Surviving as a Mage in a Magic Academy

"Professor Garcia, I don't know exactly what I did wrong, but I apologize for any offense caused. Please, calm your anger."

"I'm not angry," came the reply.

Professor Parsellet Krair had offered an apology. Of course, Professor Garcia did not understand why.

"For someone who claims not to be angry, you certainly don't seem upset… Wait, are you truly alright?"

"Yes, I told you I'm fine with it."

Professor Parsellet scanned Yi-Han from top to bottom before turning to ask Professor Garcia.

"Is that boy the one?"

"Yes, that's Yi-Han."

'What's this? Why do I feel an ominous premonition?' Yi-Han wondered, pausing momentarily, worried that the stone divination magic he was attempting might be causing adverse effects.

He remembered there was always a price to pay for seeing the future...

"His mana must be immense indeed," mused Professor Parsellet, lost in thought.

Despite the availability of simpler divination spells—like seeing just one or two seconds into the future—she had deliberately assigned the virtually impossible task of divining a day ahead. There was a reason for this.

It was intended to be a failed endeavor from the start.

For young mages, it was better to fail outright than to succeed imperfectly. After all, seeing the future, even with magical aid, was a perilous act that demanded a price. If that price ended merely in the expenditure of mana, it was fortunate. But success could lead to more dire costs.

Thus...

"Enough of this," said Professor Parsellet, sweeping away the stones in front of Yi-Han with her staff.

The freshman had been audaciously continuing his stone divination, heedless of the price he might have to pay for failure.

"To the first-year student: Just because you can attempt divination magic multiple times, like other spells, doesn't mean you should. Even if the price for failure is relatively small, repeated attempts could lead to unforeseen consequences."

"But Yi-Han seems fine, doesn't he?" asked Gainando, his naive question promptly silenced by Professor Garcia's staff.

There was no point in provoking Professor Parsellet's temper.

"I understand, Professor," Yi-Han acknowledged.

"Remember that," she advised.

And Yi-Han truly did understand.

'Such an unstable magic,' he thought. Divination was arguably the most uncertain and capricious of all magic arts. The farther one tried to see into the future, the greater the price to be paid. The clearer and more precise the vision, the higher the cost. Even failure, if repeated, could escalate the price.

Having great mana didn't mean one should persist in trying.

'I must be more cautious.'

Yi-Han wasn't particularly ambitious about divination magic. While some mages aspired to 'see the end of the world', pursuing visions of the far future, Yi-Han was content knowing just enough to discern whatever trap skull principal might have set. That alone would suffice to call oneself a divination mage.

But Professor Parsellet did not trust him.

"Professor Garcia, we should keep a close watch on that student."

"Why?"

"He knows well enough about his own abundant mana. A student like him, aware of divination magic, will hardly restrain himself. He'll keep attempting it, pouring all his magic into it."

Professor Parsellet was almost certain of it. The thrill of glimpsing the future was incomparably intense.

It was unlikely that a novice mage like him could restrain himself. Continued surveillance was necessary.

"Yi-Han is not such a person," Professor Garcia reassured, waving her hand as if to dismiss the concern. Despite her usually gentle demeanor, her unexpected assertion left Professor Parsellet all the more astonished.

"Really...?"

"Professor Garcia, you know that all the freshmen have empty heads like hollow iron pots..."

"I am aware. But Yi-Han is not one of those students."

"Because he's a genius? You know that in such cases, geniuses are even more dangerous."

If someone lacked talent, they might be safe, but in magic, those with talent were more at risk.

Immersing oneself deeply into the magical quagmire without the ability to protect oneself...

"Yes, but I insist, Yi-Han is not that kind of person."

Professor Garcia was adamant.

Yi-Han's character was such that he would never recklessly endanger himself.

A conviction beyond talent or magical ability!

"...???"

Naturally, for Professor Parsellet, this was all the more perplexing.

'What in the world...?'

As Professor Parsellet struggled to find words, Professor Garcia turned her attention to the students.

Having sufficiently warned them about the dangers of divination magic, it was time to discuss its advantages.

Regardless of its risks, a mage ultimately delves into danger.

If they were to shun interest in magic just because of its dangers, there would be no point in becoming a mage.

"Now, you all must have been quite surprised at how different and unique divination magic is from other types of magic."

The students nodded. Some, who had collapsed on the floor, barely twitched their fingers, victims of failed divination attempts.

"But the magic you attempted today was quite difficult. Not all divination magic is that challenging."

'Shouldn't you start with simpler spells then?'

Yi-Han, who had repeatedly tried a rather difficult spell, listened with a wry expression.

Had it not been for his abundant mana, he might have been lying on the classroom floor like his exhausted peers.

"Starting with finding hidden objects in this classroom, to recalling forgotten or overlooked knowledge, to spotting errors in one's own magic circles, divination magic can be applied in various ways. Even mages specializing in other schools of magic often learn a bit of divination."

Though delving deep into divination magic could be perilous, at a shallow level, it was quite convenient and versatile.

As it aided the mage's brain, it complemented any branch of magic.

"So, those of you interested in divination might consider attending Professor Krair's lectures. But always remember to remain humble before the future."

Despite the initial chaos, Professor Garcia's words seemed persuasive enough that many students decided to take up divination magic.

As the lecture concluded and students began to leave, they chatted about what they could do with divination magic and what they planned to do with it.

"You worked hard, Professor Krair."

"What did I do? It was all Professor Garcia."

At Professor Parsellet's words, Professor Garcia waved her hand dismissively.

"But you're the one teaching them, Professor. I'm just worried that because of me, you might end up with too many students to handle."

It was the kind of remark that would have brought tears to the eyes of Professor Mortum, the Dark Magic Professor.

A privilege reserved for professors who dealt with popular magic!

But Professor Parsellet seemed unconcerned.

"Most of them will just learn the basics and leave anyway."

Unlike other magics, divination had a high dropout rate among students.

It was understandable, given that even a basic proficiency was quite useful, and advancing further increased the risk to one's life.

Accordingly, Professor Parsellet had little interest in seeking apprentices.

It would happen if it was meant to be, based on luck.

"Still, haven't you found any students who seem promising?"

"Finding a genius in divination magic who stands out from the beginning is difficult, unlike other magics, Professor Garcia. Your case is extremely rare," grumbled Professor Parsellet.

While Professor Garcia was known for her fondness for students, Professor Parsellet was indifferent. Showing talent in divination magic as a first-year student was nearly impossible.

Practicing 'relatively' easier divination spells throughout the first year, and even starting serious divination in the second year, rarely revealed any true talent.

First of all, successfully divining (which required intuition and inspiration) was extremely difficult, not to mention interpreting those uncertain futures...

"And that student, Yi-Han. He really is alright? Other professors have shown interest in him. I don't want them coming to me later, demanding I take responsibility."

Professor Parsellet didn't want to risk a favored apprentice secretly practicing divination magic, only to collapse vomiting blood, for which other professors would blame her.

"It's alright, I assure you."

'But I feel uneasy...'

Just then, Yi-Han and his friends walked out. Professor Parsellet listened in, intending to overhear the first-year students' conversation.

"I'm going to train hard to remember the order of the deck I shuffled. So, Yi-Han, you kept throwing stones and trying to divine earlier. Did you see anything?"

Gainando's question made Professor Parsellet shake her head inwardly.

She had just explained, and they had already forgotten.

Such a carefree attitude was not suitable for divination magic.

'I told them several times that if you fail, you see nothing...'

"Well, some brief images did flash by..."

"?!"

Professor Parsellet's eyes widened in shock.

What did he say?

'Wait… It's not the time to scold the first-years...'

She had assumed Yi-Han's divination had failed, but on reflection, Yi-Han had not said a word about failing. Surprisingly, he had succeeded but kept trying!

'The price for success must have been paid...'

Even the faintest, most uncertain glimpse of the future came with a tremendous cost.

And to do it repeatedly, without any sign...

'He's naturally gifted!'

One of the talents for divination magic.

It was the ability to pay the price well.

It might sound like a joke, but in a way, it was the most important talent.

One mage might have to pay with blood after seeing the future, while another might pay with mana—the latter being overwhelmingly advantageous.

This student clearly had the constitution to pay with mana.

'But to pay with mana, an immense amount is needed...'

Professor Parsellet knew Yi-Han had a lot of mana, but she was puzzled.

No matter how much mana one had, to pay the price of success with it, and to repeat it several times...

Was that even possible?

Could it be a first-year's misconception?

It was not uncommon for young mages to mistakenly believe they had seen the future.

The professor listened more intently than before, eager to hear the rest of the conversation.

"What did you see? Tell me!"

"I saw myself cooking roast meat."

"Roast meat...! So, tomorrow's menu is roast meat!"

"It's not certain. Even if we see the future, it can always change, right?"

"No, Yi-Han. We can create our future."

Gainando said, his voice filled with anticipation.

"What are you talking about?"

"Tomorrow's menu is roast meat."

"Roast meat?! I love that! What kind of meat are you using? Could it be lamb?"

"What roast meat?"

"The guys from the Blue Dragon are having roast meat tomorrow."

"Damn it. Those lucky brats."

Professor Parsellet's face scrunched up in annoyance.

It was a crucial moment, yet the other first-year students were babbling about trivial matters.

"What I saw was roast meat made with beef."

"Beef...!"

"Beef would be great!"

"Those kids. Did they come to a magic academy just to eat? You can't become a great mage with a full stomach!"

Despite the jealous remarks of the students from the White Tiger, Professor Parsellet's mind was elsewhere.

Even if one succeeded in divination, the images seen and how they were interpreted varied from mage to mage.

Yet, if there was one important aspect, it was the clarity and specificity of the visions.

The more vivid and detailed the image, the more remarkable the divination.

If he could see the type of meat so clearly...

Professor Parsellet mumbled, her eyes glazed over.

"Beef... beef... beef...!"

"Did you change personalities just now?"

Professor Garcia, who had come up from behind, looked puzzled.