"You can step down now, Josephine. Okay, I have showed you Rank 1 and 2 spells. I will now demonstrate the Rank 3 spell, Floating Weapon."
With that, the light coming out from Fatima's body stopped completely, and without any motions whatsoever, something sprung out of thin air. Like before, it was composed of something similar to translucent light, but it was getting bigger, and increasingly more opaque, until nothing but a pointy yellow cone stood floating besides her.
"Magic spells usually follow a simple order of mastery. What you see is the first form of the spell, something one can achieve after practicing enough Mana Materialization and Mana Field. Of course, the reason why it's a Rank 3 spell and not Rank 2 is because you can only move mana at Rank 3, by definition. The immobile version is a Rank 2 spell called Mana Weapon."
She moved the cone around her head as she explained, changing its speed randomly throughout. She then stopped its movement and changed the shape of the cone, making it longer and thinner, looking like a pike (spear).
"This is the Apprentice level of mastery, where you can change its shape proficiently." She said as the spear became a floating shield, a bow and a shortsword. "This is the level you have to reach to be considered a Rank 3 Official Mage."
"The next level of mastery is called Adept, and you reach it when you can summon several floating weapons and control them proficiently."
The Coordinator then created dozens of flying yellow swords, and made them fly all around the auditorium, before returning and swirling around her body.
"The Floating Weapon spell has an even more advanced version, which some mages call the Expert mastery level, while others consider it a whole new spell, due to its higher Rank requirements. It is reached when you can transform the material of the weapon to something sturdier, like so."
In the next moment, a quiet click resounded, and every single flying sword became metallic. Or perhaps, as she explained, had become iron itself. It was an astonishing experience. She just made metal out of thin air!
With a 'whoosh', the swords made one circle around the auditorium and returned to their master, becoming yellow flashes and returning to nothing.
"Now, I have shown you spells of three different Ranks, as well as four different mastery levels. What do you predict would happen if I pitched a Rank 3 spell of Novice mastery against a Rank 1 spell at Expert mastery? Which one would win?"
Everyone pondered at the question. It had appeared to me like the Ranks made a lot more difference than masteries, but could her novice Floating Weapon truly penetrate through an expert Mana Push?
"The Rank 3 should win right?" Someone whispered.
"C-could it be a tie?" A girl gathered her courage and asked out loud. She might have had the same thoughts I had.
Fatima answered:
"No. The only correct answer to this question is 'depends on the context'. Let me ask you something else. If a Rank 3 mage were to fight against a Rank 2 mage, who would win?"
Everyone kept silent this time.
"...right. It depends on the context. A Rank 2 mage could kill a Rank 4 mage if the latter was caught by surprise. Or maybe even a Rank 5 with enough preparation. It also depends on the mages especifically. For instance, a Rank 3 mage who has not managed to get to Rank 4 for 100 years could very well have a combat ability comparable to a Rank 4, or even a Rank 5. A young Rank 3 genius could defeat a whole squadron of Rank 4s by himself if he fought strategically. The same works the other way around. Don't look down on mages that are ranked lower than you, for they may be stronger than you'd think. Magic is not linear. You would do well to remember that."
She paused for a second and climbed up the stairs through the middle corridor, looking at every student in the eyes as she passed. I unconsciously gulped dry.
"This logic also applies to spells. Every spell has a weakness and a strength, and their strength depends a lot on the mage and on the context of the battle." She reached the top, then began going back down. "Thoughout your time at the Academy, you will go through several different battle scenarios, all in order to firmly shake off your pride and prejudice, to break your misconceptions and rebuild them anew."
Fatima climbed up the stage with an effortless, casual jump.
"You must always keep in mind to be humble. 'Those who walk with their heads held high fail to see the path they are walking by'. That is the way of the mages. Any questions so far?"
Suddenly, a question came over here, and I splurted it before I could control it.
"Professor, you said we wouldn't, uh, be able to change the color of our mana, so how are we going to practice it?"
"Good question, Leaf. Indeed, you won't be able to see your mana, but you shall be able to feel it." She smiled. "I was just going to get to it. I will now tell you about how to get to Rank 1, so listen well."