Surviving As A Mage In A Magic Academy [EN]: Chapter 91

Perkunt made a strange, silly noise. It was the kind of annoying thing he often did.

Other wizards, even those who weren’t very skilled, would often brag. They’d say things like, ‘I can do it! What do you know, spirit? Watch me! I won’t die!’ And then they would fail. But Ihan, even though he *was* skilled, would say things like, ‘I don’t think I can do it,’ or ‘Why are you being so careless?’ or ‘Is this easy for you because it’s not *your* problem?’ Being too humble can be annoying too…

Real confidence comes from understanding the situation clearly, not just from someone saying ‘good job’.

Now, focus and do as I say!

Perkunt didn’t answer Ihan and just said what he had to say. He realized that arguing would only make him angry.

Think of lightning in your mind, like you did with fire and water.

This is the basic way to use elemental magic.

Picture the element strongly and make your magic power become like that element.

This change is the first step in elemental magic.

But lightning was a bit different.

Don’t picture lightning crashing down from the sky!

The image of lightning that wizards most easily imagine is lightning flashing and crashing down from the sky.

However, when changing your magic to the lightning element, thinking of lightning like that is dangerous.

To use magic, wizards need to keep their magical power steady and controlled. But lightning is the opposite. It’s wild and hard to control.

Fire, water, and ice can stay in one spot.

But lightning is always moving. It flashes and then disappears.

It’s destined to scatter in all directions after striking from the sky.

If a young wizard carelessly imagined lightning and changed their magic to the lightning element, they could quickly lose control and cause lightning to shoot out randomly in all directions.

Perkunt remembered almost being destroyed by Ihan’s fire in the punishment room. He knew he had to be very careful with lightning.

Looking at this young wizard’s magic power, even a small accident could be a big problem.

I know what you’re thinking. How can you imagine lightning *without* thinking of lightning? It sounds strange, right? But many wizards who use lightning magic have found ways to do it! You will too. A real wizard doesn’t just accept things as they are. They change things with their will! Now, give me your arm.

Of course, Perkunt wasn’t a stupid spirit who just said reckless things without a plan, as Ihan thought.

He knew Ihan was talented, but it was still very hard for a young wizard to handle the lightning element without practice.

Of course, he had a plan.

Like he did in the punishment room, he would help control the lightning by dwelling in Ihan’s arm.

He had lost most of his power when he was summoned, but it was still enough.

But…

*Suddenly, a crackling sound filled the air – Bzzzt!*

“-I did it,” Ihan said, surprised. “Can I give you my arm now?”

Perkunt stared, amazed. A ball of crackling lightning glowed at the end of Ihan’s wand. Ihan had already changed his magic to lightning and kept it steady, all before Perkunt could even help him! ‘How is this possible?’ Perkunt wondered.

Unlike Perkunt’s shock, Ihan didn’t find it too hard to handle the lightning element.

From the start, Ihan thought differently than other wizards.

Ihan approached it simply.

The fact that he couldn’t imagine lightning wasn’t a problem at all.

Ihan thought simply. He pictured a ball of magic on his wand and imagined it like a container for electricity. It was such an easy idea for him!

He just imagined electricity filling the ball, like charging it up. It wasn’t hard at all.

Maybe his method worked well, and that’s why he succeeded right away.

In fact, he felt even more stable than with other elements…

‘This is easier than I expected. You were making a big deal out of it,’ Ihan thought, a little rudely.

Now that he thought about it, Perkunt had been quite fussy since they met in the punishment room.

The fire too…

“-Wow… you’re really talented with lightning!” Perkunt said, impressed.

“-Really?” Ihan replied, sounding bored.

After hearing compliments about his magic a few times, he started to get suspicious.

Was Perkunt just being polite?

Maybe spirits always said, ‘You’re talented at X!’ to make young wizards feel confident.

And Perkunt could sense his lack of interest.

Perkunt was stunned.

It was rare for a spirit like Perkunt to give compliments.

“-Do you think I’m lying?! You really are talented!”

“-Yes… well, maybe.”

Ihan thought he might be talented with lightning because he studied so hard, or that lightning magic wasn’t as hard as he thought.

Maybe 99% the latter…

“-But when are you coming to my arm?”

Ihan asked as if he was curious.

Perkunt had asked to borrow his arm but was just standing still.

Was something wrong?

“-Wait, wait. I’m going to dwell in your arm now!” Perkunt said. *Perkunt suddenly felt like he was sinking into Ihan’s arm, a strange but familiar sensation.* ‘I hope he doesn’t have amnesia too,’ Ihan thought. ‘If he has mood swings *and* forgets things, summoning him might be a bad idea, even if he’s strong.’ Just as Ihan thought this, Perkunt settled into his arm.

“-From now on, focus on the spell I’m teaching you.”

Perkunt was trying to pass on his magic to Ihan.

The magic of spirits was wild and unpredictable, but if the powerful spirit Perkunt lent his arm, even a beginner wizard could use it well.

Perkunt wanted to teach Ihan ‘Lesser Lightning,’ a 2-circle spell.

It was simple: change your magic to lightning and blast it out!

No need to shape it like an arrow or spear, or add anything fancy.

Lightning itself was powerful enough.

“-This spell seems big enough… but will it just make the monster angrier?” Ihan asked.

“-Just listen to me, okay? I’m older than you! Stop arguing!” Perkunt snapped, sounding annoyed.

It was good that Ihan wasn’t arrogant, but he was so humble that Perkunt was getting annoyed.

Ihan didn’t agree right away. Perkunt finally realized that the only way to get this stubborn contractor to listen was to use logic and reason.

“-Listen,” Perkunt said seriously. “Lightning is the most destructive element, the most violent.” *’It sounds different when a lightning spirit says that,’* Ihan thought. “-Other elements aren’t easy to use for attack by themselves,” Perkunt continued. Ihan nodded. He knew that to attack with water magic, you had to do more than just make water. You had to shape it, control it, make it into a sphere or a spear.

“-But fire is also…” Ihan started to say.

“-No shapes! No aiming!” Perkunt interrupted. “Just hit it! That’s all you need to do!”

That summoned beast was originally an ordinary plant monster, but the students had fused it with various monsters, giving it very complex abilities. But because of that, lightning would work even better.

Think about it,” Perkunt said, more calmly now. “You want to save the students, right? Not kill the monster? -Right,” Ihan agreed. “-Then Lesser Lightning is perfect! When it hits, the monster will drop the students instantly. Lightning will shock it and scare it! It’s already full of magic power, so it will probably run away if you attack it!”

‘That’s persuasive.’

Ihan was convinced by Perkunt’s logic. He wasn’t an old spirit for nothing.

>Perkunt’s Lesser Lightningwas similar to the >Lesser Paralysis CurseIhan knew.

It was the same in that it just changed magic power into an element and blasted it away, and it also had the power to paralyze the opponent.

The difference was that >Perkunt’s Lesser Lightningdid more physical damage and didn’t leave an opening, unlike curses that were easy to avoid or block.

It was very effective in the current situation.

“-Okay, I’ll do it!” Ihan said.

“-Finally! It took you long enough!” Perkunt grumbled.

Ihan ignored him, raised his wand, and spoke the words of the spell.

“-Strike down, Perkunt’s Lightning!”

“-Well done…” Perkunt started to say, watching the ball of lightning magic grow brighter at the end of Ihan’s wand.

But then, Perkunt’s eyes widened. Something was wrong.

The lightning magic was *much* stronger than he expected.

‘…Wait… WHAT?!’ Perkunt realized Ihan had been gathering magic power the whole time they were arguing, without even realizing it himself!

‘No! This is too much!’

While the Blue Dragon Tower students and the White Tiger Tower students were chasing the vine monster, the Phoenix Tower students and the Black Tortoise Tower students acted more wisely.

They immediately left to find Professor Garcia.

“-Professor! This way!!”

Fortunately, the students found Professor Garcia walking.

Headmaster Skull was floating by his side, and Professor Volady was also there, but the students didn’t even speak to them.

“-Hurry! It’s urgent!”

“-Everyone, calm down.”

Professor Garcia waved his wand. The students who were screaming instantly calmed down.

At the same time, the ground shook and pushed Professor Garcia forward smoothly. Professor Garcia and the students rushed forward like a storm.

“-Is this the right way?”

“-Yes! Yes!”

Fortunately, the traces left by the vine monster hadn’t disappeared yet.

Professor Garcia saw the vine monster in the distance.

White Tiger students were bravely attacking it with swords, but their attacks seemed useless. The monster was grabbing students and pulling them away.

Professor Garcia raised his wand, ready to cast a spell to stop the monster.

*Suddenly, a blinding flash of lightning ripped through the air – BZZZZZT!* A thick bolt of pure lightning slammed into the monster’s chest. Even from far away, Professor Garcia could feel the raw power of the magic. The air crackled, and his hair stood on end. The vine monster shrieked – a sound like tearing wood – and smoke poured from its charred body. The students it held dropped like puppets with cut strings.

Professor Garcia quickly waved his wand to safely land the falling students.

“-Are you okay?!”

“-Ugh…”

Seeing the students trembling, Professor Garcia worried that they had absorbed too much magic power.

Since that vine monster absorbed magic power, young wizards could suffer serious internal injuries if they were caught.

Priest Tiziling, who had called Professor Garcia, looked at his friends with a worried expression.

Will they be okay?

Thank goodness!

Tiziling felt relieved when she heard Professor Garcia’s relieved voice.

They seemed to be okay.

“-Is everyone alright?” Professor Garcia asked, rushing to the fallen students.

“-Yes, Professor! We’re okay,” one student said, a bit shakily. “Just… a little tingly from the lightning.”

Professor Garcia blinked.

“-Electrocuted?” Tiziling looked a bit sheepish. “Well… maybe a little bit.”

Professor Garcia raised an eyebrow, but then smiled in relief. ‘As long as they are safe…’