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Only after completing both circles and thoroughly checking for imperfections did Lith begin inscribing the runes.
One by one.
Each rune was drawn with complete concentration.
The classroom watched in silence as the complex diagram slowly came to life.
Even Ash was impressed.
The spell circle matched the book perfectly.
When Lith finally finished the last rune, Professor Wanemyre immediately began clapping.
A second later, the rest of the class reluctantly joined in.
"Bravo!" she said.
"You weren't bluffing. You really did study."
She smiled and shook her head.
"My apologies for doubting you. Thirty points for your performance and another ten as an apology."
Several students stared at Lith in disbelief.
Forty points from the very first lesson was no small achievement.
Wanemyre then added with a chuckle,
"I suppose I should have expected as much from Manohar's and Marth's new friend."
The atmosphere in the room changed instantly.
Many students who had previously considered targeting Lith for revenge or finding ways to humiliate him without violating the Ballot immediately abandoned those thoughts.
Making an enemy of Lith was one thing.
Making an enemy of his connections was another.
Just hiring someone like Manohar was already nearly impossible. If angered, there was no telling how the eccentric Archmage would react.
And Marth's reputation spoke for itself.
As the Royal Healer, he possessed tremendous influence and political power. The only reason people forgot about it was because he rarely bothered to use it.
In the eyes of many students, Lith's danger level had just increased dramatically.
"If I asked you to, would you be able to continue the explanation?"
"Yes," Lith answered.
"But I didn't have enough time to go much further. Besides, I don't believe I have fully grasped the contents yet. My explanation would lack depth and true understanding."
The first part was a lie, meant to avoid standing out too much.
Reading twenty pages wasn't difficult, but mastering an entire subject was another matter entirely.
The second part, however, was the truth.
If reading books alone were enough, anyone could obtain countless specializations simply by spending enough time in the academy library.
Wanemyre nodded approvingly.
"Humble and honest as well. Qualities worthy of a Forgemaster."
She smiled.
"Another twenty points for you, Lith."
Several students groaned quietly.
Lith had already accumulated more points in a single lesson than many of them earned in an entire week.
"Now then, everyone gather around. Since your classmate has gifted us with a perfect spell circle, it would be a waste not to use it."
She lightly tapped the completed diagram.
"I'll give you a practical demonstration of Forgemastering."
Before she could continue, her eyes shifted toward Ash.
"You raised your hand earlier as well."
Ash looked up.
"Yes, Professor."
"If I asked you to continue where Lith stopped, could you elaborate on the process?"
Ash nodded.
"I can try."
"Good. Come here."
Ash stood up from his seat and walked toward the front of the classroom while Lith returned to his place among the students.
The class immediately became attentive again.
Unlike Lith, whose answer had been concise and technical, many were curious to see what Ash would add.
Standing beside the spell circle, Ash looked at the diagram for a moment before speaking.
"A spell circle is only the foundation."
Several students blinked.
"The blueprint tells the mana what shape to take, but the circle itself doesn't create anything. Mana still needs instructions, structure, and stability."
Wanemyre crossed her arms and nodded for him to continue.
"When most people think about crafting, they imagine assembling physical components together. Forgemastering is similar, except you're assembling mana."
Ash pointed toward several runes.
"Each rune serves a purpose. Some control mana flow. Others regulate stability, efficiency, or energy distribution. If one section is poorly designed, the final product becomes weaker or less efficient."
The students listened carefully.
"Creating a magical item isn't just about forcing mana into an object. The mana needs to be organized into a stable pattern that can continue functioning after the spell ends."
A few students quickly began taking notes.
"That's why understanding the blueprint is more important than memorizing it. Two people can draw the same spell circle, but the one who understands why each component exists will always produce better results."
For the first time, several students realized that Forgemastering wasn't simply another branch of magic.
It was engineering.
Magical engineering.
When Ash finished, the room remained silent for a few moments.
Wanemyre smiled.
"Excellent."
She looked around the classroom.
"Notice the difference between Ash's explanation and simple memorization. He isn't just repeating information. He's explaining the principles behind it."
Then she looked back at Ash.
"You've done more reading than you're admitting."
Ash merely shrugged.
"I was curious."
That answer earned a few laughs.
"Another twenty points," Wanemyre said.
Now it was the students' turn to groan.
Between the two of them, Ash and Lith had already turned the first Forgemastering lesson into their personal showcase.
"Now," Wanemyre continued, placing her hand above the spell circle, "let's move on to the practical demonstration and show you why Forgemastering is considered one of the most difficult and rewarding paths a mage can follow."
Professor Wanemyre opened a desk drawer that was filled to the brim with cheap-looking pendants.
"We buy them in bulk, just like the rings," she said as she picked one at random.
"The only way to differentiate the various types of rings is by the stones embedded within them. Red is for dimensional items, blue for Tier 1 magic-storing rings, yellow for Tier 2, and green for Tier 3."
She held up one of the rings for the class to see.
"Tier 4 magic-storing rings and above are not available in the Prize Hall."
Then she placed the pendant at the center of the innermost magic circle.
"As it is now, this is just an ordinary silver pendant."
After that, she activated her communication amulet and called for assistance.
While waiting, she continued the lesson.
"Fun fact: dimensional amulets are usually preferred over dimensional rings. Most mages like to reserve as many fingers as possible for magic-storing rings."
Several students nodded.
"We still haven't discovered a practical way to use something other than rings for instant spell casting. Until that changes, rings remain the standard."
A few moments later, the classroom door opened.
A man and a woman dressed in academy staff uniforms entered the room and walked directly toward the spell circle.
Without wasting any time, they took their positions around the diagram.