The Second Law of Thermodynamics:
Nature moves in the direction of increasing entropy.
To put it more simply:
"It's easy to turn wood into ash, but turning ash back into wood is almost impossible."
"Ooooh."
"And it's easy for ice to melt into water, but much harder to freeze water back into ice."
"True... as expected from the top scorer of the regional quota track!"
The students seemed impressed by the simplified explanation.
But, of course, not everyone was convinced.
"In the northern regions, during winter, ice is more common than water."
"Wouldn't it be harder to melt ice there? Water just freezes if you leave it alone."
"Yeah, I bet starting a fire there is harder. Ice is probably easier."
"······."
No, no. Ice forms because the surrounding temperature is low, and the water loses heat. That process of heat dispersion is also an increase in entropy!
But to explain this, I'd have to first teach them the concept of entropy.
"So, there's something in the world called entropy. It's a measure of... disorder."
"Ooooh."
"And the world naturally moves toward increasing disorder. Ice is solid and stable, while water moves freely—that's a more disordered state, or a state with higher entropy. Higher heat means higher entropy, and eventually, everything dissipates as heat..."
"······"
The students, who had been nodding along, were now silent. Or rather, they started whispering among themselves.
"Uh... so is entropy a good thing?"
"Idiot, it's disorder. Lower is better."
"I don't know. What even is this?"
As I feared, diving straight into the Second Law of Thermodynamics was too much for them.
I thought I had simplified it, but explaining concepts to others is harder than it seems.
To explain entropy, I'd have to start with the relationship between heat and energy, which would then lead to different forms of energy, and... ugh. It's endless.
And writing formulas on top of that to properly define it? Definitely beyond my ability right now.
'Forget it. Let's drop the entropy explanation.'
But then—
"I know about that."
What?
Turning my head, I saw the speaker was none other than Irina Bellune.
The so-called prodigy of the Marquis of Bellune, known for mastering Ice Arrow and inadvertently sparking this whole entropy discussion.
Could she really know about entropy?
"As expected of Irina!"
"I knew Irina would understand!"
The other students accepted her words without question.
Tilting her chin upward, Irina declared, "Ice Arrow is a refined spell. That's why it's much more intricate than the chaotic Fire Arrow—just as entropy theory suggests."
Hmm...
First off, it's not "entropy theory," it's just the concept of entropy. And her explanation was... shaky, to say the least. It sounded like she had just cobbled together bits of what I'd said to sound knowledgeable.
"Wow... I see! Irina knows everything!"
"She's amazing!"
The surrounding students showered her with praise.
But I saw through it.
Her proud, confident face betrayed her darting eyes. She kept sneaking glances at me, checking my reaction.
'She doesn't know what she's talking about.'
But if I pointed it out, who would believe me?
She's Irina Bellune, the celebrated prodigy of the Marquis of Bellune.
I'm just a minor noble from a fallen family.
Even if I was right, no one would care.
Better to just let it slide.
"You're absolutely right. Irina explained it perfectly," I said.
Hearing my affirmation, Irina visibly relaxed. The tension on her face melted away, replaced by relief.
"Nice to meet you. I'm Irina Bellune," she said, extending her hand for a handshake.
A chance to network with the prodigy of the Marquis of Bellune? This was a golden opportunity.
I quickly took her hand.
"I'm Noah Ashborn."
"Hmm. So, you're the Noah Ashborn."
"?"
Wait, she knows me?
"You know my name?"
"···No, this is the first time I've heard it."
Ah.
I see. Pretending to know things is just her default setting.
---
The next morning, the entrance ceremony took place.
It was amusing to think about.
Back on Earth, university admissions took ages: waiting for exam results, submitting applications, getting into first-round and second-round acceptances, going through lotteries, and finally paying tuition before officially enrolling.
But here, you pass the exam and are admitted immediately.
The reason was simple.
This was the empire's most prestigious magic academy, and there were no tuition fees.
Imagine being admitted to Seoul National University's medical school for free. Who would hesitate about enrolling?
Because of that, we were already seated in an open-air amphitheater, listening to the headmaster's congratulatory speech.
"You, the pillars of this empire's future, must take pride in your magical abilities and strive to contribute to the empire's history and society..."
The headmaster looked every bit the archetypal old wizard. His long white beard, pointed triangular hat, and tall staff completed the image.
They said he was a high elf who had lived for over 400 years and had been the academy's headmaster for more than a century.
Fittingly, his speech was long and boring.
For a group of 15-year-olds who had barely emerged from their middle-school phase, enduring this was torture.
Most students were dozing off or daydreaming.
"...Thus, establishing a strong foundation is essential. For this reason, the course Understanding and Practicing Mana Ring Formation, which you will take in your first semester, will begin immediately following today's ceremony. I, the headmaster, will personally teach this course..."
Excuse me, what?
What's starting?
The headmaster's unexpected announcement snapped me out of my daze.
"What did he say?"
"What's happening?"
"There's a class called Understanding and Practicing Mana Ring Formation starting?"
"What's that?"
"I don't know."
The murmuring students were quickly silenced by the headmaster's commanding tone.
"With this, the entrance ceremony concludes. We will now begin the first lecture of Understanding and Practicing Mana Ring Formation."
The ceremony ended, and the lecture began immediately.
The pace was dizzyingly fast.
"This course will be held every morning at 9 a.m. It is a mandatory subject for all first-year students. Be here in this amphitheater promptly each morning."
It seemed the universal rule of early morning classes for freshmen applied even here.
Like in college, first-year students were required to take core classes in the morning, effectively forcing them into a morning routine.
"What? Nine in the morning? I can't wake up without my servants..."
"Isn't that way too early?"
The noble-born students quietly grumbled, while the commoner students nodded without complaint.
For the commoners, who had grown up waking at dawn to farm, 9 a.m. was hardly early.
The headmaster continued.
"This course is about forming a 1st Circle mana ring around your heart. That is why we are conducting this class in the amphitheater. The mana concentration here is the densest and most active on campus, making it the ideal place for you to form your mana rings."
Forming a mana ring was a mage's most basic foundation. Without it, one couldn't be considered a mage.
And while forming a mana ring was officially recommended for those 15 and older, the recommendation was rarely followed. Most students had already formed their 1st Circle before arriving.
"Those of you who have already formed a 1st Circle mana ring, raise your hands."
At the headmaster's question, nearly 80% of the students raised their hands—including most of the regional quota students.
Those who had already formed a 1st Circle grinned confidently.
"We already have a 1st Circle. Does this mean we don't have to take the class?"
"Maybe we can sleep in!"
Their hopes were promptly dashed.
"This amphitheater's high mana concentration will also aid in mana accumulation. Even those who've completed their 1st Circle will train here every morning."
The unavoidable fate of first-year mornings. The students who had briefly celebrated now looked utterly defeated.
Interestingly, students like Irina Bellune and the Stroban earl's second son showed no reaction—if anything, they seemed pleased.
'A high mana concentration would help grow their mana capacity.'
Even within the same 1st Circle tier, the capacity varied. Greater capacity meant more mana, enabling stronger and more frequent spellcasting.
For them, this was another opportunity to improve.
For me, it was finally my chance to form a 1st Circle mana ring.
"Those of you who have not yet formed a 1st Circle, step forward," the headmaster instructed.
While the advanced students meditated or chanted spells, those of us who hadn't formed a mana ring yet approached the front.
Standing before the headmaster, I was struck by how tall he was—easily over two meters.
Was this why they called him a high elf?
Seemingly reading my thoughts, the headmaster looked directly at me and said, "Judging by that look, I know what you're thinking. No, not all high elves are as tall as I am. I'm simply an exception."
"Ah, I see. So you're... the high elf equivalent of a giant, then."
The headmaster let out a booming laugh, clearly amused by my response.
"And you're a bold one, aren't you? I like that. Now then..."
He leaned slightly closer, his towering frame casting a long shadow over me.
"But tell me—why are you standing here?"
"...Excuse me?"
"This section is for students who haven't yet formed their 1st Circle mana ring. Are you not Noah Ashborn, the top scorer of the regional quota track?"
His sharp eyes seemed to pierce straight into me.
I felt the murmurs of the other students around us intensify as they all turned their attention toward me.
"Yes, I am. But..."
"But what?"
"I haven't formed my 1st Circle yet," I admitted.
"..."
For a moment, there was a strange silence. The headmaster blinked at me, clearly not expecting my answer.
"Let me make sure I heard you correctly. You haven't formed your 1st Circle?"
"That's right."
The headmaster frowned slightly, his bushy white eyebrows knitting together.
"And yet you passed the entrance exam and topped your track?"
"Yes."
His eyes narrowed slightly as if studying me more closely.
"Hmm. Then tell me—what was your mana affinity score during the concentration test?"
I hesitated for a moment before answering. "It was... B+."
"..."
The headmaster blinked again, his expression shifting into one of pure disbelief.
"B+?"
"Yes."
"Not A? Or A+?"
"No."
"...Certainly not S or SS?"
"Not at all."
"..."
The silence that followed was deafening.
Students who had been meditating opened their eyes, staring at me in stunned silence. Even those who had already been whispering about me earlier now stared openly, their jaws slack.
The headmaster rubbed his temples as if to stave off a headache.
"A student with B+ mana affinity, who hasn't formed a 1st Circle, managed to pass that entrance exam? And as the top scorer of the regional quota track?"
He muttered to himself, shaking his head slightly before turning his gaze back to me.
"Well, you're certainly... an anomaly. I'll give you that."
The look in his eyes changed. What had been a mix of disbelief and curiosity now carried a faint glimmer of interest, perhaps even intrigue.
"Very well, Noah Ashborn. Let's see what you're made of. Step forward."
I stepped closer, standing directly in front of him.
The headmaster glanced around at the other students who had gathered in the front row. His booming voice echoed throughout the amphitheater.
"For those of you who are new to this process, I've prepared a magic circle here on the stage. It's designed to help you sense mana more clearly. Now, close your eyes and focus. Use your breathing and your body to guide the mana around your heart into a circle."
The process sounded simple enough in theory, but I knew it was anything but.
Forming a mana ring around the heart required gathering enough mana in the body, focusing it in one spot, and then slowly creating a continuous flow. It wasn't something most people could accomplish in a day—especially without practice.
Even students with S-level affinity would typically take a week to succeed.
This was why most of the students had already done it before arriving at the academy.
'Still, it's worth a shot,' I thought.
I sat down cross-legged on the stage, closed my eyes, and began to focus.
---
One hour later...
The other students who had yet to form a mana ring were visibly struggling. Many fidgeted restlessly, frustrated by their lack of progress.
The headmaster noticed and addressed them in a calm, steady voice.
"Don't rush. The first step is always the hardest. Concentrate on observing your breathing and the mana entering and leaving your body. The magic circle will amplify the ambient mana around you, so take your time."
But then—
"Um... Headmaster?"
One of the students nearby spoke up.
"What is it?"
"...Someone's already done it."
"Who?"
The headmaster's sharp gaze darted around the group, landing on the speaker.
"It's... him."
The student pointed toward me.
I opened my eyes, feeling the faint, warm glow of a mana ring circulating around my heart.
"Done already?" I asked myself, slightly surprised.
The headmaster stared at me, his jaw slack for the briefest moment before quickly recovering his composure.
"You've formed your 1st Circle?"
"Yes, it seems so."
The headmaster walked closer, his towering figure looming over me once again. He leaned down, peering intently at me as if to confirm my claim.
Sure enough, the faint hum of mana around my chest was undeniable.
"...B+ mana affinity, you said?"
"Yes."
"..."
The headmaster sighed heavily, shaking his head in exasperation.
"This... This doesn't make any sense. A student with B+ affinity should not be forming a 1st Circle this quickly. And yet, here you are, defying all logic."
He straightened up, folding his arms across his chest.
"I'll need to keep an eye on you, Noah Ashborn."
It didn't sound like a threat. If anything, it was a declaration of interest.
The other students, meanwhile, were still staring at me in varying states of shock.
I could already hear the murmurs starting up again.
"How did he do that so fast?"
"Isn't his mana affinity only B+?"
"What kind of monster is he?"
Ignoring their whispers, I closed my eyes again.
'Well... That went better than expected.'