Alpheas Magic Academy

Magic.

It was the only word he had never truly understood.

It appeared in countless books, yet none explained its mechanics.

It seemed that without being a mage, understanding magic was impossible.

"What are you doing here, brat?"

The guards at the gate barked at him.

Shione's shabby clothes stood out even more in the noble district.

"Get lost! This isn't a place for someone like you."

"S-Sorry."

Shione hurried away.

But no matter how far he ran, the academy's wall stretched endlessly.

'How big is this place?'

Then, he heard an old man's voice from the other side.

"Now then, today we'll discuss what magic truly is."

"Nooo! Show us magic instead!"

"Yeah! Fire magic, Headmaster!"

Shione looked up at the wall.

Judging by the large tree, the headmaster was likely teaching a class in its shade.

The students' voices were young.

Of course, nobles began their education from birth, so it wasn't strange for them to be learning magic.

"Haha! If I set fire to the school, I'd be in trouble. But if you answer my question correctly, I'll show you something fun."

"Yay! What's the question?"

Curious, Shione listened closely.

"What is the most important talent for learning magic?"

Silence fell.

It was a subjective question, but these students were considered gifted, so soon, they started giving answers.

"Effort! Magic takes a lifetime of study."

"Knowledge! I've read over a hundred magic books."

Others mentioned concentration, memory, and other logical answers.

But the headmaster didn't respond.

He was probably smiling knowingly.

"Money! You need a lot of money to buy magic supplies."

The students burst into laughter, and the headmaster chuckled along.

By now, even Shione was genuinely curious.

'So it's not effort, knowledge, or money? Then what is it?'

Finally, the headmaster spoke.

"The most important talent for learning magic is insight."

Another silence followed.

"What's insight?"

The headmaster sighed and explained gently.

"Insight is sharper than knowledge and faster than effort."

"Whoa! So it's basically magic?"

"Haha! In a way, yes. All magic stems from insight. Let me give you an example. Do you all know what one plus one equals?"

"Two, obviously."

The children answered in unison.

"Good. But can you explain why one plus one equals two?"

"Uh… well…"

They hesitated.

They knew the answer, but explaining it was another matter.

The headmaster smiled.

"That feeling you have right now? That is insight."

Shione was drawn deeper into the conversation.

"Magic has always existed, just like how one plus one always equaled two—even before people understood it. Some uncover it through knowledge and effort. Others… simply see it. That's insight."

Shione's heart pounded.

Anyone can be a genius.

But was that true?

Would he ever get the chance to cross this towering wall?

Then, the headmaster called out.

"You, over there by the wall. What do you think?"

"Lies! How could a lowborn read books?"

Alpheas studied Shirone's eyes carefully. It didn't seem like he was lying.

But kids his age often fooled adults with innocent faces.

"Alright, what kind of magic do you want to see?"

"Anything! It doesn't matter. Please, just show me something."

When Shirone lowered his head, realizing his position, Alpheas waved his hand and chuckled.

"The only joy this old man has left is showing magic to my little ones. Very well! This time, I'll show you a spell that creates wind."

"Whoa! Wind magic!"

As the children clapped excitedly, Shirone clenched his fists in anticipation.

Wind? How do you create wind…?

At that moment, Alpheas raised his hand, and Shirone's eyes widened in shock.

"Huh?!"

His body became weightless. Before he knew it, he was soaring over 20 meters into the air.

He could see the many buildings of the magic academy and the distant mountain range beyond.

"Waaaah!"

A scream escaped his lips, but the other children were laughing and even doing somersaults in midair.

Moments later, they all began to fall.

The speed of the descent was terrifying. Shirone shut his eyes tightly as the ground rushed toward him.

"Huh?"

There was no impact.

When he cautiously opened his eyes, he found himself floating just above the ground.

As the other children burst into laughter, Alpheas smirked playfully.

"Well? That is magic."

Though Alpheas was a kind man, he wasn't so reserved that he couldn't enjoy the children's reactions.

Perhaps he had been a bit more intense than usual, but Shirone couldn't speak.

His heart was pounding wildly.

So this is… magic.

For the first time in his life, he was experiencing something that shattered even his wildest dreams.

Shirone finally gathered his thoughts and asked,

"What exactly is magic?"

Alpheas stroked his beard.

"Hmm, let's see… Magic is—"

"It's okay if I don't understand. Just tell me the truth."

The children's expressions stiffened.

Even at their young age, they knew what kind of figure Alpheas was in the world of magic. That's why even the children of noble families acted humbly in his presence.

Even the teachers wouldn't dare to ask something like that…

At first, Alpheas found Shirone's boldness surprising. But after a moment, he saw it differently.

A clever boy.

He wasn't asking just to understand right away.

He knows this is a rare opportunity. That's why he isn't asking for a simple explanation he can grasp easily—he wants precise, difficult information so he can study it himself.

For someone who couldn't receive formal magical education, it was a wise decision.

But… can he really do it alone?

Alpheas observed Shirone again, this time with a different perspective.

The boy was as tense as someone betting their life on this moment.

"Haha! Relax and listen. It's not as complicated as you think. But since you insist, I'll raise the difficulty a bit. Magic is an act that goes beyond common sense. In other words, it's the process of exploring the truth behind phenomena."

Shirone fell deep into thought.

"If you don't understand, it's okay to say so."

"It's not easy to explain, but… that's exactly why it's the truth, isn't it?"

Alpheas blinked in surprise.

"Where did you learn that?"

"Oh, um… from books."

"Books that explain such things exist?"

"No, not exactly. I just thought about why books are written. If they only recorded things that everyone already knew, no one would read them. Books exist because the truth is different from what we commonly believe."

Alpheas nodded in understanding.

Anyone can memorize and recite words. But understanding the purpose of books… That takes unique insight. He really is just a commoner? What a shame.

Judging by his clothes, Shirone was likely not just a commoner but an outcast from outside the city.

Shirone asked again,

"How can someone learn magic? Do you need a special power?"

"I don't know what you mean by 'special power,' but you do need a strong mind."

It was a surprisingly simple answer.

"That's all? If I imagine the wind, I can fly?"

"Hmm, that's a difficult question. But if I had to exaggerate, then yes. Of course, it's not as easy as just thinking about it. A magician's mind must become one with the world. You could say it requires an extremely heightened state of awareness."

Seeing Alpheas's serious expression, the other children didn't dare interrupt.

"What does it mean to be in a heightened state of awareness?"

Alpheas smiled.

This isn't just curiosity. This boy truly intends to learn magic here.

At the same time, he felt concerned.

It's unfortunate, but he's a commoner. He'll never receive proper education. If I encourage him further, I might only make his life harder.

Before the conversation could deepen, Alpheas turned to the other children.

"When a magician concentrates, their senses become so sharp that they can perceive everything around them. This state is called the Spirit Zone. Let me demonstrate. Shuamin, enter the Spirit Zone."

"Yes, Headmaster."

The pigtailed girl responded confidently.

With extraordinary talent, it was only natural she would want to show off.

As Shuamin closed her eyes, the other children instinctively quieted down, understanding the significance of the moment.

"I'm in the Zone."

"Then let's begin."

Alpheas pulled out a few coins, shook them in his hand, then quickly grabbed them.

"How many coins are in my hand?"

"Six."

When he opened his palm, six silver coins lay there.

Shirone watched in amazement as Alpheas repeated the process.

"Three."

Correct again.

No matter how many times they tried, Shuamin never got it wrong.

"That's enough, Shuamin. Well done."

"Phew."

Shuamin let out a long breath.

It was just a simple guessing game, yet her forehead was covered in sweat.

Alpheas turned to Shirone.

"This is what it means to be in an extremely heightened state of awareness. In the Spirit Zone, magicians perceive the world with superhuman senses. The greatest magicians can even count the leaves on distant trees."

Shirone, who had once relied on his instincts to succeed in Thunder Strike, began to understand.

She didn't count the coins.

She had sensed the fundamental essence of the situation before her.

The idea that an expert could count the leaves on a tree wasn't an exaggeration—it was possible.

A new question arose.

Can I do it too? No… what if I already can?

As if responding to his thoughts, Alpheas spoke.

"Anyone can do it."

But "anyone" didn't mean "everyone."

Mastering the Spirit Zone required relentless effort and exceptional talent.

"Practice in a quiet place. First, learn to feel yourself. Then, erase that feeling. If you can do that, you will see the world differently. Do you understand?"

"Yes."

And with that, Shirone embarked on his journey toward the infinite.