The first day at Libra had begun.
They’re taking this more seriously than I expected.
As Nerha pulled on the white uniform issued to him, he quietly reflected.
At first, I imagined something closer to a merciless secret organization.
Hand trainees a wand and throw them into a survival match.
Lock them inside a cave and force them to practice mana cultivation techniques...
But contrary to Nerha’s expectations, Libra—despite its fearsome reputation—did not immediately begin tormenting its students from day one.
This place existed to raise mages.
Naturally, that meant the beginning started with fundamental theory classes.
Still, unlike ordinary academies or magic towers, Libra wasted no time. The very next day after admission, the institution launched directly into full-scale education for the new trainees.
There were no cheerful orientation gatherings.
No introductions.
No friendly events meant to help students get acquainted with one another.
“By the time you reach Level 4, the number of spells you are expected to learn here at Libra totals no less than six hundred and thirty.”
Inside Libra’s enormous lecture hall—larger and more sophisticated than many magic towers themselves—a man stood before the freshmen.
Professor Bahares, invited from the Tower of the Sky to oversee foundational magical education, began lecturing immediately, perfectly embodying Libra’s ruthless atmosphere.
“However, statistically speaking, mages above regular rank rarely use more than twenty preferred spells in practice. Most spells they learn are not cast even once a month.”
It was the kind of information many students probably already knew before entering.
“The reason is simple. Once a mage reaches Level 5, they awaken a Trait and establish their own ‘System.’”
Swoooosh!
As Professor Bahares extended both hands, a gigantic magic circle appeared in the air before the students.
Thousands upon thousands of runic strokes interlocked in a breathtaking display.
It was the symbolic magic circle representing Bahares’s own System.
“Upon reaching Level 5, a mage acquires a form of originality—a personal system unique to themselves. That is when one truly chooses a path. Libra’s method is simple: we expose you to countless spells and guide you toward developing your own unique system.”
A mage’s System was never random luck.
It was the culmination of one’s choices, efforts, and disposition.
“Once a personal System is awakened, spells belonging to that System gain at minimum one and a half times greater speed and output than before.”
That alone made Level 5 a major turning point for all mages.
Of course, there were still those who loved learning spells for their own sake and continued branching into numerous fields even after awakening a System.
But most such individuals eventually found themselves blocked by the wall of Level 6.
“If you continue learning spells, awakening your preferences and talents, and striving upward without rest… eventually, you too will obtain your own System. So never stop advancing.”
Nerha diligently recorded every word into the magical note-taking tool distributed by Libra.
Apparently, once someone reached Level 8, another evolution occurred beyond even that—but such matters remained impossibly distant for him.
“When combining multiple attributes, you must thoroughly understand the relationship between them, no matter how refined or safe your stabilizing mechanisms may be. For example…”
As Bahares spoke, he used mana to inscribe hundreds of intricate symbols across the massive board behind him.
“If you’re sitting in this hall, I can assume you’ve at least grasped the fundamentals of magic. Now then… who should answer?”
Even as he said it, Bahares’s gaze was fixed in only one direction.
“Nerha Radeus.”
“Yes.”
“You are effectively the representative of this incoming class, so I’ll ask you.”
Instantly, every eye in the lecture hall turned toward him.
There was no one here unfamiliar with Nerha’s name.
And not for flattering reasons.
Though born into the Radeus family, his hopeless talent had become impossible to conceal.
“Nerha Radeus. Can you infer what result this spell formation would produce if activated?”
“……”
“It may be a Level 4 formula, but as a descendant of Radeus, I expect you should be capable of answering.”
At that moment, Nerha realized this question would determine how his life at Libra unfolded from here onward.
This was both an opportunity and a test from Professor Bahares.
Hmm.
Stopping his writing, Nerha stared carefully at the magic circle.
During the past few months with Chloea, he had built a solid foundation in magical theory.
Of course, three months was nowhere near enough to truly reach mastery.
But it was enough not to embarrass himself in a place like this.
“I believe the spell would fail to stabilize and explode.”
“…!”
Professor Bahares’s eyes widened slightly.
“And why do you think that?”
“The circle combines mutually opposing attributes. Naturally, harmony cannot be achieved.”
The outer lines of the formation likely functioned as support spells—safety restraints meant to stabilize mana flow.
But in this case, those safeguards had become poison instead.
“Earth suppresses Water. Two incompatible attributes were forcibly fused together, so regardless of the original intention, the result could never have been favorable.”
It wasn’t even a perfect magical analysis.
Rather, it was a simple interpretation based on the Five Elements philosophy he had learned in the martial world of Zhongyuan.
“Correct.”
“……!!”
Thankfully, his interpretation had been right.
“This spell combines Earth Elemental and Create Water into a form of landscaping magic. However, just as Nerha Radeus stated, the mutually conflicting attributes instead corrupted it into destructive magic.”
Bahares grinned.
“Impressive. To identify the attributes embedded in that formation so quickly demonstrates remarkable perception.”
“Thank you.”
“Whether the rumors are false—or whether this was merely coincidence—I suppose I shall continue observing.”
Murmurs spread through the lecture hall.
Students who had investigated Nerha beforehand whispered among themselves after hearing him answer correctly and receive praise from the professor.
Ignoring them entirely, Nerha quietly returned to his seat.
“The reason I asked such a question on the very first day is because understanding attributes and their relationships is the foundation of all magic.”
Unbothered by the surrounding chatter, Nerha resumed focusing solely on his notes.
While the freshmen continued their lecture—
“How unexpected.”
In a secluded corner of the second floor overlooking the grand hall, several of Libra’s faculty members observed the class below.
“To identify the properties of that magic circle in such a short time… even upperclassmen would struggle with that. Perhaps that young master’s eye for detail is better than expected?”
They had gathered for one reason:
To inspect the first direct descendant of House Radeus admitted to Libra in nearly five years.
Professor Rachel Rubyai, who taught Destruction Studies and possessed sharp, cat-like eyes, rested her chin on one hand.
“So even rotten tiger blood is still tiger blood?”
“Who knows? Someone may have told him in advance.”
The bearded middle-aged professor Gustak Bolton muttered while glancing sideways at the silver-haired woman seated nearby.
Everyone present immediately understood the meaning behind his gaze.
“Ah, come to think of it, Professor Chloea supposedly knew that young master before he enrolled here?”
“……”
As everyone’s attention shifted toward her, Chloea—newly appointed as a freshman instructor at Libra—smiled calmly and shook her head.
“It was merely a brief acquaintance. He frequently visited the archive under my supervision, so we became familiar with each other.”
“Hmph. For a ‘brief acquaintance,’ the timing seems awfully convenient. Perhaps it’s just my imagination?”
“Is there a problem? Besides, as a newly appointed professor, I hardly possess the authority to grant special favors to incoming students.”
“Well, that may be true, but…”
Rachel trailed off while Gustak continued frowning suspiciously.
Meeting their gazes, Chloea drove the final nail into their doubts.
“And the idea that I informed him beforehand is flawed to begin with. If I had attempted communication with him here, surely none of you would have failed to notice.”
“Ahem!”
Still smiling like a blooming flower, Chloea faced them directly.
Flattered by her implicit praise of their abilities, the other professors could no longer openly voice suspicion.
Well done, little brat.
Chloea’s eyes drifted toward Nerha below, still focused intently on his notes.
After parting ways with him, Chloea had applied to Libra for one reason alone:
To support Nerha from nearby.
Since she had already chosen him as her lord, she intended to remain at his side and support him directly.
Of course, given her position, the likelihood of her transfer request being approved should have been slim.
Yet strangely enough, the upper ranks of House Radeus had accepted her relocation to Libra with surprising ease.
“Still, he remains suspicious. I know that boy’s talent better than anyone.”
At that moment, a low voice emerged from behind them.
“Vice Principal Neslek!”
The speaker was an old man whose white beard extended nearly to his navel.
Once an elder of the Radeus main house, he had since retired and now spent his old age serving as Libra’s vice principal.
His name was Neslek Radeus.
A true heavyweight figure.
“You say you know Fifth Young Master Nerha’s talent personally?”
“Exactly as I said.”
Stroking his beard, Neslek recalled the past.
“At Third Madam Roselia’s earnest request, I taught that child for roughly a year. His comprehension and memory were utterly hopeless. The only thing remotely worthwhile was his mana sensitivity—but even that wasn’t enough to survive the succession struggle.”
Neslek had once been one of Nerha’s instructors.
Few understood the extent of Nerha’s supposed lack of talent better than he did.
“So for that boy to pass Bahares’s test so effortlessly… suspicion is only natural.”
“Hahaha! Vice Principal, it seems you and I think alike.”
Gustak laughed cheerfully in agreement.
The other professors frowned at his behavior but said nothing.
Everyone except the newly arrived Chloea knew he belonged to the faction of another direct heir.
“Certainly, that is one possible interpretation.”
At that moment, Chloea’s bright voice echoed once more.
“But mages are beings who accept only what they themselves witness as truth. Different perspectives may exist.”
“Oh?”
An amused smile formed on Neslek’s lips.
“Are you saying my judgment was mistaken, Professor Chloea?”
Even under his gaze, Chloea nodded without hesitation.
“That is also possible.”
“…!”
The other professors’ eyes widened in shock.
Rachel, who had become somewhat friendly with Chloea as a fellow woman, jabbed her sharply in the side with an expression that practically screamed:
Are you insane?!
“H-how insolent…”
Gustak’s face twisted instantly.
No matter how celebrated Chloea was as a genius of frost magic and Libra’s former top graduate, she was still merely a newly appointed professor.
Her words bordered on openly challenging a superior.
“Khahahahaha!”
Yet for some reason, Neslek burst into booming laughter instead.
The sound was so loud it briefly interrupted the lecture below on the first floor.
“I see. So you claim to have witnessed a side of Nerha that I failed to see.”
“……”
“Well, perhaps ten years is enough time for a child to change.”
Neslek looked toward Chloea with an unreadable expression.
“But if that child truly has changed… then he would do well to reveal it quickly.”
“What do you mean by that?”
“It means the boy does not have much time left.”
“…?!”
“So I sincerely hope my judgment proves wrong. Even I would find it unpleasant to watch Roselia’s child be discarded so pointlessly.”
Despite his words, Neslek’s expression remained perfectly calm.
Facing her superior directly, Chloea smiled back with unwavering confidence.
“Soon enough… you will see that it was.”
