Chapter 11: Whispers in the Hall

Chapter 11: Whispers in the Hall

The following day, Aetrial sat in the classroom of the magic academy, trying his best to focus on the lesson. The instructor, a stern older mage with sharp features, was passionately discussing the intricacies of elemental mana flow.

Despite his efforts, Aetrial’s thoughts kept wandering back to the previous day. The encounter with Arthur and Lilliana gnawed at him, especially Arthur’s piercing gaze. It wasn’t suspicion or hostility—it was something else, and it left him uneasy.

“Mr. Ranolf, am I boring you?”

The instructor’s sharp voice cut through his thoughts like a blade. Aetrial snapped his head up, realizing too late that the entire class was staring at him.

“No, sir,” he mumbled quickly, his cheeks flushing.

“Good. Then perhaps you’d like to summarize what I just explained about mana synchronization?”

Aetrial opened his mouth, then closed it, his mind utterly blank.

“Thought so,” the instructor muttered with a disappointed shake of his head, turning back to the board.

---

At lunch, Aetrial chose to sit alone in the corner of the dining hall. He preferred to keep a low profile, avoiding the nobles and prominent students who usually occupied the center tables.

The room hummed with chatter, laughter, and the clinking of utensils, but Aetrial’s focus remained on his plate. His peace didn’t last long.

Across the hall, Arthur was seated with Lilliana and a group of nobles. Though his face was calm and unreadable, his eyes kept drifting toward Aetrial’s corner.

“Is that Aetrial Ranolf?” Lilliana asked, her tone laced with curiosity.

Arthur nodded slightly.

“He doesn’t seem as terrible as the rumors say,” she mused.

Another noble at the table scoffed. “Don’t let appearances fool you, Lady Lilliana. Ranolf’s reputation isn’t just hearsay. The man’s a walking disaster.”

Arthur didn’t reply, his gaze lingering on Aetrial, who seemed wholly unaware of the attention.

---

Meanwhile, Aetrial had finally noticed the eyes on him. It wasn’t just one or two glances—he felt as though half the room was sneaking looks his way.

“What now?” he muttered under his breath, stabbing at his food with his fork.

He glanced up and, to his horror, locked eyes with Arthur. The crown prince’s gaze was sharp and unreadable, making Aetrial’s heart skip a beat.

Aetrial quickly looked away, pretending to be engrossed in his meal.

“Why is he staring at me?” he whispered, feeling a cold sweat forming.

---

In the afternoon, Aetrial found himself in a practical magic class. The focus was on basic defensive spells, a field he was less than enthusiastic about.

The instructor called on students to demonstrate, and when it was Aetrial’s turn, he sighed inwardly.

“Mr. Ranolf, if you’d demonstrate a simple barrier spell, please.”

Steeling himself, Aetrial stepped forward. He raised his hand, channeling his mana, and concentrated. A faint shimmer appeared in front of him before fizzling out like a dying ember.

Snickers erupted from the class.

“Pathetic,” someone whispered loudly.

The instructor frowned but didn’t chastise the class. Instead, he motioned for Aetrial to step back. “Magic requires precision and discipline. Keep practicing, Mr. Ranolf.”

Embarrassed, Aetrial hesitated before stepping back. A thought struck him: Wait… why am I trying this in the regular magic system? Dark magic is my thing, isn’t it?

Without asking for permission, Aetrial raised his hand again, channeling dark mana this time. A heavy aura filled the room, causing the students to quiet down instantly. Shadows coalesced around him, forming a barrier that shimmered like obsidian glass, pulsing with raw power.

The entire class stared, slack-jawed, as the dark barrier solidified. It was no mere defensive spell—this was a high-level dark magic barrier capable of withstanding advanced attacks.

The instructor’s eyes widened, his tone cautious. “Mr. Ranolf… that is far beyond what was required.”

Aetrial blinked, realizing he had overdone it. “Uh, I just… thought I’d try a different method?” he offered weakly.

Whispers broke out among the students.

“Did he just use dark magic?”

“And at that level? That’s insane!”

“Wasn’t he supposed to be terrible at magic?”

Aetrial quickly dispersed the barrier, the heavy aura fading. He avoided looking at anyone, his face burning with embarrassment.

The instructor cleared his throat, trying to regain control of the class. “While unorthodox, I must admit that was… impressive. However, Mr. Ranolf, this is a lesson on standard mana systems. Kindly refrain from using dark magic during class exercises in the future.”

“Y-yes, sir,” Aetrial mumbled, retreating to his seat.

As he sat down, he couldn’t help but hear the murmurs of his classmates. Some were in awe, others in fear, but one thing was clear: no one was laughing anymore.

End of Chapter 11

Just making sure our protagonist gets the spotlight he truly deserves.😉