Chapter 4: Homeroom Teacher

The first class of the day had been exhilarating for Luciel. The lecture on Introduction to Mana Theory had opened his eyes to the vast possibilities of magic. As he and Aria walked through the grand halls of Celestia Academy, heading to their next class, they chatted excitedly about what they had learned.

"I can't believe how much there is to learn about mana," Aria said, her green eyes sparkling with enthusiasm. "It's like we've only scratched the surface."

Luciel nodded, his mind still racing with the concepts Professor Alden had introduced. "Yeah, it's overwhelming, but also… exciting. I feel like I'm finally starting to understand what it means to be Awakened."

As they turned a corner, Aria glanced at her schedule and frowned. "Wait a minute. Our next class is Advanced Mana Control, right?"

Luciel checked his own schedule and nodded. "Yeah, why?"

Aria grinned. "Looks like we're in the same class again. Lucky us!"

Luciel couldn't help but smile. Having Aria by his side made the daunting environment of the academy feel a little more manageable. Together, they made their way to the classroom, a large, circular room with tiered seating and a central podium. The walls were lined with glowing runes, and the air hummed with latent mana.

As they entered, they noticed that the room was already filling up with students. Many of them were first-years like themselves, but they were completely new faces to Luciel. Luciel and Aria found seats near the middle of the room, and soon, the rest of the class began to settle in.

The door at the front of the room opened, and a woman stepped inside. She was striking, with navy blue hair that cascaded down her back and piercing red eyes that seemed to see right through you. She wore the robes of a high-ranking instructor, and the students immediately fell silent as she approached the podium.

"Good morning," she said, her voice like a lullaby quieting the whole class instantly. "I am Professor Aurora Jadestar, your homeroom teacher and instructor for Advanced Mana Control. This class is reserved for the most talented students in your year, and I expect nothing but excellence from each of you."

Professor Jadestar held up a scroll and unfurled it. "I will now call out your names. Please stand when your name is called and remain standing until I instruct you to sit."

The students exchanged nervous glances. Luciel's heart pounded in his chest. He had no idea what to expect, but he could feel the tension in the room. Aria gave him a reassuring smile, but even she looked a little anxious.

Professor Jadestar began reading the names, her tone neutral but firm. The first few names were unfamiliar to Luciel, but as the list went on, he noticed a pattern. The students who were called first seemed to shrink under the weight of the room's attention, their expressions a mix of embarrassment and resignation. It didn't take long for Luciel to realize what was happening—the names were being called in order of talent, from lowest to highest.

The whispers grew louder as the list progressed, each name sparking reactions from the students. Some looked relieved to be called later, while others seemed disappointed. 

Aria's name was called near the top of the list, and she stood up with a proud smile. Luciel gave her a thumbs-up, and she winked at him before taking her seat.

Finally, there were only a few names left. Aria had already noticed that Luciel's name wasn't called out yet, which meant that he was going to be at the top of the class. This made her look at him in wonder and surprise. She had known that he had to be talented if he got into the academy as a late bloomer, but to be this talented was completely out of her expectations. The tension in the room was palpable as Professor Jadestar called out the next-to-last name.

" Arthuria Augustus," she said, her voice carrying a hint of respect.

A girl with silver hair and piercing blue eyes stood up. She stood with an air of grace and confidence, her presence commanding attention. The students whispered her name in awe—Arthuria Augustus, the prodigy from the renowned Augustus family. Gabriel, the principal of this academy, happened to be her father. 

The room fell silent as Professor Jadestar paused, her eyes narrowing slightly as she read the final name.

"Luciel," she called, her voice steady but laced with curiosity.

The silence was deafening. All eyes turned to Luciel, who rose up timidly. He had expected this since Gabriel had said the he possessed the talent to become SSS-ranked awakened, but at this moment, he couldn't help but be nervous.

Aria's eyes widened in shock. "Luciel, that's you!" she whispered, nudging him.

Luciel stood up slowly, his heart racing. The room was deathly quiet. He could feel the weight of their stares—some curious, some envious, and others outright hostile.

Professor Jadestar studied him closely as he approached. "Luciel," she repeated, her tone thoughtful. "An unknown name, yet one that has surpassed even the most renowned talents in this class. Tell me, where do you hail from?"

Luciel met her gaze, his voice steady despite the tension in the room. "I'm from the outer districts, Professor. I didn't grow up with magic or training. I only found out about my potential recently."

The whispers grew louder, but Professor Jadestar raised a hand, silencing the room. "Talent is not bound by lineage or circumstance," she said, her voice firm. "Luciel's ranking is a testament to his innate potential. Let this be a lesson to all of you—true strength doesn't come from respected bloodlines but from one's own efforts."

She gestured for Luciel to take his seat. As he sat down, he could feel the weight of the room's attention still on him. Arthuria glanced at him, her expression unreadable, but she gave him a slight nod of acknowledgment.

Professor Jadestar continued, her tone returning to its usual briskness. "Now that the rankings have been established, let us move on to today's lesson. We will begin with an overview of advanced mana manipulation techniques and also test your elemental affinity. Pay close attention—this will form the foundation of your training."

The classroom buzzed with anticipation as Professor Jadestar finished her introduction. The students, now seated according to their talent rankings, were eager to begin the day's lesson. Luciel, still reeling from being named the top-ranked student, tried to focus on the task at hand. 

Professor Jadestar waved her hand, and a large, crystalline orb materialized in the center of the room. It hovered above the podium, its surface shimmering with faint, swirling colors. The orb pulsed with a soft hum, and the students leaned forward, their curiosity piqued.

"This," Professor Jadestar said, "is an Affinity Orb. It will reveal your elemental affinity and the strength of your connection to it. Elemental affinity is one of the most fundamental aspects of being an Awakened. It determines the type of magic you are naturally inclined to wield and how effectively you can channel it."

She gestured to the orb, and the swirling colors within it intensified. "When it is your turn, place your hand on the orb and focus on the mana within you. The orb will respond by illuminating with the color of your affinity. The brighter the light, the stronger your connection to that element."

The students exchanged excited whispers. Elemental affinity was a defining trait for any Awakened, and this test would reveal their potential. Luciel felt a mix of excitement and nervousness. He had no idea what his affinity might be, but the system's screen flickered in his vision, as if hinting at something extraordinary.

[New Objective: Discover your elemental affinity.]

[Reward: Increased Awakening Completion Rate.]

Professor Jadestar called the first student forward, a boy with a nervous expression. He placed his hand on the orb, and after a moment, it glowed a soft brown. The light was steady but not particularly bright.

"Earth affinity," Professor Jadestar said, nodding approvingly. "A solid foundation. Next."

The students went up one by one, each revealing their affinity. The room filled with a kaleidoscope of colors—blue for water, red for fire, yellow for lightning, and so on. Some affinities were common, while others were rarer, like Aria's vibrant orange glow, which indicated a strong fire affinity. She returned to her seat with a proud smile, and Luciel gave her a thumbs-up.

Arthuria Augustus was called next. The silver-haired prodigy stepped forward with an air of confidence, her piercing blue eyes focused on the orb. She placed her hand on it, and the room was immediately bathed in a deep, icy blue light. The orb shone brightly.

"Ice affinity," Professor Jadestar said, her tone impressed. "A rare and powerful element. Well done, Arthuria."

Arthuria nodded gracefully and returned to her seat, her expression calm but satisfied. The whispers among the students grew louder, their awe evident. Ice affinity was not only rare but also notoriously difficult to master, and Arthuria's display had cemented her status as one of the top talents in the class.

Finally, it was Luciel's turn. The room fell silent as he stood up and walked to the podium. He could feel the weight of their stares—some curious, some skeptical, and others outright hostile. Even Professor Jadestar watched him closely, clearly anticipating what kind of result Luciel would show them.

Luciel took a deep breath and placed his hand on the orb. He focused on the warmth in his chest, the faint hum of mana that coursed through his body. He really, didn't know how to control mana, but he tried his best. For a moment, nothing happened. The orb remained dim, its surface dull and lifeless.

The whispers began again, this time tinged with mockery. Luciel ignored them, his focus unwavering. He reached deeper, tapping into the spark of mana he had felt for the past days after he had gained the system. The system's screen flickered in his vision, urging him on.

[Mana Output: Increasing.]

[Awakening Completion Rate: 20%]

Suddenly, the orb began to glow. At first, it was a faint, golden light, but it quickly intensified, growing brighter and brighter until it filled the room with a brilliance that rivaled the sun. The students gasped, shielding their eyes as the light became almost blinding. The orb pulsed with energy, and the air itself seemed to vibrate with power.

Professor Jadestar's eyes widened in shock. "Light affinity," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "A rare and powerful element. And this intensity… I've never seen anything like it."

The light slowly faded, leaving the room in stunned silence. Luciel removed his hand from the orb, his heart racing. The system's screen flickered again, confirming the result.

[Elemental Affinity: Light.]

[Affinity Strength: Transcendant.]

[Awakening Completion Rate: 25%]

The students stared at Luciel, their expressions a mix of awe, envy, and disbelief. Even Arthuria, who had remained composed throughout the test, looked at him with newfound respect. Aria's jaw was practically on the floor, her green eyes wide with amazement.

Professor Jadestar stepped forward, her piercing red eyes locked on Luciel. "Light affinity is one of the rarest and most difficult elements to control," she said, her tone both impressed and cautionary. "It is a symbol of purity and power, but it is also unpredictable and dangerous. You will need to train rigorously to master it."

Luciel nodded, his mind still reeling from the test. He had expected something extraordinary, given his rank. The system's screen flickered again, a reminder of the path ahead.

[New Objective: Begin training to control your light affinity.]

[Reward: Increased Awakening Completion Rate.]

As Luciel returned to his seat, the whispers among the students grew louder. Some were in awe of his display, while others muttered about how unfair it was that an unknown boy from the outer districts had surpassed them.

Professor Jadestar raised her hand, silencing the room. "Enough," She turned to the class, her gaze sweeping over the students. "Now that your affinities have been revealed, we will begin practical training. Those of you with common elements will work on basic manipulation techniques. Those with rare elements, like Luciel and Arthuria, will receive specialized instruction. Pay close attention—this is where your true training begins."