Episode 133

Sensing the strange atmosphere, Lee Han instinctively tried to explain himself.

“To improve elemental control, transformation, and imbuing abilities, directly experiencing the element is the most effective way…”

“…That may be true, but isn’t that method a bit too reckless?”

A priest standing next to the bewildered bishop spoke up.

“He must have been joking. Students can be mischievous, after all.”

“Ah. A joke…”

‘It wasn’t, though.’

Lee Han hadn’t been joking, but since it only made things more awkward, he kept his mouth shut.

“In our order, we first learn to control fire through meditation and prayer.”

Lee Han was surprised.

‘That’s it?’

And then surprised again.

This time, at himself.

‘…I’ve become a weird person because of Professor Voladi.’

Come to think of it, learning to control fire through meditation and prayer was an entirely reasonable method.

Certainly much better than risking your life by avoiding fire element altogether!

• * *

Meditation in the Afha Order wasn’t particularly difficult or complicated.

One sat cross-legged with eyes closed, envisioning fire within oneself.

If successful at imagining the fire, the next step was to maintain it.

If you could maintain it for a certain period, you then proceeded to perform complex applications using the fire within your mind.

It seemed rather easy, but was anything but so in practice. The moment your concentration lapsed or stray thoughts intruded, the meditation failed.

‘There are similarities with magical training.’

Lee Han thought the order’s meditation had many similarities with magical practice.

Magic was a discipline requiring intense focus and imagination.

Even if you recited the spell, waved your wand, and arrayed your magical power just right, without real focus you’d likely fail.

“I’ll set this candle here.”

The bishop set a candlestick on the table and lit it.

“At first, just concentrate on keeping this candle from going out.”

“Yes.”

The Afha Order’s candle would go out the moment the meditator lost their concentration.

It was a small tool to help young priests focus.

An hour later.

“…You don’t need to continue meditating.”

“Sorry?”

Lee Han, who had been busily envisioning slinging fireballs at Professor Voladi in his mind, paused.

Why stop him when he was so engrossed in meditation?

“Lasting an hour without the candle going out is more than enough.”

For one as innately gifted as Lee Han—plus trained rigorously by Professor Voladi—such meditation was an easy task.

“I see…”

Lee Han understood and started to take off his coat again. The bishop grew startled.

“We’re not going to shoot fire at you, Lee Han.”

“Oh, I just got a bit hot from sitting by the fire too long.”

“Ah.”

The priests of the Afha Order looked awkward. Lee Han felt slightly wronged.

‘They think I’m some kind of weirdo. This isn’t fair.’

“By the way, does this mean I have a natural aptitude for fire magic?”

His curiosity piqued, Lee Han asked.

He already knew he was pretty skilled with the water element, and he’d been making good use of lightning magic as well.

But he’d rarely used fire magic before, so he had no sense of how compatible he was with it.

Where did he stand, more or less?

“Uh…”

“Mm…”

The priests exchanged glances.

In truth, that level counted as outstanding talent.

Most in the order had to consistently, regularly meditate to maintain their inner flame.

To do it so easily with no real training was evidence of being born with it.

Born with an extremely high fire element aptitude and an unyielding mental image of fire?

He was a born Afha Order priest.

…But they couldn’t say that.

They’d made a promise with the headmaster.

‘If we tell the truth, Mister Lee Han of the Wodanaz family might want to become an Afha priest.’

‘That cannot happen.’

The magic school’s principal hated to lose talented students to the orders, and the priests respected that.

Of course, knowing Lee Han’s personality, there was no chance he’d ever want to be a priest, but the priests didn’t know that.

“You’re about average.”

“Very ordinary.”

“I see… Alright.”

Lee Han nodded.

‘So I’m just average.’

Lee Han didn’t doubt it when the priests said he was normal. There was no reason for them to lie.

And just being “average” was enough—as long as it didn’t hinder learning other magic.

“Here you are, Mister Lee Han of the Wodanaz family.”

The bishop slid a ring onto Lee Han’s finger. Lee Han felt the magic emanating from it and looked curious.

“What is this…?”

“It’s a ring of fire absorption. It will protect you when you use fire magic.”

Normally it was used for protection against fire magic or for fighting fire-aligned monsters, but it was also a handy artifact for fire-talented mages who couldn’t yet control their power.

Lee Han bowed his head in gratitude.

“Thank you.”

“Do you know the ignition spell? Will you try it?”

Lee Han swung his staff and recited the spell.

“Burn!”

Fwoosh!

A fist-sized fireball burned on his palm. Lee Han was all the more pleased by how well it worked.

“Amazing.”

“…Bring more rings.”

“?!”

Startled by the bishop’s grave reaction, Lee Han grew nervous.

Was the ring not working?

‘Was it just luck…’

Looking down, he saw the ring was already cracked.

He’d held back as much as possible, but it was like this.

At this rate, one ring was nearly useless.

Click, click, click.

More rings were added. Lee Han asked the bishop carefully,

“Is this really okay?”

When all ten fingers were full of rings, Lee Han grew a bit worried.

Wouldn’t he be unable to cast fire magic altogether if all these rings absorbed it?

“That is a little…”

“Too much?”

“…Might not be enough. Bring bracelets, too.”

“……”

Lee Han started to get confused as to whether he was a new student at a magic school or the Empire’s worst fire-magic criminal.

The bishop didn’t just put ten rings on Lee Han’s fingers—he added four bracelets and two necklaces as well.

Since the Afha Order dealt with fire magic all the time, they had plenty of such anti-fire artifacts.

‘This is quite an avant-garde fashion statement.’

Mages might have no sense of fashion, but wasn’t this going a bit far?

• * *

He looked a little strange, but still, the Afha Order’s methods were quite effective.

Loaded down with artifacts, Lee Han began his fire magic training.

Starting with , then moving the created flame.

And even , , and so on.

Actually, the priests were much more dedicated to the latter spells.

Luckily, everything went better than expected.

Lee Han wondered if it was because he had an affinity for elemental magic, or if Professor Voladi’s teachings were helping him even with fire spells.

And he hoped it wasn’t the latter.

He didn’t want to become living proof that Professor Voladi’s educational philosophy was correct.

“That’s all for today. You did exceptionally well.”

“Not at all, thank you. Can I practice on my own after I go back?”

“Absolutely not.”

“…..”

A priest whispered seriously from the side,

“Shouldn’t we put a few more on Mister Lee Han?”

Lee Han pretended not to hear.

“…But if I don’t practice on my own, my skills won’t improve.”

“Next week, priests from the order will stay at the school. With the spring festival here, we received His Majesty’s permission.”

“!”

More than anything else, Lee Han was surprised by the bishop’s words.

So the priests would remain at the school after the weekend?

Such…

Such good news?

Seeing Lee Han’s bright expression, the priests smiled contentedly as well.

He must be happy about the upcoming spring festival, like a typical freshman.

“You’re pleased about the festival?”

“Eh? Ah… yes. I’m very happy!”

Lee Han finally remembered the spring festival. He’d been so delighted about the priests staying at school he’d forgotten.

“Does the principal know too?”

“I plan to tell him when today’s schedule finishes.”

“If you let him know right away, he’d be thrilled.”

“Really?”

There was no harm in telling him a few hours early. The bemused bishop nodded.

• * *

Priest Nigisor came out to see Lee Han off.

Having received all sorts of teachings as well as artifacts, Lee Han was very satisfied with the Afha Order.

“There are all kinds of rumors about the Afha Order, but now I know they’re nonsense spread by fools with no idea.”

Priest Nigisor smiled at Lee Han cheerfully—a first, it seemed.

“Of course. All the priests who serve Afha’s fire are kind and virtuous. If they hadn’t accepted me, I would not be here now.”

Even in the Empire, there were popular and unpopular races.

And people tended to avoid spiritkin hybrids whose ancestral spirits had awakened.

Most spiritkin were sexless, and especially with fire-elemental hybrids, it was hard not to cause trouble for those nearby…

“Indeed. All the Afha priests were kind. Anyone who spreads rumors that the priests are out to bring about doomsday by setting fires ought to be burned themselves.”

Though he’d initially had doubts himself, Lee Han made shameless comments.

Nigisor nodded in agreement.

“True. To think so many misunderstand… Other than me, nobody thinks like that.”

“Right. …Hm?”

Lee Han, about to agree, stopped.

Something felt off.

“What did you just say?”

“What do you mean?”

“I thought I heard you say you wanted to set fires?”

“I don’t ‘want’ to set fires.”

“Oh. Right?”

“But sometimes I think maybe the more fire magic I use, the sooner Afha’s fire will come. The other priests disagree, but… every time I meditate, the fire whispers to me…”

“……”

Lee Han instinctively took a step back. Nigisor, unaware, continued,

“That’s why it’s such a delight that you were born with such a strong fire in your soul, Lee Han of the Wodanaz family. I pray for your many accomplishments to come.”

“……”

It was the first time Lee Han had ever felt so unhappy to receive someone’s encouragement.

• * *

“You’re so skinny. There’s nothing left but bones.”

“That’s not true.”

“You really are! Just bones left…”

“It’s really not true.”

As Tiziling and the other priests chatted, Lee Han entered the tent.

“Hello.”

“Mister Lee Han of the Wodanaz family. What do you think?”

Trying to figure out what was going on, Lee Han looked from the priest to Tiziling.

Tiziling silently pleaded with his eyes.

Make them stop worrying over nothing.

“I guess he does look a little bony and skinny.”

“Right? Bring him something to eat.”

“……”

Tiziling stared in disbelief, but Lee Han just sat down and laid out a napkin as if he’d seen nothing. If you wanted to survive long at the magic school, you needed to eat whenever you could.