Auric sat in an auditorium together with another 200 students. Due to Auric's presence, the department had become more popular than ever.
Yet, for some reason, Auric ended up sitting with Eric on the left side.
"Why are you sitting here?" Eric asked in an annoyed tone.
"If I sit with anyone else, I won't be able to escape later. Fortunately, you will be the door, Eric, my best friend."
"Who is your best friend?" Eric became even more annoyed, but it wasn't like he could show that kind of outburst inside the classroom, where many eyes were currently staring at Auric.
Auric just smiled, but it looked like they couldn't chat any longer because the professor had entered the room.
The professor was a man in his fifties. He had long black hair with a few strands already turning white.
He wore big, round glasses, a blue shirt, long black pants, and a long coat.
With his hands in his front pockets, the professor introduced himself. "It looks like there are a lot of students interested in our department this year. I can see at least a few reasons.
"Well, I don't want to waste time with nonsense, so I will just tell you three things. First, my name is Eren Zaecker. My element is fire. That's all you need to know about me.
"Second, I will teach you a bit about the battle techniques today as an introduction to what you will encounter in the Element Department.
"Third, to learn this battle technique, you need magical energy, which can be called an element. I'm sure that you have seen your own information through the bracelet.
"If you consume materials or gain magical energy from any source, you will see your element percentage increase.
"So, what kind of materials do you need to consume to increase your magical energy? Can you, for example, as an earth element user, just eat an earth element material to increase your energy? The short answer, no. The long answer is… Ask the evolution masters. So, what kind of material do you need to consume to increase your magical energy?"
The professor stopped for a moment as the projector showed a few pictures.
The first picture was a material harvested from a beast. The second picture was a human figure with '-0.5' and '+0.5' next to it. Last but not least, the image of the nine elements.
"Take a look at the picture. If you kill a beast, you can harvest its essence where its element is concentrated and consume it to increase your magical energy. Of course, more often than not, you will end up ruining this kind of material, whether it's during the fight or the harvesting process itself.
"But if you somehow manage to pass the first stage, you have to think about the second stage. Will the energy that the essence possesses be suitable for you? How do you know whether it's suitable or not?
"The answer is simple. The evolution masters have done this test a lot. They rate our elements' intensity.
"The universal rating is 1.0 to 5.0. How do you check your rating? If you can create a machine that can measure it accurately, there is a Nobel Prize for you. But our human sense is quite sharp, so you can instinctively know whether you can absorb it or not.
"Still, today's class is just an introduction, so let's generalize it a bit. According to the evolution masters, we are able to absorb materials within 0.5 points from our intensity. I'll tell you a bit more about that later in the second topic."
The professor pointed to the third image.
"All elements, excluding the unique element, are divided into three categories. They are 'Normal,' 'Sub-Variant,' and 'Extreme Variant,' which directly reflect our element intensity.
"A normal element might look weak, but it has its advantages. Because normal elements are weak, they are the most common. If you go out there, you can find them everywhere, so you won't have trouble searching for your materials.
"The sub-variant is a bit rarer. They might be stronger than the normal elements, but they will have a harder time finding the materials to help them advance.
"Last but not least, the extreme variant. They are the most powerful, but that also shows how hard it is for them to find their materials.
"But there is one unique instance where this rule doesn't apply. The unique element. There is no intensity rating for the unique elements, not because they're too rare, but because they're so different from each other. As a result, if you want to find materials, you can consume anything as long as they are categorized as unique elements, meaning a space element avatar can consume time element materials and still benefit as if they're absorbing space element materials.
"Any questions up to this point?" The professor didn't see anyone raising their hands, so he continued, "Since you are prioritizing this department, our department will give you a little freebie."
The professor snapped his fingers. "On your table, you will find a small piece of paper. You can write your student number as well as your element and intensity rating. Our department will give the material for free."
"Oohhh!"
People's eyes suddenly flashed. If they were to buy it from outside, they would have to spend a few thousand credits. So, it was quite good to get free material.
"Everyone will get one. Just put your rating according to your best judgment. If it turns out to be not something you can consume, we will change it accordingly."
They eagerly filled in the information.
Auric, on the other hand, didn't really need a material, since his only way to increase his magical energy was by gathering techniques. But it didn't mean he would skip the freebie.
Instead, he wrote '5.0' as if he were playing around.
"Why do you put that number, Auric?" Lindwurm asked innocently. "You don't need any materials, right? Shouldn't you put something that you can use for your store?"
'I won't be able to bring it back, you know? This is your snack.'
"!!!" Lindwurm's eyes turned into stars. "You're the best. Hehehe."
After writing it, Auric took a glance to his left to see Eric's information and corrected Eric's rating. "Your rating should be 3.4. Almost an extreme variant, by the way."
"What?" Eric glared at him. "Why should I even listen to you?"
That was what he said, but Eric's hand was already crossing out his number and putting the number Auric gave him. "Say that after putting your pen down."
"Hmph." Eric snorted.
In a way, Eric recognized Auric's achievement, even though he was too annoyed to acknowledge it with his mouth.
He didn't even ask how Auric knew about it.
Auric had seen his element as well as the particles in the classroom. Although it wasn't enough to create a gathering technique, it was enough to figure out his intensity. Of course, he had to adjust it according to his experience.
Nevertheless, Auric just shrugged as if he had gotten used to this side of Eric.
Once they were done, they passed the cards forward until all the cards had been gathered at the front.
"All right. My assistants will be bringing those materials soon. In the meantime, let's discuss the second topic, the battle technique," the professor continued.
This time, there were four boxes, each with a different name.
"For a battle technique, there are four important steps. First, you have to gather your energy in one spot. Second, you need to control the flow of your energy so that it doesn't mess with your body but still gives you the desired output.
"Third, you need to channel that energy to the point of release. Lastly, release it!
"The process is the same for all battle techniques, but the executions will be different."
The professor raised his hand as a ball of fire appeared on top of his palm.
"Look at this. I'm merely gathering my power on top of my palm. If I had a water element, it might produce a water ball instead of a fireball. But if you think about an earth element, do you think this will be an efficient way to utilize its power? No, right? That's why the execution should be different."
The professor showed another image, similar to the human figure in the previous section. "To use the battle technique, you also have to adhere to the same principle as the material. Why does it matter?"
This time, there were three cylinders with three balls of different sizes.
The first ball was tiny, so when the image moved, the ball was in free fall.
"Imagine the cylinder as the channel in your body where your magical energy flows and this ball as the magical energy itself. If you pick a battle technique with an intensity rating below yours, this is what would happen inside your body. Of course, if you pick something too weak, you might fail using it.
"On the other hand, if you use something too powerful for you…"
This time, the largest ball fell, but the cylinder ended up swelling like a snake as the ball descended.
"…This will happen. You will have a hard time using it, or you may fail. That's why you need to find a battle technique that matches your intensity.
"That's why this time, I will give you a chance. If you pass this test, I will give you a small coupon that allows you to get a technique from the library."
The people's expressions brightened again. They would definitely receive one from the professor.
"Professor!" one student suddenly raised her hand. "You mentioned earlier that if you had a water element, it would become a water ball. Can we learn a water-element battle technique and use our fire element to execute it?"
"Very good question. The answer is yes and no. Yes, you can use it. No, because you have to change the battle technique itself.
"Each element has its unique characteristics. For example, if I shoot a fireball, it will explode. But if I shoot a water ball, it will burst instead of exploding, but it won't give you much power, right? Instead, how do we draw out that power? We increase the water pressure. This is the difference I'm talking about. If you can adjust it, then yes. You can use it, but it won't be that specific element battle technique anymore."
"Thank you, Professor."
The professor raised one finger. "Since we're on the topic, you may have already noticed it, but all battle techniques have one thing in common. What is that?"
Suddenly, Simon stood up with a proud face. "Element manipulation!"
"Correct."
Simon had a smug grin as he glanced at Auric, who still paid no attention to him.
The professor, on the other hand, didn't know what happened between them, so he just continued as if he didn't notice anything. "Element manipulation. Without using a battle technique…"
The professor created a fireball again. "I can create this fireball. It's only after a few processes have been programmed that they become a battle technique. For example, how fast is the flow of energy? How much energy should I gather? What's the purpose of the attack? What will happen on impact?
"Only after all the complicated processes will a battle technique be born. You can make one yourself that suits you perfectly.
"That's why I will give you this little test. Element manipulation."
The professor smiled while raising his finger. "In one week, you are to successfully channel your energy and manifest your power in one way or another. Anyone who can do it will receive a coupon from me."
Auric was a bit confused. Manifesting one's power was not hard. Even without the ability to see particles, he believed he could do it within ten minutes.
It looked like the professor wanted them to feel good first, which would motivate them further. And this battle technique he promised was just another freebie from the department, but they didn't know it.
"To manifest your power, you need magical energy. That's why…" The professor clapped his hands as his assistants opened the door, bringing the materials. "…I asked you to write down your element."