12 Ace Student

"Oh no!"

People were gasping at the events happening inside the arena.

The royal mage was doing the best he could to dispel the sealing spell which would occur in the next 5 seconds.

But the fireball was much quicker than that, with just 2 seconds the fireball linked to Adam's staff finally broke and came flying at Ray.

Ray, quick on his feet and still had the acceleration spell on him, would no doubt still take severe injuries even if he were to dodge, a 50% increase in agility wouldn't do much with the starting portion of his already slow speed.

So instead, he went to another plan, to defend.

He had too learned a Defensive Level 1 Spell but if he were to use it, he would definitely be disqualified, so he thought around it, as long as he could protect a majority, he would be fine.

He began casting magic from the array of defense magic of the 0th Level and began numbering them.

In a theory he read, elements were naturally resistant from one another and repel other forces of element. Some elements repel certain elements even stronger as it is undeniable that forces like those would naturally dissipate into the other if one force is too strong. But if used in certain quantities and certain form, it would not repel but instead come together to cover each of their weakness and be more powerful. The evidence used in the theory was credible as he was a traveler to the East Continent. Magic in the east is rather underdeveloped and with many limitations on their uses and certain resources to further cultivation, they then resort to spiritual qi. Qi was something like mana, as it is all around the world and uses similar equations and practices to bend the worldly elements. People use this qi to enforce their body and practice martial arts and many stages of weaponry. Most natives of the east came from the Ryushrite tree but had no connection to the Tyridal Dominion, making it safe for the predecessor of the Aurelics to pass. Ryushrites were the upholders of bodily strength so it would obviously encapsulate martial arts and weaponry, but under certain philosophy, they shattered apart. The book that held his diary and theory was called "Magical Tranquility and the World" and documented one of the most vital laws of martial arts was yin and yang. Using yin and yang principles, he even managed to bring it back to the magic and created the elemental surpassing magic, increasing each type of elemental magic ability together and had certain combinations for certain spells as well. However the magician who didn't go by any name but the Wanderer wasn't very renown in the world and it became an underrated book for some students to read and potentially build it up from.

The book was finished upon its publication but nobody could understand any principles of martial arts and how their connection could fit and therefore became nonessential.

The Wanderer was a mage that came from an insignificant era around 600 years and a couple mages through that period had picked up the book and became legends.

Nobody understood their coming of power but Ray could take that guess as he had all the time he needed to understand with his progress through magic and his love for all books, no matter how useless.

After digesting the book, he was able to use the ratio of elements to increase their power using the limits of a 0th Level spell.

"Spark!"

"Droplet!"

"Pebble!"

"Breeze!"

He casted each of the spell in continuation and all came together.

The elements were once repelling one another but soon, certain parts came off of each of the spell and came together.

The once seen elements became an aurora of lights and became something better.

Elemental Protection of the 0th Level was casted.

Another questionable spell that wasn't able to be calculated under the magicians was used again.

With the consumption of mana of that of a high Level 0 magic, the protection could keep up with that of a mid tier Level 1 magic.

The fireball came hurling itself to Ray, and that was when Adam finally realized his mistake as he widened his eyes.

But that soon came as a sliver of disappointment and relief, he saw Ray cast many magic together and had no hopes for his survival but he pulled through with those weak spells? Ridiculous!

"Cheater! That man is a cheater!"

The royal mage broke the barrier magic and came down, looking at Adam in disgust.

"Cheater? Aren't you the cheater? With the usage of a Level 1 Spell and that of your magic staff, Firecatcher, you dare cast that spell?"

"Under the procedure of the evaluation, I hereby sentence Adam three months in the tower of Solitude and reprimanded of your privilege of taking the monthly evaluation for the next two years!"

If only one rule was broken, the punishments would've been reduced by a major portion, but two rules that were vital were broken, who could tell if the punishments wasn't too severe already.

"Is that alright to you....Ray?"

The royal mage came to the side of Ray and asked him, he managed to survive the spell and gained some respect of the royal mage and the victim was indeed Ray, so he had the power to finalize it.

Ray gazed at Adam and through his face could see the horror of being unable to take any classes while being in the tower of Solitude. the despair as he would be unable to graduate since he only had two more years before his graduation where he had to cast an array of Level 1 spells but unable to learn, how could he make it further?

But in the next instant, the door opened suddenly with much power as it was busted through. A small squad of noble guards came with Claude walking in with poise, looking at the arena with discerning eyes.

He looked at Adam in a furious gaze and walked down to the platform.

"Adam.....you brat.."

His temper was showing as he came to his son. Though he was short tempered and cared for his children, he was nevertheless able to still punish his son for this mishap.

"What are you trying to do? Tarnishing the name of the Moire family with just a simple test..."

"I, I.."

Adam couldn't make any words out.

"I've thought I did well raising you.."

"You are grounded and won't receive your allowance until I say so."

Adam resigned his fate as he looked down, distraught.

He grabbed the staff he had in his hands.

He finally came to gaze at Ray and walked up to him.

He grinned and closed his eyes.

"Ray! Will it be possible not to make my son's incident anymore worse? I certainly believe my punishment is enough and you haven't suffered any injuries. He hasn't done anything bad at you right?"

He had no grudges on Adam and only wanted to win the duel. He agreed with an emotionless face and did gestures to make him appear carefree.

Claude smiled.

"For a gift for your kindness, you may take this wand and a fine compensation."

he handed the wand dubbed Firecatcher and held it in his hands.

He casted appraisal magic and saw the basic abilities of the staff and was wide eyed.

[Firecatcher]

[Level 1-2 Spells]

[5% Increase in power of Fire spells]

[Crafted with a rare fire crystal found native in the Moire region in the Tale Mountain]

He was amazed, it was a staff he could use even to the standards of being a Level 2 mage.

This was an amazing reward as it is.

"Guards, give this man a bag!"

The guards exit the scene and came back momentarily with a sizable pouch.

Claude picked up the bag and handed it to Ray.

"This bag contains 100 gold coins for your use."

He piked up the bag and was immediately giddy.

"Thank you sir!"

That concluded the incident and Adam was only subjected to his reputation dwindling and being in the tower of Solitude for two weeks.

Ray received a new form of respect after the event and nobody went against him.

He didn't really abuse any power of that and continued his life in the Academy.

Two weeks go by and he continued eating the books, increasing his understanding bit by bit and learned a wide variety of spells of the 0th Level and two more spells of the 1st Level.

Life was easygoing even after Adam's return to the academy from the tower and he remained silent whenever Adam was around and spoke to his gang.

Ray's magical capacity was increasing and had no stability. he had to meditate to stabilize his power, so he had to meditate for a period of time. Soon it came to be as he had the same mana capacity of that of a 1st Level magician, but he knew that a matter of fact, he had to go to farther places to increase his power this way.