Genius?

In a bustling Starlight Academy, 231 newcomer students were enrolled in the forthcoming academic year, split into 5 classes.

Each class was presided over by a distinguished professor alongside a few assistants, to guide them through their studies. They also had a team of experienced mages to teach the students the intricacies of magic and its practical applications.

The Elite Class, with a restricted capacity of 20 students, was entrusted to the most experienced and skillful professors who had once held high ranks as heroes before assuming their academic roles.

As the new semester began and the campus was teeming with eager greenhorns, the faculty members were preoccupied with a pressing question: "How many bright and talented freshmen have joined us this year?"

Foremost among the prodigies was Princess Ember Kaelthas, a notable perfectionist who outclassed her peers in the entrance examination and was expected to top the class placement test, leaving an indelible mark on the academy's history with both her combat and cerebral prowess.

Not far behind was Caius Valerian, a prodigious talent among his peers who ranked second in the entrance examination and was renowned for his exceptional control over the fire element.

The academy also bore witness to the arrival of other aristocrats and dignitaries' scions, triggering a wave of anxiety even among the faculty members. Indeed, Starlight Academy's admission season was a global event that had everyone buzzing.

Of course, the highlight of the year was the class placement examination, which always had three tricky questions that could never be solved by simple memorization. The freshmen had to put on their thinking caps and come up with innovative solutions.

Although there were always students attempting to solve these questions every year, they came close, but their answers were not what the faculty was seeking.

All the freshmen who entered the Starlight Academy were prodigies hailed as gifted children from all over the world. They would have studied strategically and completed all the magic formulas and equations until the academy level.

But what if the problem was beyond the scope of their studies? What if there was a problem that couldn't be solved by memorized formulas and ingrained knowledge?

What if the only path to solving a problem lay in their ability to think creatively, reason logically, and employ critical thinking skills?

In this age of magic, the road to true Magnushood lies in the mastery of creative thinking, logical reasoning, and critical problem-solving.

For mages who seek to excel in their field, the ability to harness these skills is not just essential, but the key to unlocking their full potential.

With these abilities at their fingertips, they can anticipate their opponent's moves, react with precision counter-magic, and improvise new strategies on the fly.

Only by mastering these skills can one hope to reach the pinnacle of magical power and become a true Magnus.

***

"T-This is amazing! A-And, how did he come up with this answer?"

The previously S-Rank Hero and now a professor in charge of the Elite class students, Lady Scarlett Nightshade, perused the freshman's exam results with a look of amazement.

"Oh my, it looks like Scarlett is interested in the grades of this freshman?" The old man with a long beard, who resembled a Walmart copy of Gandalf, said, stroking his white beard.

"A-Ah, good morning, Principal. Sorry, I didn't notice you arrive," Scarlett said, keeping down the answer sheet she had been scrutinizing for about half an hour now.

"Good morning, Scarlett. I couldn't help but notice that you seem intrigued by some of the freshmen's grades," the Principal said, stroking his long white beard.

Scarlett smiled slightly. "Yes, I was particularly interested in the results of a few students who attempted the three difficult questions on the test."

"Ahh, those notorious questions," the Principal chuckled. "Did anyone manage to solve them?"

Scarlett paused before answering. "Out of the 231 students, over 200 submitted blank papers for the 'three questions,' indicating that most of the current Starlight Academy students entered through strategic means.

However, true mastery of magic requires creativity and a willingness to explore all possibilities. Only ten students attempted to solve the problem, and while their approaches were unique, none were quite what I was looking for."

The Principal raised an eyebrow. "Was there no one who answered all three questions correctly this year, either?"

Scarlett hesitated before answering. "Actually, there were three students who answered all three questions correctly: Princess Ember, who is renowned for her intelligence and strength, Caius Valerian, who is well-known for his combat skills, and Aria Jadester, a commoner girl who was recognized by the Archmage of the Magic Tower for her special abilities and talent, which rivals that of Princess Ember."

"...The top three students from the entrance exam, huh?" The principal said, stroking his beard. "It seems that the academy has gained some exceptional talents once again. Princess Ember, Caius Valerian, and Aria Jadester... I must keep an eye on them."

'Though Princess Ember's and Aria's answers were acceptable and the best among all the freshmen until this day, but the answers that student Caius gave were so perfect that they surpassed even my knowledge,' Scarlett thought as she held her head in bewilderment.

Scarlett was taken aback by Caius' answers. They were not only acceptable, but they were the best answers she had ever seen in all her years of teaching at Starlight Academy. She couldn't help but wonder how a 15-year-old student could have such a perfect understanding of magic, surpassing even her own knowledge.

"It's incredible," Scarlett murmured to herself. "He must have had some kind of firsthand experience with magic. But how?"

Turning to the principal, she asked, "What do you think, Principle? Could student Caius really be such a genius?"

"As much as I'd like to believe that, it could also be a mere coincidence," the principal replied with a twinkle in his eye. "But, let us wait and see what these young mages are capable of. For the future of the magical world lies in their hands."

With that, he gave a mysterious smile and disappeared into thin air, leaving Scarlett alone to ponder.

Swish—

Scarlett let out a deep sigh as she exited the faculty room as well. She knew better than anyone that the results of the placement exam were not a matter of mere coincidence.

As she walked down the hallway, her thoughts turned to Caius Valerian again, who had given answers to the three difficult questions that could potentially cause a stir in the entire magic world. Scarlett shook her head in disbelief.

"Does Student Caius even realize the magnitude of his answers? What am I supposed to teach a prodigy like him?" she muttered to herself.

Scarlett knew that teaching a student with such exceptional abilities would not be an easy task. She would have to challenge him constantly and provide him with material that would keep him engaged. But at the same time, she couldn't let his talent go to waste.

As she walked, Scarlett made a mental note to plan out a challenging curriculum for Caius, determined to push him to reach his full potential.