Extra Chapter One: New Student Enrollment

Year 1151 of the Order Era.

The thin morning mist had yet to fully disperse, leaving behind a faintly damp sensation in the air.

“Ah, the classroom… Where was the newly built Explosive Flame Magic classroom again?”

Anana stood on the broad main road, a thick stack of lesson plans tucked under one arm as she tilted her head and fell into deep thought.

Today, she had deliberately put on her dark-red teacher’s robe. Three golden bands were embroidered around the cuffs, signifying her status as an intermediate fire-element teacher. Yet at this moment, she looked more like a lost freshman, spinning helplessly in place.

Who would have thought that after spending so many years at Oliphando, she could still fail to find her classroom?

It couldn’t be helped. With this year’s freshmen enrollment, the academy had undergone extensive renovations, and many classrooms were no longer where they had been.

Yesterday had been the deadline for returning the spellbooks from the library. After staying up late studying them, Anana had hurried off to return the books and completely forgotten to check the classroom assignments on the notice board.

But things were different now. Anana was no longer the absentminded freshman she had been when she first enrolled. She was now an honorable teacher!

A breeze swept past, carrying the sounds of students practicing basic spells on the training grounds nearby. Anana looked up at the sky. The sun had already climbed above the eastern clock tower, and there was less than fifteen minutes before class began.

It shouldn’t be a big deal if a teacher arrived late, right?

That would be a huge deal, you idiot!

Anana still had enough presence of mind to silently scold herself.

“The classroom… The Explosive Flame Magic classroom should still be over by the old fire-element academy, right?” Anana swallowed nervously. If she ran all the way there only to find out she was wrong, she really would be late.

“Anana?”

A warm voice called out from behind her.

“Principal Wolund!” Anana happily turned around, unable to hide the familiarity in her voice. Wolund had been her principal when she was a student, as well as the guide who had led her onto the path of magic.

Wolund wore a dark-blue robe and held what appeared to be an ordinary oak staff. A sapphire set into its tip shimmered with a mysterious light beneath the sun.

Despite being over fifty, there was not the slightest trace of age on Wolund’s face.

“Heh, I’m not the principal anymore. That Mian kid is the principal now,” Wolund said with a smile and a shake of his head. “You should be calling me Professor.”

“Honestly, Principal Wolund, you still look so young. If you hadn’t already married Teacher Kalinda and had children with her, and if you hadn’t wanted to spend more time with your family, Senior Mian would never have had the chance to become principal.” Anana pouted, clearly displeased that Mian had become principal.

They used to be so close. Yet after becoming principal, Senior Mian hadn’t even thought to look after her.

She was still working hard to become a senior teacher… If only she could get Mian to pull a few strings for her and make an exception.

Of course, that was nothing more than wishful thinking.

“Oh, right! Principal Wolund, where’s the Explosive Flame Magic classroom? I’m about to be late for class!”

Wolund sighed helplessly. “You really haven’t changed at all.”

He then pointed toward the eastern district with his oak staff. “See those three newly built teaching buildings? The middle one. The first floor. The room is called the ‘Explosive Flame Hall.’ Remember to use the side entrance. The protective barrier at the main entrance is still being tested.”

Before he had even finished speaking, Anana’s figure had already transformed into a blazing streak of light. The fire elements in the air stirred restlessly as she shot rapidly into the distance.

…

The moment Anana stepped into the classroom, she sensed that something was wrong.

Every seat beneath the podium was already occupied.

She appeared to be the last one to arrive.

In an instant, dozens of pairs of eyes turned toward her. Curiosity, anticipation, and a hint of scrutiny mingled in the freshmen’s gazes.

Anana took a deep breath and forced herself to remain calm. Five years of teaching had long since accustomed her to being watched by students, but the faint tension of the first lesson of a new term was still there every time.

She walked steadily toward the podium, her dark-red robe swaying lightly with each step. When she turned to face the students, she had already put on a stern expression—her lips slightly pursed, her brows raised. It was the “teacher’s expression” she had practiced in private for a long time.

“Ahem. I’m Anana, your Explosive Flame Magic instructor. Let me make this clear from the start: I’m extremely strict. Don’t even think about using cheap tricks to scrape by in my class…”

“Reporting!”

A voice suddenly came from outside the classroom.

Someone had arrived even later than she had?

That was wonderful! At least she wasn’t the last one now.

Anana secretly rejoiced.

She looked toward the door and saw a handsome young man with black hair and crimson eyes standing there.

For some reason, Anana had the vague feeling that she had seen him somewhere before.

“Excuse me, am I late?” Xia Yi asked timidly.

“Not at all! You’re just fine! Come in quickly and sit in the very front row!” Anana waved her hand grandly. “Since this is your first offense, I won’t punish you.”

Why did this teacher seem a little strange…? Xia Yi muttered inwardly.

His father and mother had only sent him back yesterday. After dealing with his accommodations, he hadn’t had any time to pay attention to anything else. As a result, he had gotten lost in the academy today and only managed to find the classroom after asking Sister Yisi for directions.

He still remembered that the moment he had stepped off the airship, it had taken off again.

His parents had clearly been eager to dump him there so they could go back to enjoying their shameless life together.

Having parents like that was truly hopeless. Xia Yi sighed.

“Explosive Flame Magic is a branch of fire-element magic…” Anana had already entered her teaching mode. “Fire-element magic is inherently powerful, but Explosive Flame Magic is the most destructive branch of all. The path is not an easy one. It is filled with hardships and dangers, and throughout history, countless mages have been injured—or even lost their lives—because of it.”

“Tell me, why do you want to learn Explosive Flame Magic?”

“Only great power can protect my companions!”

“I need strength to protect the people who matter most to me.”

The answers were more or less identical. Anana nodded slightly, feeling no particular reaction in her heart.

“What about you? The latecomer in the front row. Why do you want to learn Explosive Flame Magic?” Anana asked Xia Yi.

For some reason, the entire first row had been left empty by unspoken agreement. Xia Yi was the only person sitting there.

Xia Yi appeared to think seriously for a moment before answering, “Because it’s cool!”

“Oh?” Anana raised an eyebrow, clearly surprised by his answer.

“Because I think Explosive Flame Magic is really cool!” Xia Yi declared loudly. “The eruption of flames, the release of energy, that instant of brilliance and power—in my eyes, it’s the most direct expression of magical artistry.”

“What kind of reason is that?”

“Is this guy serious?”

“What a strange person.”

The students around him covered their mouths and giggled.

Anana, however, raised a hand to signal for silence. She looked at Xia Yi and suddenly smiled—not the practiced smile of a teacher, but a smile filled with genuine amusement.

“Very well. What honest students you are… Whatever your reasons may be—whether it’s to protect others, to gain power, to pursue an ideal, or simply because you think it’s ‘cool’—there’s one thing I want you to understand: on the path of explosive flame magic, the true foundation is nothing but the determination to work hard and persevere.”

From below, Xia Yi looked up at Anana as she continued to speak animatedly from the podium.

His school life had begun.