«Miss Jasmine Ankarah, present the Standard Spell Model to the class,» Siegfried Eisenfaust says.
He's the headmaster of Astralea and, before that, one of the four generals of Kristalia's army. When he isn't busy with his military duties, he roams the classrooms, throwing surprise questions at his students. He is known everywhere for ruling his troops with an iron fist, and he keeps that same rigid approach with us. Yet it's precisely because of his strictness and unyielding nature that Astralea has become, over the last decades, the jewel of magical education in the kingdom.
«Spells are divided into two main categories: Inherent and Universal. The first includes those tied to personal disposition, such as Elemental or Alchemical Invocations. For example, a mage attuned to Fire Invocations can use only that kind of spell. The second, Universal spells, are those that anyone with magical energy can use, like healing or enhancement spells. Moreover, both categories are further divided into Basic, Intermediate, and Advanced, depending on the amount of energy needed to cast them,» Jasmine answers promptly.
«An excellent answer, Miss Jasmine Ankarah. Concise and thorough,» Siegfried praises her.
Her answer is correct, but not complete. In truth, there is a third category: Shadow Magic, as ancient as it is powerful and dangerous. These spells can annihilate any traditional magic, but at the same time they corrupt the user's soul, driving them to ever greater abuse until they fall into madness. For that reason, centuries ago, even speaking of it was forbidden, sparking an inquisition against practitioners and the destruction of every book that mentioned it—especially the Rithzargul, the dark tome at the root of Shadow Magic.
Today, practicing Shadow Magic isn't illegal, but only for one simple reason: banning something implicitly admits its existence. The only way to erase something from collective memory is to stop acknowledging it altogether, for centuries or even millennia, until even the faintest rumor fades away over generations.
It's no surprise then that so few people today know of these spells.
And yet… I wonder how Professor Morgana Lustsilk—the one who told me everything I know about them—could be so well informed.
«Our Jasmine really knows it all!» Selene whispers.
«Yeah, but we're not far behind,» Arielle adds. «Looks like having sex with Jade makes you smarter!»
«Miss Selene Amarasse and Miss Arielle Azuralis, since you're so eager to run your mouths, this afternoon you'll remain in class for an oral test on the entire program of Magical Theory,» Siegfried scolds them.
It's incredible how, despite his age, Headmaster Eisenfaust still has sharp hearing and flawless memory, to the point of knowing the full name of every single student at Astralea.
«We only run our mouths for Jade,» Arielle snickers.
«Arielle, cut it out or it'll be worse for us!» Selene mutters.
«I do not tolerate chatterboxes who disturb lessons!» the headmaster snaps. «You two will spend the rest of the week in this classroom. And since you seem so eager to show off your eloquence, you'll also be tested on the full program of every other subject!»
«But Headmaster Eisenfaust, it was Arielle! I didn't do anything…» Selene whines.
«Open your mouths one more time and I'll have you set up camp in this classroom!!!» Siegfried explodes, angrier than ever. He may be old, but when he loses his temper, he's truly terrifying.
Arielle and Selene lower their heads, intimidated.
«We're sorry…» both girls murmur in unison.