Morning sunlight spilled through the academy's tall crystal windows, turning the marble halls into rivers of gold. Whispers spread like wildfire through the corridors.
Student A: "Did you hear? The new magic instructor starts today!"
Student B: "I heard she's close with Principal Alice herself!"
Student C: "Close? She trained under the principal! That's like studying swordplay under the Sword Saint!"
Sho Ardenthal and Liyana stood among the crowd of second-years gathering at the Grand Amphitheater, where all new teachers introduced themselves. Even Princess Arisa and Saint Alisa attended, their curiosity visible.
---
The Entrance
A gentle breeze stirred the curtains as the heavy double doors opened.
A young woman with long silver hair and sky-blue eyes walked in, her calm aura instantly silencing hundreds. Her white-and-blue robes shimmered faintly with mana lines, each thread a spell in itself.
At her side stood Head Professor Chroma, trying very hard not to look nervous.
Principal Alice: "Allow me to introduce my apprentice, Asfi Larethia — an SS-Rank mage, and your new instructor for Advanced Elemental Theory."
The hall erupted.
Student D: "SS-Rank?!"
Student E: "At that age?!"
Student F: "No wonder the Head Professor's been smiling lately!"
Asfi smiled softly and bowed.
Asfi: "Good morning, everyone. I hope we can get along. I'm not fond of strict lessons… but I am fond of impressive magic."
She winked playfully. The crowd laughed, the tension dissolving.
---
Demonstration
Principal Alice gestured. "Why don't you show them what you've learned, Asfi?"
Asfi stepped onto the stage. The entire amphitheater darkened as a faint, radiant circle unfolded beneath her feet — a six-layered spell array inscribed with celestial runes.
Gasps echoed.
Even Liyana's eyes widened slightly.
Sho (thinking): "That's… tier 6 magic?"
Liyana: "No… higher. That's a composite of at least five tier 6 spells layered perfectly."
Asfi raised her hand.
A low hum filled the air, the sound of mana vibrating through reality itself.
> "[Celestial Convergence — Aurora Field]"
Light burst upward like the dawn itself, forming a dome that turned the entire hall into a swirling sea of colors. Within that radiance floated thousands of mana motes, each pulsing like tiny stars.
Students gasped as they felt their mana streams stabilize, their fatigue vanish.
Asfi (smiling): "This is a control field that amplifies magical precision and calms unstable mana. It's harmless… unless I reverse the polarity."
She snapped her fingers. The lights reversed, compressing into a single point — then imploded harmlessly into mist.
Silence.
Then thunderous applause.
Even Alice clapped with a knowing smile, and Chroma… well, his pride practically radiated off him.
Chroma (grinning): "Show-off."
Asfi (teasing): "You married a show-off, remember?"
The students froze mid-applause.
Student G: "M-married?! Wait, what?!"
Student H: "I knew it!"
Laughter rippled through the crowd again as Chroma coughed, his ears bright red.
---
After Class
When the lesson ended, Sho and Liyana lingered behind, along with Princess Arisa and Saint Alisa.
Sho: "She's… incredible."
Arisa: "So that's Principal Alice's apprentice. Her mana control is otherworldly."
Alisa: "And her presence… calm, yet boundless. Like the ocean."
Liyana (quietly): "She's hiding far more than she shows."
Asfi turned, noticing them.
Asfi (smiling): "You must be Sho Ardenthal and Liyana, right? I've heard of you from Professor Chroma."
Sho straightened slightly.
Sho: "An honor to meet you, Instructor Asfi."
Asfi: "The honor's mine. I expect great things from both of you."
Her eyes lingered on Sho for a moment — sharp, but kind.
Asfi (thinking): So this is the boy Principal Alice mentioned… interesting aura.
Principal Alice's voice carried from behind them:
Alice: "Now that you've met her, perhaps you'll understand why I chose her. She's special."
Liyana (grinning): "You can say that again."