HSTAV 48

Chapter 48

“Carmon!”

Professor Pellen screamed without realizing it as he watched the scene unfold.

Taken aback by his sudden outburst, Dean Elmon turned his gaze toward the stage—just in time to see someone rush up to the host and whisper something into his ear.

Then—

“Ladies and gentlemen, please give a warm round of applause to welcome our next participant! Here comes the student who prepared this magical demonstration—Carmon!”

The host’s quick wit smoothed over the sudden disruption perfectly.

“Now, I’ve just been told that this student will begin the research presentation with a live demonstration. Oh, and by the way, don’t forget—this magician is a first-year student of our academy, often called our divine prodigy! Carmon, please come up to the stage!”

The seamless tone of the host led several scholars in the audience to clap instinctively.

“That’s quite an effective bit of stage direction. It’s caught everyone’s attention.”

“What good is showmanship? We came to see research results.”

“Come now, don’t be so harsh. Magical demonstrations are part of research presentations.”

“Still, this kind of spectacle doesn’t sit right with me. It feels like our entire field is being turned into entertainment…”

The audience soon divided into two camps: those who supported Professor Pellen and those who didn’t, each exchanging opinions.

But soon someone spoke again.

“So, the magic this student will perform is called the Nine Rings of Fire, right?”

“Yes, that’s the one I was most curious about.”

“Wait… that student’s name sounds familiar.”

As someone muttered this, another person, who knew more, spoke sharply.

“Isn’t he the one involved in that infamous attempted assassination of the princess? The eldest son of House Veid—disowned after the incident.”

“Ah, the so-called magical prodigy?”

“Prodigy? Hardly. He’s just a criminal.”

It seemed that Carmon Veid’s reputation had spread even among these scholars and VIPs, and the murmurs were far from kind.

“Whoever approved putting such a troublemaker on stage should be held responsible.”

“Well, nothing’s gone wrong yet… but if something does happen, there’ll be consequences.”

Of course, their criticisms weren’t really aimed at the student himself.

Their true target was the head of the Imperial Academy’s Magical Society—the very same Professor Pellen Zavier.

“…”

And yet, amid all the noise, one man remained silent, his gaze fixed solely on the stage.

‘Nine Rings of Fire.’

The one who had caused all of this.

Saviel Partizan—one of the Seven Table and the master of the Tower of Glagos—repeated the name of the spell in his mind.

It was a very simple spell, yet also extremely destructive and direct.

‘It requires an enormous amount of mana, yes—but more importantly, it demands delicate control, endurance, and mental focus.’

Unlike other high-level spells that were difficult because of complexity, this one was difficult because of the precision needed to cast it.

Even apprentice mages newly admitted to the Tower often struggled to form even a single ring of it.

‘And a mere student plans to perform this? No matter how well-prepared he is, I’ll see for myself.’

Then he muttered softly,

“Don’t disappoint me, Pellen Zavier.”

Though no one knew it, Pellen had once been Saviel’s disciple. Now, the master looked upon the student’s student—Carmon Veid—who appeared at the entrance.

‘And if that boy truly succeeds in casting it… that, too, will be interesting.’

‘W-What the hell is going on?’

As I pushed open the doors and stepped in, hundreds of eyes turned toward me at once.

Then came the host’s booming announcement and the audience’s reaction, and my nerves spiked again.

“Uh… right, so this is…”

After three days of racing nonstop to reach the academy, I’d just barely arrived on time—apparently perfectly on time.

‘Unbelievable timing. Like something straight out of a movie.’

I had shown up exactly when my part was supposed to begin.

“Carmon, what are you doing? Please come up on stage!”

At the host’s second call, I had no choice but to step forward.

Thud.

For some reason, my footsteps sounded thunderous in my ears.

“…”

With everyone’s eyes fixed on me—and most of them seasoned magicians—I suddenly felt like I couldn’t breathe.

“Okay. Focus.”

I shook my head hard to clear it, then looked down at the orb in my hand.

‘I’ve done everything I can to prepare.’

I’d memorized the formulas, learned the casting methods, and secured the “orb” that would let me use mana.

A little time to catch my breath would’ve been nice, but hoping for that now was pointless.

‘Even with more time, there’s nothing else I could’ve done anyway.’

Maybe a few practice runs—but that was it.

Whether this worked or not… all that mattered now was focusing on the spell itself.

I recalled the theory behind the Nine Rings of Fire, which I’d drilled into my head a hundred times.

‘To create a single ring of mana, you must control the flow precisely. If you can shape a circulating flow, the ring’s form will stabilize according to your mental image…’

Once you make one ring, you move on to the next, then another, slowly stacking them.

“…Let’s do this.”

With that, I pulled off my gloves.

I’d discovered earlier that the orb only worked with direct skin contact.

Holding it barehanded, I closed my eyes and focused.

Vrrrrmmm…

“Ugh!”

In response, the orb began to draw mana from me.

Keeping my eyes shut, I followed the flow, just as the book described.

Something was moving—just to the right of my heart.

‘So this is mana…’

For the first time, I could actually feel it.

Then—

Fsssh!

‘Huh?!’

The stream of mana toward the orb suddenly wavered.

It lasted only a split second, but I sensed it—and seized the opportunity.

The once-passive flow began to bend, ever so slightly, under my will.

‘Got it!’

Following the formula, I shaped the mana into a circular flow around the orb’s core.

In my mind, I envisioned a blazing ring of fire—thick, powerful, radiant.

‘Bigger than the flaming hoops circus lions jump through!’

“…!”

Mana rushed out of me like a torrent toward the orb.

Then—

“It’s a fire ring!” someone shouted.

But I didn’t stop there.

‘One isn’t enough. The spell’s called Nine Rings of Fire, after all.’

I focused again, imagining nine more rings forming in sequence.

Whoooosh!

A violent tremor surged through my body—as though every ounce of energy I had was being drained into the orb.

“Hhh—!”

My limbs went weak.

Then I heard stunned voices.

“N–Nine rings! There are really nine of them!”

“A-Are they supposed to be that big?”

I opened my eyes.

And before me—

Fwoooosh!

Nine enormous, blazing rings hovered in the air—each larger and more vivid than anything I had imagined, intertwined and burning brilliantly.

I stared, stunned, and whispered,

“I… I actually made that?”

Carmon Veid—no, Kang Hyun-su—had just cast his first spell.

The Nine Rings of Fire.

Despite the breathtaking magic before them, the audience was silent.

The nine fiery rings hanging in the air meant far too much for words.

Then—

Clap clap clap clap!

“He really did it.”

Saviel’s voice broke the silence, accompanied by his calm applause.

Others soon followed.

“Unbelievable. I didn’t think this was even possible.”

“I’ve never seen rings that thick or that bright. And a student did that?”

“A first-year student, no less.”

The murmurs grew louder with each passing second.

While the crowd buzzed, Saviel leaned toward Dean Elmon and spoke quietly.

“Dean Elmon.”

“Yes, Master of the Tower. What is it?”

“What was the name of the student who performed just now?”

“Carmon. Formerly the eldest son of House Veid—disowned and stripped of his title.”

“Ah, disowned, was he?”

Saviel’s tone carried faint amusement, and Elmon immediately sensed where this was heading.

“He’s an exceptional talent with tremendous magical potential. But… there have been some behavioral issues. He’s difficult to guide.”

“Hahaha. Talent often comes with a difficult temperament, does it not?”

“Still, as long as he remains our student, we’ll do our best to educate him. Perhaps I can arrange an introduction someday.”

“An introduction? No need. Simply…”

Saviel smiled faintly and shook his head. Then he took something from his robes and handed it to the dean.

“If the chance arises, give this to him.”

“T-this is…?”

Elmon’s eyes widened.

In his hand lay a small pendant glowing faint blue.

“S-such a precious item—for a mere student?”

“If someone under twenty can perfectly cast the Nine Rings of Fire, then surely he deserves the right to meet me in person.”

The pendant Saviel Partizan handed over was a token reserved only for those granted a private audience with him—the Master of the Tower of Glagos, one of the Seven Table.

“Well then, I’ll see you at the banquet later, Dean Elmon.”

With that, Saviel turned and walked away, leaving the dean staring blankly at the pendant glowing softly in his hand.