The Royal Magic Academy was no longer a place of curiosity for Lucy Augustus.
It had become—
A place of understanding.
And more importantly…
A place where truths were no longer hidden behind stories.
—
The morning air was cold, carrying a faint pressure that only mages could feel.
Mana.
Dense.
Heavy.
Alive.
—
Lucy walked through the academy corridors, her steps calm and steady, her mind already preparing for the day ahead.
Beside her—
Shilfa was half asleep.
"I swear… if this academy takes one more hour of my sleep, I'm going to start a rebellion…"
Lucy didn't even look at her.
"You won't survive leading one."
"I don't need to survive, I just need to protest."
—
Behind them—
Cain walked with his usual composed expression.
"You complain more than you train."
Shilfa turned.
"And you talk more than you think."
—
Lucy sighed softly.
"…Both of you are noisy."
—
Despite the light banter—
There was something different today.
Something heavier.
—
Because today—
They weren't learning basic magic.
—
They were learning—
Truths.
—
As they entered the S-Class room, the usual silence greeted them.
But it felt sharper today.
More focused.
—
Instructor Seraphine stood at the front.
And beside her—
Professor Valen.
—
The moment students saw him—
The atmosphere shifted.
—
Not fear.
But caution.
—
Valen didn't waste time.
He turned to the board and wrote—
—
MAGIC CLASSIFICATION
—
Then below it—
—
COMMON
ADVANCED
UNIQUE
SUPREME
FORBIDDEN
—
A quiet murmur spread.
—
Shilfa whispered—
"…That escalated quickly."
—
Valen spoke—
"Most of you believe magic is simply about power."
He turned.
"It is not."
—
He pointed at the first word.
—
COMMON
—
"The foundation."
"Spells that anyone with basic mana control can learn."
"Fireball. Wind blade. Water sphere."
—
He raised his hand.
A simple flame appeared.
Small.
Stable.
—
"This… is where everyone begins."
—
Then—
He moved to the next.
—
ADVANCED
—
"Refined versions of common magic."
"Stronger. More efficient."
"Requires control and understanding."
—
The flame changed.
Sharper.
Hotter.
—
"Most academy graduates… reach this level."
—
Shilfa whispered—
"Okay, that sounds doable…"
—
Cain smirked.
"For you? Maybe in ten years."
—
She kicked his chair.
—
Valen continued—
—
UNIQUE
—
The room quieted slightly.
—
"These are rare."
"Magic that differs from standard structures."
"Often tied to an individual's nature."
—
The flame split.
But not evenly.
Each fragment moved differently.
Almost alive.
—
"Unique magic cannot be easily copied."
"It reflects the caster."
—
Lucy's eyes focused.
—
"Most mages… never reach this."
—
Then—
Valen paused.
—
And pointed at the next level.
—
SUPREME
—
The air grew heavier.
—
"These…"
"…are the peak of learned magic."
—
The flame disappeared.
—
And in its place—
A massive wave of fire erupted—
But instantly compressed into a single point.
—
The sheer control made the air tremble.
—
"Supreme magic defies limits."
"It requires immense mana…"
"…and absolute mastery."
—
Even Cain's expression turned serious.
—
"Only a handful in each generation…"
"…can reach this level."
—
Shilfa whispered—
"…Okay, now that's terrifying."
—
But Valen wasn't done.
—
He slowly turned…
—
And pointed at the final word.
—
FORBIDDEN
—
Silence.
—
Not normal silence.
—
The kind that presses against your chest.
—
Valen didn't demonstrate anything this time.
—
Because he didn't need to.
—
"Forbidden…"
He spoke slowly.
"…is not a level."
—
Lucy's eyes narrowed slightly.
—
"It is a birthright."
—
A ripple of shock spread across the class.
—
"Forbidden magic…"
"…cannot be learned."
"…cannot be trained."
"…cannot be copied."
—
His voice deepened.
—
"It is something you are born with."
—
Shilfa blinked.
"…Like talent?"
—
Valen looked at her.
—
"No."
—
His answer was immediate.
—
"Talent can be surpassed."
"Hard work can overcome it."
—
He stepped forward.
—
"But forbidden…"
"…cannot be reached."
—
The room felt colder.
—
"It is one in a trillion."
—
Even the strongest students…
Froze.
—
"Those who possess forbidden magic…"
"…do not just have power."
—
"They have…"
"…knowledge."
"…instinct."
"…experience…"
—
"…beyond their age."
—
Lucy's grip tightened slightly under the desk.
—
Valen's gaze slowly moved across the class.
—
"Some may awaken forbidden spells."
"Some… forbidden techniques."
"And some…"
—
He paused.
—
"…forbidden skills."
—
"Each one different."
"Each one absolute."
—
Shilfa whispered softly—
"…That's not fair."
—
Cain didn't reply.
—
Because for once—
He agreed.
—
Valen continued—
—
"Do not misunderstand."
"Forbidden magic is not always destructive."
—
"It depends…"
"…on what you are born with."
—
"Some gain overwhelming power."
"Some gain knowledge of ancient spells."
"Some gain control over concepts."
—
"Life."
"Death."
"Time."
—
The class sat frozen.
—
"Those who possess forbidden…"
"…stand outside the natural order of magic."
—
Lucy's heartbeat was steady.
But her mind—
Was moving.
—
Fast.
—
Valen turned away.
—
"You will likely never encounter it."
—
"But if you do…"
—
His voice dropped—
—
"…pray that it is not your enemy."
—
The lecture ended there.
—
No jokes.
No light atmosphere.
—
Just…
Understanding.
—
As students walked out—
The air felt heavier than before.
—
Shilfa stretched slowly.
"…I feel like my brain just leveled up and died at the same time."
—
Cain crossed his arms.
"Focus on reaching advanced level first."
—
She glared.
"I'll reach supreme before you."
—
Lucy walked silently beside them.
—
Thinking.
—
About something she couldn't quite grasp yet.
—
But their peaceful moment didn't last.
—
Near the training grounds—
A group of nobles stood waiting.
—
Same faces.
Same arrogance.
—
One stepped forward.
"Well… if it isn't the 'genius commoner'."
—
Shilfa rolled her eyes.
"Do you people not get tired?"
—
The noble ignored her.
—
His eyes locked onto Lucy.
—
"I heard about your performance."
—
A smirk formed.
—
"But power without lineage…"
"…means nothing."
—
Cain stepped forward slightly.
But Lucy raised her hand again.
—
Stopping him.
—
The noble continued—
—
"You think standing at the top makes you equal to us?"
—
Lucy looked at him.
Calm.
—
"I don't need to be equal."
—
Her voice was quiet.
—
"I just need to be stronger."
—
Silence.
—
The noble's expression hardened.
—
"Then prove it."
—
The crowd gathered again.
—
But this time—
It wasn't curiosity.
—
It was expectation.
—
Lucy stepped forward.
—
No hesitation.
—
She raised her hand.
—
Mana gathered.
—
Smooth.
Controlled.
—
A small flame appeared.
—
The nobles smirked.
—
"That's it?"
—
Lucy didn't respond.
—
The flame grew.
—
Larger.
—
Denser.
—
Hotter.
—
The air began to distort.
—
Then—
It kept growing.
—
Beyond normal size.
—
Beyond advanced level.
—
Beyond what they understood.
—
The smiles disappeared.
—
The fireball expanded—
—
Now massive.
—
The ground cracked beneath her feet.
—
The heat alone forced students back.
—
"…This isn't advanced…" someone whispered.
—
"…It's not even unique…"
—
Cain stared.
"…She's compressing mana at an insane level…"
—
Shilfa swallowed.
"…This is scary…"
—
Lucy spoke calmly—
—
"This is still…"
—
The fireball grew again.
—
"…just a basic spell."
—
Silence.
—
No one spoke.
—
No one could.
—
"If I release it…"
—
Her voice remained steady.
—
"…you won't even have time to regret it."
—
The noble's legs trembled.
—
For the first time—
True fear.
—
Lucy looked at them.
—
Not angry.
—
Not proud.
—
Just…
Clear.
—
"This is the difference between us."
—
The fireball vanished instantly.
—
No explosion.
—
No aftermath.
—
Perfect control.
—
The nobles stepped back.
—
Then turned.
—
And left.
—
Without a word.
—
The crowd remained silent.
—
Because now—
They understood.
—
This wasn't about background.
—
Or status.
—
Or pride.
—
This was about—
—
Reality.
—
Shilfa exhaled loudly.
"…I'm never making you angry."
—
Cain shook his head slowly.
"…You're abnormal."
—
Lucy looked at her hand.
—
"…No."
—
Her voice was soft.
—
"I just trained."
—
But even she knew—
—
That wasn't the full truth.
—
Far away…
—
Deep beneath the earth…
—
The labyrinth pulsed again.
—
Stronger.
—
As if reacting—
—
To something rare.
—
Something impossible.
—
Something…
—
Forbidden.