The dining hall was far busier than I expected.
The chatter of hundreds of students made my ears ring, and I couldn’t help but frown.

Still, the stew in front of me eased my mood a little.
I lifted the spoon and brought the thick broth to my lips.
Warmth spread across my tongue.

“Tasty…”

Yeah, this is enough to postpone a nap.
If I had to rate it, I’d give it a solid 0.85 Lia.

As I quietly moved my spoon, I felt a gaze on me.

Across from me, Claire had stopped eating and was staring intently.
Never seen someone eat before?

“Why?”
“Nothing… I just think it’s interesting how your spoon moves on its own.”

Well, that makes sense. Using telekinesis to eat isn’t something you see every day.

“It’s nothing special. Just a simple spell.”

Bodies suffer without mana.

I shrugged indifferently, and Claire burst out laughing.

“Ahaha! Lunaris, you’re nothing like the image I had of you.”
“…Huh?”

What did she think I was?

“You didn’t show up anywhere at the academy last week. Skipped the entrance ceremony, missed classes…”
“Yeah, that’s right.”
“Do you know all the rumors that spread because of that?”

According to the rumors, I was the academy’s worst troublemaker.

“Apparently you threw desks and chairs during the interview in a fit of anger using advanced magic.”
“…?”

I had overturned the interview room with telekinesis, but I wasn’t actually angry.
Besides, I restored everything properly.

“There were even rumors that you blew up a classroom during a practical exam and got suspended on the first day.”
“…Huh?”

I did blow up the classroom, but it was an accident, not on purpose.

“They said you fought a week-long magic duel with Professor Raymond over your admission to the Magic Engineering Department…”
“???”

The strange professor did visit daily, but we never actually dueled.

“Rumor also says you turned your dorm room into a lab to research dangerous magic… and got caught by the maids.”

Research? I barely have time to sleep…
…Well, being caught by the maids is true, though.

The absurdity made me snicker quietly.
If I had been gone for a month instead of a week, they might have rumored that I planned to blow up the entire academy.

“It’s all exaggerated.”
“I knew it… wait, exaggerated means not entirely false?!”
“…It’s nonsense.”

I decided not to waste time with dry, academic explanations and shrugged it off.

Claire nodded, laughing, then relaxed as she began chatting about this and that.

She talked about the Magic Department’s atmosphere, dorm rooms, and more, endlessly chattering.

At first, I half-listened, annoyed, but gradually got used to the conversation.
Being with her wouldn’t be boring.

Humans are creatures ruled by desire.
Full from eating, we must sleep; after sleeping, we must eat again.

Eat, sleep, and relieve oneself.
That is life.

And why mention such obvious things?
Because Eltherion Academy, which forces an afternoon lecture less than an hour after lunch, is cruel beyond belief.

Sunlight streamed through the window, perfect for a nap.
But reality was merciless.

“Everyone, focus. I will now demonstrate the intermediate magic you will master this semester.”

Standing in the middle of the hall, we were forced to endure a boring, academic lecture.

“I will show the four elemental magics in order, only once each. Pay attention.”

The middle-aged professor, hair slicked back, raised his staff toward a metal dummy.
Mana gathered at the staff’s tip, forming a magic circle.

It began with fire.
A single dot of heat expanded, exploding and leaving scorch marks on the metal.

Then frost began to form around the dummy.
A semi-transparent wind blade struck the metal with a thud.

Finally, an earthen spear crushed the dummy’s torso.

Students clapped in awe at the professor’s neat demonstration.

“Most mages focus on one or two elements, but some, like me, can handle all four.”

Not particularly impressive. Anyone could, with effort.
It’s just a matter of efficiency. Most stick to one or two elements that suit them best.
Handling all four means there’s nothing especially remarkable.
…That’s exactly me.

“Practice one of these intermediate magics until mastery by the midterms.”

I stifled a yawn and nodded.
A useless class.
Linea Hall’s bed was already calling me.

“Professor! I have a request.”

Someone raised a hand.

“There’s a senior mage among our classmates, right?”
“Hmm, now that you mention it…”
“If you allow, I’d like to experience what a senior mage can do.”

Predictable.

I glanced sideways. He smirked.

“If the rumors are true, showing simple magic to classmates should be no problem.”

The students chuckled.

“Ahaha. I was curious too. Lunaris, care to demonstrate?”

I scratched my head awkwardly.
Casting magic itself wasn’t difficult…
But controlling ordinary elemental magic precisely was a bit worrying.

The professor nudged me with a knowing smile.

“A senior mage should manage intermediate magic of at least two elements easily.”

Then he suggested a tempting proposal.

“If a student successfully performs two of my demonstrated magics, you may skip my class until midterms.”
“…Oh.”

That’s tempting.

“And if you succeed with all?”
“Hah! You’ll be exempt from this lecture all semester.”
“Ah, that’s nice.”

I slowly rose.
Afternoon naps every Monday?
How could I resist?

If magic went wild, that’s not my problem. I’m just following instructions.

“But I haven’t slept well, so I’m not in great condition…”

Just in case, I preemptively shifted responsibility.

I slowly raised my arms, drawing mana.

Starting with earth intermediate magic.
A spear, no—a sharp column, shot up behind me.
Wow… the air is tense from the start.

The column pierced the dummy before I could control it.
No—it exploded.
And it even tore through the auditorium wall.

“…”
“…”
“U-uh… student?”

I immediately prepared the next spell.
Guilt? I felt none.
I just wanted to finish quickly and sleep.

Next, wind intermediate magic.
Air swirled violently from my fingertips.

“What… what is this!”
“Lunaris! This is not intermediate—it’s advanced!”
“Ahh! Watch out!”

Shattered stones and debris flew everywhere.
The storm grew, threatening to engulf one side of the hall.

Hurrying to finish, I summoned the next spell.
A pale mist calmed the storm.

“C-cold!”
“W-what’s the range of this spell…?”

I shivered. Brr… just one more spell, then bed.

Fire intermediate magic, single-point explosion.
A black dot appeared in the frozen space.
Cold air was sucked in.
The dot expanded…

…Wait. This is dangerous.

“Student, that’s enough! Calm the fire and stop the magic!”

The professor’s urgent shout echoed.

“I’m not exactly angry.”

I should have faked intermediate magic with simple spells.
I escalated the situation for no reason.

I drew mana into my right hand, casting the only magic I could control: telekinesis.
The black dot warped the surrounding space.
Nearby walls twisted.

Crack─!

Weird sounds, bricks contorted.

Boom─!

Despite the noise, the hall remained quiet—fire trapped in distorted space.

Soon, the chaos subsided.
I relaxed my grip and surveyed the hall.

Damage wasn’t severe.
…A collapsed wall should be fine.

No student appeared seriously hurt.
Two arms, two legs, no spilling innards—fine.

…Huh? Looks like I got through this fairly well.

I exhaled lightly, relieved.
But apparently, I was the only one thinking nothing happened.

“…”
“…”

The students stared, frozen, mouths agape.
The professor was pale, sweating profusely, coughing awkwardly.

“Cough, cough! Th-this is enough… a student is indeed a senior mage… cough!”

I felt a twinge of guilt and avoided his gaze.
Turning, I noticed a male student trembling intensely.
Ah, the one who wanted to see my magic at all costs.

“Eek…!”

He shrank at our eye contact.

“I-is this enough?”
“Forgive me, I… I humbly beg for mercy…”
“…”

The same guy who’d been boastful earlier.

Just then, armored knights burst through the doors like battering rams.

I figured it was better to avoid trouble, casually heading toward the hole in the wall.

“Professor. I’ll take my leave.”

I asked calmly. He stared, stunned.

“Ah, right. Very well…”
“Yes, thank you for your effort this semester.”
“Uh… you still need to come for exams. Check attendance.”

Before he finished, I slipped out through the hole in the wall.

“Ugh…”

Half a day’s worth of activity condensed into one morning.
Energy—completely drained.

Time to stagger back to Linea Hall and sleep a solid 24 hours.

If the maids try to wake me in the morning?
Then it’s war. A revolution, a taste of world war.

I’ll show them what happens if they anger the serene me.

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