The lecture hall was filled with the rustling of pages and the soft scratching of quills against parchment as the students settled into their seats. The air in the room felt dense, charged with both the anticipation of the lesson and the weight of the task ahead. Axnem's eyes flicked briefly around the room, scanning his fellow students. This was no ordinary class. This was Magical Foundations, one of the highest-tier classes at the academy.
And for good reason.
Professor Orin Malvorn, towering at the front of the room, was not here to coddle anyone. His authoritarian approach was well-known—he didn't rely on kindness or praise. He demanded perfection, and only the most talented students ever stood a chance at succeeding in his class. Today, he would push his students to the brink of their abilities.
"Today, we will tackle something fundamental: Mana Manipulation," Malvorn's voice cut through the murmur of excitement. "Not just theory—real manipulation. Today, I will see who truly understands the laws of magic and who is merely pretending."
The students shifted in their seats, a mix of nervousness and anticipation building in the air. This was the kind of class that separated those who could truly harness magic from those who had yet to truly master its complexities.
Axnem took a deep breath. He knew what was coming. This was the class that would define the golden generation. In this room, the most talented students of the Academy were gathered—a group unlike any that had come before them. In his future life, he had seen a much weaker cohort of students, one that was markedly inferior in both talent and ambition. But now, in this timeline, the competition was fierce.
Axnem's peers—students like Lyle, Noharim, and even Kai—were all capable of feats that would have been considered exceptional in his past life. Their talent was undeniable. This was the golden generation: the most powerful and promising group of mages the academy had seen in centuries.
"Your first task is simple," Malvorn continued, pacing in front of the class. "You will absorb mana from your surroundings and demonstrate control over it. This is not about casting spells. This is about understanding the very flow of mana in the world around you and how to bend it to your will."
Axnem could feel the familiar hum in the air as Malvorn began to speak. It was the subtle, nearly imperceptible shift of the atmosphere—mana in motion, waiting to be shaped. As he took a deep breath, he could already sense the mana surrounding him, just as he had in every class of this nature. But here, he was not the only one. He was surrounded by other students, all gifted, all eager to prove their worth.
Malvorn's voice broke through his thoughts. "This exercise will test your understanding of mana. You must absorb the energy from the environment and control it. If you fail, you will not move on to the next phase. There is no middle ground."
He raised his hand, and with a flick of his wrist, a globe of light formed in the air—a tangible manifestation of mana. The students gasped, their eyes widening as the orb pulsed with energy.
"You will match this," Malvorn instructed, his gaze sweeping across the class. "Do not attempt to cast; absorb the mana and control it as I have done."
Axnem took a deep breath, focusing his thoughts. He was aware of the energy around him, the ambient mana that saturated the air. It wasn't a matter of brute strength—it was about sensing the flow, about feeling where the mana was weakest and guiding it into the body's mana pathways.
But Axnem wasn't the only one working. Around him, other students were already beginning to succeed, their hands raised as they pulled the ambient mana into their bodies. Some were quicker than others, but the results were undeniable. Lyle, for instance, had already formed a glowing orb of mana, though it flickered erratically. His expression was focused, but the uncertainty in his movements was clear.
Noharim, on the other hand, was nearly perfect. The light she controlled was steady and pulsing, her face calm as she guided the mana through her pathways. She was the only student in the class who had been able to control the mana without faltering, and Axnem couldn't help but feel a slight stir of respect for her skill.
In his future life, Noharim would become one of his closest allies. But here, in this timeline, they were both still learning, still sharpening their abilities.
As Axnem continued to manipulate the ambient mana around him, he could sense more than just the basic flow. He could feel deeper patterns, invisible undercurrents of energy that most students could not perceive. For them, it was a matter of willpower. For Axnem, it was understanding—and perhaps, in this new world, he would learn that understanding was everything.
As the minutes ticked by, the class became more and more focused. Each student was now attempting to form their own orbs of mana. Some were successful; others were struggling. And as expected, Malvorn walked the room, his cold eyes scanning each student's progress. He didn't offer encouragement or criticism—he simply observed.
Finally, Malvorn stopped in front of Axnem, his gaze sharp.
"Well done, Black," he said, his voice low but clear. "You've mastered the basics of mana absorption. But remember, this is only the beginning. Magic is about control, not power. You cannot rely on your instincts forever. You must learn discipline."
Axnem simply nodded. He understood Malvorn's point—it wasn't about showing off his abilities. It was about refining them, learning how to control the raw power that he had already mastered in his future life.
Around him, students continued to struggle, but the golden generation had proven themselves again. Lyle's orb had become more stable, his control improving with each attempt. Noharim was still the most consistent, her mana glowing with a quiet intensity.
As the bell rang, signaling the end of class, the students began to pack their things. Professor Malvorn didn't offer any praise or comments, as usual. He simply turned and walked out, leaving his students to reflect on what they had learned.
Axnem stayed in his seat for a moment longer, watching the students around him. This class, this generation—it was something special. These students were destined for greatness. In his future, they would be known as the golden generation, a group of scholars and mages whose magical prowess would change the world.
But now, for him, the real work had just begun. He wasn't here to prove himself to the academy. He was here to change the future—not just for his family, but for everyone.