After the short but amusing introduction with Lady Loza, the atmosphere in the room shifted to one of seriousness. Shortly after, Duke Roman introduced us to the seemingly plain middle-aged woman. However, it turned out that she was no ordinary woman but an esteemed instructor from a prestigious academy—Vagratas Academy. Vagratas Academy, an institution hailed as one of the most exalted sanctuaries for any of the would-be-mages who possessed both the necessary background and talent to enter. While there were other academies scattered throughout the Dominion of Medalia, the gap between those second-rate institutions and Vagratas Academy was insurmountable. That was the kind of titan Vagratas Academy was. Those who qualified to graduate from this academy were guaranteed a prosperous future and life. It was rumored that the top graduates could even become honored guards, instructors, or military leaders for influential families. Some choose to focus on research by joining mage guilds
"What are you waiting for?" she asked, her voice hinting at her anticipation. "Um... where are the target dummies?" I asked in return, feeling confused and unsure where to start. She let out a short laugh. "My apologies, I forgot this is your first demonstration, Yon," she said, clearing her throat. "But this is not that type of demonstration." "Then..." I started, curious about what she had in mind, but she interrupted me before I could finish my question. "If it were a matter of target dummies, I wouldn't have come here personally. Why go for the egg when you can go for the chicken, am I right?" She held up a finger, signaling me to stop from any further inquiries. "Now, surprise me!" she declared. Taking her words as my cue, I sprinted towards her, running straight like an arrow, and quickly conjured a dazzling orb of light in my palm. Without hesitation, I tossed the orb into the air. It soared through the courtyard, casting its brilliance and distracting the instructor. S
As the darkness spell erupted out of my control, it spread rapidly across the courtyard. Instructor Cherin reacted instantly, dropping into a low stance and slamming her hands onto the ground. "Earthen Shield, rise!" she commanded. Stone and sediment exploded upwards all around her in concentric circles, forming a dense stone dome just as the darkness magic arrived. I began to pant heavily, struggling to contain the spell but failing. However, I remained unharmed because the spell bore my own mana signature. **** Inside the dome, Cherin grit her teeth against the oppressive force pushing against her shields. The young boy's power was apparent, but untamed. She drew more deeply on her own reservoir of mana. Cracks began to appear in the stone, the darkness seeping through like ink. Yon stared in horror, realizing too late the magnitude of his mistake. But Cherin held on strong. "By the earth that yields and the stone that stands, I command - halt-malinah!" Her voice echoed with
Why does it feel like this is not the first time he has ignored me? Doesn't the boy realize that instructors from the Central Dominion are treated as elites? In any other circumstance, I would have had him and his family executed. In all the other dominions I've traveled to, I have been treated with the utmost respect, cared for and revered. I had forgotten what it feels like to be ignored like this. It reminds me of the day I met Lord Roman, the man who changed my perspective on the world. Who would have thought that these feelings and memories would resurface in this way? Calm down, Cherin. You've let yourself be carried away ever since you met that boy. You spent only a short time with him, and yet you allowed your emotions to override your self-control. Take a deep breath and accept it. You have just been ignored by a country boy. Listening to my own advice, I took a deep breath, raised both my hands, and slapped my cheeks to snap myself out of it. The heat rose in my face, and I
Without looking back, I headed to my room, one hand using the wall as support while the other pressed down on my solar plexus. Is something wrong with my mana core? Cold sweat beaded down my face as the gripping pain became more intense. By the time I reached my room, I curled into a ball on the floor, unable to reach my bed. My fear and worry grew alongside the pain, until a thought crossed my mind. Sending a pulse of mana into my core, I shifted my focus away from the pain and directed it inward. Almost instinctively, I began drawing in mana from the surrounding atmosphere, much like an infant reaching for its mother's milk. Throb-throb-! As if guided by some mystical force, my breath fell into perfect synchronization with the mesmerizing pulse of the sphere within me. Throb-throb-! Driven by an innate impulse, the rhythm of my breath effortlessly harmonized with the undulations of my radiant sphere... my mana core. I was now face to face with a radiant yellow sun. My mana c
I woke up on the floor, much like how I had ended up there. Blinking awake, I felt well-rested yet energized, and strangely hungry. It took a moment of idle wondering of how I came to be in this position when I suddenly remembered. As if struck by a bolt of lightning, I shot up to my feet. I took in my surroundings for the first time since waking up, relieved that I was still in my room and that my room was relatively intact. Glancing at the window, I noticed that it was still noon, which meant I was unconscious only for a few hours. Pulling my senses inward, I focused my attention on my mana core. My mana core Where before it glowed a bright yellow, now a Deep green took its place. Gone was the small green pearl from before my slumber - in its place lay an orb just as grandly enormous as in past days, yet now a vibrant, mossy shade. Reaching within, I explored the contours of this transformed essence. Its texture had softened, like rich soil, and swirled with an inner vibration I'd
As I reached for the doorknob, my hand slipped, causing me to almost miss it. Adjusting my plan, I redirected myself towards the bathroom. Standing in front of the mirror, I began to undress, and in the process, I noticed slight changes in the fit of my clothing. The shirt felt slightly tighter, the waistcoat sat a bit higher, the breeches appeared shorter, and the jacket's sleeves were a touch higher. I wondered if my clothes had shrunk due to the amount I had sweated. Shaking my head, I immediately dismissed the idea as ridiculous and chastised myself for entertaining such a thought. Leaving that notion behind, I fully undressed and began to examine my body. With careful glances here and there, I noticed a few differences. My previously lean and slender physique, which had some subtle muscle definition, now appeared more refined and defined than when I last checked in, which was earlier in the morning. I blinked rapidly, a bit confused by the sudden change. It seemed almost unbeli
I woke up to a strange heat suffusing my body, an intense warmth that felt as if something was ablaze within me. Annoyance creased my face, and my mood quickly soured. Seeking comfort, I shifted from one side of the bed to the other. when I sat up, wetness greeted my fingers. "No! Not again!" I cried, embarrassed at wetting the bed for the first time since infanthood. The heat intensified, a burning that seared from within. Gasping, I scrambled out of bed, clothes sticking uncomfortably. Standing on tiptoes, I reached for the window, but my current height allowed only glimpses of the estate's surroundings, providing little to no help in my current predicament. Spotting a small step stool nearby, I brought it over and climbed up, my small figure silhouetted against the first signs of light of dawn. As the first signs of morning broke through, the sky transitioned from the velvety darkness of night to a soft palette of colors, filtering through the windowpane. With a deliberate motio