"Alright then, let's begin the 'Magic Acquisition' class. Everyone, please settle down."
A male instructor with gentle features appeared and announced the start of class.
The students, who had been buzzing about Yuri's explosive comment, finally quieted down.
"I'll be your instructor for Magic Acquisition. My name is Houston Valetis. I also serve as the homeroom teacher for Class B. I'll be with you for the next year, so let's work well together."
The instructor was a man of early middle age with glasses and white hair, dressed in a well-tailored suit.
He was nothing like Ms. Carder, the homeroom teacher for Class A—calm and mild-mannered.
"Now then... magic is something we mages use so naturally in our daily lives, but can anyone explain how it actually works when we cast it?"
Valetis addressed the entire class without calling on anyone in particular.
Students raised their hands here and there. Valetis picked one of them.
"Yes, you in the front row. Please state your name before answering."
"Yes, I'm Maurice Ruyi. When we use magic, we go through three steps: constructing the spell formula in our minds, loading mana, and then casting."
The student who had been called on—a serious-looking boy named Maurice—answered in a clear, confident voice.
"The spell formula is a geometric diagram called a 'magic circle.' By channeling mana into the circle we construct in our minds, magic is cast. Sometimes, incantations or magical tools are used to assist in constructing the diagram."
"Yes, very good. Maurice is correct."
Valetis smiled gently and nodded.
"Learning a new spell means memorizing the spell formula—the magic circle—and being able to reproduce it in your mind instantly. The more advanced the magic, the more complex the spell formula becomes, which is why it's difficult to use."
As Valetis continued his explanation, a female student raised her hand.
"Yes, you there."
"My name is Amy. I'm a commoner, so I don't have a family name. Teacher, what you're saying is—as long as I can memorize the spell formula, I can use any magic?"
"Of course, appropriate mana is necessary for the casting of magic. If you don't have enough mana to fill the spell formula you've drawn in your mind, the magic will either fizzle out or activate in an incomplete state. Moreover, memorizing the magic circle of complex advanced magic down to the finest detail and drawing it in your mind instantly requires considerable talent."
Valetis answered the student's question in a gentle tone.
"Additionally, each person has what's called 'magic output' and 'magic attribute.' Output refers to the amount of mana that can be released outside the body at one time, while attribute refers to which type of magic you're suited for."
He took a piece of chalk and began writing on the blackboard behind him, drawing several numbers and diagrams.
"Let's say there's a magic that requires one hundred mana to cast, but a person's output is only eighty. In that case, the magic will activate in an incomplete form with less power than intended. Also, if the user's mana attribute leans toward 'water,' then casting fire magic—the opposite of water—will similarly result in diminished power."
On the blackboard, he wrote 'Fire' at the top of a cross and 'Water' at the bottom. To the left and right, he wrote 'Wind' and 'Earth,' respectively.
Next to the cross, he drew an additional horizontal line, adding the words 'Light' and 'Darkness' to each side.
"Earth, Water, Fire, Wind, and then Light and Darkness. These six attributes are said to be the fundamental magic attributes. However, some people possess mana suited for magic not included in these attributes... for example, [Body Reinforcement] or [Healing]. If the magic belongs to your aptitude attribute, its power will be greater than usual."
Valetis surveyed the entire classroom... and smiled warmly.
"Now then, let's find out which attribute suits each of you. It's simple. You'll use the [Sphere] magic, which is the foundation of elemental magic."
Valetis distributed stacks of paper, cut into ten-centimeter squares, to each table.
"That paper is a simplified version of the device used to measure magic power, the same kind used during the entrance exam. It can measure the power of magic that touches the paper."
Valetis raised his index finger and cast magic. A fist-sized ball of fire appeared above his fingertip.
He gently pressed the paper against the fireball he had created, and the number '10' appeared on it.
"The basic power of [Sphere] magic is '10.' In other words, if a number higher than this appears on the paper, that's your aptitude attribute. If a lower number appears, it's an attribute you're weak in."
In other words, by touching the paper with [Sphere] magic of each of the six attributes, you could determine which attribute suited you best.
Since aptitude and weakness could be measured not by feeling but by numbers, it was extremely easy to understand.
"Now then, give it a try. Those who are able may also use [Lightning Sphere] or [Poison Sphere]. Be very careful when using your magic—don't injure the students around you."
Permission to use magic was granted, and the classmates each began casting their own.
They brought the spheres of their activated attributes close to the paper to measure their magic power.
"Looks like my strong attributes are 'Fire' and 'Thunder' and all. My weak one was 'Water'."
Viola created spheres of fire and thunder, and touching them to the paper, each displayed a number over 20.
Conversely, the water sphere showed a number less than half of its basic power.
"I think my strong attribute is 'Water'. My weak one was 'Fire'."
Primula said after trying it in the same way.
Even twins did not have the same attributes, it seemed, as her strengths and weaknesses were different from her sister's.
"Rest is... amazing, isn't he. They're all exactly '10'."
When Rest tried it, as if measured, all of them showed the same number.
Truly, he seemed to have neither strengths nor weaknesses.
"Hmm... it's good not to have any magic you're bad at, but if you don't have a specialty either, I don't know which spell you should prioritize learning."
Rest smiled wryly.
In short, it meant he was a jack-of-all-trades but a master of none.
(Well, I can learn magic just by seeing it anyway. I guess I'll just keep learning them one after another like I've been doing.)
Rest resigned himself to that thought and placed the paper he was holding on the table.