Chapter 140
In the classroom, a lot of people fell asleep. From front to back, Sylas, who used to be a good student, always rushed to the front. But after attending a few classes, she started coming early like Luna, just to do other things at the back.
Four people sat in the same row. Sylas and Luna were both focused on reading (but not listening to the lesson), while Swis and Caroline whispered behind their books.
Sylas yawned, and Swis asked, "What's wrong? Did you stay up too late doing homework yesterday? I've told you not to take so many classes."
Sylas squinted her eyes, with a few tears in the corners, but shook her head and said, "No, I just got sleepy after listening for a while."
Swis chuckled softly. Maybe it wasn't all Sauran's uncle's fault for making everyone feel sleepy with his boring lectures. After all, the weather was sunny today, and the afternoon sun was so... warm, with the soothing temperature and the quiet and monotonous background noise in the giant lecture hall, it was perfect for sleeping.
Some people even started snoring. Sauran's uncle was annoyed by the intermittent snoring, so he tapped on the podium. The hollow wooden sound echoed sharply, waking up some people who looked around dazedly.
"Since you're all so sleepy, let's just chat, shall we? How about we discuss the Mage Guild? Bancett, what do you think the Mage Guild is researching?"
"Some... theoretical stuff?" The boy in the front row had to sit there because he arrived late, not because he was diligent. He struggled to answer the question.
"Absolutely right, the old men at the top of the ivory tower study theoretical things," he exaggeratedly expressed agreement, while Bancett, the boy, was surprised and looked at the nephew of the Sauran family sitting next to him.
"It's obvious, Bancett is Mede's new apprentice, right?" Swis whispered to Caroline.
"Obviously."
"What's wrong with that? It's natural to be closer to family friends, it's called 'human nature,' right?" She uncertainly used a word she wasn't familiar with.
"Of course there is!" Luna interrupted, "My little fairy, it's not called 'close,' it's called being 'in cahoots.'"
This obvious negative statement revealed Luna's position. Sylas smiled understandingly, a gentle smile that everyone loved to see.
"Yes, the Mage Guild values theoretical research the most. Understanding the basic laws of this world is the fundamental principle and purpose of the Mage Guild. It is a noble act. All of you mage apprentices here should also aspire to that goal. The great Star Song Castle trains you to engage in the most noble and sublime intellectual activities, not to study trivial things on the sidelines. Isn't that right?"
These profound truths were certainly not a problem. It was almost like the content of the first Chapter of a book. A few people in the front row, who managed to stay awake because of his intense gaze, weakly replied, "Yes." However, this seemed to have no effect on Sauran's enthusiasm for mobilizing everyone's emotions.
"Yes, yes, since ancient times, theoretical research has always been the mainstream in academia. Those who follow this mainstream will become great mages, while those obsessed with strange tricks and techniques will ultimately achieve nothing. For example..."
He randomly gave a few examples of great theorists, but after mentioning two or three, he couldn't continue. There were students nominating names below, and Sauran just repeated one name. Sylas thought that in terms of the quantity of writings, Xerath's teacher Emerson must count as one. But when someone in the front row nominated Emerson, Sauran's uncle deliberately overlooked it.
This slight sense of disharmony made Sylas feel a little strange.
"No one is famous for studying trivial things..."
Someone said in front, "Shangpiweng · Stardust!"
This is a craftsman from the Seiti period who was the first to discover the phenomenon of relying on magic mediums to borrow other elemental powers.
"Oh dear, you should be quiet in class, raise your hand before speaking, and be as quiet as a mouse!"
But that classmate continued to say, "But magic mediums are not theoretical things!"
Sauran frowned and reprimanded him, "What's wrong with you? If I warn you once and you don't stop, do I really have to use the Silence Spell on you?"
Swis chuckled and said, "I think he just failed to cast a spell."
Sylas hit him, and the two of them whispered behind Caroline, "Don't do that, you don't have any evidence to say that about him."
Swis said, "Oh! Are you defending someone unrelated?"
Sylas shook her head, "No, of course not. You don't have any evidence, but I do." Clearly, in the eyes of this elemental envoy, the wind element doesn't listen much to Teacher Sauran. Just like Xerath and Virgil told her, everyone's spells have a chance of failure, and it seems quite significant. But it seemed impolite to ask others about this, and she didn't understand it even more.
Swis burst into laughter, burying his face between his elbows and shaking. Sylas yawned and boredly said to Luna, "Why do you always read world history? Is world history that interesting?"
She leaned over to take a look, but Luna quickly closed the book. "If you like it, read your own."
Sylas rolled her eyes. "Stingy."
Luna stared back defiantly. "Unless you tell me who you're writing letters to every day."
The negotiation collapsed, and they each turned their heads away, focusing on their own books.
"Yes, that's right. Always remember, theory comes first, technique comes second."
"Teacher, are there any examples to the contrary?" Mede asked obediently.
Caroline glanced down and scoffed, "If you're talking about who would speak up in Sauran's class, then it's only Sauran." Mede followed up, Sauran's nephew, making Sauran's class not so dull, even though he had just been asleep.
"Of course, of course. Xerath—"
When this name was spoken, half of the class, who had been sleeping, woke up. The sound of rubbing fabric converged into an undertow, echoing in the huge reverberating classroom.
Sylas suddenly sat up straight, staring at Sauran on the platform.
"Xerath Stellar, the youngest archmage in history. Her thesis... 'The Nonlinear Proportional Relationship between Spell Intensity and Siphoning Phenomenon' is a highly theoretical article. Unfortunately, she then went down the wrong path, becoming obsessed with studying the application of mithril in related experiments..."
The slumbering breeze in the classroom suddenly seemed disturbed by this sentence. Who was repeating the name of the Elemental King? They scattered everywhere, and warm breaths turned cold. Even the sun seemed unable to warm them up.
The students whispered to each other. Many of them were admirers of archmages. They were momentarily unable to accept this claim. However, the authority of the teacher without a doubt shook their admiration.
"S- Sylas?" Caroline was the first to react, she held her tightly clenched fist and whispered to Sylas, who was about to climb onto the table and confront Sauran, "Don't do this. No matter how passionate a fangirl you are, Sauran isn't worth it."
"She hasn't come up with any brilliant theories in these few years, as if she had exhausted her talent when she was young."
The classroom became lively, and Sauran was quite pleased with himself, wearing a smug smile on his face. His nephew flattered him, saying, "Indeed, it's so regrettable and yet there are still people who admire her."
"Yes, for seven or eight years there haven't been any notable achievements, just living off her past glory. I advise everyone not to take this as an example, but rather as a warning to not become complacent once you become famous."
He arrogantly glanced at the majority of Xerath's admirers in the audience, and insincerely said, "Especially you, Mede, you're just a representative of the new generation, don't squander your reputation."
"I won't be like this woman who adores vanity." The uncle and nephew exchanged a knowing look, as if this was not their first time having such a conversation.
"Nonsense!" she muttered softly, her wind element stirred by her agitation, preparing to secretly brew a storm. But all these commotions were temporarily drowned out by the whispers in the classroom.
Luna was startled by Sylas's deep voice and, along with Caroline, held her hand, although they didn't know why they needed to do so.
"What? What's going on?"
"Hold her back! She wants to go up and fight Sauran!"
"Oh, oh, Sylas, don't do this. It's not helpful at all. Besides, it will only make you go to his office alone to write the check. No, I don't allow it." Luna's motherly instinct suddenly showed, spreading her arms like a mother hen and blocking Sylas's line of sight.
Sylas's mind was a mess, even more chaotic than the whispering classroom of the students. She had come up with arguments to refute Sauran, like saying, "You first need to refute her work from an academic perspective," or "You can't judge whether her talent is fading just because she hasn't published any groundbreaking papers in a few years. Papers are not news," or "Theories cannot emerge out of thin air and they may have a significant influence on material things," or "Research on specific materials doesn't mean her work entirely avoids theoretical research."
But in the end, she remembered Xerath's exhausted gaze. What did her work have to do with these boastful people? How could their opinions benefit her work?
Disheartened, she slumped back in her seat, her once straight back now curved.
But then, that arrogant little troublemaker said, "… enjoying the feeling of being surrounded by men and women, living a greedy and indulgent life. The kind of reputation gained in youth often ruins a person, nothing good, nothing good."
These words seemed to ignite the classroom, with young people who only partially understood the power and knowledge grasping onto the concealed meaning behind his words - indulgence.
"He doesn't have any evidence to say that about Xerath!"
"Stay calm, stay calm... What evidence does gossip need? Sylas, don't attack the teacher in the classroom, what if he punishes you?" Caroline tried to mediate.
But Swis shouted from the side, "Yeah! This annoying guy doesn't have any evidence at all!"
The students in front turned their heads and said, "Yeah! You don't have any proof at all!"
Luna scolded angrily, "Swis! Don't say these things to her!"
Debates are allowed in class, but arguments are not. This goes against the spirit of knowledge. According to the Academy's rules, students who are recorded causing arguments will carry this record throughout their entire student life. Teachers and professors would not favor a student carrying such a record, as it implies rudeness, recklessness, and a lack of manners. No one wants to accept an apprentice or assistant like that.
The twins, who have come all the way from primary school along with Luna, understand the stakes involved, unlike Sylas who is not afraid of anything.
Maybe she would even be happy to drop out because of this, if she could think of it.
