"Listen up! For a wizard, the most important thing is your magic power!"
On the lecture platform, Kira spoke with confidence to a room full of students. "As long as you've got enough magic power, even the weakest spell can pack a huge punch!"
Below, a dozen or so boys and girls gazed at him with admiration and respect, nodding along, half-understanding.
"Even in high-stakes battles—you know, the kind between top-tier wizards—magic power is the key to victory! No matter what kind of magic you use, you need enough juice to back it up!"
Kira grabbed a piece of chalk and circled "Magic Power" on the blackboard, then scribbled "Magic" in the bottom left corner.
Turning to the students, he continued, "Magic is what lets you turn the tables and beat someone stronger than you!"
"The stronger and more unique your magic, the bigger impact it has. But here's the thing: a powerful spell doesn't have to be destructive. If you use it right, even non-combat magic can be a game-changer!"
"Magic is about quality, not quantity. Any single spell is enough for a wizard to spend a lifetime mastering."
"There's also the concept of compatibility. If a magic suits you, your strength skyrockets. If it doesn't, you'll struggle twice as hard for half the results."
This time, only a few students nodded thoughtfully, murmuring, "Oh… got it…"
Kira wrote "Wizard" on the board, forming a triangle with "Magic Power" and "Magic." "The final question is: how do you become an awesome wizard like me?"
"That depends a lot on talent, but don't worry! With hard work and dedication, even if you're not a natural, you can still outshine so-called geniuses!"
"Great wizards all have something they stand for. It could be a life goal you'll stop at nothing to achieve or a line no one's allowed to cross!"
"Remember this: know yourself, be true to yourself, and that's how you become an outstanding wizard!"
After his encouraging words, only a few kids still had that determined spark in their eyes, clearly holding onto their own convictions.
Kira pointed to a boy in the front row. "You, what's something you've stuck with no matter what?"
"I wake up every morning at 6 a.m., take a one-hour nap at noon, go to bed at 11 p.m., and always drink a cup of hot milk before sleeping through the night," the boy answered.
Kira: "…"
"I also do 100 sit-ups, 100 push-ups, 100 squat jumps, and a 10-kilometer run every day…"
Okay, something's definitely off with this kid.
"Uh, how about you, the girl next to him? What's your life goal?"
The girl perked up. "I want to be like big sis Cana!"
Well, this girl's doomed.
"And you, the boy in the back—what's a line no one can cross with you?"
"I've got one!" the boy said, raising his hand. "Everyone at the orphanage is my family, and no one's allowed to mess with them!"
"Well said!" Kira clapped, encouraging the others to join in. "Kid, you've got potential! You're gonna be an awesome wizard someday. Ever thought about joining Fairy Tail? I've got my eye on you!"
The boy grinned. "Teacher, what's your line?"
"Hmm… good question. I've got a few," Kira said, pretending to think deeply. "You all saw that imaging lacrima from the Tower of Heaven, right? Whether it's a centuries-old dragon, a decades-old demon, or an evil cultist my age, I dish out punishment with no mercy!"
"But big sis Cana says your line is money!" a kid piped up.
Kira: "…"
"Pfft—" Cana, lounging by the window in the back, burst out laughing.
You're the one corrupting these kids!
Kira's annoyance meter: +1, +1.
Amid the laughter, a small boy raised his hand. "Teacher Kira, when are you gonna teach us some cool magic?"
"I can teach you magic anytime, but the real question is: have you found the magic that's right for you?"
The boy went quiet. With his limited experience, he had no clue what magic suited him. He just followed the orphanage director's lead, learning whatever was offered without knowing if it fit.
Seeing the boy's head droop, Kira sighed inwardly. Kids in their confused phase often lack direction and opportunity. He was giving them the chance to learn, but they'd have to find their own path.
Still, they were already ahead of their peers—most kids didn't even get the chance to learn magic!
"What're you moping about? Just learn something! You won't know if it suits you until you try!" An older boy patted his younger friend on the head, then shouted to Kira, "Yo, Boss Kira, start with fire magic!"
He'd recently been hooked on Battle Through the Heavens and was all about fire magic.
Kira didn't know that, but he liked the kid's enthusiasm.
"Alright, let's do it!"
---
Maybe it was some kind of orphan buff, but these kids picked things up fast.
Of course, Kira chalked it up to his clear, engaging teaching style and knack for inspiring their drive to get stronger.
A few kids who'd just learned magic were already chasing each other around, messing with half-baked spells.
"Take my Bone Spirit Cold Flame!"
"Sand Burial Cascade!"
"Water Wave Lotus!"
"Roar, oh wind!"
"Thunder, lend me your strength!"
All sorts of weird references from who-knows-where popped up in their games, leaving Kira cringing. "Where are these kids getting this stuff?"
His gut told him Cana was behind it.
"If I'd known those were your novels, I would've slapped them in the bookstore owner's face instead of bringing them here!" Cana teased. "Why can't you write something normal instead of all this nonsense?"
Kira blinked, stunned, before firing back, "Nonsense? My books are totally normal! Everyone who's read them loves them!"
"That Battle Through the Heavens is obviously based on Natsu, with his scarf and weird flames. And Where's My Dad? That girl searching for her father in the first chapter…"
"Oh, no doubt about it—that one's based on you," Kira admitted.
Her suspicion confirmed, Cana panicked and socked Kira in the shoulder. "You jerk! How do you know everything?!"
"Don't worry, I haven't told Gildarts. Though, back in Xornia, I think he might've figured something out…"
At the mention of that, Cana's mind flashed back to that moment, her panic doubling. After a long pause, she stiffly changed the subject. "Writing your friends into novels—is that what you call normal?"
"Why not? Look at them—they're having a blast!"
A boy chased the others, waving a tiny flame. "Eat my Buddha's Fury Flame Lotus!"
A red-clad girl with cards stepped in his path—Kira recognized her as the one who idolized Cana. "Stop, you evil dark wizard! The light of the Hope clan will end your wickedness!"
Kira: "…"
"Isn't she an orphan? What's this 'Hope clan' business?"
"Oh, she took it from your last name, Hopelight. She's decided to go by Hope from now on."
Kira was speechless.
"They're picking it up so fast—what a bunch of talented kids!" Kira marveled. "They're way smarter than you, Cana. They might even surpass you someday!"
Cana laughed easily. "That'd be great! They're the future, after all. But…"
"Hm?"
"They've got a long way to go before they can surpass me!"
---