Chapter 256: Academy’s Rising Stars [1]

The results of Holy Trinity’s practical assessments had been posted for several days, yet the Magic Department was still discussing them.

For most students, the examinations were already becoming an unpleasant memory. Those who performed well had returned to their studies with renewed confidence, while those who hadn’t were busy preparing excuses for their instructors.

A handful of students, however, had attracted the attention of the faculty.

Ilya discovered this during Professor Eklund’s morning lecture.

"Several instructors have requested recordings of the recent assessments," Eklund announced. "Students whose performances were selected may be invited to participate in additional academic activities over the coming weeks."

The list included Tristan Amaury de Bellacourt, Elise Margaux de Beaumont, and several other students who had earned excellent evaluations.

Ilya found his own name among them.

That was mildly surprising.

He had performed well, but there were plenty of capable wizards throughout the department. His First Circle cultivation alone should have placed him at a disadvantage against students who had spent years developing their magic.

Then again, his methods were rather unusual.

During the Hunting Grounds examination, he had already demonstrated that a First Circle wizard could accomplish far more than most people expected. His recent performance had only reinforced that impression.

Unfortunately, attracting attention meant that more people would be studying his techniques.

Ilya wasn’t particularly concerned about ordinary students discovering his fighting style. Anyone who watched him compete could already recognize his preference for cold magic and rapid movement.

The details of his abilities, however, were another matter.

He had no intention of revealing everything simply because a few professors found his performance interesting.

With that decided, he returned his attention to the lecture.

Their current assignment involved constructing a formation capable of maintaining two separate magical effects simultaneously.

Ilya worked alongside Garen and Wolfram.

The exercise was straightforward in theory. Each circuit required an independent source of mana, while a regulating node would prevent the two effects from interfering with one another.

Their first attempt failed.

The moment Wolfram activated the second circuit, Garen’s spell collapsed, scattering mana throughout the formation.

Wolfram examined the arrangement and discovered that their supporting nodes were drawing energy from the same channel.

Garen insisted that the connection should have worked.

Ilya studied their calculations before identifying the problem.

Both had constructed their circuits correctly, but neither had accounted for the change in mana pressure when the second spell activated.

"Put the regulating node here," he suggested, indicating the connection between the two circuits. "That should prevent the stronger spell from drawing mana away from the other."

They adjusted the formation and tried again.

This time, both effects activated successfully.

Professor Eklund examined their work before approving the result.

Garen appeared relieved. Wolfram, meanwhile, was already considering how the arrangement could support a third circuit.

Ilya left him to that problem.

He had learned enough from previous experiences to recognize when a straightforward assignment was about to become an afternoon of unnecessary experimentation.

Once the lecture ended, the students began gathering around another announcement posted outside the classroom.

Holy Trinity was preparing its next series of interdepartmental demonstrations.

These events were organized periodically to allow students from different departments to present their abilities before instructors and invited observers. Some involved practical combat, while others focused on research, magical engineering, or the applications of different disciplines.

This year’s demonstrations would place particular emphasis on cooperation between knights and wizards.

Ilya found that interesting.

His experience in the Knight Department had taught him how differently the two disciplines approached combat. Knights generally relied on physical abilities, Aura, and their weapons, while wizards possessed a much wider range of techniques.

In actual military engagements, however, the two rarely operated independently.

A well-positioned wizard could create openings for a knight, while an experienced knight could protect a spellcaster during the preparation of complicated magic.

The possibilities were extensive.

For someone who had spent years training as a swordsman before transferring to magic, the proposed demonstrations were especially appealing.

He was still examining the announcement when Elise approached.

"Thinking of participating?"

"Maybe. It depends on what they’re planning."

"I heard they’re considering mixed exercises between the departments."

Ilya nodded.

That was the part that interested him most.

Elise had already spoken with one of her instructors about the demonstrations, although the specific activities had yet to be finalized. Several students were expected to receive invitations based on their recent performances.

She intended to participate if her schedule allowed it.

Ilya wasn’t surprised.

Elise had always been ambitious when it came to her studies. Even as children, she had taken her lessons seriously, often becoming irritated whenever he neglected his academic responsibilities in favor of swordsmanship.

He remembered her once confiscating a practice sword because he refused to finish an assignment.

That had been an interesting afternoon.

"What?" Elise asked, noticing his expression.

"Just remembering something."

"Something embarrassing?"

"For me, mostly."

She seemed to understand.

"I was right to take that sword away."

"I never said you weren’t."

Elise laughed, looking rather pleased with herself.

They continued discussing the demonstrations as they walked toward the courtyard.

Ilya was curious about whether the Knight Department would send students he remembered from his previous classes. Some had treated him poorly after his inability to use Aura became public, although others had simply kept their distance.

He had little interest in revisiting those disputes.

His circumstances had changed, and he intended to concentrate on improving his magic rather than proving something to people whose opinions no longer mattered.

Still, encountering his former classmates as a wizard would be an unusual experience.

Elise appeared to understand what he was thinking.

"You don’t have to participate just because people expect you to."

"I know."

"Good."

She didn’t pursue the matter further.

Ilya appreciated that.

A few months earlier, conversations about the Knight Department had often become uncomfortable between them. Their reconciliation hadn’t erased everything that happened, but they were gradually becoming more comfortable discussing the past.

Elise had also stopped behaving as though being seen with him required an explanation.

It was a welcome change.

As they approached the courtyard, Tristan Bellacourt appeared near the entrance to the adjacent lecture hall.

He had apparently been examining the same announcement.

"Belozersky."

"Bellacourt."

Tristan glanced toward the papers in Ilya’s hand.

"I assume you’ll be participating."

"You’re the second person to ask me that today."

"Then I suppose the answer should be obvious."

Ilya smiled.

Tristan had been particularly interested in the demonstrations since learning that the Knight Department would participate.

From his perspective, the event offered an opportunity to test magical techniques against opponents trained in an entirely different discipline.

Ilya could understand the appeal.

Their recent practice engagements had exposed weaknesses in both their approaches, and Tristan had evidently been considering how to address them.

The southern nobleman had already begun experimenting with different arrangements of his translucent planes, hoping to improve their effectiveness against opponents who could change direction quickly.

He didn’t explain the details.

Ilya didn’t ask.

There was little point in demanding that a rival reveal his preparations before their next match.

Tristan seemed to appreciate that understanding.

After discussing the proposed demonstrations for a few minutes, he excused himself to attend another lecture.

Elise watched him depart.

"You two have become rather friendly."

"He’s a good training partner."

"Considering how much you used to argue, that’s quite an improvement."

Ilya couldn’t disagree.

Their rivalry had begun under considerably less pleasant circumstances, but repeated engagements had gradually changed their opinions of one another.

Tristan remained proud and competitive, although Ilya had come to respect the effort he put into maintaining his abilities.

For all his advantages, the fellow worked harder than many students who possessed only a fraction of his talent.

That was something worth respecting.

After separating from Elise, Ilya headed toward the department’s research wing.

Several new notices had been posted concerning the upcoming demonstrations, including invitations for students interested in applied magical engineering.

He was examining one of them when Solenne Vernet approached.

"Ilya. I thought you might be interested in these."

She handed him a notice concerning a series of research exhibitions scheduled to accompany the interdepartmental demonstrations.

Several laboratories intended to present experimental formations, improvements to existing magical devices, and developments in mana-based propulsion.

Ilya immediately recognized one of the names listed among the participating researchers.

Professor Antoine Rémy Chastellain.

His participation remained tentative.

That was understandable.

Antoine had only recently begun returning to his academic responsibilities after the tragedy at Saint Aurelia. Ilya doubted he was ready to resume public appearances, especially when his research remained closely associated with the work he had been conducting before his daughter’s death.

Still, seeing his name on the notice was encouraging.

Solenne had noticed his interest.

"You know Professor Chastellain quite well, don’t you?"

"Well enough. He’s been working on something interesting for a while."

"Magical propulsion?"

"Among other things."

Ilya explained the general principles behind the research, carefully avoiding details that Antoine hadn’t made public.

The professor had been investigating the possibility of using magical technology to reach extreme altitudes, where ordinary flight techniques became increasingly impractical.

It was an ambitious project.

Even experienced flying wizards faced limitations, and maintaining a stable magical formation under unfamiliar atmospheric conditions presented problems that conventional research had barely addressed.

Solenne listened with increasing interest.

Her family’s commercial connections had exposed her to numerous developments in magical engineering, although she admitted that she knew relatively little about high-altitude propulsion.

She wondered whether the technology might eventually have practical applications beyond research.

Ilya considered the question.

Transportation, exploration, military reconnaissance—the possibilities were extensive if the underlying problems could be solved.

Of course, that was easier said than done.

Antoine had devoted years to the subject without achieving a complete solution.

Nevertheless, Ilya found himself growing enthusiastic as they discussed it.

Solenne noticed.

"You really like this sort of thing, don’t you?"

"More than I expected."

She smiled.

"Then we should attend the exhibition together."

Ilya agreed.

They spent another few minutes examining the available research notices before returning to their respective schedules.

By the end of the afternoon, Ilya had acquired more things to look forward to than he originally anticipated.

The interdepartmental demonstrations promised opportunities to improve his practical abilities, while the research exhibitions offered a glimpse into developments he had only begun to understand.

And with Tristan preparing for their next engagement, he had plenty of reasons to continue training.

For the first time in a long while, Ilya felt that his future at Holy Trinity was taking shape.

There was still much to learn, and he intended to make the most of it.