Chapter 85 - 12: A Different Kind of Lesson

Chapter 85: Chapter 12: A Different Kind of Lesson

Ordinary.

Weak.

Like an ant he could crush without a second thought.

That was Leo’s entire impression of Lilia.

’A girl like that... Why does Victor give her special treatment? Why has she caused me and Veronica so much trouble?’

Across from him.

Lilia picked up on the name immediately.

"Rockwell."

’Is he talking about Victor?’

’I was just thinking that Leo’s punishment of Wade was a bit severe. True, I’m a Princess now, but that’s in name only. Even if I had complained to Veronica, she probably would have just put on a show and dealt with it casually—a few scolding words, a fine, or maybe a suspension.’

’My original plan had been to get Veronica’s attention this way, then win her over with my formidable Magic Talent.’

’But I never expected... Leo to directly strip the Wade family of their noble title.’

’The punishment couldn’t have been more severe. It was obvious he was holding back his anger.’

’And that anger...’

’...seemed to be directed at me.’

Lilia contemplated this, but her expression remained serene.

The delicate-looking girl smiled, her pretty eyes curving as she said in a sweet voice, "Thank you, Veronica. Thank you, Leo."

"Don’t call me ’brother’ in that voice."

"It’s sickening," Leo said with disgust.

Veronica wasn’t as blunt as him, but her words and actions were just as distant, making it clear she wanted nothing to do with Lilia. "You, come with me."

"For what?" Lilia asked.

"You’ll know when we get there."

Veronica couldn’t be bothered to explain. She was about to turn and leave, but then she remembered something.

She glanced back at Lilia’s clothes.

They were old, restrictive, and utterly plebeian—she looked worse off than the maids standing beside her.

’If I bring her before Mr. Rockwell like this, he might think we’re deliberately ostracizing her.’

Veronica stopped and changed direction.

Ignoring Leo’s repeated questions, she led Lilia to her own bedchambers.

...

About half an hour later.

Lilia had not only changed her clothes but had also been attended to by the maids for a petal-infused bath.

’...As expected of the Royal Family. They have a sense of ceremony for everything.’

Lilia wore a pale green long dress chosen for her by the maid, Sophie. Her black hair cascaded over her shoulders, accentuating her small, palm-sized face, making it look as delicate and beautiful as an expensive doll in a shop window.

Seeing the newly dressed girl, Veronica gave a slight nod.

’Now she looks a bit like a Princess.’

’At least no one will mistake her for being abused now.’

Beside them, Leo’s jaw dropped, and the pastry in his hand nearly fell onto his plate.

’Is... is that the same grimy, dusty little girl from before?’

’Did they swap her out for a different person in the bathroom?’

When Lilia approached, Veronica rose from her chair. Along with a still-in-disbelief Leo, she led Lilia to the training grounds.

Victor and Chris were still waiting there.

Seeing the girl trailing behind the two, Chris’s expression didn’t change, but his light brown eyes suddenly lit up.

’A pretty, frail little sister... She looks even easier to bully now.’

Lilia didn’t notice his gaze; her eyes were fixed on Victor in the distance.

’...So it’s true. Today’s events really are related to him.’

Once everyone had gathered, Lilia finally understood why Veronica and Leo had been required to bring her here.

To study Magic with Victor.

A wave of emotion washed over her.

’This is... quite nostalgic.’

Since it was their first lesson, Victor, as their teacher, naturally needed to first understand each student’s talent.

Hearing this requirement, Veronica immediately took a step forward.

The titles "Outstanding Graduate of the Royal Capital Magic Academy," "A-Rank Magic Talent Genius," and "Youngest Second Order Mage of the Seville Royal Family" were on the tip of her tongue. But then she saw Victor pull several translucent Demon Crystals from his open Space Pocket.

Sealed within the Demon Crystals were tiny seeds.

"Is that... an ash tree seed?"

Unlike her, Leo and the others had remained at the Royal Court to be taught by a dedicated court magician. They might not have seen this kind of tool, which was specifically used for testing Magic Power stability, but as a student of the Magic Academy, Veronica couldn’t be more familiar with it.

Victor held up a seed. "This is a ripened ash tree seed, sealed within a Demon Crystal one cubic centimeter in size."

"If you slowly channel Magic Power into it, the seed will quickly germinate, sprout, and grow into a complete seedling."

"Your first task today is to sprout this seed and demonstrate your talent and strength to me."

"Now..."

Victor scanned the students present. "Who wants to go first? Or should we proceed in order of age?"

Veronica spoke up. "Let’s go by age."

Lilia and Chris had no objections. Leo, having never done a similar test, naturally chose to wait and see.

Veronica stepped forward. After a moment of silence, she finally said, "Mr. Rockwell, I know you wish to test our abilities, but a basic training exercise like this is something that I, Leo, or Chris could all complete easily—and perfectly."

"I’m afraid it will be difficult to differentiate our skill levels with a test like this."

’As for Lilia...’

’Ever since she was brought back to the Royal Court at the age of six, she’s been allowed to run wild like a stray cat. Being compared to her was an insult.’

Victor didn’t respond, simply placing the ash tree seed in her hand.

Veronica’s brow furrowed, but in the end, she didn’t say anything more.

Just as she was about to channel Magic Power into the Demon Crystal, Victor spoke. "Don’t hold it in your hand."

Veronica froze for a second, then snapped her head up.

"Place it on the ground."

Victor added with a cool expression, "And step back to a distance of one meter from the Demon Crystal."

"Also, there is no time limit, and no limit to the amount of Magic Power you can input. The taller the seedling grows, the higher your score for this lesson will be."

’Of course, that’s assuming... they can actually do it.’

Only then did Veronica understand the real nature of this test.

Channeling Magic Power into a Demon Crystal from a meter away wasn’t difficult. Any Mage could do it. You just had to guide the free-floating Elemental Particles in the air and make them converge on the Demon Crystal, just like when casting a spell.

The problem was... a one-cubic-centimeter Demon Crystal could only hold a single Mana of Magic Power!

And any externally projected spell would mobilize far more Elemental Particles than that.

Unlike one’s own Magic Power, not even Middle-level or High-level Mages necessarily have perfect control over Elemental Particles.

Forcing the seed to sprout by casting a spell would lead to only one result.

—An explosion.

If anyone could pull this off, it would have to be a Mage with extremely high Elemental Affinity and equally high control over their Magic Power.

’But does such a person... truly exist?’