Lucien gazed over the students. Most were just extras in the game, few were minor villains who will be bullying the protagonist and the other commoners.
The only to main characters here are the protagonist and the villainous rival of the protagonist....Not that she was really evil, but she did cause troubles for Aria when she took her top ranker seat. but she had her own difficulties and reasons.
Even if some people still blamed her at the starting of game, even after knowing her background...none could hate her after THAT ARC...
Because no matter how you play the game she will always sacrifice her life in the end to save Aria...
It was a unavoidable event...
'Well since I am here, I want save her even if she's not a supporting character that I need to save'
'As for the other students... I need to protect them too, after all this game was really dark..by the end of the game only about 60-70 would survive, That is if you are a hardcore player. For most newbie players it's normal for only 10-15 classmates of the protagonist to survive...'
'Well let's continue with the lecture for now..'
"Then that's all you need to know about the basic details regarding academic procedures..."
"Now for details regarding my course, As most of you know professors usually start a course by giving you a list of books that you will require to purchase mandatorily."
'The original Lucien listed a bunch of expensive and difficult to understand books to inflate his own ego and pride, Making the commoner students life miserable.'
"But there will be no mandatory books for my courses. You may purchase books that may help you on your own. Or rent from the library."
All the students looked perplexed. But most of the commoners felt relief.
"But you will be required to write notes from my lectures. You can buy a magic artifact that stores everything you write."
At his last statement, the commoner students faces became ugly once more, Because such a device would cost them even more than books and unlike books that could be bought through the academy, such magic devices had to be bought from outside. It's a different thing if the artifact shops would even allow them to buy.
"But for those who can't afford them..."
All commoner students felt grievance, they too had considerable talent isn't that why they could enroll in the academy, Yet they are at such disadvantages even here in the academy.
They expected punishment or worst demerits from the Professor Lucien, a duke's son known for misdeeds.
"You can just use notebooks and pens."
'huh..'
All the commoners were dumbfounded. That's it..just use normal notebooks?
Then they all felt happiness.
'Isn't this great, won't this save us alot of money..'
Allthough there's no fees for commoners, but it still takes considerable money just to survive in the academy, let alone spending on things related to courses.
"Well, We will start the course officially from Tommorow, but today I will just brief you on things you should know before beginning, although I guess most of you should know what I am about to teach."
"First of all, You all should know that we store mana in either our heart or in the brain."
"Mages store their mana in their brain for faster and more efficient casting."
"While knights store their mana in their hearts, so as to pump mana to any required body part to strengthen it."
"There have been many who tried to be both at the same time trying to become the world's first magic-knight , but none succeeded."
"All that was achieved by them was Mediocrity in both fields."
"Can anyone tell me the reason for this?"
A girl sitting in the front seat raised her hand.
I looked at the girl who just raised her hand, and nodded as if approving her to speak.
A beautiful girl with long yellow hair with a tint of orange at their end. Big beutiful yellow eyes seemingly filled with pride and a sharp pretty nose. She stood straight and began explaining.
"It's because mastery requires specialization. Dividing time and effort between two demanding disciplines prevents achieving the depth of skill needed in either, resulting in mediocrity in both."
"That is indeed a good answer, but do you think there has never been an individual born with immense talent in both? There must be a reason for those who tried to become both, because they had considerable talent in both."
"...yes professor."
"The reason for their failure is something more simpler and fundamental. It's mana."
"Mana is the source of both professions power. You must know how important mana is and how hard it is to increase mana, no matter if you have the knowledge and talent of an Archmage if you don't have enough mana to activate a spell there's nothing you can do."
"Now imagine your total mana being split in half. If you could have enough mana to cast a grade 7 magic now you can only cast a grade 8 magic."
"If one splits their mana equally, storing half in their brain and other half in their heart. They will be limiting the potential of both professions."
"Imagine the mana in the brain running out mid-fight leaving you with only being able to use the sword."
The girl nodded with a nonchalant expression but her eyes were practically sparkling after gaining new knowledge.
'Sigh~ that's just how she is, Prideful but with a talent and background worthy of being pridefull. A role model student, this year's top ranker.'
'Seraphine van Valmont'
The youngest and only beloved daughter of Marquis of house Valmont. A family known for their innate talent in lightning magic.
The villainous rival who becomes obsessed with keeping her position as the top ranker.
The reason for her obsession is a tragic one.
But what is most definitely real is her love for magic and learning. For her, magic is the most beautiful and the most important thing for her.
She sat back down. Perhaps surprised and interested in me.
She along with the others must know about the rumours about my misdeeds and incompetence though my father tried to suppress the rumours, it's not something that can just be erased.
"Well now, everyone must know about the how mages and knights are ranked in terms of strength."
"Both have Ranks starting from Grade 10 to Grade 1, with Grade 10 the weakest."
"Above Grade 1 is the realm of absolute strength."
"The Archmage for the mages."
"And The Swordmaster for the knights."
"Currently there is only one mage in the realm of Archmage, the Headmaster of the Academy, Merlin."
"And the only Swordmaster is the Current Emperor of the Empire."
After i finished speaking a girl sitting in the middle row raised her hand.
"Yes?"
"Professor...What grade are you in currently?"
It was none other than our dear protagonist, Aria Dawn.
'I guess she wants to know my strength, Though she still isn't sure if i am an enemy or an ally.'
'She wants to be prepared for the worst case scenario of me being an enemy.'
"Me?...I am officially a Grade 8 mage."
"..."
Everyone looked at me weirdly.
"That i know professor..., since you haven't applied for a promotion exam till now, but Its rumored that you are a Grade 6 mage."
'Obviously the original Lucien had never applied for a promotional exam at the magic tower. Because if he did he would surely fail... Because his real strength before my possession was barely enough to land in Grade 8 compared to the fake image of Grade 6 created by him.'
'Unlike the academy, The magic tower is a completely independent organization created by mages from all over the Empire. They are all magic fanatics devoted to magic, no amount of influence could force them. Even if some could be bought, even a Duke can't possibly bribe the entire mage community'
"sigh~"
Lucien sighed.
"5"
"what?.."
"I am a Grade 5 mage."
Lucien said like it was nothing.
"..."
Aria's eye widened and her mouth agape.
The entire class looked as if they heard something impossible.
Seraphine raised her hand and begin speaking as I nodded.
"Professor...you do know that even Archmage Merlin and the Head Professor Adeline became Grade 5 at the age of 28, While the youngest Grade 5 was your father, Duke Dorian was only 27 when he became a Grade 5."
"While you are currently only...26?"
Seraphine looked at me with confusion and doubt.
"Yes, I am aware of that."
Lucien said without batting an eye.
"Anyway I have already applied for the a promotional exam. The news hasn't spread yet because I applied by just today morning. I will be going straight to the Magic tower after today's lecture."
Seraphine and Aria along with the other kids were all shocked because they knew that the magic tower was unbiased. And the news of my Grade would surely spread throughout the Empire by Tommorow, Thus my claim here, In a room filled with kids from noble families would surely ruin my reputation if proved wrong.
"I-is that so.."
Seraphine's eyes were filled with excitement and admiration.
While Aria's eyes were filled with complex emotions.