This academy was a full boarding school. While students were permitted to return home during long breaks, they generally spent their daily lives within the academy's walls.
Consulting the directory, I made my way to the dormitory located a short distance from the main buildings.
"Yeah... this place is huge, too."
Everything at this academy was built on a massive scale. The proportions felt somewhat excessive for the number of students, but I suppose there was no harm in having plenty of space. I stepped inside and scanned the notices posted on the wall. Once I located my assigned room, I headed straight for it without hesitation.
"Excuse me..."
I knocked and entered. The dorm rooms were designed for two, meaning I would be living with a partner. Assuming my roommate had already arrived, I pushed open the door.
"Hm? Oh, so you're the one sharing a room with me."
"Indeed. I look forward to our time together... Or rather, you're Evi Armstrong from Class A. It's a pleasure, Mr. Armstrong."
"Just Evi is fine. To tell you the truth, I've already taken a liking to you, Ray."
"Oh? I’m glad to hear that, but why?"
A man was already sitting on the sofa when I entered. The room was more spacious than I had anticipated—more than enough for two people. It was fully furnished, and the luggage I had sent ahead was already there.
Evi appeared to be taking a break in the middle of unpacking. He was a large man with a thick build, and his cropped brown hair suited his rugged appearance well.
Come to think of it, Armstrong... No, surely it couldn't be... but then again, it likely was. Now that I looked at him, Evi bore a striking resemblance to him. It made sense.
"I don't look down on you just because you’re an Ordinary like those noble kids do. If anything, I think it’s impressive that you’re here despite not coming from a sorcerer lineage."
"Hm? Look down on me? Am I an object of contempt?"
"You didn't notice?"
"Mmm... My apologies. I’m quite ignorant of the ways of the world. I'm fifteen, and this is the first time I've ever belonged to an organization like a school."
"Is that so? Well, life takes people down different paths. Anyway, you're welcome here. I’m looking forward to this, Ray."
"Likewise."
We shared a firm handshake. Evi’s hand was thick and calloused; it was clear he had undergone significant training.
The rest of the day passed without incident as we chatted idly before turning in for the night.
A life like this isn't so bad, I thought.
◇
"Now then, regarding today's lesson—we're starting with the basics. You first-years will be learning from the ground up. I’m sure you can all use sorcery already, but we're going to review the fundamentals. Do not underestimate them. No matter how great a sorcerer one might be—even the Seven Grand Sages, for instance—they are no exception."
The first class of the following day jumped straight into the study of sorcery.
Professor Gray seemed to be in a serious mood today; she was dressed in a suit as she stood before the class.
"Let’s start with a question. Rose, what is sorcery?"
"Yes, Professor. Sorcery is the technology used to reconstruct Prima Materia."
"Correct. Precisely. Now, for a brief demonstration..."
«Prima Materia = Encoding = Material Code» «Material Code = Decoding» «Material Code = Processing» «Embodiment = Material»
I intuitively sensed the processes being executed. A moment later, a rose made of ice appeared with a soft clack before Professor Gray.
"This is sorcery. As you know, this is not magic. Magic is merely a supernatural phenomenon that lacks order and was never systematized. But sorcery is different. Sorcery is a theoretical phenomenon produced based on logical principles. Through this systematization, sorcery spread across the globe, the number of practitioners grew, and sorcerers became recognized as a significant presence in the world... leading us to the present day."
Just as she said, sorcery was built upon strict principles. It differed from magic, which was created through vague imagination. It was a systematized technology.
"Now, I will summarize the foundation of sorcery on the blackboard: Code Theory."
The Theory of Code: Code Theory
- Encoding
- Decoding
- Processing
- Embodiment
Sorcery Activation Process: Prima Materia → Encoding → Decoding → Processing → Embodiment → Matter or Phenomenon.
"That’s the gist of it. In the decoding stage, you strip away unnecessary information from the data encoded during the encoding phase. Then, you transition that code into the processing stage. It may sound complex, but the most important element is Prima Materia. This is the substance that forms the root of all things. Our bodies, the desks and chairs in this room, and even this ice rose—Prima Materia exists at the foundation of everything."
Professor Gray continued her lecture. Looking around, I could see many students diligently taking notes.
"Code Theory is what we use to convert Prima Materia into matter. First, a 'code' is a form of information—an internal representation format. Converting Prima Materia into that code to manifest matter or a phenomenon is what we call sorcery. At a glance, it looks like creating something from nothing, but that’s an illusion. The law of conservation of mass always applies to code conversion. This means the scale of the matter or phenomenon created is determined by the amount of Prima Materia consumed. Well, there are exceptions to this... but you don't need to concern yourselves with those."
Listening to her, I recalled the lessons I had received in the past.
It is not about feeling. You must exercise sorcery based on logic, I had been told repeatedly.
"By restoring the encoded information and سپس processing it, you add or remove details from the code. Finally, there is embodiment. The stage where I added the specific data for 'ice' and 'rose' occurred during the processing phase. That part comes down to experience and talent. And finally... the matter you create yourself..."
In the next instant, without the professor even touching it, the ice rose shattered into a thousand pieces. The fragments dispersed into a mist, fluttering to the floor like falling snow.
"Can also be erased like this. That concludes the activation process and its application. There are many more advanced techniques and deeper layers of knowledge, but we’ll stop here for today. All right, I’ll take questions."
"Yes, Professor."
"Rose. Go ahead."
Amelia stood up gracefully and posed her question in a dignified voice.
"Are there no limits to what Prima Materia can reconstruct?"
"Hmph. Good question. Strictly speaking, there are no limits—though in practice, it depends entirely on the practitioner's skill. But since that’s a rabbit hole with no end, let's stick to the basics. Sorcery is primarily a technology for producing matter or phenomena. Matter can be classified into four states: solid, liquid, gas, and plasma. No matter what you create, it will fall into one of those four categories. Anything else is classified as a phenomenon."
"I see. Thank you very much."
The next student raised their hand to ask a question. I watched the scene in silence.
So this is what it's like to learn in a school, I thought, feeling a sense of satisfaction.
"Professor, was what you used just now an Anti-Material Code? Is that why the ice rose was decomposed?"
"I see. I figured someone would ask that... but the answer is no. I cannot use an Anti-Material Code. Furthermore, we will not be covering Dual-Code Theory in this class."
Dual-Code Theory. While codes are always accompanied by a Material Code, a second type—the Anti-Material Code—was discovered three years ago by a researcher named Ainsworth.
"Ainsworth's Dual-Code Theory is doctoral-level material. You don't need to understand it as students. That is all. We're done. Now go and try it for yourselves. Gain knowledge, then put it into practice. That is the basis of all learning. Dismissed."
The bell rang the moment she finished speaking, and the professor marched out of the room.
"Ray, that was a pretty heavy lesson. Did you follow all that?"
"..."
"Hey, you okay?"
"Ah, my apologies, Evi. I was just lost in thought."
"What's up? You doing alright?"
"Yes. I already have a firm grasp on the general theory of sorcery."
"Oh, okay. That's good then."
Ainsworth's Dual-Code Theory.
I stared intently at the words written on the blackboard.