Chapter 79 - Like Nothing Ever Changed

A smirk emerged on my face.

"Haha, the way things are supposed to be are kinda lame, wouldn't you agree?"

The corner of Reyna's lip twitched. She did not say anything more and left to take a seat.

Harlow cleared his throat.

"Alright, since everyone is here, we should start."

He bowed.

"Magic can come in the form of many different elements and takes on a physical form..."

My mind began to wander off, not willing to listen to what the teacher was saying. Only occasional words would reach my mind.

"Leo-"

My eyes flashed open as my mind immediately woke up.

Leon?

"Leo, The Ancestor of Flames, was the first mage to discover the true applications of fire magic."

Oh.

Harlow continued.

"In the distant past, fire magic was seen as the weakest element of choice. Spells that used fire magic in the past focused mainly on producing heat, or heating up their enemies."

Harlow sighed.

"The only problem with that is the fact that many living beings can endure harsh changes in weather. Thus, the fire element was seen as nothing more than a cooking element."

Harlow tapped the board.

"That was when The Ancestor of Flames came along. He was not very talented with the fire element but had decent affinity with the thunder element. At the time, thunder was seen as one of the strongest elements. Therefore, once Leo practiced fire magic, he was chastised countless times."

Harlow smiled.

"Yet, he continued practicing, even if he had to do so in secret. Eventually, he came up with a method that allowed fire to spontaneously explode, delivering a strong sudden force. As for Pera..."

My mind drifted off into thought.

Huh... So people have made new spells in the past that revolutionized magic?

That meant it should be possible for me to make a new spell that grows food.

Haha, it appears I will have to learn this magic in secret, like Leo. Why was it so hard for talentless people to sense mana anyway?

...What made me pick it up so quickly?

Eventually, Harlow finished explaining the history of magic and the types of mages.

"You should try your best to become a Collector Mage if you have the talent, which we will check now."

From there, we tested our talents.

Although I expected the changes when Ned and Alyx went up to test, my body received a shock anyways.

Then, it was my turn.

As my steps tapped against the floor, thoughts whirled inside my mind.

For me, this test was pointless. After all, I already knew my talent was going to be nothing.

However, my worries centered on the pity that the others would feel.

Perhaps if I...

"Please don't give me talent!"

My hands came together while my eyes shut. My body hunched over to do a small bow.

It was as though I was praying.

Harlow gave me a strange look while most of the class just raised their eyebrows.

...Just commit to the facade!

"No talent! There is no way I will get any talents!"

Harlow cleared his throat.

"Er... This is the esteemed Enberoes Magic School. The only people that get admitted are those that have relatively strong affinities to mana, tested through basic crystals."

He pressed his lips together.

"...So if you are here, that means you have some sort of talent."

My hand scratched the side of my head.

"Huh? But I didn't do any tests with crystals."

Harlow raised an eyebrow.

"Really?"

I nodded slowly.

"Yeah."

Harlow furrowed his brows.

"That is strange..."

He sighed.

"Regardless, you might as well take the test since you are already here."

A chuckle escaped me.

"Ah, alright!"

My hand submerged into the orb.

My eyes closed, embracing the satisfying whirling from within.

"...It seems your wish has come true."

Harlow spoke up, disappointment evident in his words.

A smile emerged on my face.

"Haha, nice!"

An awkward silence hung above the other students. It seemed like they had no idea what to think.

I don't blame them... I wouldn't know how to react either.

My steps back to the desk were casual.

Once I sat back down, Ned turned to me with a little confusion in his eyes.

"...Did you really not want talent?"

My shoulders shrugged.

"...I wouldn't have it any other way."

Erin looked at me with a bright smile.

"Wow! I won't feel bad about having no talent either!"

My back leaned against the seat as my arm carelessly waved in the air.

"Haha, I'm sure you will have talent. You won't have to worry about being like me."

Erin tilted her head to the side.

"Eh? How do you know that?"

A small smile appeared on my face.

"You can just trust me on that."

Erin gave me a deep look.

Harlow called for her, but she didn't even blink.

...I was feeling a little nervous to say the least.

However, before my worries got too intense, Erin smiled happily.

"Ok! I will believe you!"

Erin jumped out of her seat and quickly rushed over to the orb.

Harlow sighed, but moved past it quickly.

"Just put your hand into the Mana Enhancer."

Erin did as told, albeit nervously.

There was no reaction at first, but Erin's smile never left her face.

Harlow sighed.

"Another one without-"

My lungs took in a deep breath, basking in the strange warm feeling that Erin's test created.

Tiny little orbs of various colors bounced around within the orb. They intimately rubbed against Erin's hand.

She giggled.

"So cute!"

Harlow was frozen in place. After a few moments, he rubbed his eyes with his sleeve.

"...Ah, I'm not seeing things."

He proceeded to explain with a trembling voice.

"Your talent is not high... but the elements will not only help cast your spells, but make them stronger."

Erin raised both hands in the air.

"Yay! You were right, Jay!"

A small smile appeared on my face.

"I guess so."

Harlow took a few deep breaths. He spoke to us in a trembling voice.

"The rest of the time will be a break, after two- no three hours, please eat and then come back to this classroom."

Harlow rushed out of the classroom with the orb in hand.

Ned smiled bitterly.

"Well... I guess everyone got what they wanted."

Alyx smiled weakly.

"That was quite the experience."

Erin raised her hands in the air.

"I wanna cast mag-"

Erin suddenly put a hand on her lips.

A smile blossomed on my face.

"Haha, I can't wait to see how you guys cast magic!"

Erin blinked a few times.

"Um... really?"

My hand brushed aside my hair.

"Yeah! Not only can I laze around the whole time, I get to see you guys cast cool spells!"

Erin looked at me with a pout on her face.

Alyx couldn't help but smile.

"You have quite the strange mentality. This is the first time I've heard something like that."

Ned raised a finger into the air.

"Ah! It's just like the people that watch sports!"

He smirked.

"Although they themselves are not playing, it is still enjoyable!"

I had no idea what Ned was talking about.

"Haha, yeah! Just like that!"

A smile blossomed on my face. Ned's comment saved me from more awkwardness than I could handle.

For some reason, it felt like a dagger was piercing my face. My head turned to look at the source.

It was Erin. She was staring at me angrily with a pout on her face.

Beads of sweat formed on my forehead. My hands raised like I was surrendering.

"Haha, sorry! I uh... have the best intentions!"

Ned and Alyx raised an eyebrow. They turned to look in the direction I was and saw Erin's cute, but angry face.

Erin's pout gradually left. She muttered a few complaints.

"...I don't want the best intentions."

Ned scratched the back of his head.

"Huh? Why can't I understand what is happening?"

Alyx sighed.

"I don't get it either."

Erin stretched her arms out in the air and swung them around.

"Whatever! It's fine."

My heart let out a sigh of relief.

"Haha, I almost teleported away to escape the awkwardness!"

Ned smiled.

"Oh come on, you said yourself you were just going to laze around! How could you cast a teleportation spell?"

My elbow laid on the desk while my hand flung out like I was a butler holding a tray of food.

"Then I would beg one of you guys to teleport me! I would've pestered you guys so much that you would've learned it in no time!"

Alyx threw her head back and rolled her eyes.

"Oh god, thankfully that didn't happen."

Ned burst out in laughter.

"What do you mean? That would be good motivation to learn the teleportation spell!"

Erin giggled.

"Lots of motivation!"

Alyx sighed.

"And what happens when the teleportation spell doesn't exist?"

My hand slammed against the desk. There was a smirk on my face.

"Then I would pester you forever!"

The four of us broke out into roaring laughter.. It was like nothing ever changed.