Chapter 51 - A Magic Geek is Handled with Kid Gloves
That evening, in the great conference hall of the Talgum Magic Academy's faculty building, every last professor on staff was gathered—a truly rare event. Not only were the diligent professors who regularly managed the academy's affairs in attendance, but even the eccentrics who prioritized their own research and habitually skipped faculty meetings were present. It was, in a word, a remarkable occurrence.
In the center of the spacious conference hall sat a massive round table, over five meters in diameter. Its top was, incredibly, crafted from a single, heavy slab of wood. Not a single knot or crack marred its surface; instead, a magnificent grain adorned the polished wood. One could only imagine how many giant trees had been felled and how carefully the lumber had been selected to create such a thick tabletop. It was a splendid masterpiece that eloquently demonstrated the academy's wealth.
Seated at this round table were ten magic users. One sat with his arms crossed, eyes closed in meditation. Another surveyed his surroundings with a sharp, piercing gaze. Yet another ran his fingers through a messy thatch of hair, staring at the ceiling. And one, leaning on his hand, was in the middle of a weary yawn. These magic users, disparate in gender, age, and even the robes they wore, were in fact the ten most brilliant professors at the academy.
The great hall was less than half full, even with the round table and the ten professors. The empty space was filled with chairs occupied by other magic users. These individuals, who had placed their seats in a wide circle around the table to observe the proceedings, were the general professors. That is to say, while they held the rank of professor, they were not judged to possess the caliber required to sit at the round table.
Ostensibly, the academy valued fairness and had no formal hierarchy among professors, save for the chief professor who acted as a coordinator. In practice, however, this would hinder the academy's operation. To allow the faculty council—the decision-making body—to function efficiently, certain professors were granted a stronger voice. These were the ten seated at the round table, known by some as the “Ten Sages of the Academy.” Each was a magic user of recognized skill and achievement, a cut above the rest in their respective fields of expertise.
Of course, to quote the chief professor, the head of that very group, it was more like: “Ten Sages? What a joke. We're all just a bunch of eccentrics who put magic first and everything else a distant second. Myself included, of course.”
So what of the ordinary professors without a seat at the table? In truth, they were merely observers with no authority. Attending a faculty meeting only allowed them to learn things a little sooner than they otherwise would, which was why attendance was typically low. But today, everyone was present. There weren't enough chairs in the room, forcing them to bring more in from other chambers. For a meeting called on such short notice that very evening, the turnout was abnormal.
Considering the agenda, however, it was to be expected. Chief Professor Azadh had convened the faculty to discuss whether to recognize Saki Adoni Arcalai and Ruria Sharon as Second Tier magic users, following their mastery of all twelve First Tier spells within just three months of enrollment.
"While I understand this concerns the heir to the main Arcalai line, is it not somewhat problematic to continue making such special exceptions?"
The one to voice this objection was one of the professors at the round table. He was a gaunt man, somewhere between middle and old age, with a thin face and a faintly nervous, wry smile. His name was Avishai Neri. Known as an expert in magical combat, he was one of the few Fourth Tier magic users among the academy's professors. And until Azadh had left the kingdom's army to take the post of chief professor, Avishai had been rumored to be the one closest to that very seat.
He had taken on a few students of his own and led an independent faction that rivaled the Mordecai school. In terms of skill, achievements, and popularity, he was arguably second only to Chief Professor Azadh himself.
While the other nine at the round table showed no reaction to Avishai's words, the same could not be said for the gallery. Some nodded or smiled in agreement, while others scowled or shook their heads, making their disapproval clear. It went without saying that those who opposed Avishai were professors of the Arcalai faction, while those who agreed were not.
The Arcalai faction comprised over half of all magic users in the Hanoku Kingdom. But that also meant that nearly half did not belong to it, leading to a recurring dynamic of the Arcalai faction versus a coalition of all others. It was a source of constant headaches for Levi, the Royal Magic Advisor, and this conflict had the potential to influence national politics.
"Furthermore, I hear that these two have been conducting their practical studies virtually unsupervised in a spell laboratory, rather than attending classes with the other students. They were even granted permission to use the laboratory after school hours, and to top it all off, they ended up destroying it. This is rather undisciplined, and I must say that the professors who permitted it are also somewhat at fault."
Avishai continued, though he didn't believe a word of it himself. For a magic user, nothing was more important than one's own research and training—the effort to reach a higher tier. From that perspective, Saki and Ruria were so far ahead of their peers that it was only natural for them to want to study on their own.
This was a sentiment that the other professors present could, to varying degrees, sympathize with. Avishai was merely harping on the pair's lack of cooperation and dredging up the incident with the now-repaired laboratory because it was a convenient pretext to criticize the Arcalai faction.
"More importantly, did those kids really cause all that destruction? I'm far more interested in that."
The one to pose this question, which seemed relevant but was in fact mostly tangential, was Professor Batya Gitai. Though only in her mid-twenties, she had earned her seat among the Ten Sages. Her platinum blonde hair, so fair it was nearly silver, was cut very short, which, combined with her refined features and cold, sharp eyes, gave her a piercingly intelligent air.
She was a Third Tier magic user, and many believed she would be the next to ascend to the Fourth Tier. She specialized in magic theory, particularly the properties of offensive spells, and her classes were extremely popular among the upperclassmen. She belonged to no faction and was rumored to keep an equal distance from both the Arcalai and non-Alcalai camps.
"Is that really so important? Saki-kun said, 'I did it,' and the Arcalai family said they'd pay for the damages, so it's fine to just say he did it, right?"
Leaning on her hand at the table, Head Librarian Ayala Tzvika voiced her direct opposition to Batya's point. Her eyes, as sleepy as ever, drifted aimlessly around the room. Although attendance was voluntary, this was an official academy meeting, and her behavior was hardly appropriate. But this was simply how she was, and the other professors had long since stopped commenting on it.
Ayala was in charge of the librarians at the Great Library, but she herself was a Third Tier magic user who also held the rank of professor. Her attendance at faculty meetings was spotty, and even when she did show up, her attitude annoyed many of her colleagues. However, as the Academy Head had made the fourth floor of the Great Library his personal fortress, she effectively served as his private secretary or aide, lending her words a certain weight.
"Oh? Did reading too many books damage your brain along with your eyes? You may not have seen it, but even a professor would be hard-pressed to cause that much damage to a spell laboratory. To hear that two children who can only use First Tier spells did it and just nod along saying 'yes, of course' is a defeat for the intellect. I'd question not just your professorial qualifications, but your very aptitude as a magic user."
Batya's retort was as cold as her appearance, but Ayala responded only by stifling a yawn. Ayala and Batya, both Third Tier, close in age, and of the same gender, shared many commonalities. One might think they'd be friends, but in reality, they were famously at each other's throats. They had been competing since their student days and continued to clash at every opportunity now that they were both professors.
"Ah, Professor Gitai, you mostly teach the third-years, don't you? So you probably don't know much about those two, do you?"
Interjecting into the tense standoff was Professor Rehoboam Hazza, known for his trademark messy hair. He spoke quickly, almost mumbling, as he raked a hand through his unruly red locks.
"Well, with Saki-kun and Ruria-san, nothing they do would surprise me. And they'd do it in a way none of us professors could even imagine."
A hush fell over the great hall as Rehoboam's words sank in. It was likely that most of the professors in the room desperately wanted to know the same thing: Just how in the world did they generate that much power with First Tier spells?
As everyone in the room fell silent, glancing at one another, Avishai shrugged and spoke again. His words seemed to voice the thoughts of every professor gathered in the hall.
"Well, Professor Hazza has offered his opinion, but what is the actual situation, Chief Professor? You must have questioned the two individuals about what occurred that night. Could you please enlighten us as to what exactly happened to cause the destruction of the spell laboratory?"
All eyes in the hall turned as one to Ahab Azadh, who sat at the round table with the academy's crest—a shield flanked by two dragons—on the wall behind him. The chief professor, who had been listening intently to the others with his arms crossed, cleared his throat and began to speak in a grave tone.
"What happened on the night in question pertains to the private research of those two, so I cannot speak of it here. As you are all magic users yourselves, you should know the folly of trying to steal another's research. It leads only to bloodshed."
In short, any further prying would have consequences.
"Let us return to the matter at hand. Today, five first-year students—Saki Adoni Arcalai, Ruria Sharon, Roche Lamed, Isak Begin, and Elisha Adoni Shamir—mastered new spells. Elisha learned her third, while Roche and Isak learned their fourth. This is quite fast, even compared to the average first-year. However, the remaining two…"
He paused dramatically, his expression hardening before he spoke again.
"Saki and Ruria mastered their twelfth spells today. In other words, they have completed all spells of the First Tier and have earned the qualification to ascend to the Second. I believe the academy should formally recognize their promotion to the Second Tier and, at the same time, grant them graduation. I will now hear your opinions."
A wave of murmurs instantly filled the great hall. While the Ten Sages, apart from Azadh, remained silent at the round table, the surrounding professors began to mutter amongst themselves or exchange words with their neighbors.
"As expected of Saki-sama and Ruria-sama…"
"Unbelievable. It's rare for a student to reach the Second Tier while enrolled, but a first-year? And they're only seven?!"
"Is it really true? Shouldn't the faculty council verify it?"
"But what if they cast all twelve spells right in front of us? The academy would have no choice but to officially recognize them as Second Tier, would it?"
"The chief professor wouldn't convene a meeting over a lie. I think we should just approve it quickly."
"Even so, it's impossible. Could the Arcalai faction be hiding some incredible secret? To achieve such an unconventional feat, and not just one person but two simultaneously—can that be explained by talent alone?!"
"If you think so, go investigate. If you've got a death wish, that is."
The whispers and conversations bubbling up around the room seemed as if they might go on forever, but they subsided like ripples on water at the sound of a throat clearing at the round table. The one who had done so, Professor Avishai Neri, waited until he had everyone's attention before speaking.
"By convention, even if a student reaches the Second Tier while enrolled, we do not promote them at that time. They are certified as Second Tier upon completion of the third-year graduation exams. I see no issue with handling these two in the same manner. What are your thoughts?"
At his words, several of the Ten Sages at the round table, not to mention the general professors, nodded as if he had voiced their own thoughts. Among them were Batya and Ayala.
To have the academy grant them graduation meant recognizing them as full-fledged magic users and encouraging them to walk their own path. The professors who agreed did so for a variety of reasons. Some felt it was cruel to send seven-year-olds out of the academy, while others thought it unwise to grant the Arcalai faction any more prestige. There were even some with extremely personal motives, like, Those two are definitely not normal. I have to find out their secret, or, It's way more interesting if Saki-kun and Ruria-chan stay at the academy.
"Well, if we're going to talk about convention, it would be one-sided not to mention the exceptions, wouldn't it?"
Rehoboam, still scratching his head, calmly raised an objection.
"There was one person in the past who advanced to the Second Tier without waiting until their third year. My own master, in fact."
At his words, the professors of the Arcalai faction nodded firmly. When one spoke of the master of Rehoboam Hazza and Ahab Azadh, one was speaking of none other than the strongest magic user in history, Ester Adoni Arcalai. Soon after becoming a second-year, she had mastered all the First Tier spells and was officially recognized by the academy as a Second Tier magic user midway through that year.
"Isn't the rumor that the royal family pulled some strings because war was on the horizon? There's no such outside pressure this time, is there?"
"I think it's better to focus on the fact that there's a clear precedent rather than taking such rumors seriously."
"Oh? Do you really have the right to say that, after so earnestly investigating all those suspicious rumors about the Great Library?"
"Too bad for you! At least one of them was recently proven to be true, you know!"
Batya stated her opinion, Ayala shot back a retort, and the two began to bicker. It was a familiar scene, but this time, Ayala's final comment was rather hard to ignore. Sensing the mood in the room turning strange, Azadh raised his voice, "Actually…"
"The will of the main Arcalai house is that they wish for the two to continue their studies at the academy for the full three years. My proposal to recognize them as Second Tier and graduate them immediately was, to be honest, my own idea. I believe it would be more beneficial for the academy."
This time, the great hall fell into complete and utter silence. Chief Professor Azadh's statement had been entirely unexpected.
Most of the professors had assumed this agenda item had been brought before the faculty council at the request of the Arcalai faction. The birth of such young and accomplished Second Tier magic users would enhance the faction's prestige and boost the morale of its members. But the wishes of the Arcalai leadership—Seventh Tier magic user Ester and Royal Magic Advisor Levi—were the complete opposite: they wanted Saki and Ruria to be treated as ordinary students. It was no wonder so many professors were confused.
Seeing that all conversation had ceased, Azadh announced quietly:
"Then, we will take a vote. All those in favor of the motion to recognize Saki Adoni Arcalai and Ruria Sharon as Second Tier and grant them graduation from the academy, please raise your hands."
And so, the vote was cast. Two in favor, eight against. The motion proposed by Chief Professor Azadh to graduate Saki and Ruria immediately was rejected by a wide margin.
With the faculty meeting adjourned, the attendees began to leave in small groups. A look of dissatisfaction was plain on every face. This was especially pronounced among the professors of the non-Alcalai factions.
Why did the main Arcalai house not want the two promoted to the Second Tier right away? And what did the chief professor mean when he said graduating them now would be better for the academy? They couldn't understand it, and so they couldn't feel simple joy even though the outcome they had supported had won.
The Ten Sages at the round table remained seated until the general professors had left. Once they were alone, they began to rise from their seats, one by one. Head Librarian Ayala Tzvika stretched languidly, not even bothering to stifle the yawn that escaped her. Professor Batya Gitai approached Professor Hazza and whispered in his ear, "Introduce me to those kids sometime."
And Professor Avishai Neri rose from his chair and stared intently at the two professors who remained seated. Seeing that they made no move, their eyes still closed, he eventually gave a slight shake of his head and left the conference hall without a word.
The last two remaining, Chief Professor Ahab Azadh and Professor Rehoboam Hazza, sat in silence for a while before Azadh finally spoke, his words like an exhalation after a long sigh.
"So the plan to kick those brats out of the academy failed. Well, I knew it would."
"You never intended for it to pass, did you? Why did you call this meeting?"
To Rehoboam's question, Azadh let out a short laugh through his nose before answering.
"Our master and Levi may feel safer with them in the academy's care, but we're the ones who have to deal with the trouble, right? And as a professor of this academy, I don't think the changes those two—especially Saki—will bring will all be for the better. Many students and professors won't be able to comprehend it and will be left behind. That is what I fear."
"So that's it. But if we let them out of the academy, who knows what they'll do outside their parents' watch? They could end up causing a kingdom-wide uproar. I think it's better to keep them here at the academy, where you and I can protect them."
The eyes of Rehoboam, as he replied to his senior, seemed to say, Let's just give up, senpai. Azadh, reading this perfectly, replied with an undisguised look of distaste.
"Fine, I've done what I could. After that, let the chips fall where they may. I just hope the professors who voted against it today don't panic when the time comes. I can just see their faces next year, when they're told to teach magic to an eight-year-old who's reached the Third Tier."
"It's one thing for upperclassmen to be surpassed, but if a professor gets overtaken, their career is over. But I have a feeling they'll cause a stir much sooner than next year."
The two looked at each other and sighed in unison. As if on cue, they rose from their seats together and left the great conference hall.
"By the way, about the off-campus activities, the Academy Head gave his permission. We'll need to start preparing right away."
"So it was approved. It'll cost a lot more than last year, but it's necessary for the future of the academy. I'm sure Avishai and his lot will start squawking about convention again."
Grumbling loudly, the two fell silent the moment they opened the doors of the conference hall and stepped into the corridor, departing for their dormitories without another word. If Saki had been there, he would have noticed the faint glimmer of magical power shimmering in the hallway, as if watching the two men's backs. The Unseen Servant followed silently behind Azadh and Rehoboam, but after confirming they had entered their respective rooms without speaking, it vanished into thin air as if melting away.
In his private room in the faculty dormitory, Professor Avishai Neri dispelled the Unseen Servant spell and rose from his chair. He walked to a shelf on the wall, took out a bottle of wine and a goblet, and sat back down in an elegant rattan chair. He poured wine until the goblet was half full and took a silent sip.
The Third Tier spell “Unseen Servant” summoned an invisible being connected to the spirits of the air for servitude. Being weak, it was often used as a messenger, but its invisibility and silent movement also made it suitable for espionage. It could communicate with the caster through a form of telepathy similar to Sending and could even mimic the caster's voice to speak to others, making it a versatile spell.
This time, Avishai had sent out the Unseen Servant to probe the Arcalai faction's intentions, a rather risky move. To be caught using such a spell to spy on other professors in the faculty wing of the Talgum Magic Academy—a den of skilled magic users—would inevitably lead to trouble. While an Unseen Servant was completely undetectable to ordinary people, a master magic user had countless ways to see through it.
Of course, Avishai, being a master himself, was well aware of this. He didn't let the Unseen Servant get close to the great conference hall, which was protected by powerful defensive and counter-intelligence magic he didn't fully understand, nor did he approach the private rooms of professors, each fortified according to their own tastes. His hope had simply been to eavesdrop on Azadh and Rehoboam's conversation in the empty hallway, but unfortunately, he had gained nothing.
Tilting his wine goblet, Avishai's thoughts swirled in silence. He had, of course, been aware from early on that a direct descendant of the Arcalai line had enrolled this year and was displaying tremendous talent. At the time, he had only felt a slight envy, thinking that the next generation of the Arcalai faction was secure. But a short while later, these two students had suddenly and intensely captured his interest.
The turning point was Ester Adoni Arcalai's ascension to the Seventh Tier. She had reached the Sixth Tier, the highest in the kingdom's history, nearly thirty years ago. For all that time, Ester had been unable to climb to the Seventh, but then, about two months ago, she had finally—or perhaps suddenly—reached the unprecedented Seventh Tier. At the exact same time, the two students, Saki and Ruria, were mastering spells at an abnormal rate.
There had to be a connection. Ester's long years of effort had finally paid off. The Arcalai heirs born in this era just happened to be blessed with abnormal talent. If either of these events had happened alone, one might consider it a coincidence. But for both to occur simultaneously, it was foolish to think it anything but.
Avishai reflected on his own life. He had reached the Fourth Tier in his mid-thirties, and for more than a decade since, his magic had not progressed. As far as he knew, almost every magic user, with some individual variation, began to stagnate in their thirties, or for some, their late twenties. Eventually, they would stop learning new spells entirely and live out the rest of their days. Avishai himself had entered that period of stagnation and had given up hope of any further magical advancement in his remaining years.
But now, a new possibility had emerged. The Arcalai faction, or at least the main Arcalai family, had obtained some innovative technique or secret. Something incredible enough to push Ester to the Seventh Tier and allow two first-year students to surpass every other student in the academy within three months of enrolling. If he could learn what it was, he might be able to reach the Fifth Tier, his lifelong ambition.
It seemed many other magic users had thought the same. While they were too terrified to visit Ester and ask her to share her secrets, they must have thought they could get somewhere with academy students. For a time, renowned magic users from all over the kingdom had flocked to the academy, trying to meet with Saki and Ruria. We're just as eager to know as you are, he thought. The academy had turned most of them away on the pretext that it would interfere with the students' studies, but just dealing with the requests had nearly paralyzed its operations.
So what about him, a professor at the academy? Despite the difference in status between professor and student, they lived in the same place, so contact should be easy. But the reality was that the Arcalai faction's professors had formed a tight circle around the two, preventing others from getting close. Chief Professor Ahab Azadh and Rehoboam Hazza, a fellow member of the Ten Sages, were particularly protective, making it extremely difficult to make a move.
"Still, I cannot afford to give up."
Placing the empty goblet gently on the sideboard, Avishai spoke these words and, with a thought, extinguished the magical light illuminating his room.
This is the forty-ninth chapter. My apologies for the many delays. I believe I will be able to explain the reason for them soon. I look forward to your continued support.