"Good morning!" The next day began with a cheerful greeting from Rhamn.
Good morning. Cyril raised his body, getting rid of the sleepiness.
"Let's try our hardest today!"
He quickly went through his usual routine and went to the long-awaited practical Spellmaking class. It was taking place outside the castle in a dedicated field.
The professor confidently stood before the crowd, explaining some things before the practice began.
"... and so you must be careful when gathering mana from the outside. Ultimately, it's different from the mana within you. I will call you one by one, and you will cast your first spell using the Maze's pattern."
The students were eager to try, and their spirits were not dampened by the professor's warning. After all, they are in class I for a reason.
Soon the professor began calling people one by one to cast their very first official spell in Ailanthus.
The lucky student at the front came out, his face stiff from performance anxiety.
Due to circumstances, the majority of the students in class I were of noble birth.
While they haven't practiced any spells before enrolling here, they were taught everything around that from an early age.
They should be able to cast a simple spell without any issues. Thought Cyril while observing the attempt with curiosity.
The student stretched out his hand forward, closed his eyes, and a circle of blue light filled with various shapes appeared on his palm.
It created a bright light that lasted for several seconds before he lost concentration and the spell broke apart.
"Not bad. Memorize how it felt and keep working hard. Next..." The professor was satisfied with this attempt.
The student breathed a sigh of relief and went back to the crowd of his friends. Some immediately began questioning how it feels before being silenced by a glare from the professor.
Cyril stared at the friendly bunch for a brief second, his face cold as always. He stood alone, the surrounding students somewhat reluctant to approach him.
"Why do they celebrate such meager results? Are they satisfied with their pathetic mediocrity? Perhaps you ought to show them what true ability looks like." Rhamn appeared in front of him, her hands on her hips.
His attention was immediately attracted by her, and he tiredly sighed.
Being able to cast a spell on their first try is an impressive result already.
He argued with her, stifling any similar thoughts within him.
At this moment, while the students were being called one by one, someone walked up to Cyril and cautiously whispered, "Do you mind if I stand here?"
It was Myra, her face carrying a smile.
"Tsk, this lowlife again."
"Sure," Cyril replied.
She is really persistent.
Myra sent a quick glance at the surrounding students, who were starting to whisper some gossip, then turned towards him. "Hey, can I ask you something?"
Cyril silently nodded.
Myra smiled and unnoticeably pointed at the girl with brown waist-length hair and blue eyes standing not too far away.
"That's Rose Briar, a genius mage. I feel it would be worthwhile to befriend her. What do you think?"
Cyril stared at her with a blank face.
What kind of question is that?
"There is something wrong with her head."
"Just go and talk to her if you want to." He calmly answered after a delay.
Myra nodded, satisfied with something, and was about to continue speaking when Cyril's name was called out by the professor.
She half raised her fist in the air and shook it at him. "Good luck!" She whispered.
Cyril walked towards the marked area. This shouldn't be too hard.
On the way his ears managed to pick up plenty of whispered discussions from the energetic students.
"That's Thorne, right? The usurer's son? He fought like a beast yesterday."
"Yeah, I've heard he has a bad character. Better stay away."
And similar gossip went across most students, though Cyril was already used to hearing it and didn't react in any way. Only now, for some reason, it seemed particularly loud.
"Don't mind these nobodies. They are destined to die in obscurity anyways and are not worth our energy."
He ignored her as usual and reached the marked area.
Standing in front of everyone, he raised his hand and calmly guided the mana within his body, combined it with the one gathered from the air, and constructed the magic circle.
A bright and stable flash of light appeared at his palm.
Even though it was the first time casting a spell, it went smoothly.
"Very good, you can stop. It looks like you have some talent. Next..."
Cyril returned to his place within the crowd, where Myra greeted him with a thumbs up, her face showing pure joy.
"Nice, as expected, you are on a whole different level."
"Well, maybe she is not completely insane." Rhamn agreed with a satisfied nod. "But anyone with working eyes should be able to see your superiority, so that's a minor plus for her."
By now, Cyril felt that if she weren't so beautiful, her arrogance would be quite annoying.
"Thank you."
That wasn't a compliment...
...
More and more people cast their first spell.
Everyone performed well enough for their age, not a single student has failed so far. As a result, the crowd was becoming more enthusiastic as everyone discussed the feeling of casting a spell.
Even the professor didn't interfere much in their discussion, passively allowing it.
One of the last people to participate was the young man with a haughty face, blond hair, and black eyes.
Cyril was boredly standing in place, enduring listening to Rhamn about how it felt for her.
At this moment Myra lightly nudged him with an elbow, so he turned to look at her.
Her face was a bit more solemn now. "Look, Leo Arken is about to try." Her eyes were serious but at the same time expectant, like she was about to watch a good show.
"Who? So what? It has nothing to do with us."
The Arkens are a famous family...
Slightly intrigued by Myra's words, Cyril paid closer attention to the student about to cast his first spell.
Leo Arken was wearing a deep frown on his face, like someone owed him money. In a slightly dramatic fashion, he raised his hand and made a provocative smile directed at somewhere specific within the crowd of students.
"I'll show you what real talent looks like!" He exclaimed under the confused eyes of the professor.
Cyril followed his passionate stare and found Cedric on the other end of it. This harmless-looking student with black hair and black eyes wore a strained smile, enduring the gazes from all around.
After a second, Leo finally constructed the magic circle, though it was noticeably different from the one everyone else was using.
"Oi! What are you doing?" The professor yelled in a strict voice and attempted to interrupt the spell, but it was too late.
Soon, a small explosion enveloped Leo's hand, and he fell on the ground with a scream.
Their professor urgently put out the fire enveloping him and cast a few healing spells.
The students watched what was happening with shock. They heard about the dangers of messing up a spell, but this was the first time they'd seen it firsthand.
Soon, a few staff members arrived and carried the student with a charred arm away on a stretcher.
"Class is dismissed." The professor left with them after these words.
Everyone immediately erupted in gossip, talking about what they had just witnessed.
"That embarrassment of a mage wanted to cast a spell beyond his ability. His stupidity is astounding," Rhamn said with a mocking smile on her face, almost erupting in laughter.
Arrogance is indeed a poison that makes you stupid. Cyril made his own verdict, causing Rhamn's face to freeze.
"Hope there won't be any trouble from this in the future. Leo's mother is from the Tower," said Myra at his side.
Cyril shot her a brief look. "So what? It doesn't concern us."
"I just think we should be aware of what's happening around us!" Replied Myra somewhat defensively.
"I say that guy got what he deserved. Pride without the ability to back it up is just plain stupidity." Rhamn exclaimed, hands on her hips and her head held high.
Cyril sent her an unobvious helpless glance. You realize that and yet still act the way you do?
"Huh?" Rhamn tilted her head in response. "But we do have the ability to back it up. You have the best results out of everyone here."
Never mind...
Cyril, followed by Myra, went towards the next lesson of the day. Even though an accident happened, it didn't matter much to them.