novelraw Chapter 18
Chapter 18
Chapter 18
I walked out of the classroom and headed straight for the library.
Sure enough, unlike Class 0, where everyone took the same lessons, only a small number of students were in the hallway.
Showing a knowledgeable appearance.
That was the image I had to keep maintaining from here on out.
Beep.
But the moment I passed the library door, a mechanical sound rang out very close by.
‘What was that?’
I had come to this library throughout the entire vacation, yet on the first day of the new term, I heard such a sound.
Just once. After that, nothing.
‘Guess I misheard.’
With that, I walked into the library.
Even the few students present were already studying.
They each seemed to be looking for a magic theory or spell they were curious about.
Just as I began pretending to read with a tower of books, the way I had done during the vacation—
Clatter.
Someone pulled out a chair in front of me.
‘Kiena?’
When I stuck my head out to glance forward, it wasn’t Kiena—it was a female student with long red hair, as if partially dyed.
She propped her chin up and swept her eyes over my face with a gaze that wasn’t exactly pleasant.
Judging by her hair, she was fire-element.
She looked about my age.
“……Who are you?”
“Are you the double caster?”
Her tone was quite rough.
“When you want to ask about me, shouldn’t you introduce yourself first?”
“Right, no. Just answer that.”
Why was she so fixated on this?
What did it matter to her that I was a double caster?
I took my eyes off her and asked back while reading the book.
“You already knew and came looking, didn’t you?”
“So you are the double caster.”
If that was the answer she wanted, she immediately stood up.
‘What kind of situation is this supposed to be?’
Right before leaving the library, she turned her body toward me and asked:
“Fire element class is starting soon. Aren’t you going? You’re a fire and darkness double caster, right?”
I couldn’t guess her intentions at all.
She didn’t seem like a mage from a noble family, but she gave off a strangely elusive vibe.
“You’ll be late at this rate. Fire element class is in Room 7, and it’s way out in the corner.”
I couldn’t tell if she was being helpful or not.
For now, I organized the books and followed after her.
“Your name was Artel, right?”
As we walked down the hall, she spoke first.
“You already know my name too.”
“Yeah.”
After that, the conversation stopped.
I simply couldn’t figure out her intentions.
“If you already know, why do you keep asking?”
“Just because.”
“…….”
“Aren’t you going to ask my name?”
“You already asked in the library.”
“When?”
Was she trying to play word games with me?
“When you said someone has to introduce themselves first before asking about me—did you forget?”
“That wasn’t you directly asking for my name.”
“Fine, forget it.”
We’d part ways in a year anyway—no reason to talk more than necessary.
We soon arrived at Room 7, where the fire element class was held.
It was definitely set apart from the other rooms, giving the impression that only the fire element was being isolated.
Hei had already arrived in front of the classroom.
“Artel! Hm?”
The nameless girl who brought me here walked straight past Hei and entered first.
Right before stepping fully inside, she paused at the threshold, looking back at me—her eyes filled with some kind of unspoken story.
It was a clear contrast to the eyes she had shown in the library.
“Who’s that?”
“No idea. First time I’ve seen her today.”
“Let’s go in first. How was the darkness element class?”
“Well…….”
The image of trapping Walfis in Dark Space and setting him on fire came to mind.
“It was fun.”
With that, Hei and I entered the classroom and sat side by side.
When I rolled my eyes to look for the girl, she was sitting in the corner of the lowest row, closest to the teacher’s platform.
Students began streaming in as well.
Including me, Hei, and the girl, there were eight students taking the fire element class.
Right before winter break, when I had seen the students descending to the lower world, there had been five red-haired ones, but I hadn’t seen this girl then.
This must have been the final roster for the 1st Class fire element students.
“Artel, that girl keeps sneaking glances at you.”
Hei spoke as he gauged the students’ skill level with his eyes.
When I looked at her after hearing his words, she quickly turned away.
“Artel, maybe she likes you?”
No.
Her gaze wasn’t one of excitement—it felt like she was wary, evaluating me.
Could it be that Etar sent a surveillance student?
Had they disguised someone as a student to officially keep watch on me from now on?
A thousand possibilities crossed my mind, but I had no proof.
Soon a red-haired teacher walked in and descended to the platform.
“First class of the term. Oh, our class’s promising student, Banshi. Did you spend your vacation well?”
The teacher asked while looking at the girl.
‘So her name is Banshi.’
As expected, she wasn’t from a noble mage family.
“Yes.”
But what was strange was that Banshi was staring at Ever with an extremely fierce gaze.
If she were a beast, she looked ready to bite his neck any second.
The teacher let his gaze sweep across the room and stopped at Hei and me.
“Hahaha, we’ve got new students. And a rumored double caster at that!”
He even clapped his hands once and laughed heartily at me.
He seemed like a very cheerful, optimistic teacher.
His manner of speaking and overall aura were very different from Walfis, who taught the darkness element.
If Walfis was dark, heavy, and tense, this teacher was bright and lively.
‘Strange. He has a similar vibe to Etar.’
In my previous life, whenever I taught Etar something, Etar would often wear that kind of expression and speak in that tone.
Though I had no idea what he was like now.
“How about the two of you stand and introduce yourselves to your classmates? Everyone, give them a welcoming round of applause!”
Applause filled the classroom.
I could feel that every student liked and respected this teacher.
“I’m Hei. I look forward to studying with you!”
After Hei’s spirited greeting, it was my turn.
“I’m Artel.”
I gave a simple greeting and sat down as the teacher began his introduction.
“For our new students—my name is Ed Ever, and I’m in charge of 1st Class fire element theory and practice.”
So that was why he reminded me of Etar…….
If darkness belonged to the Draco family, then fire belonged to the Ed family.
It definitely smelled intentional.
But unlike the darkness element class, something was different this time—strangely, I didn’t feel any sense of caution.
Should I take that as a good sign?
“Now then, we will begin the theory class.”
Thus began a tedious hour-long theory lesson.
Today’s theory was about the method of manifesting ‘Fire Ball’.
“You imagine a sphere of fire in your mind and materialize it. If you can’t concentrate well, chanting the spell like ‘Fire Ball!’ can help.”
It was a very simple lesson suitable for the level of 1st Class, just like the nature of the fire element.
“Yaaawn…….”
Hei was, as expected, weak when it came to theory.
Barely ten minutes into class, he already looked sleepy, yawning and rubbing his eyelids excessively.
Ever’s class was passionate, befitting a fire-element mage.
I kept seeing Etar’s shadow in him.
‘It would be nice if you were like that teacher, Etar.’
That was my earnest wish.
When the theory class ended, Ever announced:
“Practice will be held at the training grounds. You have 20 minutes. Gather your equipment and meet me there on time.”
Equipment meant we were to bring the wand or staff already issued to us.
As Ever left first, the students began standing up and heading toward their dorms one by one.
At the training grounds, exactly eight training straw dummies were prepared.
All of us, including myself, stood before a straw dummy.
“For the next hour, you will manifest Fire Ball. Apply what you learned in theory. Any student who burns their straw dummy completely may rest for the remaining time.”
As expected, every 1st Class lesson was simple.
“Begin!”
Crackle—
The moment the test began, I heard flames roaring sharply somewhere and turned my head. The straw dummy of the girl I had met in the library—Banshi—was already burning black.
Her tool was a staff.
At the tip of the staff, tiny sparks were still flickering.
“As expected of you, Banshi! Truly a promising student! You may stay here or go out and rest as you wish.”
But Banshi walked over to stand beside Ever, then sat down right there.
“You always head out, so what’s going on today, Banshi?”
“Him.”
At Ever’s question, Banshi pointed at me with her finger.
“What about Artel?”
“I want to see him cast. I’m curious how incredible a double caster is.”
Oh? So that gaze full of unspoken emotion earlier had been competitiveness?
She was a promising fire-element student—and now a double caster had appeared. For a young student, that reaction made sense.
“Fire Ball! Fire! Ugh……! Fire Ball!”
At that moment, the voice beside me.
Hei.
Weak in theory, Hei struggled to apply it straight to practice.
Even as he swung his wand again and again toward the straw dummy, chanting repeatedly, he couldn’t manifest a Fire Ball—or even a simple fire orb.
Whoosh—!
Crackle!
Meanwhile, the other students’ straw dummies, although not burning as dramatically as Banshi’s, were slowly catching fire.
“Fire Ball!”
The surrounding atmosphere was only making him more anxious.
“Hei, don’t rush. In times like this, close your eyes.”
Hei was extremely sensitive to his surroundings.
During the Class 0 midterm, I had forced him to open his eyes, but right now, closing them would help more.
But Hei couldn’t calm his mind.
To manifest magic, concentration must remain unshaken no matter the circumstances—but that was his biggest weakness.
‘No helping it.’
I finally stood behind Hei and covered his eyes with my hand.
“What are you doing! Artel?”
“Don’t look at anything. The straw dummy is right in front of you anyway. Don’t be shaken by your surroundings—focus only on the straw dummy in front of you.”
“I know, but it doesn’t work like that.”
“That’s why I’m covering your eyes. Try it like this.”
Hei definitely had talent.
And since we decided to rise together—and even had overlapping classes—I had decided to help him as much as I could.
“Deep breaths. Slowly.”
When I soothed him with a whisper at his ear, his frantic movements noticeably calmed.
“Good. Just like that. Now focus.”
His eyes were still covered.
With my other hand, I lifted the hand he held his wand with.
“The straw dummy is in this direction. Go on, Hei. You can do it.”
His breathing settled.
After a long moment of steadying himself, Hei chanted in a calm voice.
“Fire Ball.”
Crackle!
As expected—give him a clear path, and he walked it well.
The flames were weak compared to the other students’, but the straw dummy was indeed catching fire.
“Hei, open your eyes now.”
“……Wow!”
Hei stared at the burning straw dummy in disbelief, unable to believe he had manifested magic himself.
“Just like that. Now try it with your eyes open.”
“Yeah!”
“Hey.”
At that moment, Banshi’s voice cut toward me.
“What.”
“I’m not interested in his magic. Show yours. I want to see how amazing a double caster is.”
Her tone wasn’t intentionally provocative, but it still rubbed me the wrong way.
Why was the academy full of jealousy and envy?
Truly unfortunate.
‘Alright, I get that you’re competitive. But if I show you the difference—will you crumble, or will you work harder?’
Since she wanted to see it so badly, I might as well show her.
Whoosh—!
Without taking my eyes off Banshi, I ignited the straw dummy behind me.
In an instant, the straw dummy turned into nothing but ash.
“…….”
All movement in the training grounds froze at the unexpected sight.
Ever and Banshi, who had been watching me closely, stared at me with wide, rabbit-like eyes.
“Is that enough?”
Of course it would shock them.
I had burned it without even looking.