Chapter 199 - The First Lesson (2/2)

The slightly older children still knew to look at Santis’s magic robe and the short staff at his waist with fear, but those younger were completely fearless. They had yet to learn to immediately bow humbly upon seeing Mage lords, like their parents would. —— Similarly, Santis had also failed to grasp the “guts” of the common Mages who would casually toss out a small fireball when they were offended by rude lowly commoners and cripple them.

He could only release that few arcane bullets a day.

Hence, he could only open his mouth futilely, his voice so soft that even the first row could barely hear him well. “Be quiet… Everyone, be quiet. It’s time for class…”

No one listened to him, just as he had expected: the children of civilians were even harder to handle.

Santis felt perspiration oozing out on his face. He felt that his first lesson might have failed, but a handkerchief was suddenly handed to him from the side. —— He looked over in surprise and saw a girl with big eyes holding the handkerchief, looking at him.

This girl was slightly puny but was dressed in a very clean and neat cotton dress; there was also a small hairpin on her head. This showed that she probably came from a rather well-to-do family. She held the handkerchief forward again, opening her mouth to make “ah ah” sounds.

“Than—thank you…” Santis didn’t think that there would be a child this sensible. He immediately said his thanks while he took the handkerchief, wiping his perspiration and smiling. “You didn’t scream and shout like the others. You’re really sensible…”

His words had just fallen when a boy suddenly shouted out, “Because Pea is a mute!”

The girl with very big eyes immediately glared at the boy. The latter quickly shrunk his neck. “Sorry, Sister Pea…”

This girl was called Pea, and she was a mute?

Santis faltered for a moment. He recalled that he had indeed seen the odd name, “Pea” previously in the student register, but he didn’t expect to actually have a mute amongst his students.

And within two seconds of his daze, Santis suddenly caught, through his peripheral vision, a small hand poking out from under his desk. This hand was holding a slate used for writing; several words were crookedly written on it: Use a magic, sir.

Then, this slate was swiftly retracted. Santis didn’t even get a clear look of who it was from.

He was stunned for a moment and finally responded. Then, he briefly lifted his right hand. —— He only had a few precious chances of spellcasting everyday, and he was using one on his first lesson.

A small arcane energy ball flew out from his hand, all the way to the middle of the classroom; then it exploded with a pop. The magic sparks that scattered in all directions looked as if a firework had been lit up in the room.

All the children quietened down at once.

They watched their new teacher in awe, as if they’d only finally realized now, finally confirmed that —— this was a true Mage.

Just like Madam Heidi, he was a Mage.

The children gazed speechlessly at one another, while Santis finally knew what he ought to do.

“Children.” The young Grade 2 Arcanist put on a smile. He tossed his former experiences of tutoring the young aristocrats and merchants to the back of his head, throwing away those meaningless ostentatious opening remarks, throwing away those “etiquette of first contact” and rules, and said what he most wanted to say right now. “Let me tell you how to distinguish runes, as well as the basic theory for them to be effective.”

These children might not be able to release one spell using their own hands all their lives.

Santis turned around and used chalk to write down the title of the first lesson on the blackboard.

No one in history had considered imparting all the secrets of magic to every single person without reservation.

The fundamental runes for earth, fire, wind, and water were transferred from the tip of the chalk to the blackboard, followed by the derived runes of frost, lightning, and various others.

However, these children could use their brains to remember this knowledge, using paper and pen to calculate this knowledge. Miss Jenni had already proven the value of such “calculations”; the feudal lord also believed in these values.

Santis turned around. What he saw were dozens of curious and intent eyes —— they were capable of paying attention.

“Let us begin the first lesson.”