Life of a Magic Academy Mage – 65



Chapter 65

Baldoorn was taken aback by Yi-Han’s words. She realized that her careless remark had caused the first-year student to harbor unnecessary expectations. Moreover the method discussed was perilous threatening the life of a mage if misused. To shatter magic with force required a vast amount of mana. For a student still inexperienced in magic such an attempt could be life-threatening.

Yet Yi-Han was not easily deterred.

“I won’t try it recklessly. Just teach me how” he insisted.

“But…”

“I did pay for the consultation didn’t I?”

“That’s true. Alright I understand.”

Convinced Baldoorn accepted it.

Having received the consultation fee she felt obligated to share the information.

“First you need a substantial amount of mana. It won’t be enough on your own. Use magic circles and magic stones.”

Magic circles magic stones. These were methods used by mages to supplement insufficient mana. As the level of magic increased so did the required power. It was impossible to manage it all through personal strength alone. Drawing magic circles to amplify and concentrate power or using magic stones as additional batteries.

“Have you learned to draw magic circles?”

“I’m in the process of learning.”

Yi-Han recalled the <Basic Imperial Geometry and Arithmetic> class he was attending at academy. Drawing magic circles was akin to solving complex mathematical problems. It required mathematical persistence and effort more than artistic sense. Students often struggled with it.

When students who were confident in addition and subtraction were asked to solve various complex laws and operations it became difficult to distinguish whether geometry was the name of the class or the scream of the students.

“If you manage to gather mana in that way stand at the magic circle’s release point and control the mana” Baldoorn instructed.

Once the mana was gathered through the circle it needed to be controlled and forcefully unleashed.

It sounded simple but the actual task was more challenging. Control was essential and to create a powerful impact one had to release the gathered mana all at once. Not a gentle flow like a river but an explosive release like a waterfall bursting from an open dam!

This was not a common practice for most mages.

Typically mages released magic steadily not in such a runaway manner.

“Hmm… It doesn’t seem too difficult” Yi-Han remarked.

Baldoorn sighed at his response. Despite the warnings this freshman took his words lightly.

Arrogance.

It was an inevitable flaw in geniuses.

Why would talented mages die sooner than those without talent? Because they trusted their abilities too much saying ‘I’ll be fine’ during dangerous magic experiments.

Given that Yi-Han had entered Einrogard and had enough talent to escape in his first year it was likely he shared this flaw of arrogance.

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‘It can’t be helped’ thought Baldoorn. She decided to show this talented boy the reality. It was somewhat embarrassing to be teaching a future great mage but what could she do?

“I covet the moon and draw its waters!”

Baldoorn took out a handful of powder made from ground moonstones from her pouch swirled her staff and drew complex patterns. She then chanted a long spell summoning her mana.

It was the 3rd circle magic <Lunarian’s Moonlit Maze>. An illusion magic desired by all who studied it perfect for thwarting nocturnal attackers. It was one of Baldoorn’s proudest achievements.

Yi-Han was startled. Despite Baldoorn sitting across the table it felt as if she was far away as if the perspective was distorted. A sense of foreboding lingered as if stepping in between them would transport to another dimension.

Baldoorn having cast the spell spoke “Don’t move rashly. It may look normal but…”

“Stepping forward means falling into the maze right?”

“…” Baldoorn was momentarily flustered. She wondered how the boy before her had realized it.

Initially she thought Yi-Han knew the spell in advance but his expression suggested otherwise. Then the only explanation was that the boy sensed the anomaly from the magic’s emanating mana. It was an impressive feat of perception.

“…Correct. The reason for using this magic was to demonstrate how difficult it is to break magic with force.”

“Indeed…”

Yi-Han admired the mage’s kindness. This Baldoorn seemed a better teacher than the professors at the magic academy. She explained what needed to be learned thoroughly and clearly set achievable goals for the student and never forgot to explain the reasons behind those goals…

After enduring harsh lessons from Professor Boladi Yi-Han felt a surge of emotion receiving such guidance.

“Now try carefully. Take as much time as you need. But stop if it seems dangerous.”

“Thank you.”

“?”

Baldoorn sensed something unusual. Yi-Han was looking at her with an almost reverential gaze.

Why…?

—

Bang!

Though the sound didn’t travel outside Baldoorn clearly heard it. It was the distinctive roar of magic shattering from the collision of manas.

‘Impossible!’

Baldoorn was astounded. It was only one attempt. And not even a serious or desperate one.

The boy before her without drawing any magic circles briefly gathered mana and then as if testing lightly flung it towards the magic. Yet that alone was enough to break <Lunarian’s Moonlit Maze>.

The torrent of mana bursting out like a waterfall completely obliterated the intricately constructed magic.

Baldoorn couldn’t comprehend it. She knew the boy was talented. But gathering mana so briefly should have resulted in insufficient mana.

Let’s assume very generously that he managed to gather enough mana in that short time (though Baldoorn couldn’t fathom how). Then handling such a quantity of mana should have been clumsy at best. Unless born with an abundance of mana and accustomed to handling such amounts as easily as breathing it was impossible to control that gathered force precisely. It was as improbable as a novice sailor expertly navigating giant waves.

What was going on?

“Thank you!”

Unaware of Baldoorn’s inner turmoil Yi-Han expressed his gratitude.

“Uh…?”

“Thanks to your excellent teaching I was able to realize this.”

“…”

For a moment Baldoorn wondered if Yi-Han was mocking her. It was such an absurd situation that she wondered if one of the mad professors from the magic academy disguised himself as a first-year student to provoke her!

But to think so seemed wrong given the pure sincerity in Yi-Han’s eyes. It was filled with genuine gratitude.

“No really… it’s nothing. I haven’t really taught you anything…”

“That’s not true. I’ve never met anyone who teaches as simply and accurately as you Baldoorn.”

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“Don’t say that anywhere else!”

Baldoorn was alarmed and hastily cautioned him. If the mad professors of the magic academy heard they might get angry and turn Baldoorn into a frog.

Yi-Han bowed his head earnestly in thanks.

“If I come again I’ll seek you out for more advice.”

“No… no… I don’t have anything more to teach you.”

Honestly Baldoorn wanted to tell him not to come but she couldn’t say that after receiving the consultation fee. She could only timidly insist she had nothing more to teach. However to Yi-Han this attitude appeared as nothing but humility.

‘So humble too!’

The more mature the grain the lower it bows; Baldoorn’s demeanor only seemed more dignified. Her presence running a workshop in a corner of the town somehow seemed even more impressive. Exceptional mages often had their quirks and it was clear that Baldoorn’s workshop was a sort of pastime.

“See you next time!”

Yi-Han left grateful for the meeting.

Baldoorn sat in a daze before getting up. She then changed the sign on the workshop door from ‘Open’ to ‘Closed’. Afterward she reopened a book of illusion magic she hadn’t read in a while… She wasn’t sure how much it would help but it seemed she needed to study something.

—

“…Principal I can handle this alone…”

Professor Garcia spoke to the floating skull principal beside her.

It was Garcia’s turn to be in charge of the main gate. The skull principal’s presence wasn’t necessary. The only reason the principal who never meddled in affairs not his own was here was for one reason only.

He was enjoying it!

‘He’s just waiting for Yi-Han to be late!’

At Einrogard it was rarer for students to leave with permission than to escape the academy. Students granted such rare opportunities were overjoyed but the academy didn’t let them go with purely good intentions. Various traps awaited these innocent students.

Students who were happy to go out realized the reality and in a desperate situation with no money wandered around the town enduring until they were dragged back in tears. And they rarely got a second chance.

Receiving a second leave pass was much harder than the first.

“You could be a little more generous with the leave permits as a reward…”

“You’re still far too naive Professor Garcia. If you teach students with such a soft and complacent heart the students will become weak and complacent.”

“…”

“True mages are born from trials!”

“Okay enough already” Garcia cut him off sounding exasperated. She had heard the skull principal’s ‘true mages are born from trials’ theory far too often.

Oh that ancient mage!

“Can’t wait to see his reaction.”

“…Maybe you shouldn’t be too hopeful. Yi-Han is exceptionally clever isn’t he?”

“That’s true.”

Surprisingly the skull principal agreed readily. 

He did hold Yi-Han in high regard after all.

“However this situation has nothing to do with magic talent or a tough spirit. He needed to find money but there was nowhere to get it and even if he did the amount he could carry was limited. Moreover time was becoming increasingly pressing! The smarter he thought himself the less likely he was to come easily due to his greed. I wish time would hurry up so I could go and catch him.”

Professor Garcia grudgingly admitted there was some truth in the skull principal’s words.

Why else would students who used their leave passes usually end up being caught and dragged back? It was because of their greed thinking ‘Just a little more time and I might make it!’

As soon as they arrived in the town they were confronted with situations beyond their expectations. It was necessary to recognize this and have the ability to give up on some things. Trying to obtain everything needed would lead them into the skull principal’s trap…

“?!?!”

Bang!

A massive figure appeared on the hill in front of the main gate. For a moment Professor Garcia thought it was a giant or troll porter.

But it wasn’t. It was Yi-Han laden with a mountain of luggage.

“…”

—

The two mages were speechless at the brute force solution that seemed unbecoming of a mage. But that was just the beginning. As Yi-Han fully ascended the hill boxes floated up behind him following in the air.

The skull principal had to admit it.

“…Professor Boladi had taught him disgustingly too well.”

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