Chapter 180: Beyond The World

Teleportation?

Even minutes after Luden mentioned it and Eredim moved on to other topics, Magnus couldn't shake the thought. Ever since he first saw Zeth use it, teleportation had fascinated him.

The problem is, I don't get many chances to observe it closely. And when I do, it's either too fast or too sudden for me to properly grasp.

Zeth's teleportation, for example, was dramatic—his body engulfed in light before vanishing. Eveline's, on the other hand, was instant. One second she was there, the next, she wasn't. No flash, no transition, no sign it even happened. The same applied to other mages he occasionally spotted using teleportation, or when Eveline teleported objects instead of herself. There were no words to truly describe the experience of seeing something right in front of you one moment, only for it to blink out of existence the next.

As for trying to visualize it myself... Even when I had Eveline teach me so many different forms of magic over a few days, I never asked her to demonstrate teleportation. I knew it would take too long and cut into time I could've spent learning other magic.

But now, he had a real chance. An opportunity to study teleportation up close, without any rush or limitations. Just thinking about it made a grin creep onto his face, his mind drifting between the classroom and the possibilities.

Eredim must have noticed Magnus's attention was elsewhere because he suddenly called on him.

"Magnus, just to make sure you're following along—what are enchantments, how do they differ from runes, and why are they typically not used by Apprentice-level mages?" Hearing his name snapped Magnus back to reality. He glanced around, straightened in his seat, then answered.

"If I remember correctly... Enchantments are just another name for spells, but they're used to assist others rather than the caster. Enhancement magic falls into this category—it includes spells that can boost the capabilities of fellow mages or even knights if given the chance. As for the difference between enchantments and runes, it comes down to how they function. Runes work by creating engravings with mana-rich materials or carving them into a mana catalyst. These catalysts act as storage, holding the mana in a near-inert state to prevent spirit suppression. Only when activated does the mana start flowing, but that also causes the runes to gradually deteriorate," Magnus explained, his tone steady, words fluid.

Eredim nodded, signaling him to continue.

"Because of this, runes usually involve not just the spell itself, but also self-repairing and replenishing magic. This lets them absorb ambient mana and store it within the catalyst, similar to a mana core. It also allows the runes to repair themselves when damaged. But since this process involves constant deterioration and restoration, mana artifices and spell catalysts eventually stop working unless properly maintained by a runesmith. Enchantments, on the other hand, don't rely on external components. They're pure mana formations, just like spells. They only have the initial mana their caster infused into them. They're usually always active but can't repair themselves or replenish mana unless specifically designed to do so, or unless the caster maintains control of the enchantment after casting."

Eredim smiled, clapping his hands together.

"Good, very good. I'm glad you're keeping up, even if you're distracted, Magnus."

With that, he turned to address the rest of the class.

"As Magnus explained, the differences between runes and enchantments are significant. It's accurate to say that all enchantments are spells, but not all spells can be used as enchantments. This is a unique property. Unless a spell is specifically designed to be cast on either the caster or others, a mage must modify the mana formation themselves to make that possible. Now, while Magnus answered my first two questions, he left the last one unanswered. Why are enchantments not typically used by Apprentice-level mages?" Eredim scanned the room, not intending to call on Magnus again but giving someone else a chance to answer.

A few students raised their hands, and he selected one from the second row.

"Go ahead," he prompted.

"Is it because Apprentice-level mages usually can't sustain the cost of an enchantment?" Eredim paused, considering the answer before offering a half nod.

"That can be a factor, but it's not universal. Mana cores improve over time, so an Apprentice-level mage could have reserves close to that of an Adept. Who else has a more solid reason?" His gaze swept the classroom again before settling on Sylas, seated near the front with his sister.

"Go," Eredim said with a nod.

"It's because casting enchantments on others requires at least Adept-level mana control," Sylas answered.

"In combat—where enchantments are most useful—mages rely on defensive spells, while knights have their aura. If an ally has to completely drop their defenses just to receive an enchantment, that's only viable before battle. Even then, a strong-willed knight might unconsciously resist it. So, mages who use enchantments need to cast them in a way that doesn't interfere with a knight's aura or trigger a mage's protective spells. That requires precise mana control and an understanding of how those defenses function." Eredim looked pleased, nodding in approval.

"Very good. Everyone should take note of Sylas's example. Just because you're a knight doesn't mean you shouldn't understand the principles of magic. Likewise, as mages, understanding aura and how knights operate will serve you well in the future." With that, he continued the lesson.

The remaining hours of class passed quickly, and before long, the first session of the day came to an end.

"Alright, I think this is a good place to stop," Eredim announced.

"Make sure to read chapters five through ten. You know the drill—if you want to take a break, go ahead. The rest of you, follow your professors to your next class." With that, he turned back to the board and began wiping it down.

Everyone in the classroom slowly stood, some chatting as they made their way toward the door. Magnus, Luden, and Nithra followed suit, stepping into the hallway where they spotted Lazitha and Mulvin waiting outside.

Unlike earlier classes, the students who preferred to take their breaks and skip an hour of learning were long gone. Those who remained were the ones pushing toward the Pseudo-Adept level or nearing Adept-level. Of course, that didn't mean some students didn't still hold biases toward Mulvin for his commoner background, or that Nithra was particularly thrilled about being around Lazitha now. But personal biases meant little when it came to learning and advancing as mages and knights.

As he said earlier, before Lazitha led them away, Eredim had a brief conversation with her. When she exited the classroom, she turned to Magnus with a polite nod.

"It's good to see you attending my classes again, Magnus. It feels strange only having two students show up."

"Feels good to be back, Professor Lazitha," Magnus replied, completely sincere.

"Especially after hearing what you've been focusing on lately. I've always been interested in teleportation."

"Oh? Is that so? Well, you're in luck," Lazitha said, a small smile tugging at her lips.

"Luden and Nithra have been studying teleportation longer than you, but they're still learning—they haven't mastered it yet. You should be able to keep up. But if you fall behind, I'll be here to guide you." With that, she led the group of four up to the fourth floor of the main academy building. As always, the hallways up here were windowless, the air quieter, the atmosphere more focused. Without pause, they made their way to the private training chamber Lazitha had reserved for today's lesson.

She pressed her Sigilbrand to the door and gave the knob a twist, unlocking it with ease.

Inside, Lazitha's heels clicked against the stone floor as she strode toward the center of the room. Magnus perched himself on the stone railing encircling the central training area, while Luden leaned on a pillar a few meters away, arms crossed, looking relaxed. Nithra, meanwhile, seemed ready to drop onto the floor and sit until Lazitha turned to her.

"Oh, Nithra, I'm going to need you as my assistant. Come here." Lazitha gestured her over with a beckoning motion.

Nithra paused, staring at her with a deadpan expression.

"Are you serious?"

"Of course," Lazitha said smoothly.

"Magnus hasn't had the chance to learn about mana scaling, so I want you to serve as a visual demonstration while I explain it." Magnus perked up at that. He recognized the term—Eveline had mentioned it as a key aspect of being an Adept-level mage—but he still had no idea what it actually entailed.

Nithra, however, didn't move, narrowing her eyes slightly as she stared at Lazitha. But if the professor noticed, she didn't react to it.

"Come now," Lazitha continued, her tone calm but carrying something beneath the surface. Not quite a threat—threatening a student wouldn't do—but still enough to make Nithra's body tense for a moment. Magnus caught it, even if no one else did.

With a quiet exhale and an unintelligible grumble, Nithra finally stood and walked over, taking her place beside Lazitha.

"Good. Now then, we can begin." Lazitha turned her attention to Magnus and Luden.

"As you already know, Magnus, we've been focusing on teleportation since all three of you are approaching Adept-level. However, you may not fully understand the details of teleportation, or the concept of mana scaling, which is closely tied to Adept-level magic and beyond. To start, teleportation falls under the sub-category of Space-Time Magic. For many Adept-level mages, it serves as their first exposure to Adept-class magic that directly interacts with the fabric of space itself." Magnus's eyes lit up with intrigue. There were so many branches and sub-categories of magic that he hadn't had time to study them all, so this was partially new information to him.

Luden, on the other hand, looked like he was simply enjoying the lesson, already familiar with this material.

Lazitha turned to Nithra.

"Now, Nithra, demonstrate the teleportation spell we've been practicing in class—but restrict your mana usage to that of an average Apprentice-level mage."

Nithra let out an annoyed sigh but complied. Closing her eyes, she focused for a brief moment as mana began to condense in front of her, flowing outward from her mana core. Unlike when forming a mana construct, the gathered energy didn't take on a distinct shape or structure. Instead, it compressed, growing smaller yet brighter, showing just how much concentrated mana was packed into one place.

"Right now, what you're seeing—the condensation of mana into a tightly packed space—is the result of attempting to use a teleportation spell with Apprentice-level mana reserves," Lazitha explained.

"It's a complex process. Although it isn't visible to the naked eye, if you were to use a sensory spell, you'd see that the mana being condensed isn't forming a simple sphere. Instead, it takes on a precise, needle-like structure in a very specific formation. However, due to the limitations of an Apprentice-level mage's mana core, the spirit suppression effect prevents the spell from functioning properly. That's why you see condensation, but no actual teleportation." She gestured for Nithra to stop.

The moment Nithra released the spell, the high concentration of mana quickly dispersed, breaking down in a matter of seconds as the surrounding spirits eroded it—proof of just how much energy had been gathered.

"This is where the concept of mana scaling comes into play," Lazitha continued.

"It was first discovered by the mage who officially left the world for the first time in recorded history." Magnus's expression shifted.

Left the world? What is she talking about?

Noticing his reaction, Lazitha elaborated.

"Magnus, both magic and aura originate from mana, which I'm sure you're aware of. But unlike mages, knights never gain or lose aura. So, how is it that they can still defend against mages whose mana reserves are constantly growing?" It was an interesting question—why didn't raw mana quantity overpower a knight's aura if both came from the same fundamental source and shared the same base quality?

Well, that's not something I expected to be asked in a magic class... but if I had to guess...

Magnus thought for a moment before answering, "Is it Aura Intensity?"

Lazitha's lips curved into a pleased smile.

"Exactly.

"Aura Intensity—the ability to increase the potency of one's aura through force of will. It's also known as aura condensation, the process of making aura more stalwart. Think of it like the difference between a wall made of soft mud versus one made of clay. They have the same base material, but one has been refined to be far stronger than the other. If aura condensation can allow knights to overcome raw mana quantity, then logically, mana condensation should allow mages to surpass similar hurdles. This is the principle behind mana scaling." It was also what they had witnessed when Nithra attempted to use the teleportation spell with enough mana control to condense mana, but not enough actual mana itself.

Only when mana reaches a precise level of compression and quantity does magic gain the ability to directly affect space. However, if you compress too little mana or have a large quantity without compression, the effect becomes impossible. Certain things could only be achieved through the precise scaling of one's mana, even if you understand the correct mana formation for a spell.

With that concept settling in Magnus's mind, Lazitha clapped her hands.

"Now then, all of you, gather around. We're going on a little field trip," Lazitha announced, calling Magnus and Luden over.

Magnus blinked as he pushed himself off the railing and asked, "Wait... you mean you're going to teleport us somewhere?"

"That's right," Lazitha confirmed.

"But don't worry, we won't leave academy grounds. Experiencing teleportation firsthand is the best way to understand how it works. Luden and Nithra have gone through this a few times already, but there's no harm in doing it again." Luden, who seemed perfectly fine with this, nodded in agreement as he stepped closer to Lazitha.

"Indeed. I have to admit, being teleported for the first time was quite enlightening."

"Enlightening? Really?" Magnus asked, skeptical. He had never been teleported before, so maybe he was underestimating the experience. But if it was just moving from one place to another in an instant, he didn't see what was so enlightening—or even helpful—about it.

If anything, he figured it would just be disorienting.

Luden only smiled seeing the doubt on Magnus's face as he said, "You'll see what I mean."

Taking his word for it, Magnus, Luden, and Nithra gathered around Lazitha as she continued.

"In order for a teleportation spell to properly pierce through space, both mana condensation and quantity are required. You have to overcome the spirit suppression effect by reaching the necessary scale of mana instantly, rather than building up to it gradually. Something only Adept-level mages are capable of. Now then, are you all ready?" She asked, looking back at them. Nithra and Luden nodded, while Magnus hesitated for a second before responding.

"I suppose so."

"Perfect. Then here we go." Those were the last words Magnus heard before everything changed. If he was being honest, he wasn't even sure what had just happened. He hadn't seen the process, hadn't felt any shift—one moment he was in the chamber, and the next...

Darkness.

No, it was more than that. He couldn't even say he saw darkness—it was something deeper, something he could only experience with a combination of all his senses.

A complete void, not just the absence of light, but the absence of anything. Nothing here was familiar, at least not in a way Magnus could recognize. It reminded him of the void he had glimpsed when the Null State Glitch tore through reality.

But different.

It was hard to explain how two different forms of nothingness felt different from one another, but he knew it. What he was experiencing now and what he had seen back then were similar, yet distinct on some level he couldn't put into words.

"Are you with us, Magnus?" Lazitha's voice snapped him back.

"It's common for people to be caught off guard, shocked, or even collapse upon entering the Liminal Veil for the first time."

Magnus blinked.

Breathed, purely out of instinct.

He hadn't even realized he had been staring—his gaze locked to his right, unfocused. Only when he turned his head did he finally take in his surroundings. Lazitha, Luden, and Nithra stood nearby, perfectly at ease. They were all standing on a glowing platform—a mana construct—the only source of light in an expanse of absolute darkness.

"Wh-Where are we?" Magnus asked, his voice laced with confusion and shock as he looked around.

They were no longer in the chamber.

They were standing on a lone, glowing platform in a sea of nothing.

"Hmm... there's no single way to describe this place," Lazitha said thoughtfully.

"But if you must, think of it as what lies outside the world. When you teleport—when you pierce through space—you temporarily leave the universe behind. This is what exists beyond it. A realm beyond here or there, beyond then or when. The Liminal Veil is the boundary one reaches when they step past what we typically accept as the world. It's difficult to explain... so it's easier for you to just look around for yourself." Magnus didn't need to be told twice. He had already been scanning his surroundings, looking left and right since they arrived.

But there was nothing.

Nothing—until he finally looked up.

The moment his eyes lifted, his entire body tensed. He stumbled back, falling onto the platform as his breath caught in his throat, his eyes widening in pure, incomprehensible shock. Lazitha, Luden, and Nithra didn't react. They stood still, unfazed, as if they had expected this, as though they had already experienced this for themselves and that his reaction was entirely justified.

Lazitha's voice was calm, steady, guiding.

"Tell me, Magnus. What do you see?"

There was only one answer.

"T- Th- The world..." Magnus whispered, his voice barely audible.

His gaze remained locked upward as he spoke again, clearer this time.

"I can see everything."