Chapter 39

◈ Chapter 39: Flora Lumos (1)

Rudger's magic gently enveloped the surging magical power.

The blue magic wrapped around the pure white light that was about to explode.

The overlapping elements, which were expanding in all directions and were about to burst, gradually began to stabilize.

Flora, who was watching this, felt her breath catch in her throat.

At that moment, Rudger's voice snapped her back to reality.

"It's not over yet. Don't lose your concentration."

Holding her breath, Flora responded to Rudger's thick and warm hand that was gripping hers and his scolding tone.

Flora regained her composure and focused on handling her magic.

"If you stop here, your magic will disappear without achieving anything. Is that what you want?"

Flora clenched her teeth at his words.

Although she hadn't accomplished it on her own, she couldn't deny the joy she felt.

Sssss.

The magic, which had been pushed to its limits, finally dissipated into a shower of brilliant light.

As she watched the scene, Rudger spoke.

"Flora Lumos."

"Yes, Teacher Rudger."

Flora answered Rudger's call calmly.

But inside, she was anything but calm.

If Rudger were to praise her, she might have burst into tears from sheer happiness.

But her elation was short-lived.

"You've made a foolish mistake."

"Yes... Yes?"

However, Rudger's cold words made Flora realize what she had almost done.

Ah.

She had almost put the entire class in danger for her own selfish desires.

The joy of succeeding in her magic had made her forget the reality.

Flora had no choice but to bow her head in dejection.

"Anyone can fail when trying a new magic. But the one who must bear the consequences of that failure is you, not the other students."

"...I'm sorry."

Rudger was absolutely right.

She had almost endangered her classmates.

Even though she had finally felt a sense of responsibility and tried to contain the magic with a barrier, could she have truly prevented all the damage?

If Rudger hadn't intervened, someone might have died.

"But what I'm criticizing the most, Flora Lumos, is the immaturity of your magic."

"Huh?"

The immaturity of her magic? What did he mean?

"When you first cast the elemental overlap, you mixed the elements of fire and ice, didn't you?"

"Yes, I did."

"Fire and ice are opposites. Therefore, it's difficult to mix them. Beyond preventing their magical formulas from colliding, you need to make the formulas harmonize to create a stronger effect."

"Yes, that's right."

And Flora Lumos had succeeded in doing just that.

She had combined the opposing forces to create a single magical construct.

"…So, where is my magic immature?"

Her voice couldn't help but carry a hint of disappointment.

If he was just going to criticize her, he could have stopped her from attempting the risky triple-element magic.

Why was he pointing out the perfect overlap of fire and ice she had achieved?

Flora wondered if Rudger was using her mistake as an excuse to belittle her existing achievements.

'But... even so...'

When she was in danger, Rudger had helped her control the surging magic, going beyond the barrier she had set.

It was a situation where a poor understanding of magic and the structure of the formulas could have put her in danger.

Rudger had risked his own safety to help her.

There was no reason for him to mercilessly criticize her.

But she couldn't deny the sense of injustice.

She just wanted some praise.

Just as she was about to feel disappointed, Rudger summoned his magic and created a sphere of ice and fire.

"I'll show you why it's immature."

Rudger combined the two elements he had created.

He adjusted the magical formulas to prevent the opposing forces from colliding.

He then merged the two formulas to create a harmonious overlap of elements.

Flora stared intently, determined not to miss a single detail.

The entire process was clearly similar to what she had attempted.

But the result was different.

"Huh?"

Flora's overlap of fire and ice was fundamentally different from Rudger's.

The appearance? That was one thing, but the very essence of the overlapping elements was different.

Especially Flora, who was sensitive to magic, could feel this more clearly than anyone else.

The colors and scents were different from hers.

They were more vivid and more fragrant.

"Flora Lumos, do you understand what this overlapping element I created is?"

Flora hesitated for a moment before nodding.

She couldn't deny it.

"...Yes."

"Then explain it to me."

"...The overlapping element you created has a different will of magic. The spreading and engulfing power of the flames coexists with the chilling cold of the ice."

"Compared to yours?"

"Compared to mine?"

"What about yours?"

Flora's lips trembled, but she couldn't find the words to continue.

In the end, Rudger spoke for her.

"Flora Lumos, the overlapping element you created is nothing more than a beautiful but utterly useless magic."

Flora shuddered at his harsh words.

He didn't need to be so severe.

But as she met Rudger's sincere gaze, the words died in her throat.

"Magic must be practical. Even if it's not, at the very least, magic without meaning should not exist. This is a fundamental principle of all magic."

Rudger said this before starting the lesson.

Magic should be used for better purposes.

Not to destroy, but to create and achieve something.

That leads the world in a better direction.

"But Flora, what about your magic?"

"I... I..."

"The frozen flame. A form where the basic spell of burning fire is heavily wrapped with the element of ice. Yes, it's definitely beautiful. You froze the burning fire in its shape."

Rudger spoke in his usual tone.

"But that's all it is."

Flora had nothing to say, even if she had ten mouths.

Rudger's words were all true.

"Are you planning to join a circus with this magic? Or perhaps go to the Crystal Palace in the capital and display your beautiful magic?"

"...No."

"Then what is the purpose of your magic? Is it just to show off your ability to use overlapping elements?"

Show off.

Rudger's criticism was irrefutable.

A magic that was just beautiful but had no practical use.

It was nothing more than a display of her ability to use overlapping elements.

"Even adding wind to give it some purpose, you still failed."

With this final blow, Flora bowed her head deeply.

Sheryl, who was sitting next to her, looked at her with a worried expression, but she couldn't offer any real comfort in this situation.

Rudger released the [Burning Cold] he had created into the air.

The overlapping elements, which had risen near the high ceiling of the classroom, exploded like fireworks.

Whoosh!

For a moment, all the students in the classroom felt as if they heard the sound of ice 'burning.'

The cold, frost-like chill spread widely across the classroom, scattering a gentle snowfall.

It melted and disappeared before it even touched the students.

But every student present could feel it.

This was a magic that was the ultimate opposite of spreading flames.

The most optimal magic for extinguishing fire.

"Flora Lumos, your elemental overlap was quite interesting. I've never seen a magician of your age display such skill."

Rudger's words drew Flora's attention back to him.

As she met his gaze, which looked at her with genuine concern, she felt a pang of guilt.

"But the direction of your actions is wrong. I'm not talking about your skills. I'm talking about something much more fundamental."

"..."

"Don't use magic just to show off. That, Flora, diminishes your value."

"My... value?"

"Yes. This is sincere advice for you."

After criticizing her so harshly, he was now talking about her value.

But Flora couldn't help but agree with Rudger's words.

The magic she had created was just a superficial display of her skills, aimed at eliciting praise from others.

On the other hand, what Rudger had created, using the same elements, was far more practical.

The power of fire lies not only in its heat but also in its ability to spread rapidly and uncontrollably.

Large-scale fires always spread widely and quickly.

Rudger incorporated this characteristic into the cold.

A chilling cold that spreads like an epidemic when it explodes.

Its purpose was to extinguish spreading flames.

Compared to the usual magic of shooting ice as a weapon or creating a blizzard over a wide area, Rudger's creation was highly practical.

'Again, I lost.'

She thought she would finally receive recognition, but she didn't.

Flora realized how impatient and immature she had been, without a hint of pride.

'Why is this happening now?'

Most of all, the sincere concern in Rudger's eyes.

It wouldn't leave her mind.

Not mocking or despising her, but genuinely worried.

'Has anyone ever looked at me like this?'

No.

There were only two kinds of gazes directed at her.

Admiration.

And jealousy.

Her family, especially her siblings, who she couldn't even stand to look at, envied her.

Even her seniors and peers envied her.

And the teachers at Seorun Academy were no different.

Despite having studied magic for longer, their talents were quickly surpassed by Flora's.

Each time, the teachers' eyes were filled with unbearable, fiery jealousy.

Flora knew this but never showed it.

True talent was something like that. There was no need to be swayed by the envy of those who despised her talent.

But she wasn't about to let them off easily.

So she always aimed to overwhelm them with an even more impressive display, crushing their pride.

She thought it was only natural.

But today.

Flora was taken aback by Rudger's unfamiliar attitude.

'Rudger Teacher.'

He had saved her when she was about to fail her magic.

He had helped her overcome the barrier of the triple-element overlap she had never been able to achieve.

And he had looked at her directly, giving her a stern lecture.

Flora suddenly realized she was dizzy and short of breath.

Magical exhaustion.

She had used too much magic to create the triple-element overlap.

'Even though I'm about to collapse, Teacher doesn't seem affected at all?'

Rudger, who had suppressed the surging magic, hadn't even broken a sweat, despite using much more magic.

This was the first time.

She truly felt the 'wall.'

And it was so high and thick that she wasn't sure she could ever overcome it.

But she didn't want to give up.

Flora felt a competitive spirit rise within her.

Next time, she would definitely surpass him, she vowed to herself.

'What is this?'

Grinding his teeth, Rudger, who had secretly been chewing a magic recovery pill, couldn't help but shudder.