DPAA 23

chapter 23

It was when I was quietly dozing off in the dormitory.

“I’m back!”

The door swung open abruptly, and Mei came running in cheerfully.

‘A Maltese…?’

I unconsciously scanned Mei’s head, wondering if she might have little white puppy ears.

When I first met her, she had seemed really timid in front of me, but after just one day at the academy, she had apparently adapted perfectly.

“Chloe invited me to join a study group, so I submitted a club application with some friends.”

“I see… Well, do your best.”

I doubted she would succeed, but I swallowed my trailing thoughts. Mei came and sat beside the bed where I had been lying.

“You know, unnie, someone said I look like you.”

“Where?”

I tilted my head.

Putting aside the fact that I had grown fond of Mei, we honestly didn’t look alike at all.

My hair could sometimes look silver in the sunlight, and while we both had light-colored eyes…

‘Hmm? Does that mean we do look alike?’

No, that’s not it. Even if the coloring is similar, we look entirely different.

Carnis Eskcliffe is far from cute, even as a compliment.

“They didn’t tell me specifically.”

“When did they say that?”

“Was it after second period?”

Mei tilted her head, resting a finger on her chin.

“They said I’m exactly like you.”

“Gah!”

I spat out the water I was drinking.

‘Second period is basic magic practice!’

Mei gently patted my back as I coughed.

“U-Unnie? Are you okay?”

‘Isn’t she really an idiot?’

That was just a polite way of calling you an idiot!

I stopped myself from shouting, deciding instead to protect this innocent little soul.

“I-I should go to the infirmary…!”

“Phew… No, I’m fine.”

“Really?”

“Yes.”

Of course I was fine.

Wiping the water from my mouth with my sleeve, I stared sharply at Mei.

“So, who was the kind person that said that?”

“It was a boy I don’t know. Um, I don’t really remember his name.”

Mei fidgeted her fingers in a sulky manner. I placed my hand over hers and laughed.

“Then next time you see him, make sure to tell me.”

I’ll make sure he never says something like that again.

“Yes!”

Mei responded brightly, oblivious to the deadly intent behind my words.

We had dinner together in the dorm, and I decided to turn in early, having learned from dozing off all morning.

Lying in the darkened room naturally led my thoughts to wander.

As I kept my eyes wide open, Mei spoke, perhaps unable to sleep like me.

“Unnie.”

“…Hmm?”

“This moment feels like a dream.”

Mei repeated something she had told me many times before.

If it were someone else, I might have gotten annoyed, but Mei’s words felt genuine and somehow ticklishly endearing every time I heard them.

I deliberately replied a little curtly to hide my reaction.

“It’s not a dream. I told you, I don’t make things like that.”

“…Yes, I believe you.”

I turned to look at Mei.

Her blue eyes shimmered softly in the dark.

“Everything you say, unnie, whatever it is, becomes real for me.”

“….”

“People say you can’t use magic… but to me, you are the greatest magician.”

My face instantly heated up, and I turned away sharply.

‘Damn it, saying something like that so casually…!’

What kind of kid even says that!

“Hehe.”

Mei let out a small laugh at my reaction.

And so, the first day at the academy drew to a close.

• Beep beep beep!

After sending Mei off and sleeping for another four hours, I woke up in time for the third period.

When I entered the classroom, I could hear soft murmurs, but nothing like yesterday’s commotion.

A man in his thirties with a warm demeanor walked into the classroom.

“Huh? You’re not Professor Ironton?”

A student in the front row asked.

The man smiled kindly and replied.

“Professor Ironton won’t be teaching this semester due to personal reasons. Instead, I will be in charge of your ‘Applied Combat Magic’ course.”

Several students cheered at the news.

“Great! I’ve been wanting to replace that professor for a while.”

“Last semester, he gave D grades to all the low performers, and they couldn’t even retake the course… Ugh.”

‘Aren’t you saying that too openly?’

I thought to myself, noticing it was audible to everyone.

The professor at the podium wrote his name on the board.

“My name is Nikolai. It’s not too important, but I’d appreciate it if you remembered it.”

Nikolai didn’t sound like an imperial name. He must have been invited from another country.

“Since this is the first class, let’s start with some simple questions instead of moving ahead with the syllabus.”

The students cheered quietly.

Apparently, whether in Korea or another world, students everywhere dislike studying.

“There are four main elements in magic. Who can tell me what they are?”

A blonde student in the front row raised his hand.

“Fire, Wind, Water, and Earth. These are the four basic elements. There are also rare magicians with talents in Light, Dark, Lightning, or Wood.”

He continued confidently, speaking clearly.

“Sometimes magicians with two elements can create entirely new ones. For example, if you can control both Wind and Water, you could create the Ice element. Similarly, combinations like Wind and Fire or Water and Lightning are advantageous.”

It was a perfect answer, exceeding the question. Professor Nikolai clapped and praised him.

“Exactly! Excellent answer. What is your name?”

“Dane Grace, Professor.”

Seeing the back of this young man, I almost dropped my book.

‘The original male lead?’

Dane Grace was a name I had seen countless times in the original novel.

‘Right, he’s the model student type.’

Handsome, well-behaved, top grades.

This perfect all-around student, Dane Grace, even wore thin silver glasses when reading—a detail I had liked.

His obsession with studying was such that he only became interested in the original heroine because of academic curiosity about healing magic.

“There are almost no Light or Dark magicians around us, and only about five percent of magicians can use Lightning. I am one of those.”

He made a circle with his fingers and sent a small current between his thumb and index finger.

A crackling sound sparked.

“Of course, I can do more than just lightning.”

This time, a small flame appeared in his hand. As a professor teaching ‘Applied Combat Magic,’ he specialized in offensive spells.

After demonstrating, he looked at the students and asked:

“I imagine some of you can use Lightning as well. Raise your hands if you do.”

Three students raised their hands, including Dane Grace.

I also raised my hand.

“What…!”

“Are you crazy?”

“If Eskcliffe has an element, it must be Null or something.”

“Hmph. Leave her alone. Anyway, in two days, the tournament will expose all these lies.”

Voices of dissent arose.

Dane Grace’s green eyes pierced straight into me.

Locking eyes with him, I ignored the hostile stares.

“Now then, gray-haired student, would you explain the principles of Lightning magic?”

“…Uh…”

The boy hesitated, blushing slightly.

“Does electricity… just sparking like that?”

“Puhaha!”

“What kind of explanation is that!”

Everyone laughed at his half-hearted explanation, including the professor.

“Ha ha! What a funny kid. That’s right. Talented magicians often fight instinctively, so they may not know the exact principles.”

He then became serious.

“But if you understand the principles precisely, you can perform more sophisticated and refined magic. Now, blue-haired girl, would you answer my question?”

It was my turn.

Some students were already giggling among themselves.

They obviously assumed I wouldn’t be able to explain.

And while everyone expected me to fail, I said:

“To use Lightning element magic, you must first make your body a single, unified conductor.”

I began answering calmly.