"That's all for today's lesson."
Mirabelle's voice made all the freshmen still struggling bitterly breathe a sigh of relief.
"Practice more after you return. If there's anything you don't understand, write it down, and I'll set aside time next class to answer everyone's questions together. Class dismissed." At her command, the tense atmosphere in the practice room instantly dissipated.
The students gathered in twos and threes. Some discussed their failures from earlier in frustration, while others excitedly showed their companions the tiny glimmers of light they had painstakingly managed to gather.
Most of them wore exhausted expressions as they drifted toward the door on unsteady feet, their mana clearly drained dry.
Lionel deliberately waited until the very end, intending to say something to He Xi. But when he saw that Instructor Mirabelle had no intention of leaving, he wisely winked at He Xi and left first.
Before long, only the instructor and her teaching assistant remained in the vast practice room.
"How did it feel?" Mirabelle's tone returned to its usual calmness.
"It took more mental energy than I imagined," He Xi admitted. "Guiding them was far more tiring than practicing on my own."
"You'll get used to it." Mirabelle smiled.
"Instructor, regarding the other two required courses..." He chose his words carefully. "I've already mastered both spells proficiently. At this stage, I'd like to devote more of my energy to learning high-circle spells and preparing for my work as a teaching assistant. Could I ask you to explain the situation to those two instructors?"
"A small matter." Mirabelle answered crisply. "I'll have a word with Harper and Instructor Lina. As long as you pass the final written exams, you can be excused from the regular classes."
"Thank you very much, Instructor." He Xi sighed in relief, then raised another