Chapter 58: Trying To Master Light Magic

Today’s schedule was far more hectic than usual, starting with a class about noble etiquette, then persuasion basics, and the rest being all about ruling.

The noble part of the academy was finally showing, and annoyingly enough, I couldn’t really skip it if I wanted to live a long life in this world.

I was an heir to a barony after all, a land far south of the region where my father was mostly busy working.

Being powerful with magic was fine, but a plan B wouldn’t hurt.

“I’ll just hope it teaches something useful rather than just textbook stuff…”

[Photographic Memory]

I skimmed through every book I had that my servants prepared for me related to the subject, unsure if they were useful or not.

Most of it was common sense, and mostly repeated information that emphasized hiring a good steward to do the work for you.

I didn’t know what I expected… guess bringing in modern expectations of governance was not the right choice at all.

At the very least, I was prepared for the upcoming dreadful lesson I was forced to slog through.

*** Hallway

Classes ended without many problems, just like I dreaded; it was basic stuff from the textbook.

And surprisingly, Julius and Kevin were completely absent.

As for Evelina, she was also gone, likely something about her father, but it wasn’t my business to intervene for now; if anything, doing something right now would only give her more problems.

“Master!”

Kevin suddenly appeared from across the hallway, sprinting at me with the enthusiasm of a child.

“What’s with you?”

He stopped just before bumping into me, opening the book and showing off all the spells he had managed to learn through some… ’experiments’, from the students I had captured.

“I managed to decipher the spells from page seven to thirty-three! Turns out I just needed to change the way—”

Kevin continued to explain his newfound knowledge while we walked, occasionally attracting glances from a few less-than-appreciative students about two weirdos hanging out.

“Don’t stop now, it’ll still be a long time until you catch up.”

“Of course!” Kevin departed immediately, a manic glee in his eyes.

I think I had accidentally raised a bomb waiting to explode.

But at least the bomb’s mine…

*** Imperial Library

With my breakthrough at the peak of beginner level, it was eventually time I started to learn more spells from a more advanced book.

Even my special dark spells wouldn’t be enough.

If I needed to break through and achieve apprentice level, I would need more spells.

[Photographic Memory]

But the sight of a person flipping through pages after a second of looking at them had definitely started to attract attention.

More particularly…

“You’re being an annoyance.”

Marcellus grabbed my wrist while I was skimming through an advanced light spellbook.

“I’m reading.”

I answered bluntly, brushing away his arm.

Can’t someone just mind their own business?

“Bullshit.” Marcellus gave a disbelieving smile. “Nobody can read that fast. If you’re here just to antagonize actual people studying here, leave.”

“You’re making a scene.”

I glanced around us, seeing more than a few female students staring at us, clearly infatuated with the Lionbright’s golden child, who was trying to kick me out.

[Profaned Prince]

“Let me go, now.”

I’d rather not deal with something like this.

“W-What…?” Marcellus expressed shock, feeling his grip on my wrist weakening as a strange pain began to travel across his arm, as if his body itself was no longer responding to his commands.

“The hell?”

He pulled his hand back quickly, healing his hand with light magic to numb the strange pain.

“You…”

We locked eyes, but Marcellus quickly averted his, realizing he no longer had the upper hand in the situation.

“Watch yourself, dog.”

He left as quickly as he arrived, and of course… he had supporters who quickly comforted him the moment he left.

“Are you okay, Lord Lionbright?”

“Here, let me heal that hand for you.”

“Seriously… the gall of that man…”

My eye twitched at their annoying remarks. I’m the innocent one here. Why the hell are they taking his side?

They can’t blame me, for I just happened to have a better memory than most of the people here.

THUD!

I closed the book with a heavy sigh.

’At least I’ve got what I came for…’

I returned the book to its shelf, ignoring the lingering stares.

Advanced light manipulation, reinforcement theory, and spell layering. Enough to push me forward once I had time to internalize it properly. More importantly, enough to understand how people like Marcellus fought, and where their habits failed them.

Light magic had a completely different formula from dark; it didn’t help that I achieved its attunement through the use of an item instead of natural means.

It meant that I actually had to put in effort if I were to use it as effectively as I do with dark magic.

But as long as I can master its basics.

I can finally start improving my body to its peak as safely and efficiently as possible.

I left the imperial library without incident, though the tension lingered like static in the air.

Marcellus wouldn’t escalate today. Not after that.

People like him only pushed when they were certain they’d win, and just now, certainty had slipped through his fingers.

*** Academy Training Grounds – Private Sector

The sun had already dipped low by the time I reached the quieter section of the academy grounds. Most students preferred flashy duels or group practice. I preferred the results.

Entering a small, isolated training room on the far edge of the grounds, I activated the isolation array etched into the floor.

A special privilege available for students with the right permissions, specifically, S-Ranks.

Click.

The barrier hummed to life, muting outside sound and locking magic signatures from leaking out. The perfect place without distractions and magical disturbances.

Definitely better than the imperial library’s more public practice range.

“Alright…”

I rolled my shoulders and loosened my fingers.

First priority: healing.

Light magic healing theory was clean, efficient, and morally pure. No excess force, no emotional fluctuation. It was designed to aid and support.

Which made it perfect for what I wanted.

But… an assassin and morally pure in the same sentence…

At least I still had my Eye of the Profaned to make things easier.

[Photographic Memory]

Diagrams, flow ratios, and mathematical sequences, all of it replayed clearly in my mind.

“Let’s start slow.”

I focused light mana into my right arm, following the formula described in the book. Thin. Controlled. No flooding.

A soft glow traced beneath my skin.

The sensation was… different.

Dark magic felt natural, like breathing. Light felt surgical, like operating on myself with a slippery hand.

I clenched my fist.

The air popped.

“Hah… this is harder than I thought.”

I was capable of using light manipulation, but actually casting spells? Now that’s a completely different story.

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