“First, a classic question: What is Magic? I want you to tell me.”

Magically moving a red marker to write out the question onto a really large whiteboard, a large crowd was sitting below her, eagerly listening in.

Along with the trio, the Headmaster also sits down and joins in with the class, with the shadowy elite four following suit, interested in the kind of magic that is practiced within this continent. Eventually, even the peanut galleries also join the impromptu class in droves, wanting to be a part of what is going on right now.

“Kyu (Ho? To think you allow the peanut galleries to watch as well. What change your mind?)”

“What do you even think of me, tsk...Isn’t it obvious? I know it doesn’t matter to you in particular, but this is the Merlis’s Grand Magic class! Of course, I allowed them all to participate in this!"

“Kyu (Hehh? So she is that much of a big shot?)”

“...Yes, she is that much of a big shot." Headmaster exasperatedly said, "More than you can imagine, but I can imagine that you don’t care that much in the first place…”

“Kyu~ (You think too harshly of me~. I do at least think that she makes a lot of pretty lights~.)"

“Grr… That’s not just what she can do, you ignorant brat! In the first place, she is the grand architect of what we know as magic currently, and that she is a respected sage of the Magician Hero, who has taught him everything, and also that-."

Annoyed by her disrespectful behavior, the Headmaster then proceeds to give her an earful, half out of his duty as a Headmaster, and half because of his fanboy tendency for anything hero-related, wanting to protect the dignity of his respected idol…

However, the commotion became so big it distracted her from teaching, as a red marker got thrown at his head immediately after, knocking him dead on his back.

“No whispering in the class! I thought you of all people would know better, current generation Headmaster.”

“Ow… She started it first!”

“Are you a child or something? So undignified…As punishment, why don’t you stand up and tell the class what you thought about the question.”

Smiling cheekily, Merlis magically forces him up with just a wave of her hand, a glow of blue wrapping around his body to make him stand up straight, becoming the new center of attention. Suddenly found himself in the spotlight, he glared irritatingly at Dragon's smugness and awkwardly answered as best as he could.

“Um...Magic is the systematic practices of-”

“Borinnng~! You can sit down now.”

“Eh? But that’s what I learned at scho-.”

“That’s the problem: It’s too cliché~. I expect way more from you than the literal textbook answer.”

Making him stand up, she then forced him to sit back down again with magic, subtly making his body 10 times heavier and married his butt to the ground. While he struggles to adjust his posture, the (dummy) grand wizard moves on with a wide smile.

“Well, perhaps I haven't made the question clear enough then...That makes sense. To rephrase: What is magic for you, personally? What is truly magical for you, what magic does for you, what would you do with magic, stuff like that.”

“You over there, what is magic, then?”

This time, she chose a random person among the peanut galleries for an answer, hovering the red marker right on top of their head. Eagerly waiting for a response, she patiently waits for them to answer.

“M-me? Uh...magic is being able to shoot a fireball from your hand, I guess."

“Magic is being able to conjure up mystical beings from another world to your bidding!"

“Magic is summoning a meteor from the sky, AND CRUSH ALL YOUR ENEMIES INTO THE GROUND, MUHAHAHAHAHA!!!”

As each of them told their own perceptions (each is more chuuni than the last), Merlis nodded with a smile, before pointing to the next person, wanting to hear more, as the answers become more diverse.

Some want to use it to make rain to make their crop grow, some think it's a mystical force beyond time and space, and some think it's the miracle of the gods, handed to all people as a sign of their blessing.

“kisf….mini-Lightning Strike! Now then, now that I got all the answers, let me tell you-"

"Kyu (What about us then? Aren't you going to ask us what we think magic is?)"

"Ah…!"

Irritated by that last answer, she swiftly gave the last answer a shock from above, and made their hair all frizzy up. She quickly decided to conclude her questioning, when Dragon immediately raised her hand up, wanting to give her answer, giving Merlis a shock.

The flustered expression of a once-proud and carefree grand (dummy) wizard gives Dragon all the joy in the world, as she watches her scrambling to give an explanation.

“Uh, um...I mean, do I need to ask you three, who can create a black hole through sheer mana? I think you already know all the answers you need."

“Kyu! (Nonsense! That would be waaay too arrogant of us, who are asking you to teach us in the first place. Come on, ask me!)”

“A-ahahah, I don’t want to bother you three too much (otherwise she would kill me…), so let's just get to the next part where I will conveniently explain it to you all.”

“Kyu (Come on, I insist! I wanna be the teacher's pet that always leave the best answer!)"

“You already look so much like a pet already though, so I don’t think you need to prove it-Ah, not that I implied anything bad or anything, you’re already excellent as you are…”

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“Kyu (Hehhh...How excellent, may I dearly ask?)”

“Ah, um...You're as excellent as...a Dragon! Wait no, you're already one, ummm…"

"Kyu (Come on, I am all ears here-Kyuu~~."

“Dragon, you can stop teasing her now. You’re disrupting the class.”

As Merlis gets increasingly pushed into the corner, under the wide smile of the little dragon, Rose decides to stop this by pinching one side of her cheek, seeing that it is going nowhere. She glare reprimandedly at both of them, one to another, which unintentionally make the dummy wizard a little bit shaky.

“And you as well...Why do you let her get under your skin so much, you know that she is just playing around with you, right?”

“Well, of course, but...it’s kinda hard to reprimand back when the one that beat my ass is still right in front of my face…”

“Kyun~ (Heh, is that spinelessness I hear-Kyunnnn~”

“As I said, stop it already. Anymore disruption, and you’re on trash-takeout duty for a week.” Rose pinched Dragon again with a warning. “And, if my presence here disrupts your teaching, then I apologize with all my heart. Come on, you too.”

“Kyu (Yeah yeah… Sorry for teasing you too hard.)”

“Awawa, you don’t have to bow that deeply! It isn’t anything big…”

Seeing their head practically touching the ground, Merlis was put in a tough spot, not knowing what to do, as she started shaking her head around and repeatedly telling them to get up.

Again, looking at Dragon being that respectful of someone else, while spending all that time earlier getting under his skin, filled the Headmaster's gut with an indescribable feeling, like an ulcer forming out of sheer rage and frustration.

“Jeez...I get it, I get your apology, so you can stop with the kowtow!… Dragon, what’s your answer, then?”

“Kyu! (Really? Then let’s see… Magic is being able to crush your enemies, see them driven before you, and hear the lamentation of the woman~!)” Dragon smiles innocently, while a menacing aura flare up so hard an accompanying sound goes along with it.

“Eek!”

“Kyu (...Is the joke answer, of course~.)"

(((...That’s a joke?))) (peanut galleries)

(((That’s a joke…))) (Elite four)

Then, swiftly turning it off again, Dragon leaves people wondering, disbelieving that it was a joke (while the elite four feel a bit disappointed). Clearing her throat, she then gives out her real answer.

"Kyukyu (Ahem… As for my real answer, of course, it's finding out that there is an another world out there, filled with a lot of interesting people that I would like to fight. It’s also the joy in being able to pick and choose to fight anyone I want, though the time that I get my fill hasn’t come yet~)”

(((So she actually have a target…))) Thought from all of the peanut galleries, somehow feeling a slight hint of pity for the unlucky bastard.

“...Kyu (...But, more than that, it’s being able to be myself, in the company of people I cherish)”

Her voice turned heartfelt, filled with an emotion so deep it caught people off guard.

Then, climbing down onto Marigold’s shoulder, she nuzzles her cheek close to her, the smug she wearing was soon replaced with a genuine smile, melting with true happiness.

"Kyu (For, there is nothing more joyful than having someone to go along with my antics, always. Isn’t that right, Marigold?)”

“Um, of course!”

...For one singular moment, one in which everyone felt they wouldn’t see it again in all their life...

Looking at how near and dear both of them are, Dragon actually looks genuinely adorable and lovable, like she is the cutest pet she claimed herself to be.

'Fucking hell, why wouldn't she act like that more often.' Everyone's thoughts synchronize for the briefest of moments, wishing that she can be that charming more than once in a while...

Then, after they see her instantly climb up to the top of her head again with a ridiculously prideful look, they knew that wish is impossible, and swiftly popped that delusion faster than the speed of light.

“Okay, me next!” Marigold proactively raises her hand, getting to her turn. “For me, magic is being able to go on an adventure in a strange new place, and of course, with the people I love around coming with me!"

“Kyu (You got that right!)”

“Mm! Because, nothing is more happier than being able to share time with loving company!"

With a smile so blindingly bright, her pure cheerful expression instantly goes straight through the heart, and purifies the soul of the peanut galleries behind. Just the sheer simple joy behind it all makes them believe in the good and innocence of the world, even just for one second.

Of course, then they remember what she brutally did just the other day, so that one second seems brief. Still, it's the thought that counts.

“Oh yeah, what’s your answer, Big Sis?” Finishing up her answer, she turn to ask Rose innocently “What do you think Magic is?"

"I think you already know the answer, so do I even need to say?"

“Kyu (Why not? It will be fun!)”

“If you think so…” Adjusting herself, Rose gave her answer gracefully. “There is a lot of Magic in the world that I have the blessing to experience, but if I have to talk about what I consider to be the most important…”

Then, just as gracefully, she embraces the two of them with both of her hands, and holds them close toward her heart, expressing a subtle, but gentle smile.

“It’s being able to be close with, and experience it all together, with the people I hold dear the most in the world. For myself, nothing is more Magical than that.”

“Aww, I love you too, Big Sis!”

“Kyunn!”

If the cute scene earlier was like a sudden arrow to the heart, this scene feels like a wrecking ball directly to the chest.

Watching them nuzzling together so tightly as if wanting to keep each other's hearts warm and cozy, the peanut galleries instantly feel like they need to stab insulin directly into their heart to prevent a Hallmark movie overdose. Even the most jaded soul can’t help but shed a bit of tears in their eyes, as the Headmaster desperately hides it away from them.

“...See, this is why I know you already have all the answers you need."

Also watching the scene silently, Merlis smiled deep within, her impression of Rose changed just a tiny bit.

Nevertheless, she continues on, carrying this good feeling to what she wants to say.

“You are basically all correct. You all are right about what magic is.”

"It's being able to conjure up a fireball from your hand, it's being able to create a warm flame."

“It’s being able to call up magical beings for a contract, it's being able to make connections."

“It’s being able to summon rain for your crop, it’s the very blessing of it for a bountiful harvest.”

Conjuring up an image of fire, of beasts, of the heaven blessing the earth...She conjures up countless images of all the experiences and events in the world and slowly gathers them up at the top of her outreaching hands.

Recalling them by name, one by one, her eyes reflected the constant swirl of mana, constantly spinning into one.

“It's how the world works, it's how life is born and raised, it's how the day rises and the night fall, it's how people fall in love…It's also conflict, it's also fighting, it's also the war in which all things fight for their right, and the bravery sprouts from within those that are willing, and the action borne from such will."

“Emotions, creations, destruction, alterations, transformations, motions, visions, and many more...If you ask me what magic is..."

"Then, in my personal, yet professional opinion: Magic is everything.”

Finally joined together, all the imagery combines into one: A shining star shines silently, yet brightly.

Staring unafraid at the blinding light, she let it rise slowly into the sky, its brilliance shining ever more and more.

“If there is one thing you can take away from my class, remember this one crucial thing: Magic is every single thing that can happen in the world.”

“And as such, the goal of harnessing magic, is to be able to harness everything. To be able to do everything you ever want to achieve, with your eyes aim unflinchingly bright.”

Her beady eyes soon dyed a color of white, as light soon engulfed everything within its line of sight, shining brighter than anything for just one moment, before disappearing away into a shower of sparkling mana, descending to everyone below, blessing all of them with its glow.

[You have received the blessing of "Merlis's Shining Star". Your INT stat has raised by 100 points, and your INT stat has further been raised by 10%]

[Your magic acquisition and mastery rate have risen by 100%]

“And thus, concluded the Introductory to Magic. Now, it’s time for the real lesson."

Winking knowingly to the stunted audience, she swiftly moves her marker again, quickly scribbling onto the blank whiteboard.