Next to the corridor on the first floor of the main building, a series of identical classrooms stretched out like boxes in a row. In each one, the same figure, a black-robed Ms. Amisha, presided over her class.
As Lyra entered the room, she half-expected the usual lecture: the dean reciting dry theories from the textbook, quoting ancient spellcasters and dusty grimoires. But that didn't happen. Instead, Ms. Amisha broke the silence with a command.
"Alright, read the first chapter of 'What Is Magic' on your own. If there's anything you don't understand, mark it. Once you're done, ask me questions, and I'll address them one by one."
With that, Ms. Amisha settled into her chair, crossing her legs and shifting to find a comfortable position. Lyra watched as the teacher twisted her hips slightly, adjusting herself, and thought it odd for a moment; there was no lecture, no introduction. The students were simply instructed to read.
Lyra wasn't bothered. She had already skimmed through the first chapter earlier and had noted a few questions of her own. She had a photographic memory and remembered everything she read, so there was no need for her to go over the material again. Instead, she let her eyes wander around the room, observing her classmates, some of whom seemed engrossed, their brows furrowed as they read and re-read the text.
Half an hour passed. Most of the young witches had flipped through the first chapter multiple times, a few even sneaking glances at the chapters ahead out of curiosity. Ms. Amisha, sensing the moment was right, clapped her hands. "Okay, if there's something you don't understand, go ahead and ask."
For a moment, silence filled the room. The little witches hesitated, mentally sorting through their thoughts, unsure of which question to begin with. But Lyra didn't hesitate. Her hand shot up.
"Lyra! Go ahead," Ms. Amisha called her name, leaning back in her chair.
Without even glancing at her book, Lyra asked, "What exactly does 'magic tolerance' mean, as mentioned in the second paragraph of the first chapter?"
Ms. Amisha's eyes brightened, as if pleased with the challenge. "The power of angels, demons, witches, human mages, the free elemental forces in nature; all these energies manifest differently. But magic power is unique; it is not just another form of energy. It's the source of all energy itself. It possesses the attributes of all other energies, can accept and integrate any of them, and even substitute for any. To have magic power is to wield the essence of all energies. This adaptability is what we call the 'tolerance' of magic."
She paused, ensuring her words sank in before continuing, "Among all energies, only magic power and the energy we call 'mana' possess this quality of tolerance. The rest are exclusive."
"Think about it," she said, leaning forward slightly, "angels cannot wield dark magic, demons cannot use holy magic, and human mages are limited to a few types. Elves are bound to nature and plant magic, while mermaids control water and ice magic. Their energies aren't inclusive enough."
Lyra's eyes lit up as the explanation made sense. "So, the reason witches have such diverse magical talents is because magic power has high tolerance?"
"Exactly," Ms. Amisha confirmed with a nod.
"But," Lyra pressed on, "if both magic power and mana have tolerance, why is there a limit to witches' talents?"
Ms. Amisha smirked, a knowing glint in her eyes. "Ah, because mana, while adaptable, is far less potent than true magic power. Tolerance allows witches to cast a variety of spells, but the strength of those spells, their ultimate power; is determined by the energy itself. Witches may have broad capabilities, but only a select few forms of magic are particularly strong for them."
She continued, "The only witches who possess immense power in all categories are those who reach the highest ranks. For most, their magic falls below the levels of angels or demons. It's not a question of inclusivity; it's about the raw power behind it."
Lyra, her curiosity unquenched, asked, "So, is power more important than tolerance?"
"Indeed," Ms. Amisha replied, her eyes narrowing playfully. "Power is what matters in the end. That's why a mid-level witch would stand no chance against a top-level one, despite having access to the same types of magic."
Lyra felt a chill run down her spine, suspecting that Ms. Amisha's statement was a veiled warning. Still, her excitement for learning outweighed any intimidation. She raised her hand again.
"Is it possible to change the type of energy one controls?" she asked.
"Yes," Ms. Amisha said, her expression growing more serious. "But only those who reach the peak level have a chance."
"What chance?" Lyra pressed, leaning in slightly.
"The Sky Well," came the cryptic reply.
Lyra frowned, puzzled. "What's inside the Sky Well?"
Ms. Amisha's eyes glimmered with an unreadable expression. "It is unspeakable."
With that, the classroom fell silent again, leaving Lyra's mind racing with new questions; questions that she knew wouldn't have easy answers.
Ms. Amisha's explanations were precise, cutting through the fog of confusion that often surrounds magical theory. She had a talent for making even the most complex ideas clear, and Lyra took full advantage of this. She peppered the dean with a barrage of questions, some sparked by her reading, some long-standing curiosities, and others that popped into her mind on the spot. Each time, Ms. Amisha responded thoughtfully, addressing everything except when it came to the mysterious Sky Well. Her refusal to elaborate only deepened its mystery, but Lyra let it slide for now, satisfied with the answers she had received.
After a while, Lyra finally took her seat, feeling content and energized. "Alright, who has another question?" Ms. Amisha asked, scanning the room.
The other young witches sat there, stunned. Lyra's back-and-forth with Ms. Amisha had bombarded them with new information, unraveling magical mysteries they had never considered. It took three rounds of asking before a timid hand finally went up.
"Dean, how many different forms of energy are there? And is the energy each race uses unique?" one of the witches asked hesitantly.
Ms. Amisha nodded thoughtfully. "The number of energy forms is not something that can be precisely counted. Each time we encounter a new species capable of wielding energy, there's the potential for a new form to be discovered. But," she paused, her gaze intense, "not every race has a unique form of energy. This is primarily the case in Valen. Beyond our continent, out in the endless starry sky and the realms beyond, there may be races that share similar energy forms. The possibilities are vast."
She continued answering more questions, taking her time to elaborate on each one until every witch had their turn. Finally, after she had gone through everyone's inquiries, Ms. Amisha looked around the room and asked, "Are you sure there are no more questions?"
The little witches exchanged glances and shook their heads. It seemed they had reached the limit of what they could think to ask.
"Then it's my turn to ask the questions," Ms. Amisha announced with a playful smile. "And if you can't answer them, they will become your homework."
The little witches gasped, a wave of panic rippling through the room. "!!!∑(Дノ)ノ" they collectively thought. No one had warned them about this!
Sensing the rising tension, Ms. Amisha stepped down from the podium for the first time that day. Her eyes sparkled with mischief as she began, "The first chapter we discussed today mainly covers the relationship between magic and energy, and the nature of energy itself. You all claim to understand the nature of energy, so who can tell me, what exactly is the relationship between magic and energy?"
Relief washed over the students as they recognized this was an easy one; something straight from the opening lines of their reading. In unison, they answered confidently, "Magic is the use of energy."
"Ah, yes, that's correct," Ms. Amisha said, her tone shifting. "But 'how' is it used? Do witches, sorcerers, angels, demons, dragons, and humans all use magic in the same way? If not, what are the differences?"
The room fell silent. The young witches stared at each other, their earlier confidence evaporating. None of them had expected this follow-up. A group of witches who hadn't even cast their first proper spell yet, they had no idea how to respond. Even Lyra, who had just impressed with her earlier questions, was at a loss.
"Well then," Ms. Amisha said, clearly enjoying their stunned expressions, "I guess today's homework is decided."
The tension in the room spiked as she continued, "You are all required to write a paper titled ''The Magical Application of Different Energies.'' There's no limit on the number of words, but it must cover the magical principles used by the common races of this continent. This will be due in class next Monday morning. I suggest consulting Volume 7 of 'Valen Continent' for reference. Class dismissed!"
With that, Ms. Amisha swept out of the room, leaving behind a sea of wide-eyed witches. They sat there, bewildered, absorbing the fact that their first assignment wasn't going to be a simple one.
Lyra, however, remained calm. She thought, 'Which school doesn't assign homework?' To her, it seemed strange that it had taken until the second week of the Witch Academy to assign their first real task. She calmly pulled out a blank sheet from her witch book and organized her notes, placing it carefully on the third page after the index and the 'Beginner's Guide' page. She wrote:
"Monday of the second week of first grade (July 22).
Assignment for the Basic Theory of Magic course: Write a paper on 'The Magical Application of Different Energies,' with no limit on the number of words.
Deadline: Before the first class next Monday (July 29)."
With her notes in place, Lyra felt a small thrill of excitement. It was her first real challenge in the academy, and she was ready to dive into the mysteries that awaited her.