"One by one, step forward."
As the test began, Professor Garcia called the students to the front one at a time.
Then she recited the incantation.
"The soft curtain of stars obscures the view."
In an instant, mana intricately wove through the air, interlacing like warp and weft in complexity beyond the freshmen's comprehension. The transformation occurred in the blink of an eye.
As the curtain unfolded, the students seated could not make out Professor Garcia, though they tried.
They knew she was there, yet it felt as if their brains refused to acknowledge the information.
"Can you all see?"
"No."
"Yes."
"?"
Expecting unanimous blindness, the students hesitated upon hearing a contrary response.
Likewise, Yi-Han, who had given the opposite answer, also hesitated. He had thought everyone else could see.
"...Can't you see?"
Yi-Han's question perplexed his friends.
"Can't see it."
"Is it only visible to the smart ones?"
"Then why can't I see it?"
"Gainando, stop talking nonsense."
Above the murmurs of the students of the Blue Dragon, Professor Garcia's calm voice resonated.
"Ah, you're Yi-Han, right?"
"Yes."
Yi-Han, feeling guilty without having done anything wrong, wondered if it was due to his mana. Typically, when an issue arose at the magic academy, it was often related to Yi-Han's mana.
And indeed, it was the case this time.
"Your mana allowed you to resist <Illedelid's Curtain of Stars>."
Greater mana naturally increases resistance to other magics.
Of course, this is generally speaking. A slight increase in mana doesn't dramatically boost resistance, the difference is almost imperceptible.
But there are exceptions, and the boy standing before Professor Garcia was one.
"So, what should be done?"
"Just turn around and don't look this way."
"That simple, huh?"
Yi-Han was relieved; he had feared that the professor would cast a weakening curse or force him to drink a potion.
"I thought the professor would cast a curse on me."
"You thought the professor was like the principal?"
Hearing his peers' whispers, Yi-Han realized he wasn't the only one who had thought so.
The students called forward performed magic as instructed by Professor Garcia.
"Oh, burn like my soul!"
"Reciting such a lengthy incantation for the same spell is not a good habit. You need to improve your focus to conjure it under any circumstances, or you'll struggle with higher-level magic."
"Burn!"
"Even if it works normally, in such tense situations, magic often fails. It's best to practice a lot and get used to it."
It was Yi-Han's turn.
To ease his nerves, Professor Garcia kindly smiled and said, "Yi-Han, don't use the fire element. Show me water."
Yi-Han conjured a mass of water.
His speed was incomparable to the other students, yet Professor Garcia showed no surprise.
"Give it a shape?"
Yi-Han compressed the water mass into a sphere.
"Shape change?"
The compressed sphere morphed into a shield.
"<Lesser Control>."
The shield began to orbit steadily around Yi-Han in a stable trajectory.
Professor Garcia nodded in approval.
What could one say to a student already mastering magic beyond their grade level?
"Perfect. Full marks."
"Thank you."
"Yi-Han, your talent is... don't rush to surpass it too soon. You understand what I'm trying to say?"
"Of course."
Yi-Han wanted to clarify.
He really had no intention of getting ahead.
It was just that the magic academy kept pushing him!
"I have no intention of rushing ahead, Professor."
Professor Garcia stared intently at Yi-Han's resolute face, then sighed.
"Well, even if you say so now, you're the kind of student who wouldn't hesitate to leap forward if given the chance, Yi-Han. Perhaps it's the tragedy of innate talent..."
"...?!"
Yi-Han felt unjustly accused.
'Why would he misunderstand like that?'
"Why do you think so?"
"Professor Ingurdel mentioned that you tried to manipulate multiple water beads."
"..."
Yi-Han was at a loss for words, not expecting such a response.
'Professor Ingurdel...!'
Had he been spreading rumors?!
Of course, objectively, Professor Ingurdel hadn't done anything wrong.
His student had faced off against the knight of the White Wood Knight Order and even emerged victorious.
Any reasonable mentor would talk about it. It would be strange not to.
But to Yi-Han, that wasn't important. He grumbled inwardly.
"There was a compelling reason for..."
"Exactly. Even when you try to stay still, a compelling reason may force a naturally talented mage to move forward..."
"..."
Yi-Han wondered if they were speaking different languages.
Why did it feel like their conversation was going in circles even when they were face-to-face?
"But don't push yourself too hard."
Those were Professor Garcia's final words.
Of course, he knew that geniuses brimming with talent would seize any opportunity to leap forward.
But even if his words had no effect, repeating them was a teacher's duty.
"Of course, Professor."
Yi-Han pondered deeply on how to respond so that Professor Garcia would believe his sincerity, as he returned to his seat.
"Now, let's move on to dark magic... Yi-Han."
"..."
Getting up again, Yi-Han thought as he walked forward.
'My words might seem a bit unbelievable.'
Dark Magic.
-"Now, I'll summon an undead, and you try casting a curse."-
-"Yes."-
-"Cast the curse, dodge the curse. Well done. We'll need a skeletal hand. Summon it."-
-"Yes. Appear, skeletal hand!"-
-"Perfect. But Yi-Han, that wasn't a command for you, it was for the undead I summoned."-
-"..."-
Summoning Magic.
-"This time you summoned just one quill correctly. Were you showing off to your friends by summoning a lot last time? No? Then why? A mistake, you say? Why would you, Yi-Han, make such a beginner's mistake?"-
-"Professor, I am a first-year student."-
-"...Ah, sorry about that."-
Illusion Magic.
-"Now, try casting an illusion."-
-"Heat, distort the air!"-
-"Yi-Han, that's not a spell we learned in class. It's even a 2nd Circle spell."-
-"...Disappear, illusion!"-
-"Should I give you full marks twice?"-
-"No, thank you..."-
After completing all the exams, Yi-Han returned to his seat with a sigh.
Despite scoring full marks in everything, the weight of Professor Garcia's misunderstanding still burdened his heart.
Gainando looked at Yi-Han with an expression full of anticipation.
When one failed an exam, the most comforting thing was to have a friend who had failed too.
"You failed too, right?!"
"I got full marks."
"..."
Gainando's face filled with a sense of betrayal as he looked at Yi-Han.
Then why did you sigh?!
As the stormy week of tests ended and a golden Saturday arrived, the students' faces seemed to shine unusually bright.
Yi-Han also woke up after a long sleep.
He had intended to sleep more, but Sharakan woke him up by licking his face relentlessly.
Sharakan seemed to be urging Yi-Han to take a walk.
There were things Yi-Han had to do in the morning anyway...
'...But do leopards need regular walks?'
Yi-Han wondered, stepping out of the dormitory tower with Sharakan, suddenly doubtful.
Of course, Yi-Han wasn't an expert on raising a 'King of Leopards' monster, but shouldn't such a creature have a more dignified and majestic demeanor?
-Bark! Growl!
-Neigh!
As Yi-Han brought out a white horse from the stable, Sharakan barked noisily at it. The horse responded with loud neighs.
Yi-Han nodded with a resigned expression.
"Alright. Enjoy your mutual dislike on the walk. Now, keep your distance. Don't bother each other."
But Sharakan wouldn't give up and rolled around.
He dug at the ground and growled, continually pointing his paw at the white horse.
Yi-Han spoke firmly.
"That's not possible, Sharakan. It's not your prey."
At Yi-Han's words, Sharakan rolled even more frantically to the side.
It was as if he was going mad, not understanding why his request was denied.
"No means no, Sharakan. Stop throwing a tantrum and stand up."
-...
After much flailing, Sharakan finally gave up and stood. Yi-Han nodded as if to say 'well done.'
"Good, Sharakan. I'll give you something to eat when we get back."
-Grrrrr...
-Neigh.
As Sharakan growled softly, the white horse nodded as well.
It seemed as if they understood each other's plight.
'Animals are really hard to understand.'
Yi-Han thought to himself, watching the two animals.
No matter how much he learned, they remained enigmatic beings.
"Professor. Good morning."
Spotting Professor Bungaegor from afar, Yi-Han bowed his head.
Wearing a leather jacket, Professor Bungaegor looked appreciatively at Yi-Han, who was taking care of the animals early in the morning.
He then looked at Sharakan and back at Yi-Han.
"...Isn't that undead hound a bit too ferocious? What is that?"
"Ah, you remember the monster I asked about before, Sharakan?"
"Right."
Professor Bungaegor nodded, recalling their previous conversation.
She had kindly explained that taming monsters was difficult, and the more ferocious and powerful the monster, the harder it was.
Controlling such a monster as an undead was even more dangerous, as it could turn on a dark mage at any moment.
"This is it."
"...Are you rebelling against me?? Have I been so harsh to you?"
Professor Bungaegor asked in astonishment.
There were many easier ways to seek death in the magic academy than taming such a monster. Other than rebellion, there was no reason to control such a dangerous undead summon.
"No, it was given to me by Professor Mortum."
"Oh..."
"Do you think it’s okay?"
"No, I think he’s crazy."
"...Still, Professor Mortum must have done some magic processing on it. It doesn't attack me. It's gentle and loyal."
Yi-Han found himself unwittingly defending Professor Mortum.
Professor Bungaegor approached Sharakan, who growled lowly and threateningly, as if on guard.
"Hmm..."
Narrowing her eyes, Professor Bungaegor scrutinized Sharakan.
If Professor Mortum had applied additional magic to control the temperament while creating the undead familiar, there should have been signs of it.
"Not really?"
"Pardon?"
"There's no magic processing to make it gentle or loyal."
"..."
Unconsciously, Yi-Han stepped back, putting distance between himself and Sharakan.
Sharakan barked, looking hurt.
"Then... is it waiting for an opportunity like Niffirg?"
This time, the white horse neighed in protest.
To question its loyalty!
