The classes had started a long time ago, yet Darian's mind was fixed on the classes or anything; it was about what had happened in the morning between Seris and Elaine.
He couldn't stop thinking about Seris Korvinne.
Why didn't she act like in the novel? He wondered, What if she is a reincarnate, and possesses the knowledge of the novel like me? Since in the Crimson Heart Folly, Darian was originally introduced not in the academy, but much later, he was supposed to make his entrance after Elaine visited the castle after her awakening as the Saintess of the Order of Light. At that time, Darian, being himself, tried to do his usual shenanigans and got brutally beaten by Kayle in front of the Emperor. His role ended shortly after with a non-canonical execution, followed by a desperate, stupid, and failed attempt to kidnap Elaine.
Seris being a reincarnate should be possible, since she is a bit suspicious of me, and there is me, and Julian, who are somewhat reincarnates. Those would be the obvious choices for Doubts.
But thinking about it, if she were one, she would have somehow interfered with the events of the novel; also, it would have been better for her life if she had helped Elaine in the morning.
"One thing I am sure of is that Seris is a variable I can't ignore."
Darian's mind raced through the possibilities. The more he analyzed it, the more suspicious the situation became. If the Villainess were no longer following her path, the story might go unpredictably, and many incidents that may favour the protagonists will be altered.
"What are you thinking about so deeply, Third Prince?"
The sharp, dry voice of the professor snapped the silence of the room, cutting through Darian's internal monologue.
Darian averted his eyes to where the shout was heard. It was a tall man with a pinched face and spectacles who was standing at the front of the hall, staring directly at him. The rest of the students had turned in their seats, their expressions ranging from suppressed giggles to blatant mockery. Even Elaine looked back with a startled, nervous glance.
What was his name again? I forgot—ah, yes. Albert Truefold.
"What is it, professor? Did I interrupt your work?" Darian answered.
"Perhaps a little attention to what I am teaching, or are you planning to get expelled again for good?" his face was serious when he spoke these words.
I see so many acedemy staffs knows about it's my last chance before suspension, fine i will play along.
"Profesor what you are teaching isn't that complex; either I could solve it without listening to your class," Darian answered, looking directly at his face, "oh, your highness, are you perhaps challenging me?"
"Okay, then explain what about the elemental magic theory?"
"Elemental magic, huh. Well, it's simply that mages use mana by channeling it through magecraft to interpret and manifest different elements found in nature—fire, water, lightning, and many more."
"That's wonderful highness perhaps you could tell me more about elemental manifestation," the professor asked Darian.
"Elemental manifestation? I could have," Darian admitted. "But I'm not a mage." He let the matter drop, as if any further explanation would be too tiring for him.
"What if someone else volunteered?" Albert pressed.
Darian's smirk deepened. "If it's not someone other than the professor, I'd gladly explain."
He thought himself, well, who would be mentally insane to volunteer for me and come forward.
Call it bad luck or something, someone lifted the hand from the back; it was none other than the villainess Seris Korvinne.
Darian's confident face was instantly replaced by anger. What the hell is wrong with her! What are you planning, Seris?
Is she testing me? If she's a reincarnate, then she must be expecting me to answer the question that Albert asked Elaine at the start of the novel. If I answer it that way, she'll start suspecting me. Damn, what should I do?
Darian's mind flickered with a new idea. What if I explain it differently, or respond with something entirely unexpected? Maybe that would throw her off, or at least buy me some time to figure out her true intentions. It's like closing a bottle with a different cap, a troublesome option, but effective.
As she walked forward, her face was steady, perhaps under the serious facade; she was expecting something.
Albert cleared his throat, his posture straightening in the presence of a volunteer who was none other than Seris Korvinne.
"So, what now, your highness?" the professor asked, looking at Darian with "Lady Seris has volunteered. Will you continue your explanation, or would you like to apologize?"
Darian's face again lifted with his usual smirk. "Professor Truefold, shall I enlighten everyone with a theory of my own?"
"A theory of your own, very well, let's see what you have come up with," Albert answered with surprise awe.
Darian opened his mouth. "Well… instead of that, let me tell you about a theory I've been working on—elemental fusion."
"Elemental fusion?" Albert frowned as it was a concept recorded by no mage, nor written in any text he knew. No wonder he looked confused.
Darian continued, "As everyone knows, magecraft is cast by 2 methods: chanting and chantless. Both have their perk, chantless spells, which are stronger and more unpredictable, while chanting, which is faster and focuses on accuracy. Sometimes high-circle spells need both for the same spell, but for low level spell, it can be chantless or chanting. What if you could combine its perks?"
Confusion spread through the hall—Albert and Seris included. "Your highness, that's impossible!"
"Allow me to demonstrate, Lady Seris. Could you follow my demonstration?"
"Yes, your highness Darian," she replied, her face becoming more suspicious, but it wasn't about anything; it was the gibberish Darian was saying.
"Close your eyes and do a chantless gale spell, try to focus on gathering the air you breathe."
She lifts her wand and closes her eyes, concentrating on what Darian told her to do. A circle appears on the tip of her wand, indicating she has successfully done what Darian told.
"Good, now I want to chant a basic fire spell like Ignel or Blaze at the same time, release the gale together."
She focused her mind on Gale while she shouted, "INGNEL...."
"Now! Seris, release Gale !" She opened her eyes, releasing the spell she had crafted using chantless magecraft.
The small flame that ignited when it came in contact with the wind spell. It ignited like a third circle spell, but instead of its orange and yellow colour, it was azure blue. The intensity of the flames melted the glass and charred some windows.
The professor immediately shouted, "GUSH...."
A surge of water flows out from the tip of his wand, putting the fire out.
Everyone looked scared. Even Seris, who couldn't believe what she had just done, stared at Darian. Albert was staring too, shocked by what he had managed to create; his face was in pure disbelief. He opened his mouth and talked.
"Your... Your Highness, where did you learn that spell?"
"What professor? Why is it special?" Darian asked, genuinely confused.
To Min Jun, who had lived in the modern world, this was basic science. The more oxygen fed into a flame, the hotter it burned. When the flame turned blue, it meant it was burning more efficiently. It was the same principle as the kitchen stove he had used while cooking back in his world. But here, judging by their faces, it seemed like no one else knew that.
"H-how… how do you know that?" he stammered."The Fire Dragon Draganoier's breath… how do you know about it?"