Northwind Fortress, Mage's Association Branch.
Though the name sounded grand, it was, in reality, merely a long-neglected manor that had just been tidied up.
It was overgrown with weeds and streaked with rust.
Vines climbed the fences, swaying in the sunlight, unrestrained and wild.
It had been donated by a noble who looked down on it; the fledgling association was just that strapped for resources.
Even its location wasn't ideal, situated in the old city district.
Separated from the civilian residential area by a single street, one could clearly hear the cries of vendors, the sounds of card games, and loud chatter, interspersed with the occasional playful shouts of children.
Today, the long-unopened manor gates creaked open as Vearn arrived, leading Frieren and Flamme.
"Ahem, ahem!"
The red-haired girl coughed violently from the dust, fanning the air in front of her.
"My apologies, ladies." As the one who made the introductions, the City Lord was the most embarrassed. "I didn't expect it to be so dilapidated. For it to be the future branch and the venue for a Mage of the Mythic Age's first public class, it's far too shabby. I'll immediately find another..."
"I think it's fine."
Frieren snapped her fingers.
The overgrown weeds and vines instantly burst into bloom, their fragrance filling the air.
With her current proficiency, she could create a sea of flowers on the spot if she wished.
Moreover, she was currently researching how to replicate this in the Lands Between; that land needed more color.
"President, this place is too remote. We'll likely lose many listeners. They might not be willing to come to a street with such a... worldly atmosphere."
"Listeners, you say? Aren't there plenty of people right here?"
The silver-haired girl pointed towards the manor gate.
Unconsciously, many civilian children had gathered out of curiosity, so many that even some parents couldn't stop them.
Some attendants intended to intervene, but after a glare from Frieren, they desisted.
No wonder.
For them, a treasured spot from their childhood adventures had suddenly become private property.
Besides, a field of flowers had suddenly appeared here, and children loved such colorful sights the most.
"If they are willing to listen, I welcome them too." Frieren said nonchalantly, "Flamme also began her magical enlightenment at this age."
"Yes, I understand."
Seeing that she wouldn't change her mind, Vearn could only let it be.
He figured it didn't matter anymore.
If this level of inconvenience would deter those nobles from coming, then it was their loss.
Although he hadn't yet heard Frieren's lecture, a teacher capable of producing the foremost prodigy of her generation shouldn't be bad.
One should not underestimate the vast accumulation of knowledge an elven mage possessed; it was not to be taken lightly.
Everyone began to clean up, each attending to their own duties.
At the same time, they didn't forget to use magic to move desks, chairs, blackboards, and other necessary equipment.
Such a lively scene naturally attracted people, and more curious onlookers gathered.
Flamme, on a whim, distributed candy to the children.
Since she frequently visited Northwind Fortress and had a well-known reputation, everyone trusted her greatly.
Upon hearing that Frieren, the great hero who had saved the fortress, was present, people flocked to see her.
Unfortunately, the person in question had already rushed to the library of the temporary branch, meticulously arranging every grimoire, allowing no outsiders to interfere.
At the entrance.
"Mage Flamme, are you simply giving a lecture? Can we listen in too?"
"If it's free, I'll definitely come to support you!"
"My child is quite smart, maybe they can join the association..."
Facing the inquiries, the red-haired girl responded with natural poise, methodically and cheerfully.
Dealing with ordinary people was her forte; the noble banquet a few days ago had felt rather alienating.
Moreover, these people had actually started calling her Lady Mage.
It sounded pleasant to the ear; she now had a title.
The association is great.
Thus, Flamme, full of enthusiasm, spared no effort in promoting the event, even performing a few amusing spells that drew gasps of amazement from the crowd.
After all, it was a rare sight.
Nowadays, most mages were arrogant, believing that knowledge need not be displayed to commoners.
However, no one could gossip about Frieren's sole direct disciple, not to mention she herself was already a renowned mage, irreproachable in her achievements, character, and prestige – practically perfect.
While the association's branch point was being cleaned, news spread like wildfire:
A Mage of the Mythic Age was publicly teaching magic.
It was undoubtedly explosive news, like dropping a bomb on the still-peaceful central continent, attracting attention from all quarters.
If nothing else, joining in the excitement was fine, right?
They'd at least take a look.
Furthermore, Frieren was now the Honorary President, her status growing by the day.
Building a good relationship was necessary.
Even Serie, upon hearing the news, dispatched someone from the headquarters.
Her encouraging attitude prompted more people to pay attention.
If she weren't busy with the headquarters' construction and simultaneously deterring the increasingly active demons, Serie would have definitely met this renowned junior.
Even though Frieren herself didn't pay much mind, the number of people coming to see her due to her reputation rapidly increased.
For her, it was merely fulfilling her responsibilities as president out of professional dedication.
She hadn't expected to be elevated to such a high position, even suspecting some were trying to "kill her with praise."
But it didn't matter; the plan remained unchanged, continuing along its original trajectory...
Time flew by.
Allowing enough time for the audience to travel, the branch had already set up a public classroom.
Or rather, an amphitheater.
Because the number of registered participants kept increasing, they had to construct tiered seating around the large manor, creating an amphitheater structure that could accommodate 2,000 people if squeezed.
In the office, master and apprentice were organizing the final lesson plans.
At this moment, Vearn brought good news: "If we include the listeners in the periphery, the number will exceed 5,000."
"Five thousand?"
Hearing this, Flamme rubbed her temples.
She had never shown off in front of so many people.
Would it work?
Her heart was pounding.
"Are the injured ready?" Frieren remained calm and composed throughout.
"Rest assured, as per your instructions, we've found disabled individuals, as well as those suffering from various strange and complicated conditions due to magical backlash... To be honest, all sorts of methods have been tried, and I'm afraid they're very difficult to cure."
"Don't worry about such trivial matters, Commander Vearn. Just maintain order in the surrounding areas."
"Flamme, you will be my teaching assistant."
"As you command."
Both answered in unison.
For some reason, when the slacker elf seriously gave orders, she possessed an inviolable aura of a superior, subconsciously making them apprehensive.
After the final arrangements were made, they walked towards the courtyard together, where a dense black mass of figures awaited, all eyes on them.
Witnessing this spectacle for the first time, Flamme's throat tightened.
Fortunately, as a teaching assistant, she didn't have to speak; otherwise, she wouldn't be able to open her mouth later.
The gazes of these people were filled with scrutiny, doubt, or disdain – sharp enough.
Suddenly, the silver-haired girl, a step ahead, raised her staff, and a golden light blossomed.
Golden Vow!
But it was specially modified to suit the constitution of "real-world babies," with an emphasis on enhancing defense and recovery, and most importantly, replenishing stamina and clearing fatigue.
As it appeared, everyone felt a warmth spread through their bodies, an abundant power emergence, unbelievably.
"What's happening? Is there such magic that enhances physical abilities?"
"Enhancements aren't rare, but the effect is too good, and it activates quickly."
"As far as I know, they generally lack versatility..."
Before everyone could discuss further in hushed tones, Frieren once again activated a new ability: Realm of Magic.
A huge blue totem beneath her feet enveloped the entire venue.
Everyone present felt their mana become active, their energy thrumming with excitement.
There was no mistake; it was a straightforward and potent power-boosting magic.
Immediately after, Frieren used her most common signature spell from the elf village:
Sunlight Healing.
Healing that touched the soul spread out.
Not far away, those patients who had been considered incurably disabled found themselves gradually recovering.
They had thought their lives were set, but unexpectedly, there was a turning point!
The silver-haired girl walked over and asked with a smile, "How is it? Feeling alright? Your wounds will continue to regenerate for a while."
"Thank you, Great Mage!"
"Everything is fine! You are truly our benefactor!"
"No need to be so dramatic, or people will think you're shills."
In fact, the crowd was thoroughly convinced.
Even those without injuries had some minor bumps and bruises, or even old, accumulated hidden injuries, which were now completely gone, leaving no sensation.
Simple and overwhelming, she had completely seized the initiative.
No words were more persuasive than the absolute effect of magic.
They believed.
They had to believe.
Even setting aside all magical performance, what level of skill was it to cover 5,000 people with one spell, three times in a row, without blushing or panting?
Unheard of, simply a miracle.
One dared not imagine what would happen if it were offensive magic.
There was no need to imagine, because the demons had experienced it.
"One strike shatters an army" was no mere rumor.
Judging by Frieren's current relaxed and effortless demeanor, even facing an army of ten thousand would be no problem.
Numbers were meaningless before her.
"Silence, please."
Her voice, processed for amplification, quieted the entire venue.
Her authority, established in just a few breaths, deeply impressed everyone.
As soon as she spoke, all sounds ceased.
"The above is the magic I intend to teach you all, publicly. If you have questions, I will answer them on the spot, striving to enable anyone with a basic foundation in magic to at least perform it minimally. I will explain in order, from simple to difficult, according to the varying levels of difficulty. Now, let's begin."
No superfluous self-introduction, straight to the point.
She neither intended to leave a name for herself nor cared how many people came.
Frieren gave Flamme a look, and the latter immediately began writing notes on a huge blackboard.
If needed, she would also demonstrate different forms of magic with her master.
Indeed, it was as easy as she said; just be a tool.
Gradually, Flamme adapted.
Master and apprentice quickly fell into a rhythm, controlling the classroom style.
In a blink of an eye, the light of Golden Vow flickered frequently.
Many people tried it on the spot, and there were already successful cases.
Although the enhancement ratio, duration, consumption, and other factors varied, it still had an effect.
Too strong.
Its strength lay in its versatility; it could easily be taught to another person, its potential for dissemination maxed out, ensuring its development.
Even some apprentices managed to emit a warm glow, clearly proving its feasibility.
As long as one followed the spell formula recorded on the blackboard, it was remarkably simple, convenient, and straightforward.
"Well done, Flamme. You understand teaching better than I do."
Frieren showed a gratified smile.
The reason she had her apprentice write on the blackboard was that Flamme truly understood how to break down knowledge and feed it to others.
She herself had always researched alone, incorporating too many diverse techniques.
In others' eyes, it was a case of a great teacher producing brilliant students.
But the master knew best that it was all thanks to her apprentice; otherwise, she would have been completely lost throughout.
It was fortunate that when she found her, Flamme was a blank slate, easy to cultivate.
"Leave it to me." Compared to her initial awkwardness, Flamme was now more relaxed.
The shock Golden Vow brought to people was too intense.
Could there really be such an easily understandable enhancement magic in the world?
Moreover, it specifically targeted the mages' fragile weakness, making their bodies more resilient.
Only by staying alive could one deal damage.
Then, Frieren demonstrated derivative uses:
"We can specifically reinforce vital points, such as concentrating protection on the head or heart."
"For those with strong mana, they can actively and continuously supply the Golden Vow enhancement. The extra mana can offset a portion of incoming magical attacks, minimizing damage to the greatest extent..."
This was also possible?
Everyone gradually understood that the Mage of the Mythic Age's style was one of complete mastery; she even taught you the variant uses of a single spell.
At the same time, Frieren emphasized that Golden Vow required an exuberant emotional state, driven by imagination and feeling, thus naturally excluding demons who lacked emotional fluctuation, not to mention the differences in their constitution.
That was why she dared to make it public so generously, unafraid of imitation.
And what was truly valuable was the inventor, the brilliantly talented Mage of the Mythic Age who was willing to stand on their side.
"Well, I've told you all the key points of Golden Vow. Any questions?"
"Excuse me, my protection isn't covering everything..."
All sorts of strange questions popped up, giving Flamme a headache.
Just one or two made her lips twitch.
How did you even find these loopholes?
The worlds of geniuses and ordinary people were too far apart.
Just because she could review her master's magic didn't mean others could; problems could even arise in steps she never anticipated.
Even the questioners sometimes felt awkward, but Frieren answered patiently.
Too patient.
Or perhaps, for an elf, it was just part of passing the time with research, complementing each other perfectly.
Flamme suddenly realized that perhaps her own learning experience had been too smooth, making her master unsure of her own teaching abilities, which was why she was trying to interact a bit.
After a good while, the discussion about Golden Vow gradually ended.
By this time, her blackboard notes were comparable to a wall.
She had to remove it and replace it with a new one.
However, Frieren showed no signs of stopping, taking a sip of water to moisten her throat before continuing.
She had the air of "I'm going to talk until this is over."
Then this apprentice will accompany you to the end.
Flamme took the bread handed to her by a manor servant to stave off her hunger, eating while continuing to write notes with lively, vigorous strokes.
No one else could do this job; only someone who frequently listened to Frieren's explanations could understand her skipping steps.
Because she was too lazy to explain some "obvious and simple" principles, she had to write out this logical connection herself.
Master seemed to welcome all listeners, but she wasn't suited for the role of popularizing magic.
The two of them, working together, could leverage their strengths.
The explanation of the Realm of Magic went even more smoothly, getting better and better.
Because its principle was like creating a siphon effect to induce mana resonance, combining with oneself to unleash more magical damage, it was relatively easy to grasp.
Even so, modifying it into a spell formula that everyone could use, as Frieren had done, was not easy.
There were countless spells in the world, yet too many were hidden away, or quickly withered because no suitable successor could be found.
And now, she was trying to create a universal solution, which was undoubtedly subversive.
Buzz! Buzz!
Blue totems flickered continuously in the venue, varying in size, with differing densities of runes, but progress was rapid.
"I did it! It really works!"
"The power is amplified at least twofold, and it's probably not the limit yet."
Everyone was eagerly trying out the Realm of Magic.
Although it sacrificed mobility, it was highly beneficial for mage corps on the battlefield.
Imagine: on a sufficiently wide battlefield, a group of mages, under cover, standing within the Realm of Magic and casting synergistic spells together.
What would happen?
It would definitely create a massive explosion, easily achieving area-of-effect damage.
The prospect was terrifying.
Moreover, it strengthened power from the fundamental logic, so its adaptability was presumably extremely high.
"It's very useful, whether on the battlefield against demons or in other situations," some nobles exclaimed. "Popularize it immediately! All our mages must learn it!"
What an unexpected gain.
As expected of Lady Frieren, she wouldn't care what she had just detonated.
"Things are about to get lively."
The perceptive Flamme heard these discussions.
Compared to the mages' pure admiration, worship, or excitement, most envoys and nobles were discussing its military value.
This wasn't wrong, but the problem was that the hypothetical enemy wasn't just demons; it was too useful for that.
Although how a spell was applied was not something the creator could decide, she still felt a bit uneasy.
"Master, do humans always consider how to kill their own kind?"
Hearing this, the silver-haired girl turned her head and replied in a volume only the two of them could hear:
"Flamme, our magic doesn't bring peace. It's meant to stir up even greater wars on earth."
"The first application of technological advancement is always military; no one can shake that. Don't concern yourself with minor details, and don't take on responsibilities that don't belong to you. We are researchers, disseminators. Know your place."
"The audience is a mixed bag; you can't decide where it will be used. Let those with impure intentions continue on their path. Everyone has their own choices."
Frieren's words made the red-haired girl nod sincerely.
So be it.
It wasn't her place to worry.
She should focus more on her own magical training.
Besides, in the grand scheme of things, the demons were still dominant.
Currently, human unity outweighed conflict, mostly for the survival of the race.
Seeing Flamme regain her spirits, she also felt relieved.
A good child didn't need much teaching to understand.
In fact, she knew very well that humans would use her magic against each other in the future, but one couldn't give up eating for fear of choking.
Broadly speaking, it still promoted technological advancement.
Moreover, Frieren had left a way to reduce casualties:
"...I will teach you the last spell of this public class: Sunlight Healing."
"It is very difficult."
As her voice fell, silence descended.
All discussion about the previous spell ceased, all eyes focusing on one spot.
They couldn't agree more with this conclusion.
Firstly, healing magic itself was as rare as phoenix feathers and unicorn horns.
Secondly, the power Frieren displayed was profound and vast; it clearly wouldn't be easy to learn.
But if learned, it would be priceless.
They were certain: the world's number one healing magic had appeared, mastered by Frieren, and she would absolutely not keep it hidden.
"This is the tenderness of sharing the grace of a miracle with others. Only the selfless can use it. One must possess a compassionate heart and focus on life itself. Prepare yourselves, and listen to the flow of mana. Not for oneself, but to save others—"
The silver-haired girl once again unleashed the warm energy, refreshing and uplifting.
Humanitarian concern was probably the most prominent part of her magical style; every move was filled with burning emotion, controllable only by the spirit unique to the human race.
However, amidst a series of thuds, all imitators failed without exception.
"This is normal. Don't rush."
Frieren continued, "The reason Sunlight Healing is last is because it's impossible for most people to learn it immediately. We will gradually demonstrate simplified versions. Over to you, Flamme."
"Yes, Master." The red-haired girl cupped a ball of light, doing her best to display the different results of the spell formula.
"As expected of the direct disciple of a Mage of the Mythic Age."
Her spellcasting fundamentals were solid; she could cast without incantations or a staff at will, while perfectly controlling the output of a top-tier spell.
Sunlight Healing was docile in Flamme's hands, very compatible with users of soul-type magic.
This was how it should be.
Only after Frieren possessed the strongest healing magic was she willing to let her move freely.
Coupled with various defenses and her own proficiency in barrier arts, her defenses were maxed out.
As she demonstrated further, someone finally managed to release a faint wisp.
Unfortunately, its performance was far inferior to that of the master and apprentice.
So far, only their casting could be considered truly healing magic for all beings; the others lacked some mana, and even more so, the spirit to match the magic's power.
"Too difficult! It really is the world's number one healing magic. I can't use it!"
"I'm at my limit, I have no mana left!"
"Even in the entire history of magic, this ranks as a miracle. How could you possibly learn it easily?"
Everyone racked their brains, exhausted, yet they couldn't replicate that sacred, majestic, and gentle temperament, let alone heal others.
At most, they could only emit light.
The road was still long.
However, some priests gradually got the hang of it, able to focus a beam of light to alleviate pain.
Although it was far from Frieren's realm of bringing the dead back to life and fleshing out bare bones, they had found a direction.
It should be compatible with priestly abilities.
"Success!"
"Don't get too complacent, it can only be used on one person."
"Saving one is still saving one. Besides praying to the Goddess, I will also thank President Frieren."
"Alright then, no wonder you succeeded."
Priests skilled in Goddess prayer magic and who usually helped many people took the lead, becoming more and more proficient.
Regardless, Sunlight Healing had finally been taught.
Even though it was difficult, its dissemination would be full of vitality.
Master and apprentice exchanged a glance and smiled brightly.
It was tiring, but the rewards were plentiful.
Imparting knowledge always brought a sense of satisfaction.
It was good to be able to help their compatriots.
Frieren announced loudly, "Today's class ends here. See you again."
She left as freely and unrestrainedly as she had arrived, waving her hand and giving no one a chance to detain her.
Flamme leaped down from the high stool, patted the chalk dust off her clothes, bowed to the crowd, and then quickly followed the silver-haired girl towards the manor building, her back looking very happy.
An abrupt end?
Everyone remained frozen in their seats, feeling as if the unhurried explanations still lingered in their ears.
The Mage's Association had truly picked up a once-in-a-thousand-years figure!
_____
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