Chapter 253: Dark Demon Opens the Era of Pencil Spinning (4k)
“Remote transmission and control of mana requires high-quality mana and excellent control capabilities. Normally, we can only learn this in our second year. However, there are some exceptionally talented individuals who can reach the required level within just one semester.”
Professor Kazel raised his wand and pointed at six students, including Dark, with a smile.
“This class is primarily for their benefit, but it will also be beneficial for everyone else here. Mastering mana control will make future studies much easier.”
“Enough chatter. I need a volunteer to help me demonstrate.”
Professor Kazel looked at the six students, scanning their faces, and finally chose Dark, who had the best quality and control of mana.
“Dark, come over here.”
Dark took two steps forward and stood before Professor Kazel.
Professor Kazel nodded approvingly and raised his wand. “Come on, extend your hand and gather mana to your fingertip.”
Dark extended his right hand, channeling mana to his index finger — the finger adorned with the magic ring given by Professor Kazel!
As mana gathered, a faint glow appeared at the tip of his index finger.
Professor Kazel touched the tip of his wand to Dark’s finger, drawing out a thread of mana and pulling it into a thin arc in the air.
The students below instantly fell silent, eyes wide as they stared intently at the thin line.
“The essence of remote transmission and control of mana is an application of mana manifestation.”
Professor Kazel spoke calmly.
“We release mana outward, forming a thread, and then elongate it, elongate it, and elongate it further, ensuring that the mana remains condensed without dispersing, stretching it to its limit.”
He began moving sideways, pulling the thread of mana longer and longer until it became almost invisible.
“If the quality of mana is insufficient, the thread will break during this process.”
He gently shook his wand, making the glowing transparent thread more noticeable.
“Fortunately, Dark’s mana quality is quite good.”
At this point, he released his hold on the wand, letting it hover in the air, then turned to Dark.
“Try controlling your mana and move this wand.”
…
Dark frowned slightly.
Manifesting mana is incredibly difficult.
Whether it’s a Magus, Mage, or Alchemist, anyone in a magical profession knows that mana is highly volatile.
The human body is the best carrier of mana, followed by gold and mercury.
Once mana is forced out of the body, it quickly dissipates.
This emission of light makes mana, an intangible substance, somewhat identifiable.
The stronger the emitted light, the more mana has escaped.
Therefore, wands, magic pens, and magic swords aren’t merely extensions of the arm.
To manifest even a thin thread of mana requires excellent control, preventing it from dissipating too quickly.
After obtaining the magic ring, Dark had attempted these techniques but still struggled with mana dispersion.
This time, successfully forming such a long, unbroken thread was entirely due to Professor Kazel’s guidance.
Though it seemed effortless, this guiding ability is actually quite powerful.
In contrast, manipulating the already formed mana thread to move the wand is much simpler.
Without considering “how to do it,” simply “wanting to do it” made the wand spin freely in the air.
“Ah!”
Professor Kazel exclaimed dramatically, then grabbed the wand by the handle. “Dark did very well! Now I regret having him do the first demonstration, because it might make you think moving a wand with mana is easy, which it isn’t. Tudor, you’re next.”
Tudor: “Uh…”
This clear attempt to use Tudor as a negative example left him feeling dejected.
He silently vowed to match Dark’s performance.
However, after Professor Kazel helped him form a shorter thread of mana, Tudor tried to move the wand with his own will, but instead threw it toward the ceiling, causing the mana thread to snap and vanish!
Laughter stifled beneath the stage.
Tudor’s face flushed red.
Professor Kazel waved his wand, recalling it, then nodded approvingly. “A great demonstration.”
Tudor’s face darkened.
The others on stage couldn’t help but suppress their laughter.
Professor Kazel then started explaining how to control mana to move objects and how to keep mana from dispersing, occasionally calling on students for demonstrations.
Dark listened attentively.
But after his first demonstration, he was sidelined because it was too perfect to serve as a proper example.
In contrast, Tudor, lacking in mana talent, became the focus of attention.
Of course, other students were also called upon.
Under Professor Kazel’s guidance, pulling out a thread of mana was a valuable experience.
Humans are adept at imitation and learning.
Having done it once, doing it again becomes easier.
Reading alone won’t achieve the same effect.
…
Half an hour later, the six students on stage were somewhat tired, and Professor Kazel distributed a small magic ball to each.
The core technique of using mana to manipulate a wand lies in interfering with the wand’s own mana.
Because the wand contains mana, it is easily moved.
This auxiliary teaching tool works on the same principle.
Professor Kazel smiled. “Try moving your magic balls with your own power.”
The six students attempted under the watchful eyes of dozens.
Without Professor Kazel’s guidance, merely releasing and forming a thread became extremely difficult.
It requires both mana control and mental strength.
Dark, who practiced “Technique of the Shadow God,” had superior mental strength compared to normal people.
His demonic blood also gave him a natural talent for mana.
Thus, he managed to turn the magic ball into a yo-yo in just two minutes, earning gasps of amazement.
Diana watched enviously.
Not that envy would help; if it did, everyone would be gods.
Determined, Diana buried herself in practice.
Slow birds fly early, diligence compensates for lack of skill.
Next to her…
Tudor, not wanting to fall behind, tossed the magic ball into the air, then spread his fingers, thumb and index finger pinched together, aiming at the ball and flicking it, seemingly trying to shoot out a thread of mana from his finger to catch the ball.
The gesture was impressive, but ineffective.
The magic ball dropped with a thud.
Knight Academy group.
Emma held the magic ball in her palm, deep in thought.
Justin and Wit believed in practical experience.
Wit held the magic ball, watching Dark manipulate it skillfully, feeling bitter.
Before meeting Pandora and Dark in the library, he wouldn’t have felt this way.
“At least I can’t lose to him too much!”
Wit clenched his teeth, pouring mana into his fingertip.
“Pfft!”
A soft sound.
The entire magic ball flew out, smashing into Professor Kazel’s forehead.
Just before contact, a defensive system reacted.
The ball bounced back.
“Bang!” It hit Wit’s left eye.
“Ahhh!”
…
Mana Theory ended amidst student discussions.
Except for occasional glances at Wit’s panda eyes, nothing was different.
“Don’t worry, Wit, it was just an accident.”
Robert tried to comfort the dejected Wit.
“I know it was an accident.” Wit gritted his teeth, “But this shouldn’t have happened!”
Robert shrugged. “Nothing should be unexpected. Look, Tudor also accidentally threw the ball.”
“That’s different!” Wit raised his head, pointing at his bruised eye, “His eyes didn’t get hurt like mine.”
Robert: “Alright, let’s go find Sister Carrian for some medicine.”
Wit: “Ahh!”
…
As fewer people remained in the classroom, Dark packed his books, preparing to leave.
Diana turned to him, worriedly asking, “Is this really going to work?”
Dark blinked, honestly saying, “I don’t know.”
Diana: “Huh?”
Rose chuckled.
Diana lowered her head, looking at her magic pen, troubled.
She hadn’t succeeded during the practice on the stage.
Actually, besides Dark, only Emma seemed to have grasped it slightly.
After the stage, Dark taught her a technique called “pencil spinning.”
By manipulating the magic pen up close and gradually increasing the distance, she could make the pen fly.
But this technique was purely something Dark came up with on the spot…
If someone else had done this, they might have angrily thrown the magic pen back into their bag.
But Diana trusted Dark unconditionally, continuing to practice “pencil spinning” even while carrying her bag.
They arrived at the cafeteria.
The three of them carried their trays to a wall-side table.
Diana spun her pen before and after eating.
Rose, watching for a while, couldn’t resist taking out her magic pen to try.
Learning more never hurts, whether it’s useful or not!
Besides, “pencil spinning” was actually quite fun.
…
In the afternoon potion class.
Professor Thompson slightly increased the difficulty.
St. Maryan’s teaching span varies greatly across periods.
The gap between the first and second semesters is manageable, but by second year, young magi discover all content feels like a step up.
In third year, the gap widens further.
This relates to the structure of magic knowledge and St. Maryan’s teaching style.
It’s neither early childhood education nor joy-based learning.
Self-motivation is crucial for achievement.
Beyond classroom content, utilizing the library is key to keeping up.
In this world, twelve is the last period of innocence.
From twelve to fourteen, both boys and girls mature rapidly.
During wartime, fourteen-year-olds inherit family businesses and start families, common occurrences.
However, in the relatively peaceful past decade, society relaxed expectations for children’s maturity, pushing “adulthood” from fourteen to sixteen.
There’s a trend toward eighteen.
But St. Maryan’s educational system hasn’t kept pace, retaining wartime teaching styles.
This is the inevitable lag of an ancient castle.
…
This difficult potion lesson left many students complaining about the heavy workload, overwhelming their thoughts.
Many suddenly realized it was a new term!
The library filled with vibrant first-year students.
Dark was among them, working harder than usual to finish his assignments quickly.
By 5:30 PM, he completed his homework and left the reading room amid reproachful looks from Diana and Rose.
“Clack.”
That was the sound of Diana’s failed “pencil spinning” pen falling on the desk.
Wit, catching sight of Dark’s back from a corner of the reading room, looked up opportunistically.
“You finished so quickly?”
Looking at his unfinished assignment, Wit scratched his head in frustration.
He turned, suddenly realizing Robert was ahead of him!
…
Struggling students scratched their heads.
Scholars celebrated all night.
…
Dark approached the counter.
Pandora waved when she saw him.
Dark walked inside, pulling a chair to sit beside her.
Pandora closed her book. “Wait a bit, Miss Bella will take over soon.”
Dark hesitated. “Sister, why not wait until the weekend…”
Pandora innocently asked, “Why wait until the weekend?”
Dark: “Now, I can only go to the cafeteria…”
Traveler’s Street is only open on weekends.
Since he wanted to thank her for helping, free cafeteria food wasn’t ideal.
Pandora seriously said, “You’re right. Then today’s meal is interest.”
