Chapter Summaries

He Xi walked through Fernandez with Zoya and Bruce, and Zoya helped ease his homesickness. The next morning, they visited Fernandez Magic Academy to seek a teaching assistant position through Flora’s recommendation, and He Xi reviewed the available courses.

• He Xi wandered Fernandez’s streets with Zoya and Bruce, and memories of his former life made him feel lonely.
• Zoya asked He Xi if he was missing home, and he took her hand and chose to look ahead with her.
• The next morning, Zoya helped He Xi prepare before they traveled to Fernandez Magic Academy.
• He Xi presented Flora’s recommendation at the academy’s general affairs office and received a list of vacant teaching assistant positions.
• He Xi read the listing for Introduction to Magical Material Processing and realized he was unqualified because he still needed to take the course.

He Xi applied to become a teaching assistant for Mirabelle's evocation course, but she doubted his mana reserves would be enough for repeated Magic Missile demonstrations. After seeing his recommendation from Lady Flora, she agreed to test his limits and led him to a practice room.

• He Xi reviewed several teaching assistant openings and chose to apply for Mirabelle's Introduction to the Evocation School course.
• The clerk directed He Xi to Mirabelle's office and warned him that Instructor Oleg might dislike overly tidy people.
• Mirabelle initially rejected He Xi because upper-year students received priority, but he presented a recommendation letter from Lady Flora and explained he would soon take the entrance test.
• Mirabelle explained that her course had a low pass rate and that her previous assistant had lacked the mana reserves for repeated demonstrations.
• Mirabelle offered He Xi a chance to prove his mana capacity and led him to a practice room, where she asked him to cast Magic Missile until nearly depleted.

He Xi passed Mirabelle’s teaching assistant test by firing Magic Missiles until he destroyed a Training Dummy, and she gave him the position. He then found Zoya and Bruce with Bruno, who was astonished that Bruce could speak and read, and began questioning Zoya about him.

• He Xi repeatedly cast Magic Missiles, overwhelming Mirabelle and smashing the Training Dummy.
• Mirabelle praised He Xi’s magical reserves and stable output, offered him the teaching assistant position, and explained his duties and the entrance exam rules.
• Mirabelle sent He Xi to General Affairs to complete the paperwork, and he went looking for Zoya and Bruce.
• He Xi found Zoya in Bruno’s office while Bruno examined Bruce reading a book about Blink Hounds.
• Bruce called Zoya his mistress, and Bruno excitedly questioned her about Bruce’s abilities.

He Xi and Bruce rejected Bruno’s invitation to join a magical-creature research project and left to complete their paperwork and find lodging. They arrived at Sea Breeze Street in Fernandez’s Dragon Throat Dock District, where He Xi hoped to find affordable housing and work commissions for Zoya.

• Bruno recognized He Xi as the applicant for a teaching assistant position and urged him to let Bruce join a research project.
• He Xi declined Bruno’s offer, and Bruce showed that he wanted to leave; after they departed, Bruno began drafting a research proposal about the similarity between his name and Bruce’s.
• He Xi and Zoya headed to Dragon Throat Dock District to find lodging, since the academy did not provide housing and apartments in other districts were too expensive.
• He Xi ruled out several districts for their high rents, unpleasant conditions, or dangers, then followed a listing to Sea Breeze Street.

He Xi and Zoya visited Number 46 Sea Breeze Street to rent a house from Renee Royce, who tried to dissuade them and demanded a year’s rent upfront. Renee’s husband, Alvin Royce, arrived and asked what work they did, leaving the negotiation unresolved.

• He Xi and Zoya found Number 46 Sea Breeze Street and were admitted to Renee Royce’s home.
• Renee warned He Xi and Zoya that the house had poor ventilation, damp windows, and noise from nearby Dragon Throat Avenue.
• Renee noticed their weapons and learned they were adventurers, then demanded a full year’s rent and a deposit.
• He Xi asked to pay only six months’ rent upfront, but Renee refused.
• Alvin Royce returned home, met He Xi and Zoya, and asked what line of work they did.

He Xi and Zoya met their prospective landlords, Alvin and Mrs. Royce, and He Xi revealed that he had become a teaching assistant at Fernandez Academy. After dinner and a warning about strange reports from the Hidden Valley District, they moved into their new home at 46 Sea Breeze Street.

• Alvin questioned He Xi about becoming an adventurer, then described the prominent candidates preparing for Fernandez Magic Academy's entrance examination.
• He Xi told Alvin that he had passed the teaching assistant examination for Mentor Mirabelle's Introduction to Magic Missile course at the Evocation School.
• Mrs. Royce offered He Xi and Zoya half-year rent payments without a deposit, prepared their house, and invited them to dinner.
• Alvin introduced the newcomers to Fernandez and mentioned a report of ancient ritual signs linked to a long-vanished demon-worshipping cult in the Hidden Valley District.
• Jenny gave He Xi the key to 46 Sea Breeze Street, and He Xi and Zoya unpacked and settled into their new home.

He Xi attended Fernandez Magic Academy’s entrance test, where the examiner rejected five applicants for failing the age or Wisdom requirements and Auston mocked them. He Xi’s test result left Auston speechless, but the chapter ended before the examiner announced it.

• He Xi and Zoya completed small commissions around 46 Sea Breeze Street to learn the Dragon Throat Dock District.
• He Xi went to the academy’s entrance test with Bruce and entered the human applicants’ testing room.
• The examiner rejected five applicants for being too old or having insufficient Wisdom, while Auston and his companion mocked them.
• Auston and his companion passed the test and taunted the rejected applicants.
• He Xi placed his hand on the crystal ball, and Auston froze at the result before its value was announced.

He Xi completed his academy enrollment and went to inspect his dormitory, where a cat-eared girl offered to become his servant in exchange for a contract deposit. The chapter ended with He Xi questioning the deposit as she presented him with the contract.

• Valerie recognized He Xi as Mentor Mirabelle’s teaching assistant and introduced herself as a General Affairs employee.
• He Xi teased Auston and another youth about their test scores and promised to take special care of them in his Magic Missile class.
• He Xi paid his tuition and immediately applied for the teaching-assistant refund before collecting his dormitory key and freshman handbook.
• He Xi arrived at South District Three, Building Two, and observed the new students and other residents gathered outside.
• A cat-eared girl offered He Xi her services as a loyal servant and presented a contract requiring a deposit.

He Xi rejected Tata’s servant contract, but she followed him home and attacked him, revealing her connection to the Shadow Hand. He Xi captured her with magic and frightened her into offering to serve him, just as Zoya walked in.

• He Xi rejected Tata’s contract and left the dormitory with Bruce after she tried to persuade him to hire her.
• Tata followed He Xi home in stealth, and Bruce detected her presence.
• He Xi entered his house, trapped Tata with Mage Hand when she attacked him, and questioned her about her identity and motives.
• Tata revealed that she belonged to the Shadow Hand and threatened He Xi with her boss before he lifted her upside down.
• Bruce pretended he might eat Tata, and she begged for her life and offered to become He Xi’s servant.
• Zoya opened the bedroom door and dropped her bag of flour when she saw Tata hanging in midair.

He Xi and Zoya captured Tata after she made an obscene accusation, and Zoya nearly killed her in anger. He Xi later fed the bound cat-eared girl and selected her as the target for his Judgment Loss trait.

• Tata accused He Xi and Sirius of stalking her and wanting her to bear children, prompting Zoya to attack her with a blade.
• He Xi stepped between Zoya and Tata, and Tata fainted after wetting herself in fear.
• Tata woke up tied near the fireplace and discovered that Bruce could talk while He Xi and Zoya ate dinner.
• He Xi learned that Tata had followed him because of her interest in Shadow Hand and her ability to notice slight movements.
• He Xi untied Tata's hands and offered her a grilled meat patty, then selected her as the target for Judgment Loss.

He Xi persuaded the captured Tata to eat and stay as a servant to make up for her past actions, while insisting she could leave whenever she wanted. Tata became convinced of his kindness and worked around the house, even as Bruce criticized her cleaning.

• He Xi gave Tata a meat patty and told her he would let her go, then convinced her to stay and work as a servant until she felt she had made up for her mistakes.
• Tata agreed to stay and was moved by He Xi’s offer of more food.
• Tata scrubbed Bruce in the bath and cleaned the dusty guest rooms while Bruce monitored and complained about her work.
• The next morning, He Xi brought Tata and Bruce hot milk and toasted bread with smoked meat.
• Bruce reported that Tata had missed spots while cleaning, and He Xi defended her and told Bruce to be patient.
• Tata felt guilty for slacking and resolved to work harder and become the best maid.

He Xi learned that Tata’s Shadow Hand was a small gang that targeted new students, then extracted the Motion Tracking trait from her and transferred it to Zoya. As he prepared to move into the academy dormitory, his attempted flirtation with Zoya was thwarted by her ability to sense his movements, though she eventually let him hold her hand.

• He Xi questioned Tata about Shadow Hand, and she described the gang’s enrollment-season scams and thefts.
• He Xi decided Tata was safer staying with him, extracted Motion Tracking from her, and selected it over Nervous Overload.
• He Xi told Zoya he would be moving into the academy dormitory and transferred Motion Tracking to her when he touched her shoulder.
• He Xi tried to surprise Zoya with a touch, but she sensed his movements and blocked him.
• Zoya clasped He Xi’s hand and gently let him hold it.

He Xi attended Fernandez Magic Academy’s freshman ceremony, where Vice Dean Herman welcomed the new students and Princess Aislin Catherine Winter gave a speech. As the banquet began, He Xi reflected that the academy’s grand promises coexisted with hidden tensions and rumors.

• He Xi arrived at the academy’s great hall and joined the first-year students beneath its enchanted starry sky.
• Vice Dean Herman Starwhisper welcomed the freshmen and outlined the academy’s principles and expectations.
• Aislin Catherine Winter introduced herself as the Frost Winter Kingdom’s second princess and named Ston Iron Crown as her guard captain.
• Aislin urged the students to look beyond their origins and build knowledge and friendships together.
• Herman opened the banquet, and He Xi considered rumors and encounters that hinted at undercurrents beneath the academy’s formal rules.

He Xi explored the academy after the entrance banquet and learned that first-year students had to impress instructors to earn personal guidance. He met his new roommate, Lionel Burke, whose lost keys and meticulous notes hinted at his unusual habits.

• He Xi wandered through the lively academy and overheard students discussing Princess Aislin and how instructors selected students for specialized guidance.
• A blond student explained that his sister’s roommate had earned Instructor Mirabelle’s favor by researching fire elements and mastered [Fireball Spell] first in her year.
• He Xi found Dormitory 303 empty and met Lionel Burke, who had chased after him to introduce himself as his new roommate.
• Lionel explained that he had lost both his original key and the borrowed spare, which he suspected had been thrown away with his dinner knife at the banquet.
• Lionel wrote He Xi’s name and roommate status in his worn notebook, saying his father had taught him that remembering people could be more useful than remembering incantations.

He Xi learned from Lionel about the academy’s ways to earn credits, including the Alser’s Steps ranking, and considered his roommate’s advice. The chapter then moved to He Xi’s General History of Magic lecture, where he listened as the lecturer began discussing the Meherlis Era.

• He Xi read Lionel’s notes about Ston Ironcrown and asked what the asterisk beside his name meant.
• Lionel explained that Ston’s presence beside Princess Aislin suggested Grand Duke Sigmund privately supported her claim to the throne.
• He Xi asked Lionel how to earn credits quickly, and Lionel described academy tasks, research projects, and Alser’s Steps.
• Lionel warned that first-years would struggle against upper-year students in Alser’s Steps, then fell asleep before He Xi could ask more.
• He Xi attended a General History of Magic lecture and drifted off while the lecturer discussed the early Meherlis Era.

He Xi sat through a history lecture, reflected on the academy’s course structure, and discussed Princess Aislin and the upcoming Magic Missile class with Lionel. As class ended, Lionel mentioned Instructor Mirabelle’s reputation as the “Mana Burner,” catching He Xi’s attention.

• He Xi observed the first-year students and considered how few of them would eventually graduate.
• He Xi reviewed his course schedule and planned to return to 46 Sea Breeze Street after his required classes.
• The history lecture ended, and the students packed up and left their seats.
• Lionel complained about the history course and noted that students avoided speaking to Princess Aislin.
• Lionel warned He Xi that Instructor Mirabelle was strict, and her nickname triggered a thought in He Xi.

He Xi hurried to the Evocation School’s Practice Room, where Mirabelle taught him to inspect the Protection Circle and introduced him as her teaching assistant. The students reacted with surprise and tried to probe his mana, while He Xi kept his abilities hidden and left Lionel revising his notes about him.

• He Xi rushed away from Lionel to arrive on time and help Mirabelle prepare for class.
• Mirabelle taught He Xi to inspect the Protection Circle, and he confirmed that it was functioning normally.
• Mirabelle outlined the lesson on Magic Missile and assigned He Xi to demonstrate spells and help students practice.
• Mirabelle introduced He Xi as her teaching assistant, surprising the students who recognized him as a fellow first-year.
• He Xi blocked the students’ attempts to probe his mana, while Aislin studied him and Lionel changed his notes to describe him as “strong.”

Mirabelle introduced Evocation School and taught the freshmen that precise control mattered more than raw destructive power, then explained the principles and magic circuit of [Magic Missile]. She asked Teaching Assistant He Xi to demonstrate the spell, leaving the class ready to move from theory to practice.

• Mirabelle demonstrated her control over powerful magic and warned the students that uncontrolled energy could harm its caster.
• Mirabelle explained that the class would begin with foundational control and taught the structure and advantages of [Magic Missile].
• Princess Aislin took careful notes, Ston Ironcrown studied the spell, and Lionel stole glances at Aislin as the students followed the lesson with varying degrees of understanding.
• Mirabelle asked Teaching Assistant He Xi to demonstrate the standard casting process and posture for [Magic Missile].

He Xi demonstrated Magic Missile and helped the new students practice, drawing on Fivik’s detailed instruction to diagnose their mistakes. He Xi then advised Princess Aislin on casting multiple missiles, earning her thanks and Mirabelle’s approval.

• He Xi demonstrated a stable, accurate Magic Missile, and Mirabelle sent the students to practice with the Training Dummies.
• He Xi guided struggling students through mana gathering and spell construction as they practiced.
• He Xi helped Auston calm his mana flow, and Auston managed an improved but still inaccurate shot.
• Princess Aislin successfully cast one Magic Missile but struggled to cast a second in succession.
• He Xi advised Aislin to shape a dual-release circuit for one cast, and she thanked him for the guidance.
• Mirabelle watched He Xi’s instruction and approved of his work.

After helping Mirabelle teach [Magic Missile], He Xi secured permission to skip two required courses and an invitation to study [Lightning Bolt] early. He planned to find [Lightning Guidance] and investigate Alser's Steps as a way to advance his spell training and earn credits.

• Mirabelle agreed to speak with Harper and Instructor Lina so He Xi could skip their classes after passing the final written exams, and she invited him to attend her [Lightning Bolt] lesson on friday.
• He Xi returned to Room 303 in South District Three, where Lionel questioned him about becoming a teaching assistant and his conversation with Princess Aislin.
• He Xi asked Lionel where to buy Skill Scrolls, and Lionel described the academy shops, Karte Grand Market, and credit exchanges.
• He Xi planned to acquire [Lightning Guidance] to prepare for [Lightning Bolt] and reduce its mana cost through [Elemental Harmonizer].
• He Xi rested and reviewed the [Magic Missile] class, planning to attend Introduction to Magical Material Processing and look into Alser's Steps.