NOVPUBIchrite Magic Academy, the Learning and Education Building.
This building serves as a multidisciplinary learning facility, accommodating the teaching needs of a large number of students. Gone is the traditional concept of towering, isolated structures. Instead, numerous horizontal extensions had been incorporated, creating expansive architectural spaces that facilitate both learning and activity.
Clustered internal walls divide the building into more refined sections, transforming numerous corridors, courtyards, cantilevers, terraces, and staircases into marvelous indoor landscapes that possess a modern artistic feel—canyons, forest trails, habitats, cliffs, and open-air theaters.
The fourth floor, home to the magic engineering research area.
A special tiered classroom resembles a massive man-made valley, interweaved with elements of forests. The natural light from skylights greatly enhances its fresh and unique learning environment.
In this spacious classroom, the seats extend in a tiered manner, and they have almost been filled up.
Unlike other compulsory subjects taught in smaller groups at Sage Academy, "General Knowledge of Magic Series" is a compulsory subject for both Sage Academy and Magic Engineering College students.
Hence, this course gathers students from both institutes for large-scale lecture-style classes.
Lanci and Hyperion are in the last row of the classroom. Seats around them are surprisingly unoccupied.
In recent days, the campus has started buzzing with rumors about the "three bullies in Royal Capital."
The mightiest servants of every student council, who upon their debut destroyed the Soul of Fighters’ Club Team’s building, causing the always honest Senior Sister Cervini’s face to flush with anger as she chased them around before ending up in tears.
"As expected from a half-demon and a member of the Lanci Clan, they are even less human here than in the Shadow World..."
A number of freshmen from the Magic Engineering College seeing the two for the first time expressed their amazement in hushed whispers.
In the back row, seated on natural wooden stools.
Hyperion, as always, was engrossed in his studies.
What was surprising, though, was that Lanci wasn’t slacking off.
He was also seriously focusing and listening to the lecture.
This was the only compulsory course that didn’t torture Lanci in any way. It’s largely focused on the key principles of magic and Magical Engineering and doesn’t require the demonstration of casting techniques.
The lecturer was someone familiar to both Lanci and Hyperion, the very gentle Teacher Teresa, who was in charge of supervising their entrance exams during the third round.
It seemed that Teacher Teresa at the front of the class was about to get to an important part of the lecture.
Even Lanci was sitting a little straighter than normal.
"There exist thirty-two [Original Slabstone Tablets] in the world. Each Tablet represents the epitome in their respective types of magic, their effect similar to Epic Cards,"
"While normal Epic Cards may fade into oblivion as time passes, the [Original Slabstone Tablets] are able to withstand the test of time and be passed down from generation to generation!"
At the semi-circular, grey, wooden platform, Teacher Teresa’s voice, clear and infectious in nature, rang across the room. At the same time, she pointed to an image of a slab and its corresponding effects on the magical projection screen.
[Original Tablet of Wind]
[Category: Equipment Card]
[Grade: Orange Epic]
[Level: 5]
[Passive Effect: The Original Slabs cannot be destroyed. Only beings in the world can soul bind with them, and one can bind a maximum of one slab. It enhances all wind-attribute magic, martial techniques, equipment, and summons. Once the soul-binder dies, the slab is unbound.]
[Notes: Everything in the world will eventually be reborn, and the wind will eternally caress this land.]
The display presented in the image rotates in 3D to reveal an ancient stone engraved floating plate, delicate in size. Its streamlined edge and faint traces of magical patterns seem to tell a million-year-old story. The tablet’s texture is warm to the touch, its color, enriched by time, is deep and full.
On the intricate mystical magic spell engraved, minute spirals resemble the traces of galaxy streaking across the night sky; resplendent yet secretive, as if it holds wisdom and profound strength that not even the destruction of the world could erase.
"What is being used for this display, is the [Original Slabstone Tablet-Wind] owned by High Priest Loren from the Church of the Goddess of Destiny. This item is like a divine product, a legacy of ancient sages, with clear evidence of modification by magic engineering techniques."
Teacher Teresa continued,
"For the magic artisan students at Magic Engineering College, merely observing the tablet itself can significantly enhance their understanding of the creation of this type of magic tool."
Her voice fell like a stone tossed into a pond, stirring a round of discussions among the students in the classroom.
Teacher Teresa stood calmly on the stage, smiling as she sipped from her water bottle, moistening her throat.
The design of the classroom created an open-space feeling with a wide view, which could easily morph into a seminar-like format. n𝚘𝚟pub.𝚌o𝚖
Everyone can put forth their doubts and ideas, and actively engage and discuss with the teacher.
Teacher Teresa knew that this kind of course required stimulating the students’ interest in learning and giving them time for free discussion, rather than her unilaterally feeding them knowledge.
At this time, under the podium, the neighboring students were continuously discussing.
"So it’s no wonder that our Magic Engineering College has a graduation task where we have to visit a tablet holder on the mainland for observation!"
"Some cunning seniors even directly went to Sage Academy to find Dean Loren, asking to observe his [Original Slabstone Tablet-Wind]!"
However, Dean Loren, as a national protector of Hutton Kingdom and holding the responsibility of High Priest of the Church of the Goddess of Destiny, certainly isn’t someone with too much time on his hands.
He wouldn’t display his crucial magic card like an exhibition piece for students in need of research.
Instead, Loren would assign students with some relatively important tasks for the benefit of Hutton Kingdom or the Church of the Goddess of Destiny.
If the students are able to complete the test, he would then award the ’opportunity to observe the tablet’ as a reward to students.
Additionally, Loren occasionally receives visits from magic artisan students or even teachers from other alliance countries. Each year, Loren would present them with similar fair requests.
For scholars and visitors, friendly powerhouses from allied nations are usually willing to give seekers a chance, and ask for tests similar to Loren’s.
Of course, they are not necessarily cooperative or friendly, and there are also slabstone owners who are reclusive, cold-hearted, or unreasonable, who don’t pay any attention to regular visitors.
"If you have an [Original Slabstone Tablet], you’re a big shot who will be respected and chased after. I want one too...By the way, Hyperion, do you know any other [Original Slabstone Tablet] owners besides Dean Loren?"
Lanci sighed with a smile to Hyperion on the side.
They often chat with each other when they have free time, other than their regular class time. They also often go to hang out with Frey, the student council room is a spacious and comfortable place.
However,
Lanci’s words seemed to touch a sore spot for Hyperion.
Her eyes hid a fleeting hint of sad gloom, quickly moving away, seemingly not wanting Lanci to notice.
She simply bowed her head and nodded.
