Alex sought further clarification, realizing the implications of his newfound knowledge. "So, essentially, when I use magic, like casting a spell, its residue sticks to me and scatters in the surroundings?"
Aurora nodded in confirmation.
He continued, "Are there many artifacts that can check for something like this? Are they common?"
Aurora replied, "These types of artifacts are not common and are challenging to find. Moreover, they tend to be quite expensive."
She didn't add, but she silently contemplated, 'More importantly, the design of the artifact that the pink-haired girl possessed is not just rare; spotting one is an achievement in itself, considering its intended purpose is something entirely different...'
Relieved that he wouldn't be discovered in the same manner, Alex sighed, 'Ah, and here I thought I would be found out soon by someone else the same way.'
He then raised another concern, "So, every time I use magic, there will be evidence of it?"
Aurora explained, "Yes, not just when you use magic, but if you get hit by someone else's magic, traces are left behind."
Alex contemplated whether he could use being hit by magic as an excuse, but Aurora quickly dispelled that notion, "You can't, because the mana lingering on your body is highly dense and pure. As your mana capacity increases, the traces, although faint, become more prominent."
'I finally am able to use magic. I don't want to just keep on hiding like this.' Frustration and disappointment welled up in Alex.
Feeling cornered, Alex asked if there was a way to conceal the evidence. "Is there a way to hide it, like a spell or something?"
Aurora responded, "I'm not aware of any spells, but you can use an artifact to conceal it. However, those are also rare. Alternatively, you can attempt to control your mana to hide it yourself, but that requires extremely high and precise control over magic. It takes years of practice, even for those with high talent."
Alex contemplated his options, realizing the limitations. "So, I can't practice magic at the academy anymore?"
Aurora suggested, "You can consider renting a magic training room outside. I've heard students talk about such places."
Alex was concerned about the cost, saying, "I guess I can, but that will be very expensive, and it still doesn't solve this problem."
"Right now, let's hope that only that girl knows about this, and no one else." Aurora advised.
"I forgot that she could tell someone. Aurora, can you please go and monitor her? Check if she tells someone about this, please."
Aurora hesitated and then began acting like a child. "Ahh, I can, but I don't want to. I don't want to spy on someone like this; it's boring."
Alex urged her, "Can you please just do this once for me? And what about not spying on someone? I've noticed you watching me when I sleep."
Aurora blushed and looked away, "That's different; it's not the same thing."
Alex chuckled, "Alright, fine. I'll figure something out myself then."
"I'll do it for you, but you'll have to do something for me in return." Aurora said, mischief lacing her tone.
"Alright, if it's something I can help with, I will, and thank you."
As she was leaving, Aurora inquired, "Thank you for what? I'll be expecting payment for it, even if you don't thank me."
Alex explained, "When Sherry almost revealed my secret, I completely froze, but your voice brought me back and helped me. I couldn't have come this far without your assistance. You've helped me a lot until now."
Aurora placed her hand on her hips and puffed out her chest in pride. "Hmph, you should already know how helpful I am. Anyway, I did it because we're friends now. Don't mention it anymore."
Although she didn't show it, she enjoyed being praised, especially when it came from Alex.
After Aurora left to spy on Sherry, Alex found himself alone in the empty medical room. With nothing else to do, he decided to open the system and check for any new information or updates.
Unexpectedly, without any specific action on his part, the system issued two quests.
Alex was intrigued by this sudden development and decided to check out the two quests.
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[Main Quest]
[Quest: Hunt Monsters]
[Description: Kill 15 E rank monsters]
[Time Limit: 30 days]
[Reward: 1000 XP and 25 SP]
[Penalty: System shop will freeze for a month]
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[Side Quest]
[Quest: Increase Spell Mastery]
[Description: Increase the spell mastery of any three spells to D rank]
[Time Limit: 15 days]
[Reward: 500 XP and 10 SP]
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Alex was taken aback by the sudden appearance of two quests, and he couldn't help but feel that they had come at the worst possible time.
'I might be able to manage the side quest, but the main quest is practically impossible.' He cried inwardly.
The side quest seemed relatively easy, with a reasonable time limit, but the challenge lay in finding a place to practice his spells now that he had no suitable location.
He had already elevated the rank of his spell
His dormitory's back area was no longer an option, and he couldn't access the academy's training rooms designed for magic faculty students.
Renting a practice space outside was an option, but it would come at a cost, and the money he had earned from his previous adventure would only cover a few hours.
The main quest, on the other hand, appeared to be an outrageous challenge. He struggled to defeat a single E-rank monster without sustaining injuries, and now he was tasked with taking down more than a dozen of them.
While he had managed to burn the Monster Wolf to death on a lucky occasion, the future remained uncertain. One mistake could prove fatal.
Even if Alex considered abandoning the main quest, the penalties were too severe to bear. He couldn't fathom the system shop being inaccessible for an entire month, especially given the tantalizing items he had seen in it.
Today seemed to be a string of unfortunate events, starting with his defeat against Marcus, nearly being exposed by Sherry, and now these quests from the system.
◆ ◇ ◆ ◇ ◆ ◇ ◆ ◇ ◆
On the other hand, Aurora was on the hunt for the pink-haired girl and eventually found her lab.
"Let's uncover any additional secrets you might be hiding." she whispered to herself.