Chapter 11: The Fusion of Science and Magic | Mastering Lightning

Zagor stepped to the front of the class and paused for a moment to gather everyone's attention. The air in the room shifted. There was such a heavy silence that only the beating of hearts could be heard. The students already knew that Zagor had deep knowledge, but today they were eager to see what he would share.

He took a few steps forward, clasped his hands together, and then took a step back.

"Today," he said in a cold and firm voice, "we will delve into the art of lightning magic. But this will not just be a magical exercise; it will also be a scientific discovery. The fusion of elements, the study of natural laws, and combining them will give us greater power. However, as with all magic, we must tread carefully."

At that moment, one of the academy's senior professors, Prof. Arithas, entered the room. His gaze was sharp and observant. Arithas had always been cautious of magic, but today, he was curious to see what Zagor was teaching. He sat down at the back of the classroom and began taking notes. Other professors also began observing the lesson, intrigued.

Zagor took a deep breath and raised his hand toward the air, starting to focus lightning magic into the center of the room.

"Lightning is a force of nature. But it's not just power," he continued. "Electricity works as a unified force. The attraction between positive and negative ions and the potential difference that builds up allows us to perform this magic. Now... watch."

Zagor raised his hand, and in an instant, a bolt of lightning flashed in the room. The students took a step back, startled by the sudden power, but they couldn't look away. The lightning's energy reflected off the silver walls and lit the entire room.

"What you must understand about this magic," Zagor continued, "is that usable energy comes from the buildup of electric charge. But it's not just a magical formula—science is involved too. If we combine scientific theories with magic, the effect becomes exponentially greater."

Zagor noticed a hand raised from one of the students. It was Lena, a sharp-witted young woman. Her eyes were filled with curiosity.

"Professor Zagor," she asked, "does this mean we can combine elements to enhance the power of lightning? I mean, not just electricity, but also air, metal, and even water?"

Zagor turned to Lena, a proud gleam in his eyes.

"Excellent question, Lena. Yes, interactions between elements are complementary forces. When air and electricity combine, we can create a strong energy wave. But if you want to go deeper, you must think at the level of atoms. As we've done today, combining electric charge with metals increases conduction, and when water is added, we can focus the energy magically."

At that moment, a sense of tension began to build in the class. What Zagor was saying was nothing short of revolutionary. The class was steadily growing, as other teachers from the academy started filtering in, curious about the lesson. Prof. Alian, Prof. Faran, and Dr. Sylas all joined in, eager to observe. Each was an expert in a different branch of science and magic, and they were now all sitting at the edges of their seats.

Prof. Alian, who had been skeptical from the start, muttered, "Isn't this still just theory? Is it even possible to apply these magics in real life?" But now, after hearing Zagor's explanation, he was beginning to realize the practicality of these methods.

Zagor noticed the growing excitement among the students. His eyes grew sharper, and his voice became more commanding.

"Now, it's time to remove the barrier between science and magic. The purpose of this lesson isn't just to give you a formula—it's to teach you a method. If we stop here, we limit the power of magic. But if we aim for unlimited power… we must transcend boundaries."

With that, the students began performing their own experiments. All around the class, students were combining elements to enhance their lightning magic. They mixed air, metal, and water to increase the intensity and control of the electrical waves. It was a race to see who could create the most powerful and controlled bolt of lightning.

The atmosphere in the classroom was electric, and even the academy's professors couldn't help but be drawn into the excitement. Prof. Arithas entered the class late, but he was immediately caught up in the lesson. He began taking detailed notes. The students and even the professors were in awe of Zagor's transformative power.