As Grace spoke, the already uneasy atmosphere became increasingly tense.
Whether she knew it or not, Grace continued to taunt them.
"I, Grace Mayern, directly challenge you to a magical duel! Don't you dare chicken out and run away!"
With Grace's provocative words, the atmosphere turned even worse. Although it was a personal matter between us, to the Rodren students who didn't know about the previous incident, it probably looked like we were just picking a fight.
"What's wrong with her?"
"Does she really want to try this?"
The Rodren students taunted Grace with sarcastic remarks, and the Mirkko students were visibly tense.
Even Keshurn seemed unsure of what to do, as he anxiously paced around.
"Keshurn is a weak-hearted character. Anyway, I should handle Grace first."
Amidst the escalating tension, I nodded my head.
"If you want a duel, I accept."
"Huh! Are you scared? I guess you have no choice. You, a mere novice magician, dared to approach Grace Mayern. Regret it now, as you'll turn into ashes before my 'Dawn's Roar'!"
I almost forgot, but that guy's staff was a named item. I never understood how he became its owner, even in the game, but one thing was certain: it was an item far too good for him.
"But that's not the point here. Fighting here would be against the rules."
Fortunately, there were many people around, so there was enough evidence to justify our actions.
Even if I were to attack right after he raised his staff, it would be considered self-defense.
Wooong.
As the sound that indicated his magic was about to manifest spread, I drew my sword.
When Grace saw me draw the sword, she shouted, "You scoundrel! I clearly challenged you to a 'magical' duel! How dare you draw a sword in a sacred magical duel?"
"When did I say I wouldn't use magic? This sword is my magical instrument."
"What did you say?"
Fwoosh!
Galakshur was engulfed in flames.
The onlookers' eyes widened in astonishment as they witnessed the unexpected turn of events.
"What's that?"
Amidst the astonished reactions, the opponent's magic was finally complete.
I slashed Grace's flame magic with my sword.
Now, even Keshurn, who was present, was looking at me with a perplexed expression.
"Wow, that was impressive! You truly are the legendary mage! Can I witness it again?"
"Yes."
After all, I joined this event because I wanted to befriend Keshurn, so I would do anything to make that happen.
Fwoosh.
Before I knew it, the people gathered at the reception were now focused on the display of my new form of magic.
Not just the students from the Mirkko Academy, but also the knight academy students showed interest in me, thanks to my use of a sword.
"Can this be used in real combat?"
"It's fascinating! The color of the magic changes according to the color of Aurora's hair! I want to study this principle."
"Isn't it inconvenient to wield a sword while calculating magic at the same time? It must be challenging."
Rodren's students and Mirkko's students admired my fusion magic, each offering their opinions and discussing among themselves.
"I guess they're the top students, so they can discuss things rationally even when they're wary of each other."
As expected, creating a lively atmosphere required some metagaming.
Wait, I didn't meta-play.
I joined this event in the first place because I wanted to befriend them, so I should let them know everything they want to know.
Whoever wanted anything from me could ask away, and I would do my best to accommodate their requests.
Wooong.
Meanwhile, everyone seemed to have forgotten about Grace, and they were now more interested in witnessing my fusion magic.
However, I still saw Grace lying on the ground, feigning unconsciousness.
I hope this experience humbles her a bit.
While the Academy staff and teachers were absent, the incident involving Grace and me in the "magical" duel quietly passed by.
After the series of events, the atmosphere lightened, and everyone except Grace enjoyed the interchange meeting.
Whiiiing.
"Now, this is the 'Rotation.'"
I was attending a lecture about magical circles related to the Academy's magic department.
Today, for the second day of the interchange meeting, only students proficient in magic were allowed to participate.
The professor demonstrated a magical circle, and a round sphere floated around it, surrounded by smaller spheres orbiting it.
Although the setting was medieval, the magical circle implied that the planet was round and that it had discovered both rotation and revolution.
"The essential part is incorporating the reverse spell into the rotation spell, which is near 60 degrees. Of course, it won't be easy, but be careful not to disperse the mana too much."
Mirkko's students, including Rodren's, listened attentively to the lecture but couldn't hide their interest in the other students.
Among them, the most attention was naturally given to Diene Alben, the prestigious mage and last year's tournament champion.
Just those two titles were enough to dwarf any other students.
The interest in me on the first day seemed to have faded like a firefly before the sun, and I noticed that she maintained a composed expression, seemingly indifferent to the gazes.
Well, it's understandable. I've never revealed my character's personality to them.
"Okay, let's try it together."
As the professor spoke, he handed us a piece of paper.
Based on the spells he showed us in the lecture, we were supposed to freely create a magical circle. I wasn't sure what to do.
"Rotation and reverse spells, huh?"
I sneaked a peek at Diene. She was already drawing something without hesitation.
Next to go was Keshurn. Unlike Diene, he seemed to be struggling, pondering over what to create.
"Wait a moment. Can't I give them some inspiration?"
I might not have talent in real magic, but I was a master in gathering various magical circles from my gaming experiences.
Of course, drawing a magical circle in reality was different from just clicking in the game, but I was well-versed in the ideas and varieties.
"There were plenty of magical circles that used only rotation or only reverse... Which ones also used both?"
Thinking about it, it seemed a bit challenging.
"Uh, this is a bit difficult."
Well, I could always try and fail. It was just a lecture, not an evaluation.
After a while, I started drawing the magical circle, slowly and carefully.
Time passed, and suddenly, excited cheers erupted from the students.
"Wow!"
"Diene Alben is just amazing! Is this something a student can do?"
In front of Diene, a piece of paper handed out by the professor was floating in the air.
Not only that, but the paper seemed to be soaked with water-related spells. Water droplets fell from the paper as if it were raining, but then, at a certain point, the droplets defied gravity and rose back up.
The droplets were colored and formed beautiful shapes, as if they were endless shooting stars.
"It's typical of Diene's magical circle."
Amid the awe-inspiring reactions, Diene looked at her work, and then suddenly, she turned her gaze to me.
As if she was saying, "Even my nose can't get any higher," she seemed to have a smug expression.
"Diene's magic circle is just as expected."
The applause grew louder for her, while I could also hear the sound of water droplets splashing.
Diene's excellent performance set the standard, and other students started completing their magical circles one by one.
When it was Keshurn's turn, he said, "I made my magical circle a bit larger. If the paper were a bit bigger, I could have made it even more perfect."
The reaction to Keshurn's performance was lukewarm, except from Mirkko's Academy students, who were eagerly anticipating it.
I was also curious to see what kind of magical circle Keshurn had created.
Hmm.
As mana was infused, the intricately inscribed magic circle began to emit light.
At the same time, the surrounding scenery slowly started to change.
"This is insane...."
The astonishment of someone flowed through the air, even the professor in charge of the lecture was gaping in surprise at what Keshurn was creating.
"A maze created using the combination of rotation and reversal. It's relatively simple, so there shouldn't be any problem in escaping."
Experiencing it firsthand, there was nothing else to say but that it was crazy.
Just a small piece of paper, and it didn't even take much time, yet Keshurn created such an illusionary magic.
"As expected, amazing."
Even Diene, the best of the best, looked around with admiration.
Her magic circle, compared to this maze, seemed quite insignificant.
Of course, when it came to direct combat abilities, she might be superior to Keshurn, but each of them excelled in different areas.
"Thinking about it, Diene is sort of a middle ground among geniuses. In terms of combat abilities, Lucia, who treated the plague, is overwhelmingly superior, and when it comes to auxiliary magic and magic circles, Keshurn can do it all alone."
But Diene had her own strengths: magic related to space and time.
Of course, the magic she would eventually showcase after much growth would probably surpass both Lucia and Keshurn.
In this way, we admired Keshurn's illusionary magic circle and followed his guidance to escape from the maze.
Once we escaped from the magic, we were back in the perfectly normal classroom, but it felt like being possessed by a ghost.
Perhaps it was because of the overwhelming difference in talent.
After that, other students showcased their magic circles, but they seemed unremarkable, and they themselves couldn't raise their heads in embarrassment.
Unfortunately, Keshurn's turn was followed by mine.
"I, Adrius Cromwell, a student, will show the magic circle I made."
It was almost the last turn, so numerous gazes were fixed on me.
I awkwardly touched my nose and infused mana into the magic circle.
"A flower?"
It was a single flower.
A bud that hadn't even blossomed yet.
A very ordinary magic that appeared to be nothing special.
Unexpectedly, everyone stared at my magic with their heads tilted.
The fresh flower bud hovered slightly on the magic circle, merely existing without blooming.
"Hmm. Adrius, I asked you to include the rotation and reversal spells in your work, but I can't see them here. Can you explain?"
I nodded my head and prepared to speak.
"Oh."
As if something had possessed him, Keshurn approached my flower.
Then, he sent me a trembling gaze.