First Day III
The sparring session ended, leaving a charged atmosphere in its wake. As the healing magic enveloped us, signaling the end of physical exertion, Nero deftly shifted the class to the mana theory session.
The initial session didn't hold much novelty, given that everyone present already possessed a firm grasp of the basics.
"As all of you know," Nero began, recapping the fundamental concepts, "There are eleven elements of mana: fire, water, earth, wind, lightning, ice, light, darkness, gravity, time, and space. Affinity to each element is determined by birth. There are two primary methods of utilizing mana: the circle method and aura. Aura involves controlling mana to coat one's weapon of choice, while the circle method entails numerical calculations to manifest mana in a specific manner."
Having already absorbed this information, I paid minimal attention to the review.
"As you may have noticed during Lucifer and Ian's duel, the fact that mana is of the same circle doesn't necessarily mean it's equal. The purity of the mana, as well as the mastery of the mana user casting that spell, can significantly impact the outcome."
I nodded in agreement. For instance, Nero's single 3-circle spell could overpower several of Lucifer's 4-circle spells, attributed to his mastery and purer mana.
"Now, let me demonstrate this for you," he said. "Fire your strongest spells at me."
A sigh involuntarily escaped me at the prospect of this demonstration by Nero.
However, the reaction from the rest of the students wasn't as composed. They were visibly confused.
"Fire? You mean hit you?" Seraphina, from my left, sought clarification.
Nero nodded in affirmation. "Yes, hit me with your best spell together."
It was implausible to think we could inflict harm on Nero. He could instantaneously cast 7-circle spells, and even without that, a single 5-circle spell from Lucifer wouldn't be fatal.
Their concerns were warranted.
Offensive spells, even the most basic ones, posed a substantial threat.
To explain the logic, it's akin to asking someone to shoot a person in a bulletproof car. The immediate response would naturally be hesitation.
But these were all prodigies, trained by high rankers, and they quickly regained their composure.
All of us rose, encircling Nero, preparing our attacks.
Except for Seraphina and Lucifer, everyone was wielding 4-circle spells. Seraphina, being part of Mount Hua Sect, focused less on spellcasting and could only utilize up to 3-circle spells. Naturally, Lucifer was utilizing a formidable 5-circle spell.
I concentrated on casting the 4-circle [Flame Lance], a spell Arthur had also mastered. Yet, in the grand scheme, Lucifer's spell alone would account for the majority of the damage.
Rachel conjured light magic, Ren spatial magic, Ian and Cecilia wielded fire and wind magic, Seraphina showcased ice magic, Lucifer unleashed lightning magic, and Jin commanded dark magic.
A cascade of colors converged on our teacher.
[5-circle spell: Aural Domination]
A wind magic spell of 5-circle manifested before us, effortlessly halting our spells. Even Lucifer's spell, though of the same circle as Nero's, stood powerless. Lucifer maintained an impassive expression, but I caught the subtle narrowing of his eyes.
"Not bad," Nero chuckled.
He gestured for us to retake our seats before delving into the continuation of his lesson. "Now, even if you aim to be a pure warrior in the future, it's crucial to learn spells two ranks below your actual level. I want all of you to grasp 5-circle spells before graduating."
While targeting 5-circle spells might seem relatively modest, it made sense, particularly in Seraphina's case, as she opted not to prioritize magic.
"Of course, your training paths will be tailored to your individual needs," he explained. "Not all of you share the same goals or growth rates, and it would be unjust to subject you to identical lessons. Today is primarily an introduction. To conclude your first day at Mythos Academy, I'll be introducing you all to weapon arts."
Being part of Class A, Mythos Academy would provide us with respectable Grade 5 arts. With the exception of myself, these gifted individuals had no need for additional weapon arts, having already received Grade 5 arts from their accomplished parents.
However, Arthur had foregone training in any art because Count Chase could only secure a Grade 4 art for him. Instead, he focused on honing his basics to the level of mastery.
In a fair duel, with equal mana and no weapon arts, I speculated that I might even stand a chance against Lucifer.
Maybe.
Nero continued to distribute Grade 5 weapon arts to everyone in the class, excluding pure mages Rachel and Cecilia.
Finally, he turned his attention to me. "You've never learned a weapon art, right?" Nero inquired, studying me with his discerning gaze. Despite not being a warrior himself, his experiences as an <Immortal> mage allowed him to easily recognize my lack of formal training.
"Yes, sir," I replied, nodding in acknowledgment.
"Hmm," Nero hummed, producing a scroll from his spatial ring.
[Tempest Dance Technique]
"This one will suit your fighting style the most," Nero stated before moving on.
'Tempest Dance Technique?' I pondered, 'Never heard of it before. But it's a Grade 5 art, so it can't be bad.'
As I contemplated the new addition to my skills, a melodic voice reached my ears. "Hey," Seraphina spoke, leaning in close, "You really never learned an art?"
I turned to find Seraphina's face inches away from mine. Her black eyes remained cool and distant, seemingly unfazed by the proximity.
"Yeah," I replied, attempting to keep my composure, "My sponsor insisted on me learning the best art from Mythos Academy."
While it was true that Arthur could have been stronger if Count Chase allowed him to learn the Grade 4 art, abstaining from it had its advantages—it ensured my full mastery over the basics.
On a different note, Grade 5 wasn't the actual pinnacle. That was a well-guarded secret among influential families, with Grade 6 arts considered sacred heirlooms.
"Interesting," Seraphina remarked, flashing a smile, "Want to hang out after?"
I couldn't help but reflect on Seraphina's backstory. Born into the prestigious Mount Hua Sect, she was the daughter of the sect leader, one of the most formidable figures in the world.
Blessed with a potent Gift, Seraphina possessed the potential for greatness. However, her destiny took an unexpected turn when a prodigious genius named Sun, nicknamed the Divine Dragon of Mount Hua, entered the scene. To make matters more complicated, Sun was adopted by Seraphina's own father, the sect leader.
This Divine Dragon, a talent rivaling even the exceptional Ren, achieved <Ascendent> rank at a remarkably young age of 20, overshadowing Seraphina's accomplishments. Despite the love showered upon her by her family, the weight of not living up to their expectations left Seraphina feeling isolated, a sense of failure lingering in her mind.
Sun, driven by greed and perhaps jealousy, further alienated Seraphina. The culmination of their strained relationship played out in the seventh volume of <<Saga of the Divine Swordsman>>, where Sun orchestrated Seraphina's abduction with intentions of marrying her off to the Wudang Sect.
In response, Lucifer, the protagonist of the novel, embarked on the legendary March up Mount Hua. While he had assistance from his father in dealing with the sect leader, the event significantly tarnished Mount Hua's once impeccable reputation as a single 25 year old wiped out the entire sect.
However, this was a future event yet to unfold.
In the present, Seraphina, seeking protection from Lucifer due to his immense strength, gradually found herself falling in love with him. The intricate web of relationships and emotions set the stage for the complex dynamics within the Mount Hua Sect.
As I pondered over Seraphina's past, I couldn't help but wonder why she sought proximity to me. I wasn't weak by any means, but I certainly wasn't Lucifer.
"Sure," I replied with a nonchalant shrug. Avoiding the main cast was like dodging raindrops in a storm, so why not embrace the inevitable and form some connections? Who knows, hanging out might even lead to unexpected perks, like training at Mount Hua during vacation or snagging a Grade 5 art from them?
As we chatted about potential plans, an unexpected interruption came in the form of a girl I had no desire to get close to—Cecilia Slatemark.
"Are you guys going to hang out?" she asked, her presence sending subtle shivers down my spine.
Maintaining a calm expression, I met her gaze. Cecilia, with her hidden sociopathic tendencies, wasn't someone I wanted to be around. But outright refusing her wasn't the smartest move. After all, I didn't want to give off the impression that Seraphina and I were heading out on a romantic escapade.
Before I could respond, a deep voice chimed in, breaking the tension.
"Can I join too?" Lucifer's friendly smile lit up his face as he approached us.
The unexpected addition of Lucifer to our little gathering was a welcome twist, and I couldn't help but feel a sense of relief.
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