......

  ......

  Early September of the 784th year of the New Divine Calendar, Hulim advanced to the second grade of the Preliminary Academy.

  Only two short months had passed since the start of her first year, but no one could have guessed the incredible transformation that had taken place within this daughter of a minor knightly noble from a rural town.

  And in the days to come, that transformation would unfold at an even more astonishing pace.

  ......

  Once again, in the forest outside Mentor Town.

  Hulim, who had grown a whole head taller, made her way to the lakeside with ease.

  There, a great being known as the Fairy Queen lay sprawled lazily on a large boulder by the shore, her smooth legs crossed at the ankles. She held a newly published book in one hand, and beside her rested a beautifully packaged box of fried snacks.

  “Hahaha, this is absolutely ridiculous~!”

  Semiris was so engrossed in the book’s mindless tales that she didn’t even notice Hulim’s arrival. She cackled loudly, reaching into the box with her free hand to grab a fried treat and pop it into her mouth. She sucked the oil off her fingers casually, completely oblivious to the grease smudged around her lips.

  If the devout clerics who revered her ever caught sight of this unkempt scene, their faith would surely be shattered beyond repair.

  “Semiris, what are you reading?”

  “Haha~...... Oh, it’s you, Hulim! You’re here.”

  Semiris set the book down, rolled up her sleeve, and wiped her mouth carelessly with the back of her hand.

  Hulim: “......”

  “You humans are such a hoot! I never knew there were people this foolish in the world. Truly, living for centuries means you get to witness all sorts of bizarre things.”

  Hulim glanced at the book’s cover.

  Sure enough—it was a collection of silly stories, mostly made-up nonsense.

  “Those are all fictional tales, you know. None of the characters in there actually exist. Don’t go believing everything you read, Semiris.”

  “Huh?! Really?! I was planning to go meet this person from the book!”

  Semiris looked utterly crushed, like a child whose favorite toy had been taken away.

  “Oh well.”

  Semiris tossed the book aside casually, and it vanished into thin air, no one knew where.

  “Ah, right! Do you want some snacks? I just got these from the Southern Federation—they’re delicious!”

  Hulim stared at the greasy treat Semiris held out to her, hesitated for a split second, then declined firmly.

  “No, thank you.”

  “Aww, what a shame. These snacks are all the rage among the Beastmen Tribes lately.”

  Semiris didn’t press her. With a flick of her wrist, the entire box of snacks disappeared as well.

  “Alright, let’s get down to business! First, let me check how much you’ve grown since last time.”

  As Semiris spoke, her eyes lit up with that familiar glow.

  Moments later, a string of text appeared before her, visible only to her eyes.

  【Hulim Heyerar

  Race: Human (Female)

  Age: 8 Years Old

  Vitality: D Rank

  Mana: D+ Rank

  Magic Affinity:

  Fire Affinity - S Rank (Blessing of the Fairy Queen)

  Water Affinity - S Rank (Blessing of the Fairy Queen)

  Earth Affinity - S Rank (Blessing of the Fairy Queen)

  Wind Affinity - S Rank (Blessing of the Fairy Queen)

  Light Affinity - S Rank (Blessing of the Fairy Queen)

  Dark Affinity - S Rank (Blessing of the Fairy Queen)

  Non-Elemental Affinity - S Rank (Blessing of the Fairy Queen)

  ......

  】

  “Mmm, you’ve grown quite a bit, Hulim. Your mana has increased by leaps and bounds in less than a year.”

  “Really? I’ve grown that fast? But I’ve only been practicing magic like you told me to.”

  “Constantly expending and replenishing your mana is what expands your mana capacity—that’s why your reserves have grown so quickly.”

  “I see. That makes sense now.”

  Hulim nodded in sudden understanding.

  “Great! Now that your mana has grown to a sufficient level, it’s time for you to learn Second-Tier Spells.”

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  Hulim’s eyes widened in surprise at the news.

  “I can start learning second-tier magic already? But why wait until now? Why didn’t you let me learn it sooner?”

  “Heheh,” Semiris chuckled, a mischievous glint in her eyes. “You’re still too naive, Hulim. You could have learned second-tier spells a long time ago, and even made them your main focus.

  But think about it—your mana was only D Rank before. Second-tier spells consume far more mana than first-tier ones. If you’d been practicing second-tier magic as your primary training, how many times do you think you could have cast a spell in a single day?”

  “First-tier spells are a different story. With a D Rank mana reserve, you can cast them countless times in a day. That’s the fastest way to grow, and the fastest way to improve your spellcasting proficiency.”

  “And don’t underestimate first-tier spells, either! They may be the weakest spells out there, but even the most powerful mages rely on them the most. Practicing first-tier spells gives barely any boost to a seasoned mage, but their mana cost is practically negligible. You can even cast them on autopilot while doing other things. Over time, even those tiny gains add up to a massive amount of experience.”

  “Especially for top-tier mages—casting first-tier spells nonstop, even while eating or sleeping, is basic practice. And to keep that up without disrupting your daily life, first-tier spells are the only way to go.”

  Hulim’s eyes lit up as she realized the wisdom in Semiris’s words.

  “So the reason you’re letting me learn second-tier magic now is that my mana has improved enough to support repeated practice of second-tier spells?”

  “Bingo! That’s exactly it~! Your mana is already D+ Rank by this world’s standards. One more push, and you’ll reach C Rank.”

  Semiris snapped her fingers, then went on.

  “Alright then—I’ll teach you second-tier spells starting today. Let me think which one to start with... Having too many spells at my disposal is such a hassle~......”

  While Semiris pondered, Hulim sat cross-legged in front of her, her eyes shining with anticipation.

  What kind of magic would Semiris—the strongest Fairy Queen beneath the gods—teach her? Would it be one of those lost ancient magics she’d mentioned before......

  “Decided! Since the first spell you ever learned was fire magic, we’ll start with fire magic!”

  Semiris’s voice jolted Hulim out of her daydreams.

  “When it comes to fire magic, Fireball is the classic! It’s the face of fire magic—everyone knows it, and it’s never been lost to history! Yep, you could say fire magic is Fireball!”

  “......”

  Hulim stared at Semiris blankly, completely baffled by her sudden, over-the-top declaration. She chose to ignore the outburst.

  “Ahh...... I see. We’re starting with Fireball, then?”

  “That’s right!”

  Hulim felt a twinge of disappointment. It seemed she wouldn’t get to see any lost ancient magic anytime soon. Perhaps low-tier magic hadn’t changed much throughout the ages, after all.

  “Even though Fireball is the poster child of fire magic, its magic circuit is far more complex than any first-tier fire spell. The difference in difficulty is like night and day.”

  While Hulim was still musing, Semiris had already begun the lesson. Hulim quickly snapped to attention, focusing all her concentration on Semiris’s words.

  “It’s not just fire magic—for almost every elemental affinity, the difficulty of spells increases exponentially with each tier. For example, a third-tier spell’s complexity is nearly a hundred times that of a first-tier one. Without the corresponding talent, it’s impossible to master.”

  “I’ll show you the mana flow circuit and auxiliary incantation for Fireball. Watch closely and feel the difference in difficulty compared to first-tier spells.”

  With that, Semiris used magic to project a glowing diagram in the air—the exact mana flow circuit for Fireball.

  Hulim’s eyes widened as she studied every detail of the circuit. Just as Semiris had said, it was at least ten times more complex than the circuit for Ignite, the first-tier fire spell she already knew.

  But rather than being intimidated by the towering challenge of higher-tier magic ahead, Hulim felt her resolve strengthen. This was a path every mage had to walk—a peak every mage had to climb.

  Hulim Heyerar

  Age: 8

  Race: Human (Female)

  Lineage: Daughter of a rural knight noble (Heyerar House)

  Physical Appearance

  Standing at roughly 120cm tall—having grown a full head in a year—Hulim carries the slender yet subtly toned frame of a child who trains diligently. Her hair is a soft, moonlit silver, luminous enough to catch light like scattered stardust; it’s often tied back in a practical low ponytail or twin braids that keep loose strands from falling into her face during magic practice. A few wispy silver bangs frame her forehead, contrasting gently with her fair skin and adding a touch of otherworldly charm to her childish features. Her eyes are a striking, clear aquamarine—bright with curiosity when exploring new magic, sharp with focus during training, and wide with innocent confusion when faced with Semiris’s antics.

  A faint, almost imperceptible iridescent glow lingers at her fingertips and the corners of her eyes—an aftereffect of the Fairy Queen’s Seven Blessings—flaring slightly when she channels mana or feels strong emotions. This glow harmonizes with her silver hair, making it shimmer softly in dim light (a trait that once made her classmates whisper about her being “touched by the gods”). Her skin is fair but not delicate, bearing the faint trace of outdoor training: a smattering of tiny freckles across her nose, and the occasional faint callus on her palms from gripping mana-concentrating crystals (though she often erases dirt or minor scrapes with her Cleanse spell).

  Attire

  In daily life (at Preparatory School or around Heyerar Manor), she wears a simple yet neat uniform: a knee-length linen dress in soft cream, paired with a crisp white apron embroidered with the Mentor Town Preparatory School crest (a small oak tree intertwined with a magic wand). Her silver hair is usually secured with a plain linen ribbon in muted blue or gray, matching the school’s modest dress code. Her sleeves are rolled up to her elbows for ease of movement, and she wears sturdy brown leather boots—scuffed at the toes from running between school and the forest lake, but always polished clean with Cleanse.

  For training sessions with Semiris, she swaps the dress for a durable dark gray tunic and fitted breeches, tucked into her boots. The tunic bears faint, barely visible scorch marks (leftover from fire magic practice) and grass stains (from tumbling during earth magic drills)—signs of her relentless practice, which she never bothers to fully erase (much to Semiris’s mockery about “looking like a messy silver-haired farmhand”). She occasionally wears a thin, woven bracelet of wooden beads (a gift from her father, a rural knight) that glows faintly when she uses earth magic, its warm brown hue complementing her silver hair and aquamarine eyes.

  Demeanor & Presence

  Hulim carries herself with the quiet steadfastness of someone who takes tasks seriously—back straight, steps light but purposeful—yet her movements retain the natural clumsiness of a child. Her silver hair sways gently with each step, drawing subtle glances from strangers (though she’s oblivious to the attention). She speaks softly but clearly, her tone earnest whether asking Semiris questions about mana circuits or declining greasy snacks. When focused on magic, her entire demeanor shifts: her breathing slows, her aquamarine eyes narrow slightly, and the faint iridescent glow of her blessings intensifies, making her silver hair shimmer brighter—an ethereal contrast to her grounded focus.

  She is inherently gentle—she once spent an hour using Water Magic to help a wounded squirrel drink, and often uses Cleanse on stray cats around the manor—but possesses a stubborn streak when it comes to learning: if she can’t master a mana circuit, she’ll practice late into the evening, her silver hair catching the moonlight as she repeats incantations, refusing to give up until Semiris chases her home. Her innocence shines through in small ways: she still believes some of Semiris’s absurd lies (like “fireballs taste like cinnamon”), and lights up like a moonlit glade when praised for progress, her silver hair seeming to glow brighter with joy.

  Magical Aura

  As a bearer of seven S-rank affinities, Hulim exudes a unique, balanced magical aura—warm as fire, calm as water, grounded as earth, brisk as wind, radiant as light, shadowy as dark, and pure as non-elemental energy. This aura weaves subtly with her silver hair, making it hum softly with magic to those sensitive to such things. The aura is subtle to most (only powerful mages or magical beings like Semiris can perceive its full breadth), but it manifests in small, charming ways: flowers bloom slightly faster around her, candle flames dance gently when she passes, and shadows soften to avoid startling her. When she casts magic, the corresponding elemental light wraps around her like a faint veil—fire glows orange, water shimmers blue, and non-elemental magic shimmers with soft white light—enhancing the luminosity of her silver hair and making her look almost otherworldly, despite her down-to-earth demeanor.