abcnovels
Chapter 309 SIDE STORY 1: ACADEMY
Chapter 309 SIDE STORY 1: ACADEMY
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[Academy of Magic]
"What is the Academy of magical arts and Sorcery exactly?"
Standing in front of a blackboard while watching the students taking notes in the large amphitheater furnished with modern desks and seating arrangements, a man wearing a tuxedo with a stern expression on his face and slick black hair, combed with meticulous care, asked in a quiet yet powerful tone.
"In the past, it was a refuge for the unfortunate. A place where people with extraordinary powers outside of the Heart Chakra or contracts with angels could hide in the hopes of avoiding being hunted down by the vile humans. It was a safe haven where people from similar backgrounds shared their pain and suffering with each other while simultaneously protecting and being protected by others."
"Now though… It's one of the most prestigious institutions on this world and one worthy of all the respect that anyone can shower it with. Studying in this place should be an honor for all of you."
His voice was calm but one could see the anger evident in his voice, "Do you understand?" As he said so, he looked at a petite woman wearing a black robe.
"I understand."
"Then, if you understand this simple logic, pray to tell me, why were you sleeping in my class, Miss Kirishima? Or mayhaps my class was too boring for you? Are you perhaps not interested in the art of making potions, hmm? Or do you believe that you do not need to follow my lessons?"
The girl looked at him quietly before scratching her head and speaking in a helpless tone, "I am sorry prof it's just… you are showing us how to make an illusion potion."
His eyebows shot up and frowned before he spoke, " —And?"
"And you know…"
She didn't speak but waved her hand on her body causing him to nod in understanding.
"So you believe that due to your heritage, you do not need to learn any potion related to illusions. Is that it? Am I correct, Miss Kirishima?"
She cringed slightly at the sharp question that was thrown at her by the professor, "When you put it like that it does sound really bad."
"It's not bad. It's utterly stupendous."
His voice grew harsh for a split instant before he sighed visibly with his hands cupping his face a few times to calm down his agonizing mind,
"Still, I perfectly understand your reasoning. As you are still new to this world it's normal for you to make such beginner mistakes. Usually, you should have learned better as a child but it is what it is. We can't do anything about spilled water now, can we?"
Thinking slightly about what to do, he watched the class before asking, "Can anyone explain why the reasoning of Miss Kirishima here is dangerous and in fact, very deadly?"
Everyone looked at each other with visible flusters in their eyes until one woman finally raised her hand.
"Very well, Miss Osborn. We are listening."
"While the inherent illusion capacity of a succubus dwarfs all existing potions in terms of skills, the biggest disadvantage is the fact that it emits Mana."
"Wonderfully said, Miss Osborn."
He tapped his blackboard and a new formula manifested on it out of the blue, "Miss Sae, I have no doubt that you would be able to conjure powerful illusions despite your meager experience as a succubus, but did you realize… The whole classroom is already filled with my potion."
After waving his hand, a pink-like mist could be seen floating everywhere inside the classroom, as though it had manifested out of the blue, "From there, all I need is to add one more chemical and everyone would fall into an illusion. This is a very insidious way that even experimented hunter may not be able to notice."
He then sighed, "But respect must be given where it's due. If an illusion potion must be compared to a succubus' natural illusion magic, the difference is quite clear and the succubus would always win a hundred out of a hundred times. So I will give you a choice."
He pointed toward the door with his fingers before speaking in a steely tone, "Walk out, now. You will not be punished for your misconduct and your choice. I do not force students to learn what they do not want to. But I will also never teach you anything else about potions. I am sure the Principal can teach you more in this domain than I would ever be able to. Or just stay and focus if you decide to learn from this incompetent man, and in that case, I will ask for your undivided attention."
Sae did not even hesitate before speaking in a clear tone, "I am sorry once again and I will pay more attention."
The middle-aged man nodded his head with a huff and went back to his board, "Very well. Since we lost so much time because of this, everyone open page 310. We are going to learn about healing potions today."
He smiled as he looked at everyone, "Alchemy is a very expensive practice and the Healing potions are the bread and butter of it as the Hunter association and all independent guilds in the world always buy them in bulk from us. I will give you one week. The three who make the best healing potion will have their potion added to the next batch and from then on will be allowed to participate in real life operations of making potions."
His voice sparked a new wave of enthusiasm into the horde of students. After all, money was always a great motivator for anyone and everyone.
———
A few hours later, as Sae walked out of the classroom with her books, she couldn't help but sigh…
Dark circles were coloring the space beneath her eyes. She had been thrown in the classroom in the middle of the year and was trying her utmost to catch up to the curriculum almost every day.
"Seems like you are tired."
Someone hip-checked her and she gave a feeble smile at her friend, "Hi, Luvia. I am dead tired. I just wanna sleep already. For even 10 minutes. I just wanna sleep…"
The two of them started walking through the corridor and Sae could only marvel at the sights she registered in her head. No matter how she looked at it, she could not believe that the things that she was witnessing existed in real life.
After all— the academy was resting in the clouds high above in the sky.
It looked like a giant flying castle.
"This was created in a time when witches needed to hide. Aunt— I mean, The principal created this place with the help of the Grand Wizard Merlin and a few other wizards. It's a flying fortress floating in the cracks of another dimension."
Sae chuckled at those words, "If I knew that one day, I will hear about flying fortresses and alternate dimensions outside of movies or animes I would have slapped that person in the head for spouting nonsense."
Luvia gave her an encouraging smile, "You are adapting pretty fast. So, don't worry if you have a hard time catching up right now. The prof may be a little harsh but they all have a big heart."
"Don't worry, this is not nearly enough to put me down."
She joked while showing her arms that were devoid of any muscles. But Luvia knew very well that this small frame belied an incredible power that was hard to describe in words.
The succubi were one of the weakest races when it came to their physique as they focused on magic and illusion.
But this weakness was only relatively speaking to other supernatural races. When compared to humans, things changed completely and Luvia knew that those small arms of Sae were able to crush the skull of any human as easily as a sizzling hot kife cutting through butter.
"So, what is your next class?"
"Martial arts and yeah, Mages do learn martial arts. The first lesson we learn is to not always believe in magic."
Sae closed her mouth and gulped down the question that came up to her throat, "Haha. Yeah, who do you take me for. Of course, I knew that."
She gave an awkward laugh while cursing all the books and video games that made her believe that sorcerers had zero physical capabilities.
"Don't worry. This is a pretty common stereotype. But you will soon realize that many mages actually specialize in physical enhancement rather than long-distance magic."
It was faster, and safer, and it avoided the possibility of being one shot because of a lack of attention. In a way, one could say that martial art and enhancement magic as well as defense magic were the most basic and most necessary classes.
—If you were a human that is.
"You are going to flight classes, right?"
"Yep. Learning how to use my wings. I don't even understand how such small wings can help me fly."
"It's magic."
"Indeed…It's magic."
(AN: So as BOOK 1 ended, I plan to add a few side stories to flesh out different characters until the end of the month. Honestly won't be long. Only Seven Side story.
Like this, I start the new month with a new volume and I have the time to think about how to make Book 2 even more entertaining. Hope you will like it. The first side story will be about Sae then we will have Shuri and finally Cecilia. I know some may skip but I would be happy if you liked it.)