Ohm whipped his head toward Skyler, who smiled sheepishly and shrugged casually.
"I'm not sure how, Professor. I just copied what was shown on the projector. Maybe I just have a natural talent for becoming a talisman master. Who knows?"
The professor was left speechless.
It was true that among the three types of talismans—Good, Excellent, and Perfect—the Perfect-type was the most difficult to create. It was flawless and superior to all other similar talismans in its tier, and this was true for every tier of talisman.
A skilled talisman master could typically create only one Perfect-type talisman out of ten attempts, and even that was rare.
Yet, Skyler had crafted a Perfect-type Novice-tier talisman on his first try.
But the spell Skyler had inscribed on the talisman paper was nothing more than a basic light spell, one that just illuminated the area when infused with Evol. Was that truly something to be so proud of already?
Maybe the young man had simply gotten lucky and drawn a Perfect-type talisman? Ohm's grip tightened around the talisman paper as he pushed the thought aside. No, there was no way it was luck. The paper in his hand, with its neat and precise strokes, left no doubt—there were no mistakes.
Skyler had drawn it, and it wasn't luck. He had done it with nothing but natural talent. From everything Ohm had seen in the news about the young man, he could already tell that before coming to the academy, Skyler had no prior knowledge of talismans.
That meant Skyler was a natural talent—someone who could very well become a genius in the art of talisman crafting!
Ohm's eyes lit up. He had always dreamed of mentoring a naturally gifted genius—that was the reason he had joined the academy. However, since his arrival, so far all he had encountered were disappointing students.
Max was the only one who showed some promise in his class; at least his talismans weren't scribbles, and he could manage to draw 1-star talismans. But even then, Ohm knew that Max—and the rest—was unlikely to ever become true talisman masters
Skyler, however, was different. He had real potential—the kind that could be cultivated into one of the greatest talisman masters. And Ohm would be the one to witness that journey! He would make sure to watch him closely and take credit if he ever became a great talisman master in the near future!
Ohm cleared his throat, ignoring Skyler's shameless words, and patted his shoulder, annoyed that Skyler was as tall as him. He had thought only Max and Austin from the first-year Elite class matched his height.
"Amazing job. You certainly have a natural talent. Creating a Perfect-type talisman on your first try without any prior knowledge or basics is impressive. Although the spell you wrote on your Evol-infused paper isn't worth much, this is a good start. Work hard, and you'll see the results. Feel free to ask me if you ever need help. I'm always available."
Skyler nodded, accepting the professor's praise without even a hint of modesty.
The other students in the classroom, who had been whispering and eyeing Skyler with barely concealed envy, were left shocked by the professor's words. Ohm Glacier, the one who hadn't lifted a finger to help even Max, the top student, let alone anyone else—was now openly offering his support to Skyler?
Where had the edgy, snappy, cold, and indifferent professor they knew gone?
Was this the power of being a royal? And a famous young genius? If so, then they too wished they could wake up one day only to discover they were from the royal family!
Damn it!
Some of the male students clenched their teeth as Skyler turned around, flashed the class a smug smirk, and casually returned to his seat with the talisman in hand, just as the professor continued the lecture.
The stares on Skyler's back intensified.
Those in the class had the same thought: was this man trying to rub it in their faces—that he had achieved in a single class what they hadn't managed even after many?
That arrogant jerk! If only there were a way to wipe that smug, infuriating smile off his face. But none of them dared to speak up.
He was a royal, a prince, and even though the government and royal family held little influence within the Academy due to the power it held, no one wanted to offend him and get on the bad side of the royal family.
Right now, Skyler was the talk of the town, with many eyes watching him. Getting on his bad side would do them no good.
What they failed to consider was that he wasn't weak anymore. Getting on his bad side meant saying goodbye to peace.
Whether or not the royal family intervened, Skyler would undoubtedly make life a living hell for anyone who got on his nerves.
Zack's eyes gleamed with intensity as he stared at Skyler's back, a faint yet knowing smirk playing at the corners of his lips.
"Hmm... Now I understand why the book described Skyler's death by saying that the one destined to become the greatest Light Elementist in the universe had perished. He really is good. Tsk, if only I hadn't ended up on his blacklist. But what's done is done. I was doing what served my interests. I won't be a hypocrite and pretend otherwise."
He closed his eyes for a moment, then glanced at the talisman he had attempted to create. It looked worse than doodles.
Well, he had always been bad at drawing—how could he be skilled at using a brush to create intricate, densely packed strokes?
He clicked his tongue and tossed the sorry excuse for a talisman—a stain on the name of talismans—into the dustbin behind him.
Then he leaned back in his chair. He didn't need star coins. After all, even though the parents of the body he had transmigrated into had abandoned him, he was still filthy rich, so becoming a good talisman master wasn't necessary. He had only joined the talisman class to meet Mila and Oreon.
Zack's gaze was distant as he sighed.
"Maybe it's time I changed my thinking... The people here are real too, even if they sometimes feel fake—like broken records doomed to follow a written script ."
He chuckled at his own words. This was how he felt when he watched Max and his teammates, their every action predictable. However, now Skyler and Charles' presence would alter the entire course of this story.
"I have already decided—I'II do whatever I want. I don't care anymore if Max or anyone else discovers my power. I'm even going to take the chances that were meant for Max—the ones I left alone before, just to let the story unfold as originally intended. Still..."
He groaned under his breath.
"How is Skyler already a 10-star...? Wasn't his talent supposed to cap at 5 stars? The Keeper of Time is clearly unreliable. I can't depend on him—or the story—any longer, at least not when it comes to Skyler. I need to run a background check on him. I need to know more—to tell what he's capable of."
Shaking his head, Zack closed his eyes, half-listening to the ongoing lecture. Even without looking, he could tell from the tone alone that Professor Ohm was giving Skyler special attention—unlike the rest—asking if he understood or had any questions.
"Hah, truly a two-faced professor."
Yet, he clicked his tongue softly as his ears caught snippets of Skyler monopolizing the professor's attention completely—asking so many off-topic questions that it was really getting difficult to follow the actual lecture.
That prick really knew how to seize every opportunity without an ounce of shame.
Skyler wasn't the least bit modest. He was someone who'd snatch up anything offered to him, unlike most people who'd rather say no out of politeness or embarrassment.
Just like that, three grueling hours passed. What began as a regular class transformed into a private session for Skyler, with Ohm's attention solely on him. Eventually, however, the long, boring class came to an end.
The professor, after giving one last answer to Skyler—who had stopped him just as he was about to leave—finally made his exit.
Zack observed the interaction and couldn't help but notice the flicker in Ohm's eyes. It revealed he wasn't annoyed; if anything, he seemed eager to offer more answers.
He chuckled, then bid farewell to Mila and Oreon, who were leaving to grab something to eat. He stayed seated in his spot as the classroom began to empty, with students leaving to eat or go about their business.
Ultimately, only Skyler, Charles, Zack, and three other male students remained in the classroom, packing their things. Suddenly, an odd stillness settled in, the background chatter slowly fading. Zack stood up, his brows furrowing in confusion.
"Why did it suddenly get so quiet?"
His question was met with the sound of space cracking as two thin figures in dark robes stepped out of the fissures. One of the men waved his hand, and the air thickened with Dark Evol, causing those in the class to gasp for breath. The tallest of the two men scanned the room with hazy, gloomy eyes.
"Hmm, bro, who is the target?"