**Chapter 2: Unveiling Potential**
As Illysha sat before Mage Vale, much like in the past, she didn't exude confidence. Something felt missing. Vale prodded her, "Little girl, why did you stand up?"
His inquiry seemed to trigger something within Vale, and he began to explain, "Ah, I've just discovered your mana heart and your talent. What does it mean? It means your life is about to change right in front of you."
Illysha, however, had a different agenda. "Since this is my second life, I shouldn't waste my time seeking a simple academy admission. It's not enough." She had grander aspirations.
Thinking quickly, Illysha, with the knowledge of magic formulas at her disposal, contemplated how to make the most of her potential. She had limited mana since she hadn't begun to meditate.
"Eto, Mr. Mage," Illysha began with an adorable, childish voice. "There is something I'd like to show you."
Vale, a composed noble mage with similar past experiences, considered the possibilities. He wondered if it might be a letter or some gesture of respect. Illysha denied these assumptions, saying, "Nothing like that, Mr. Mage. What I want to show you is something completely different—magic. What else did you think?" She couldn't help but grin mischievously as she conjured a marble-sized fireball, a basic 1st-class spell, albeit a weaker version of Fireball.
Vale was taken aback. "Fireball?" he stammered, his face mirroring his shock. Illysha was pleased with the effect her demonstration had on the mage. She then created a tear-shaped water ball in her other hand, another weaker version of Aqua Ball. Double casting?
"Ehh...?!" Vale's eyes widened in astonishment. The nearby knights guarding him shared the same reaction. This little girl was using magic without having entered the academy, where mages were common. And she was capable of it during her mana reaction test? This was a historic incident with no precedent.
"I don't know," Vale demanded answers, his face a picture of longing. Illysha met his gaze without flinching, resolute. "It just worked one day."
"What? What kind of preposterous nonsense is this?" Vale was incredulous. He considered the possibility that someone had taught her such skills and decided to use an interrogation spell to verify her claims.
The magic he invoked checked her biological responses, like heart rate and pupil dilation. Vale issued a stern warning, reminding her of the severe consequences of lying. "Think clearly before you answer. Any lies could be seen as treason. You, your family, your neighbors, and friends could all be punished, even executed."
Illysha was well aware of the reality, having experienced it in her past life, but she continued with her falsehood. "There's no reason for me to lie to you, Mr. Mage. Is there something I gain from lying to you?"
She maintained her fabricated story, insisting, "Because I truly did not learn from anyone. The basic invocation of mana and several magic spells, all of it, I realized through self-study when I entered the schools and started studying in the library."
Vale couldn't contain his laughter. "A peerless genius doesn't sound so bad," he mused. Illysha had been certified as a genius during her previous life, reaching the 9th-tier class of mage, a feat humanity had never seen before.
"In this new life," Vale continued, "you could be a legendary existence among geniuses, associated with the first mage."
Vale's laughter grew louder, attracting the attention of those outside the tent. Suspicion surrounded Illysha's story. The issue was that the interrogation magic wasn't working. Could Illysha somehow be intentionally controlling her basic instincts to fool the spell?
That was deemed impossible by Vale, as only children trained as spies could achieve such unresponsiveness. They underwent extreme training, and not all of them survived the harsh environment.
Vale considered only two possible conclusions. Either Illysha was the disciple of a renowned figure known for nefarious deeds, or she possessed the talent of the first mage.
There was a legend every mage had heard at least once. While common folks believed magic had its roots in dragons, demons, or fairies, mages believed it came from the first mage.
Both scenarios seemed beyond imagination. Vale thought, "Please stop this already. Don't force yourself to go further. Don't you know there are important people inside?" He referred to the commotion outside, where squabbles could be heard from the soldier guarding the tent and Sylvia's mother.
Without hesitation, Illysha rushed out of the tent, calling for her mother.