"Now then, I take it the students gathered here are considering becoming magic swordsmen after graduation? Is that correct?"
The afternoon sessions were electives. Among the options, I had chosen the course for aspiring Magic Swordsmen. I spotted a few familiar faces in the crowd; Amelia was there, and Evi was standing right beside her.
We were currently out on the practice grounds, everyone having changed into light exercise gear.
"Oh, but before we begin, let me introduce myself. I am Elliot Arclight. You can all call me Instructor Light. For the record, I’m a Platinum Rank Sorcerer. It’s a pleasure to meet you all."
As he gave us a bright smile, I realized that even as a fellow man, I could see his undeniable charm.
"Now then. Does anyone know the difference between a Sorcerer and a Magic Swordsman?"
"I do."
"And you are?"
"My name is Amelia Rose."
"I see. You're this year's top student, aren't you? Well then, Miss Rose, why don't you explain the difference for us?"
"A Sorcerer is one who primarily exercises sorcery. Conversely, a Magic Swordsman is a warrior who incorporates sorcery into their swordplay."
"And what is the essential difference between them?"
"Speed."
"Very good. Continue."
"Sorcerers provide rear support and perform large-scale spells, meaning they can afford to take their time with formula construction. However, for a Magic Swordsman, speed is paramount. This is because combat at Cross-range requires real-time judgment."
"Perfect. Just as Miss Rose said, speed is vital for a Magic Swordsman. One could even say we fight in a world of sub-seconds—the realm of zero-point-something. That is precisely why the first things you must master are sword forms and Quick Magic. Now, allow me to explain the latter."
Instructor Light asked the students to step back to give him some space, then demonstrated a standard spell first.
"First, this is normal sorcery..."
Flames flared up in his right hand. The process had taken nearly two seconds. However, Quick Magic was, as the name implied, the use of sorcery at high speed.
"And this is Quick Magic."
In an instant, flames erupted at a speed incomparable to his previous attempt. It hadn't even taken a second. While the output was slightly lower than before, it was still more than sufficient for combat.
The students let out collective gasps of admiration at his skill.
"The key to Quick Magic is not to omit Code Theory. Looking at students in previous years, I’ve seen many try to force the speed and end up failing to activate the spell properly. What matters is adjustment. The sensation is like suppressing the output... let's see. Imagine letting water flow from a faucet in a slow, thin stream. Now, I want everyone to try it for themselves."
Once the instructor gave the word, the students began practicing their Quick Magic all at once. The results varied wildly: some succeeded immediately but lacked any real power, while others couldn't get their spells to manifest at all.
As for me...
"Whoa! You're pretty handy with that, Ray!"
"I suppose. I was taught how to do this until I was sick of it..."
"Hm? By who?"
"Well, don't worry about that. How about you, Evi?"
"Me? Well, watch this..."
As he spoke, flames danced in his palm in the blink of an eye. Although all components of sorcery are based on Code Theory, there is still a significant gap between understanding the theory and actually applying it.
In the beginning, most people try to do it by feel without being conscious of the underlying code, which was exactly why I used to get scolded so often. It was a fond memory now.
"I’m actually quite good at these delicate tasks, you know?"
"I see. It’s a good look for you."
"What’s that supposed to mean?"
"No, it's... nothing."
While I was chatting with Evi, the instructor made his way toward us.
"Have you two managed to get the hang of it?"
"Sir! Instructor!"
"Um... and your name is?"
"I am Ray White, sir!"
As a matter of course, I snapped into a crisp salute. I then transitioned into a formal stance, hands clasped behind my back and feet slightly apart.
"Ah! You're the student from an Ordinary background, the first in the academy's history."
"Sir! That is correct, sir!"
"Even so, how should I put it..."
"Is something the matter, sir?"
"No, it's just that your conduct doesn't seem like that of a fifteen-year-old. Did you attend a normal school before coming here?"
"No... this academy is the first time I have ever attended a proper school... I would be most grateful if you did not pry any further into my past, sir."
"Oh, my apologies. It seems I overstepped. I simply found myself curious about you."
"Sir! I am honored by your interest, sir!"
From there, the class moved on to swordsmanship training.
Everyone took up a wooden sword to spar with various partners. Each bout lasted about two minutes, and we rotated through the class. I had expected to start with basic forms, but Instructor Light seemed to be a man who prioritized practical experience.
Given his youthful appearance, he likely possessed a more flexible approach to teaching.
"Hey, Ordinary."
"We met on the morning of the entrance ceremony, didn't we? If I recall, we're in the same class... your name is Albert Alium. May I call you Mr. Alium?"
"Hmph. At least you have the proper manners to address a noble."
"Of course. Regardless of whether someone is a noble, I believe in maintaining courtesy toward everyone."
"Hah! Well, that move was a total blunder."
"What move do you mean?"
"You tried to cozy up to Amelia Rose, didn't you? I can't say I blame you for trying, but for an Ordinary like you, she's a flower on a high peak—completely out of your reach."
"What do you mean by 'cozy up'?"
"Exactly what I said. You have no backing in this academy. No faction to join, no connections. That's why you clung to a member of the Three Great Noble Families, wasn't it?"
"No, that wasn't the case at all. To be honest, I didn't even know Amelia was a member of the Three Great Noble Families when we met."
"Hah! Quite the comedian, aren't you? Fine, whatever. For now, I'll be your opponent."
"I look forward to it."
Perhaps he was worried about my social standing; it seemed Mr. Alium was trying to give me some advice in his own way. It appeared there were more kind-hearted people in this academy than I had initially heard, which was a relief.
"Hyaaah!"
"Ngh...!"
"...How about this!"
"Mmm...!"
Mr. Alium possessed an aggressive fighting style. With the other students I had faced so far, there had been at least some hesitation in their movements. Even with a wooden sword, most people feel a natural intimidation when pointing a blade at another person. However, he didn't share that weakness. He was a true noble in that regard. His sword path wasn't bad at all.
It was clear he had put in a great deal of effort.
I met his strikes head-on. No, I didn't just block them. I parried and redirected his momentum, systematically neutralizing every single one of his attacks.
"...D-damn it, what's going on?!"
"Mr. Alium. You're being a bit too linear. It might be effective to mix in a feint every now and then."
"Shut up!!"
He grew even more heated, but the more emotional a person becomes, the more predictable and linear their movements get.
'A sorcerer must always strive to remain calm.' That was one of the core lessons I had been taught.
"Alright, that’s time. Move on to the next person!"
As the instructor made the announcement, I lowered my wooden sword and offered a respectful bow.
"That was excellent practice. Thank you. I could clearly see the fruits of your hard work in your blade."
"Hah... shut up. Don't get cocky just because you're decent at defense."
"I appreciate the insight. You're right—I still have a long way to go. I intend to devote myself to further training."
"Hmph, keep talking..."
Leaving me with those parting words, he moved on to his next opponent.
I see. Competing and growing alongside my peers... this was an experience I had never known. To be perfectly honest, techniques of this level were something I could handle in my sleep, but I had gone through the effort of enrolling in this academy as a student.
With the goal of re-evaluating my own skills, I decided to start by building a solid foundation from the basics once again.
There were many highly motivated students here—not just Mr. Alium, but Amelia and Evi as well. I felt certain that I would be able to lead a fulfilling life here.
With my thoughts on that bright future, I focused even more intently on the lesson.