The private dorm room was the epitome of luxury for veteran players, especially one equipped with customized furnishings, a personal alchemy station, and even a spell-detection barrier to ward off nosy intruders. Sitting at his desk, Brian let out a yawn as the glow of a crystal lamp illuminated stacks of scrolls and notes scattered before him.

  Brian was far from extraordinary among the vast player base, but being part of the early batches made him way above average. Not only that, but he also got a good mana aptitude and knack for potioneering — thanks to his background in chemical engineering. This paved the way for his comfortable lifestyle in the game. Still, another day in the game meant there were free public lessons that he could attend.

  The free lessons in the Sanctum of Interdimensional Magi were not many, and the subjects were pretty limited, although they had been increasing recently. These subjects were the principles of Magi spells, basic potioneering, anatomy, and basic magic spell theory, among other things. Yet, what Brian found most remarkable was how seamlessly these “made-up” teachings were integrated into the game. The depth and realism of the knowledge often made him wonder just how the developers managed to design such a convincing system, so much so that although he was a science guy, he loved learning magic in the game.

  Today’s free lesson was a potioneering class taught by the Alchemist assistant professor, Elara. But Brian always wondered why her expression had always been nonexistent. Although that was typical of an NPC, this game had always been very realistic, so it felt jarring for some reason.

  “Whatever the case, it’s important for me to attend the class. I always learn something valuable,” Brian muttered as he made his way to the lecture hall located in the Headmaster’s Building.

  Potion-making had become an increasingly profitable venture in the game, especially after the recent undead invasion. Combat-oriented players had started to realize the critical importance of potions and elixirs in preserving their lives. The long backlog of players waiting to be resurrected had made dying in the game a much more daunting and terrifying prospect than before. In fact, one player complained that he would only be resurrected in three weeks!

  Brian could call himself lucky. As a life-skills player, he didn’t actively participate on the front lines, sparing himself the constant risk of death. Better still, with how the player base had shrunk a little, the competition for resources had decreased somewhat.

  But as he took a seat inside the hall, Brian’s mind wandered. Could players eventually become professors as well? Of course, at this stage of the game, no player was qualified to teach magic. But for other topics like science, architecture, mathematics, sociology, and what have you, the idea didn’t seem so far-fetched. With the academy’s framework and the game’s accelerated passage of time, the potential to create a fully functional in-game university felt limitless.

  It might even revolutionize the education system as a whole!

  Suddenly, a voice called out to him. “Yo, Maple. You’re back for class again?”

  Despite being a male player, Brian had chosen “MapleSyrup” as his username. His reasoning was simple: he preferred using female characters when playing MMORPGs. After all, what self-respecting gamer wouldn’t choose to play as a cool or beautiful female character if given the chance? Naturally, he also liked maple syrup.

  “Mm, that’s right,” Brian replied with a nod. Today’s lesson was bound to be important, as it would reveal a new alchemical recipe for free and delve into the uses of various magical plants as ingredients.

  “You’re here too, Teruboi?” he asked.

  “Of course!” Teruboi exclaimed enthusiastically. “My dream is to concoct the Mana Aptitude Enhancement Elixir and make millions in the game.”

  Brian chuckled at his in-game friend’s lofty ambition. Ever since the undead expansion, Mana Aptitude Enhancement Elixirs had become a hot topic. Players who started with below-average mana aptitudes were scrambling to secure the limited supply available in the expansion store. For many, it was their only reliable chance to level the playing field against luckier players.

  With that in mind, it was easy to imagine the kind of fortune someone could make if they managed to figure out how to craft these elixirs. Unfortunately for Brian, his skills were still limited to concocting basic potions, like health potions and minor buffing potions. Even then, his success rate was only 50 percent, making him sigh inwardly.

  This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

  Before long, about fifty players had gathered in the hall, and the public lesson began. The assistant professor, Elara, wasted no time before launching into the lecture. Compared to real-life university professors, she was exceedingly strict. Not only did she very rarely answer questions, but she also glossed over intricate topics at breakneck speed to fit everything into the limited timeframe. It was as if she were speedrunning her own lecture.

  Perhaps this is the way of Magi teaching acolytes… Brian creased his eyebrows, though he felt that the assistant professor hadn’t yet become an official Magus. Based on her mana fluctuation, she was only a peak third-stage Initiate Attunement acolyte.

  “Today’s topic was brutal! She only showed the anatomy of all the magical plants for a few seconds — I didn’t even have time to take a proper look!” Teruboi complained as they exited the hall.

  “There’s no choice! The study of plant anatomy is such a broad topic with countless images. If the classes aren’t taught quickly, they’ll never end!” Brian replied, walking beside him.

  “I guess you’re right,” Teruboi admitted, though he didn’t look overly frustrated. “Luckily, most of the knowledge is stored in the Shadowlink Marks’ database, and we can always buy anything that isn’t available from the virtual shop.”

  “Exactly,” Brian agreed with a nod.

  “Anyway, do you remember who’s giving free lessons next?”

  Even though attending classes wasn’t mandatory for players, many outliers like them showed up regularly, eager to delve deeper into the intricate magic systems of the game.

  “I think Assistant Professor Dorian is going to teach the intricacies of meditation techniques, but that’s too basic for me at this point. Instead, I’m thinking of attending the new professor’s lecture!” Brian replied.

  There were two well-known assistant professors giving public lessons: Dorian and Elara. Rumor had it that the staff managing the physical store was also an assistant professor, but he hadn’t taught any classes so far. Still, compared to the two assistant professors, this new professor was rumored to surpass them. It was said that his knowledge and teaching proficiency were on a completely different level. And if that wasn’t enough to draw interest, he was the very same professor who had appeared to battle the undead knight during the invasion.

  Just to attend his lecture, players had to fork over a hundred merit points, which was equivalent to a single mana crystal. But judging by the growing interest, it wouldn’t be surprising if the price climbed even higher in the near future.

  “Then, what are we waiting for?”

  Thus, Brian and Teruboi waited eagerly until the time for the new professor’s lecture. Contrary to expectations, the hall where the lecture was to take place was packed to capacity. Even players who normally focused solely on grinding had shown up, curious by the buzz surrounding the mysterious professor.

  A few minutes later, an old Magus with a flowing white beard, piercing gray eyes, and an aura of authority entered the hall, his presence silencing the crowd instantly. He moved to the podium with deliberate steps and surveyed the room before speaking.

  “My name is Roland,” he began, “and I am a Magus. Today, I will be teaching you the true fundamentals of magic spells and spell models from a perspective that goes beyond your current understanding.”

  Although the fundamentals of magic spells and spell models were covered in the two-day compulsory class, the players were intrigued by what Roland meant by “true fundamentals.” After all, nearly every player still relied on the Spell Assist feature to construct spell models, even now. It could be said that they were all too dependent on it.

  “Acolytes,” Roland continued, “magic is not merely a tool. It is a discipline, a philosophy, and a way of life. You may believe you know how to cast spells, but what you’re doing is nothing more than imitating power. You recite incantations and mimic gestures, relying on tools to bridge the gap in your understanding. True magic requires mastery — not just the ability to cast, but the insight to comprehend it.”

  The room fell silent, broken only by the sound of quills scratching against parchment as some players hurried to take notes. Some people preferred writing over typing things through their Shadowlink Marks.

  Roland extended his hand, and without a single word, a brilliant orb of light formed above his palm, shimmering with shifting colors. “This is not a spell model from your Shadowlink Marks. It is not constructed through Spell Assist. It is a conjuration, born solely of intent and control — a manifestation of understanding and discipline. A demonstration of what exists beyond the limitations of the system designed to confine you.”

  Gasps echoed through the hall. While it was known that simple magic could be cast without spell models, few had the skill — or patience — to master such techniques. Most players, especially on the newer batches, only wanted to cause as much destruction as possible, and they overlooked to refine their controls.

  “The difference between a practitioner and a Magus lies in their connection to mana and their ability to see beyond the boundaries of preordained formulas…” Roland continued to explain.

  But this much was enough for Brian to judge that among the lecturers, this professor was the best in the field. His lecture was unlike anything he had experienced, just like what he envisioned of a true Magus. By the end of the lecture, he felt his mind expanding with new possibilities.

  The lesson was worth every penny.