Chapter 18: Eightfold Resonance
The female professor stood before the class, her posture composed and confident.
She adjusted her monocle slightly before speaking.
"Good day, everyone."
Her voice was calm, yet carried authority.
"I am Alcanis Aldwyn, your sub-professor for magic lessons."
She paused briefly, then smiled.
"You may all call me Professor Al."
Murmurs spread lightly across the classroom.
Professor Al reached into her spatial pouch and pulled out a transparent glass sphere. The orb was perfectly smooth, faint runic lines etched deep within its surface. She gently placed it on top of her desk, where it rested silently.
"This," she said, tapping the sphere lightly, "will be the focus of your first magic lesson."
She looked at the class.
"Today, we will be learning about elemental affinity."
Her gaze swept across the room.
"But first," she added, "who can tell me—what are the eight elements?"
A female student raised her hand.
Professor Al nodded toward her.
"Yes, dear?"
The student stood straight.
"The eight magic elements are fire, water, wind, earth, ice, lightning, dark, and light."
Professor Al smiled in approval.
"Well done. You may take your seat."
As the student sat down, Professor Al turned back to the class.
"This glass sphere is a magical measuring tool," she explained.
"It is used to determine both the elemental affinity you possess and the percentage of compatibility you have with that element."
She gestured to the orb.
"I want all of you to form a single line."
The students quickly complied, standing and arranging themselves neatly.
Once everyone was lined up, Professor Al continued.
"All you need to do is place your hand on the sphere and insert a small amount of mana."
She raised one finger for emphasis.
"Do not overdo it. The sphere will respond naturally."
She then began explaining the color system in detail.
"Each element corresponds to a specific color."
She pointed at the orb one by one as she spoke.
"Red represents fire.
Blue represents water.
Green represents wind.
Brown represents earth.
White represents ice.
Gray represents lightning.
Purple represents dark.
And yellow represents light."
She adjusted her monocle.
"The intensity of the glow will determine how high your affinity is. The brighter it shines, the higher the percentage."
As the explanation ended, Fate fell into thought.
(I wonder what my elemental affinity will be…)
His eyes lowered slightly.
(Since I'm a crystal dragon, maybe it'll be earth? After all, crystals are made from minerals and earth-based energy.)
One by one, students stepped forward.
Colors flared.
Percentages were called out.
The lesson continued smoothly.
Eventually—
"Next."
Fate stepped forward.
Professor Al looked at him.
"Place your hand on the glass sphere and insert a small amount of mana."
Fate nodded.
"Yes, Professor."
He placed his hand against the cool surface and slowly closed his eyes.
Darkness.
A pitch-black void stretched endlessly before him.
Within his sea of consciousness, nothing existed.
Then—
A small light appeared in his right hand.
It glowed.
Brighter.
Brighter still.
The light expanded, flooding the darkness, washing away the void completely.
Soon, the light transformed.
Snow-white.
Pure.
The darkness vanished entirely.
Floating before him were white crystals, countless in number, glowing brilliantly within his consciousness.
In the classroom—
A blinding white light erupted from the glass sphere.
"—!"
Students gasped, shielding their eyes.
Professor Al raised her arm instinctively to block the glare.
"Such brilliance—!"
The entire room was engulfed in a snow-white glow.
"The sphere… it's shining pure white!"
Her voice trembled with disbelief.
"The affinity percentage for ice is—"
She stared at the reading.
"…Ninety-nine percent!"
Slowly, Fate removed his hand.
The light faded.
Silence filled the classroom.
Professor Al inhaled sharply before smiling.
"Congratulations, Fate Kindspring."
Her tone was filled with genuine admiration.
"Your talent in ice affinity is one-in-a-million."
She looked at him intently.
"Have you ever considered becoming a mage?"
Fate hesitated.
"…I'll consider it, Professor."
He spoke honestly.
"But my goal isn't only magic. I want to be strong in weapon combat, master powerful magic skills, and pursue many other paths as well."
Professor Al smiled warmly.
"I see. A very vast dream."
She nodded.
"Make sure you achieve it."
Fate returned the smile.
The lesson continued.
Kyle achieved fifty-five percent lightning affinity.
Chloe achieved eighty-two percent light affinity.
Isabelle achieved sixty-two percent fire affinity.
Kara achieved seventy percent wind affinity.
Princess Caelira achieved sixty-five percent water affinity.
Then—
"Next. Lisa Astryx."
Lisa stepped forward calmly.
She placed her hand on the sphere.
A faint brown glow appeared.
Professor Al opened her mouth.
"It's alright, Lisa Astryx. Even twenty percent is still considered an affinity to ear—"
She stopped.
"…What?"
Another color appeared.
Then another.
And another.
Each glow was faint.
Each exactly twenty percent.
Professor Al's eyes widened.
(One… two… three… four… five…)
She swallowed.
(Eight?!)
The sphere now displayed all eight colors.
The classroom froze.
Even Fate and Kara stared in disbelief.
Professor Al finally spoke.
"…Wonderful."
She exhaled slowly.
"This is just wonderful."
She looked at Lisa with awe.
"You are the most gifted child I have ever seen."
Afterward, the remaining students completed their tests.
Professor Al noted everything carefully.
On her paper, the students who stood out the most were Fate, Chloe, and—above all—Lisa.
When the lesson ended, Professor Al waved gently.
"See you all tomorrow. Please wait for your last sub-professor."
After Professor Al left the classroom, the atmosphere loosened.
Students began chatting loudly, comparing affinities, laughing, boasting, and complaining. Most conversations inevitably circled back to one name.
Lisa Astryx.
Whispers spread across the room like ripples on water.
"Eight elements…" "That's impossible." "She has to be a monster." "Or a prodigy…"
Lisa, however, paid none of it any attention.
She sat quietly at her desk near the back, glasses resting low on her nose, eyes calmly scanning the pages of her book. Her posture was relaxed, unbothered, as if the world around her simply didn't exist.
That was when three male students approached her desk.
Fate noticed immediately.
He didn't move.
He didn't speak.
He simply watched.
The one in front had neatly combed brown hair and a polite-looking smile — the kind that seemed practiced. The other two flanked him slightly behind, arms crossed, eyes sharp.
The brown-haired student cleared his throat.
"Good afternoon," he said pleasantly.
"My name is Thomas. We were wondering if you'd like to attend the acquaintance party later, after classes."
Lisa didn't respond.
She didn't look up.
She didn't blink.
She simply turned a page.
The smile on Thomas's face stiffened.
"…Miss Astryx?"
Still nothing.
Fate narrowed his eyes.
(She's ignoring them on purpose.)
Thomas chuckled awkwardly, scratching the back of his head.
"Haha… you might not have heard me. We were just—"
Silence.
The second boy — the one with black-and-red mixed hair — clicked his tongue.
"Tch."
His irritation was obvious now.
"Hey," he snapped.
"We're talking to you."
Lisa calmly adjusted her glasses and continued reading.
That was when Fate felt it.
The shift.
What started as politeness had begun to rot.
The red-and-black-haired boy stepped closer, placing his hand on Lisa's desk.
"You know," he said, voice rising,
"just because you're talented doesn't mean you get to act high and mighty."
Around them, nearby students began to notice.
Conversations quieted. Eyes turned.
Lisa still didn't react.
That silence pressed down on them — humiliating, dismissive.
Thomas's forced smile finally cracked.
"…That's rude," he muttered.
The red-and-black-haired student slammed his palm against the desk.
BANG!
"We were being nice," he growled.
"But you're just being a stuck-up bitch."
Fate's jaw tightened.
(There it is.)
The third student laughed softly.
"Don't play hard to get," he added.
"You should be grateful we even noticed you."
Lisa finally closed her book.
Slowly.
Calmly.
She lifted her eyes just enough to look at them through her glasses — not angry, not afraid.
Just empty.
That look irritated them even more.
The red-and-black-haired student leaned forward.
"You need to be taught some manners."
He reached out.
His fingers were inches from Lisa's arm—
—They stopped.
Not because he hesitated.
But because his wrist was suddenly seized.
Hard.
Cold fingers wrapped around his arm like iron shackles.
"What do you think you're doing?"
The voice was low.
Controlled.
Dangerously calm.
The student froze and turned his head.
Standing beside Lisa's desk was Fate Kindspring.
Silver hair.
Sky blue eyes.
Horns partially visible beneath the classroom lights.
His grip tightened slightly — just enough to hurt.
The boy winced.
"H-Hey—!"
Fate's gaze swept over all three of them, slow and deliberate.
"You approached her," Fate said evenly.
"She ignored you."
He leaned closer.
"That was your cue to leave."
His eyes hardened.
"But instead…"
Fate's voice dropped.
"You raised your voice."
"Insulted her."
"And tried to lay hands on her."
The classroom was dead silent.
Fate's grip tightened one last time before he released the wrist.
"So let me make this clear," he finished.
"Take your hands off her."
A chill ran through the room.
No one laughed.
No one spoke.
The three students backed away instinctively.
Lisa reopened her book.
As if nothing had happened.
Chapter 18 end