Surviving As A Mage In A Magic Academy [EN]: Chapter 87

What Perkuntraga was trying to do was elemental transformation, a kind of trick spirits use to show off their power.

The method was simple: to change one element into another.

It sounded simple, but it was not. Flame into ice, ice into lightning, lightning into darkness.

Every good wizard knew changing elements was amazing.

It was easier to make a new element than to just change one.

And this was not just any element, but one made by a wizard. That made changing it even more risky.

If it worked, someone could easily change a wizard’s fireball into an ice spear and send it back.

In other words, it showed great power. It was like changing the magic itself.

Since he failed, there was no sign it worked. Lee Han and Yoner were quietly talking about what Perkuntraga had done.

“I think he was trying to show us lightning,” Lee Han said.

“Lightning…? It was impressive, but what does that have to do with summoning fire?” Yoner wondered.

“Maybe he was trying to show the power of lightning in contrast? If lightning hits fire, the fire will scatter…” Lee Han guessed.

“Is that so? It doesn’t seem very effective,” Yoner replied.

“Behold! This lightning is my power!” Perkuntraga quickly said.

He had his pride and couldn’t admit failure to the young wizards.

Lee Han and Yoner nodded at the spirit’s words.

“So, he really was trying to show us lightning,” Lee Han said.

“But summoning the fire doesn’t seem very effective,” Yoner whispered.

“Shhh. A spirit’s feelings might be a little different,” Lee Han cautioned.

Perkuntraga gritted his teeth.

The young wizards’ honest thoughts made the powerful spirit feel even more humiliated.

‘Why…?’ Perkuntraga wondered.

Perkuntraga’s glowing eyes were fixed on the flame. It danced in front of Lee Han, a restless orange and yellow. Usually, a spirit like him could easily grab control of magic, even from wizards much older and stronger. He could twist their spells, change their fire to ice with a thought. But this small flame… he couldn’t even touch it. It was like trying to grab smoke.

Only then did Perkuntraga realize that something was strange about the flame Lee Han had summoned.

The outside was an ordinary flame, but inside, magic power that seemed ready to explode was condensed, smoldering and dormant.

It was like a dragon’s flame, ready to change with the wizard’s thought.

A cold shiver ran down Perkuntraga’s spine, making the hairs on his neck stand up.

Young wizards often made mistakes. Even when using simple fire magic, they would raise the heat too high or fail to keep the flame steady.

But these mistakes were usually not dangerous because the magic power was small.

But the young wizard in front of him was different.

What if that young wizard lost control and the flame went wild?

This closed punishment room would melt, and the two wizards would likely die instantly.

‘Why would he do something so reckless…?’ Perkuntraga thought, cursing inwardly.

Then he realized the cause was himself.

He had told Lee Han to gather magic power and make it destructive.

So, the young wizard had gathered as much magic power as possible and created a destructive flame, just as he had been told.

On top of that, Perkuntraga had even tried to take control.

When someone tries to take control, a wizard will grip it tightly. Because of that, the magic power must have surged.

‘I made a mistake…! I should have realized the magic power was so high!’ Perkuntraga thought.

Now, Perkuntraga’s pride didn’t matter. He had to somehow cancel the flame without embarrassing the young wizard.

“You… you saw how great my lightning was, right?” Perkuntraga asked.

“Yes. It was really amazing. So, if you could open the way now…” Lee Han said, half sincere and half trying to flatter him to get out quickly.

Perkuntraga wanted to curse, but he couldn’t because there was still a ball of fire in front of Lee Han.

If he cursed, the young wizard might get upset, which would affect the flame and make it go wild!

“Wait! I will open the way. I promise!” Perkuntraga said.

“Really?” Lee Han was puzzled.

The spirit was being more friendly than he had expected.

He thought he would be more difficult.

‘Well, a spirit isn’t a professor,’ Lee Han thought.

Lee Han thought he might have misjudged the spirit.

“So, don’t panic. Stay calm. Don’t be scared. Got it? If you understand, say you understand,” Perkuntraga said.

“…?” Lee Han said.

“”, Yoner said.

Perkuntraga was not good at talking. Lee Han and Yoner knew something was wrong.

‘Why is he being like this?’ Lee Han wondered.

“Is there a problem?” Lee Han asked.

“There’s no problem! I said there’s no problem!” Perkuntraga replied.

Lee Han tilted his head and shook his wand, moving the flame to the side.

Perkuntraga was so surprised that he almost screamed. He could barely hold it in.

“D… Don’t shake the wand,” Perkuntraga stammered.

“?” Lee Han said.

Lee Han wondered if it was because of the tree spirit in the wand, so he picked up the wand and looked at it.

“Don’t shake it…! I said… don’t??” Perkuntraga tried to shout but held back. It would be more dangerous if Lee Han was surprised.

“Why?” Lee Han asked.

Perkuntraga was really frustrated. He wanted to tell them how dangerous that flame was.

But if he did, the panicked young wizards could cause more accidents.

“I… I don’t like you waving your wand in front of me,” Perkuntraga said.

“”.”

Lee Han and Yoner looked annoyed. Perkuntraga could tell what they were thinking.

They thought Perkuntraga was a strange spirit!

But there was no time to argue.

The longer that flame stayed there, the higher the chance of it going out of control. He had to make them cancel that flame by any means possible.

‘But how?’ Perkuntra thought hard, his mind racing. *If I tell him to stop the flames… no, he’ll ask why! Then he’ll get upset, and the flames will get worse! Oh no!* Suddenly, a new idea popped into his head. ‘Wait a minute…’ He spoke quickly, ‘I’ll make a deal with you!’

Lee Han blinked, staring at the spirit. *Is this spirit crazy?* he wondered. He wasn’t sure he wanted to make friends with a spirit who seemed to change his mind so quickly.

“Um…,” Lee Han said slowly, “Could you tell me *why* you changed your mind?”

Perkuntra felt a jolt of anger. *Grateful? This boy should be on his knees with gratitude!* But he didn’t have time for pride. “Listen,” Perkuntra said, trying to sound calm but failing, “I see… I see amazing power in you! Huge power!”

“Huh?” Lee Han frowned. “What power?”

Perkuntra’s sudden praise made him even more suspicious.

Yoner, the red-haired wizard, leaned closer to Lee Han and whispered, “He *does* seem a bit strange.”

“A bit?” Lee Han whispered back. “He’s talking nonsense.”

Perkuntra, hearing them, burst out, “Your magic! It’s incredible! Like nothing I’ve ever seen! Don’t you know how powerful you are?”

“But… you just said you *wouldn’t* make a contract because of my magic,” Lee Han pointed out, confused. “And I don’t even know you.”

“That was *before*!” Perkuntra cried, his voice rising. “I understand now! Just make the contract! Quickly! The flames—” He stopped, his voice tight with worry.

Lee Han hesitated again. *Crazy or not,* he thought, *this spirit is powerful.*

*Maybe this is my only chance,* Lee Han thought. “Okay,” he said, “I’ll make a contract.”

“Excellent!” Perkuntra cried. “Open your mind to me!”

Suddenly, words seemed to rush into Lee Han’s head, not spoken aloud, but felt deep inside. And then, he knew the spirit’s true name: “Perkuntra,” he whispered. *A lightning spirit. No wonder he’s so… energetic.*

Even as the thought crossed his mind, Perkuntra’s voice boomed in his head, “-I can hear you thinking! Stop that! We are partners now. Partners, understand? Not master and servant.”

“I understand,” Lee Han said quickly. “I wouldn’t dream of it.”

“Good,” Perkuntra said, his voice a little calmer now. “And listen carefully. Don’t summon me unless you really need me. Using my power takes a lot from you…” He paused, then added, almost as an afterthought, “…and from me! We are not toys to be played with when you are bored.”

“I won’t,” Lee Han promised. *And honestly,* he thought, *I don’t really want to see you too often anyway.*

Perkuntra seemed to sense this again. “Just remember,” he grumbled, “I am doing this to help you.”

Then, his tone changed again, becoming excited. “Now! Let me show you what I can do!”

“What are you going to do?” Lee Han asked, curious despite himself.

With a shout, Perkuntra seemed to melt into Lee Han’s arm, becoming a tingling warmth. “Release the flames!” Perkuntra yelled in his mind. “Stop them now!”

Lee Han, surprised by the urgency, simply focused his will, and the flames vanished as easily as blowing out a candle.

Perkuntra let out a long, shaky breath of relief.

“You—you reckless boy!” Perkuntra sputtered, still sounding angry but also a little shaky. “Do you have any idea how dangerous that was? Foolish, foolish wizard!” He puffed himself up, trying to look imposing, but Yoner, still looking bewildered, asked, “Wait a minute… but weren’t *you* the one who told him to make the magic so strong and fiery?”

Perkuntra froze. He opened his mouth, then closed it again. He looked from Yoner to Lee Han, then back again. Silence hung in the air.

Lee Han and Yoner exchanged glances. *He’s got nothing to say,* Lee Han thought, trying not to smile.

Perkuntra cleared his throat loudly. “Well, anyway!” he said, trying to sound firm again. “Never do that again! It was incredibly dangerous! This whole room could have melted! I am serious!”

Lee Han could hear the real worry in Perkuntra’s voice now. He remembered Professor Garcia’s warning about fire magic. *He was right,* Lee Han realized. *I could have been badly hurt.*

“I understand,” Lee Han said seriously. “I won’t do it again.”

Perkuntra seemed relieved. “Good. Remember, talent is nothing if you are careless…”

“But,” Lee Han interrupted, “if you hadn’t told me to do it in the first place, none of this would have happened.”

Perkuntra’s eyes widened slightly. Lee Han pressed on, “Now that we have a contract, can you tell me why you told me to gather magic like that? What were you trying to do?”

Perkuntra looked around quickly, as if searching for an escape. “Look!” he said suddenly, pointing to the wall. “A new way out! Stairs! Let’s go!”

A section of the wall slid open, revealing a staircase leading upwards. But Lee Han didn’t move. He just looked at Perkuntra, waiting for an answer.

Perkuntra panicked. “Oh, look at the time!” he exclaimed, his voice high-pitched. “The sun is up! You two should be in class!”

“Class?” Yoner asked, confused.

“Yes! Class!” Perkuntra insisted. “Basic Imperial Geometry and Arithmetic! Friday morning! Don’t you remember?”

Lee Han and Yoner stared at each other, then at Perkuntra, then back at each other.

“Oh no!” Lee Han gasped. “Friday morning!”

Yoner’s eyes widened in alarm. “We’re going to be late!”