source was nowhere to be seen.
Alexein, eager to find who had scolded him, stepped further into the classroom.
The booming voice rang out again.
“Greetings, everyone. I’m Fred Arno, your professor for ‘Mana Manipulation Practice’ this year.”
Professor Fred Arno.
The voice introduced itself as such.
I recalled Leodimir’s letter from last night as I registered Fred’s voice, still hidden.
[Fred is from Palamedes, a disciple I personally trained. He’s teaching one of the first-year practical classes, so he’ll be a great asset to you, Master.]
My eyes gleamed with interest as I focused on the voice of my disciple’s disciple.
Fred, still invisible, continued explaining to the murmuring students.
“The circles before you are ‘Domains of Confinement’ created by the Claustro spell.”
“…!”
The students’ eyes widened, and they buzzed at the mention of the spell.
Claustro, a 4-star defensive spell, was used to create secret hideouts or secure vaults.
The ‘Domain of Confinement’ required a specific condition, called a Clavis, to enter.
But why use Claustro for the first mana manipulation class?
The students, puzzled, listened to Fred’s explanation.
“As some of you may know, to enter a Claustro domain, you must meet the Clavis—the condition set by the caster. It could be a word, an action, or a spell.”
Fred’s booming voice continued.
“And the Clavis for the circles before you is your ‘name’ and ‘genuine passion for magic.’”
Hum—
At his words, the circles on the floor glowed faintly in unison.
“Say your name with a wand gesture, and your assigned circle will light up.”
“Ooooh…”
The students’ anticipation swelled at the mystical sight of the 4-star spell.
But—
“Those who find their circle and have genuine passion for magic will unlock the domain and enter.”
The students flinched, tensing at Fred’s next words.
Genuine passion for magic.
It sounded noble, almost expected for students of a magical academy.
But this was Lieferden Academy, the elite course for the magical world’s upper echelon.
Most students aimed for a diploma to boost their family’s prestige, not magical passion.
“Now, take out your wands and find your domains.”
“…”
Despite Fred’s instruction, the students hesitated, glancing at each other.
‘A sharp Clavis that catches those here just for a diploma.’
But I was caught by that same sharp Clavis.
I clenched my fist, recalling why I, as a Tail, entered this academy.
To rebuild my past life’s faction, reclaim my stolen family, and—
‘Exact revenge on Ivan’s lineage.’
I was likely the least pure in motive among the first-years here.
‘But my fervent desire to reclaim a magical dynasty… maybe that’s a form of genuine passion for magic.’
Then—
“Hmph. So many cowards,” Alexein muttered arrogantly, striding toward a nearby circle.
His mood was sour from Fred’s earlier reprimand.
‘Fred Arno. No surprise a commoner-born professor tries to assert dominance with such odd methods.’
Ignoring the Clavis, he stepped into a circle.
The next moment—
Zoop—!
A surge of magical energy pierced his body, and his vision dropped sharply.
“Huh…?”
Sensing something off, Alexein looked down at himself.
Zoop—!
His height shrank again.
“Argh!”
He screamed in panic, pulling his foot out and stumbling back.
His height had shrunk by over 30 centimeters.
Pale, he frantically looked between his body and the now-larger surroundings.
“What… what is this?!”
“Oh, I forgot to mention. Entering the wrong circle or an ununlocked one will shrink you by a hand’s length as a penalty, so be careful.”
Fred’s nonchalant voice finally explained the penalty spell.
“Ugh…”
Alexein bit his lip, glaring upward where the voice came from.
His face burned with shame and anger.
The students stifled laughter, watching him.
And—
“…”
‘Ugh…’
The disdainful gazes of two Kirhausens.
Meeting Marcel’s and my eyes, Alexein’s face reddened further.
With the penalty spell’s power revealed, the students’ hesitation grew.
Uncertain of their passion for magic, and now facing a harsh penalty, stepping forward risked humiliation like Alexein’s.
Yet one person moved first to find their circle.
Joy, confidently saying her name and waving her wand.
Swish—
“Joy Lixiodor.”
Hum—
Without hesitation, she approached her glowing circle and stepped inside.
Hum—Fwoosh—
The circle glowed blue, accepting her as the Clavis was met, unlocking the domain.
I gave a subtle smile, watching.
It eased some of my hesitation.
Swish—
“Eddie Summerson.”
Hum—
Following Joy, I moved, and Marcel soon drew his wand.
As a few started, others took out their wands, saying their names.
…
Twenty minutes later—
All the students stood in their circles.
But not everyone was unscathed.
“…”
About two-thirds had shrunk by one to three hand lengths, their uniforms flapping loosely.
“Pfft…”
“Chuckle…”
The students burst into small laughs, seeing each other.
The sleepiness and boredom from earlier classes finally lifted.
I wore a complex expression, watching their laughter.
“…”
Unlike most, I hadn’t shrunk at all.
It meant my passion for magic was genuine.
But unlike my past life’s pure passion, this time—
‘My genuine passion is for revenge.’
Feeling my pure passion tainted, I stood apart from the excited atmosphere.
But I quickly steeled myself and focused on the situation.
‘Fred Arno, huh. A true disciple of an eccentric. Turning a bored atmosphere around like this.’
I recalled Leodimir’s description of Fred.
[He’s much like me in my youth, a disciple I particularly cherish. Of course, he’s also highly skilled.]
‘He’s definitely like Leo.’
I shifted my gaze to an old shelf in the classroom’s corner.
It looked empty under a layer of dust, but I could sense it.
The mana flowing through the room, sustaining multiple spells, emanated from there.
‘He’s not hidden but shrunk with a Diminusio spell, watching us.’
And that wasn’t all.
The classroom was shielded by a Silent Shell to block outside noise.
An amplification spell made his voice resonate from all directions.
These spells were piled and cast simultaneously.
‘His skill is certainly helpful.’
I smiled inwardly, retracting my gaze.
As I did, Fred’s voice echoed again.
“Looks like everyone found their circles. Good. Now…”
Unlike earlier, when his voice came from above, it now originated from a single point.
The students’ gazes turned to the old shelf.
The next moment—
Whoosh—Thud.
A tiny speck expanded instantly.
A dust-sized figure leapt from the shelf, transforming into a tall man, landing on the floor.