Chapter 50 Class-One Elf
Cecilia Blackwood's POV
That one sentence left me frozen in place, unable to process what I'd just heard.
Kane had gotten a computer simply because I liked them?
"Wait, that doesn't make sense. I do like computers, but I have one in my dorm. What does that have to do with you getting one?"
"You enjoy playing computer games. When I'm back in my room, we can still play together." Kane's tone remained matter-of-fact.
I paused, trying to find fault with his logic but couldn't. Now that Jenny was living with me, it really wouldn't be appropriate for Kane to keep coming to my dorm to game.
For some reason, I felt my cheeks growing warm. He was incredibly thoughtful—thoughtful to the point of being almost obsessive.
Every little detail mattered to him. And honestly? It felt pretty nice.
"Alright then. When we have time, we'll play together. Now hurry up and eat."
As he ate, I couldn't help asking, "Did Mr. Crom really announce that anyone who fails tomorrow's quiz will lose all their classwork credit? Why didn't you tell me? Without that credit, I'm basically guaranteed to fail the course!"
Kane spoke slowly. "I wanted you to rest properly. Even if you don't pass the quiz, you can still make it up on the final exam."
He had a point, but the quiz was worth thirty percent of the final grade. A zero would leave absolutely no room for error on the exam—an outcome I simply couldn't accept.
"No way. I have to be in class tomorrow no matter what, which means I absolutely need to practice this afternoon! That's where you come in, Professor Kane."
The moment those words left my mouth, Kane's body visibly tensed, and his expression turned awkward.
I laughed. "Relax, I'm just teasing you. Now eat up."
"Who told you?" Kane asked suddenly.
I didn't quite catch his meaning. "Told me what?"
"What Mr. Crom said in class—how did you find out?" Kane's gaze was steady but carried an undertone of interrogation.
My heart skipped a beat. I instantly realized my mistake—I shouldn't have mentioned it.
If Kane found out it was Rowan who'd told me, he'd definitely go looking for trouble.
"Um... I overheard some students talking about it when I was getting food in the dining hall. Anyway, let's not dwell on that—we need to hurry up and get to practicing!"
Fortunately, Kane didn't press the issue. Otherwise, I was genuinely worried I'd slip up and give myself away.
After we finished eating, Kane and I headed to the back hills. Just as I was about to start practicing, he suddenly pulled out over a dozen books about Magic Summoning from his bag.
Staring at the pile before me, I was speechless. "Wait... weren't we supposed to be doing hands-on practice? Why are you giving me all these books?"
Kane explained, "Today should still focus on reading. As for practical work, we can save that for later."
I groaned in exasperation. "Look, I know you mean well, but the quiz is tomorrow. We don't have time to waste! I've already memorized everything in these books inside and out. I need to practice now, and my body can handle it!"
"Professor Kane, please just teach me. I really can do this!"
Kane's expression wavered, but he still didn't agree.
Left with no choice, he'd forced my hand—I had to deploy my ultimate weapon again.
"Have you forgotten? You promised you'd bring me here to practice. You can't go back on your word! If you won't teach me, that means you never really considered me a friend!"
I had to admit, that line never failed to hit its mark. Kane let out a soft sigh. "Alright. I'll teach you."
"According to my notes, elves draw their power from various sources—natural elements, bloodline abilities, contractual curses, and so on."
"Most mages harness the power of natural elements. These elements vary the most widely. If you can fully comprehend the forces of nature, your elf can evolve into a Class-One elf!"
I listened intently, mentally noting "Class-One elf" as my goal.
According to the textbooks, elves were ranked in six classes, with Class-One being the strongest and Class-Six the weakest.
At Star Ring Academy of Magic, most first-year students summoned Class-Six elves on their first attempt, with a small number managing Class-Five.
Below Class-Six existed one more category—inferior elves—though most mages weren't quite that incompetent.
Kane continued his explanation. "When initially summoning an elf, every mage must first conjure a summoning circle. Then, using their spiritual energy, they successfully call forth an elf from within that circle."
"To enhance your spiritual energy, the first step is strengthening your perception of the natural forces around you."
"Given how interested you are in this subject, I'm confident you can summon at least a Class-Five elf—possibly even higher!"
His words fired me up. I thanked him profusely. "Thank you for believing in me! By the way, what class is your elf?"
Though it had been a while since I'd seen York, I could still picture him clearly—at first glance he looked demonic, but turned out to be rather adorable.
Kane didn't respond, but I refused to give up. "Come on, tell me! There's no need to be so secretive about it."
"Normally, Class-Four."
"Class-Four? That's pretty impressive, way better than the rest of us... wait. What do you mean normally Class-Four? What about abnormally?"
To me, an elf's class was fixed. How could there be a "normal" and "abnormal" distinction?
"When I'm enraged, York becomes a Class-One elf."
Hearing those words, I was completely stunned.
Class-One... Now I understood why everyone kept their distance from Dark Mages.
Beyond the baseless rumors, it was mainly about their sheer power.
If Kane truly lost control, he wouldn't even need to lift a finger himself. York alone, as a Class-One elf, could turn Star Ring Academy upside down. That wasn't an exaggeration—it was a fact.
Kane's brow furrowed, his words tentative. "Are you... are you afraid now? Will this make you stop being my friend?"
I waved my hand dismissively. "Don't be ridiculous. Class-One elf or not, what does that have to do with our friendship? If anything, I'd prefer you to be even stronger."
"Why?"
"Because we're friends! Of course I want the best for you. But the stronger you become, the more you need to exercise restraint. Power can be a double-edged sword."
"If you lose control, you won't just hurt others—you'll hurt yourself too!"