The personal rooms assigned to each student were surprisingly spacious and comfortable.
It seemed that even though the skull headmaster didn't provide much else, he hadn't gone so far as to take away their personal rooms.
Of course, this was only Lee Han's perspective. At that moment, the other nobles were likely staring in horror at the barren, empty state of their rooms.
- "Is… is this where beggars live?"
- "Did someone rob my room or something?"
*Thud-*
With nothing but a desk, a chair, and a bed, the room felt even larger due to its emptiness.
Lee Han began by organizing the clothes he'd been given, setting his belongings neatly in a corner, and pulling out a book.
*About Einroguard*.
It was a thin book handed to each student before entering, containing a brief explanation of the school.
'Mandatory courses must be taken, but the rest are free to choose. For the first month, you can wander around, check out lectures, and decide what's good…'
The school seemed strict in some ways but offered freedom in others.
Once admitted, they didn't care what the students chose to study.
- *A mage is one who seeks the truths of the world. Even with the help of seniors and mentors, you must forge your own path. Osu Gonadaltes.*
'So the headmaster's name is Osu Gonadaltes.'
Learning something he didn't particularly want to know, Lee Han finished his tasks roughly and stood up.
Since he'd been told he could visit the first-year lounge earlier, he figured he'd go there and chat a bit.
* * *
"I want to learn alchemy."
Yoner was already there waiting. Spotting Lee Han's arrival, she waved cheerfully.
"Alchemy?"
"Yeah. I've been interested in it since I was back with my family. My dream is to set up my own workshop and supply the imperial court."
"That could make some good money."
"Want to join me?"
"Hmm. Let me think about it. An alchemy business isn't exactly easy."
Lee Han didn't jump at the offer.
Just as Yoner had been interested in alchemy since her family days, Lee Han had been interested in business since his own.
Alchemy sounded impressive, but the empire's alchemy industry was fiercely competitive.
Guilds of skilled alchemists were locked in brutal battles to seize market share.
Free potions for adventurer guilds, spreading bad rumors about rival guilds' potions, monopolizing herbs used as potion ingredients to choke out the competition—the list went on.
Each rumor was so vicious it couldn't help but inspire fear.
'Maybe something stable would be better after all.'
Lee Han's primary goal was to become an imperial official—a civil servant.
Whether in the past or present, being a civil servant was never a bad gig.
"So what are you interested in?"
"Me?"
The question caught Lee Han off guard.
Because…
'I was planning to take courses with low competition and easy grades.'
Scholarship or not, the grades earned here would become part of his credentials once he left.
Naturally, Lee Han couldn't afford to ignore that.
"Since we've got a month, I figured I'd look around and decide. You shouldn't judge anything too hastily, after all."
"Wow… That's impressive."
"??"
Lee Han looked at Yoner, puzzled by what she found impressive.
Was it really that big a deal?
"Most people come in with an idea of the magic they want to learn—something that suits their taste. But that's not always the best approach…"
You couldn't know which magic suited you until you tried it.
Forcing yourself to learn magic you weren't suited for was far less efficient than it seemed.
A mage pursuing truth needed to know when to set aside stubbornness and choose a better path.
But as humans, people had desires—and with desire came the urge to follow the path they wanted.
Letting go of that wasn't easy.
"Is that another Wardanaz family rule?"
'Why does everything I say get tied back to the Wardanaz family?'
Lee Han was dumbfounded.
He hadn't noticed it while living within the family, but stepping outside made him realize the weight his family name carried.
Take the fearful looks from the Black Turtle Tower students earlier, for instance…
Perhaps the Wardanaz family's image was far stronger than he'd ever imagined.
"We're in trouble!"
"??"
Gainando arrived late, shouting in a panic.
"What's wrong?"
"I think my room got robbed! There's nothing in it!"
"…"
*Understanding Basic Magic*.
It was a mandatory course for all first-years at Einroguard.
It seemed exclusive to Blue Dragon Tower students, as no one from the other towers was present.
"Everyone looks weird."
"They're hungry, sleepy from not resting properly, and irritated by these rough clothes."
Gainando nodded in agreement with Yoner's explanation.
When he woke up early that morning, Gainando had thought yesterday was a dream.
He'd fully expected warm white bread slathered with fresh butter and a steaming bowl of chicken and spice soup to be served.
But it wasn't a dream. What greeted Gainando upon rising was hard black bread, a tough rice ball, and a cup of cold water.
'I thought it was fine…'
Lee Han mused to himself.
Though he'd lived comfortably since being born into the Wardanaz family, his original life had been one of extreme hardship.
- "Uh… Did I hear that wrong, senior? If we work from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., when do we eat?"
- "Here. An energy bar. It's for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, so ration it."
- "…You're kidding, right?"
- "Don't snap at me. I've got to survive on energy bars too. But when it's over, a feast awaits."
- "If you say instant ramen, I'll kill you."
- "…Sorry. It's instant ramen."
- "…"
- "But there's triangle kimbap too…"
'Hmm. This might actually be better.'
But aside from Lee Han, all the Blue Dragon Tower students looked utterly drained.
Just one day at the school had done this to them.
*Creak-*
The *Understanding Basic Magic* lecture hall was on the first floor of Einroguard's main building.
A small kindness from the school, considering the new students.
The higher the floors, the more likely first-years were to get lost.
"…Uh…?"
"Did we… come to the wrong place?"
"No, you're in the right spot. Come on, everyone, take a seat."
Lee Han was puzzled as the students stopped at the door, whispering among themselves.
What was going on?
The answer came quickly.
There was a troll inside the lecture hall.
"…"
"…"
"Hurry up and come in!"
"Uh… um…"
The students hesitated, wearing expressions mixed with fear and dread, before stepping into the lecture hall.
A troll.
Even students who had spent their entire lives sheltered within their noble families had at least heard of them—vicious and brutal monsters.
And now, such a troll was standing before them, dressed like a professor. It was only natural for them to be bewildered.
Was this really a lecture hall? Or was it a troll's buffet?
"Well then, I should introduce myself first. I am Garcia Kim. A half-troll. I know you're all scared, but there's no need to be. I don't eat people… unless I'm absolutely starving."
"..."
"That was a joke… but maybe I shouldn't have said it."
As the atmosphere grew even colder, Garcia looked genuinely apologetic.
"Alright! Our headmaster always says this: time is the greatest treasure. Let's begin the lecture."
Garcia waved his staff. Immediately, the students, who had been awkwardly standing around, found themselves swept into their seats as if by an invisible force.
"You are the seeds of magic, chosen to bear the title of Iron. Some of you—arrogant or reckless ones—may have secretly tried using magic before. But for most of you, this will be your first experience. This lecture will teach you what magic truly is and help you find the magic that suits you best.
The path of magic is a narrow and arduous road, one you must walk alone. But before you embark on that journey, I hope to be your guiding compass."
Hearing the troll professor's gentle words, the students' tense expressions gradually softened.
'He's already a hundred times better than that skeleton headmaster.'
"Now then, let's start with the basics. What is magic?"
Adenarth, the imperial princess, answered in a cold voice.
"It is the act of changing the world through the will of the mage."
"Correct. Bending the world to a magician's will. The real question is, 'How?' How do we change the world?"
"With the power of mana?"
"Excellent. Magic, mana… We borrow this fundamental power to shape the world. Everyone here should already be able to sense mana and be aware of the magic within themselves."
The students nodded.
Since this academy only accepted those with innate talent, they had all at least awakened to their magic.
"But that is only the beginning. To use magic, you must go further. You must summon your magic through sheer will, weave it precisely, and finally, manifest it.
People often say that magic requires incantations, gestures, or reagents… but the most important thing is willpower. A magician's own will. Never forget that.
Of course, you will need spells and gestures for now—you are still inexperienced. Now, I've talked too much. You're getting sleepy, aren't you? Let's try it firsthand. Take out your wands and gather your magic."
Wooooong—
A wave of magical energy spread throughout the vast lecture hall.
The young magicians each began drawing out their inner power.
Ihan, too, focused, channeling his magic into his wand. The mana inside him flowed out and condensed at the tip of his staff.
"Now, while maintaining that power… do not lose concentration! Imagine the image of light. Whatever light means to you—bright, warm, radiant—it doesn't matter."
Grunts of effort began to fill the air.
Controlling magic was like trying to rein in a wild, rampaging horse.
A single lapse in focus, and it would all scatter.
"Hold onto that image… and speak. Say anything. 'Light!' 'Brightness!' 'Radiance!' Whatever incantation comes to you naturally."
"Light!"
"Bright light!"
"A light more dazzling than the sun, as glorious as my own honor!"
"Don't use overly long incantations! At your level, long spells will only break your focus."
Gathering mana, shaping it with willpower, and sealing it with an incantation—this was magic.
Ihan felt like he was starting to understand it.
Of course, that didn't mean he could do it right away.
Boom! Bang! Pffft!
"Urgh!" "Ugh!" "Ahh…!"
Cries of pain rang out as students failed their spells.
Garcia chuckled and waved his staff.
Failing a spell could cause the accumulated mana to lose control, lashing out and harming the caster.
It was the professor's job to prevent that from happening.
"Alright. Don't be afraid of failure, don't panic… This is how everyone starts. As long as you have mana left in your body—again!"
Second attempt.
More explosions, more groans.
Garcia smiled inwardly.
Even this simplest spell—'Glow'—usually took over a month to master.
Magic was that difficult.
But he had no intention of telling the students that.
That was something they needed to learn through experience.
"Again!"
Third attempt.
Some students began collapsing from exhaustion, their mana drained.
Magic consumed far more energy than they had expected.
More than half of them slumped to the floor, panting.
"Again!"
Fourth attempt.
Only a few lucky or skilled students remained standing.
"Again!"
Fifth attempt.
"Again!"
Sixth attempt.
"Again!"
Seventh attempt.
"Um… Professor? I'm really sorry to interrupt, but… are we just going to keep going?"
It was only then that Garcia noticed something unusual.
Normally, training would stop at the fourth or, at most, fifth round.
But somehow, one student was still standing after the seventh.