chapter 5
5 – Meteor Ice Magic (5)
“Is this the Glacia School lecture room?”
“Yes, come in. We welcome auditors today.”
“Wow, it’s really here.”
“It hasn’t started yet, right?”
Sometimes rumors spread terrifyingly fast.
Those who clicked on the photo added to the timetable soon discovered that the name of Vina’s castle was ‘Niflheim’.
It meant that she was the direct descendant of ‘Milone Freya de Niflheim’, a pureblood member of the Glacia School and one of the Seven Sages.
Realizing that the target of the demonstration lecture was all the trainees, everyone started moving.
“Can trainees also attend this?”
“There shouldn’t be a problem.”
“How does Meteor use ice magic?”
“Well, I’m not sure…”
With the news quickly spreading through the gallery, the Epsilon Hall became crowded.
Some people who came out of curiosity from other schools had to stand at the back.
At this point, I had done everything I could to help.
Without waiting any longer, Vina started the lecture right on time.
Contrary to the expectation of a verbose story about Meteor, she floated small ice orbs.
“In the magic tower, there are seven schools of magic and over a hundred families surrounding them.”
Summoning, alchemy, elements, astrology, spirits, divine, and solar.
“The essence of magic that I will explain in this lecture is a concept separate from the rituals of schools or families. Derived from elemental studies, it may use the simplest methods, but if mastered, it can be applied to any field.”
Extreme magic.
Vina, who introduced herself in such a way about the content she would lecture on, moved a single ice sphere on her hand towards the ceiling of the lecture hall.
The sphere that captivated everyone’s attention soon emitted a tremendous burst of heat and steam with a loud boom.
The manifestation of magic, which was accomplished without any formulas or incantations, hinted at her exceptional skill.
“By injecting an extreme state into a single element, a new concept is established.”
“This is….”
“Boiling ice, that’s what I call it.”
The essence of extreme magic was to solidify two incompatible qualities.
Certainly, if that thing were to fall from the sky, it would have the destructive power of a meteor.
At the same time, it was clear that it was a considerably difficult magic.
Listening to Vina’s explanation beside her, I realized that I had seen this magic somewhere before.
During my days as an adventurer, there was a time when I captured a dark magician who had a bounty on his head.
That guy, known as the “Mountain Burner,” had a bizarre ability to turn nearby shrubs into ashes with a single gesture.
“Now that I think about it, that was also extreme magic.”
No matter how much water was poured or sand was sprinkled, the wildfire did not go out.
It was even quite a challenge to capture him because he had hidden himself within a mountain range.
“As opposing attributes exist as a single phenomenon, there can be no gaps in the combination of elements. The concept itself is difficult, and most importantly, you must be able to thoroughly control the magic in an unstable state, so shortcuts won’t work.”
“If it’s cheating….”
“For example, the ‘Scales of Imposed Fate’ in astrology or the ‘Prayer’ in sacred magic. It also refers to methods such as the Elementalists entrusting a portion of their calculations to the spirits.”
A more detailed explanation followed regarding the interconnection between different types of magic.
Before they knew it, everyone in the classroom was paying close attention to each gesture and sentence that came from Vina’s hands and mouth.
At first, I thought it was just my inferiority complex towards the ice dispenser, but it seems that the gallery and real life are different realms indeed.
I may not know anything else, but I must never reveal my true identity.
As I took a step back and pondered on another thought, she suddenly called out to me.
“I’ll summarize the principles and theories for now. Before we move on to practical training, the teaching assistant will demonstrate it first.”
“Yes?”
I was caught off guard by this unexpected turn of events.
As I stepped onto the stage, Vina extended her hand as if to hold me back.
“I can’t use extreme magic.”
“It’s okay, I’ll assist with the calculations by your side. Don’t worry about combining the spells, just focus on getting the feel for it.”
The naive and innocent mage seemed to believe that anyone could immediately apply the theory once they understood the principles.
Reluctantly, I grabbed her cool hand. Fortunately, it seemed that I could meet her expectations this time.
“You have an interesting way of using magic. But without self-confidence, it will easily crumble.”
“Self-confidence?”
“Magic is essentially belief. You have to be confident enough to boldly claim that Meteo is an ice magic, in order to overcome cognitive dissonance and withstand the phenomena.”
The elements that make up fire are diverse. Smoke, temperature, light.
Expanding the scope with trees and mountains brings about even more variables.
The sound of trees burning, people screaming, shadows of animals running, the moment the wind changes.
“If even one of those is covered with irrationality, is it possible to believe that the mountain is on fire?”
“That’s right.”
“You’re not listening at all, Clark.”
“The lecture is over. What do you want to say?”
“I want to extinguish the fire. Establish the same state as the extreme of that mountain range right now.”
She was the most exceptional magician I knew.
That thought didn’t change before entering the tower, and it didn’t change after entering.
I didn’t know difficult words, but I understood the meaning behind the smile that followed.
“Even if I don’t see it, I can hit the target, right? Your aim is impeccable.”
Recalling that sensation from back then, I lightly drew in a breath and spat it out through my mouth. Just like extinguishing a candle.
“What, what is it!?”
“Eek!”
Then, all the lights in the classroom went out and pitch-black darkness descended.
At the same time, a message appeared on the location note that I had never seen before.
—–
[System: Dark Mode has been activated.]
—–
*
[Did the update come out!!!!!]
Just now, Dark Mode was added. You can choose it in the settings tab.
– For real? That’s awesome.
– I trusted our Ju-ddak! I trusted our Ju-ddak!
– I believed in it!! I believed in it!! I believed in it!!
– Now I can gall in the night… and sleep comfortably…
– Is it because I can’t sleep at night that I gall?
[I’m sorry for suspecting Ju-ddak……]
To Jinseong, the dedicated gallery dweller who spends 20 hours a day on the gallery,
I thought you were a fake personality who enjoyed manipulating others with multiple clones,
but you were actually preparing such a gift.
I worship you, Goat.
– Suddenly, I feel amazed by Ju-ddak, who galls for 20 hours a day, even pulling all-nighters and adding new features to the gallery…
– But isn’t everything written above true? LOL
[They say using Dark Mode worsens eyesight]
According to a recent paper presented at a conference, when the light is dim, the pupils expand in order to better identify text, which actually increases eye fatigue.
Do those of you who use dark mode have a reason for it?
— Yeah, shut up. I’ll use it during the day too.
— Whether it’s my eyesight or whatever, I want to use it lolololol.
— My eyes are fine, you know? Maybe you just have a bad relationship with your eyes lololol.
—–
—–
[Did only I experience a momentary power outage on the entire first floor just now?]
It couldn’t have been caused by demons, right?
—–
Although the lights in the classroom went out and it took longer than expected, Vina’s first lecture ended successfully.
Contrary to my lack of knowledge about dark magic, I successfully performed magic in one go, and she seemed to shine as an excellent leader.
There were also bold students who asked me to hold their hands in the middle.
Unlike the demonstration, Vina refused, saying that this was something they had to do themselves.
As I watched the busy trainees, receiving applause and cheers, and adjusting the schedule, I also confirmed the newly added feature.
Dark mode. It wasn’t intended for this kind of use, but it was a meaningful harvest.
“It’s interesting.”
“Yes, especially the fact that the chromaticity values that maximize this cyan hue are adjusted according to the user’s eyesight…”
“You’re talking about the magic of the supervisor.”
“Oh.”
As Vina and I walked through the corridor after leaving the classroom, she talked about the extreme magic I showed her.
In her calm eyes, like a still lake, curiosity spread like shallow ripples.
“‘Invisible Light.’ It’s intuitive and highly practical. You came up with it in such a short time.”
“I wouldn’t have been able to come up with it on my own. It was possible because of your help, Bina-nim.”
“The important thing is the idea. Skill can be built through practice, but this kind of application isn’t written in books. You’re amazing, Sa-gam.”
“Do you think so?”
“Yes. You’re a rare specimen, knowing a lot of knowledge that I don’t, solving any problem easily, and having unique ideas.”
The gloved hand she had just held tapped lightly on her lips as the magic elevator arrived.
She quickly realized what the quick-witted mind, beyond the reach of ordinary people, had been pondering for so long.
“Well then, I’ll take my leave.”
“Sa-gam.”
“Yes?”
“I need a servant to work at my mansion on the B1 level of Biwon.”
Those who have mastered the pinnacle of magic often lack consideration for others and become absorbed in their own world.
One of my few advantages is being able to understand their nonsensical talk perfectly.
“In that case, you can request appropriate personnel from the domestic affairs department. Or you can arrange a contract with an external company.”
“They need to be proficient in magic, participate in research, and above all, someone I can trust.”
“In that case, there’s a labyrinth on the 1st basement floor where graduate students live. You can bring someone from there.”
“I’ve already found someone.”
However, I didn’t anticipate this kind of proposal.
“Sa-gam, won’t you come with me?”
“….”
“The headmaster is still on the first floor of the beginning. This is undoubtedly a chance that will never come twice in a lifetime.”
Vina waited for my answer inside the elevator.
The act of a pure-blooded magician pressing a button for someone else was an unimaginable consideration.
Perhaps that’s why her slightly raised chin and the reminiscing cheeks seemed to hold a hint of confidence.
It was an understanding that I would not stay in the dormitory, where I had to go around dealing with this noisy, old, and fictional inconvenience.
“Hmm….”
There was no need to hesitate for long.
I opened the notebook that I had been looking at the whole time we were together for the first time.
And I gave my answer to the proposal that I would never refuse if I wasn’t a fool.
*
Dadohae (多圖海). The eighth staircase on the 50th floor called the Bamboo Garden.
Christina, standing on the staircase of the library where countless books poured down like a waterfall, received a summons from the librarian.
It was because her friend had violated one of the two rules that existed here.
“Even if you’re Milone’s successor, you’re not allowed to sleep in the library. This is an issue unrelated to climbing.”
“hahahaha, I-I’m sorry…! She seems a bit heartbroken…!”
Christina chuckled as she looked at Vina, who had been lying face down on the desk and hadn’t had a thought for twenty hours.
And to seek forgiveness from the strict librarian, she poured out her grievances like pouring seasoning.
“It seems like she got rejected by a guy. It was the first time she mustered up the courage and got turned down.”
“So what? Every meeting has a parting, just like the contents of this book.”
“No, no! Listen to me! I asked him to stay because we would provide him with a home and a job, but do you know what that man said in response? He said he couldn’t come because he felt guilty about the ice water dispenser we recently acquired!”
“What?”
“Well, he said that the ice water dispenser we bought was going to waste!”
A pair of white pupils peeked out from behind the bangs that covered her forehead.
Christina let out a relieved sigh, grateful that the “Collector of Seopyo” hadn’t chased them out of the 58th floor.
“So, the ice water dispenser took priority?”
“It did!”
“That’s unfortunate.”
“I know, right? So please, just let it slide this time, please!”
Thanks to her friend’s tearful shield, she could stay in the dormitory until her swirling thoughts settled.
Being recommended five romance novels handpicked by the librarian was an extra bonus.