This time, the teacher arrived before his students.
If Bradford was the embodiment of raw brutality, this professor was his exact opposite.
Tall and lean, with sharp features softened by a pair of glasses. His hair was a mess, yet it somehow suited him, framing a face almost unnervingly symmetrical. The kind of appearance one instinctively trusted—a picture of what an Academy teacher was supposed to be.
Mr. Brown. The man responsible for teaching Mana Control.
Honestly, so far every teacher looked like a walking stereotype for their subject.
Annie—energetic, sharp, and lively. Bradford—a muscle-bound drill sergeant with anger issues.
And Brown? Quiet strength wrapped in professionalism.
He stood by the doorway, greeting each student as they entered. A nod here, a calm "Welcome." there. No unnecessary words, no wasted movements. By the time the last straggler slipped in, the atmosphere in the room had already shifted, as though his presence alone commanded discipline.
BONG. BONG. BONG.
Mr. Brown quietly closed the door and walked to his desk. Resting on it was a pocket watch—golden, elegant, and simple. Perfect for him.
"I humbly greet you, class. I'm Mr. Brown, your Mana Control instructor," he began.
"Oftentimes, this class will take place in the gym. For today, however, that won't be necessary."
His voice was low, barely more than a whisper, yet every student heard him clearly.
"Now, I'm aware that mana control is a broad subject. Allow me to break down the curriculum for you."
A holographic projection flickered to life above his desk, four times the size of a regular classroom screen. A neat diagram spread across it.
"We will have approximately one hundred and fifty classes together this year. For the first fifty, we'll focus strictly on spell summoning and casting."
He pointed to another part of the diagram.
"Then, we will concentrate on spell creation and improvement for the following fifty classes. Finally, we'll end the year with real-life scenarios."
Seems interesting, declared Vael.
Yeah. He's definitely better than Bradford, replied Kiera with a smirk.
Vael almost chuckled out loud.
"With that out of the way, let's do a little test—just for me to see where your level is."
A ripple of groans passed through the class.
"Haha, don't worry, it won't be graded. All right, listen carefully. Imagine you're in a fight. Both you and your opponent are restricted to mana only—no attributes."
Brown began writing on the board as he spoke.
"You're of equal strength and similar build. But your opponent goes for a low kick to your knee. His leg is coated with eighty percent of his mana, while the remaining twenty percent is spread evenly across the rest of his body as protection."
He drew two stick figures on the board, one mid-kick, the other about to take the blow.
"Now, let's say you wanted to end the fight in the very next move. How would you distribute your mana, and how would you attack, given that neither of you has a weapon?"
The students hunched over the board, rereading the problem.
"Remember, there is no one correct answer. As long as you explain your reasoning, it could work."
A ten-minute countdown appeared on the screen. Papers and pens materialized for everyone.
Vael thought for a long moment. Despite his experience, he'd rarely been in a situation like this, where he only had mana to rely on. Finally he found his answer and began to write. Ten minutes passed in silence.
"All right, pens down. I'll pick people at random to answer."
"Zoe Flamerobe — please read your answer."
Zoe, a tall girl in the front row, cleared her throat and began.
"If my goal was to end the fight, I'd sacrifice my knee for a decisive counterattack. I'd put twenty percent of my mana into my knee—just enough to prevent it from shattering—and the rest into my fist. I'd follow with a hook to the jugular to incapacitate my opponent."
Brown nodded. "Sacrifice — an interesting tactic, and not a bad one. Thiery, next."
Thiery, the class's 'wall,' spoke up. "I wouldn't split my mana at all. I'd dump everything into the leg being targeted. Tank the hit, then retaliate with a kick of my own."
"A perfect answer for someone of your build. Well done," Brown commended.
"Finally, Serpes."
All eyes swung to Vael. He didn't flinch.
"I'd split my mana fifty–fifty between both legs, concentrating it in the calves and ankles. I'd dodge the blow rather than take it—quick sidestep to the left while his leg is committed, then a flying knee to the chin to finish it."
Silence.