Chapter 128: Red Eyes (1)
"Why do we have to recite incantations when using magic?"
Professor Windy May—who usually floated serenely through the air—opened her mouth while seated in a chair.
As always, she scanned the auditorium with a languid expression, as though bored.
‘Is it because she's currently using Duplication Magic?’
Lian thought that as he looked at her strangely unfamiliar appearance.
It was an offhand remark, but he hadn’t forgotten what she had said before about needing to conserve her power soon.
Normally, she would demonstrate several spells during class, but today she stuck solely to theoretical explanation. That must be the reason.
"Why do we need incantations and chanting to use magic?"
The quietly spoken question spread slowly across the auditorium.
The room remained still.
“Hmm……”
Windy May let out a small sigh, as if everything felt tiresome.
She rested her chin on her hand, seated comfortably, and glanced around again.
“Hasn’t everyone wondered about this at least once?”
She added, her eyes half-closed.
"Reciting incantations aloud, chanting, coordinating mana mentally, and drawing complex hand signs—why go through all this trouble? Is it really necessary? Isn’t there a faster and more reliable way? Isn’t it meaningless and useless?"
She slowly reached out her hand into the air.
Despite not using any incantation, chant, or hand sign, something began to sparkle and condense in her palm.
It was a Lightning Bolt, gathered into a spherical form.
"If we could use magic without all that, wouldn't it be much more convenient and powerful?"
For a moment, a subtle ripple of agreement passed among the students.
Everyone, to some degree, empathized with that inconvenience.
"But magic is a discipline that values efficiency above all."
Windy May flicked her hand lightly, dispelling the lightning gathered on her palm, then nodded slowly.
"Over centuries, magic has developed in this way—efficiently and reliably."
Tilting her head slightly, she muttered in a meaningful tone.
She then looked around the auditorium and spoke.
"Shall I give an example? From now on, I want everyone to absolutely not think of an elephant."
As soon as she finished speaking, a giant elephant appeared in Lian’s mind.
A huge body, a long trunk, and a pair of tusks.
"You understand, right? You absolutely must not think of an elephant."
Despite her words, the elephant remained vivid in his mind.
And it wasn’t just Lian—the same held true for the other students.
Though the details varied, soon enough, their minds were filled with elephants.
"That’s exactly the reason."
Windy May let out a small laugh.
"Even when trying not to think about something, it surfaces. Human perception works that way. And magic is no different. You must recall something instantaneously—almost reflexively—but also clearly and vividly. That’s what matters."
She adjusted her posture and continued.
"But magic isn’t something completed with mere crude imagination or perception."
She stated firmly.
"Handling mana is a delicate and complex task. If anything goes wrong, it doesn’t just fail—it can trigger a backlash and spiral out of control."
"That’s why incantations and chants are necessary. They stabilize the mana and help solidify the perception in your mind more accurately. The structure, combination, and arrangement of these incantations and chants—these form the basic framework and shape of magic."
She paused briefly, then slowly scanned the students.
"Of course, those who reach a certain level of mastery can cast magic without incantations or chants. Like I just demonstrated. But magic cast through chanting will always be more powerful."
Before long, the class neared its end.
Looking out the window with a gaze that seemed to say, finally, she spoke in the same languid tone.
“Is there anything else you’re curious about or would like to ask?”
At her question, one student cautiously raised a hand.
Windy May slowly nodded, as if to say, go ahead.
“I’ve heard that the methods and processes of using magic differ among races. I wanted to ask about that.”
The student added,
“For example… I heard that Dragons can use magic as naturally as breathing from the moment they open their eyes. Is that true?”
Windy May smacked her lips and nodded.
"To answer your question about Dragons first—yes. They can use magic from the moment they take their first breath. Just as fish breathe underwater and birds fly through the sky… using magic is a natural ability granted to the Dragon race."
“In short, they are powerful without any training or effort. Add to that their incredibly long lifespans and the immense amount of mana they’re born with—they far surpass all other races.”
At that point, she suddenly puffed out her chest and tapped it twice.
“But I beat a Dragon in a fight. Two of them, at the same time.”
Because of her ever-languid attitude and tone, her boast felt so lifeless it drained the energy from the room.
Maybe that’s why everyone was slow to realize she was joking.
Or maybe it was hard to figure out how to respond.
“……”
“……”
“……”
Faced with a reaction completely different from what she’d expected, Windy May quietly straightened up.
Then, as if nothing had happened, she carried on with her explanation.
Her voice trembled slightly, but still.
"…A-Anyway, for most of you humans listening to this lecture, or for Elves and Half-Elves like me… and for other races too, magic is a skill that must be honed through training."
Ahem, she cleared her throat a couple of times.
"We can’t leave out Demons in this discussion. People often misunderstand them. But to be precise, they simply have a bit of an advantage when it comes to handling magic. They still need to train just like everyone else."
"But… there are always exceptions."
Windy May's voice lowered slightly.
"Devils."
A strange tension filled the room for a moment.
She continued slowly.
"I’ve heard that they can use a power similar to magic innately, from birth."
“Um, Professor.”
One student raised a hand.
The emblem of Crooks was pinned to their chest.
“Aren’t Demons and Devils the same?”
“Are the citizens of the Empire and humans the same?”
In response to Windy May’s question, the student closed their mouth.
With a resigned shrug, Windy May answered.
“If we’re being exact, Devils are a subordinate category of Demons—sort of like… hmm, a minority group? It’s hard to describe. But anyway, they are distinctly different concepts.”
She added firmly, as if to say never get them confused.
“If the two were truly considered the same, then why would Devils be designated as public enemies and execution targets even among the Demons?”
“……”
At her words, the student who had asked the question closed their mouth.
He clearly wanted to refute it, but couldn’t.
“Then what are their defining traits?”
At someone’s question, Windy May scratched her cheek.
“They can change their appearance at will, so it’s hard to define specific traits. Horns, tails, wings, sharp claws and teeth like something out of an old fairy tale… most of those are meaningless distinctions, honestly.”
“But… if I had to choose one defining trait…”
Windy May said,
“Red eyes.”
“They all have red eyes without exception.”
The moment she finished speaking, the bell rang, signaling the end of class.
“Mm. That’s all for today.”
Leaving behind those final words, Windy May quietly exited the classroom.
‘Red eyes, huh.’
The phrase brought a certain person to Lian’s mind before he realized it.
It was Yuran.
‘…Her eyes were definitely red.’
The future Yuran who had chased him had eyes as red as blood.
Though now, they were black as the night sky.
‘Could it be related somehow?’
Thinking that, Lian stretched with a long yawn.
Before he realized it, a Spider had appeared beside him, as usual, with a note in its mouth.
[Note.]
As always, the note only contained the word “Note.”
Lian took the note and wrote a reply on it, as he always did.
[Reply.]
― Creak!
The Spider, holding the note in its mouth, scurried off.
It was heading in the direction of Cecilia.
Lian blankly watched the Spider’s back as it moved away.
“Hm?”
Something slithered out beneath his feet.
It was a snake, pitch-black as if dipped in ink.
‘What is that?’
It was small, and it blinked both eyes at Lian.
It showed no sign of hostility.
‘It’s… not a Spirit, I think.’
While studying the creature’s appearance, Lian noticed a familiar Necklace around the snake’s body.
It was the necklace he’d received from Airos.
Ssssh.
Meeting Lian’s gaze, the snake silently climbed up his body.
Lian stood still, allowing it to crawl up him.
Soon, it reached the top of his desk.
Then, spotting an empty notebook, it butted its head against it like a headbutt.
“This is…”
And then something incredible happened.
The snake’s body was sucked straight into the notebook and vanished.
In the once-blank notebook, a few lines of text had appeared.
The snake’s body had dissolved and spread out, turning into writing.
Spell.
Lian realized that the snake had been conjured through a spell.
‘Yuran sent this.’
Just in case, she must have included the necklace to show that it was from her.
Carefully picking up the necklace, Lian read the text in the notebook.
It was written in a mix of Garusol and Imperial.
Lian had no trouble reading it, but his expression darkened slightly.
“……”
Help me.
Come see me as soon as you can.
That’s what the notebook said.
“...Quickly.”
Yuran whispered softly.
She was slumped in a corner of her room.
“Quickly… come to me…”
She murmured breathlessly, her voice urgent and panting.
“Please…”
Suddenly, she raised her head.
Her face was covered with a blindfold densely inscribed with strange characters.