'Has this guy lost it...?'

Such were the thoughts of everyone in the classroom as they stared at Leon who had abruptly stood up at the opportunity of becoming the stand-up for the talent show.

I shared similar thoughts with the others.

'This guy is biting more than he can chew.'

What comedian?

He hardly even changed his expression. Furthermore, he always seemed to be against my jokes.

With someone who had no sense of humor, how could he even be a comedian?

"Are there any objections?"

The class was quiet from that point. Nobody seemed to have any objections. Mainly because it was Leon who had volunteered.

One could argue his voice held more weight than mine.

On the other side of the classroom, Professor Bridgette seemed shocked by Leon's sudden decision to take part in the role.

But she was quickly delighted.

"If it's you, then it would be amazing! With your reputation and look, the seats will be filled in no time."

"....Ah, yes."

Leon nodded. Was it just me or did it seem somewhat awkward?

'Wait...?'

A sudden thought crossed me and I felt my brows furrow.

I turned to look at the professor who was mumbling to herself.

"Yeah, this is great... I'll let the organizers know so that they can put it on the list..."

"Professor."

I interrupted her thoughts.

All of a sudden I felt the eyes of all present directed towards me.

"Julien? Is there something you'd like to add?"

"Yes."

I nodded and turned to look at Leon whose eyes started to widen slightly.

".....I'm just a little skeptical. Is he capable of making jokes? I would like to hear something fro--"

Snap--

I was interrupted by a small snapping sound. When I turned to look, I noticed that the pen in Leon's hand had snapped in half.

His expression remained the same.

"Leon...?"

When Professor Bridgette addressed him, his expression changed a little as he looked at his pen.

"It snapped."

"I can see that."

"A mystery."

The fuck is this guy on about?

He was about to say something else when she cut him off.

"But Julien has a point. Do you have anything to share? A small sample?"

I added fuel to the fire.

"I'd be willing to take his place if he doesn't wa--"

Snap--!

The pen snapped into smaller pieces.

"I'll do it."

I held onto my stomach. It was cramping for some reason.

"Kh."

"That's great."

The Professor seemed even more excited. Clap--! Clap--! She clapped twice to gather the attention of everyone in the class.

"If everyone would quiet down for a second. I'd like us to hear a sample."

The classroom fell silent then. With all eyes on Leon, he stood rigidly on his spot.

I too looked at him.

I was curious. He seemed to always trash my jokes. How much better were his jokes to think that?

"I..."

He silently swallowed before looking around. Then, clenching his fists, he lowered his head to mumble something.

"...do... call... fish... eyes..."

Given how low his voice was, it was hard to understand what he was trying to say.

"I couldn't quite catch that. What did you say?"

"....."

I watched as Leon's jaw tensed under the Professor's words. Then, as if he has resigned himself to his fate, he spoke,

"What do you call a fish with no eyes?"

I felt my eyes widen all of a sudden.

It couldn't be...

".....fsh."

"...."

"....."

The entire class was engulfed in a strange silence as the eyes of all those present widened.

The way some people looked at Leon changed. Especially Professor Bridgette who seemed taken aback.

Leon on the other hand tried his best to keep his expression straight.

"Hmm."

In the silence that ensued after he said his joke, I found myself frowning intensely. I felt a sudden sense of crisis.

This guy...

"...He stole my joke."

What bullshit.

It was one of my favorites too.

"Ah, this..."

Following the awkward silence that plunged the classroom, Professor Bridgette forced a smile.

"Well, it was a great attempt."

Her words also seemed rather forced.

"Ehm, so... I'll talk to the comedy club. We'll.. ah, see how things will go from there. I'll let you know then, okay?"

"...Yes."

Leon quietly nodded his head before sitting down. I took a moment to look around me. Everyone was staring at Leon with complicated expressions. It was as though they couldn't believe he had actually done what he did.

I was taken aback.

'Was the joke not good...?'

"Ah."

And then I understood.

Delivery.

".....He messed up his delivery."

Snap--!

*

The class proceeded from there. For now, Professor Bridgette left the festival selection list by the podium saying something along the lines of, 'We'll figure this out later... I'll talk with the other departments. You can come fill it up whenever you want. Even after class.'

Nobody brought up the situation since.

The class began.

"Spells. What do we know about spells?"

A hand raised immediately the moment the Professor asked the question. I didn't need to turn to know who it was.

"Aoife."

Who else would it be but her?

With stellar grades in almost everything, she would've been the Black Star if not for me and Leon.

"As we know, there are five stages to a spell. Beginner, intermediate, advanced, superior, and perfected."

"Yes, and what else?"

"The difference among spell categories lies in the number of runes each possesses. Beginner spells comprise twelve runes, while intermediate spells include eighteen. Advanced spells entail twenty-four runes. Superior spells contain thirty runes, and finally, perfected spells consist of precisely forty runes."

I paid close attention to the words that were being said. Although I knew it, it was still important.

"Correct."

Professor Bridgette clapped enthusiastically.

"As expected of you Aoife. Well done."

Just then, when I turned around, faintly, I saw the corner of Aoife's lips pull up. She tried to hide it, but it was obvious that she was happy with the praise.

It was kind of cute.

"Now then..."

The lecture continued.

"Since everyone already knows the basics, I'll ask a different question."

Professor Bridgette looked around the classroom.

"Who here can tell me the requirements for learning an intermediate spell and up?"

A hand raised up again.

It was Aoife again.

"....Aoife."

"The requirement corresponds to your tier."

She went on to give a detailed explanation.

"An Apprentice is restricted to learning beginner-type spells due to their low mana capacity. A Master Mage can advance to learning Intermediate ranked spells. High wizards are eligible for advanced-ranked spells. Arch-Wizards have access to superior ranked spells, while only a Monarch can harness a Perfected ranked spell."

I frowned all of a sudden.

There was something about her explanation that didn't quite make sense to me.

Her next words served to prove that.

"It's crucial not to waste too much time learning too many spells. After all, mastering even one spell requires a significant investment of time, and as you progress, the number of spells you'll need to learn only increases."

What sort of...

I felt my brows furrow further.

A lot of the information that was being said I knew. However, it wasn't as though I knew everything.

I had been learning a lot of stuff, but not everything.

That was why I suddenly raised my hand. There was something that was bugging me.

"Julien? Do you have a question?"

".....I do."

Sorting out my thoughts, I suddenly asked.

"Can spells be upgraded?"

The thing was...

I actually was already capable of using an intermediate-ranked spell.

[Sadness]

At tier 1, I was still an apprentice-ranked mage. To become a Master Mage I needed to reach Tier 3.

Was it just because the Emotive Field was different? But then...

Hands of Malady Lvl. 1 [18%]

Chains of Alakantria Lvl. 1 [0%]

Why...?

Why was there a Lvl. 1 written beside the two spells? No, all my spells...?

Could it be...

"Upgrade a spell?"

My thoughts were broken by the Professor who tilted her head and looked at me strangely. She wasn't the only one who looked at me like that. Half of the class was.

Some were frowning, while others were looking at me weirdly.

I knew the answer then.

But the Professor continued.

"....It's not possible. You can't upgrade a spell from beginner to intermediate. As you know, spells have different sets of runes. All runes are connected and form a perfect balance. Adding more would simply destroy the spell."

"Ah."

I unknowingly let out a strange sound.

It suddenly struck me then.

My spells...

"I see, thank you."

I could upgrade them.

'This..."

I felt my heart race at the thought and all noise from my surroundings drowned out.

'I didn't pay much attention to it because of everything else that I was learning, but my spells..... they can be upgraded. And I'm the only one that can do it...'

What did that mean? Why me?

And what would happen if the spells upgraded?

Would they change to a fundamental level, or would they remain the same but stronger?

The sadness spell went from only working when touching to working with just my voice.

What would happen if it were upgraded further?

"Huh."

The thought suddenly made my breath feel heavier.

I quietly called up the status window to look, and another thought suddenly crossed me.

Would it be possible for me to learn intermediate-ranked spells as an Apprentice? If so...

I silently gulped.

Clap! Clap! It was the sudden sound of hands being clapped that broke me out of my thoughts and I looked up. Professor Bridgette was smiling, looking at the clock on the right side of the classroom.

"We've got thirty minutes left to class. I think that's enough for me today. I'll give you the remaining thirty minutes to practice your spells for yourself. I'll be observing from here, and if you have any questions feel free to ask me."

She went on to sort out several documents at the podium. I stared at her figure for a few seconds before lowering my head.

There was still a spell I hadn't unlocked.

[Chains of Alakantra]

I had been at it for the past month and failed each time. I could practice [Hands of Malady] to push it to intermediate, but after thinking about it, I discarded the thought.

That process was going to take time.

On the other hand,I was almost able to unlock my last spell.

I could feel it.

"....."

Taking a look at the time and Professor, I decided to immerse myself in my spell.

It was time I finally learned this spell.

***

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