Especially Fandral, the self-proclaimed playboy, who could never resist the sight of young women. Now, he exaggerated dramatically.
"I'm not mistaken, am I? This year's magician apprentices are all girls! Be honest, Aaron—did you come here because of them?"
"You're no true friend. Why didn't you invite me to join? Honestly, I've always had a passion for magic. They're simply amazing! So charming…"
Fandral's exaggerated words earned him nothing but a series of blank stares.
Aaron, well accustomed to Fandral's antics, spread his arms helplessly. "If you're serious, I can talk to the magic teacher. Maybe you could take the entrance test."
"Forget it! With the romantic aura I naturally exude, women fall for me everywhere I go."
Fandral twirled his sword flamboyantly, then slicked back his hair as if that would make him even more irresistible.
Aaron simply shook his head with a chuckle.
"You know, Aaron, I didn't realize you were a magical genius."
Sif looked at him with a glimmer of admiration in her eyes.
As a warrior and a woman, her instincts were sharp. The moment she saw Aaron today, she noticed something different about him—more confidence, a stronger presence, an undeniable energy radiating from him.
But Aaron remained humble, choosing to downplay his skills. "Compared to Loki, I'm still far behind."
No one objected to his modesty.
After all, Loki's magic ability was truly impressive.
Thor, having grown up alongside Loki's magical pranks, was well aware of his brother's talent.
If only Loki spent as much time perfecting his magic as he did tricking others, he might even surpass the All-Father Odin himself.
But Loki's ambitions lay elsewhere.
"Enough talk! Let's go, everyone—tonight, we drink! And we'll see who lasts the longest!"
With Thor's booming declaration, the group set off toward the hall for a night of revelry.
However, what no one realized was that Aaron had already cast an illusion spell.
His LV3 illusion magic was strong enough to create an energy-formed doppelgänger—a near-perfect duplicate that could mimic his actions and even possess some of his combat capabilities.
For drinking? The illusion clone was more than enough.
No one suspected a thing.
Even Loki, who prided himself on his magical prowess, failed to detect the trick.
Loki's overconfidence in his own abilities worked against him. He assumed that if he couldn't pull off such magic in a single day, then surely Aaron couldn't either.
Thus, as the others headed off to drink, Aaron quietly slipped away to his residence.
Golden Hall, The Queen of Heaven's Study
"Your Majesty! A genius has appeared at the Academy of Magic! No—a monster has emerged!"
Eager and breathless, Irene rushed toward the Golden Hall, not stopping for a moment.
Inside the grand study, Frigga sat in elegance, leisurely flipping through a book of ancient magic.
Even before Irene entered, the excited voice echoed through the corridor.
Frigga's curiosity was piqued.
"Irene, class isn't over yet, is it? What is this about a 'monster'?"
Irene herself was highly skilled in magic. If someone had impressed even her, this was no small matter.
"It's Aaron! The new apprentice at the Academy," Irene blurted out the moment she stepped inside.
She quickly composed herself, gave a respectful salute, then launched into an excited recounting of what she had witnessed.
"During today's lesson, I taught the apprentices how to perceive magical energy. While the others were still struggling, Aaron sensed it instantly."
"In just one hour, he accumulated the same amount of magic as an average apprentice would in several days!"
"Not only that—I made an exception and taught him illusion magic. He listened once and immediately grasped the fundamentals."
"And then, in an absurdly short time, he raised his illusion magic to an extremely advanced level."
"I personally saw him create an energy-formed duplicate—something even seasoned magicians struggle with!"
"As if that weren't enough, he also learned space storage magic in a single attempt. He can now store and retrieve objects freely!"
"I've never seen anyone with such terrifying magical ability. Aaron is truly a monster when it comes to magic!"
Frigga was stunned.
She, too, was a powerful magician. She knew just how difficult magic was to master.
A true beginner becoming proficient in multiple advanced spells in a single day?
Impossible.
Frigga frowned slightly. "Are you certain you aren't exaggerating?"
A student who could barely use a spell in a week was already considered a genius.
But what Irene described went beyond genius—it was unheard of in all of Asgard's history.
If this were true, then calling Aaron a monster wasn't an exaggeration at all.
"Aaron…" Frigga murmured, her fingers tapping the armrest of her chair.
That name sounded familiar.
A moment later, she recalled it.
"Ah, yes. Thor mentioned a new friend recently. His name was Aaron."
"Could it be… the same person?"
Frigga smiled.
It seemed Thor had befriended an exceptional individual.
With magical abilities like that, Aaron could play a significant role in guiding Thor and helping protect Asgard in the future.
Even so, Frigga found it hard to believe Aaron's magical talent was truly that exaggerated.
It almost sounded too incredible.
Irene, sensing Frigga's hesitation, pressed forward.
"Your Majesty, Aaron's abilities are too overwhelming. I don't know how to continue teaching him—at this rate, he'll surpass me in no time!"
"So I propose… that you personally teach him magic!"
For a moment, there was silence.
Frigga, before becoming Queen of Asgard, was not only a renowned warrior of the Vanir but also one of the most powerful witches in existence.
She had only ever taken one student—Loki.
It was through Frigga's teachings that Loki became the master of magic he was today.
However, Loki had never learned everything Frigga knew.
In truth, Frigga's magical strength still exceeded Loki's.
She simply lacked the opportunity to demonstrate it. Over time, her role as queen had kept her away from battle, and her combat abilities had declined.
But as a teacher of magic?
She was unmatched.
After a moment of thought, Frigga finally spoke.
"If Aaron is truly as gifted as you say, then it is no longer suitable for him to remain in your class."
"Keeping him there will only slow down the other students."
She closed her book with a soft thud and continued,
"As an exception, I will allow him to enter a higher magic class immediately."
"Moreover, I will grant him the right to seek guidance from any magic instructor at the Academy."
Irene's eyes lit up with excitement.
She had no complaints about this decision.
Frigga, as Queen, had far too many responsibilities to dedicate herself to teaching a single student.
However, by allowing Aaron access to every teacher in the Academy, it was almost as if the entire faculty would now be working together to shape his growth.
It was the next best thing to Frigga teaching him personally.
"Understood, Your Majesty!" Irene said with enthusiasm.
A new storm was brewing at the Academy of Magic.
And at the center of it—was Aaron.
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