Zane followed behind his teammates for once, hands tucked into his hoodie, expression somewhere between "mildly curious" and "I'd rather be in bed." Today, he wasn't ditching. No sprites. No lockdowns. Actual class.
They pushed open the heavy classroom doors, stepping inside just as the teacher was beginning. The man looked up, clearly annoyed.
"You're late."
Zane gave him his usual smirk. "Fashionably."
The man pinched the bridge of his nose. "...Sit down."
They found seats, Asher looking embarrassed, Luna trying not to laugh, Celeste openly amused, and Mira neutral as always. Zane leaned back in his chair, already wondering if he'd regret showing up.
The teacher straightened his long coat and turned to the class. "For those who don't know me, I am Professor Daelus, instructor of Mana Theory and Core Development. Since some of you clearly need the basics—" his eyes flicked to Zane, "—today we'll start with fundamentals."
He lifted a piece of chalk, writing two words across the board: Mana Core.
"Every living being is born with one. It is the organ that allows us to absorb mana from the environment, circulate it through our bodies, and use it to cast spells, strengthen ourselves, or refine our techniques."
A hand shot up from one of the front rows. "What about people born without one?"
Professor Daelus' expression darkened slightly. "Those rare cases are called Hollows. They cannot absorb mana and therefore cannot wield magic. They often… take other paths."
Zane slouched lower in his chair, pretending to be bored, but he was actually listening.
Daelus continued, tapping the chalk against the board. "Now—advancement. Your mana core fills slowly over time. Once it reaches capacity, it condenses. This condensation is what pushes you into the next rank. The speed of this process depends on two things: Talent and Bloodline. Talent is how efficiently your core draws in mana. Bloodline… well, some families are born with refined cores, naturally stronger, faster to grow. That's why nobles often advance earlier."
Celeste's lips curled in smug agreement.
Zane rolled his eyes. Figures.
"But!" Daelus added sharply, "Talent and Bloodline are not everything. Mana can also be circulated manually. By pulling it through your body, feeding it into your core, you refine it more quickly. That is where Techniques come in. Ancient methods, carefully structured patterns of mana circulation. The right technique can cut years off advancement. The wrong one… can cripple you."
The class went quiet at that.
Daelus set the chalk down. "Remember this: advancement is not about speed alone. It is about stability. A rushed core is a shattered one."
Zane tilted his head, silver eyes glinting. So basically… cheat codes if you've got a rich family, grind if you don't. Got it.
He glanced sideways at his teammates. Luna was diligently taking notes. Asher looked serious. Celeste looked smug. Mira looked like she already knew all this.
Zane smirked. "Well, this was almost worth not skipping."
Daelus glared. "Zane. Since you seem so entertained—why don't you explain to the class what advancement requires?"
Zane paused. Then, in his most casual tone, he said:
"Fill up your magic tank, squeeze it 'til it pops, don't blow yourself up."
A few students snickered. Daelus pinched his nose again. "...Sit down, Zane."
Zane just smirked wider. His first real class, and he was already making an impression.