The Wizard

After that, we began learning how to control magical energy. Before that, each of us was given a wooden wand with a crystal on top of it. Our teacher called it a magical catalyst. When magical energy is channeled through the crystal, it changes color according to the elemental magic being channeled. Using the magical crystal, we can enhance the magic we use.

"Can magical catalysts only be made using crystal stones?" I asked.

"Of course not. Almost any physical object can become a magical catalyst," the teacher replied.

"In that case, let's start the lesson!" the teacher exclaimed.

According to the fantasy books I've read, just imagining it can conjure magic. The more detailed the imagination, the stronger the magic and the more mana it requires. So, I tried to conjure a simple fire spell, "Fire Ball." Even though it was a simple spell, it turned out to be quite challenging to maintain. But we were all surprised when a male student managed to do it effortlessly, even upgrading it to "Blue Fire Ball."

"Hey Shealy, could that be the top-ranked student?" Iris asked.

"It's possible," I replied.

"Alright, students, that's it for today's lesson," the teacher interjected. "Oh, but before that, I'd like the top two students to demonstrate what we've learned today," the teacher continued.

I never thought I'd be face to face with him. I felt a bit nervous as I stepped onto the arena, but at the same time, I was excited to imagine the magical duel we were about to have. The rules were simple: the one who cornered their opponent would be the winner.

"If I'm not mistaken, your name is Solan Sylvan, right? Before we fight, may I ask you something?" I inquired.

"Just one question, and make it brief," Solan replied.

"Are you a DREAMER's child?" I asked again.

The short answer is yes. So, can we start now?" Solan said.

"Please, go ahead," I replied.

As the battle began, he immediately shot a "Blue Fire Ball" towards me. I promptly cast a "Water Ball" to deflect his attack. When our two attacks collided, a thick fog enveloped the entire arena. Suddenly, multiple "Stone Bullets" appeared from all directions. I tried to shield myself with a "Wind Dome." When the fog dissipated due to the wind, his presence was gone.

"Where did he go?" I asked in confusion.

"Shealy, look above you!" Iris shouted.

"Above?" I said, looking up.

"Too late, 'Blue Fire Rain,'" Solan said.

I thought I was going to die right there. Suddenly, Solan's magic disappeared just before it hit me. Our bodies couldn't move either. What had just happened? It turned out our teacher was the one who did it with her magic. I didn't know what kind of magic she used to stop us, but it was truly impressive. After receiving cheers and applause, we returned to our respective dorm rooms to shower, eat together, and go to sleep. Or at least, that's what everyone else did.

"Where are we going in the middle of the night, Shealy?" Iris whispered.

"We're going to the boys' dorm, specifically to Solan's room," I whispered back.

"Why are we going there?" Iris asked in a hushed tone.

"You were the one who said you were curious about the question I asked Solan before the fight," I replied, also in a whisper.

"But aren't we all DREAMER's children now? Besides, is it okay to just enter his room like that?" Iris asked, looking anxious.

"I already asked for permission in advance, right, Solan?" I said, addressing Solan, who had been waiting behind the door.

"You really are a troublesome woman," Solan said with a sigh.

We quickly entered his room before anyone noticed us. By the way, Solan's roommate was already fast asleep, so we had to talk quietly not to wake him up. Without further ado, we asked what we wanted to know. From the information we gathered from Solan, we concluded that he had been adopted by DREAMER since he was a baby. According to DREAMER's records, his parents were involved in a disaster, and DREAMER managed to save Solan, who was still an infant. After our conversation, we bid farewell and returned to our respective dorm rooms.

The next day, while at the library, I accidentally ran into Solan. I approached him and greeted him. He appeared to be very serious, studying hard. I asked him why he wasn't out playing with the others. He simply replied that playing was a waste of time. "He'd rather spend time studying than playing," he said. I told him there were many things to learn from various games. I also told him that learning something without putting it into practice was a waste. So, I invited him to practice magical sparring with me.

"Weren't you just looking to be taught magic from the beginning?" Solan asked.

"I don't really understand what you're saying," I replied with a smile.

"Alright, let's get started," Solan said.

We then had several rounds of magical sparring together until sunset. He really didn't know how to give up, but I was truly grateful to him as I learned a lot from our practice. It seemed like Solan was enjoying it too. He even asked me to spar with him during our free time. For some reason, his expression seemed more relaxed than before, and I quite liked that. Afterward, we returned to our respective dorm rooms to shower and prepare for dinner. Before bed, Iris and I chatted for a bit. I also told her about my sparring with Solan.

"Isn't that called love?" Iris asked enthusiastically.

"Our relationship isn't like that," I said.

"Oh, really?" Iris said, looking more suspicious.

"It's true. To me, he's just a regular friend. Or maybe like a brother? Our relationship is something along those lines," I replied.

"Okay, let's go with that," Iris said with a sigh.

After talking for a while, we fell asleep. One day, suddenly, everything around me felt scorching hot. I also heard people shouting outside, "Burn her," "Burn everything," "Don't leave a single one." The flames raged fiercely, consuming everything without mercy. I closed my eyes, hoping everything would be okay. When I opened my eyes again, I woke up in my bed. I was completely bewildered by what had just happened. It turned out it was all just a dream.

"Good morning, Shealy," Iris said as she returned from her morning exercise.

"By the way, why were you crying?" Iris continued.

"Huh?" I replied, feeling confused.

What is the meaning of Shealy's dream? Was it really just a dream, or could it be a sign?

To be continued...

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