Chapter 76: Gajia Academy 8 - Magic Instructor

The next day, it was finally time for magical class. All of the students were seated in their chairs, waiting for the arrival of their magic instructor, until a few minutes later, the classroom door opened and revealed a woman with green hair and a huge pair of blue wings folded behind her back.

"Good day, class. I’m your magic instructor, a Tier 2 magic user."

"Tier 2? Isn’t that the second highest? She must be so powerful!"

Magic users were classified through a tier system developed by the scholars of Majica, which divided magical ability into seven different categories. At the bottom was Tier 7, where most individuals belonged. People at this level could only feel the link within their bodies, but were incapable of actually using it.

Tier 6 users could feel the link and form links themselves, but their links were so weak that using them was considered practically pointless.

Tier 5 users could finally use their links to enhance or change something, while Tier 4 users could manipulate an object’s position and composition through their links.

Tier 3 users were capable of forming links within seconds and could even establish them directly through their surroundings. This allowed them to temporarily create entirely new objects and properties. Tier 2 users could form links instantly and possessed greatly improved magical power, allowing them to create and manipulate things at will. At this stage, a mage could also learn to fly by manipulating their surroundings and constantly changing the position of their body.

Finally, a Tier 1 mage was classified as someone who could use magic to its highest extent. Reaching this level was extremely difficult, and one could only attain it by killing large numbers of Tier 1 beasts or dragons and accumulating enough experience to surpass the limits of ordinary magic users.

The instructor walked toward the front of the classroom before introducing herself.

"My name is Willow Daye."

"Willow Daye? Her name sounds familiar."

Someone suddenly raised his voice.

"I know! Isn’t she the so-called Guardian Prodigy of the Mouna Mountains?"

"Yes, I remember now. She formed her link when she was only five years old."

"Five? That’s insane!"

Willow looked across the classroom.

"Quiet now. Let’s get straight to the point."

"As Mister Raquan explained to you yesterday, you already know the basics of forming a link. However, what he taught you was only the beginning."

"Although a link is powerful, it also has its limitations. Prolonged usage can severely damage your circulation, eventually reaching the point where your insides can literally begin to boil. However, as some of you may already know, there is a way to improve your body’s ability to handle it."

"We call this Regular Circulation. By regularly circulating your magical power in and out of your body, your body gradually adapts to it. But how exactly do we circulate it?"

Willow turned toward one of the students.

"Rize, please demonstrate it in front of the class."

Without saying a word, Rize stood up and walked toward the front of the classroom. She closed her eyes before speaking in an authoritative voice.

"If you form a link within the surrounding space, even if nothing physical is there, you can train your body by constantly linking to the space around you. It uses very little energy, but it requires focus."

"However, if you practice it for long enough, you can eventually perform it as naturally as breathing. I have even observed several people here already practicing Regular Circulation."

Rize opened her eyes and looked toward the students.

"That kid named Kida, the one over there named Ragnir, and Akira."

The three of them looked at Rize with amused expressions, as if they were thinking the same thing.

As expected of a genius, she could recognize her fellow geniuses.

Then Rize continued.

"You can’t see it yet because all of you don’t know how to properly form a link. However, once you do, you will be able to feel the energy surrounding my body. That is Regular Circulation."

"Very nice explanation, Rize."

"Thank you," she said politely before returning to her seat.

"Now, let’s continue. How about we try forming your first link?"

Willow instructed everyone to open their palms and face them toward each other, almost as if they were about to clap. She then continued explaining the process.

"Try to imagine a force circulating through your body. Concentrate that force toward both of your palms, then imagine establishing a link between them."

Akuma closed his eyes and began imagining a force flowing from his head down to his toes before traveling toward his palms. Inside his mind, he imagined two mountains standing on opposite sides, with a hanging bridge connecting them together.

At first, he felt nothing. As the seconds passed, there was still nothing, but Akuma continued concentrating without giving up. Then suddenly, it felt as if a dam had burst open, and an entirely new world revealed itself to him.

Akuma opened his eyes and saw a small thread connecting the centers of his palms. His eyes widened with excitement as he looked around the classroom, finally able to see the links that everyone had been talking about.

Then he noticed Kida. A thick link, almost as wide as a ship’s rope, connected his palms.

"Kida’s is thicker than mine!"

Akuma quickly looked toward Rize, only to find something even more astonishing. Her entire body seemed to be connected by countless links, resembling a complex network of pipes constantly circulating throughout her body.

"What? That’s insane."

Akuma tried to calm himself down before looking at the other students.

"Maybe they’re just more talented than me, but let’s see what the others have."

He looked around the classroom and noticed that most of the students could barely see their own links. Some could only see an extremely faint thread, while others struggled to form one at all.

For a moment, Akuma almost laughed. Compared to Kida and Rize, his own link was barely noticeable, but at least he could see it clearly now.

Still, Akuma couldn’t help but feel excited.

This was his first step into the world of magic.