"Attention," I began, my voice steady and commanding. "I will now start the lecture."
The hundreds of people inside the auditorium turned their attention toward me. It was a vast class, the kind of audience size I typically only faced at seminars and international lectures. But to me—no, to Draven Arcanum von Drakhan—this was nothing out of the ordinary.
For Draven, this kind of treatment and attention was natural. It was a privilege, a sense of nobility, an unshakeable belief in his own superiority. This body, with its innate confidence and commanding presence, embraced the spotlight with ease. To Draven, this adulation was a birthright, a manifestation of his obsession with his own greatness, an arrogance bordering on narcissism.
"Nice to meet you," I continued, scanning the room with an imperious gaze, "I am Draven of the Drakhan family."
The room was silent, every eye fixed on me. I could feel the weight of their expectations, their curiosity, and their reverence.
"I'm a senior professor of the magic tower university, and a magician in the "Ethereal" rank."
As I spoke, I could see a ripple of excitement and admiration spread through the audience. The mention of my prestigious rank as a magician only served to bolster their perception of me as a formidable figure, someone to be respected and revered.
"As is known, according to the latest classification from the university, magic is divided into three 'attributes' and nine 'types'. Attributes such as elements, origin, and vessel. Types as in Enhancement, Conjuration, Illusion, Divination, Control, Transmutation, Necromancy, Elementalism, and Specialized,"
My explanation, my tone, and my attitude are similar to how I teach lectures in my former world. But it's fun, because this subject is particularly interesting for me that had just entered this world.
"Just like warriors selecting their suitable weapons, magicians can only achieve greatness if they choose the right type and work on their innate attributes," I declared, punctuating my words with a flick of my fingers, producing a refreshing tack! sound.
The auditorium plunged into darkness, the only illumination coming from the glowing magic circles that appeared out of thin air. The symbols danced and shimmered, casting intricate patterns of light across the room.
"There are three methods of invoking magic. First is incantations, second is the use of runes and artifacts, third is the use of magic circles."
"These magic circles represent the essence of our discussion today," I continued, my voice resonating through the chamber. "They are the key to unlocking the potential within each of you, the gateway to mastering the arcane arts."
With a wave of my hand, I directed the magic circles to hover above the heads of the students, each one tailored to their unique magical affinities. The air crackled with energy, anticipation hanging heavy in the room.
At first glance, the circles appeared to be mere geometrical shapes, with lines and curves etched within them. But upon closer inspection, one would notice intricate patterns inscribed within each circle, pulsing with a faint, ethereal glow. These magic circles weren't just random patterns; they were carefully crafted to resonate with the certain magic it was designed for.
"This 56-stroke magic circle is formed by curves and lines that project mana starting from the center," I explained, gesturing towards one of the circles. "Within it, the strokes of elementalism are followed by lines of conjuration, and at the outer circles, lines of control. It's a perfect magic circle used to create a proper and detailed engineering of a [Fireball]."
As I spoke, the magic circle shimmered with a dark blue light and conjured a fireball, sending it hurtling toward me. The students gasped in surprise, but I remained calm, knowing full well that it was not an error in my calculations.
With a whoosh, the fireball diminished right in front of my face, eliciting awe-filled murmurs from the students.
"With a properly engineered magic circle, you can use them specifically, wisely, and most importantly, calculatively," I stated firmly. "Today's class will cover the first material of our lecture: Introduction to Arcane Theory—Magic and Mana."
I continued for 15 minutes, my words flowing smoothly without any halts or hesitations, as if I had been researching magic for years. It felt surreal, but with each passing moment, I could feel my understanding of magic becoming more ingrained in my mind, the concepts becoming second nature to me.
The attendees of this first-class varied widely, including general students, squires, knights, aspiring magicians, and even those who were not magically inclined. Therefore, I ensured that the lecture was understandable to all, regardless of their background.
As I wrapped up the initial portion of the lecture, I addressed some commonly asked questions. "Does mana always lead to magic? How do we use magic? Do we need to create magic circles every time we wish to use our magic?"
"No," I answered confidently. "It depends on how you utilize mana itself. Knights often use their mana for reinforcement, enhancing their physical abilities. Some talented individuals are capable of projecting elemental magic in their fighting arts. They infuse their mana into their bodies and manipulate it as if it were an extension of themselves."
"But for magicians. Most magicians use either incantations or magic circles. But do we always need to form magic circles? No. Magicians use their 'stored mana' in their bodies and infuse them into their head. Their head that is projecting the magic circles inside their head infuse them internally and the magic was projected,"
With another flick of my hand, a holographic image of human anatomy materialized before the class. Blue particles hovered over the head, heart, and abdomen as I began my explanation.
"The abdomen serves as the storage center for your mana, while the heart aids in distributing mana throughout your body, along with oxygen and blood. The mind is responsible for controlling your mana. It's easier to develop and execute complex magical techniques when you visualize them in your mind's eye, so many practitioners 'engrave' them within their consciousness."
As I glanced at the clock, I realized that 40 minutes had already passed since the start of the lecture. "In conclusion, while effort is undoubtedly important, talent plays an equally—if not more—crucial role in mastering magic. It's futile to expect a fish to climb a tree, so choose your path wisely."
Internally, I couldn't help but chuckle at the irony of my words, knowing that they held a double meaning for the original Draven. However, I pushed aside any discomfort and focused on the task at hand.
A painful twist appeared in my stomach, as it seemed that the internal Draven realized that those words were perfect advice and sarcasm for him.
But I wonder.
Is there any question session in the class?
Would the original Draven ask for any questions from the class?
How ridiculous. This is now my body.
I should do whatever I want to.
"Any questions?" I asked, opening the floor to the audience.
There was only silence.
Good.
"If not, then let's conclude-"
Suddenly, someone raised a hand. Then she got up from her seat. A girl with her robe's hood covering her head.
___
"The abdomen serves as the storage center for your mana, while the heart aids in distributing mana throughout your body, along with oxygen and blood. The mind is responsible for controlling your mana. It's easier to develop and execute complex magical techniques when you visualize them in your mind's eye, so many practitioners 'engrave' them within their consciousness." Draven perfectly explained his materials.
Observing the scene before her, Amberine couldn't help but snort in derision. The sight of the man attempting to project false intellect amused her, even as she silently criticized him.
(Even idiots know about the use of abdomen, heart, and head for mana)
Despite her cursing, her hands are writing diligently in her notebooks without missing a single thing.
"In conclusion, while effort is undoubtedly important, talent plays an equally—if not more—crucial role in mastering magic. It's futile to expect a fish to climb a tree, so choose your path wisely." Draven continued.
(Hmph! As if you have any talent yourself. I know the pathetic truth that you're just a false genius) (Amberine)
"Any questions?" The professor asked.
Questions?
The word question interests Amberine a lot.
Should I ask the question now and embarrass him?
At that moment, Amberine's heart beats faster than ever.
The thought of having her sworn enemy embarrassed in front of lots of people excites her too much.
"If not, then let's conclude-" Draven began, but before he could finish his sentence, Amberine rose abruptly from her seat.
"Professor, I have a question,"