Professor Seraf looked over the class, then turned to the board behind her. With a flick of her fingers, glowing script began to write itself in the air.
"What is mana?"
Seila was the first to raise her hand. She definitely had that know-it-all energy—not in a bad way, just in that always-prepared sort of way.
"Yes, go ahead," the teacher said, pointing at her.
"Mana is considered the breath of the world," Seila answered. "Some also say it is energy. Every step a living being takes is thanks to mana. It's like the fuel we need to live."
"A good answer," Professor Seraf nodded. "Anyone care to add to that?"
Oh no… I knew this was coming.
Colt felt it before she even said his name.
Even upper-year students had been whispering about him lately. It was only a matter of time before the teachers joined in.
"Colt, right?" She turned to him, clearly interested. "I heard you had some different theories in the entrance exam. Would you care to share one?"
She wasn't testing him.
She was curious—genuinely excited to hear something new. That was how most teachers in this academy were.
They weren't petty enough to think that a student couldn't know better than a teacher.
Colt sighed inwardly. Most of what he knew about mana came from his own research.
In his past life, he'd obsessed over magic theory—even before EVR had launched.
Back then, he'd read everything he could find, even from books in his old world.
If only I had been one of the chosen ones in Zerion…
Still, some of his information came from the future. He wasn't the only one who studied magic in Arte.
In the thirty years that followed, this world would unravel many of its secrets, thanks in large part to EVR and the players.
But the players wouldn't be coming anymore, though. Colt had seen to that when he killed Kayden.
So maybe… it was okay to share a little. Just enough to sound insightful.
"What Seila said is only half right," he said aloud.
Heads turned toward him. Eyes widened.
After all, "What is mana?" was one of the most basic questions in the world—something even little kids learned in bedtime stories.
For someone to say the textbook answer was wrong?
Now that was worth listening to, even if they weren't interested in theory.
Colt continued, "Fuel burns and disappears. But mana regenerates. It recovers. So what makes us move is more like stamina than fuel."
Seila interrupted, "Isn't that the same thing? Stamina also comes from mana."
"That's not quite right. Mana isn't just power—it's the medium through which power takes form.
So, unless you're suggesting that a newborn baby or an animal consciously converts mana into stamina, that explanation doesn't make sense."
Everyone, including Seila, turned to the teacher, waiting for her response.
If what Colt said was true, that mana was only a medium, then the foundation of how they understood it might shift.
Of course, Colt could easily prove this and much more.
He could even mention the time before magic existed in this world. But there was no need to disrupt the world too much, not yet.
And he knew from experience—answering one big question always led to three more. So he chose to keep it moderate.
The teacher seemed thoughtful, even impressed. After a pause, she gave a small nod. "I'll look into it more. For now, let's continue with the lesson."
Colt appreciated that. She didn't let her curiosity take precedence over the class.
---
Break time arrived, and everyone expected to talk to Colt.
He clearly had ideas worth hearing, and they were all students of the top academy in Ostines. Curiosity was only natural.
But when they turned to where he had been sitting, his seat was empty.
So when the red-haired boy stormed into the classroom, he only grew more irritated.
***
Meanwhile, Colt was lying on the grass behind a tree, hidden from plain sight. He had chosen the spot intentionally—it would be hard for others to find him.
Still, he noticed someone approaching long before they arrived, not that he minded her.
"So, you are here. Don't worry, I won't bother you with more questions."
"I can answer as many questions as you want," Colt answered. Since she was Seila, he didn't mind the questions.
"No need. I know the others will ask anyway. I'll just listen when they do. May I sit with you?"
"Of course," Colt said, shifting into a sitting position.
"You seem more knowledgeable and stronger than most," Seila said as she sat beside him. "But I can't understand how."
"I'm just a normal student," Colt said, lying through his teeth. It stung to say that to her. But he couldn't exactly confess, I came from the future, where you were my girlfriend, but you died.
No one would believe that. And worse, in this world, there were people who could read thoughts.
There were also those who could track thoughts.
Even knowing too much was dangerous.
Then, without warning, Colt stood and wrapped his arm around Seila's waist, jumping backward in one swift motion.
A double-edged axe slammed down into the spot they'd just been sitting, blowing a crater into the grass.
"SO, YOU WERE HERE!" the red-haired boy—number 21—shouted, stepping into view.
Colt narrowed his eyes. There was no real danger to Seila while he was here—but 21 didn't know that.
He had thrown the axe without hesitation, aiming to hurt.
That, Colt wouldn't tolerate.
He was just about to lunge forward when Seila said, "Thank you, but I think you can let me down now."
Only then did Colt glance to his side and realize he was still holding her tightly by the waist.
Behind 21, a group of students was watching.
Colt exhaled, steadying himself.
He was about to attack a student.
I shouldn't do that. He is only 16, he probably can't control when he is in a berserk state.
He knew that 21 was a berserker, and Colt was the one who triggered the Berserk, an ability that causes berserker to reach their strongest form.
But they would also lose their minds if they weren't good at controlling themselves.
And no one could expect a kid to control this ability that good, even if he was the top rank among second years.
Of course, Colt wouldn't completely let it go either.
After letting Seila down, he said, "I accept your duel."
Light flared around them as two glowing arrows formed above their heads, pointing in the direction of the designated dueling ground.
Normally, a duel between two regular students wouldn't show any special signs—just the arrows.
But this time, it was different.
A top student from the first year and a top student from the second year were about to fight.
So, the light surrounded them and shot to the sky to let everyone know in the academy.
---
They arrived at the arena, one of the twelve towers, without issue, but as soon as they stepped inside, they realized the place was already packed.
"Colt, are you sure about this?" Seila asked from behind him.
"I don't have a choice. The rules force me to accept the duel."
Well, even if they didn't, Colt had already decided—he was going to teach 21 a lesson.
"I know that, but..." Seila trailed off. She understood. Colt had to go through with this. If not today, then tomorrow. So sooner was better.
They stepped onto the stage under the eyes of the crowd while Seila went toward the audience seats, spotting Hei and Myrin.
A man approached, stopping between them. Colt assumed he was the overseer.
He was a beastman with lizard-like features. Unlike Kayden, who had blue scales, this one was green.
Of course, this could only mean one thing.
Since all the teachers were nobles, this instructor belonged to the only beastman noble family.
"I will serve as referee for this match. Killing is forbidden. If either of you can no longer continue, or if I decide to end the fight, you will stop immediately."
Colt found the whole process surprisingly smooth.
They had chosen to duel, and yet a crowd had already gathered. A referee had arrived without being called.
But that was just how the academy worked—it encouraged controlled combat. As long as two students agreed to fight, everything else fell into place.
The beastman raised his hand.
Colt spotted a smug smile on 21's face. The boy was barely holding back, probably because he knew better than to start something in front of an instructor.
Otherwise, he'd have already swung, probably still under the berserk state's control.
Then, with a sharp "Begin!" the referee dropped his hand.