Exafanos' footsteps echoed softly down the academy corridor. Each step was calm yet carried an undeniable authority. Several teachers he passed greeted him politely with a "Good morning" or a respectful nod. It seemed they had all received a notice from Lithuana that a new teacher would be assigned to handle Class D today—the most unruly and problematic class in the entire academy.
Without saying much, Exafanos returned their greetings with a brief nod. His gaze remained fixed straight ahead, focused on one destination—Class D.
From several meters away, the noise was already loud and clear. Shouts, chairs scraping across the floor, loud laughter, and objects being thrown filled the air. Any other teacher would've sighed or hesitated to enter such chaos. But not Exafanos.
Upon reaching the door, he sensed a faint trace of magic. He raised an eyebrow slightly, realizing the students had prepared a trap. A small bucket filled with purplish paint hung above the doorway. But it wasn't ordinary paint—it had been enchanted to stick to skin or clothing for up to a year and couldn't be removed, not even with cleansing spells.
One student peeked through the door crack, struggling to contain his laughter.
"He's about to become the joke of the day," whispered one of them.
But what happened next stunned them all.
As Exafanos opened the door and stepped inside, the bucket tipped. The enchanted paint came rushing down, aiming directly for his face and body. Yet, just before it could touch him—it vanished. Not evaporated. Not deflected. It simply ceased to exist, as if it had never been. Even the bucket disappeared into thin air.
Silence fell upon the classroom. The students, who had been moments away from laughing, froze in place. All eyes were now fixed on the calm figure standing at the front with a blank expression.
Without reacting to their shock, Exafanos walked over to the teacher's desk, pulled out the chair, and sat down. His eyes scanned each student one by one. His gaze was sharp, cold, and penetrating. Then, in a composed but firm voice, he spoke:
"My name is Exafanos. Starting today, I'll be your teacher—and your homeroom instructor."
No one responded. There were no claps or greetings. Only stares of defiance, disinterest, and subtle disdain from most of the students. Exafanos took a slow breath. He knew exactly what kind of children these were. They weren't just disobedient—they had completely lost respect for authority.
He stood from his seat and continued,
"Today, we'll begin with the basics of magic. But not the kind you find in textbooks. I will teach you pure magic—practical, fast, and without the need for lengthy incantations."
Some students snickered quietly.
As he began his explanation, a small needle suddenly shot from the corner of the room. Coated in high-grade paralytic magic, it was designed to bypass most protection spells. But before it could reach him—it too vanished. Soundless. Traceless.
Exafanos' eyes sharply turned toward the culprit. One student stood up arrogantly and walked forward, unafraid.
"I don't like you here, teacher. You're not worthy to teach us," he said with smug confidence.
With his hands behind his back, the student began silently casting a spell, sending a fireball hurtling toward Exafanos. But once again, the attack disappeared—swallowed by nothingness.
"Your attacks will never reach me," Exafanos said coldly.
The student froze. Some others began channeling their mana, preparing for a group assault. But before they could act, Exafanos closed his eyes briefly.
With his will alone, he erased the concept of strength from their bodies.
Their limbs gave out instantly. Every student collapsed to the floor, powerless. As if their energy had been consumed by the void. They lay silent, panicked, and confused.
"I don't care why you tried to attack me," Exafanos said, his calm voice cutting through the air like a blade. "But as long as you're in my class, you will follow my rules."
He took a slow breath. With a mere thought, their strength returned. Some sat up weakly, while the earlier attacker now stood trembling.
"Sit," Exafanos commanded.
And they obeyed.
Once the room was quiet again, Exafanos raised a finger and wrote on the blackboard—not with chalk or pen, but with magic. Glowing letters appeared:
"Fundamentals of Reality Manipulation through Intention."
He turned to face the class.
"You've been taught that magic requires elements, chants, and mana channels. But that's just the surface. It's like pushing a door with one finger when you could use your whole hand."
"Intention—the pure will to act—is the origin of all magic. With intention, you need no chants, no elements. You simply will something to happen—and the world obeys."
He continued with a clear explanation.
"Imagine you want to create fire. Normally, you'd recite an incantation, gather mana, and channel it into form. But with intention, you only need to recall the sensation of heat and the desire to burn. Then fire will respond."
Some students began trying it out. One of them succeeded—a small spark flickered from their palm without any incantation.
Their eyes widened. Awe began to replace the earlier fear.
Exafanos continued,
"I will teach you how to master intention, to manipulate the conception of reality itself, and to erase the boundaries that bind traditional magic."
For the first time, Class D was silent. Focused. Taking notes seriously.
---
To be continued.