SRS 38

Melek resisted desperately, but he still lost his special poison. Professor Will didn’t scold the first-years even when their failures turned upperclassmen into even worse emergency cases.

“It’s fine. This isn’t an evaluation, so it’s still a stage where failure is acceptable.”

…It doesn’t seem acceptable for the seniors though.

Yohan pitied the upperclassman who wheezed, gagged and on the verge of death. Fortunately, Will didn’t actually let the student die. He told Group 3 to try again next time and healed the senior with his own potion.

Yohan watched in awe as the senior who looked seconds from death recovered rapidly and began breathing comfortably.

A professor is still a professor. His mind was strange, but Will was skilled.

“Cough, cough!”

Meanwhile, Group 2 also completed an accurate, if slow, recovery potion and healed their upperclassman.

Since everyone managed to finish decently in their own way, Professor Will looked satisfied as he announced the end of class.

“Thank you for your efforts. Next time we’ll return to studying herbs. Today’s class ends here.”

Class ended ten minutes early, giving them free time. Yohan packed up, planning to review Spirit Studies. The elf professor left the room first, and Yohan was about to follow when…

Students suddenly swarmed toward Group 2.

“Hey, how did you make that poison?”

“Teach us too! If it’s strong enough to knock out an upperclassman, it must be useful somehow!”

“Gather around! Melek’s writing down the recipe! Copy it!”

“…….”

How had these brilliant, talented students from all over Fantasiademia become would-be criminals drooling over poison recipes like starving beasts?

Yohan shook his head. No one seemed sane anymore.

“Next Divine Studies, I need to ask if there’s a blessing that can calm down crazy friends….”

He figured he should also check if it could be used on the caster himself. Because there was no guarantee he wouldn’t end up like them someday.

˚ʚ♡ɞ˚

“Hi, Yohan.”

“Hi, Mikael.”

Yohan greeted Mikael in the Spirit Studies classroom and waited expectantly for Professor Shinbi. Today was the last weekday, their fifth Spirit Studies lesson. During the previous class, Professor Shinbi had given them their second quiz and said that next time they’d briefly enter the beginner Spirit Realm.

Since it would be his first time entering another dimension after enrolling in Fantasiademia, Yohan couldn’t help feeling excited. Even if it was just a simple tour, his heart fluttered.

“Mikael.”

“Yes?”

“Have you ever been to the Spirit Realm?”

“Yes. I’ve taken Spirit Studies several times.”

“How is it?”

“It’ll suit you.”

“Huh?”

Yohan had expected him to talk about what it looked like, the atmosphere, how spirits moved, their types, anything. But Mikael ended the explanation so abruptly that Yohan blinked in curiosity.

“I don’t understand what you mean.”

“Spirits are pure beings, so the energy of their realm is mostly clean. That’s why it’ll suit you.”

“Oh.”

Now it made sense. Yohan nodded with a small sound of admiration, but then something confused him.

Mikael didn’t have divine power, so how did he know what would suit someone who did?

It was strange, but if Mikael sensed purity as something that aligned with divine power, then maybe that was all it meant. Yohan let the thought go just as Professor Shinbi entered.

“Hello, everyone! You’ve been waiting, right? I’m late because I was preparing to open the Spirit Realm!”

As lively as always, Professor Shinbi apologized for being late, then quickly lifted her hands over her head.

Fwip!

She traced a straight line down the chalkboard with both hands, and the space ripped open, revealing a rift they had never seen before.

“……!”

Only in theory had Yohan learned how dimensional tears appeared, so he was surprised to witness it whit his own eyes.

Was it really supposed to open that easily?

It couldn’t be. Professor Shinbi was just strong.

Yohan wondered how such a small body could hid such tremendous power, and he followed her instructions to line up.

“Before we enter, I’ll tell you the rules! We’re not going in to make contracts today. We’re only visiting, so don’t get greedy! Spirits are pure, and they see right through emotions! So….”

She spoke rapidly, then paused to breathe before continuing.

“If you show greed, the spirits will abandon you.”

“…….”

Her voice turned colder than ever. The sudden change made Yohan and the students tense.

Once she confirmed they all had serious expressions, she smiled brightly again.

“Good. I don’t see any dark greed in this group! Perfect. Keep that mindset and go in. And don’t touch any spirits unless they approach you first!”

Professor Shinbi repeated several times that today’s lesson was simply to observe spirits and look around the realm. After receiving everyone’s response, she stood at the front.

“Shall we go?”

She instructed the students to hold hands so no one would get separated crossing dimensions. If they lost focus, they could end up as dimensional strays who never returned, and the warning terrified the students into grabbing each other’s hands very quickly.

Yohan tightly held Mikael’s hand. Mikael must have felt the trembling, because he chuckled, leaned closer, and whispered.

“Nervous?”

“…A little.”

There was no need to deny it, so Yohan answered softly. Mikael’s eyes curved as he smiled.

“You don’t need to worry.”

“…Thanks.”

He was so certain that the one hearing it felt embarrassed instead.

“We’re heading in!”

Professor Shinbi took the hand of the student at the front and stepped into the Spirit Realm. The rest of the students crossed the dimension one after another.

The feeling of crossing a dimension for the first time was stranger than Yohan expected, and his stomach churned a little. His body floated as if drifting far out at sea, then after a long moment his feet touched solid ground again, and during that process he felt a small wave of nausea.

“Ugh…”

“Are you alright?”

When Yohan gagged, Mikael let go of his hand and gently patted his back.

“Some people throw up their first time crossing dimensions if they are too sensitive.”

“…I really don’t want to throw up.”

Frightened by Mikael’s alarming reassurance, Yohan forced down the rising nausea and straightened his back. Fortunately, the fresh air and clean breeze of the Spirit Realm helped settle his stomach.

“Wow…”

He forgot all about the after effects of dimensional travel as he breathed in the crisp wind, and Mikael took his hand off Yohan’s back with a chuckle.

“See? I told you not to worry.”

“…You were right.”

The air was so pure it seemed to contain no dust at all. Every breath made his lungs feel purified, so he held his breath every time he inhaled. Professor Shinbi gathered the students who were admiring the realm.

“Alright, from here on, no wandering alone! We’ll move together and take our time looking at the spirits! Anyone who gets a warning during this tour will be barred from the next one, and of course you’ll be sent out immediately!”

The threat made the students even more cautious than they were in the classroom, and they followed her directions.

“This area belongs to the wind and earth spirits! You’ll also find spirits of grass and flowers! And whenever those two exist together, a spirit of song always appears!”

Professor Shinbi explained cheerfully as she walked. Yohan watched the colorful light spheres drifting above a beautiful flower garden, then tugged the collar of Mikael’s clothes. Mikael leaned down quickly.

“Those are spirits, right?”

“Yes. Once you form a contract, you’ll see their true form.”

“…Amazing.”

Hiding their true shapes, the spirits glowed in various colors, which somehow made them even more beautiful. Yohan guessed it was one of the rare sights one hardly witnessed in a lifetime. He noticed several spirits floating toward other students.

“Ahaha! Hey, that tickles! Hey! Stop!”

The lively ones slipped into people’s collars or clung to their necks to play pranks. But not a single spirit approached Yohan.

“……”

Envying his friends, who were laughing and playing with spirits, Yohan glanced to the side.

Could the reason no spirits were coming near be because…

“What’s wrong?”

Mikael tilted his head, confused. Yohan caught the movement of those soft white strands and shook his head, telling himself he was imagining things.

“It’s nothing.”

Just then, Professor Shinbi noticed the spirits’ mischief and laughed brightly.

“If the spirits come to you first, it means they want to be friends, so it’s fine to touch them! But don’t form immediately contracts, that’s too hasty!”

“……”

After hearing that, Yohan felt even more bitter.

So none of them want to be friends with me?

“Yohan, are you alright?”

He usually didn’t show much expression, but Mikael had spent enough time with him to recognize the gloom on his face. Mikael asked with concern, but Yohan was about to say he was fine when…Professor Shinbi saw the two students standing in a strange atmosphere with not a single spirit near them. She blinked, then exclaimed brightly.

“Spirits approach contract partners because they want to help! So if they don’t think their ability will help someone, they feel sorry and don’t approach! They’re considerate beings, you see? Since this is the beginner Spirit Realm, cases like the two of you happen once in a while. Well, Mikael has experienced it enough times that he’s not surprised anymore!”

“Oh…!”

So that was it.

With Professor Shinbi’s explanation, Yohan brightened again. Mikael watched him for a moment, then chuckled.

“You were upset because of the spirits?”

His tone sounded like he was talking to a child. Feeling embarrassed at how emotional he’d been, Yohan pretended he didn’t hear Mikael.