The phoenix girl woke up early.
Today was the first official day of lessons—and also the day when the results of the meeting would finally be revealed.
She quickly changed and put on her ring.
Her Damionus informed her that a message from the homeroom teacher had been posted in the official class group.
[It's the schedule for this year's calendar. From now on, this will be the order and the days for every lesson.]
Csendez opened the timetable.
In this Pannikkatti Era, the calendar used by everyone was regulated by the Alocanai Council. A day had thirty hours, a week had six days, a month had five weeks, and a year had ten months.
The timetable displayed an entire month.
Each class would have twenty-seven lessons per month, evenly distributed across the thirty days. There would be only one lesson per day.
Today is our first Introduction to Magic class. I'm curious how that will go.
Her eyes moved over the timetable.
Hmm... Apparently, that meeting was effective.
We have two lessons for arts and sports, one for science, and one for economics.
This is a very good outcome.
Her eyes stopped on another subject.
But this teacher's choice is quite worrying... What do you mean, "Survive in Nature"?
I can already tell I'll be terrible at this... for multiple reasons.
After briefly analyzing the timetable, she left her dormitory apartment.
Downstairs, she met Uituba in the cafeteria and had breakfast with her.
"Thank you for yesterday! You were a big, big, big help to me!"
The elf looked happy and excited. Even her expression seemed brighter than usual.
The phoenix girl paused for a moment before relaxing.
She took a shallow breath.
"It was nothing. I mostly just sat there and listened. But... he seems to like you very much. Are all elves as friendly as you two?"
Uituba became slightly shy.
After a moment, she lowered her head and moved a little closer to Csendez. She remembered that the phoenix wasn't used to physical contact, so she didn't touch her or move too close. She only leaned close enough to speak quietly.
"I'm sorry. I should have told you this too, but I wasn't sure if he remembered me or even cared about me. I didn't want to look like some abandoned... sister."
She hesitated.
"We are siblings, but it's complicated. It seems that he probably doesn't remember me. But at least he treats me well, so... I can tell you about it more easily now."
After a short pause, she continued.
"I don't know if you know the feeling of keeping a precious memory when the person who was part of it doesn't remember either you or the memory itself... It's kind of awful."
Csendez listened seriously while continuing to eat.
"Do you ever regret having that memory? Or meeting that person?"
The elf looked shocked.
"Of course not! It's something that made me who I am. Without it, I wouldn't be myself!"
"But that memory still gives you an awful feeling, doesn't it? You said so yourself. So wouldn't it have been better not to have it?"
Csendez tried to make the question sound casual, but her eyes were so focused and serious that the elf couldn't bring herself to scold her for asking such a strange question.
"Just because it makes me feel strange now doesn't change how I felt at that time. It isn't my fault that they don't remember me or that moment. And it wasn't their fault either."
Uituba's expression slowly became more determined.
"If I want something to change, I have to do something about it."
She smiled faintly.
"Yeah. It wasn't either of our fault that we were separated. If I want things to change, I need to step forward and try my best. No one else will do it for me!"
"But what if the change you want isn't accepted by others? Or even by the person you love?"
That's not exactly the situation here. Tenin wants to reunite with her, but she doesn't even know that. And even Tenin doesn't know that his sister wants to reunite with him...
Uituba remained silent for a moment, thinking carefully about the question.
"That won't change much." Her voice became calmer. "I'm not changing for others. I'm changing for myself. Their opinion doesn't matter."
She paused before continuing.
"And if my brother doesn't want to reconnect with me, then fine. I'll treasure the memories I already have and try to make new ones."
A small smile appeared on her face.
"Or I'll try to change his mind. Or at least understand his reasons. I can't give up before I've even tried."
Those words remained in Csendez's mind as they eventually reached the classroom.
On Anka's side...
After spending the day traveling from one place to another, the human girl finally returned home.
The empty space felt too large.
She prepared some food over the fire and then changed for bed.
Today had been busy and full of social interactions. Her mind was too tired to even think about what would happen after she fell asleep.
This time, when she woke up, it was her mature consciousness that found itself inside Csendez's body.
The environment resembled a classroom.
The voices and noises in the background told her that this was the first lesson taking place at the Academy.
Seeing my memories of this body-semipossession is really strange.
I have powers related to the domain of souls, so this change gives me more information. I can feel myself being attracted to her soul, but I still don't understand why.
Our souls aren't mixing. I can feel its weight pushing against me as well.
It's a contradictory situation. I need more information to understand the connection between us.
As for this possession... she could probably sense me if she really tried. But for that, she would need to acknowledge the presence of her own soul first. I doubt they teach them anything like that yet.
In this state, I can only hear her superficial thoughts. Occasionally, I might catch something deeper, but that probably depends on the strength of her emotions.
Csendez was sitting in the third row beside the windows. She enjoyed the view while listening to the conversations around her before class began.
"Today is our first 'Introduction to Magic' class. I'm curious which system of classification they will teach us."
A lucky coincidence. I'm curious about this magic system as well. Zero explained the basics, but it would be better to hear other variations and details.
Uituba sat beside her, reading another book.
During the last few minutes before class began, a young man stood up.
"Classmates, after the hand-to-hand combat session, we'll need to discuss the elective courses and choose a class leader. This is a tradition from another class. They already chose their leader."
The speaker was an alicorn, ranked sixth. His name was Feyer.
He was tall and slender, with deep green hair and matching eyes. On his forehead was the same circular mark Csendez had seen on the professor, although Feyer also had two small wing-like symbols on either side.
"I don't mind," a demon girl named Hali said. "But do we really need to discuss the class leader? Isn't it automatically the strongest person?"
In this society, power dictated leadership. Most races chose their family heads in the same way, so the arrangement seemed natural.
The alicorn answered.
"That's why I suggest choosing the leader after the combat class. We'll see who is the strongest in our class. I heard the teacher plans to have students demonstrate their abilities, so that should give us a good idea."
No one objected. Power was absolute. There was nothing to debate or defend. The suggestion was accepted without difficulty.
So they respect the jungle law.
Somehow, the class seemed to be in a superficial state of peace.
There hadn't even been a conflict during the previous week.
"This is almost too peaceful. Something must have happened."
"I spent almost the entire week in the library, so there's no way I could know what caused this change."
"Maybe Uituba knows?"
Csendez glanced toward the elf. She was still reading.
"Should I ask her?"
"But that... I don't really have enough of a relationship with her to exchange information naturally."
"How would I even ask? Would she answer?"
What happened? When I was inside her mind a few days ago, her mentality was very different.
Right now, she seems much more like an insecure teenager.
"I'll ask her later. The teacher could arrive at any moment, and she seems busy with that book."
She was right.
The professor suddenly appeared in the classroom as if he had come from nowhere.
"I'm pleased to meet you. I am Kelime, your teacher for Introduction to Magic. Today will be our first lesson."
He placed several books on the glass desk before introducing himself.
His voice was quick and energetic, carrying an unusual enthusiasm that seemed to pull the listeners in.
His appearance was difficult to see. He wore a large coat, and his face remained hidden in shadow. Only his voice could be clearly recognized.
"I will be your professor for two subjects—Introduction to Magic and Distinguishing Energies. At least for the first cycle of learning. After that, we will move on to The Relationship Between Energies and Elemental Exchanges."
"I have never heard of him before."
After finishing his introduction, he scanned the room.
Then, with renewed energy, he turned toward the board and began writing while explaining the lesson.
"Magic... This is the most commonly used word for Energy. It represents the use of nature's forces through various catalysts. The use of catalysts is not always necessary in special situations."
The professor drew two humanoid figures on the board.
One stood on the right. The other stood on the left.
"As all of you know, you were born with an energy core inside your soul. This core represents your source of power and natural affinity."
In one of the drawings, a circle appeared inside the figure's body.
"But there are beings who are not born with an energy core. Instead, they use alternative forms of containers to manipulate elemental energy."
The second figure now held a glowing sphere in its hands.
The drawings began moving on their own, following the professor's explanation.
"Some species are constantly born with a specific core element."
The first drawing transformed into a demon.
Inside its body, a ball of red light appeared.
"And a special core that possesses authority over spatial presence is naturally inherited by every child of that race. Because of this Red Core, demons can teleport without much elemental energy or the use of a magic circle."
So a race isn't only biologically connected. Their magic is connected to their lineage as well?
Their bloodline determines the path of their power?
There could be exceptions, I suppose.
"Now, going back to the other types of energy manipulation through catalysts. There are different types of catalysts."
The blackboard cleared itself and was divided into four sections.
"Catalysts can be categorized according to legal norms and the Rules. You can use artifacts, runes, signs, and incantations to influence the energy around you."
He paused.
"Now we reach the important part: Energy."
"He's definitely only giving us an introduction. There must be so much more to this subject."
Law and Rules aren't the same thing?
The board cleared again.
This time, the word ENERGY appeared at its center.
"These energies are the foundation of any magical act. Whether it is an incantation, summoning, healing, or even a curse."
The professor looked around the classroom.
"There are ten energies in the world. However, the magic we are studying now will focus primarily on four of them."
"Ten?"
"I've never heard this classification before."
Ten types of energy... This classification is unusual. Which one is considered the standard? Zero told me about seven, I think...
Four lines extended from the word Energy.
The professor wrote a term at the end of each line, along with its domain.
"...We have Golden Energy, which deals with Life; Blue Energy, which operates in the realm of Time; Red Energy, which belongs to the domain of Space..."
The entire class remained focused on the explanation, even though many of them were already familiar with the basics.
"...and lastly, White Energy, which is used as material for spells and magic circles."
"Nothing new here."
Time? Life? These are energies that can actually be used? - Something about the classification felt strangely familiar to her.
The professor continued speaking quickly, but he paused regularly to allow questions.
Still, no one interrupted. He continued enthusiastically.
"White Energy is the most common of the energies and, at the same time, the easiest to use. It has minimal control requirements, but it can be refined to perfection only by a strong mind. It can be manifested naturally or through various catalysts."
Tenin raised his hand.
"Will we only study White Energy in this class?"
"Yes. Primarily, yes. Sometimes we will touch on aspects of Red and Blue Energy, but not too often. We will study all the energies later. You are not ready for them yet."
The students began raising their hands.
Questions quickly followed—about the subject, grades, exams, the differences between the lessons, and several other things.
The professor raised one hand.
"This class will be primarily theoretical. I will teach you the concepts and rules behind different spells and incantations. In other lessons, you will put them into practice, so don't be too eager."
He rubbed his hands together, brushing away imaginary chalk dust.
"Today, I will tell you more about the different types of classification and the relationship between energy and the energy core."
"I should ask about the ten-energy classification. He only mentioned four of them."
"I'm really curious about it."
Before Csendez could say anything, another student raised his hand.
It was Shu Mo, the Dark Eye.
"Professor, if there are ten energies in the universe, why are only three known to form core elements? What are the others used for? Are all energies equal?"
The question immediately changed the atmosphere. Everyone knew there was more behind it. Some energies were considered taboo.
But the professor didn't seem bothered at all. Instead, he smiled slightly and turned toward the blackboard.
He began to draw.
"This is…"