The classroom maintained its tranquility as the school-time lectures went on.
Sai lazily rested his head on his left palm, his eyes growing heavier with each passing moment. He quickly picked himself up as his head nearly slammed against the wooden desk.
"Maaaaaaaan," Sai groaned in a heavy yet quiet whisper.
"This class is putting me to sleep—bummer… I wanna go home," Sai muttered, wearing a lazy yet carefree expression.
"So, would anyone like to tell me about the Four Titles we have in sorcery? Let's give Sai a try, shall we?"
Miss Rose said with a slight smile across her face, her glasses resting neatly on her nose.
Sai was unphased by the surprise attack. He knew this was bound to happen sooner or later. Nevertheless, he stood up—unfazed and ready to answer.
"The Four Great Titles are classified into two categories, which are… for the female category…"
"We have the 3rd, 2nd, and 1st Grade Witches. Then there are the most powerful mages of the female category…"
"The Arcane Stage Mage. They are known to be the most powerful witches in existence."
"It is said that there are only three Arcane Stage Mages currently, though there's no information regarding their whereabouts."
"And for the male category, we have the 3rd Grade Sorcerers, the 2nd, and 1st Grades, and of course, the most powerful wizard of them all…"
"The Arcane Stage Wizard, who is said to be more powerful than even the three mages combined. Although not many people have seen him, there is only one Arcane Stage Wizard in our current age."
"Very good, Sai. I would expect nothing less from a student as brilliant as you. Please, a round of applause for Sai."
Miss Rose said as she gently led the applause, with the students gradually following suit.
"Waw, he's soooo smaaaart!" Maya thought, her cheeks glowing as she held them with both hands, a sincere and loving smile on her face.
"And as you all should be aware…"
"I myself am a 1st Grade Mage."
The students erupted into a huge uproar of bewilderment as they began applauding their teacher.
"Figures," Sai muttered—his arms folded and eyes closed as he tilted his head downward for a moment.
"Okay, that's it for the first period, kids. Please go for your recess and wait for the final period, which will take place at the school field later today."
"You will learn how to fly brooms. This experience will teach you how to relax your mana and enable a more subtle control of your magic."
With a flick of her wrist and a murmur in a forgotten tongue, Miss Rose sliced through the still air. Light swirled, shimmered—and then solidified.
Before her stood a conjured figure: a teacher so lifelike it was as though she had stepped out of memory itself. Her eyes were sharp and observant, glinting with quiet intellect beneath arched brows. A cascade of auburn hair framed her face, tied back just enough to make her look both stern and effortlessly elegant.
She wore a tailored blouse and a knee-length skirt, faint ink stains visible on her fingers—proof of long hours spent grading parchment rather than casting spells.
Even the tilt of her head and the measured tap of her foot carried that familiar mix of patience and authority. Miss Rose smiled faintly.
"Perfect," she said, right down to the sigh.
The entire class gazed in awe. The image was so realistic that it almost felt as though the real teacher herself was standing in the classroom.
"So this is the power of a 1st Grade Mage…"
"Impressive," Sai muttered under his breath.
"This is Professor Bramble Graygal, our newest teacher."
"She will be taking you on the broom-flying lessons today. Please do your best to cooperate with Miss Bramble."
Miss Rose said with a faint smile on her lips, her eyes closed as she tilted her head slightly.
"Yes, ma'am," the class chorused in unison.
. . .
"So your name is Sai. Cool name."
"Thanks," Sai replied absentmindedly before immediately looking up at the person addressing him.
Her silver hair shimmered with elegance as she stood in front of his desk, wearing a beautiful yet firm look of curiosity on her face.
Sai's gaze almost lingered on her curves, but he managed to maintain focus.
It was Leah.
"Aaaaand, you are?" Sai asked sharply, though his face remained blank.
"What!? You don't remember me?"
"I—"
"Hey Sai, so what are your special abilities? Since you can't use magic, my magic power is a fire attribute."
Ryan cut in as he opened his palm. A burning crimson flame danced above his right hand.
"What!? He did that without a wand!?" Leah thought, her face filled with surprise.
"Impressive," Sai complimented, though his expression remained unchanged.
"It's a basic spell, really," Ryan said humbly, his face lighting up.
"So what's your ability, Sai?" Ryan asked enthusiastically, his eyes glimmering with curiosity.
"Well, as you all know, I can't use magic. However, my body has the ability to nullify magic upon contact."
"So that's why Sugur's magic vanished… and he's freakishly strong too," Leah thought, unaware of the pale look spreading across her face.
"Waw, that's pretty cool, man! Can I see it?" Ryan asked, leaning forward excitedly as he clenched both fists.
"Be my guest," Sai replied with a friendly gesture, a slight smirk appearing on the side of his face.
"Ooookaaaaaay! Here I go!"
Ryan shouted as he raised his wand into the air. A bright crimson spiral burst from its tip.
Other classmates began gathering around them, watching in amazement.
"Flame Magic!" Ryan yelled as the spiral blaze grew fiercer and brighter by the second.
"Blazing Terror!"
A massive fireball shot toward Sai's head.
The moment it touched Sai's skin, the spell vanished as though it had never existed. Thick smoke covered the area.
Moments later, the smoke cleared.
Sai remained completely unscathed—his arms folded, eyes closed, expression emotionless.
The gathered students gasped. Some were amazed, while others stood frozen in shock at his insane capability.
A slim, tall boy wearing glasses and sporting a short blue bang watched in disgust.
He was properly dressed, with two close friends standing behind him: Ryu, a musclehead with a low-cut hairstyle and a scar across his left eye, and Ryota, a fat red-haired bully with a ridiculous posture—his enormous stomach protruding beneath his uniform.
"So his body nullifies magic upon contact," the boy with glasses said.
"Not to mention…"
"According to Miss Rose, he's good at combat."
"What are you pointing at, Caleb?" Ryu asked curiously.
"That guy could be trouble for us," Caleb said, narrowing his eyes.
"It's a good thing you aimed for my head. If it had hit my body, I'd be naked by now."
The crowd chuckled in amusement.
"Waw, Sai, you're really amazing," Ryan said sincerely.
"You're not so bad yourself, little dude," Sai replied as he stood up. His leather jacket swayed with effortless grace as he pulled it slightly below his shoulders and slipped both hands into his pockets before heading for the exit.
"Where are you going?" Ryan asked curiously.
"I'm a newcomer. Gotta go see the principal," Sai answered casually.
"I'll escort you! I'd love to give you a tour around the school while we're at it," Ryan offered enthusiastically.
"That's awfully nice of ya, little dude. Thanks," Sai replied as the two exited the classroom together.
The rest of the students gradually began leaving as well.
"Well, he completely ignored me," Leah said with folded arms, slightly annoyed.
"Hey, Leah!" Maya called out as she rushed toward her. "Where were you? I thought you were dying to meet your prince charming."
At those words, Maya's cheeks turned bright red.
She looked down, held her left arm, and shuffled her feet shyly.
"I tried to go say hello… but I just couldn't get up," Maya admitted shamefully.
Leah cracked an amused smile.
"I think someone's too shy to talk to her crush."
"Leaaaahhh! Stop teasing me!" Maya exclaimed, her cheeks turning even brighter.
"Come on, princess. We've got things to do during recess."
Leah said as she tugged Maya's hand, the two friends heading toward the exit.
The hallways of Zorel Academia echoed with muffled laughter and footsteps, but near the eastern corridor—where the enchantment runes on the walls flickered dimly—a different kind of tension brewed.
Natsumi stood pressed against the cold stone wall, clutching his books tightly against his chest.
His breath hitched—not from fear of magic, but from the three figures slowly circling him like predators with time to spare.
Ryu cracked his knuckles, his grin wide and thoughtless.
"What's the matter, Natsumi? Lose your voice again?"
Ryota chuckled as he snatched a scroll from Natsumi's hand and tossed it into the air like a toy.
"Or maybe he's just hoping someone'll save him. Again."
Then Caleb stepped forward—calm, refined, always calculated.
Unlike the others, his tone wasn't cruel for sport. It was precise, as though bullying were simply another lesson in superiority.
"Honestly, Natsumi," he said, enunciating each word with scholarly ease.
"Your grasp of basic elemental theory is tragically inadequate. I'm almost impressed by how consistently average you remain."
Natsumi opened his mouth to speak, but Caleb raised a hand, cutting him off with a mock sigh.
"No need to protest. Ignorance is loud enough on its own."
"Yeah…"
"Even though we don't know what he says most of the time," Ryota added.
"And that is exactly why your mental capacity is so low," Caleb said, smacking his palm against his forehead in disappointment.
"Now, without further ado… RYU!"
Caleb called out dramatically, seemingly oblivious to the fact that Ryu was standing right beside him.
"Please painfully dispose of this cretin. The mere existence of a low-class commoner such as him vexes me."
Caleb said in an overly dramatic yet serious tone, pressing two fingers against his forehead like the lead actor in a stage play.
"Sure thing, Caleb. My pleasure."
Ryu stepped forward, pounding his fist into his palm with intensity.
The surrounding students backed away in fear. None of them dared interfere with the trio.
Ryu grabbed Natsumi by the collar and lifted him up. He clenched his fist tightly before raising it high into the air.
With a vicious grin, Ryu swung downward.
Some students shut their eyes, bracing for the impact.
But to everyone's shock—
The punch never landed.
Ryu's face twisted with confusion.
His fist had been stopped midair.
But by who?
"Hold it right there, tough guy."
The first-years gasped in amazement, their faces flooding with excitement.
It was Sai.
Sai gripped Ryu's fist like a steel crowbar—tight, unshakable, merciless—while standing firmly with his other hand buried in his pocket.
"Now what exactly gives you the right to mess with this kid?"
"Is it simply because he can't defend himself against you bozos?!"
Sai scowled, his brows furrowing deeply with disgust.
"I… HATE… GUYS LIKE YOU."
Sai spoke in a subtle yet terrifying tone.
At that moment, it felt as though the atmosphere itself had thickened.
The hallway fell into a ghostly silence, similar to that of a cemetery.
Sai was boiling with rage.
It was almost as if he had been placed under a spell that forced him to feel overwhelming hatred at that very moment—
Despite the fact that spells had no effect on him.
And with each passing second—
Sai's face grew even darker.