Chapter 2

The Royal Academy — the place where the finest aspiring mages were forged — stood proudly at the heart of the capital.

Every year, this prestigious institution produced exceptional magicians whose names echoed throughout the realm.

Graduates of the academy were not only known for their formidable magical power but also for their intellect and sharpness of mind that far surpassed most others.

“It’s still the same as before.”

I stood before the academy’s main gate.

Massive stone walls surrounded the central building like a fortress.

Towering spires rose high enough to pierce the clouds, while the kingdom’s proud emblem — a colossal dragon statue — loomed before the grand hall, symbolizing the glory and magical might of Lumethra.

The courtyard stretched wide, adorned with perfectly arranged gardens and fountains that shimmered faintly with protective enchantments.

Every corner radiated majesty and history, as if the world itself bowed in reverence to this place.

As I stepped inside, someone suddenly bumped into me from behind.

Instinctively, I chanted a minor barrier spell to keep myself from stumbling forward.

“M—my apologies!”

A young girl with silvery-white hair stood before me, bowing deeply.

Her hair reflected the morning sunlight, glimmering like snow in midwinter.

Judging from her uniform, she was clearly a student here.

“It’s fine. Just be more careful next time,” I said with a small smile.

“Th-thank you… then, please excuse me!”

She bowed once more before hurrying past me, her footsteps light yet slightly hurried — as if she feared being late, or perhaps… meeting my gaze for too long.

I watched her as she disappeared into the building. For some reason, she felt oddly familiar — not in a bad way, but as though I had seen her somewhere before… perhaps in a past long forgotten.

After a while, I reached the headmaster’s office.

I still remembered — the previous headmaster never showed himself in public.

Even during orientation, he used a puppet as his representative.

“Was he… shy?” I murmured.

A sharp voice rang from behind the door.

“I can hear you, you know.”

When I stepped inside, a wave of magical energy instantly brushed against me — strong enough to tell me that the person here wasn’t ordinary.

A young girl dressed in a white gown adorned with ornate patterns sat behind the desk, her gaze sharp and composed.

Her blue hair glistened under the sunlight pouring from the window behind her, giving her an almost divine presence.

“You are… the headmaster?”

The girl rose gracefully from her seat and walked toward me.

“That’s right. Welcome to the Royal Academy, Varis.”

I hadn’t expected this. The mage famed for her genius — often hailed as a living legend — was right before my eyes, sipping tea as if all the stories about her were nothing of importance.

“Oh, and for your first day, I won’t allow you to teach a class,” she said calmly. “Instead, you’ll personally mentor a single student.”

She handed me a sheet of paper. As I read it, my expression stiffened slightly.

“Her name is Lisena. You must have heard of her, haven’t you?”

“Yes.”

Lisena de Lumethra — the third princess of the Lumethra Kingdom.

Renowned for her prodigious talent, she had earned that title by developing her own spell at an age most children could barely grasp basic incantations.

Her abilities had even been recognized by the High Council of Magic.

I had met her once before, during a royal banquet.

“You’ve surely heard of her genius, haven’t you? Every instructor here claims they’re unworthy of teaching her. So… are you interested?” she asked, her gaze piercing, as if she wanted to see what choice I would make.

“…Very well. I’ll accept the offer.”

A faint smile appeared on her lips — a look that carried a meaning I couldn’t quite read.

“I’m expecting great things from you.”

After finishing my meeting with the headmaster, I headed to the room prepared for the academy’s instructors — their personal offices.

As I rested, I began reading through the information file on Lisena.

“Besides her talent, she possesses a rare gift — dual elements. Could that be why none of the instructors managed to guide her properly?”

I recalled a scholarly work titled Elemental Magic, written by Edward Magus — the leader of one of the Magic Towers.

In that book, he explained that elements are divided into six types: Fire, Water, Wind, Earth, Light, and Darkness.

Each element has its own strengths and weaknesses, each countering another.

Fire overcomes Wind, Wind overcomes Earth, Earth overcomes Water, and Water suppresses Fire.

Meanwhile, Light and Darkness stand opposite — capable of nullifying each other entirely.

It was also written that those who possess two elements within their bodies are exceedingly rare — almost unheard of.

“I’m growing even more curious about her,” I murmured, a faintly cynical smile forming on my face.

Still within the same building, in a quiet classroom...

A young girl sat alone by the window, her golden-silver hair swaying softly with the breeze that flowed through the open panes.

“So… they really sent me a new teacher? I just hope he won’t disappoint me…”

***Download NovelToon to enjoy a better reading experience!***