Talent

Inside the classroom for Morningstar Class F's magic course.

Morris stood in the center of the room, scanning the surrounding students before beginning his lecture:

“Magic is divided into five categories: elemental, life, psionic, space-time, and law.”

“Spells involving laws can only be touched once you reach the sixth tier. Space-time magic is extremely difficult to pick up, requiring a solid magical foundation. As for psionic magic, don't even think about it—unless you want to end up in prison.”

A low ripple of laughter spread through the classroom.

“In any case, the focus for your first year will be on various elemental and life spells.”

Morris raised his staff.

“Now, pay close attention. I will demonstrate the casting gestures and incantations for different categories of first-tier spells. Watch closely and learn well.”

The old man's staff traced several arcs in the air as he murmured under his breath. A fireball condensed at the tip of his staff, its orange-red flames burning quietly. With a casual wave, he sent the fireball hurtling toward a magic target in the corner, where it exploded with a loud bang.

“The Fireball spell, a first-tier elemental spell. Its incantation is...”

He began to explain the pronunciation of the incantation and the key points of channeling mana.

Next came Water Bullet, Lightning Strike... all basic first-tier spells. In Morris's hands, even these low-level spells packed a punch, each demonstration creating a significant commotion.

Once the demonstration was over, Morris had the students try it themselves, and the classroom immediately buzzed with activity.

Most couldn't even manage a complete incantation. Even if they memorized the words, they couldn't convert the neutral mana inside their bodies into the corresponding element and form while chanting.

Erich watched his classmates and suddenly felt that Morningstar Academy's class sorting system was indeed accurate.

The talent in this class was truly mediocre.

But not entirely.

His gaze landed on Isabella nearby. A fireball floated at the tip of the red-haired girl's staff. Sensing Erich's gaze, she turned her head and smiled at him.

Erich looked away.

An elf like Yser, who was undoubtedly hiding his true strength, could likely already cast second-tier spells. Right now, he was leaning in a corner staring off into space, just like Erich.

Morris walked back and forth in the classroom, correcting the students' postures and pronunciations. When he walked over to Erich and saw him spacing out, he spoke up.

“Erich,” Morris called his name, “come to the front and demonstrate.”

All eyes turned to him. Erich stood up and walked to the center of the classroom.

“The Fireball spell,” Morris said. “I just demonstrated it. Give it a try.”

Erich raised his right hand. Without any incantation or wand, a fireball materialized in his palm.

“No incantation?”

“He didn't chant just now, did he?”

“Why is that fireball so big?”

Erich's fireball was a full size larger than any of the ones the other students had conjured, its edges faintly glowing with a white light.

Morris's pupils contracted slightly. He stared at the fireball, wanting to say something, but in the end, he only let out a soft sigh.

“That's enough,” the old man said. “Go back to your seat.”

Erich walked back to his corner and sat down. Morris watched his retreating figure with a complex expression. There was shock, but even more so, a sense of pity.

He was well aware of the results of Erich's mana test during admission. Erich's mana affinity was incredibly low, and the crystal ball's evaluation was: extremely poor magic talent, capable of learning first-tier spells at most. Such a test result was near the very bottom of Morningstar Academy's history.

Even if he mastered first-tier spells to perfection, his ceiling was set in stone.

Chantless casting was indeed stunning, but for a student destined to only ever cast first-tier magic, that brilliance would never go any further.

The old man withdrew his gaze and clapped his hands.

“Continue practicing.”

Isabella looked back at Erich, a hint of amusement flashing in her pale gold eyes.

...

Solar Class A was an entirely different scene.

The walls of the magic classroom were covered in marks left by various spells. Most of the students were already capable of casting a basic elemental spell.

Irene was standing side-by-side with Celine. A Water Bullet floated in front of each of them; Irene's trembled slightly, while Celine's was as still as a crystal ball.

“Don't rush to release it during the second part of the chant,” Celine said softly. “Wait for the mana to stabilize in your palm before you act.”

Irene nodded and tried again. This time, the Water Bullet was much more stable.

“Thank you,” Irene said, wiping the sweat from her forehead.

Celine offered a warm smile.

With Lorraine acting as the bridge, the two had also become friends. Along with the young princess, who occasionally came over to chat with Irene, the four had formed a tight-knit group. They practiced magic together, ate meals together, and gathered to chat during breaks.

Due to the awful things “Erich Edmond” had done, the Holy Maiden, Lady Celine, had an instinctive aversion to interacting with males her age. Although Irene believed she was successfully crossdressing as a boy, the girls close to her had actually already realized her true gender. Lorraine, who could read minds, had also privately tipped off the Holy Maiden and the young princess. The three of them had a tacit understanding and chose not to expose Irene's secret.

At the other end of the classroom, another group was also active.

Alicia stood among a crowd of noble children, speaking with a natural air of authority.

“You all need to show your true abilities in the Ranking Tournament in two weeks,” she said. “I don't want to see certain people continuing to stay in Class A.”

As she spoke, her gaze swept across the few commoner students in the classroom.

A brown-haired boy chimed in loudly, “With Lady Alicia here, the top seat of Class A won't go to anyone else.”

The corners of Alicia's mouth curved upward. She was already learning her fifth spell, a pace that ranked in the top three of the entire Class A.

...

After class, Irene was heading toward the restroom.

“Irene.”

A hand reached out from the side, blocking her path. Alicia stood in front of Irene, stopping her.

“You're close with Erich, aren't you?”

Irene nodded.

Alicia seemed very pleased with this answer. She pulled a few gold coins from her pocket and spun them between her fingers.

“I want you to report Erich's movements to me at any time,” she said. “Including what spells he's learned, what preparations he's making for the Ranking Tournament, and things like that.”

The gold coins flipped through her fingers.

“As for the reward... how about five gold coins?”

Irene's brow furrowed.

“Lady Alicia, Erich and I are friends.”

“Friends?” Alicia tilted her head. “Friends, friends... Ah, I get it!”

She pocketed the coins, then counted out a few more.

“You want more money, right? Ten gold coins.”

Before Irene could speak, a voice rang out from behind Alicia.

“Wayne girl.”

The young princess stepped out from the corner of the corridor, inserting herself between Irene and Alicia.

“Do you not even have the courage to face a banished person head-on?”

She was slightly shorter than Alicia, but her presence completely suppressed the other girl.

Alicia's face instantly turned incredibly sour. Without saying a word, she turned and walked away.

Watching her figure disappear at the end of the corridor, Irene let out a sigh of relief. “Thank you, Your Highness.”

“You're welcome,” Leonora said. “Go on ahead.”

Irene nodded and walked into the girls' restroom under the young princess's watchful gaze.