The afternoon sun shone brightly through the tall windows of the Magic Department building.
Students poured into Practical Classroom Two, their conversations filled with equal parts excitement and anxiety.
Unlike Professor Marianne's lecture room, this classroom looked more like an indoor training arena.
Stone floors replaced polished wood.
Circular practice platforms were spread evenly throughout the room.
Large runes glowed faintly along the walls.
Ethan immediately noticed them.
"…Those weren't in the other classroom."
Rowan nodded.
"Barrier formations. They're supposed to stop spells from damaging the room."
Oliver looked relieved.
"Oh. So if I accidentally blow something up…The classroom survives."
"The classroom," Rowan emphasized.
"…Not necessarily you."
Oliver's smile slowly disappeared.
"…That's less comforting."
Ethan laughed.
Professor Marianne entered carrying a long wooden staff.
The room fell silent.
"Good afternoon."
"Good afternoon, Professor."
She nodded once.
"Today, each of you will cast your first spell inside the academy."
Several students straightened in excitement. Others suddenly looked much more nervous.
Professor Marianne smiled knowingly.
"I can already tell which group each of you belongs to."
Oliver quietly raised a hand. "Professor…"
"Yes, Mr. Hawthorne?"
"If someone accidentally sets themselves on fire…Is that an automatic failing grade?"
A few students laughed.
Professor Marianne answered without missing a beat.
"No."
Oliver sighed in relief.
"You'll simply spend the afternoon in the infirmary."
The classroom burst into laughter.
Even Oliver laughed sheepishly.
"I'll try to avoid that."
"I recommend it."
Professor Marianne tapped her staff lightly against the floor.
A glowing magic circle appeared beneath her feet.
"For today's lesson…"
She raised one hand.
"…you will not learn powerful magic."
Some students looked disappointed.
"You will learn something much more important."
She extended one finger.
A tiny flame appeared above it.
No larger than a candle flame.
It floated steadily without flickering.
"This spell is called Kindle Flame."
"It is the foundation of nearly every fire spell."
The tiny flame drifted lazily around the room before returning to her fingertip.
"It is useless in battle."
"But…"
She looked around the room.
"If you cannot control a small flame…"
"You have no business trying to create a large one."
She began writing glowing symbols across the board.
Three short lines of ancient magical script.
"These are not words. They are formulas. Magic responds to understanding as much as mana."
Ethan copied each symbol into his notebook.
Lucien's memories recognized them immediately.
The symbols represented…
Gather.
Shape.
Release.
Simple.
Yet fundamental.
"Now," Professor Marianne said.
"I'll demonstrate once."
She closed her eyes.
Mana gathered around her hand.
The symbols briefly glowed beneath her feet.
A gentle warmth spread through the classroom.
Then—
A tiny flame appeared.
Perfectly round.
Perfectly still.
No smoke.
No sparks.
Nothing but a beautiful orange flame.
"Observe."
She slowly moved the flame from one fingertip to another without letting it change shape.
"This…is control."
The flame vanished.
"Your turn."
Immediately, students spread out across the practice circles.
Professor Marianne walked between them.
"No rushing. No competing. If your flame appears for even one second…That is progress."
Ethan stepped onto an empty practice platform.
He took a slow breath.
"Gather…"
He felt the familiar warmth in his chest.
"Shape…"
The mana flowed carefully toward his hand.
"Release."
For a brief second…
Nothing happened.
Then
Puff.
A tiny flame appeared.
Barely larger than a match.
"…I did it."
The little flame danced uncertainly before disappearing three seconds later.
Not perfect.
But successful.
A small smile spread across Ethan's face.
[Training Quest Updated
✔ First Fire Spell Successfully Cast
Reward:
+25 System Points
Mana Control Increased Slightly]
"Oh!" Oliver shouted from the next platform.
"I got one!"
Everyone instinctively looked over.
A bright orange flame hovered above his hand.
"…See?"
Oliver grinned proudly.
"I—"
WHOOSH!
The flame suddenly tripled in size.
Oliver's eyes widened.
"…Uh."
The fire shot nearly three feet into the air before disappearing with a loud pop.
Several students jumped.
Professor Marianne calmly walked over.
"…Mr. Hawthorne."
"Yes, Professor?"
"You skipped the 'control' portion."
"…I may have."
She sighed.
"But you succeeded in gathering enough mana."
"That is still progress." Oliver looked relieved.
"So…no infirmary?"
"Not today."
Nearby, Rowan quietly succeeded on his second attempt.
His green mana formed a small breeze that gently lifted a feather from the practice table.
Professor Marianne nodded approvingly as she passed.
"Excellent control."
"Thank you, Professor."
The rest of the lesson continued with students practicing their basic elemental spells.
Some struggled.
Some succeeded immediately.
Others accidentally produced smoke instead of fire.
The classroom was filled with laughter, encouragement, and the occasional startled yelp.
For Ethan…
It was strangely fun.
He'd never imagined magic lessons could feel so…normal.
Eventually, the academy bell rang.
Professor Marianne clapped her hands.
"That's enough for today."
The practice flames disappeared one by one.
"I'm pleased with your progress."
She looked around the room.
"Remember…Power grows naturally. Control must be practiced. Your homework remains the same. Continue practicing with your mana crystal. And if you wish…"
She smiled faintly.
"…Try lighting a candle using today's spell. But please…"
Her eyes drifted toward Oliver.
"…not your dormitory."
The classroom erupted into laughter.
Oliver buried his face in his hands.
"I'll never recover from this."
As students packed their bags, Rowan nudged Ethan.
"Ready for Physical Conditioning?"
Ethan's smile froze.
"…I forgot about that."
Oliver groaned dramatically. "The class where they remind mages they have legs?"
"Apparently." Rowan laughed. "We should hurry. I heard we're sharing the training grounds with the Swordsmanship Department today."
Ethan paused.
"…Sharing?"
"Only the warm-up area," Rowan explained.
"The actual lessons are separate."
Still…
That meant…
Adrian would be there.
A familiar chime sounded in Ethan's mind.
[Upcoming Opportunity Detected
Location: Central Training Grounds
Main Target Present]
Ethan slung his bag over his shoulder and followed Rowan and Oliver out of the classroom.
"Let's hope I can actually introduce myself to him"