Chapter 3 The First Day of Classes

[Unknown POV]

The faculty room was nearly deserted in the late afternoon.

Professor Hildegard swept inside, robes whispering across the floor, and set a neat stack of parchments onto the nearest desk. A lone student sat there, lounging as if they owned the place.

“You.” Hildegard’s tone was curt. “Inscribe these for tomorrow’s Special Class. Activation formulas, from basic to advanced. Make sure they’re accurate.”

The student gave a lazy salute. “Yes, professor.”

Once she left, silence filled the room. Then a sly smirk curved the student’s lips.

“Accurate? Oh, they’ll be… memorable.”

The quill scratched, elegant runes unfurling across the parchment. But each was off by a fraction—subtle shifts to twist mana flow, not enough to kill, but enough to sabotage.

The student chuckled.

“Let’s see how the ‘elite’ perform when their brilliance blows up in their faces.”

[LizCiel’s POV]

The Special Class training hall gleamed with polished marble and glowing crystals. Everyone looked ready to dazzle on this first day. Everyone except me, of course.

“Today we begin with activation formulas,” Professor Hildegard announced. “Each of you will attempt rune inscription and mana channeling. LizCiel…” Her gaze flicked to me. “…You will observe.”

I raised my hand with theatrical flair. “Observer LizCiel, reporting for duty. I promise to observe with utmost judgmental enthusiasm.”

A few chuckles broke out. A few glares too.

Francine Darkstar stepped up first. Her quill strokes were crisp, textbook perfect. But when she pushed mana into the rune—

BZZZAP!

The circle sparked violently. Francine stumbled back as her masterpiece fizzled to smoke.

Snickers erupted.

I tapped my chin. “Hmm. Too much mana at the start. You poured like a waterfall when the circle only needed a gentle stream. Result: short-circuit.”

Francine snapped at me, face red. “What would you know, peasant?!”

“Observation,” I said innocently. “Professional skill.”

Next was Ophelia. She inscribed carefully, lips tight with focus. The rune glowed—then spat a puff of purple smoke right into her face.

Ophelia coughed violently.

“Mana spiral collapsed midway,” I observed. “Your control was smooth, but uneven pressure tipped it off balance. Like stirring soup… and forgetting the spoon halfway.”

Ashley Summerdale cackled from the back. “Soup! Gods, LizCiel, you’re killing me!”

Ophelia flushed crimson.

Then came Nixy Frost. Her runes were flawless, her mana steady as ice. The circle flared bright—before collapsing in a harmless burst.

“Too rigid,” I sighed. “Mana has to breathe, Lady Frost. You strangled it.”

The class buzzed.

“She… actually sounds right.”

“But she’s magicless…”

Professor Hildegard’s sharp gaze lingered on me, unreadable.

Then Ashley stood, cracking her knuckles. “Oi, LizCiel! Since you’re so smart, teach me! I’ll be your guinea pig!”

The room froze. A noble volunteering to be taught by me?

I smirked. “Very well, Assistant Ashley. Step one: relax. You’re not wrestling a bear; you’re coaxing a circle to life.”

Ashley rolled her shoulders. “Relax. Got it.”

“Step two: steady flow. Don’t dump mana like Francine. Don’t choke it like Nixy. Pour like tea—smooth, constant.”

Ashley channeled carefully. The rune glowed, steady, no sparks.

Gasps echoed through the hall.

“Step three,” I said softly, “don’t force control. Guide it. Let the rune breathe with you.”

Ashley exhaled. The circle pulsed—then stabilized, glowing bright and flawless.

“…I did it?” she whispered.

“You did it.” I grinned. “And might I add—beautifully executed, Assistant Ashley.”

The class erupted in disbelief.

Francine slammed her fist on the desk. “Absurd! She only succeeded because—because—!”

“Because she listened,” I said sweetly.

Ashley threw an arm around me, laughing. “Ha! Take that, stiff-necks! Guess I’ve got the best tutor in the Academy already!”

The nobles bristled. Hildegard raised a hand for silence, though her eyes narrowed on me like she was peeling away my skin.

“…Tomorrow,” she said, voice cutting through the noise, “you will face a formal assessment. You will prove your worth in this class. Dismissed.”

Students bowed stiffly. Francine, Ophelia, and Nixy shot me venomous looks as they stormed out.

Ashley, meanwhile, nearly dragged me along by the arm, laughing so hard she had tears in her eyes.

“LizCiel, you’re insane. A magicless peasant teaching nobles how to channel mana? You’re gonna drive them mad.”

“Correction.” I smirked, puffing my chest. “I already have.”

And tomorrow? Tomorrow was going to be even better.

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