First Class!

However, even though there was hundreds of students filtering in, and hundreds more still waiting to enter, the entire front row of the class was almost empty, reserved for the most influential students.

Currently seated there was Leonus Drayk Solis, the eldest son of Solacea's Military Grand Marshal. He was a tall, broad-shouldered young man with sharp golden eyes and short-cropped auburn hair. His posture spoke of disciplined confidence. Leonus wasn't just here to study, he was a symbol of the nation's military future.

Seated next to him was the Princess of the Atlantean Kingdom, Nerida Coralith, who gracefully sat down, her aquamarine hair flowing in soft waves down to her waist, and faint bioluminescent patterns shimmered across her skin.

"Cmon, you've never met him Sera, how can you be so biased against the Professor already? Me personally, I can't wait to listen to him lecture, I've ready all of his research papers over a dozen times." Nerida said to the girl sitting next to her.

That was Seraphina Caelora, who had sharp violet eyes and raven black hair that was tied into a severe braid, and an expression of indifference when she heard Nerida praising Arthur, "My father taught me everything I need to know about Andrius, that man doesn't deserve my respect."

Seraphina said, her presence carrying a stormy tension, which lead many students nearby to instinctively lean away from her. Seraphina's father, Alistair Caelora, was also a world renown researcher and a leading mind in Magic Research, focusing on the Laws of Magic and its interaction with the natural world.

However, Alistair was even more well known for his well documented hatred of Andrius.

"That man is reckless," Alistair had once said in a widely publicized academic debate. "He plays with magic as though it's a toy, disregarding the consequences of his theories."

It was no secret that Alistair considered Arthur's groundbreaking papers on mana manipulation and magic theory as dangerous disruptions to carefully constructed academic norms. And judging by the scowl etched into Seraphina's face, she had inherited her father's views.

"Tsk, you shouldn't let anyone set your views for you, what if he's actually a good person and teacher?" Nerida said, but Seraphina just shifted her gaze away from her friend, who sighed and began organizing her writing materials.

~STOMP~STOMP~STOMP~

As these discussions were happening, the sound of Arthur's footsteps echoed through the doors of the Grand Lecture Hall. Immediately, everyone grew quiet, awaiting his arrival.

Soon, Arthur entered through the door, moving with a grace and authority that seemed otherworldly. All conversations ceased instantly, all eyes captivated by his approach.

The sound of Draven's footsteps echoed through the grand lecture hall, each step deliberate and precise, commanding the attention of everyone present. He moved with a grace and authority that seemed almost otherworldly, his presence filling the room with an air of quiet power. The students' conversations ceased as all eyes turned towards him, captivated by the spectacle of his approach.

The long, tailored coat he wore flowed behind him like a cape, its intricate silver embroidery catching the light and adding to the aura of regality that surrounded him.

"Good morning." Arthur greeted the students calmly as his gaze stretched across the lecture hall.

"Good morning!"" All the students greeted as they stood up and respectfully bowed before taking their seats once more.

"Everyone ready for the lecture to begin?" Arthur asked as he observed the various seats throughout the room. With no empty seats spotted, it alluded to the fact everyone was present.

"Yes Sir." The collective voice of the students boomed across the room as they replied, and Arthur gave them a light nod.

"Good! As I'm sure you all know, my name is Arthur, but you all know me as Andrius. As for what you'll call me, Professor Andrius or Professor Arthur works just fine. I will be your teacher for Magic Theory and Its Subsections. This is an extremely broad and detailed topic, so I hope you all will pay attention and take notes where you see fit. I am not here to hold your hand, but do not be afraid to answer questions."

The students nodded, listening in silence with their eyes fixed on Arthur, their gazes holding their immense expectations, curiosity, and reverence amongst the various students.

~SNAP~

Arthur snapped his fingers and suddenly, the lights in the auditorium mostly dimmed, the illumination coming from the glowing mana crystals lined across the walls, and the glowing ink on the board.

Arthur used his Mana and began writing on the board whilst speaking, "I don't have many rules, but I hope you follow them. Firstly, no bothering other students, if you want to chat, I don't mind as you'll be the one missing out on valuable information, please just do not bother fellow students. All questions should be signaled by raising your hand. I very rarely assign homework, so failure to do the little homework I assign with result in deductions to your final grade." 

Arthur said, and continued to write out the various rules and regulations of his classes, with the students listening very carefully. Once he was finished, he looked back towards the class and continued speaking,

"To truly pass this class, you must first understand what you are fundamentally studying, what it is and why. As many of you know, Magic Theory is the research and understanding of magic and its various forms. There are many subsections of Magic like Elemental, Arcane, Runic, Formational etc, but you all must first understand what Magic is."

Arthur said, his gaze stretching across the classroom as he looked towards the various students and asked, "So what is Magic?"

Once Arthur posed his question, the vast lecture hall plunged into silence. Students exchanged glances with expressions of hesitation, as none of them wanted to give a potentially wrong answer and disappoint Arthur on the first day.

Finally, after a period of time that felt strangely longer than it actually was, a hand rose from the front row, steady, confident, and precise.

"Stand, introduce yourself and state your answer." Arthur said as his gaze locked onto the student, Leonus.

Leonus nodded and stood up, clearing his throat as his golden eyes locked onto Arthur's as he finally spoke, "Good morning, my name is Leonus Drayk Solis," he said, introducing himself before he continued,

"Magic is power. It's the lifeblood of our world and the foundation upon which our society thrives. Without magic, civilizations would crumble, and progress would halt. It is both a weapon and a tool, a force to be wielded with discipline and purpose."

Arthur's sharp gaze lingered on Leonus for a moment, a slight nod before shifting his attention to the next student.

Without hesitation, Princess Nerida Coralith lifted her hand, her aquamarine hair shimmering faintly as the bioluminescent patterns on her skin pulsed softly. Her voice was calm, melodic, yet brimming with authority.

"Magic is connection. It binds all living things, from the depths of the ocean to the skies above. It flows through the mana streams deep within the earth and the tides of the seas. Magic is harmony, it exists not just to be used, but to be respected."

Soft murmurs rippled through the hall at her poetic response. Arthur's gaze remained mostly indifferent as he also gave her a nod and looked forward to another answer.

With a sharp exhale, Seraphina Caelora raised her hand, her violet eyes filled with cold intensity. Her severe braid barely shifted as she spoke, her voice crisp and edged with intellect.

"Magic is science. It is the study of cause and effect within a system governed by mana and its interaction with natural laws. Every incantation, every rune, every gesture, it is all a calculated process. Magic is not whimsical or mysterious; it is simply misunderstood by those unwilling to approach it with logic."

A tense silence followed Seraphina's words. Most students recognized Seraphina, and thus could notice the light antagonistic tone of her statement due to her father's influence.

Arthur's expression remained unreadable as his eyes locked with Seraphina's for a fleeting moment before he turned back to face the rest of the class.

"Three different perspectives," Arthur said, his voice cutting through the silence like a blade. "Power. Connection. Science. All valid answers, all partially correct."

He stepped forward, and the students stared at him slightly, many of them already with their writing tools in their hand eager to take notes as Arthur began,

"Magic, at its core, is the ability to manipulate the fundamental laws of existence."

The weight of his words settled over the class like a heavy fog. Hundreds of eyes were fixed on him, and even Seraphina's sharp glare seemed to grow more intense as she heard his statement.

The students stared him silently, waiting for his lesson to start. Rio nodded.

"...Magic is nothingness and everything combined. It is nonexistent and yet existent. It's purpose is to bring about the user's imagination and wish, while also to cause fear and nightmares to others. In a sense it is everything." Rio elaborated, his back turning as he continued. "But how do we use magic to begin with?"

"Leonus spoke of power, and he is not wrong. Magic can dominate, destroy, and create in any way you can all imagine. It can be a force of unmatched devastation or an unparalleled defense. However, power without purpose is chaos."

He shifted his gaze to Nerida as he spoke,

"Princess Nerida spoke of connection, and she, too, is correct. Magic flows through everything. Every person, every organism is born with a connection to Magic and its energies. It is a thread connecting all living and non-living thing in the world. Yet, connection without direction is stagnation."

Finally, his gaze rested on Seraphina.

"And Seraphina spoke of science. A methodical, logical understanding of magic as a system governed by cause and effect. However, while there are scientific elements to Magic, such as the Foundational Theory of Elements, there is Magic that also disregards science, such as Gravity Magic." 

~SNAP~

Arthur said and snapped his fingers once again. Suddenly, all of the students in the classroom could feel themselves becoming weightless, and their bodies began to float above the ground, rising into the skies.

Some of them looked excited, amazed at seeing the ease and the skill at which Arthur silently casted such a complicated style of Magic as Gravitational Magic.

~SNAP~

Arthur snapped his fingers once more, and all of the students slowly returned back to their seats on the ground, perfectly organized just like before, perfectly displaying Arthur's excellent control.

"However, remember this about Magic. Pure Logic disregards emotions, imagination, and instinctual elements that makes magic alive. Science without creativity is a limitation. Many of my most groundbreaking papers are pushing the boundaries of Science."

Arthur said and turned, his coat sweeping behind him as he began to pace slowly across the platform.

"Magic is all of these things and more. It is the language by which we converse with the universe itself. It allows us to rewrite reality, to bend and shape it according to our will. To wield magic is to understand not only the rules of our world but also the infinite ways they can be broken and rebuilt."

His words resonated through the hall, and many students were furiously scribbling notes, while others simply stared in awe, trying to absorb the enormity of what had just been said.

Arthur stopped pacing and turned back to face them.

"Now," he said, his voice soft yet clear, "understanding this principle is only the first step. You must also understand your relationship with magic. Each of you will form a bond with mana in your own way. Some of you will dominate it, others will flow with it, and a few of you will study it from afar. But make no mistake, magic is not something to be taken lightly. It is not a tool, nor a pet. It is a force, one that demands respect."

A faint tension hung in the air, as if the room itself was holding its breath.

"Now, open your textbooks to Chapter One: The Birth of Mana."

The glowing ink on the board shifted, forming intricate diagrams and flowing script as Arthur's mana guided the presentation effortlessly.

The lecture had truly begun.