The start of the third week brought with it a new schedule—denser, sharper, clearly designed to push us beyond the comfort of repetition.
[Weekly Schedule Update]
Basic Magic Casting: 8:00–10:00
Combat Training: 10:00–12:00
Basics of Alchemy (Special Lecture): 12:00–15:00
Each day was a new test—of stamina, of growth, and of control.
Basic Magic Casting
Our instructor, Professor Helwin, began class by introducing offensive and defensive spells tailored to each student's elemental affinity. When he reached me, he paused.
"Light affinity… hm. You won't have a conventional shield spell," he said, handing me a slim page lined with silver ink. "Instead, you'll learn manifestation spells—light heals and light pierces."
I glanced over the script, reading the two incantations printed neatly below.
Light Spears
> "O light that judges, pierce the veil of deception. Rain upon the wicked with spears of truth—impale them in the name of what is right!"
Healing Light
> "Blessed light, bearer of life, restore what has been lost. Mend the flesh, seal the pain, and return the body to wholeness."
I exhaled slowly and focused. Mana gathered along my arm, glowing faintly beneath my skin.
The first spell erupted with a hum of radiance—a golden spear shimmered into being above my palm, rotating like a halo. The air wavered with heat, sweat tracing down my temple.
For the second spell, I pricked my finger with a knife edge. Soft white particles drifted from my palm, settling gently over the cut. Warmth spread through the skin, the wound knitting together in seconds.
The rest of class was pure repetition—refining control, incantation timing, and mana output until each syllable resonated cleanly.
By midmorning, I was standing in the training arena again—dagger in hand, facing a gleaming mana doll. Its body radiated faint blue light, mimicking the flow of mana through synthetic veins.
"Your weapon proficiency has been logged," the instructor said. "Today's opponent mirrors your weapon and art. Beat yourself to progress yourself."
The starting tone chimed.
The doll lunged first—fast, mechanical, efficient. Our blades met with a sharp ring. I parried low, but its next strike came instantly, forcing me back a step. Its precision was unnerving—no wasted movement, no fatigue, no emotion.
Analyze. Disrupt. Counter.
It slashed diagonally. I caught the blade in reverse grip and channeled mana through my wrist.
"Vein Piercer."
The tip of my dagger flashed and pierced through its elbow joint. Sparks burst as mana conduits inside snapped, making its motions glitchy and uneven.
Now.
I slid sideways, activating Drift Fang. My body moved with instinctive grace, flowing through its faltering guard. In one smooth motion, I drove my blade into the side of its head.
The crystal inside dimmed, and the doll fell.
[Combat Summary]
Opponent: Mana Doll (Dagger Variant)
Result: Victory
Time: 1 min 34 sec
Evaluation: ★★★★☆ — "Efficient execution. Improved reflex chaining."
I exhaled, lowering my blade. My body thrummed with mana, the familiar rush of victory settling deep in my chest.
I was getting faster—and sharper.
Special Lecture — Basics of Alchemy
After a quick lunch, the special alchemy lecture began. Rows of cauldrons and brewing stations filled the hall, the scent of herbs thick in the air.
Professor Inara introduced herself with a calm, patient voice. "Alchemy is not merely about mixing ingredients—it is the art of harmonizing mana with matter. If your heart wavers, your potion will too."
We learned the properties of various herbs:
Moon Drop — a silvery flower used in mana potions.
Solar Moss — bright yellow moss that accelerates regeneration.
Bloodroot (Mist Vine) — a vine whose parts each carry unique properties: roots enhance agility, leaves heal, fruit restores mana.
Morning Dew Vine (Rare Variant) — silver-stalked, fruit enhances total mana pool upon first ingestion.
I copied everything meticulously into my notebook. A few of these I'd seen mentioned in the archives; seeing them here felt like uncovering lost knowledge.
Later, I headed to the library for my assistant duties. The air there was quiet and cool—the perfect counterbalance to the day's chaos.
That's where I found Lina, already arranging the sorting table. Her eyes met mine, and she smiled, that small, quiet smile that always managed to slow time a little.
We shelved books side by side, the silence comfortable.
"You seem distracted," she said softly.
"Alchemy lecture," I admitted with a small sigh. "It's… surprisingly intricate. I didn't think mana herbs could be that useful."
Her lips curved into a faint smile. "You'd like it, I think. A friend of mine takes Alchemy—he says it's like casting magic through your cooking."
I chuckled. "So that's what I've been missing—seasoning my mana wrong."
She laughed softly, the sound light and unguarded. "Maybe you just haven't found the right recipe yet."
Something about the way she said it lingered.
I nodded. "Miles—my friend—works in the botanical garden. He mentioned something similar."
"Oh?" Her eyes brightened. "Then you'll appreciate this—we found Fallen Sun Lilies near the graveyard last week."
I froze mid-step. "The ones that can awaken latent affinities?"
She grinned, eyes glinting. "Exactly. We sold it for sixty thousand points. Fifteen each."
"You didn't use it?" I asked, genuinely curious.
She shrugged. "It only works once, and only for one of us. None of us wanted to gamble it away. Besides, we're still learning to master what we already have."
I studied her expression—calm, steady, determined. "Fire and…?"
"Ash," she said, her tone softening. "It's a derivative affinity, born from Fire after awakening my bloodline."
Ash. That explained the faint embers I'd sometimes notice flickering on the table after her combat sessions. I'd always assumed it was from the incense—its scent always seemed stronger on those days—but now it made sense.
"That's… rare," I said.
She gave a small laugh. "So are you."
We finished shelving in silence, the kind that felt right. When she finally left, I stood there longer than I meant to, watching the faint light fade down the corridor.
A strange warmth settled in my chest—something I couldn't quite name, a quiet spark flickering somewhere deep inside. It wasn't the heat of battle or the rush of mana, but something gentler… lighter.
I slid the last book back into place on the shelf, fingers brushing against its spine before I stepped back and exhaled softly.
Maybe my light affinity wasn't just for combat.
Maybe it was changing me too—making me a little brighter on the inside.