Chapter CVI - Magic Aptitude Class (part 2)

And just like that, we all began heading to the back court, where we had our ceremony previously. We didn't go to the gymnasium because it is currently being used by a senior class. 

Though the academy does have a smaller arena for emergency classes, it's on the other side of the academy. Hence, the teacher decided to just choose the back court, which is much closer. It's large, and it can be used by multiple classes at once.

While we march towards the back court, we can see a lot of eyes looking at us. And since this floor is dedicated fully for our year students, those eyes looking at us are fellow first years.

And they all looked with demeaning glares.

"What the hell? Class E? Studying outside?"

"Wow, are they finally leaving the academy?"

"Ew, watch out. It's class E."

All of the mutters coming out from the mouths of the students here are mostly mockery. And some of them are actually loud enough for us to hear, but no one spoke back to them.

Because everyone from class E knows that talking back to them will only damage their pride even more. And I'm glad the students know that, but one of these days someone needed to teach them a lesson.

I could easily do that, but I am a bit busy with my own battles.

We continued our walk in silence as we headed to the back court. When we finally arrive, there is no one using it right now. So, we went ahead and enjoyed the whole court for ourselves.

"Okay, follow me."

The teacher said as she led the student all the way to the middle. She took a glance at the paper and read some stuff, and then she looked up.

"First, we are going to rack up your magic tiers!"

"W-What?"

Racking up our magic tier? Is she really saying that?

The students became quite confused, but the teacher seemed very optimistic.

"Yes! You all remembered the ways to do it right? I explained to you all in class last week."

Luckily, no one seems to remember.

"Ugh… Then, I'll just re-explain it here!

The way to rapidly tier up your magic is by continuously doing it. But there is a certain key that you need to have, in order to rack it up.

The key to tiering up your magic affinity is to have a better understanding of it. Just by using it a lot of time is pointless if you don't have a better understanding of it. Which is why you need to find that key and grab it!"

Is… Is that really going to happen?

Ranking up a tier isn't as easy, teacher. It will take someone months to tier up from Beginner tier to Intermediate tier. Even longer for them to reach Knight tier.

"That is one of our tasks for today. The other one is your magical output!"

"Magical output, teacher?"

The class president has been answering the teacher for a while now. He felt the responsibility as the class president somehow, and represented the students in answering.

"Yes. Your maximum output will be tested! And, how much firepower you were able to conjure will be your score."

"I-I see…"

Then we head on to doing that instead of trying to rack up our tier, but it does make sense. By keeping on using the magic, we could have a better understanding of it. And while we are using magic now, we could somehow have a better grasp of our own magic.

"Just aim up there, to the skies of the forest, and just let it all out! Oh, and one by one please. I also wanted to score this."

And the students formed a line. Since I'm technically the 'no one' in this class, I stayed back and waited as the last.

One by one the students shot some insanely powerful magic. A lot of the magics exploded when they reached a certain distance in the air. Probably because it's too far from the caster, the magic finally lost its magic composure and exploded.

The teacher scored them while murmuring a lot of comments.

"Hmm, not bad. You can do better!

That is good! Very good!

Next time, try to even the balance from your magic. It could avoid you from getting thrown back."

All of them tried shooting their magic… Until it's finally my turn. But before I tried firing, I turned to the teacher.

"Teacher… What does 'Having a better understanding' mean?"

I suddenly asked the teacher before shooting anything into the sky. The teacher thought for a second and answered.

"Ah, it means you know exactly how the magic is casted. How it works, how it feels, how it breathes… Basically how the magic works."

"I… I see…"

I turned and faced the sky in front of me.

A better… understanding…

How it works… 

Fire magic consumes magic energy to burn. And ever since I tiered up, the amount of magic energy to cast the magic became lesser. Meaning to create a five meter fireball, I only needed half of the magic energy than before I tiered up.

And… How did that happen? Why did that happen?

Maybe there is something inside the magic energy? Or did something… some event, happen to the magic energy?

Could it be... the change in quality?

The quality of the energy used to create the fire. It will get honed and honed as you use it. That's why the more you use magic, the higher the chance you get to tier it up.

It's just like switching consumables, like from wood to oil. The flames will burn differently, and possibly even more powerful.

With that thought in mind, I began conjuring a small fireball on my left hand. I imagined pouring more of the purer energy into it, an energy without any dirt on it. 

FWOOMM!!!!!!!!

And somehow… It works.

My red Intermediate tier fireball somehow turned green.

"W-Woah…"

I can see that doing this requires a better understanding of your magic energy and the fire itself… It's all thanks to the teacher.

"... Teacher. Thank you for your tip."

The teacher, seeing how the red flame somehow turned into a green flame on my hand, can only open her mouth wide. This is the second time she did it today.

"N-No problem!! By any chance, is that a Knight tier… fire magic?"

"Yes. Yes it is."

I closed my left palms and the green fireball dissipated. Then, I turned my gaze towards the plain skies in front of me.

And I started making the fireball.

BWOOOM!!!!!!!

A giant green fireball somehow immediately conjured in front of my palms. It's at least five meters in radius and it's extremely hot. And if I didn't stop pouring magic energy, it could grow bigger.

Maybe I… should compress it and make a firebomb instead.

I curled my fingers and started to make the fireball compressed. Slowly, it turned into a green firebomb. 

The flames of the firebomb looked waving, like the sun's surface. The surface looks warped, while the bomb itself is releasing quite the powerful pressure.

The ground was quite shaking when I compressed it, and it shook even harder when it finished. 

A grin formed on my face as I noticed how monstrous I have become...

And then I shot it.