The Obsessive Regressor of The Academy

11. Aptitude Test

Leticia’s room was located at the far left end of the building. Ena walked silently towards her door, while Asel devoured the Flame Grimoire.

The most basic fire-based magic, Incandescent Blaze. From the spell to ignite that flame, all the way to creating a sea of fire, or shaping it into a sword, was written clearly within the book. Asel focused on trying out some of the lower-tier spells.

Thankfully, the magic activated without any particular difficulty. It moved as he willed it, and he was able to slightly alter its form, making it long or round. Because he was manipulating the shape with mana control alone, without the aid of a formula, the amount of mana consumed was quite high, but the rate at which he recovered was even faster, so there was no problem.

‘Mid-tier magic and up will likely be difficult.’

Fire magic, along with other combat magic, consumes a large amount of mana, commensurate with its destructive power. Lower-tier magic was manageable, but anything mid-tier and above would likely be too much. In the first place, not only do the properties of mana change in those tiers, but the form, characteristics, and effects are all different, making it difficult to manifest them simply by brute-forcing mana.

Moreover, mid-tier magic and higher required a certain degree of imagery.

Ultimately, that meant he could only use lower-tier magic for now.

But Asel continued to manifest only lower-tier spells without complaint. The rest was a matter of time, anyway. If he continued to learn from his master and research on his own, it was a place he would reach before long. Asel was certain of it.

“We’re here.”

Ena spoke not long after they started walking. She muttered as she knocked on a door marked in large letters, ‘Leticia Berkias.’

“Leticia, it’s me.”

The response was immediate.

“…Ena?”

A distinct voice cut through from beyond the door. It swung inward with a crash.

Leticia stood framed in the doorway.

Greyish hair, reaching her waist. Dark circles, deeply etched, were visible beneath the round spectacles she wore. The white gown she had on was clearly of superior quality, and a keen intelligence shone in her pale black eyes.

She looked every inch the scholar. Ena gave Leticia a casual wave.

“Hello. I’ve come for an aptitude test.”

“…Your habit of launching straight into the point remains unchanged, I see.”

Leticia sighed deeply as she said this. Acel and Ena followed her invitation to enter the room.

Her room resembled a laboratory. All sorts of metals and magical conductors lay scattered on the desk. Boxes overflowed with the internal organs of unidentifiable monsters and magical contraptions. Assorted reagents were displayed on the walls as if in an exhibition. Acel gaped at the mystical spectacle.

“How have you been?”

Leticia left Acel to explore the room and sat down, addressing Ena. Ena plucked a cookie from a plate on the table and nodded.

“So-so.”

“Good. I was half expecting you to have incinerated another city for displeasing you.”

“…What do you take me for?”

“Not entirely wrong, am I?”

Leticia chuckled and slipped her hands into her pockets. “Remember that incident from back when? Deployed on assignment, you tore a hole in the sky and burned an entire city to the ground.”

“That city was entirely contaminated. Only demons and their remnants died.”

“I know. But the problem is, the king of that nation had wanted purification, not obliteration.”

“I don’t particularly care to worry about such things.”

“Typical you.”

Leticia turned her head. Her eyes fell on Acel, who was poking at a writhing monster’s heart with his finger.

“That’s him, isn’t it? Your disciple. Bell’s been making quite the noise about it.”

“Yes. I want to run an aptitude test.”

“A rite of passage for any mage who takes on a student. Payment? Gold? Or a favor, perhaps?”

“Would ten gold coins suffice?”

“More than enough.”

Ena nodded and produced ten gold coins, handing them to Leticia. Leticia counted the coins, then shot to her feet, retrieving a crystal ball of suitable size.

Blue magic swirled within the clear sphere. Leticia subdued the turbulent magic and called out to Acel, who was lingering near a cage containing small monsters.

“Little tyke. Come here.”

“Ah, yes.”

Asel turned at once and approached Leticia. Only then could Leticia see Asel’s face clearly.

“…You’ll be quite the sight when you’re older, eh?”

“Pardon?”

“Never mind. Let’s get this inspection done.”

Leticia shifted slightly, drawing the crystal orb towards Asel. Asel, sensing the magic settled serenely within the orb, pursed his lips.

‘I could awaken it, I think.’

He could simply interfere, make the magic within the orb surge wildly. But somehow, that felt wrong, so he remained still.

“We’ll begin the aptitude test now. What you need to do is simple. Place your hand on the orb and inject a sliver of your magic into it. The orb’s magic and yours will connect on their own. Then, just tell me the scene that appears in your mind. Easy enough, yes?”

Asel nodded. He glanced once at Ena, confirming her smile, and then turned his gaze back to Leticia.

“May I begin right away?”

“Do as you wish.”

“Then I shall begin at once.”

There was no reason to hesitate. Asel promptly placed his palm upon the crystal orb, slowly drawing forth his magic.

In an instant, a portion of the activated magic separated. Plunged into the orb. *Ttok*, a sound like water droplets falling echoed within his mind as the orb’s magic roughly enveloped Asel’s.

The swirling magic rose, gradually reaching the point where Asel’s palm rested. In that moment, Asel understood that the orb’s magic was attempting to interfere with his own magic system. He could resist, if he wished, but Asel willingly accepted the refined magic.

A sensation, both scorching and chilling, traveled from his palm to his very brain.

“Close your eyes.”

Leticia’s command. He obeyed without question.

His vision went dark.

“Tell me what you see first in the darkness, and what you hear first.”

Understood. Asel remained silent, focusing intently to perceive something.

Less than a second passed in that state before a flashing shape appeared in the darkness. A flash of deep blue-green. As soon as he recognized it, the flash became a massive roar, tearing the darkness asunder. Belated thunder shook his consciousness.

“Lightning struck.”

“Already? Quicker than I expected. A good affinity for lightning magic, is it? A student of Ena’s, after all—”

“Flames are spreading.”

“…Dual attributes? It has been a long time since I’ve seen—”

“Water pours onto the fire. Um…the water instantly freezes, turning the sky and the ground into ice.”

“?”

With each word that left Asel’s mouth, Leticia’s face twisted into a bizarre grimace.

“…Child, what are you—”

“The wind came and blew all the ice away. Flowers bloomed between the gusts, and a field of them appeared. Something that looked like spirits danced above them, and when the corpses rose, everyone ran away.”

“…”

“Oh? Something’s repeatedly dismantling and assembling itself, all on its own. Bombs are bursting, and waves of black and shadows are approaching from afar. An earthquake, and trees are pulling themselves up by the roots and flying through the air.”

“Stop, stop!”

“Huh? More strange things are happening. Shall I stop?”

“Yes… I understand now, so stop.”

“Yes…”

Asel, with a pout of disappointment, opened his eyes and removed his hand from the crystal orb. He turned his head to find Leticia slumped in her chair, pressing hard on the bridge of her nose. She looked utterly exhausted. Asel, wondering if he had done something wrong, glanced about, his eyes darting nervously.

“Asel.”

Then, Ena spoke his name. Asel jumped, whipping his head around.

“Yes, yes?”

“I’m so very proud of you.”

“…? Thank you?”

“Yes, yes. I’m grateful too.”

Ena beamed happily and wrapped Asel in a tight embrace. Utterly bewildered, Asel tilted his head, surrendering to Ena’s embrace.

For such a small frame, her arms felt surprisingly warm.

*

The examination finished perilously close to lunchtime. Asel and Ena made a beeline for the dining hall and finished their meal. The steak in the dining hall was remarkably delicious, as Ena assured. So much better than Hailey’s cooking. Which was as to be expected from a professionally trained chef.

After the meal, they strolled through the town for a while before returning to the manor. The instant Ena crossed through the main gates, a bolt of lightning struck the lightning rod atop the manor, as if welcoming its mistress. Asel stared at the lightning strike, his expression hardening.

‘I’ve confirmed I have an aptitude for electric magic.’

Which meant, someday, he too could wield such magic.

That day wouldn’t be far off. Asel reaffirmed this conviction and followed Ena into the manor.

“Asel! You’re back!”

Evelyn, dressed in a pristine maid’s uniform, greeted them in the hall. A charming outfit brimming with frills. Evelyn, seemingly pleased with her attire, grabbed the hem of her skirt and twirled.

“How is it, how is it? Cute, right? Does it suit me?”

“It suits you well. Is working at the manor proving easy enough to learn?”

“No problem! It’s far easier than handling animal or monster guts!”

Evelyn shot up a thumbs-up, proclaiming proudly. Asel chuckled and told her he was glad. Evelyn nodded vigorously before turning to Ena, who stood beside Asel, to offer her greetings.

“Ah, you’re back, Ena-nim.”

“Yes. Is the education going well?”

“Yes! Hayley-nim is teaching me so well. Thanks to her, I haven’t had any difficulties yet!”

“Good. I’ll give you this month’s wages tomorrow.”

“Wages?”

Evelyn’s eyes widened. She waved her hands frantically, exclaiming with a look of astonishment,

“I don’t need money! Just letting me live here is enough!”

“I’m still going to give it to you. It doesn’t matter if you don’t want it.”

“Ena-nim…!”

“Live doing whatever you want with it. I won’t interfere as long as you don’t go down some strange path.”

“…Can I call you Mom?”

“Shoo.”

Ena gestured at Evelyn. Following the gesture, Evelyn vanished quickly over the stairs. Asel chuckled, a burst of laughter escaping at the sight of her comical flight. It had only been a day since she arrived at the mansion, but it seemed she had adapted somewhat, living with Hayley.

It was a good thing. Asel, clutching the fire grimoire he had brought from the Witch’s Council archive, turned to face Ena.

“Master, what should I do now?”

“Rest for now. We’ll begin your magical training in earnest starting tomorrow. Ah, before that.”

Ena chuckled softly and snapped her fingers. Then, lightning crackled on her palm, and a blue book appeared. Ena handed the book to Asel. Asel checked the title of the book he received and his eyes widened.

＜You Can’t Do It. An Introductory Text to Lightning Magic＞

“It’s an introductory text to lightning magic, just like the title says. You can read it, but don’t use the magic. Lightning magic is focused on destructive power even among unique magics, so if you use it incorrectly, your body will split apart following the pattern of your nervous system.”

A chilling statement. Asel gave a wry smile and nodded.

“Understood. I won’t.”

“Good. And from tomorrow, I plan to teach you the meaning of the characters used in incantations, but if you want to study in advance, you can take books from the archive and read them. You have free access.”

“Yes, ma’am. Thank you.”

“Yes. Then, rest.”

Ena stroked Asel’s head once before going up to her room. Asel also returned to his room and stretched.

Entering the room, he felt a satisfying comfort. It hadn’t even been a day since he came to this mansion, but it seemed he already thought of this place as home.

Not a bad feeling. Asel gulped down the water in the bottle that Hayley seemed to have brought, and sat down at the desk, arranging the books he had brought.

There were two books in total. The fire grimoire he had brought from the Witch’s Council and the lightning grimoire that Ena had given him. Asel pondered for a moment, then decided to slowly delve into the fire grimoire he had been reading first.

He understood the characteristics of fire magic and the changes made to unique magic as it was revised.

He repeatedly used the basic magic, Ember Creation, to get a feel for it. He also repeatedly used other magic classified as lower-level magic to become accustomed to the magic.

When his mana was near its absolute limit, Asel yawned and closed the book.

‘How many hours has it been?’

He rubbed his throbbing brow and checked the clock. The hour hand had long since entered the realm of dawn. The price for losing himself in the pages.

Tiredness weighed him down.

Asel rose, stretched languidly, and withdrew his affiliation badge from his pocket, placing it on the desk. The gray rectangle felt like an initiation into the magical society. He smiled faintly, tidied the desk, and lay down on the bed.

Just before pulling the curtains, he saw the night sky, a canvas of stars. Asel paused, drinking in the celestial tapestry, then closed the curtains and settled into bed.

And so, a day passed.