After a week at Asteris Academy, Class 1 had begun to adapt to their new teacher. Despite his eccentric behavior, Yukiko's deep knowledge of magic was undeniable. And while he lacked the track record and formal prestige one might expect for such a position, no teacher dared challenge his appointment—not with the direct backing of Director Maria Rosenfold. Any attempt to remove him would require solid justification.
Still, his irreverent attitude toward the nobility ruffled more than a few feathers. Some students had already contacted their families, igniting a movement to have Yukiko removed from his post. Their argument was simple: while the theoretical studies at the start of the school year were tolerable, the real work—practical training—was about to begin. And for that, they argued, only a Gold Rank 3 mage or higher could properly train their children.
This, of course, left Maria with no shortage of headaches.
In the director's office, Maria Rosenfold was in the middle of a drawn-out conversation over the magic communicator.
"Of course, Mrs. Iris, I understand your concern, but I guarantee Professor Yukiko's abilities, both in theoretical and practical teaching."
The woman on the other end wasn't satisfied. "It's about my son, Muher—he needs proper guidance, not just someone the director trusts—"
"I understand," Maria interrupted with the patience of someone at the end of her rope. "But rest assured, we're providing the best education possible. Now, I have another appointment shortly, so I'll have to end this call. Good day, Mrs. Iris."
She clicked off the communicator with a sigh, the exhaustion clear on her face.
"Every day it's the same," she muttered, rubbing her temples. "And it's only getting worse."
In the middle of the room, the clink of teacups and the murmur of casual conversation floated through the air.
"It's true, Yuki!" Camila giggled. "Professor Clairus's face is terrifying, but the expression he made when Director Maria lost her temper? Priceless!"
Camila burst into laughter as she sipped her tea. Watching this, Maria's temple twitched. Slowly, the earthy taste of her magic began to seep into the air. Sensing the shift, Camila instantly fell silent, sitting upright like a scolded child.
"While I spend an hour dealing with nobles and their never-ending complaints," Maria growled, "you two are sitting here drinking tea like there's not a care in the world."
"I-I'm sorry, Director Maria!" Camila stammered, bowing deeply.
"And you're quite bold, Camila," Maria continued, her eyes narrowing. "Since when do you call him Yuki?"
"Hmm?" Camila blinked, realizing too late her slip-up.
The earthy pressure in the air grew heavier, and Maria's displeasure became almost palpable.
"Maria, you're going to ruin the tea again," Yukiko finally chimed in, sipping his tea without a care.
"And stop picking on Camila," he added with a sly grin. "She's here because I invited her. I enjoy her company, and I told her it's fine to call me Yuki."
"Yuki…" Camila murmured, her eyes shimmering with emotion. Being defended—even against a Saint mage—moved her to the verge of tears.
Maria's gaze hardened. "And who gave you permission to invite people for tea in my office?"
"Because," Yukiko answered smoothly, "this is where you keep the best tea leaves."
"He's right, Director Maria," Camila added helpfully, earning herself a glare.
"That doesn't justify barging into my office every day!" Maria snapped. "And stop agreeing with him, Camila!"
Maria's patience was wearing thin. The air thickened, tasting faintly of dirt and earth.
Unfazed, Yukiko continued sipping his tea. "Ah, don't mind her, Camila. Maria's birthday is next week. It's always a rough time of year for her, especially since this time it's her nine—"
Before Yukiko could finish, Maria hurled the communicator at him with all the strength of a Saint mage. Yukiko barely ducked in time, and the device smashed into the wall, leaving a deep crater in the stone.
"Whoa, that could've killed me..." Yukiko muttered, blinking at the cracked wall.
"Wouldn't that be great?" Maria deadpanned, her expression cold. "At least I wouldn't have to deal with the nobles' complaints or your daily tea invasions anymore."
"You've got a point," Yukiko mused with a chuckle. "And I wouldn't have to endure the misery of hitting ninety something years old either."
Maria's expression darkened, her fingers twitching dangerously.
"...Anyway," Yukiko said, standing and brushing off his coat, "I should get going. My class has already started." He turned to Camila. "Finish the tea. And good luck with the calls, Maria—though, since you destroyed your communicator, that might be tricky."
"I will manage," Maria muttered through gritted teeth.
"See you later." Yukiko waved casually and strolled toward the door.
Camila, glancing nervously between Maria and the crater in the wall, hurried to clean up the debris.
"Oh, Camila," Maria called, pinching the bridge of her nose, "get me a new communicator—one of those modern ones I don't have to hold to my ear."
"Understood, Director Maria," Camila said quickly, sweeping up the broken pieces.
"And prepare the equipment to broadcast an official announcement."
"Hmm? Are there any announcements scheduled for today?"
"Yes." Maria's voice was heavy with resignation. "The duel between Professor Yukiko and Professor Clairus has been set."
Camila paused, the realization sinking in. "Oh..."
In Class 1, students chatted about their week's activities. They had grown accustomed to their teacher's constant tardiness, so no one expected Yukiko to arrive on time. Some stood in groups while others lounged in their seats, chatting quietly among themselves.
"He's late again," Melina Moscon muttered, crossing her arms.
"Incredible," another girl, Louis Blondy, replied with a sigh. "How irresponsible can he be? My parents complain every day to the headmistress. How is he still in this position?"
"Same here. I talk to my mother every day," Melina grumbled. "But the director doesn't do anything, no matter how many complaints she gets."
Melina turned toward a girl sitting slightly ahead of them, not involved in their conversation. The girl was quietly reading, seemingly unbothered by the ongoing discussion.
"Miss Mia," Melina called. "Do you know why the director defends that man so much?"
Without looking up from her book, Mia Rosenfold replied, "I can't say, Miss Melina. I don't interact much with Director Maria. Even though she's part of the same family, she's not involved in our internal matters."
"I see… But my mother said the only one of the four great families not pushing for his removal is the Rosenfold family. The director must have reached out to the main house."
"I wouldn't know about that," Mia replied flatly, turning a page. "I haven't filed any complaints, though."
"You haven't?" Melina's brow furrowed. "How could you not complain? Haven't you heard him insult the nobility repeatedly? Do you actually consider him a good teacher?"
Mia glanced up briefly. "I don't care what he says about the nobility. As for whether he's a good teacher, he seems knowledgeable. I need more time to judge him properly. Besides, if Director Maria defends him, he's likely competent. And there are... other factors."
"Other factors?" Melina asked, narrowing her eyes.
"Yes," Mia said with a small smile. "He's very attractive. We're the only class with a young and handsome teacher. The other classes all got stuck with old ones."
"What?! How is that important?" Melina sputtered.
"Why wouldn't it be?" Mia asked, her tone completely casual. "I'm a teenage girl. It matters. Don't you think he's attractive?"
"What?! Well... I mean..." Melina stammered, her cheeks turning red. "He is handsome, but—he's insulted us! I can't just forgive that!"
Mia tilted her head, as if contemplating. "So... you think he's handsome."
Before Melina could respond, a cheerful voice cut through the room.
"Oh, thank you, Miss Moscon!"
Melina froze in horror and slowly turned around, only to see Yukiko standing in the middle of the classroom, smiling and waving at her.
"AHHH!" she shrieked, her face flushing scarlet as she bolted to her chair, covering her face with her hands. The rest of the students quickly scrambled to their seats.
"Good morning, everyone!" Yukiko greeted cheerfully. "I hear that quite a few of you have been talking to your parents about me. I must've made quite the impression if so many families are so concerned about little old me."
Several students glared at him, annoyed by his playful jab. Many of them were nobles from influential families used to getting their way. But, despite their parents' efforts, none of them had been able to oust this strange teacher. That, more than anything, irked them.
Yukiko's smile remained as he continued, "As you know, this week marks the beginning of your practical classes. While you'll have other teachers for those, I'm supposed to be the one leading you through your first exercises. However,"—he gave a nonchalant shrug—"as I've already said, I won't waste my time teaching students whose only goal is to die in a war seven years from now."
A familiar tension filled the room as Yukiko once again challenged their expectations. The students shifted in their seats, exchanging uneasy glances.
"This is absurd!" Muher Iris stood abruptly, glaring at Yukiko. Over the past week, the class had grown accustomed to the heated exchanges between Muher and their teacher. It was no secret that Muher was deeply frustrated—especially since his family had so far failed to have Yukiko removed.
"Most of us are from noble families known for our achievements in war!" Muher continued, his voice filled with indignation. "Many of us are younger children without the right to inherit anything from our main houses. The only way we can make a name for ourselves is through battle! And you're going to withhold our practical training because of your ridiculous whims?"
"I'm not asking for much," Yukiko said calmly, unbothered by the outburst. "All I want is a goal that satisfies me. If going to war is your ambition, fine—just make up something convincing enough for me to believe it."
The frustration in the room was palpable. Many students had been dreading the possibility that they wouldn't receive proper practical training this year. While other teachers would provide some instruction, their primary mentor was supposed to be Yukiko—and they all knew they'd lose valuable training time if he refused to teach.
"I do understand your frustration," Yukiko said, glancing lazily toward the door. "Maria's been dealing with constant complaints from your parents. And if I don't teach you anything soon, she's going to run out of communicators to break... So, I found a solution."
The room fell silent, and every student's attention locked onto him. Yukiko gave a playful smile and gestured toward the door.
"You can come in now."
The door opened, and a tall woman with long gray hair and piercing red eyes entered. The room was instantly filled with her powerful presence, and her beauty—elegant and intimidating—left many students stunned. She appeared to be in her mid-20s, but the aura she carried suggested far more experience.
Among the students, none were more shocked than Onix, who stood abruptly, unable to hide his disbelief.
"This is Professor Roxy Clairus," Yukiko announced, his tone light and playful. "She's an exceptional fire mage with extensive battle experience, having served in the army for over ten years. At Maria's request, she became a teacher here, and though she's busy with more advanced classes, she was kind enough to accept my request to assist you."
The students whispered among themselves, still stunned by the unexpected development.
Onix clenched his fists, struggling to suppress his frustration. "You... you brought her?"
Yukiko grinned, clearly amused by Onix's reaction. "Indeed. Roxy is an old acquaintance of mine. I asked her for a favor, and she graciously agreed."
"Good morning, students of Class 1. I hope we get along. I'll be responsible for your practical classes," Roxy Clairus announced, her calm, authoritative voice cutting through the room.
The air in the room grew still for a moment—until a wave of excitement erupted, especially among the noble students.
"Hey! That's Roxy—from the Clairus family, right?"
"Yeah! The genius who reached Gold 3 at just 28 years old—and even received a commendation from the emperor himself!"
"I can't believe it! I thought she only taught the advanced classes, like 6 and 7! Is she really going to train us personally?"
"Even that useless teacher finally did something right!"
The classroom buzzed with chatter as students excitedly whispered to each other. Some turned toward Onix, who was still standing frozen, staring blankly at his sister.
"Mister Onix, isn't she your older sister? She's incredible, isn't she? I had no idea we'd get classes with someone like her!"
"Oh? Yeah... she's amazing..." Onix muttered, still processing what was happening. "But... an old acquaintance of that professor?"
Before the students could dive further into their speculations, Yukiko clapped his hands, interrupting the chatter.
"Alright, let's settle down. I can hear you, by the way," Yukiko said, flashing a sly smile. "I know you're all devastated that I won't personally be training you, but for now, Roxy will have to do."
"Who would prefer you?!" the entire class shouted in unison.
Onix's heart raced, a cold sweat breaking out on his forehead. Is he seriously going to talk like that about my sister?She's always been quiet and formal with everyone—if Yukiko says something out of line, he's going to be in real trouble.
Yukiko's smirk didn't falter, fully aware of the tension simmering in the room. But Roxy seemed entirely unaffected.
"Well, you heard Yuki," she said with a calm, matter-of-fact tone. "Let's head to the external facilities. Your first practical class starts now."
Without waiting for the students to catch up, Roxy turned on her heel and began walking toward the training grounds. The students, still buzzing with excitement, hurried to follow, though they kept glancing at each other in disbelief. Onix trailed behind the rest, looking completely bewildered.
"Did she just call him... Yuki?"
"No way, we must've misheard..."
"Onix, is your sister always this... friendly with people?"
Onix, pale and clearly shaken, could only mutter under his breath. "She's never called me by my first name. Not even with our mother—she always calls her 'ma'am.' What... what is going on?"
As the students glanced ahead toward the pair, they saw Yukiko and Roxy walking side by side, talking quietly. Smiles were exchanged between them, warm and easy, as if they shared some long-standing familiarity.
"Am I... really awake?" Onix whispered, his voice barely audible.
"Onix, you okay, man?" one of his friends asked, concern etched across his face. "You look like you've seen a ghost."
Meanwhile, Mia Rosenfold, who had been walking quietly among the students, repeated the nickname under her breath, as if testing the sound of it.
"...Yuki?"
After walking for a while, the students of Class 1 finally arrived at their destination. The sheer scale of the academy's training facilities was staggering. With both mage students and common soldiers attending the academy, the practical training grounds were built to handle large numbers. Their group was led to a spacious shed, with life-sized training puppets scattered throughout the room.
The shed's walls, ceiling, and floor were all coated with smooth, glossy black stones.
"This is one of the many practical training sites," Roxy Clairus explained as she turned to face the class. "The shed is lined with Black Quartz, a material durable enough to withstand spells up to Silver 3. That's why we use it to train first-year students."
Many of the noble students nodded knowingly, familiar with the properties of Black Quartz from their upbringing. For the non-nobles, the subject had been covered during Yukiko's lessons earlier that week.
In this world, specific ores like Black Quartz possessed unique properties. Black Quartz, for instance, could disrupt and disperse mana particles, breaking spells and resisting magical impact. Its durability also made it an ideal material for constructing training centers for mages.
"All right," Roxy continued. "Line up and cast the most basic spell you know."
The students quickly formed a line, eager to begin. One by one, they demonstrated the simplest spells of their respective elements.
"Fireball!"
"Wind Arrow!"
"Water Jet!"
"Earth Fist!"
Each spell echoed through the shed, accompanied by rumbling sounds and flashes of light. Some students spoke incantations aloud, guiding the formation of their magic, while others cast their spells silently, relying on instinct. The power and speed of the spells varied greatly between students.
Elia's fireball was a small but well-formed orb, about the size of a fist, while Onix conjured a fireball as large as an adult's head. Not only was his spell larger, but it also traveled faster, producing a louder explosion upon impact.
Even so, Elia's spell was impressive for her age, outperforming many of her noble peers. Onix, however, stood out as exceptional.
The results reflected the inherent nature of each element. Fire magic proved the most destructive—Elia's and Onix's spells left scorch marks and small craters on the training puppets. Water spells exerted pressure but lacked force, barely leaving marks. Wind arrows only scratched the surface, while Earth fists left small dents in the puppets' frames.
Once everyone had finished, Roxy clapped her hands, her expression thoughtful.
"All right, I've seen enough to understand your capabilities. Mr. Onix, when did you reach Bronze 2?"
"It's been two months, Professor Clairus."
"I see. Congratulations on your progress."
"Thank you."
"Wow, Onix! You're Bronze 2 already? That's incredible!" one of the students whispered excitedly. "Only 13 years old? It could only be a Clairus."
The students murmured among themselves, especially the nobles, who felt a sense of pride in Onix's early success. Others, however, couldn't help but feel frustrated. While Onix was exceptional, several non-nobles had performed equally well. Elia's fire spell had been the second most powerful, and Frederica's and Rose's wind and water spells had outclassed many of the nobles.
"Quiet down, everyone," Roxy instructed. "Now, do it again."
"Again?" one student asked hesitantly. "The same spell?"
"Yes. Keep casting the same spell over and over. Don't worry about technique—just release it as fast as you can. Continue until your mana runs dry or your legs give out." She smiled slightly. "Even when you feel like you might pass out, keep going."
The students exchanged nervous glances but obeyed the order.
Minutes passed. Soon, the weaker students began to falter. The Earth mages were the first to collapse, followed closely by the water mages. The last two standing among the water and earth mages were Rose and Mia—Rose managed six casts, while Mia pushed herself to seven.
Among the fire mages, Elia and Onix were the final ones standing. Elia cast her spell eight times before collapsing, while Onix managed nine. Finally, the wind mages dropped one by one, leaving only Frederica standing. She cast her spell fifteen times before her strength gave out, staggering slightly as she caught her breath.
"Excellent," Roxy said as the students lay sprawled on the ground, gasping for air. "I've got a clearer picture of your mana reserves now. Can anyone explain why the Earth and Water mages were the first to fall?"
Many students were still too winded to respond, but Frederica, after catching her breath, raised her hand and began her explanation.
"Each element requires different amounts of mana to manifest. For example, Earth spells need a large amount of mana to shape dense particles, like the Earth Fist they cast earlier. In contrast, Wind spells require much less mana because there's already so much air in the environment. Forming an wind arrow takes far less energy than forming a solid fist of earth."
Frederica paused for a moment, then added, "While intensity matters, it's correct to say that Earth magic demands the most mana, followed by Water, Fire, and finally Wind."
"Well explained," Roxy said with approval. "For instance, Onix cast only one more spell than Elia, but the size and intensity of his spells were far greater. It's safe to assume that his mana reserve is at least twice the size of hers."
"Thank you, Professor," Onix said, still catching his breath.
"But the ones who surprised me the most were Miss Rose and Miss Mia," Roxy continued. "Both of you cast your spells with impressive intensity. I'd say Rose's reserve is comparable to Onix's, and Mia's is slightly larger—even though both of you are still Bronze 3. That's very impressive."
Rose and Mia exchanged glances, then smiled warmly at each other. Mia extended her hand.
"You're amazing, Miss Rose. The Rosenfold family is known for their high mana reserves, but to see you match those expectations is incredible."
"Thank you, Miss Mia," Rose replied, shaking her hand with a beaming smile.
Roxy, observing the interaction, interjected. "When did you both discover your affinities and begin training?"
"I found out when I was 10," Mia answered. "After that, I trained a few times a week, but only under supervision."
"Same here," Rose said with a nod. "Though my father always scolded me if I used magic more than once a day."
"Good thing he did," Roxy commented cryptically.
Rose blinked, puzzled. "Hmm? What do you mean?"
"When an affinity is developed, the mage's core enters an unstable state," Roxy explained calmly, as if talking about dangerous magical mishaps was no different from discussing the weather. "So, using spells during that time isn't recommended. If something goes wrong, it could lead to accidents—or worse—disable a mage for life. In some nations, young mages aren't even allowed to cast spells until their cores stabilize. Mages are far too rare and valuable to risk losing them over carelessness."
"What?" Rose blurted, wide-eyed. "But then… is it really okay for us to cast spells until we nearly pass out like we've been doing?"
Roxy gave her a gentle smile, the kind that made it sound like this was something she should have known already. "I'm surprised you didn't know this, Miss Rose. But don't worry. Once the affinity manifests, the mana core begins stabilizing. By the time you turn thirteen, your core is considered fully stable, which is exactly why students join the academy at that age."
"Oh, I see… Now it all makes sense," Rose muttered, still looking a bit uneasy.
"This is also the second-best period to expand your mana reserves," Roxy added. "By pushing your core to its limits, stressing it, and draining it through constant spell usage, your mana capacity grows."
"The second-best period?" Rose tilted her head, curiosity piqued.
"Yes." At that moment, Yukiko, who had been leaning lazily against the wall like it was his life's mission, chimed in. "The best period for expanding your core is when it's still unstable. The boundaries aren't fully formed yet, so it's much easier for it to grow."
"But—" Rose started, only to be cut off.
"It's risky," Yukiko added flatly. "Some idiot families force their kids to cast spells during that phase to boost their reserves faster. It rarely ends well."
As he said this, his gaze drifted lazily to Mia.
"You are a very kind teacher," she said with a teasing grin, "but please don't stare at me like that. I'll get embarrassed."
Mia chuckled and placed her hand on her cheek, pretending to blush. "Oh dear, am I making you blush? How flattering."
Yukiko gave her a sly smile. "You remind me a lot of your aunt, you know?"
"Oh! I'm flattered." Mia grinned mischievously. "Maybe I'll awaken some old feelings in you, given how much I resemble Headmistress Rosenfold."
"Don't worry." Yukiko's grin widened, filled with just enough mischief to keep the students on edge. "I'm not into children. Besides, why settle for memory when I can walk into her office any time I want?"
The room froze. Every student turned bright red in unison, their faces a mix of disbelief and awkward embarrassment.
"So… this is what their relationship is like, huh?" Mia mused with an amused smile.
Roxy, looking increasingly uncomfortable, cleared her throat. "Let's… move on with class, please."
"We really don't need to know about your personal life with the director," she added, shooting Yukiko a look. "And you should have more respect for a Saint mage."
"Hmm? Are you jealous, Roxy?" Yukiko teased, raising an eyebrow. "Relax. I was just playing with Mia."
"I am not jealous!" Roxy snapped, her voice just a little too sharp.
She's totally jealous. The students exchanged silent glances, all in silent agreement: Roxy was absolutely, definitely jealous.
Meanwhile, Onix sat stiffly, his mind reeling as he tried to make sense of everything. Who is this guy? And how in the world is he making my sister act like this?
"Well, it's like Yuki said," Roxy continued, trying to steer the conversation back to safer ground. "Some families take unnecessary risks. I'm just glad nothing bad happened to you, Miss Rose. But now that your core is stable, you don't need to worry about accidents. Push yourself every day—train until your legs give out. A Silver Rank 3 mage should be able to cast a high-intensity Fireball fifty times, after all."
"Fifty times?!" Rose cried, her face contorting in horror.
"Exactly." Roxy gave a curt nod. "So, do your best."
"Understood," Rose murmured, though her enthusiasm didn't quite match her words.
"Now, as for the other elements," Roxy said, "there's a common mistake that Earth and Water mages often make. Correcting it can help you achieve better results."
"A common mistake?" Rose leaned forward slightly, intrigued.
Roxy nodded. "Unlike Fire magic, where increasing the amount of fire directly enhances the explosion, Earth and Water magic don't work that way. Earth magic, for instance, is mostly used for defense—like creating walls. Many mages assume that making the wall thicker is always better. But for offensive spells, a large Earth projectile often slows down the attack. Instead, you should focus on increasing the hardness of the projectile, reducing its mass, and maximizing speed. This also reduces the amount of mana used."
"I think I get it," Rose said hesitantly, though the concept still seemed a bit fuzzy to her.
"It's the same for me..." Mia admitted, nodding in agreement.
Roxy sighed. "It's easier to demonstrate, but unfortunately, my element is Fire, so I can't show you myself." She turned her gaze toward Yukiko. "Yukiko, could you demonstrate the difference?"
"Hmm? But I already told them I wouldn't teach without a goal from each student," Yukiko replied, clearly angling for a way out.
"At least do this much," Roxy pressed. "I'm the one asking, not them—it's part of my lesson."
Yukiko groaned dramatically. "I'd rather not."
Roxy's smile turned dangerous. "Should I go get Maria? I'm sure she'd love to hear how you insulted the noble families earlier."
Yukiko winced, as if physically wounded. "...Fine, fine. I'll do it."
The students became frustrated and the excitement drained from the room. Some of them had been hoping for a Saint mage demonstration.
"He acts like such a kid," one student muttered. "Why couldn't he just keep being lazy so we could see the director instead?"
Despite their complaints, a few students—like Rose, Mia, and Onix—were genuinely curious to see Yukiko in action.
"Alright, everyone, pay attention," Yukiko said, dragging himself off the wall with exaggerated reluctance. "For the first example, I'll make a jet of water the same size as the one Rose used earlier."
He extended his hand toward one of the training puppets, summoning a sphere of water that matched Rose's exactly.
"So... his affinity is water?" one student whispered.
"Seriously? Water?" another muttered. "That's, like, the weakest offensive element."
"Figures," someone else sighed. "And to think we lost Professor Emanoel Clairus for this…"
Yukiko gave no indication that he had heard them—or maybe he just didn't care. "Alright. Watch closely. I'm throwing it in three... two... one."
The sphere of water transformed into a thick jet, hitting the puppet with a wet thwack. The puppet wobbled slightly but otherwise remained unharmed, save for being thoroughly soaked.
"As you can see," Yukiko said dryly, "this is mostly useful for putting out fires."
A few snickers erupted from the students.
"Now, let's try something different." Yukiko extended his hand again, this time conjuring a much smaller sphere—about the size of a human eye. Despite its tiny size, the sphere pulsed with compressed energy, as though it could burst at any moment.
"Three... two... one."
PSSHH!
A smaller, thinner jet of water shoots out with terrifying speed, hitting the puppet dead-center in its forehead. It moves so fast that the students can barely track it, and the puppet doesn't even wobble this time—it just stands there, completely still.
"It didn't do anything..." one student mumbles, confused.
"Take a closer look," Roxy suggests, her tone hinting at something more.
The students lean forward, squinting at the puppet.
"...!"
There's a perfectly clean hole right in the middle of the puppet's forehead—and, as they follow the trajectory, they spot a small mark on the wall behind it. The jet pierced straight through the puppet and chipped the wall.
"No way! That puppet withstood Onix's fireball, but it couldn't handle... this?"
"And the wall too? How did that even—?"
Yukiko shrugs, as if this outcome was obvious. "Same amount of mana, just tweaked the spell a little. See? When used right, you can deal more damage while spending less energy. This works especially well with Earth and Water elements, which are usually defensive or supportive. If you try to brute-force it like Fire users do, you'll only waste mana."
The class listens carefully, hanging on Yukiko's words, even as they continue processing what just happened.
"Well, that's it for me. Carry on, Roxy." He waves dismissively, as if demonstrating expert magic was no big deal.
"Thanks, Yuki." Roxy turns back to the class, clearly unfazed. "Alright, you're all exhausted, so let's wrap things up here. Tomorrow, we'll focus on applying what Yuki just demonstrated."
"Understood!" the students answer in unison, though many are still in disbelief over what they just saw.
Just as Roxy is about to officially dismiss them, a booming announcement cuts through the academy.
"ATTENTION ALL STUDENTS AND TEACHERS! ATTENTION ALL STUDENTS AND TEACHERS!"
"Hmm?" Mia raises an eyebrow. "The academy communicator? Is there some event scheduled for today?"
"Not that I know of," one student says. "It's usually only used for important stuff."
The students fall silent as the voice of Director Maria echoes through the academy, commanding everyone's attention.
"I COME THROUGH THIS DEVICE TO ANNOUNCE THE PERFORMANCE AND DATE OF A MAGIC DUEL."
"A duel!?"
"Seriously?! Who got into a fight?"
"Maybe it's between rival families! If it's a duel of honor, it's bound to be exciting!"
"This is gonna be amazing—I need to watch this!"
The voice continues, growing louder and more serious.
"IN THREE WEEKS, ON THE SAME DAY AND TIME, A DUEL WILL BE HELD BETWEEN TEACHER EMANOEL CLAIRUS AND TEACHER YUKIKO. THE TWO WILL DUEL FOR THE RIGHT TO BE THE TEACHER RESPONSIBLE FOR CLASS 1. THE DUEL WILL BE UNTIL INCAPACITATION, WITHDRAWAL, OR DEATH."
"...What?!"
Every single student's gaze shifts to Yukiko in disbelief.
"Hmm?" Yukiko tilts his head slightly. "Did I forget to mention this to you all?"
"OF COURSE YOU DID!" Mia is the first to react, practically shouting at him.
Yukiko scratches the back of his head, looking genuinely puzzled. "Oh. I thought I mentioned it. Well, it's in three weeks, so at least you know now. Sorry, but we won't have class that day."
"YOU THINK THAT'S THE ISSUE?!"
He gives them an innocent blink. "What else would it be? You're all worried about your favorite responsible teacher, right?"
"You're the only responsible teacher we have!"
Their voices rise in unison, but a few students remain unusually quiet, their faces tense with concern.
"If I'm the only one," Yukiko says with a smirk, "that makes me your favorite by default."
"Yuki," Roxy chimes in, crossing her arms, "you're pushing them too far. Some of them are genuinely worried about you. Don't you think you owe them a real explanation?"
Yukiko's playful grin softens as he glances around the room. Several of the students, especially the non-nobles, seem genuinely uneasy.
"Don't worry about me," Yukiko says, his tone unusually gentle. "It's a teacher's job to worry about their students—not the other way around. Focus on convincing me that you're worth training."
Mia, still concerned, hesitates before asking quietly, "Professor Yuki... are you really going to be okay?"
"Hmm?" Yukiko flashes her a reassuring smile. "Of course! I know what Professor Clairus is capable of, but don't worry—I've got it all figured out."
"I... see." Mia nods slowly, though the worry in her eyes doesn't quite fade.
"Wait... did you just call him 'Yuki'?" another student asks, looking at Mia in disbelief.
"Hmm? Yeah."
All eyes lock onto Mia, as if she had just committed some kind of scandal.
"He said we could call him whatever we wanted," Mia replies with a shrug. "He said it on the first day, remember?"
"It's true," Frederica grumbles, "but still..."
She gives Mia a side-eye glare.
"Jealous, Frederica?" Mia teases with a smirk.
"Idiot, of course not..." Frederica mutters, her cheeks slightly flushed.
"Like I said, you can call me whatever you want," Yukiko repeats casually. "Now let's wrap this up. Tomorrow, theoretical classes will be in the morning and practical training in the afternoon. I don't want anyone falling asleep from exhaustion in my class."
"Thank you for the class, Professor Roxy!" the students say as they start filing out of the training shed.
"They never thank me like that..." Yukiko mutters, looking slightly betrayed.
"Well," Roxy says, smirking, "you never wanted to train them."
"Hmm... fair point." Yukiko shrugs, as if conceding defeat.
Once the students have left, Roxy turns to him, her expression serious. "So... what are you planning to do about the duel?"
"I'll think about it during the week of the event," Yukiko answers lazily.
Roxy sighs. "Always leaving things until the last minute... Why did you set it for three weeks from now, anyway?"
Yukiko gives her a small, playful grin. "I didn't give you the details, did I? I just told you it was happening."
"Yeah," Roxy mutters, "you didn't."
"I want to get to know the students better this month," he says simply.
"Yuki," Roxy asks quietly, "what are you really trying to do here?"
Yukiko's grin turns softer, more enigmatic. "You know me... I like to keep some mysteries. It's part of my charm."
Roxy's gaze lingers on him, her worry evident.
"Don't stress," Yukiko says in a rare serious tone. "I'll explain everything when the time is right."
"I trust you," Roxy replies. "Just... don't shut me out, okay? Whatever happens, you can count on me."
Yukiko tilts his head, his playful grin vanishing. "Even if I told you I plan to wage war on the nobility of Asteris? Including wiping out the Clairus family—your family?"
Roxy doesn't flinch. "Then I'll abandon my name and destroy them by your side."
The wind howls softly through the open door, filling the silence between them. Yukiko looks down at her, his usual grin replaced by something gentler.
"You're terrifying, you know that?" Yukiko chuckles softly. "But don't worry—I'm not planning anything like that."
"I know," Roxy responds, her voice steady and without hesitation. "You wouldn't involve children and innocent people in a plan like that. I'm just making it clear that you can count on me. The only people I still have ties with are you and Maria. Everyone else has already left this world... You two are the most important to me. Never forget that."
Yukiko's teasing demeanor softens as he looks at her with unexpectedly kind eyes.
"Hmm… Maria would be really embarrassed if she heard you." His lips curve into a knowing smirk. "But don't worry about that duel for now."
"Understood." Roxy gives him a small nod, though her eyes remain sharp. "But I'm sure that what you're planning isn't something small…"
"Perhaps..." Yukiko's grin lingers as he looks toward the ceiling of the shed. A breeze drifts in through the open door, brushing against his face. The wind carries with it the weight of unspoken thoughts, but Yukiko just lets it wash over him, his smile turning just a little more wistful.