Embracing Magic - E.M Chapter 25 (Part 2)

From afar, Instructor Serion appeared, wearing his characteristic blue robe. In his left hand, he was holding a staff for the first time in a while.

“Is everyone here?”

“Yes, Instructor.”

“Today, like before, we’ll practice casting magic while moving. The 4th batch is new to moving casting, so step aside. The rest, continue your practice.”

Following Instructor Serion’s instructions, the trainees ran around the training ground. They fired basic spells at the scarecrows prepared in the center of the ground.

Moving casting was a class that had been conducted during magic practice time for the past three months.

Moving casting had nothing to do with magical talent. Even those with excellent magical talent often mispronounced runes or messed up formula calculations while moving.

In this area, Rodin showed a moderately average ability. Although he had already completed the formula calculations, he delayed, and sometimes deliberately mispronounced runes to fail the casting.

While the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd batches ran around the training ground using magic, Instructor Serion taught moving casting to the 4th batch.

The key to moving casting was quick formula calculations, concentration, and composure.

Among these, formula calculations could be solved through repetition. Even if the spells scattered everywhere initially, repeating dozens or hundreds of times would give a rough sensory answer.

However, the mental aspects of concentration and composure had clear limits. They weren’t things that could improve just by teaching.

A naturally restless and clumsy personality could never perform moving casting.

In this respect, the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd batches were all satisfactory. Although they weren’t learning moving casting extremely quickly, they were managing at a reasonably decent pace.

“From here, run in order and use Magic Arrow on the target on the left.”

Instructor Serion crossed his arms and watched the trainees use their magic.

There was nothing to point out in the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd batches. Although a bit slow, it was a matter of familiarity. They would get much faster once they got the hang of it through continuous practice.

He turned his gaze to the 4th batch trainees.

“This side isn’t bad either.”

The Special Corps Training Center required the children to be mentally mature when buying them. Thanks to that, the children generally had good concentration.

“But 155th. Sigh, it’s a bit disappointing.”

Instructor Serion’s gaze fixed on the

155th of the 4th batch. He was seen fumbling with his magic more than his peers.

“Can pros and cons be this stark? This is frustrating.”

The 155th had many strengths.

The best magical talent of the batch, astonishing combat sense, excellent memorization. Based on strengths alone, he was undoubtedly a promising talent for the future.

The problem was that his weaknesses were also fatal.

Hopelessly slow formula calculations, abysmal spell visualization skills.

Two of the three key components of casting were in shambles.

“Is it too much to hope for another case like 108th?”

The 108th had no particular weaknesses. Although the magic power was said to be his only weakness, it wasn’t much different from the magic power of others.

The magic used by the 108th was roughly 80% the power of what other batches used. This slight loss was more than compensated for by his fast casting speed and accuracy.

“How can we eliminate 155th’s shortcomings?”

The 155th’s overwhelming magical talent led to a rapid rise in circles. Apart from the 108th of the 3rd batch, he was bound to maintain the highest rank among the trainees.

Moreover, his combat sense was so remarkable that during duels, he pinpointed the exact moments to attack and defend with sharp precision. His combat style was akin to that of a battle mage with ten years of experience.

His memorization was excellent, and he quickly learned the runes needed for spell chanting. Quick rune acquisition meant rapid spell learning.

“Lack of imagery must be due to inexperience. It’ll improve with age.”

Thinking about the 155th made the 108th seem even more remarkable.

Despite being much younger, his spell forms were incredibly consistent and clear.

This required drawing the image of the realized spell in the mind with absolute precision and no errors.

“Is it ultimately a math problem? Sigh, is it similar to my past?”

Instructor Serion didn’t like math either. He still hated it, but in his childhood, when he first learned magic, he detested it immensely.

“I should talk to Instructor Kruper. If he gets on his case, it’ll work out somehow.”

The 1st, 2nd, and 3rd batch trainees had already run five laps around the training ground. The 4th batch was now on their third lap.

“Huff, huff!”

One of the 4th batch trainees, who had fallen behind, was panting heavily. His stamina was at its limit, and his legs were shaking.

“155th has another shortcoming.”

The 4th batch trainee who was on the verge of collapse was the 155th. At some point, he had stopped casting spells altogether.

“Hmm, this needs to be addressed immediately.”

Even mages needed a certain level of physical ability. They didn’t need muscles like swordsmen, but they couldn’t be so frail that it hindered their performance.

“I heard that very few magic majors participate in morning exercises. Didn’t expect it to be this bad.”

Once the major was decided, trainees could choose whether to participate in morning exercises. This was because some people had notably high training efficiency in the morning, so the choice was given.

Most of the swordsmanship majors participated in morning exercises. Unless someone had extremely high training efficiency in the morning, participating in morning exercises was almost mandatory.

However, there were hardly any magic or spirit major trainees who participated in morning exercises.

None from the 1st and 2nd batches participated, and from the 3rd batch, only Rodin did. Especially Rodin, who never missed a morning exercise.

Some from the 4th batch participated in morning exercises, but not daily. They would participate if they happened to wake up early; otherwise, they wouldn’t.

“Alright! Stop. Gather around.”

Seeing the exhausted trainees, Instructor Serion stopped the training.

At Instructor Serion’s announcement, the 1st and 2nd batch trainees, who had been running from the start, panted heavily. They staggered toward Serion.

The 4th batch trainees, who had run less, were relatively okay.

Except for a few, including the 155th, who looked like they were about to die, most walked normally to gather.

“For the remaining time, we will have a magic discussion…”

“In-Instructor. Huff. Huff.”

“Speak up. 155th.”

“Aren’t we having duels?”

Panting heavily, the 155th continued to glare at Rodin.

Instructor Serion couldn’t help but notice where the 155th’s eyes were directed.

“Duels, huh… We don’t have duels scheduled for today, but if you insist, I won’t stop you. But! You know the rules?”

“You can’t challenge those with lower ranks than yourself. Understood.”

A higher-ranked mage couldn’t challenge a lower-ranked one. This rule was to prevent using it as a means to bully the weak. The reverse, however, was allowed.

“Good. Who do you want to challenge?”

“I want to fight the 108th senior.”

“Oh, someone who has learned magic a year longer than you?”

“I must face him.”

The eyes of the 4th batch’s 155th were burning. The other 4th batch trainees were cheering.

There was no stopping this atmosphere.

“108th?”

“Understood.”

Hyung_Otaku2

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