Surviving at the Magic Academy

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“Professor Ilian was a dragon.”

She even admitted it herself, so it must be a solid fact. A month had passed since she revealed her true identity to me, and in that time, another treasure had been unearthed through lectures.

But it was hard to wrap my head around the fact that my professor was a dragon. I figured others would find it just as hard to believe. Her secret was not just shocking, it was downright astonishing.

However, as she had said, nothing had really changed in the tower. The secret of her being a dragon was only known to me and Mira. I had no real reason to spill the beans to anyone else.

I was sure the number of people who knew this secret was minuscule. Suddenly, Professor Heisen crossed my mind. He had implored me not to breathe a word to anyone. Even now, his warnings echoed faintly in my mind.

“Embrace the grace of Professor Ilian in your soul, and devote yourself wholeheartedly. Live even if it means sacrificing your life, solely for her.” Those were his words.

Back then, I didn’t understand why he was telling me all this. But now, it was clear—his warning, or rather his advice, made sense.

Opportunities to be close to a high-tier creature like a dragon wouldn’t just drop into my lap. Professor Heisen undoubtedly knew about her identity, too.

A wave of gratitude washed over me. Thinking back, I had received a lot of help from Professor Heisen. Someday, I’d have to repay that kindness.

But how did he come to know about her true identity? Had he also received help from Professor Ilian? That was a mystery not meant for me to unravel.

All I needed to do was follow Professor Heisen’s advice and give my all to her. I steadied myself as I watched Professor Ilian gazing blankly out the window.

Beyond the wide window, the sun hung in the sky, splashing bright light and magic everywhere, as if signaling the present moment.

It looked like a brilliant halo was radiating from Professor Ilian. I quietly nodded to myself. Truly, she was the epitome of elegance, just like a dragon. I continued tidying up the table after observing her.

Had today’s meal satisfied her? I chuckled softly as I looked at the empty bowls. As I picked them up, a chill coursed up my hand. The bowls had been crafted solely for this dish.

This time, I’d prepared beef tartare made from frost serpents. To preserve its texture, I’d sliced ice thinly to create the bowl and etched it with patterns, enhancing the chill that clung tightly to the surface.

It seemed my efforts had paid off. After all, she had cleared several bowls, enjoying the taste.

Now, it was time to present her with dessert.

I quietly set a teacup before her. After pouring the tea, I topped it with a small pudding, created from the magic extracted from frost serpents at low temperatures.

The pudding swirled in the teacup like a serpent, while a strong aroma and chilly magic began emanating from it. Professor Ilian’s gaze naturally fell upon the teacup.

I smiled as I watched her. Just as she said, nothing had changed in the tower. Yet there was one thing that had shifted—my mindset.

The pull we felt towards each other stemmed from the magic of the original treasure. But now, what filled my heart was a genuine devotion towards her.

Honestly, she had looked after me in every possible way. Thanks to her, I had come to university, climbed levels, and even taken on the role of a chamberlain. Luxuries such as these were too grand for a wandering mage.

It seems my fondness for her had steadily grown since the first time I laid eyes on her. Yes, I realized from the very beginning that she was different from other mages. I nodded in agreement.

Thus, I had to express my gratitude through my actions. I watched her attentively, eyes wide open, wanting to see if there was anything that made her uncomfortable.

She quietly lifted her teacup and took a sip. A tiny smile appeared on her face, along with a light tapping of her feet on the floor. She seemed to quite enjoy the tea.

How could someone so undeniably adorable do such a thing while being a dragon? I quietly wondered about her true form. I’d never seen it, but it must be enormous, just like the tower. Such a being existed within her.

Of course, she appeared to be just a cute girl on the outside. Her physical form was indistinguishable from that of a human girl. Hence, I couldn’t fathom what her true form would look like, either.

Maybe this was a type of avatar and her true self was located elsewhere. But I quickly realized that wasn’t the case.

After hearing she was a dragon, I had diligently collected various traces from her, like saliva and hair. How could one pass up the opportunity to obtain dragon byproducts?

But this was undoubtedly an ordinary human body. It resembled something akin to a weed. There were no alien elements like wood. This body was the essence of her being; it was her and her alone.

She had undergone a sort of transformation. It was indeed astonishing. To convert dragon traits into human traits—that was a kind of metamorphosis.

She truly was a dragon. I had no choice but to follow her. And while I was at it, I might as well sneak in some treasures for myself.

Professor Ilian glanced over at me while sipping her tea, letting out a slight sigh. She set the teacup down, rested her chin in her hand, and frowned slightly. You could see a hint of irritation in her eyes.

“I keep telling you, don’t stare so much.”

I placed a hand on my chest and lowered my head in response. An overwhelming sense of guilt surged through me. How could I not have noticed? Apparently, I had been staring at her for far too long.

“I’m sorry. Just looking at you makes me so happy that I couldn’t help it.”

“I definitely made sure your head was on straight, so why are you acting like this…?”

Professor Ilian let out a bigger sigh and shook her head slightly, lifting her teacup once more.

I gently ran my fingers through my hair. I could feel a golden glow of magic swirling within. It had woven itself intricately, like a net, on one side of my head.

It was a sealing magic that Professor Ilian had engraved into me. As I continued to be enchanted by the magic of the treasure, she had left a little something in my head out of annoyance.

This magic prevented any force that would invade my thoughts. Thanks to that, I could now maintain a clearer mind than before. The attraction I felt towards her didn’t play a significant role anymore.

This could also be considered a stroke of fate. This golden web and its key function had safeguarded my mind, and that protection had been solidified. That fate originated from her, of course.

Thus, my devotion to her only deepened. How could I not follow someone who provided me with such rare magic? So, naturally, I found myself venerating her.

“Since we’re talking about heads, let me tidy up yours a bit, Professor. You’re taking it easy today, right?”

As I said this, I beamed at her. Professor Ilian shot me a sidelong glance, her face still a bit grumpy.

“Lately, it feels like you treat me way too casually.”

With that statement, her aura flickered subtly, as though some suspicion seeped through. I hurriedly lowered my head.

“What are you talking about? I’m merely honoring and respecting you from the bottom of my heart.”

“…It’s oddly suspicious. I just have this feeling something is off.”

Professor Ilian mumbled while fiddling with her teacup. Yet, she leaned back against her chair with utmost relaxation. It was the result of my constant efforts to assist her during this time. I quietly approached her.

“Pardon me for a moment.”

As I said that, I pulled a comb from my pocket. Professor Ilian cast a glance before closing her eyes. I carefully tended to her hair, while golden light flowed from my fingertips like silk.

With a reverent heart, I slowly organized it. The magic from the comb seeped into her hair, enhancing its luster. Professor Ilian subtly submitted to my touch.

Today, I planned to braid her hair neatly, something that would suit her well. Gradually, I arranged her locks.

This was a task that the butler had previously performed. But now, that guy had duties to fulfill on my behalf. I glanced at him. I could see him gently closing his eyes and harnessing magic.

His dragon-like face caught my attention first. I had initially thought it was just Professor Ilian’s preference, but now his presence made stark sense. Right, she’s a dragon, after all.

The butler moved closer to Professor Ilian and began to resonate with her magic. The resonance gradually amplified, and soon he was collecting the magic emanating from her.

He began to smoothly guide the flow of magic, creating a gentle stream. Professor Ilian’s weariness visibly eased, spreading comfort across her face.

This was a kind of fatigue-relieving practice, one that only he was capable of performing. His ability to absorb Professor Ilian’s magic allowed him to accomplish this.

As I lightly swept my hand over her hair, the magic flowed gently throughout her body.

Intriguing low purring sounds rumbled from her throat, almost like a satisfied cat’s purr.

Together with the butler, we delicately tended to her. The fatigue that had been enveloped in her body and magic gradually melted away. Even the doubts etched on her face evaporated.

In their place emerged a look of pure contentment. Thank goodness. This meant our service received her approval.

But my work wasn’t done yet. I continued my careful movements, providing gentle massages through various spells. Time flowed, and soon a gentle snore escaped from Professor Ilian. It seemed she had drifted into sleep.

That signified the end of my engagement with her today. I nodded slightly at the butler and quietly left that space. The rest could be entrusted to him.

Once I stepped outside Professor Ilian’s room, a smile crept onto my face.

And why not? Today’s harvest had been quite significant. I lightly patted the items held in my arms as I descended the stairs. The fourth floor, heading towards the workshop.

Upon entering the workshop, one thing caught my eye immediately. A massive cylinder situated right in the center was impossible to overlook. My heart began to race at its sight.

Inside the glass cylinder, a gray liquid filled halfway up. This magical liquid had been crafted with nearly all the magic energy I could muster over the past month.

I stared at the liquid level. It was noticeably lower than before I had left. I’d need to fill it up again. That merely indicated that it had absorbed a lot of what was inside.

Just then, someone gently wrapped an arm around mine. Before I could turn to see, a rich scent of roses hit me. Just from that scent alone, I instantly recognized who it was.

“Hehe, you’re here! How did your day go?”

I tilted my head slightly downward to meet Mira’s eyes. She smiled at me as our gazes locked. I nodded lightly.

“I think I got a bit closer to Professor Ilian today. All thanks to you, Mira. And I also had some harvests.”

As I spoke, I pulled a small bundle from my pocket. I partially unfolded it to show her. Golden strands shimmered within. Professor Ilian’s hair!

Besides that, the bundle contained many other items, like freshly trimmed nails. All derived from Professor Ilian. I looked down at them, smiling contentedly.

“You’ve brought more of these again….”

Mira clicked her tongue lightly. She leaned her head against me as we walked towards the cylinder. I carefully unwrapped the bundle before the magical circle etched in front of it.

After a moment, magic energy emitted from the circle and reached the bundle. The magic began to resonate with the contents inside, vibrating gently. The items slowly disintegrated and seeped into the cylinder.

As that happened, the liquid in the cylinder started to slosh around. Amidst that murky current, a small mass became visible. The powders began to cling to it, increasing its size.

This would surely become the result of my current project. No one could deny that fact. A small chuckle escaped me at that thought. Mira lightly patted my shoulder.

“I won’t say a word, but I think when Professor Ilian sees this, she’ll be quite shocked. She might even get very angry.”

Mira said. I quickly covered her mouth with my hand, glancing around nervously.

No matter how much the workshop was veiled in security magic, if Professor Ilian wanted, she could break through it in an instant. The tower was her domain, after all.

The magical energy enveloping the workshop displayed perfectly normal flow. This meant Professor Ilian wasn’t watching over this space.

Thus, it was no wonder Mira had brought it up.

I inspected the magic of the cylinder carefully as well. As long as she didn’t examine it closely, the things hidden within the magic liquid were layered and concealed. Everything was still functioning properly.

Clearing my throat lightly with relief, I relaxed.

Just as she said, if Professor Ilian found out what I was making, she would surely breathe fire. Perhaps she might even rip my soul out after a long time.

I gazed at the enormous cylinder before me. It contained a small mass that was devouring the magic. It resembled a sort of copy created from traces of Professor Ilian.

Previously, I had asked Professor Ilian several times about the transformation magic. That process was precisely the direction I was meant to pursue in my task.

But Professor Ilian claimed it was marked into her body. Hence, she wouldn’t be able to teach it.

That had sparked a bright idea in my mind. If it was marked into her body, then all I needed to do was create another body and stuff the doll inside.

The creation of that mass was borne from that idea. It was quite similar to when I once crafted a doll resembling Mira.

“But this, no matter how I look at it, doesn’t seem to align with the project’s intended direction.”

Mira remarked. I sneaked a glance at her. I felt that I was somewhat aware of that. Stealing a dragon’s methods seemed quite off. Surely, Professor On hadn’t considered this.

“Ahem, as long as I achieve success, does it really matter which path I take?”

I scratched my cheek absentmindedly. Hmm… I had to admit, I felt like I was diving into something big. But I was a mage too. My desire to know naturally pulled me in.

Well, that didn’t seem like it would be a genuine body anyway. That was better described as a type of meat doll, since it lacked many components. It couldn’t be classified as a human body.

Moreover, even if that was achieved, it would be nowhere near equal to Professor Ilian’s draconic self. The power held within would likely be inferior to the human girl she currently embodied. Just a mere shell.

But, it was precisely that shell I desired. I gazed at the gradually enlarging mass with sparkling eyes.

“I can’t help but worry about Professor Ilian.”

Mira said, leaning her head against my chest.

“Well, I won’t be the one getting scolded. Ebron doesn’t seem to have any intention of stopping, so I guess I’ll just enjoy watching from the sidelines.”

Being scolded? Surely that was out of the question. I just needed to create the doll before she realized it. As long as I didn’t get caught, all would be well. I repeated this mantra to suppress the ominous feeling.

And so, a month flew by again, and the day of Professor On’s lecture arrived.

Standing at the podium, I glanced at the other students. All of them wore expressions filled with intrigue.

“Now, please show us the doll.”

Professor On said, weariness illuminating his eyes. I bowed my head and quietly lifted the creature that had been sleeping within my grasp.

“Here it is.”

As I spoke, I carefully opened my palm. Inside lay a tiny girl, no bigger than my finger. As she felt the light, she rubbed her eyes and sat up, yawning softly.

I sent her a mental signal. She raised her arms up and quietly opened her mouth. A small sound escaped: a soft “meh.” On her back nestled a tiny shell.

 

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