Chapter 15
This is a fictional story by realTensai
Alvis' eyes were glued on the blue hologram presentation as he absorbed everything his teacher said. He didn't want to miss anything, because his knowledge about mana wasn't sufficient.
He knew more about mana than ninety percent of humans because he built mana items, and also because he did some research about his curse. Yet with him being a mage now, it was plainly obvious that his lack of knowledge was immense.
That was why he selected some mana classes for his third school year, even though he was human. Right now, he was in his spell formula class.
"Yo, Alvis. What are you doing in this class?"
Joel's whisper triggered Alvis' brow to twitch. However, he kept staring at the presentation, acting as if he had heard nothing.
"Hey, hey, Alvis. What are you doing in this class?"
Alvis clicked his tongue, his gaze still on the presentation.
"I already heard you the first time."
"Then why didn't you answer?"
"Because I've already told you in the first lesson."
"Really?" Joel said, his tail wiggling as he furrowed his eyebrows in consideration. "I forgot. Tell me again."
"It's not my problem if you forgot."
"Dude, what's wrong with you? Just tell me!"
Man, is he annoying.
"Joel, Alvis, is there something you want to share with the class?"
Mr. Tonnek stopped his presentation, his fierce gaze piercing through Alvis and Joel. It was because he was a dwarf and also old that his eyes carried even more intensity. An icy shudder coursed down Alvis' back, his mind already creating plans to torture this dog man. However, he just forced his lips up and answered.
"Everything is okay. Please continue your lesson."
He just shook his head and went on with his presentation.
"Damn, that was close."
"This is a spell formula class, and I'm an inventor who creates mana items. The reason I'm sitting here is that I have to learn more about mana so I can create better items. Got it?" Alvis whispered, his lips barely moving. But Joel's dog ears heard him just well. "So just shut up now, okay?"
Joel nodded, and Alvis could finally return his attention to the class. He had told the same lie to the rest of the class, so he didn't have to worry about gaining unwanted attention. And also he would never tell anyone about his secret mana core. If he wanted to use his new mana core to the fullest, learning as much as possible about mana was the only way.
And this was what he did right now, learning as much as possible.
Mana and spell-casting were such wide and complex topics that Alvis had to do his best to at least get the basics down. He knew that his ability to use his mana would eventually decide if he lived or died. It was obvious that his system would throw him into several life-or-death situations.
Already looking forward to that.
Right now, Mr. Tonnek talked about the different mana types. This was a field Alvis had already read into and at least thought he understood.
He looked down at his notes to refresh his mind. There were six different types of mana: water, earth, fire, air, shadow, and light. One would have to use one of them if one wanted to cast a spell. The teacher also mentioned that everyone with mana could theoretically manipulate every type of those six. Yet every mana core had one, in some cases even more than one, they could manipulate better. This they also specialized in because it was just simpler and more effective.
Alvis stared at his solar plexus, the mana within him pulsating.
What affinity do I have?
The first time he had cast magic, he created fire. So maybe his affinity was fire?
Hah, sounds cool enough!
The teacher only mentioned mana types because he wanted to go over the different incantations used for the different types. It gradually became more complex and Alvis' head started steaming. His knowledge about mana was on the same level as that of a five-grader. Sitting in a third-year high school mana class demanded everything from him.
Yet one thing the teacher said forced Alvis to lay his pen down, which he had used to write everything down like a madman. He had to ask if it was true. After raising his hand and waiting for the teacher to notice him, he spoke up.
"So if I got that right, one has to use incantations to create a spell?"
The teacher just nodded.
"What about silent spell casting, then? Isn't that possible?"
"No, it is impossible."
Alvis didn't expect this answer. He had thought that silent spell casting was difficult but still possible. No, he knew it was possible. After all, he had done it multiple times. The first time he used his mana to create a fire, Alvis had not used an incantation. So the teacher must be wrong.
As Alvis wondered what the teacher was talking about, he continued elaborating on his position.
"Incantations are the trigger to activate a spell. Through uttering an incantation, one creates the effect without having to focus on its shape and composition. All one has to do is have a basic understanding of the spell, imagine it, and then use enough mana to create it."
This much Alvis already knew. Since awakening his class as a mage, Alvis started learning simple spells. While doing so, he found out what his teacher had just said.
"So without an incantation, all the before-mentioned steps fall away. But one still has to do everything if one wants to create a spell. Without an incantation, one would have to know every detail of the spell. Its form, composition, shape, volume, its effects. You would have to think of all of those things while still having to focus on your mana flow and the correct amount of mana you have to set free. This is just too much for a brain to handle at once, so it isn't possible."
Alvis gulped as he heard all the things his teacher had just mentioned. Even he knew how impressive this would be. However, that didn't change the fact that Alvis could do silent spell-casting. Not only could he create fire without an incantation, but he also could cast most of the simple spells he had learned without an incantation. At first, he needed one, but after casting the spells a few times, it was redundant.
Am I a genius?
Alvis genuinely thought about this possibility, though the teacher continued explaining the exceptions.
"There are just a few exceptions. But they are so rare that I would not change my position."
Alvis leaned forward in his seat, his ears waiting for the revelation.
"I am talking about demi-humans."
Demi-humans? Like Dane? Dane is a genius?
"More precisely, demi-humans who inherit a mana core from one parent and the human brain from the other."
Oh, so not Dane.
"Only the human brain would be capable of silent spell casting. Their brain is the only one that can handle all this information at once. In the history of the human species, all they could depend on was their brain. Without mana, they were at a severe disadvantage to the other races, but the only reason they survived was because of their brain. With their genius brains, they found ways to keep up with the supernatural power of mana, discovering the strength of science way before the other races. And through evolution, their brains only got better."
Alvis' eyes sparkled, his body trembling with anticipation.
"So demi-humans who got the mana of one parent and the brain of the human parent are the only ones capable of silent spell-casting. They are also by far the mages with the biggest potential. Not only because of the silent spell-casting but also because of their genius brains with which they can manipulate mana in ways we other races can not even comprehend. However, those types of demi-humans are rare, so do not worry. In more than 99% of the cases, the demi-human either gets the mana and the brain of the other species or no mana and the human brain. This is so because mana and the brain are connected and inheriting one from one parent and the other from the other is not possible. Those who do are anomalies and the product of mutation."
Mr. Tonnek finished his explanation and went on with other topics, yet Alvis' mind couldn't leave the topic. Alvis just found out something huge. Something that would change everything!
His heart raced, adrenaline rushing through his entire tingling body. He couldn't stop smiling.
Alvis was a human, so he had a human brain. But Alvis also had mana, which he could use. This made him the same as those special demi-humans his teacher had mentioned.
In other words, Alvis could do silent spell-casting.
But not only that. He could manipulate mana in ways the other races couldn't even comprehend.
I can become op!
Alvis clenched his fists, the urge to do joyful dances here on the spot feeling unsuppressible. He felt like a ten-year-old who just found a glitch in his favorite video game and would exploit it to the fullest.
——
As class ended, Alvis left the room, still thinking about his potential. He was set on learning as many spells as humanly possible, pun totally intended.
Being lost in thought, Alvis wandered around the school grounds. He didn't really have a destination, because classes were already over, but he still had to wait till he could go to Mr. Zweistein's lab.
Alvis still hasn't met his mentor yet. Even though more than one week had passed, R-18 was still the one who was teaching him. R-18 was the robot solely created to teach Alvis.
If he thought about it like that, it was impressive. Mr. Zweistein created a robot just so he wouldn't have to teach Alvis himself. However, the really impressive part about this was that R-18 was the perfect mentor.
He taught Alvis a lot of new things and even helped Alvis improve his inventions. In only one week, Alvis had already benefited so much. He couldn't even imagine how good of an inventor Mr. Zweistein had to be.
It was when Alvis thought about this that the high voices of girls reached his ears. As he turned his head, he noticed three girls arguing. Alvis was already near Mr. Zweistein's lab, so he wondered what the girls were doing there.
One girl was a human and the other an elf, and both of them were upperclassmen. However, Alvis' eyes widened as he saw the girl they were arguing with. The tiny black horns on her head were her distinguishing features. It was his classmate, Nero, and she was a demon.
The two girls' backs faced Alvis, making it impossible for them to notice him. They kept arguing and even though Alvis didn't know what they were talking about, one didn't have to be a genius to notice how the two of them bullied Nero.
He just heard them shouting and cursing while Nero stood there, buckling down her hands on her head as a sort of protection. Nero wasn't known for being an extrovert, so seeing her like this wasn't out of character.
So what should I do?
He stroked his nonexistent beard, pondering. Alvis had seen the scene and now couldn't just walk by.
Or could I?
He just shook his head.
Even I wouldn't be so heartless.
Also, he saw Nero looking up for a second, so she might have seen him. If that was the case, he couldn't walk away all the more. He knew Nero wouldn't expose him before the class for not helping her, yet meeting her the next day would be pretty awkward.
After weighing up the pros and cons, Alvis decided what to do.
Well then, let's do it.
"You filthy demon, if I see you talking to Trez one more time, I will…"
"Oh my, if I were you, I wouldn't say such things. You know how Mr. Woltzer would react if he found out about this."
The two girls' eyes widened in horror as they saw Alvis. Just like he had expected, they hadn't noticed him before, so his interference caught them off guard.
"I thought no students would be in this area?" the elven girl said, shouting at her friend.
Too bad I chose Mr. Zweistein as my mentor.
"Tzz, another demon. What do you want?" the human girl said.
However, before Alvis could even speak up, the elf girl stopped her friend.
"We should stop. You don't want Mr. Woltzer hearing about this!"
It was the right decision to mention Mr. Woltzer.
The human girl clicked her tongue and then gave Nero one last warning glare before leaving with the other girl.
Alvis exhaled deeply, surprised that he actually helped her. He wasn't someone who went around saving people, after all. He had enough problems to deal with on his own.
Wait, I just saved a girl. Does that mean I completed my level?
Within a second, Alvis opened up the blue box, looking for some unread notifications or changes. However, nothing changed, leaving Alvis behind disappointed.
"E-Ehm... thank you, Alvis."
Nero's high-pitched voice brought him out of his daze. Alvis looked at her, having almost forgotten that he just helped her. He scratched his head, being a bit overwhelmed.
"Eh… yes, no problem."
He looked at Nero, who was still shaking. She didn't look at the ground anymore, so Alvis could see her red eyes and her two little black horns at her head perfectly. Nero was a head shorter than him and had a slender build, so he had to look down at her. Nero looked him into his eyes, but then nervously averted her gaze. Only then did Alvis notice he had been staring at her.
Fuck, I'm fucking awkward!
"Er, I will go to my mentor now. Take care."
Alvis just wanted to leave, unable to stand this awkwardness any longer, yet Nero spoke up.
"I'm sorry, Alvis."
He stopped in his tracks and faced her again.
"What are you sorry about? It wasn't your fault that they bullied you."
Though Nero just shook her head.
"T-This isn't what I mean."
Alvis tilted his head, question marks flickering in his eyes.
"They called you a demon, even though you are a human. Because of me, they think you are a demon."
Only now did Alvis realize what she was sorry about. However, he only sighed.
"Haha, this is nothing I'm not used to. Because of my white hair, I got called a lot of things, so don't worry."
"B-But they may…"
"You don't have to worry, Nero," Alvis said with a smile, trying to reassure her.
After seeing his smile, she somehow accepted it.
"Fine."
"If everything is good, I will get going now."
Nero nodded, a smile also forming on her face. Seeing that, Alvis' heartbeat suddenly skyrocketed.
"Thank you, Alvis."
Alvis waved his hand and went away, not wanting her to see him blush.
Damn, is she cute!
Her smile, warm and infectious, caught Alvis off guard, striking him just like a surprise attack. It was with this interaction that Alvis thought he may have finally found the girl he had to save.