A bright, chirpy voice cut through the air.
"Hello, everyone! You might not know me yet, but my name is Luna!"
All heads turned toward the woman standing confidently in front of the group.
She looked like she was in her late twenties — though with how flawless her skin was, it was hard to say for sure. Her glossy blue hair shimmered under the morning sun, flowing down her back in smooth waves that looked too perfect to be real. Her full lips gleamed with a pink gloss, and her playful smirk was the kind that could get someone in trouble fast.
And her clothes?
Technically, she wore the standard mage robe — but only technically. Her robe was snug in all the right places, cut just enough to show the curve of her hips and a generous window of cleavage. Gold-trimmed fabric hugged her body like a tailored dress, and magical gems were embedded into the sleeves, hem, and belt — each softly glowing with arcane energy.
She looked like she belonged on a runway more than a battlefield — until you noticed the sheer volume of magical pressure coming off her. Strong. Ridiculously strong.
"I'm the Grand Mage of the Empire, and a proud student of Archmage Selene — I'm sure you've met her, right? Beautiful, terrifying woman with ice in her eyes?"
She winked.
"And today, lucky you, I'll be your Co-Tutor!"
The students exchanged glances.
There was no mistaking it — this woman was way too enthusiastic. She talked fast, smiled even faster, and was practically bouncing on her heels.
Standing next to her, arms crossed and face like a brick wall, was a tall man in a knight captain's uniform. He looked like the exact opposite of Luna — stoic, scarred, and dead serious.
"My specialty is magic, obviously," Luna continued. "So I'll be handling all the lectures, lessons, spellcasting basics, mana theory, you name it. And grumpy-pants over here —"
"Samuel," the knight grunted.
"Yes, yes. Sir Samuel, the Empire's best warrior, and also the least fun person alive, will be teaching you physical combat and the stuff I can't be bothered with. Like how to swing a sword without slicing your own leg off. Boring, right?"
"Tch..."
They stood on an open training field — one that looked more like a battlefield than a school ground. It stretched as far as a football field, surrounded by spell-resistant pillars and magically reinforced dummies. The air was fresh, the sky open and clear. Birds chirped faintly in the distance, making the place feel oddly peaceful — if you ignored the pressure coming off Luna and Samuel.
"Sorry I couldn't introduce myself sooner!" Luna chirped, giving a playful twirl. Her robe fluttered just enough to turn a few heads. "Busy mage life, you know. Important rituals, scrolls to examine, magic stuff. Very official."
"Doesn't look that way to me," Samuel muttered under his breath. "Still as loud and troublesome as ever..."
"As mean as ever, I see!" she shot back, not missing a beat. "Don't mind him, everyone. He acts all scary, but deep, deep down, he's just a big ol' teddy bear."
The knight glared at her but didn't argue.
Luna flashed another bright grin, hands on her hips as she faced the students. Her jewelry glimmered in the sunlight — earrings pulsing with mana, her choker softly humming with a protective barrier, her rings enchanted with who-knew-what.
There was no question. She was the real deal.
Then a voice came from the front row.
"A question, ma'am?"
It was Daniel.
Calm. Polite. Smiling faintly, but with that unmistakable hero aura about him.
He hadn't spoken at all during the introductions — just listened silently. But now, all eyes shifted to him.
Luna's expression lit up like fireworks.
"Ooooh! The Hero speaks!" she sang. "Ask away, handsome. And please, don't call me ma'am. That makes me feel like a crusty old professor."
Daniel gave a light chuckle. "Alright then, Miss Luna—"
"Nope!" she snapped, hands on hips, brows furrowing in mock anger. "Not Miss either. Just Luna! One word. Easy to remember. Friendly. Fun. Say it with me—Luuu-na!"
Daniel blinked, looking slightly embarrassed. "...Luna, then."
"Much better!" She clapped her hands together like an excited child. "So what's your question, Hero-boy?"
Daniel scratched his cheek awkwardly, looking a bit sheepish after Luna called him Hero-boy in front of everyone. A few students chuckled under their breath.
Still, he cleared his throat and asked the question anyway.
"Since we already have our Skills… and instinctively know how to use our magic and combat abilities—" he paused slightly, locking eyes with Luna, "—is training really necessary?"
A few heads turned his way, surprised.
Daniel? Questioning training?
But those who knew him well caught the subtle smile on his face. He wasn't asking for himself — he was asking for the ones behind him. The students who'd been groaning about the schedule and already slacking off in their minds.
He was giving them a reason to take things seriously.
Luna tilted her head, then clapped once with a bright grin.
"Oho~! I like that question!"
She took a step forward, her tone shifting slightly into lecture mode — though she still managed to make it sound flirty and fun.
"It's true you guys are a bit... unusual. Most people here earn Skills the hard way — study, repetition, sweat, failure, more sweat... You know, the boring way."
A few students snorted. She grinned.
"You swing a sword every day for years? Eventually you earn a skill like [Swordsmanship I] or [Basic Combat Stance]. You spend decades studying magic? Maybe you'll get [Fireball] after you've burned your eyebrows off a dozen times."
She started pacing casually as she explained, gesturing with her fingers as she counted off.
"Classes are similar — tied to your role in life. A farmer who works for years might eventually unlock the [Farmer] class. But if that same guy fights monsters long enough and learns to survive in battle? He might eventually evolve into something like [Beast Hunter] or [Woodsman]."
"And status windows keep people honest," she added with a sly grin. "You can't fake it. If someone says they're a noble but doesn't have a Noble-class or skills related to governance, they're just a poser."
There were a few chuckles again, but Luna's tone sharpened slightly.
"But you guys... you skipped the grind. No years of effort. No formal training. You just got handed high-tier Classes and Skills straight out of the gate."
Her smile faded for a brief second, and her eyes turned serious.
"That is power. But right now, it's raw. Unrefined. You're like someone handed a supercar with no driving lessons. Sure, you can hit the pedal, but without control? You're gonna crash."
She held up a finger.
"With training, your power can grow exponentially. Skills can evolve, Classes can upgrade, and—" she twirled, striking a dramatic pose, "—you'll actually know what you're doing when you cast a spell or swing a weapon."
Samuel, standing silently beside her, finally spoke up. His voice was low and clipped.
"Without control, even an S-rank Class is just a liability."
His gaze swept across the students like a silent warning.
"You'll get someone killed. Maybe yourself. Maybe others."
The group quieted.
Luna, smiling again now, clapped her hands together.
"So! That's why we train. Not because you're weak — but because right now, you're strong and dumb. And that's dangerous."
There were a few awkward coughs and mutters of agreement.
Daniel gave a small nod, satisfied.
That was exactly the kind of answer he wanted the others to hear.