“Fuu…”
“Are you tired, Headmistress?”
I sighed, which is unlike me.
It seems my secretary, Rosemary, noticed.
She’s got sharp ears, that girl.
“Hmph, I’m still moving this worn-out old body, of course I’m tired.”
“Hehe, you’re still quite young, aren’t you?”
“Hahaha! Spare me the blatant flattery!”
“No, I mean it.”
“Is that so?”
My secretary, huh…
Will Rosemary be my last one?
Everyone who followed me is gone now.
My battlefield comrades, my husband, my previous secretary…
But, well, between Rosemary and me, I suppose I’ll be the first to go.
At least, I won’t be left behind anymore.
Rosemary is a capable girl. She could have made a name for herself with her peer, Margaret, but she chose to stay with an old fool like me.
I’ve got a good disciple…
Oh, right.
Margaret.
Margaret Gardner…
Margie, the pride of the Gardner family.
She sent me a letter.
Written in her characteristically rounded handwriting, despite me telling her it’s unsightly in official documents.
The letter addressed to “Professor Angeline von Aqualonde” in those round letters brought back memories, and I couldn’t help but caress the words.
Oops, that’s not good.
Dwelling on memories should be saved for after I’m dead.
As long as I’m alive, I need to look to the future.
Now then, the content… Yes, the content was interesting.
That girl, hailed as a genius at the academy, mentioned a boy who might be the greatest and most powerful mage in history, coming to enroll.
His name was… yes…
Exus Raven…
This should be interesting.
Shall I see for myself this grand-disciple who surpasses my beloved disciple?
“Now then, Rosemary. I’m off to observe the examination hall.”
“Understood. I’ll handle the documents here.”
“Ah, thank you.”
I made my way to the examination hall of the magic department.
The exams had just started.
The fledgling mages were lined up, casting spells.
Most were using basic to intermediate spells, with little offensive power.
These are average mages.
Of course, there were some with talent.
“Pop ‘Metal Buster’ Output Front!”
Oh my, is that the Marquis Klein’s daughter?
Using the Klein family’s secret art, ‘Iron Magic’…
Now it’s an offensive spell, but the most troublesome aspect of this art is its defensive capability.
With the ‘Metal Wall’ spell, they can create a wall of steel in an instant.
When the Klein family enters a battle, they might not always win, but they’re known for never losing.
She’s even mastered shortened incantations at this age. Impressive.
She’s reached a level where mediocre teaching would only hinder her. She’s already more than capable.
Others in this league include Grace Arclight, the ‘Saint’ who has mastered the Church’s secret healing arts at this age…
“Pop ‘Shippo’ Output Trace Weapon!”
A girl from the Zangetsu family, descended from the Eastern country’s ‘Demon Swordsman’ Sougen Zangetsu…
There are some who don’t openly display their power, too.
And then…
“Pop ‘Plasma Shooter’ Output Front!”
That unfamiliar light spell!
How intriguing… a new secret art, perhaps?
It seems to manipulate heat… with cooling as a byproduct?
I might call it ‘Blaze Magic.’
The magic power flowing from their body… Wonderful!
But even this level can occasionally be seen on the battlefield with heroic-class mages.
Even I could easily annihilate everyone in this city if I wished.
But what I’m watching for is that boy.
Tall for his age of twelve, with astonishing beauty and long black hair…
That must be the boy Margie spoke of, Exus.
One look is enough to tell.
What is this?
He’s perfected the ‘Magic Concealment’ technique, usually mastered by heroic mages in their twilight years, at such a young age!
Magic Concealment isn’t just about hiding your magic power.
It can also minimize and mask the nature of your magic, making it hard to predict or counter.
“What’s wrong? Hurry up.”
“It’s done.”
A burst of magic so fast it left no trace, obliterating the target’s head and chest…
And without incantation, using the Elven ‘Silent Casting’!
Do you understand?
This is far more frightening than flashy spells.
The examiner may be shouting, but probably just an incompetent hired through connections.
I asked Exus to demonstrate his magic once more for confirmation.
“Sure, I’ll do it at a visible speed this time.”
He adjusted the speed of his spell for me.
Ah, now I see clearly.
“Ahahaha! I understand, boy! You’re the top candidate!”
I couldn’t help but shout.
Wouldn’t you?
“Well, it’s an unknown technique, but the candidate before him was more impressive!”
One examiner protested.
I explained it to him.
“Listen, magic is about using the right amount when needed. There’s no need for grandiose displays.”
Most here don’t understand, but that’s the essence.
Exus demonstrated a spell that efficiently and precisely neutralizes the enemy.
If he can do this, he surely knows much more.
Achieving the greatest results with minimal effort!
Absolutely splendid.
””””””””””””””””””””””
Excerpt from the Biography of Heroes of the Kingdom of Viltoria
Angeline von Aqualonde
A great mage who lived for three centuries and was instrumental in the founding of the Kingdom of Viltoria. She held the rank of Marquis and took in the king’s third son as her husband.
She was a master of water magic and had learned two forbidden spells, which she could cast solo without rituals, a rarity in her time.
In her later years, she became the headmistress of the royal academy, where she met the demon mage Exus and foresaw the dawn of a new era.
