Ch 25 : Fireball

The next day, Auron woke up early and headed straight to his first class. Teacher Mathilda was deep in explanation about the various types of heavenly runes and their effects on mana core enhancements. Meanwhile, Auron, absorbed in his own thoughts, was shaping his unique spell structure based on the primordial fire rune. He envisioned a spear form with the ability to pierce and explode, but the intricate details and full development would have to wait until he had a firmer grasp on the heavenly rune.

"Auron, are you following along with the lesson?" Teacher Mathilda's voice cut through his concentration.

Xiao Yu whispered in his ear, "She's asking about mana core enhancements."

"Yeah, I'm with you," Auron responded, slightly flustered.

"It's good that you're engaged, but make sure to focus on the class material, alright?" Mathilda said with a playful pout.

The rest of the class proceeded without further interruptions. Teacher Mathilda instructed them to work on condensing their mana cores by the end of the week, as she would help them understand the Grimoire. With that, the class concluded.

"Auron, you nearly got scolded by Teacher Mathilda. Were you scared?" Alice teased with a smirk.

Auron, caught off guard, remembered Teacher Mathilda's curvaceous figure and felt a blush creep up his cheeks. "Not scared, just deep in thought about the spell model," he replied, trying to mask his embarrassment.

"The basic spell model that Teacher Eleanor introduced yesterday was quite challenging. I struggle to maintain its shape and often lose focus," Alice admitted, her frustration evident.

"Oh, you've already condensed your mana core? That's impressive," Eliot said, admiring Alice's progress.

Alice puffed out her chest with pride. "Of course, I'm talented, after all."

Thyra, not wanting to be outdone, revealed that she had also condensed her mana core the previous day.

"I guess I'm not as talented as you all," Eliot said, frustration clear in his voice. "I need to work harder. Even Auron started cultivating yesterday."

Their conversation buzzed with a mix of pride and determination as they prepared for the challenges ahead.

Teacher Eleanor entered the room carrying a large stack of books, her expression apologetic. "I'm sorry, everyone. I forgot to hand these out yesterday. They'll help you control your mana much better, making spellcasting easier," she said, passing the books to each student.

Once everyone had a copy, she continued, "These manuals are called Arcane Circulation. It's a basic guide to mana circulation, something every aspiring mage must master. I know some of you may already have advanced techniques, but for those who don't, focus on mastering this. It ensures your mana flows smoothly, preventing your spells from spiraling out of control."

Eleanor scanned the room, her eyes gleaming with expectation. "Why don't you all give it a try? Or has anyone already mastered their basic spell model?" she asked, her gaze sweeping over the students.

Cedric, always eager to show off, raised his hand. "I have, Teacher."

Eleanor smiled warmly. "Well done, Cedric. Would you like to demonstrate it for your classmates?"

With a smug expression, Cedric walked to the front and cast "Stone Shard," a tier-one earth spell. A sharp, jagged stone flew toward the classroom wall. Before it could do any damage, Eleanor skillfully intervened, dispersing the energy before it made contact.

"Very impressive, Cedric. You've done a great job," she praised. Cedric smirked, throwing a taunting glance at Alice as he returned to his seat.

Alice's eyes narrowed, her temper flaring. "Ugh, that arrogant brat really needs a beating. Auron, haven't you mastered any spells yet? Go show him up," she whispered urgently.

Auron, however, remained calm, ignoring Cedric's provocations and Alice's plea. He was too engrossed in comprehending the Primordial Fire heavenly rune, trying to perfect the spell model he'd been working on. Teacher Eleanor continued moving through the class, offering advice to students who struggled with their spell models. Alice and Thyra managed to form the basic shapes of their spells but were still stuck on perfecting their intentions.

When Eleanor reached Auron, she noticed him deep in thought, his brow furrowed. Concerned, she asked, "Auron, do you need help with your spell model?"

Startled, Auron quickly composed himself. "Um, not yet, Teacher. I think I'm doing fine," he replied, trying to sound confident.

Eleanor wasn't convinced. "Why don't you try casting a spell for me? Let me observe," she suggested, her tone gentle but insistent.

Auron hesitated but realized he couldn't refuse. With a quiet sigh, he raised his hand and focused. A small ball of fire began to form in his palm, swirling and flickering with growing intensity. As he channeled more mana into it, the fireball grew larger, burning brightly. With a quick flick of his wrist, he sent it flying toward an open area of the room, where it exploded in a controlled burst of flames.

The room fell silent for a moment, then Eleanor nodded approvingly. "So, you've already mastered it. Why didn't you raise your hand earlier?"

Auron shrugged helplessly. "I don't really like being in the spotlight. I just want to cultivate in peace and spend more time learning about magic in the library," he admitted.

Eleanor smiled softly, understanding his sentiment. "I see. Well, you've done a great job. But don't hide your talents, Auron. You never know when they'll be needed."

Auron only smiled faintly, choosing not to respond further. As soon as Teacher Eleanor moved on to help other students, Alice, Thyra, and Eliot hurried over to him.

"Did you really master that spell in just one day?" Eliot asked in awe. "I saw you start cultivating last night, and now you've already perfected it. You're a genius!" He praised, while Thyra nodded enthusiastically in agreement.

"That was amazing, Auron!" Alice added, her voice full of excitement. "You have to teach us later! We could head to the Spell Training Ground after lunch. Oh, and did you see Cedric's face? He was so embarrassed after you showed him up! Serves him right! Hahaha!"

Auron chuckled softly at Alice's enthusiasm but remained modest. "I just practiced, that's all," he replied, though inwardly he knew that his cultivation method and Xiao Yu's guidance had given him an edge.

As the class came to an end, Teacher Eleanor dismissed the students, reminding them to continue practicing their spell models. Auron walked with his friends toward the Training Ground, where they planned to hone their spellcasting further.

"Let's meet up and train together," Alice suggested eagerly. "I want to see how well I can handle the spell models now."

Thyra nodded in agreement. "It'll be good to practice together. We can help each other improve."

"Yeah, sounds like a plan," Eliot added, looking motivated. "I've got a lot to work on."

While his friends headed to the Training Ground, Auron veered off toward the gathering place of Class 1A. He had other plans in mind—more than just training spells, he wanted to start his long awaited combat arts from Void Nexus Combat Art. The Silent Kick Technique and Void Foot Step.