Anos spoke in a serious tone,
"Don't you remember the first rule of this academy?"
Julius thought for a moment and replied,
"I think... it had something to do with harming others and receiving a heavy punishment."
Anos nodded and continued,
"That's right. Any action that endangers the life of a student is harshly punished by the academy. But since this happened during a training duel, the academy's hands are tied. Even though he went too far, the instructor can't directly intervene—because that guy is the son of a viscount..."
Julius said angrily,
"Oh, I see now... So we have to just sit back and watch someone like him hurt others, just because he holds a higher status?!"
Arthur spoke softly,
"That's how the world works... the strong devour the weak. The only thing we can do is act wisely."
Julius frowned,
"Act wisely? What do you mean?"
Arthur gave a faint smile and explained,
"Sometimes you don't need to punish someone with fists. Sometimes it's smarter to target their mind—let them destroy themselves."
Julius asked,
"How exactly?"
Arthur replied,
"Depends on how far you want to go. You can start small—like damaging his relationships with others—or escalate things until he loses control himself."
Julius said hesitantly,
"Honestly, I'm not the kind of person who likes to do that."
Arthur gently said,
"Sometimes you have to do things you don't like. Just remember—a smart move can leave a far deeper impact than any punch or kick."
Julius thought for a moment, lowered his head, and said,
"Alright... I'll think about it."
Arthur gave him a reassuring smile,
"Don't stress too much. Just try to think before you act."
Then, after a brief pause, he added in a serious tone,
"Besides, if William tries to retaliate, Anos and I will be right beside you. We won't let you face him alone."
Julius responded with a genuine smile,
"Thank you... I know I can count on you guys."
As Anos checked his watch, he said,
"Alright, we'd better hurry. Class starts in five minutes!"
The three of them quickly stood up and made their way toward the classroom at a brisk pace.
---
The second class had already begun.
Professor Satella entered the room, her face tense and irritated.
As usual, all the students stood up until she, in a weary voice, said,
"Sit down."
After scanning the room with a stern gaze, she announced,
"Today, we have a test. Take out your pens and papers and get ready to write."
A wave of protest spread through the classroom:
"But, Professor, you didn't tell us there would be a test!"
Without even flinching, the professor replied,
"I'm not obliged to always warn you. You should be prepared at all times.
This test will cover various subjects: Literature, Mathematics, Dwarvish, and Elvish.
Its purpose is to prepare you for the first-term exams, which will begin in about a month.
The grades you earn today will directly impact your final scores.
Now hurry up and get ready — don't waste any more time."
The atmosphere in the classroom instantly grew heavy with anxiety.
Most of the students had not expected such a sudden test.
However, among them were a few like Arthur, Anos, and Sophia, who had been preparing diligently and calmly got ready to begin.
As the test commenced, a palpable sense of despair filled the room.
Faces turned pale as the students realized the difficulty of the exam — it was clearly designed to ensure that only a few would succeed.
Meanwhile, Professor Satella sat behind her desk, her expression faintly smiling yet filled with sharp satisfaction.
Her keen eyes scanned the room relentlessly, ready to crush any attempt at cheating before it even started.
Students, drowning in stress, struggled to find the right answers.
Some, out of sheer desperation, attempted to cheat, but it was pointless — the professor's ruthless vigilance caught every suspicious move.
The exam was so challenging that even the best-prepared students were pushed to their limits.
Arthur, who possessed the power of the "Eye of Truth," could have easily extracted the correct answers,
but he resisted the temptation.
He had made up his mind to overcome this challenge through hard work, not by abusing his special abilities.
He answered most of the questions with uncertainty, never fully confident in his responses.
Glancing around, he saw that nearly everyone else had practically given up, save for a handful who stubbornly pressed on.
Anos, seated a few rows ahead, was hunched over his paper with intense focus, though it was clear he was struggling with some of the questions.
Arthur then turned his gaze to Julius, who was visibly having a hard time finding answers.
Finally, his eyes landed on Sophia.
She was reviewing her paper with admirable calmness, seemingly quite confident in her answers.
Suddenly, Professor Satella's sharp voice broke the tense silence:
"Keep your eyes on your own papers. Focus!"
Time passed swiftly.
When the professor announced there were only five minutes left, the anxiety in the room peaked.
Some students began frantically scribbling anything that came to mind, regardless of whether it answered the questions or not.
After a few tense minutes, the professor called out loudly:
"Time's up! Put your pens down and hand in your papers.
You may rest afterward.
The results will be announced in the next session, so don't neglect your studies until then.
Goodbye."
Arthur, still stealing a quick glance at Sophia, leaned over and asked quietly,
"How many questions were you able to answer?"
Sophia sighed and said,
"That was a tough exam. Even though I was prepared, I'm not sure I'll get a high score. How about you?"
Arthur shrugged and replied,
"I don't know... I just hope I pass. I really don't want my grades to drop so much that the Academy sends me a warning."
Sophia smiled reassuringly and said,
"You're always one of the top students in the class. One test isn't going to ruin that. Now come on, let's take a little break."
In the Academy park, the four of them — Arthur, Anos, Julius, and Sophia — sat on wooden benches.
Julius grumbled,
"What kind of exam was that? It was way too hard! I think I'm going to fail... Damn it! What am I supposed to do now?"
Anos patted the back of Julius's neck and said with his eyes closed,
"It's your own fault. Arthur and I warned you there might be a surprise test, but you just kept goofing around."
Arthur smiled and asked Anos,
"How did the test go for you?"
Anos replied proudly,
"Don't underestimate me! I've always been strong in theory. The test was tough, but I think I'll get a pretty good score."
Then, with a mischievous grin, Anos turned to Sophia and said,
"I'm sure you'll do well too... but I still think I'll outscore you!"
Sophia laughed lightly and replied,
"Want to bet on it? Let's see who gets the highest score."
Anos grinned broadly and said,
"Deal! If I win, you'll have to do all my homework for a month."
Sophia, smiling slyly, said,
"Fine! But if I win, you'll have to pay for all my snacks for a month."
She added with a teasing smirk,
"Hope you won't back out when you lose."
Anos, in an exaggerated tone, said,
"Do you even realize who you're challenging?!"
Arthur and Julius chuckled silently, not bothering to get involved — both knew they probably wouldn't be scoring higher than either Anos or Sophia.
Over the past four months, these four had built a deep friendship.
It was more than simple companionship; they had become a family, united enough to overcome any threat together.
The bell for the next class rang.
All four stood up and made their way toward the Academy building.
This time, Professor Charles was going to teach — and in Arthur's opinion, Professor Charles's classes were always full of energy and learning, the kind where you never grew tired of studying.
When they entered the classroom, Arthur and Sophia sat next to each other and started chatting quietly.
Moments later, the door swung open, and Professor Charles entered with his ever-present warm smile.
With a friendly tone, he greeted them,
"Good morning, everyone. Please have a seat. How's your day been so far?"
Professor Charles's classes always had a lively and warm atmosphere, unlike many others.
The walls were decorated with paintings of historic battles and legendary spells.
In one corner of the classroom floated a magical board that rotated gently, displaying new information with each touch.
The soft scent of tea and old books lingered in the air, spreading a subtle sense of comfort over the students.
Professor Charles was a middle-aged man with neatly combed white hair and sharp, shining black eyes.
His voice was energetic yet gentle, compelling even the sleepiest students to pay attention.
The students, still carrying the exhaustion from the earlier exam on their faces, gave half-hearted, forced smiles and responded:
"Great, professor!"
Yet even if no one heard the truth in their words, the drooping shoulders and weary expressions made the reality obvious.
Professor Charles, easily reading the mood of the class, nodded understandingly and said,
"Ah... I see. It's probably because of Professor Satella's exam that you're all so quiet.
Well, to be fair, she's always been a bit strict.
But just remember — such tests are meant to teach you one thing: Always be prepared.
The world isn't going to wait for you to be ready, so it's better that you prepare ahead of time."
He paused briefly, clasped his hands behind his back, and took a few steps across the room, then continued,
"Now, let's talk about yesterday's topic... the Skill Awakening Ceremony."
At the mention of it, the energy in the room lifted slightly; some students looked excited, while others who were disappointed with their results stayed silent.
The professor went on,
"As you know, the Skill Detection Sphere reveals only a small portion of your true potential.
Some of you saw skills that can be used immediately; others will need months or even years of training before your abilities can truly shine.
Either way, whatever skill you've awakened is a clue to your future path."
Turning toward the magical board, he gently tapped it, and an image appeared, categorizing the different types of skills.
"Let's start with the basic skills first,"
his voice rang warmly through the room.
"Skills like 'Explosive Energy Control,' which Anos awakened, or 'Reinforced Shielding,' which Julius received.
Skills like 'High Jump,' 'Wound Regeneration,' and others like them.
They might seem simple, but their usefulness in real-life situations is undeniable."
Professor Charles spent about half an hour analyzing each basic skill, providing real-world examples of their uses in battlefields, rescue missions, and even daily life.
Finally, he moved on to the more thrilling topic: elite skills.
With a particular gleam in his eye, he said,
"Now... a few of you managed to awaken elite skills this year — and that's completely natural.
After all, it's only your first year.
You have plenty of time ahead, so don't be discouraged.
Just remember: everyone grows at their own pace."
The classroom held its breath.
Even those without elite skills couldn't hide their curiosity.
Then, the professor proudly announced the names of three students:
"Arthur... Sophia... and William."
A few murmurs of admiration rose from the class.
Instinctively, many turned their eyes toward the three named students.
Professor Charles patiently nodded and began explaining:
"Revival magic, in its simplest form, is the process of restoring life energy to someone who is either on the brink of death or has just passed away.
To understand it better, you must know that life is a combination of three key elements: **the body, mana, and the soul**.
When someone dies, these three components separate. The physical body collapses, the mana disperses, and the soul moves on to the afterlife."
He stepped toward the floating magical board and, with a simple gesture, drew three glowing circles interconnected with each other: **Body, Mana, Soul**.
"In immediate revival, you must act quickly—before the bond fully breaks—to concentrate mana and restart the flow of life.
However, if more than a few minutes pass, the soul becomes much harder to retrieve.
That's when **advanced revival** comes into play.
You must call the soul back from beyond the boundary of life, reconstruct or heal the body, and realign the mana flow to make it possible for the soul to reenter."
His voice grew lower and heavier:
"This is incredibly difficult.
Any mistake could result in a corrupted or incomplete being... something that is neither truly alive nor possessed of a soul; at worst, a monstrous abomination."
The classroom fell into an intense silence.
Some students hardly dared to breathe.
Professor Charles offered a bitter smile before continuing:
"That's why advanced revival magic is considered closer to myth than an attainable skill.
However, a person who masters this art could become one of the most powerful sorcerers in history."
Arthur's eyes gleamed with determination.
A silent vow formed deep within him:
**I will find this path, even if it takes my entire life.**
Professor Charles scanned the classroom with a warm look and spoke in a lighter tone:
"Now then, today we'll start with practicing the basics of immediate revival.
It's simple for now, but it lays the most important foundation for your future."
Then, with a bright smile and a raised voice, he said:
"So, who would like to volunteer to attempt mana revival first?"
Several hands hesitantly rose.
Arthur, without a moment's hesitation, thrust his hand into the air.
The professor offered a faint smile and, with his usual calm demeanor, began to explain:
"That's an excellent question... though a bit complex.
In short, revival magic is a process where the physical body is repaired, and the soul or astral body, once separated, is returned to life.
This process is extremely delicate, difficult, and incredibly costly, as it requires both extraordinary precision and immense amounts of mana."
He paused briefly, glancing into the eager eyes of the students, then continued:
"There are different types of revival magic.
For example, if a corpse has been dead for only an hour or two, it is possible to revive it using standard spells.
But there are important limitations.
If the body has suffered severe damage, or if the soul has been destroyed, there's nothing that can be done.
Similarly, if death occurred naturally — from old age or certain diseases — revival becomes impossible.
And most critically, if the soul is damaged or lost, no magic can bring it back."
The students listened intently; the classroom was so silent that it felt as if time itself had stopped.
The professor continued:
"However... throughout history, there have been legends — stories of those who managed to revive individuals who had neither a body nor an intact soul.
But such forms of magic have either been lost or are fiercely protected, kept far away from the reach of ordinary people... because their power is unimaginably dangerous."
Excitement rippled through the classroom.
The information the professor was revealing was new and astonishing.
Seeing the raised hands, he smiled again and chose another student.
The next student, slightly nervous, asked, "Professor, what happens to the soul after death?"
The professor paused for a moment, seeming lost in thought himself. Then, in a calm and serious voice, he replied:
"That's a truly profound question... and not one that is easy to answer.
There are many theories.
Some believe that the soul travels to heaven or hell.
Others think the soul is transported to another realm.
Some cultures believe in reincarnation — that the soul is born anew in another body.
But... such fates happen to only about one percent of souls.
For the remaining ninety-nine percent, when the body dies, the soul slowly begins to disintegrate, turning into pure mana particles that scatter across the world."
The classroom was utterly silent; even the sound of the students' breathing had faded.
The professor continued, his voice a little bitter but sincere:
"Yes, that's the truth.
Most souls have no fate beyond becoming part of the world's mana flow.
This cycle allows fresh mana to re-enter the world, fueling new life."
The students' faces were filled with shock and sorrow.
The heavy truth weighed on them.
Sensing the mood, the professor offered a warm smile and said:
"But... do you know the greatest difference between you and the countless lost souls?"
One student, visibly shaken, asked with a trembling voice, "What is it, Professor?"
The professor answered with gentle seriousness:
"It's that you *have a body*.
You have the chance to live.
While billions of other souls have waited for centuries, even thousands of years, hoping for just *one* chance —
one opportunity to feel the wind on their face,
the taste of food,
the warmth of friendship and family —
and they never got it.
You are *alive*.
That means you are experiencing one of the rarest miracles in existence."
The class fell into a deep silence again.
Each student was lost in their own thoughts.
Arthur, who had been quietly listening, felt a profound sense of empathy and gratitude awaken within him.
This perspective from Professor Charles reminded him strangely of the words his father, Maldrius, used to tell him:
that life is a rare and priceless gift.
Arthur allowed a small, bittersweet smile to form on his lips.
Sophia, who was sitting nearby, noticed and asked curiously, "What's wrong, Arthur?"
Still lost in his memories, Arthur replied softly, "Nothing... just remembered an old memory."
The class slowly came to an end.
The students, with heavy hearts and busy minds, left the room and headed toward their dormitories.
***
Arthur, Julius, and Anos made their way through the cold, stone corridors of the academy and entered their room.
Julius immediately threw himself onto the bed and said in a weary voice, "Ah... what a day..."
Anos carefully removed his silver glasses and placed them beside his bed, then lay down with a long sigh, saying, "I'm completely wiped out..."
Arthur sat on the chair beside the study table.
A soft, orange light from the desk lamp illuminated his calm face.
He said, "But despite everything, it was an interesting day... especially Professor Charles' class.
What do you guys think?"
Julius, his face still buried in his pillow, muttered, "I had read about revival magic before... but I never imagined it was this deep and incredible."
Anos, half-asleep, said with half-closed eyes, "If someone could truly master revival magic, they'd practically have control over the laws of life and death...
Maybe that's why such knowledge has always been kept hidden."
Arthur listened to his friends carefully, then gave a small, knowing smile and said,
"I think the same..."
In the quiet of the room, only the sound of the wind outside could be heard.
The three friends, each lost in their own thoughts, pondered the magnitude of the knowledge they had encountered that day —
knowledge powerful enough to shatter the very boundaries between life and death.
And this was only the beginning of the path that lay ahead of them...