"Alright, I think I've memorized everyone's names," Leith said. "By the way, who is the class representative and secretary here?"
Several students glanced at one another.
Nicola Storm and Viola Storm immediately stood from their seats.
"I'm the class representative, sir," Nicola replied calmly.
"And I'm the secretary," Viola added with a confident smile.
"I see."
Leith picked up an attendance book from the teacher's desk and handed it to Nicola.
"Please take care of this. Every week, come to my office and report the class's progress."
"Understood, sir," Nicola answered.
Viola accepted several documents that Leith handed to her.
"If a student breaks the rules or causes trouble, should I report them immediately?"
"Depends on the problem."
The flat response drew a few chuckles from the class.
Viola blinked.
"So I'm not allowed to punish them myself?"
"No."
"What a shame."
"Viola."
Nicola immediately called her out.
"I'm joking."
"I hope so."
Leith observed the two of them for a few seconds.
"The class representative and secretary are usually examples for the other students. I hope the two of you can work together well."
"Of course," Nicola replied.
Viola shrugged.
"As long as he isn't too boring."
"And as long as you don't cause trouble."
"Hm."
Viola clicked her tongue softly before returning to her seat.
Nicola let out a small sigh and sat down as well.
Leith picked up a piece of chalk and turned toward the board.
"Then let's begin today's lesson."
The classroom gradually fell silent.
"This is the syllabus for this semester. Before we begin, I'm curious about your Veyra levels."
Leith slowly paced across the front of the classroom while explaining the fundamentals of Syntara.
Liyn immediately became absorbed in taking notes on every word that left his mouth. The material felt completely different from anything she had studied before.
"Veyra is an energy generated through training. The higher a person's Veyra level, the greater their stamina and the amount of magic they can use."
"Magic...?" Liyn murmured quietly as she wrote.
She let out a long breath.
There was still so much she didn't know.
Far too much.
This was an era where Syntara had become the lifeblood of society.
The greater one's power, the closer one stood to victory, honor, and glory.
At the age of seven, every child underwent the Rite of Determination, an initial examination used to measure the strength of the Veyra flowing through their body.
Veyra itself was a natural energy born from the roots of life.
It grew alongside its owner's soul and could be strengthened through training, experience, and battle.
But not everyone was born equal.
Those whose Veyra measured below Level Five were considered untalented.
Their fate usually led down only two paths.
To become ordinary citizens who lived without Syntara.
Or to pursue strategic education in support of Syntara users from behind the scenes—as researchers, planners, resource managers, or decision-makers.
They lacked the power to fight.
Yet they still held a higher position than common civilians.
Because in this world, magic was everything.
And those born without sufficient Veyra had to find another way to survive beneath the shadow of great sorcerers.
"What is your Veyra level?"
The voice sounded incredibly close.
Liyn flinched.
The pen in her hand nearly slipped from her fingers as she quickly looked up.
They were standing far too close.
Leith was right beside her desk.
Those silver eyes stared at her seriously.
The same gaze she had seen that day by the window.
The discomfort she had managed to suppress returned immediately.
Liyn didn't know why.
But every time this man was near her, she felt as though she was being observed.
Not the way a teacher observed a student.
But like someone searching for an answer.
And what unsettled her even more was the fact that she herself had no idea what answer he was looking for.
For a brief moment, the classroom seemed to disappear.
There was only herself and that gaze.
Then Leith smiled faintly.
A small smile whose meaning was impossible to read.
Slowly, he leaned down closer to Liyn.
Instead of feeling nervous, Liyn felt the hairs on the back of her neck stand up.
Yet strangely...
She didn't look away.