First Attempt at Magic

An hour later, Jonathan opened his eyes.

Looks like strong mental power really does make cultivation much faster. In just an hour, I've already built up some magic power. It should be enough to cast Shadow Arrow, right?

Jonathan walked out onto the balcony. A few dozen meters directly across from it stood a massive tree that would have taken several people to encircle.

He recalled what Charles had told him earlier, then began trying to cast a spell.

His first and second attempts both failed. The black Light Spots he had gathered dispersed in an instant, but at least he made progress each time.

Jonathan learned from his previous attempts and kept making adjustments. On his sixth try, he successfully formed a Shadow Arrow.

"Six tries, and I got it. I guess my talent isn't too bad."

He held the Shadow Arrow above his palm and glanced around.

I can't back out now. It's the first time in my life, after all. I'd better shoot it!

"Forget it. I'll just pick a direction."

With a whoosh, the pitch-black Shadow Arrow shot off into the Dark Night, seemingly invisible.

"Who's there?!"

An enraged curse suddenly rang out in the distance. As it happened, Jonathan's arrow had landed right in front of a couple out on a date that night, just as they were kissing.

The sudden arrow struck the ground, turning both of them deathly pale with fright.

The man then angrily shouted, "Come out here if you've got the guts!"

"Leitos, was that you, you coward? Come out if you've got the guts!"

His voice carried far. Even from a distance, Jonathan could hear him faintly, and many people stepped onto their balconies to look toward the sound.

Jonathan's face twitched slightly. He silently went back into his room, closed the window, drew the curtains, and continued cultivating.

The woman on the date thought that shouting like that would surely have attracted everyone's attention, and that people might soon come to watch. She hurriedly dragged the man away.

The next morning, at dawn.

Jonathan got up early and began his morning training in a grove. He wouldn't neglect his warrior training, either, and made time for it.

When he returned to his room, he found breakfast—bread, milk, and more—on the living-room table.

Collette asked curiously, "Where'd you go so early? I even bought breakfast for you guys. Ford had class this morning, so he ate and left already. You're the only one who hasn't eaten. Have some, if you don't mind."

"Thanks."

"But you don't have to next time. I usually get up early to train, so I eat early too."

"Oh, I see. Then I won't bring you any next time."

Jonathan smiled and nodded, then went back to his room. After taking a shower, he began building up his magic power.

Collette couldn't help muttering to himself, "That kind of talent, and he's an Ascetic Monk too. He's practically leaving the rest of us no way to live!"

Afterward, he went back to his own room as well.

That afternoon, Collette and Charles headed together to the large classroom for Dark Element.

As soon as the two of them walked in, dozens of pairs of eyes turned their way.

Jonathan saw several dozen people sitting in small groups. They picked a seat at random, in the fifth row from the front, along the left edge of the row facing the blackboard.

Jonathan had barely sat down when the girl behind him greeted him.

"Hi, Jonathan. I'm Yuelinna. Want to get to know each other?"

Jonathan turned around. She was a beautiful girl with fiery red hair and brown eyes. Her lively eyes blinked mischievously.

"You already know me, so there's no need to get to know me again."

Yuelinna's expression froze.

Charles smiled beside him. "That's just Jonathan's personality. I'm Charles, and I share a dorm with him."

Yuelinna clearly had no interest in Charles. She glanced at him but didn't even respond.

Not long afterward.

A man who looked to be in his thirties, wearing a black mage's robe, walked in. He went straight to the lectern, tossed the things in his hand onto the desk, then planted both hands on it and leaned forward. "Quiet. Class is starting!"

The classroom fell silent at once.

He scanned the room and seemed pleased with their attitude. Nodding, he said, "Let me introduce myself first. I'm Winter, a teaching assistant and a fifth-year student. I'll be teaching you for the next year."

"Of course, the fact that you made it into Ulada Magic Academy means you all have decent talent. Some of you may even have studied magic before enrolling."

"So, each semester, you can apply to take a magic-level test. If you pass, you can advance to the corresponding year and receive instruction from the academy's mentors."

"Today is your first class. I've introduced myself, so now it's your turn."

"Let me get to know the geniuses of this year's class."

As he spoke, he picked up a roster from the desk.

"First, Jonathan."

Jonathan stood up. Winter looked at him with a smile. "You're Jonathan, the most talented student in this year's class."

"Yes."

After answering, Jonathan added, "My name is Jonathan."

"That's all?"

"That's all."

Winter smiled helplessly. "Sit down. Next, Endom."

"Hello, everyone. I'm Endom, and my family lives right here in Black Phoenix City. If you have time, you're welcome to visit my home."

"Good. Next."

After the introductions, Winter began explaining the characteristics of Dark Magic and the properties of its elements.

As class was about to end, a brown-haired boy suddenly said, "Teaching Assistant Winter, since this is a magic class, shouldn't you demonstrate some magic? Why not have our number-one genius show us what he can do?"

Winter looked at Jonathan, seemingly asking for his opinion.

Faced with a boy this talented, Winter didn't dare pressure him too much, even though he was far stronger.

A tree that stood out in the forest would be battered by the wind. Jonathan had long known his talent would bring him some trouble.

He hadn't expected it to come so soon, though.

He turned to look at the brown-haired boy. To avoid more trouble in the future, he would have to make the boy afraid of him—make him respect him.

As for the brown-haired boy, he had taken a liking to Yuelinna. Seeing how Jonathan had treated her earlier had made him furious.

On top of that, he was jealous of Jonathan's talent. He had also happened to hear from his father that Jonathan came from an ordinary family and had never studied magic, so he had come up with this.

He wanted to make the genius everyone praised embarrass himself in front of the whole class.

"Teaching Assistant Winter, since our classmate brought it up, I don't mind. But it'd be boring alone. Why don't we have him come up and demonstrate with me?"

Winter didn't speak. The brown-haired boy immediately stood up. "Sure, let's do it."

The two walked to the front and stood facing each other.

The brown-haired boy thought, I'll gather my magic first, then claim I can't control it properly and let the spell go wild. Then I'll shoot it straight at him.

At this close range, he'll have a hard time dodging. Even if I can't kill him, I'll scare him into collapsing on the ground and making a fool of himself in front of everyone!

The brown-haired boy only wanted to vent his anger. He hadn't even considered what would happen to him if Jonathan got hurt!

"Begin."

As soon as Winter finished speaking, the brown-haired boy began gathering the surrounding Dark Element. He was casting Shadow Arrow.

Charles looked worried from his seat.