LIGHTNOVELONLINE Chapter 26
EP.26 First Class (2)
“You said I can’t teach.”
“That’s right.”
“But you want me to take the lecture?”
“It shouldn’t be too hard, right?”
Raniel tilted her head, puzzled.
Seeing her expression, Rosel spoke up.
“Anyway, starting from the second class, I’ll just wrap up what I said and give a demonstration. Your class is just my assistant, after all.”
“Hmm… then what about the first class?”
Rosel shrugged his shoulders.
“The first class will be about the basics.”
“Basics?”
“There are things you’re good at, right?”
He pointed to his disciple’s heart. Raniel nodded as if she understood.
“Oh, you mean that thing from the Master of the Tower inauguration ceremony?”
“Yes, just showing that will be enough.”
Rosel smiled.
“Just by showing that, doubts about you will fade away.”
2.
Raniel van Trias, the Ashen Mage, is competent.
That’s rather obvious by now.
The whole nation knows of his prowess. The Knights on the battlefield know the strength of the name Raniel. The Demon Lord’s Army contemplates retreat whenever that name is uttered.
Raniel van Trias is such a figure. Not just a mage, but a symbol.
An insurmountable wall.
The pinnacle’s symbol.
Before him, whether a freshly awakened mage or one who has reached their peak, they all stand on the same level.
A prodigy of talent.
A genius born of the times.
That genius had never taught anyone. He hadn’t even held a common recital or a showcase of magical research that would be a dream for any mage.
However, there was one occasion.
The day he stepped onto the podium.
On the day he became the Ashen Master of the Tower, he showcased his specialty in front of numerous mages, proving he was worthy of that place.
And,
Dean Aaron was there. He would never forget the magic he saw that day.
“…..”
With his eyes closed, recalling old memories, Aaron opened them again. In front of him stood his close friend. When he diverted his gaze, the Ashen-Haired Girl was there.
“Umm… I don’t think I explained that well. Was it okay?”
“….You think it didn’t go well?”
“It felt a bit… awkward? Like… just a bit like this?”
The girl twiddled her fingers. Mana flickered and faded.
“Sigh…”
After watching her for a moment, Aaron turned his head.
“What did I just see, Rosel?”
“That girl’s mock lesson.”
“Mock?”
“Not a formal class. It’s the first lecture; shouldn’t she prepare a bit more? First impressions are important, after all.”
What else would he do here? Aaron chuckled lightly.
“Rosel.”
“What is it?”
“I hadn’t planned on this originally, but…”
He pointed to an official document.
“There have been many requests from outside to see your disciple. I was initially going to refuse all of them. No one knows how the first class will go.”
“It could be a disturbance.”
“Right, so I was going to refuse, but…”
After a brief pause, Aaron spoke.
“My mind has changed. Let’s open it up.”
“Do we really have to?”
“I feel compelled to show this. I wish as many mages as possible could see this class… this lecture.”
Aaron smiled.
“Is that alright, Rania?”
“I don’t mind.”
The girl nodded.
With her agreement, the only one left was the master. Rosel glanced at Aaron and reluctantly nodded.
“Then do as you please.”
“Thank you.”
With those final words, they left the dean’s office.
Aaron, alone in the office, closed his eyes.
’This is the essence of Balance.’
The basics that emerged from her mouth.
Reflecting on that, Aaron was momentarily lost in thought.
3.
[New Course Announcement]
– Mana Trading Studies (Basic)
– Instructor: Rania van Trias.
Not long ago, this official notice was posted on the Apuria bulletin board.
Reactions varied widely.
Outsiders paid attention to Rosel’s new disciple, who was taking the class after raising the Ashen Mage. Various institutions expressed their intent to visit Apuria.
Those who had dabbled in magic also took interest in the class she was leading.
Mana Trading Studies.
Those who understood the specialty of the subject also expressed a desire to visit Apuria. Among them were Tower Masters. The Black was the first to express intent, followed closely by the White.
‘Naturally, they would be refused.’
The professors thought this as they looked at the statements.
Students felt the same way.
A publicly open class had never been held in Apuria.
Then a few days later, a new announcement was posted.
[Notice Regarding Basic Mana Trading Studies Class]
An announcement was made to accept some external attendees. And that the basic Mana Trading Studies would be conducted in a public class format.
The professors’ patience snapped.
*
“What is the meaning of this, Dean Aaron!”
The professors were in an uproar.
Professors who had come to the dean’s office were grinding their teeth in indignation.
“You’re going to let someone who’s only been an assistant for a month take a class?!”
“That’s nonsense, but to conduct this class publicly? What are you saying?!”
“Accepting outsiders! This could lead to the disgrace of Apuria…”
The professors fumed.
Even just giving her a class was a problem, but… they could overlook that because of Aaron’s name.
However, a public lecture was a different matter.
If it went wrong, it could lead to Apuria’s disgrace. The burden of entrusting it to a newly appointed professor was too heavy.
‘What in the world does this even mean?’
Originally, the professors of Apuria respected Dean Aaron. They were captivated by his beliefs. However, even they felt more puzzled than reverent at the moment.
“What in the world are you thinking, Dean Aaron?”
To that question,
“I originally hadn’t planned this.”
Dean Aaron chuckled lightly and spoke.
“But I saw it.”
“…..Huh?”
“I saw what that young girl was teaching.”
“What does that mean…?”
“Are you all going to see for yourselves?”
Aaron sent a communication to Rosel. Not long later, two figures arrived in the office filled with professors.
One was the renowned Professor Rosel.
The other was the girl from the rumors.
The girl at the center of the controversy.
Rania van Trias.
The professors looked at her with mixed feelings.
“What did you call me for, Aaron?”
“You know that thing you showed me, right?”
“The mock class?”
“Yes, that.”
Aaron gestured to the professors gathered in the dean’s office.
“Can you show that to them as well?”
“…..It’s not finished yet, though.”
“It doesn’t matter.”
Rosel seemed reluctant, but eventually spoke up.
“This place is too cramped. Let’s go somewhere bigger.”
“…..Let’s do that.”
The professors followed Dean Aaron and Rosel. As they walked in a line down the hallway, students watched them with curiosity.
Finally, they entered an empty classroom.
The professors took their seats. Rosel placed his disciple on the podium and returned to his seat.
Silence filled the room.
In that quiet, the girl spoke up.
“Then… can I just give a simple overview?”
Overview? What we want to see is…
Before the professors could respond, Aaron spoke first.
“Yes, do as you please.”
The professors exchanged glances with each other, gauging Aaron’s disposition.
They appeared entranced by something, looking as if they were witnessing a zealot. A firm belief resided in their eyes.
What on earth does that belief come from?
What could she have shown him?
The professors refrained from saying anything further.
After all, they too were mages. Mages trust only what they can observe with their own eyes.
‘I’ll decide after watching.’
The sharp eyes of the professors were fixated on the girl standing on the podium. They were ready to catch even the smallest mistake.
“Hmm.”
The girl, receiving their gazes, remained unfazed.
“I’ll wrap it up in about thirty minutes.”
The main subject of the class is the Mana Trading Studies, Balance.
A spell that enables transactions with the stars. What is the principle behind that spell, the foundation of all spells?
It’s the most basic thing, but few understand the principles even if they grasp the laws.
The girl would articulate that principle. She would speak the basics, and it would not stop there.
Swish.
The girl’s fingers glided through the air.
Mana blossomed along the path her fingers had traveled.
“……”
Five minutes passed.
The professors’ narrow eyes began to widen slightly.
“Ah.”
Ten minutes passed.
Someone gasped.
“Ah, wait.”
“I need a moment…”
Fifteen minutes passed.
The professors took out their notebooks. Those without notebooks took off their robes and started taking notes on them.
“……”
“……”
Twenty minutes, then twenty-five minutes passed.
Only the girl’s voice and the sound of scribbling filled the air.
“That’s all.”
Thirty minutes passed.
“……”
Not a single professor opened their mouth.
Their eyes flickered slightly. Finally, their gaze shifted from the girl to Aaron.
“Did you see?”
Aaron shrugged.
“If you saw, you’d understand.”
He spoke.
“Why I turned this class into a public lecture.”
Not a single professor raised a question in response.
4.
On the day of the lecture, Apuria bustled with outsiders.
They were permitted only to reach the auditorium under the strict control of the knights.
Students occupied seats in the auditorium.
Professors sat behind the rows of students starting from the front. Behind them sat external guests.
The auditorium of Apuria is spacious.
The densely packed mages awaiting the start of the lecture filled that spacious auditorium. Journalists waited solely for the appearance of Professor Rosel’s adopted daughter, Rania van Trias.
The murmurs of voices.
The rustling of clothing.
Amidst that noise, someone approached.
The first thing that caught the eye was ashen hair.
That hair reminiscent of the Ashen Mage.
The gaze directed toward that hair quickly shifted to the girl’s face. A pale complexion, azure eyes. A poised girl stepped onto the podium.
Her movements were calm.
There was no sign of tension.
Standing on the podium, she swept her gaze over those gathered in the auditorium. Her gaze was likewise calm. There was no wavering.
“Nice to meet you.”
A brief greeting.
“I am Rania, the assistant professor at Apuria Academy, responsible for the basics of Mana Trading Studies.”
Her voice echoed across the auditorium from the podium inscribed with the amplification circuit. With her words, all attention turned to her. Silence enveloped the room.
“From now on…”
In that silence, the girl began to speak.
“I will start the lecture on the basics of Mana Trading Studies.”
Clap.
A single applause.
“Balance.”
Starlight filled the auditorium.