Chapter 37

◈ Chapter 37: Elemental Attribute Class (2)

Some students looked bewildered.

It's not a good thing to pique their curiosity and then not tell them right away.

Rudger pointed to a student sitting in the front row.

"Student in the front row. Is it Anthony?"

"Yes, yes! That's right, teacher!"

"Which elemental attribute can you use?"

"Um, water and ice, and plants."

"Three, huh? That's quite appropriate. Which one are you most confident with?"

"Um, the ice element."

"Can you demonstrate the ice element right here and now?"

In response to Rudger's words, Anthony nodded and raised a sphere of mana in his right hand.

Basic mana emission began, and then the properties of the element were infused into it.

A pure white sphere.

More accurately, it resembled a snowball tightly packed in his hand.

"Ordinary."

"Th, thank you."

"That means it's unremarkable."

"......"

Anthony's face fell at Rudger's words.

"Watch me carefully."

Rudger raised a sphere of mana in his right hand.

It was a lump of the ice attribute, just like what Anthony had created.

It looked very similar to Anthony's, but there was something different.

No, it was still changing.

"Do you feel it?"

The students couldn't answer Rudger's question. They just stared at the lump of ice he had created, as if entranced.

If what Anthony had created was like a snowball,

Rudger's element was much colder and sharper, giving off a feeling like the eternal snow buried deep underground in the northern continent.

Rudger's element, not just a simple white and round ice, was more strongly compressed, taking on the form of snow crystals.

The blue crystals emitted a cold chill, making the students feel as if the entire classroom would be covered in ice.

"Do you understand the difference?"

Rudger dispelled the crystal.

However, the students were still staring blankly at the spot where the element had been.

Although they were both ice elements, the difference between Rudger's and Anthony's was significant.

Was it because more mana was used?

No, it was the efficiency itself that was different.

And what Rudger was going to teach today was precisely this.

"It really is different, isn't it?"

"How did you do that?"

The atmosphere in the classroom gradually heated up.

When they only heard about it, they didn't understand, but now that they saw it, they were eager to learn.

"Out of the 2 hours of class today, 30 minutes will be spent on basic theory, and the rest of the time will be spent learning how to improve the efficiency of manifesting elemental attributes."

The students all focused their bright eyes on Rudger's words.

"Before we delve into the principles of manifestation, I will first review the basics of <Elemental Attributes>. The content I distributed is exactly that."

The students all scanned the content on the handout with their eyes.

"Elemental attributes are a specialization that appeared almost immediately after mana emission, with a deep history and lineage."

Magic requires mana to be used.

And the primordial magic, the very primitive form of magic, is based on the manifestation of such mana.

This was the first specialization of the manifestation system.

<Mana Emission>.

From this emission of mana, the <Elemental Attributes> developed, where natural elements are infused into mana.

"Although it is now part of the manifestation system, in the early primitive form of magic, elemental attributes were considered the foundation of all magic."

Rudger said this and then raised four spheres of mana in the air.

"After the establishment of natural science, the focus shifted from the natural symbolism to a more rational analysis. The four elements expanded to ten."

'Always the same old talk, over and over.'

"There were conflicts between the mystic school, which values tradition, and the natural science school, which seeks to develop magic further by applying modern science."

'It's just that he has a good face and a nice voice.'

"However, we ultimately had to adapt to the changes in the world. Not in terms of the teachings of the school, but in terms of where this natural magic should be applied."

'...But it's still worth listening to.'

Rudger removed the mana he had raised in the air, scanned the classroom, and then asked a question.

"Does anyone know why elemental attribute magic has developed so rapidly? I'll give 5 points to the student who gets it right. Use the fire element as an example."

The students immediately raised their hands.

Rudger pointed to one of them.

"You there."

"To drive away darkness by lighting a fire."

"Wrong. Next."

"To clear land by burning forests."

"Formal, but wrong. Next."

"Um, to eliminate the primal fear of darkness in humans?"

"You should be writing poetry instead."

The students burst into laughter.

Flora Lumos, who had been listening, raised her hand haughtily.

"Alright, Flora Lumos."

"To burn and kill something."

At that moment,

Silence filled the classroom.

Flora's words were that direct and shocking.

"Can you specify exactly what that 'something' is?"

"Of course, it's people."

The students froze, their eyes darting around.

Everyone in the room thought Rudger would strongly reprimand Flora.

But Rudger nodded instead.

"Correct. Flora Lumos, 5 points."

Really?

Flora raised her chin, as if it was no big deal.

The students' gazes shifted from Flora back to Rudger.

Rudger spoke, as if responding to their unspoken question.

"What did elemental attribute magic develop for? For killing."

After civilization was established and took shape, magic continued to evolve.

Hierarchies were formed, and the higher the hierarchy of magic, the more powerful and lethal it became.

Yes.

'Killing power'.

"The initial target was monsters. But even after the monsters were driven beyond the giant's spine to the Shadow Continent, magic became even stronger. Why? Because of the Cryptids? But Cryptids are extremely rare. So, what did magic become stronger and sharper for?"

It was, of course, humans.

Magic evolved to kill humans.

War. Colonial rule. Violence.

These were the driving forces that strengthened and developed magic.

Now, it was an era of peace without war.

To the students learning magic, these words were almost taboo.

To equate the magic with a rich history and tradition to mere killing.

Rudger was essentially telling everyone in the room that they were potential killers.

But this was an undeniable fact.

It was also a reality that traditionalists among the mages vehemently denied.

"Fire to burn people, water to drown them, wind to cut, and electricity to shock. Magic, which developed alongside human history, grew with the driving force of war and killing. This is an undeniable truth. Yes, ultimately, the elemental attributes we are learning are built on the blood and corpses of countless lives."

After a brief pause,

Rudger continued.

"How we act from now on will change the meaning of elemental attributes."

Rudger's voice echoed through the classroom.

Not to destroy, but to create.

Not to erase the world, but to lead it in a better direction.

"That is the basic mindset you need to learn before studying elemental attributes."

No one dared to speak.

It felt like a huge wave had washed over them, engulfing their entire bodies.

But what they felt was not so much discomfort as a refreshing clarity, as if something that had been weighing on their minds had been lifted.

Even Flora Lumos, who was usually so composed, opened her mouth wide and stared intently at Rudger.

It might be a cliché and a well-worn phrase.

But coming from Rudger himself, it felt different.

"Strive to make a better world. My teachings on elemental attributes are for that purpose."

Rudger smiled at the students and stepped down from the podium.

"Now, let's start the actual element manifestation."

The students gathered in the classroom began the serious work of element manifestation.

Understanding which element they were specialized in was something they grasped fundamentally when they first started learning magic.

Children who had received magical training before entering Seorun had no trouble raising mana and overlaying their element on it.

Rudger slowly walked around the classroom, pointing out the elemental spheres the students had created one by one.

"Joseph. Focus your mana flow a bit more. The element itself is fine, but your mana emission is still immature. Are you a second-year at Seorun? Don't lose your concentration."

"Yes, yes!"

"Irena Caromane. Is that supposed to be a plant attribute? The plant attribute should embody the freshness of nature. But yours looks like a leaf rotting on the ground in late autumn. Get your act together. Imagine a fresh sprout breaking through the soil vividly in your mind."

"Yes..."

Rudger never spoke kindly. Each time he made a comment, the students' faces crumbled.

But what was more frustrating was that Rudger's words were never wrong.

His advice was incredibly accurate.

Though he seemed harsh, Rudger saw the students' weaknesses clearly and provided a path for improvement.

At first, it seemed to hurt their pride, but upon reflection, they realized he wasn't just nitpicking.

However, for the young students, Rudger's Spartan teaching style was still intimidating.

Every time Rudger approached, the students were so preoccupied with him that they couldn't properly manifest their elemental attributes.

Each time, Rudger's nagging would follow.

"What are you doing? Is magic a game to you? If you can't maintain your concentration, you have no right to attend my class."

"I'm sorry!"

"Pay more attention to your own magic. Close your ears, and focus your eyes only on what you're doing."

"Yes, yes!"

One by one.

As Rudger passed by, the students' groans spread like ripples, creating a harmonious sound.

Aidan, a commoner boy listening to Rudger's class, broke into a cold sweat as the teacher approached.

Because

Aidan had yet to properly manifest an elemental attribute.

Rudger stopped in front of Aidan.

His sharp gaze fell on Aidan, who was unable to do anything.