Yi-Han, sensing the strange atmosphere, found himself making an excuse without even realizing it.
"To enhance control over the elements, shape transformation, and the ability to bestow powers, experiencing the elements directly is the most effective method..."
"...Although it is, it's an excessively violent approach," said the bishop, looking flustered.
A priest standing nearby added, "He must be joking. Students are always mischievous, aren't they?"
"Ah, joking..."
'I wasn't, though.'
Yi-Han, who hadn't been joking, remained silent, feeling the atmosphere becoming even more awkward.
"In our order, we first learn to control flames through meditation and prayer," the bishop explained.
Yi-Han was astonished.
'Is that all?'
And then he was surprised again, this time at himself.
'...I've become strange because of Professor Boladi.'
Upon reflection, he realized that controlling flames through meditation and prayer was a perfectly sane method, especially compared to avoiding flames with one's life on the line!
The meditation practiced by the Aphar Order was not complicated or difficult. One simply had to sit cross-legged, close their eyes, and envision flames within themselves.
Once successful in visualizing the flames, the next step was to maintain them.
If one could sustain this for a certain period, they would then use the flames in their imagination for more complex applications.
Though it seemed easy, it was far from it in practice. Any break in concentration or intrusive thought meant failure.
'There are similarities with magic training.'
Yi-Han thought the order's meditation had many parallels with magic training.
Magic was a discipline that required intense concentration and imagination.
Even with the right spells and wand movements, and proper arrangement of magic power, without proper focus, failure was inevitable.
"I'll place a candle here," the bishop said, setting down a candlestick and lighting it.
"Initially, just concentrate on keeping this candle lit."
"Yes."
The candle of the Aphar Order would extinguish the moment a priest's concentration broke, a tool to aid the young priest's focus.
An hour later.
"You need not meditate any further."
"Excuse me?"
Yi-Han, who had been immersed in his meditation, sending fireballs at Professor Boladi in his imagination, paused.
He had been deeply engaged in his meditation, why stop him now?
"If you can keep a candle lit for an hour, that's sufficient."
For Yi-Han, who had innate talent and had endured Professor Boladi's rigorous training, such meditation was a simple task he could easily master.
"Indeed..."
Understanding the bishop's words, Yi-Han took off his coat again, causing the bishop to panic suddenly.
"You're not going to throw flames, are you, Mr. Yi-Han?"
"I just got a bit warm sitting by the fire."
"Ah."
The priests of the Aphar Order felt awkward. Yi-Han felt slightly wronged.
'They think I'm strange. It's unfair.'
"By the way, does this mean I have an aptitude for fire magic?"
Yi-Han asked out of curiosity.
He knew he was quite compatible with water elements, and he was also using lightning elements fairly well.
However, he hadn't had much opportunity to use fire elements, so he wasn't sure how well they suited him.
How much aptitude did he have for it?
"Uh..."
"Hmm..."
The priests exchanged glances.
With his level of skill, he definitely counted as one of the more talented.
Normally, priests of the order would maintain their inner flame through regular, periodic meditation.
That he had accomplished this effortlessly without proper training indicated a natural gift.
Yi-Han possessed an innately high aptitude for the element of fire, and his visualization of flames was exceptionally solid.
It was as if he was born to be a priest of the Aphar Order.
...But he couldn't say that.
He had made a promise to the principal.
'If I tell the truth, Mr. Yi-Han of the Wardanaz family might want to become a priest of the Aphar Order.'
'That's impossible.'
The principal of the magic academy did not like to lose talented individuals to the order, and the priests respected that.
Of course, it was unlikely that Yi-Han, with his personality, would want to become a priest of the Aphar Order, but the priests were not aware of that.
"He's of average level."
"Quite ordinary."
"Indeed... I see."
Yi-Han nodded.
'Guess I'm just average.'
Since the priests said he was ordinary, Yi-Han did not doubt them. There was no reason for them to lie.
And being average was enough. As long as it didn't hinder his learning of other magic.
"Now, Mr. Yi-Han of the Wardanaz family."
The bishop slipped a ring onto Yi-Han's finger. Yi-Han felt a curious surge of mana from the ring.
"What's this?"
"This is a ring of flame absorption. It will protect you when using fire magic."
Originally, the ring was used for defending against fire magic or dealing with fire-elemental monsters. However, it was also a useful artifact for a talented fire mage who could not fully control their own flames during training.
Yi-Han bowed his head in gratitude.
"Thank you."
"Do you know the <Fire Ignition> spell? Give it a try."
Yi-Han waved his wand and chanted.
"Blaze forth!"
Whoosh!
A fist-sized flame blazed up above his palm. The effect was much better than he expected, and he was visibly pleased.
"Remarkable."
"...Bring more rings."
"?!"
Yi-Han was startled by the bishop's serious response.
Was the effect lacking?
'Just got lucky, I suppose...'
Looking down, he noticed the ring was already cracked.
Despite its best effort at absorption, it seemed inadequate.
Just one ring was hardly significant.
Click, click, click.
More rings were added. Yi-Han asked the bishop cautiously.
"Is this really okay?"
As ten rings filled his fingers, Yi-Han became a bit worried.
Wouldn't wearing so many rings prevent fire magic from being cast at all?
"It's a bit..."
"Too much?"
"...Might be insufficient. Bring some bracelets too."
"..."
Yi-Han started to wonder if he was a freshman at a magic academy or the empire's worst fire magic criminal.
The bishop, not content with filling Yi-Han's hands with ten rings, added four bracelets and even two necklaces.
As the Aphar Order often dealt with fire magic, such anti-fire magic artifacts were plentiful.
'Hmm. Quite an avant-garde fashion.'
Mages might not be known for their fashion sense, but this seemed a bit much.
Although his appearance became a bit odd, the Aphar Order's method proved quite effective.
Yi-Han, adorned with numerous artifacts, began his training in fire magic.
He started with <Fire Ignition> spell, then moved on to controlling the generated sparks.
He also practiced spells like <Lesser Fire Resistance> and <Fire Evolution>.
In truth, the priests were much more earnest about the latter.
Fortunately, everything went better than expected.
Yi-Han wondered whether his compatibility with elemental magic was the reason, or if Professor Boladi's teachings were also effective for fire magic.
And Yi-Han hoped it was not the latter.
He did not want to become a living testament to Professor Boladi's educational theory.
"That will be all for today. You've worked really hard."
"Not at all. Thank you. May I practice alone when I return?"
"Absolutely not."
"..."
A priest whispered seriously from the side.
"Shouldn't we put a few more on Mr. Yi-Han?"
Yi-Han pretended not to hear and said,
"But if I don't practice alone, I won't improve."
"Next week, the priests of the order will stay at the academy. We have received the Emperor's permission for the Spring Festival."
"!"
Yi-Han was more surprised by the bishop's words than anything else.
The priests staying at the academy even after this weekend?
Such...
Such good news?
Seeing Yi-Han's face light up, the priests also smiled contentedly.
He seemed pleased about the Spring Festival, like a proper freshman.
"You're happy about the Spring Festival?"
"Yes? Ah... Yes. I am!"
Yi-Han belatedly remembered the Spring Festival. He had been too delighted by the fact that the priests would be staying at the academy.
"Does the principal know?"
"I plan to inform him after today's schedule."
"You should tell him right now. The principal will be very pleased."
"Is that so?"
There was no harm in telling a few hours early. The puzzled bishop nodded his head.
Priest Nigisor, on his way back, stepped forward to bid farewell to Yi-Han.
Having received various teachings and even artifacts, Yi-Han was very satisfied with the Aphar Order.
"There were many rumors about the Aphar Order, but meeting you today, I realize that foolish people have spread false rumors."
Priest Nigisor smiled pleasantly at Yi-Han's words. It seemed to be the first time he had seen him smile.
"Of course. The priests of Aphar, who serve the flame, are all kind and good. Without them, I couldn't be here like this."
In the empire, there were popular and unpopular races.
And the spirit mixed-blood, whose bloodline of ancient spirits had awakened, were generally viewed with unease.
Most of them were asexual, and in the case of fire spirit mixed-blood, they have characteristics that make it difficult not to harm their surroundings...
"Certainly. The priests of the Aphar Order were all kind. Those who spread rumors that the priests deliberately set fires to bring about the end should be burned."
Yi-Han spoke brazenly, even though he had initially harbored such doubts.
Priest Nigisor nodded.
"True. It's sad that everyone has such misunderstandings. No one but me thinks that way."
"Right. ...Wait?"
Yi-Han paused, sensing something odd.
"What did you say?"
"What do you mean?"
"That... It sounded like Priest Nigisor wanted to start fires?"
"I don't want to start fires."
"Oh. Right?"
"It's just that I sometimes wonder if using more fire magic might hasten the arrival of the fire of Aphar. The priests say it's not so, but... every time I meditate, the flame of Aphar whispers to me..."
"..."
Yi-Han unconsciously stepped back. Nigisor, unaware of Yi-Han's inner thoughts, continued, "In that regard, it's truly wonderful that Mr. Yi-Han of the Wardanaz family is born with such a strong flame in his soul. I pray for your great success in the future."
For the first time, receiving encouragement from someone didn't bring joy.
"You're terribly thin. Nothing left but bones."
"That's not true."
"You are! Just bones left..."
"Really, it's not."
While the priests and Tijiling were exchanging words, Yi-Han entered the tent.
"Greetings."
"Mr. Yi-Han of the Wardanaz family. What do you think?"
Yi-Han glanced at the priest and then at Tijiling, trying to grasp the situation.
Tijiling pleaded with her eyes.
She wanted Yi-Han to persuade the priests to stop their unnecessary worries.
"She does seem to be just skin and bones."
"See? Bring some food."
"..."
Tijiling looked incredulously, but Yi-Han, pretending not to notice, sat down and spread out a napkin. In order to survive in the magic academy, one had to eat whenever possible.
