The group led by Professor Darius made their way outside the school building and toward the vast open field of the academy. When they got there, Yuan could see a few classes occupying their own spaces on the open field, as they undergo combat exercises and magic training from their respective instructors.

The high school students from Earth couldn't help but glance over at the other classes’ direction, and what they saw left them greatly astounded.

“Yo, did you see that Yuan?! That guy just made actual fire appear from his hands!”

“Yeah, I saw.”

“Isn't that like, legendary or what!?”

Jacob's loud exclamation caught the attention of his fellow classmates, as they all concentrated their gazes on a handsome young man wielding burning energy on both of his hands.

With a resolute shout, he thrust his palms forward as raging fire instantly spewed out and engulfed its designated target into flames.

“Heh, you call that legendary? Legendary my ass. Flamethrower is merely a low-intermediate ranking spell.” Yuan regarded the spell that the young man conjured with disdain.

The young man's instructor clapped his hands and generously offered him praise for the perfect execution of the spell. His friends also gathered together to congratulate him, and one of them even gave him a pat on the back for good measure.

"Alright everyone, eyes here please." Headmaster Valir suddenly called out.

Yuan and his classmates promptly switched their attention from the handsome young man to the headmaster, who was now standing in front of them with his hands behind his back.

"Since we're already here in the open field, I wanted to teach you Heroes how to gather and properly refine mana into your bodies." he announced.

When they heard this, Yuan's classmates started chattering amongst each other with visible excitement shown on their young faces.

"Gathering and refining mana?"

"Are we finally going to start using magic now?!"

"It would be so awesome if I could shoot out fire from my hands just like that guy from earlier..."

Seeing that the youths attention were shifting away from him, Headmaster Valir quickly followed up on his words, "Heroes, settle down as I will now be teaching you the ways of Mana Refinement."

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"Everyone be quiet and listen!"

Yuan loudly barked at his classmates in order to shut them up, and it proved rather effective as they all turned silent.

"Good. Thank you for that, boy."

Yuan responded to the headmaster's gratitude with a nod of his head. Headmaster Valir was very surprised to see such an average-looking youth hold such strong respect from his companions.

He unconsciously inspected Yuan from head to toe with a slightly intrigued expression.

"Hmm... This young man looks awfully ordinary at first glance, but I can feel a very mature and experienced air around him. Interesting..."

But now wasn't the time to entertain his own thoughts, he still had a job to do.

"I will now be demonstrating to you all how it is done. And please, follow my instructions and actions accordingly. First, you will have to find a spot or position where you feel most relaxed or comfortable with."

Headmaster Valir suddenly got down on the ground with his back straight and crossed his legs. 

"For example, you can cross your legs like so, and then close your eyes while slowly breathing in and out. This position is commonly used when you want to deeply meditate and calm your state of mind."

They all listened attentively to the serious exposition the headmaster was giving to them.

"And then, what you need to do is feel the atmosphere. Mana is essentially found anywhere and everywhere in the world; we humans live and breathe it everyday. Sense the magical presence in your surroundings, and guide it towards yourself."

Then, something inexplicable happened. Colorful particles of energy converged around Headmaster Valir, and it condensed into resplendent light that seeped through certain spots of his skin.

"See that glowing energy seeping throughout my entire body, that is known as Refined Mana. What makes it different from normal mana is its degree of purity, and we want to intake mana that is in its purest state. Because if we just absorb mana haphazardly like a reckless fool our bodies will be contaminated, shortening our lifespans considerably."

Even while gathering, refining and absorbing mana, Headmaster Valir took the time to carefully explain to them the whole process. The group of high school students watched in earnest at the dazzling spectacle of Mana Refinement.

A little while later, Headmaster Valir got up from the ground and dusted himself off before proceeding to tell them, "It's now your turn. Sit down on the ground and cross your legs for me. Find a comfortable spot that you like and close your eyes; clear yourself of any distracting thoughts in your head and feel the atmosphere."

The group of high school students did as they were told – they sat on the ground with their legs crossed and their eyes closed. Slowly, they exhaled and inhaled a breath, feeling the atmosphere around them.

"That's very good. Now patience is key here, you don't want to rush things when you're gathering and refining mana. Take your sweet time with this exercise and familiarize yourself with the existence of mana."

They silently listened to the headmaster's words resounding in their minds, fully devoted to meditation.

"Remember the teaching of Professor Darius, "Magic Power is a living being, it has life and sentience." So I want you to sense that faint life in the air and let it flow towards you. And then, imagine condensing and spreading the mana throughout your bodies."

Three hours later, Yuan and his classmates bodies soon started to light up brilliantly. Refined Mana was finally gathering around them and seeping through certain spots of their skins. 

Headmaster Valir was greatly shaken by what he was seeing right now.

"Three hours... It really only took them three hours to learn Mana Refinement..."

In ordinary times, a normal person would take at least one whole month to gather and refine mana from scratch. And for those gifted individuals who are labeled as geniuses, it would only take them a week or so to accomplish this.

But these youths that he just met today succeeded in Mana Refinement after only three hours had passed. That was the reason why he was so amazed by what he witnessed.

"A bunch of freaks... just where in the hell did the Third Princess get them from?" he was insanely curious to know the answer.