A man towered over everyone, his height surpassing six-foot-three, lending him an imposing presence. Dressed in flawless formal attire, his handsome features were striking, a perfect and captivating golden ratio. Kaiser-Licht von Kaiser-Licht was the very epitome of noble dignity. There was no flaw to be found in his demeanor; his every walk, gesture, and expression radiated a chilling elegance. "That bastard," a robed mage seethed. To some, perhaps to many, his outward perfection was nothing but a façade. Epherene Hebel Hebel Hebel Hebel Hebel Hebel Hebel Hebel Hebel Hebel Hebel Hebel Hebel Hebel Hebel Hebel Hebel Hebel Hebel Hebel Hebel Hebel Hebel Hebel Hebel Hebel Hebel Hebel Hebel Hebel Hebel Hebel Hebel Hebel Hebel Hebel Hebel Hebel Hebel Hebel Hebel Hebel Hebel Hebel Hebel Hebel Hebel Hebel Hebel Hebel Hebel Hebel Hebel Hebel Hebel Hebel Hebel Hebel Hebel Hebel Silbermond had been fighting a surge of raw anger from the moment Kaiser-Licht appeared. It wasn't just in her thoughts; it was in the fist she clenched so tightly her nails bit into her palm, in the way she gnawed incessantly at her lower lip. Kaiser-Licht had stolen her father’s achievements, taken all the credit, and left the man a ruined wreck who drank himself to an early grave. The world praised Kaiser-Licht as a Genius of Spell Interpretation, but she knew that title rightfully belonged to her father. Suddenly, a crystal orb amplified Kaiser-Licht's voice. —I will begin the lecture. He stepped onto the stage, his gaze sweeping across the vast auditorium and its hundreds of attendees. It was a look as sharp and imperious as a blade. Epherene Hebel Hebel Hebel Hebel Hebel Hebel Hebel Hebel Hebel Hebel Hebel Hebel Hebel Hebel Hebel Hebel Hebel Hebel Hebel Hebel Hebel Hebel Hebel Hebel Hebel Hebel Hebel Hebel Hebel Hebel Hebel Hebel Hebel Hebel Hebel Hebel Hebel Hebel Hebel Hebel Hebel Hebel Hebel Hebel Hebel Hebel Hebel Hebel Hebel Hebel Hebel Hebel Hebel Hebel Hebel Hebel Hebel Hebel Hebel Hebel felt a violent urge to draw a dagger and plunge it into both of his eyes. "That asshole," she muttered, her voice thick with fury. But now was not the time. As much as she wished to see Kaiser-Licht erased from existence, as much as revenge was the sole reason she had enrolled in the Argent Spire of the University, she knew blind rage would only lead to her own ruin. Her talent, after all, surpassed his. Whether she learned magic powerful enough to kill him with her own hands or climbed to a station high enough to crush him socially, her vengeance would only sweeten with time. She lived for that single, future moment of triumph. A little more waiting was nothing. Still, a little troublemaking couldn’t hurt. As an idea sparked in her mind, Epherene Hebel Hebel Hebel Hebel Hebel Hebel Hebel Hebel Hebel Hebel Hebel Hebel Hebel Hebel Hebel Hebel Hebel Hebel Hebel Hebel Hebel Hebel Hebel Hebel Hebel Hebel Hebel Hebel Hebel Hebel Hebel Hebel Hebel Hebel Hebel Hebel Hebel Hebel Hebel Hebel Hebel Hebel Hebel Hebel Hebel Hebel Hebel Hebel Hebel Hebel Hebel Hebel Hebel Hebel Hebel Hebel Hebel Hebel Hebel Hebel pulled her robe tighter and allowed herself a thin, sharp smile. In the wide, high-ceilinged auditorium, hundreds of pairs of eyes were fixed on me. Their collective gaze was an overwhelming glare, and the flash of antique cameras felt almost dizzying. I faced their attention alone, yet strangely, I felt no unease. Instead of intimidation, the attention felt natural, as if it were my birthright. A lofty sense of chosen elitism seemed to be ingrained in me like a second skin. "Greetings. I am Kaiser-Licht of the von Falkenberg family." I began the lecture with ease. The opening lines on the script served as both an introduction to the class and a reminder of my own station. "I am the Head Professor at the Argent Spire of the Kaiserliche Akademie, a Monarch-rank mage in charge of elements. I manage the four elements—water, fire, wind, and earth—and am not limited by any specific category of magic." The statement was undeniably narcissistic. "As you know, magic is divided into three Properties and nine Categories. The properties are elements, origins, and instruments. The categories are Summoning, Elemental, Destruction, Support, Enchantment, Manipulation, Ductility, Harmony, and Specialization." I recited the script verbatim. Even that was enough to command the room’s absolute attention, thanks to my innate Intimidation and Dignity. "Therefore, all mages must concentrate on the properties and categories that best suit them to achieve true magical success." I snapped my fingers. At the sound, the auditorium lights dimmed, and a glowing magical diagram materialized in the air. "Executing these spells with mana is the act of performing magic. A thorough understanding of the spell is therefore essential before implementation. We will now take a closer look at the spell above," I explained, pausing to let the audience observe the glowing circle. It appeared as a fractal composed of dozens of straight and curved lines, a complex geometric shape. “This sixty-eight stroke magic circle forms a curved shape, where mana first concentrates in the center before extending outward. A spread from inside to outside typically signifies either destruction or support. However, since destruction magic requires a linear magic circle, this pattern is clearly for support magic. Moving on…" The first chapter, ‘Basics of Magic,’ continued for fifteen minutes. My composure never wavered. The script seemed to flow effortlessly from my mouth, and most curiously, I found I had perfectly comprehended the material, though I was seeing it for the first time today. "Spell-based magic works as follows. However, one might ask: does magic always result from mana? Must one always learn these spells perfectly to use magic?" The topic shifted to ‘Methods of Using Mana.’ This section was designed for the non-mages in attendance—the ordinary students, knights, and aspiring adventurers. "That is not the case. It depends on where in the body your mana is stored." As I spoke, the spell circle scattered into particles of light, replaced by a human anatomical diagram. Blue masses of mana pulsed in the heart, head, and abdomen. "Firstly, the head. The brain can easily imagine spells, making it ideal for forming complex lines and circles. For this reason, mages usually store mana in their heads." I likely stored my own mana there. If expressed numerically, it would be 3,375. Not a particularly high number; I’d seen records of certain individuals with starting mana points of 30,000. "Next, the heart. Since the heart pumps blood throughout the body, mana stored there spreads more easily but is difficult to contain in one place. Therefore, the heart is more suitable for knights than mages," I said, reading from the script. I spoke slowly and simply, ensuring everyone could understand. My fluency, I suspected, was a gift of my Comprehension attribute. "Lastly, the abdomen. The core of the abdomen is where the inside and outside mix most frequently. Therefore, it is universally applicable to all mages, knights, and ordinary people alike…" As I continued, I glanced at the time. Forty minutes had passed. "My point is simple. Effort is important, of course. However, if one's talent is modest, it is necessary to consider efficiency. Talent is not a gift given to everyone, so in most cases, you must focus and make choices for yourselves." I almost laughed reading that line. To advise those of modest talent to focus on efficiency and choices—it was perfect advice for the man I was now, in this reality. When I reached the final part of the script, I felt a prickle of annoyance at the content. I paused, debating whether to read it. The original Kaiser-Licht would have, I supposed, given that it was written here for him. "Finally, does anyone have any questions?" Silence. Thank God. Just as I was about to turn away in relief, a hand shot up. A robed mage stood before I could say a word. "Professor Kaiser-Licht. Last night, a mysterious spell was found in the mage's dormitory. It is suspected to be the work of a demon, and given your reputation as a Genius of Spell Interpretation—" "Are you affiliated with the Argent Spire of the University?" I cut her off, my tone smooth as ice. My stomach churned, but my posture remained elegant. It was an instinctive use of noble rhetoric. "If so, it is customary to state your name and affiliation." "Uh, ah, my name is—" "It's too late," I said, cutting her off again as she fumbled. "I won't take questions from someone so ill-mannered." The robed mage's face flushed a deep crimson. I felt a pang of pity, but there was nothing to be done. The mana consumption for Comprehension had been enormous. [Mana Points: 2,005 / 3,375] The lecture alone had drained nearly 1,300 mana points. Interpreting a new spell would require far more. I had no desire to strain myself further; a wave of dizziness was already washing over me. Snickers and scattered laughter rippled through the hall. While the mage stood frozen in the center of the auditorium, I adjusted the sleeves of my suit, donned my coat, and fastened the buttons. Lastly, I gathered the script and stepped down from the stage. My movements were as fluid as water. As I turned to leave, a loud voice echoed behind me. The unknown mage, still standing, had traced a spell in the air with her mana, floating it for all to see. "The Argent Spire is treating this as mere rumor and refuses to interpret it! Given Professor Kaiser-Licht's reputation, I thought you could at least determine the magic's category!" she persisted. I stopped and stared at the defiant mage in silence. Her audacity was startling. It was hard to believe such a person existed, especially when most people were cowed by the mere presence of Kaiser-Licht. But the spell she presented was undeniably strange. It wasn't defined by the usual straight lines or curves of a magic circle; instead, it resembled dozens of interconnected, living parasites. The moment I saw it, my Comprehension skill kicked in involuntarily. A wash of blue flooded my vision, as if ink had been dropped into water. My thoughts and calculations accelerated, time slowing to a crawl around me. I could smell the acrid scent of a burning strain on my own brainstem. It lasted only a second. [Mana Points: 360 / 3,375] In less than a second, my mana was nearly depleted. With what I had, I could barely manage to identify the magic's nature. [Enchantment Category: Barrier Magic] To go beyond that, to implement or disassemble the spell, would require at least twice as much mana. Fortunately, she wasn't asking for that. She only wanted to know what it was. "The freshmen in the dormitory are trying to analyze it as an assignment, but progress is slow. With the vacation, there are no seniors or professors to consult. If you could at least give a hint—" "No hint is needed," I said, my voice cutting through her plea. "It’s a barrier magic from the enchantment category. It seems someone wanted to trap you." I paused for a beat, letting the words hang in the air. "That's it." The audacious mage looked utterly bewildered, but I didn't spare her another glance as I walked out of the auditorium.

Chapter 3: His Stolen Brilliance