Chapter 156 - Transmitter, Emitter, and Summoner Mage

I opened my eyes slowly, staring at a new ceiling. Each day seemed to bring something different with this new routine, which was, in a way, kind of fun.

“What’s this?” I murmured, feeling an unusual weight on my stomach. When I lifted the blanket, I found a surprise. There was nothing visible on me... or rather, there was, but it was hidden. Something had wriggled under my shirt, nestling itself there, and it was moving slightly.

Suddenly, whatever was sleeping inside my shirt poked its head out, coming through the same opening for my neck. Its feline eyes were right next to my face.

“Good morning... my love,” said the little gray cat.

Love?

“Cylla!” I exclaimed, still drowsy. “What are you doing in there?”

She tilted her head, looking thoughtful.

“I was snuggling and enjoying my husband’s scent,” she replied, completely unfazed.

I sighed, unable to believe it.

“I think we need to set some boundaries...”

“I agree! The boundary is: no boundaries,” she said firmly, her eyes glinting with mischief. “Now, am I going to get a good morning kiss?”

Without a word, I pushed the affectionate cat out from under my shirt.

“Chloe gave you a kiss on the cheek... I want to do that too,” she insisted, leaping up to try to kiss me as I dodged her attempts.

“Get off...” I muttered, trying to escape her.

Looks like my morning started off lively...

***

Two days had passed, and I was in a classroom, which meant, unfortunately, I was having a theoretical lesson. I was eager for some action. In this room, the desks were paired together. I was seated with the wolf girl, while Chloe and Syvis were in front of me. Edmund and Alice were next to me. It seemed that the rest of our group was attending a different class at that moment.

The professor, a demi-human from the cat tribe, was teaching a class that I’d actually taken with Professor Adrihna a long time ago, back when I was eight. Still, the material was required, as it formed the foundation for many magical concepts.

Professor Adrihna had been training us in magic for years. I received instruction both from my family and from her. Initially, she said she would teach me just the “basics,” but over time, she seemed to get more excited, pushing the limits of what was considered appropriate for someone my age—at least that’s what she told me. Since my Special Eyes fell into the Summoner category and I had an affinity for all elements, only she and my mother could truly guide me, as they both possessed the same category. Adrihna also trained Chloe, who had the Summoner category as well.

Kinue, on the other hand, received a different kind of training. Adrihna explained that Kinue would gain even more advanced knowledge once she fully mastered her bestial form. I learned that when a demi-human is transformed, they can access magic differently. Mana flows in a unique way through their bodies during the transformation, as their bestial form is built from mana itself.

Even though we were fortunate to have one of the most powerful mages on the continent as our mentor, she constantly reminded us that Apsalon Academy would reveal new details we hadn’t encountered before. Even the smallest insights could change our understanding of mana, offering us a unique perspective.

“Understood? This is how mana is divided and how it behaves within a mage’s body,” the professor explained as he wrote on the board.

He pointed at the mage classes listed there. “All mage classes revolve around the three categories of mana. However, two classes stand out based on the category they use. Combat Mage is typically suited for Transmitters, while Shooter Mage is for Emitters or Summoners,” he said.

You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.

The professor turned the page in his book, and an illustration appeared on the board, showing one figure holding a flaming sword and another launching a burst of fire.

“If your primary mana category is Transmitter, you have an easier time mastering it. Everyone has a bit of the other categories within them, but the dominant ones are identified through a test conducted by a mage instructor when you first begin your training. These dominant categories are where your mana flows most comfortably and strongly. That’s why it’s called your Primary Mana Category. It’s where your mana finds the most affinity.”

He went on to elaborate with examples drawn on the board. “A Transmitter mage can utilize a mana armor, which boosts their physical attributes and allows them to cloak themselves in their own element. This mana armor also covers their clothing and weapons, reinforcing them. So, for instance, if they cloak themselves in fire mana, their clothing won’t catch fire. Someone who is a Transmitter can become a Combat Mage and needs to specialize in close-quarters combat. They can still cast spells like fireballs or flame bolts, but they’ll be weaker than those cast by a Shooter Mage. It’s all a matter of affinity.”

He pointed to the illustration of a mage launching a fire blast. “The Emitter category makes a mage proficient in casting ranged spells. They don’t possess natural mana armor, but they have significant advantages in casting more potent and far-reaching spells,” the professor continued.

My classmates were visibly curious, absorbing every word the professor spoke. Some students, though naturally gifted, hadn’t received advanced training yet, and were considered raw gems. They had enormous potential but still needed refining to reach true excellence.

I could feel the anxiety in many of them, especially those from noble families without a military or rigorous magical background. Even among the most talented, it was easy to see the difference between those prepared since childhood and those who were just beginning to grasp the power they held.

“A mage with the Emitter category becomes a Shooter Mage, blessed with a larger mana reserve. Thanks to this, they can execute more complex and powerful spells. However, this advantage often makes them a bit vain due to their natural talent. Many don’t bother to learn hand-to-hand combat and prefer to focus solely on magic. Unlike a Combat Mage, a Shooter Mage can rely on an ample mana reserve to use in battle, assuming they choose to stick with spellcasting. A Combat Mage, on the other hand, usually resorts to using weapons due to their lower affinity for ranged spells.”

Looking around, I noticed a few students clearly proud of their talent for becoming Shooter Mages. I’d heard that from the second year onwards, students receive a badge indicating their mage class. Many enjoy showing them off, especially if they’re a Shooter Mage or Healer Mage.

If someone wants to kill you, they won’t care about your badge…

I knew about these distinctions, but they didn’t mean much to me. I was primarily a Transmitter with Emitter as my secondary category.

But it’s not the end of the world for those who only have Transmitter as their primary category. The way mana behaves for them makes it harder to cast long-distance spells, but the solution is simple: just ‘pull the bowstring harder.’

I used an analogy that made it easier to understand. An Emitter Mage has a light arrow; they only need to pull the bowstring lightly, and the shot can already cover great distances. A Transmitter Mage, on the other hand, has a heavy arrow. For it to reach the same distance, they need to pull the bowstring with greater force. As a Transmitter Mage masters their mana, they can achieve similar results to an Emitter, but there’s no denying that Emitters have a larger mana reserve and a greater natural ease with long-distance spells.

The main advantage of a Transmitter is the natural mana armor—something an Emitter doesn’t have. This armor boosts the Transmitter's physical attributes, like strength and speed. Emitters, on the other hand, have a variation of armor but can only imbue objects with mana. This means they can, for example, make an arrow catch fire when fired from a bow, or even apply other kinds of enchantments. A Transmitter, however, needs to stay in constant contact with the object to cover it with their element.

For an Emitter, imbuing an arrow with their element is an efficient way to conserve mana. Creating a fireball, for instance, consumes much more mana than simply igniting an arrow and shooting it. However, most Emitters prefer to rely on their spells, avoiding the effort of learning direct combat. Thanks to their larger mana reserve and the ease of staying away from conflict, they don’t face the same pressure as Transmitters do on the front lines. Instead, Emitters can position themselves at a distance, attacking enemies with spells while keeping a degree of safety.

This is one of the reasons why Shooter Mages tend to be prideful. Since many mages come from noble families, most common nobles aren’t interested in spending time learning close-combat skills. Being born with Emitter as their mana category, along with a larger mana reserve, has surely reinforced the idea in their minds that they’re superior to Combat Mages. After all, while Transmitters are out there facing dangers up close, Emitters remain at a safe distance, striking from afar and in the comfort of their position.

The professor pointed to the illustration of the Shooter Mage. “Remember, it all comes down to affinity and practice. There’s no point in being blessed as an Emitter if you don’t practice and expand your spell arsenal. An Emitter naturally has a larger mana reserve, but you still need to learn how to control your expenditure; otherwise, it won’t do you any good. Just like a runner can build endurance through training, a mage can increase their mana reserves while also learning to manage its consumption as they become more attuned to their mana gem.