The pattern Rotsard's late father taught him was the spell deemed the most suitable for beginners. The Joy of First Snow. Or, how it was called because of its basic form, Snowball.
Alas, even if it was suitable for beginners, even if Rotsard could meditate, he always struggled with properly circulating the mana. It was different before he started learning spells, back when he was a child, but ever since he turned seven years old, the mana simply didn't want to follow his will…
And this time, it wasn't any di…
"...?"
…fferent…?
The moment that Rotsard closed his eyes and breathed in, focusing on his mana, it responded to his will instantaneously, causing him to flinch out of pure shock.
He had some vague memory of mana flowing through him with such ease, but... That… that literally NEVER happened since he was consciously attempting it…!
"..."
Without opening his eyes, Rotsard shook his head and bit his lips, focusing on the movement of his mana.
He, quite literally, lost himself in the moment.
It was…
It was incredible…!
Although he couldn't properly complete even a single pattern without breaking it before, now he had to barely think about the shape for it to be completed, seamlessly and continuously…!
It was…
Magnificent…!
That's how it felt to practice in the Essence of Winter…?
That splendor…! That might…!
How could one resist it?!
Not wanting to let go of the feeling, the stain on the honor of the Vallhall family pushed out all the unnecessary thoughts, completely immersing himself in the flow of ice mana.
Unaware that what he achieved was a state called complete magic immersion, or absolute selflessness.
In short, the perfect mana unity.
The goal and unattainable dream of countless scholars through the ages!
As Rotsard breathed out, his breath turned visible.
From beneath the seated bleached-blond-haired boy, complicated patterns began to spread out like the ice covering the surface of a lake in a flash-freezing incident, and began emanating with a bluish-white glow.
Before anyone else realized, Rotsard ended up in the middle of a large circle…
And then the snow began to fall upon the Royal Academy…
"Wh-why is it s-s-so c-cold…?! I-it's still f-fall…!"
One of the many students gathered around a few of their classmates capable of using fire magic's tier 3 spell, fireball, or at least tier 2 ignite for warmth, asked while chattering their teeth as their own tier 1 spell, ember, went out due to the sudden cold.
"T-teacher…! I-if it's that c-c-cold, shouldn't w-we train i-indoors…!?"
Justin took it upon himself to represent all students, and he approached the teacher with a request.
"That doesn't make sense, the sky is so… clear…?"
The man in charge of the practical lessons furrowed his brows, looking towards the clear sky without a single cloud, and furrowed his brows, only to flinch and blink a few times before reaching out his hand…
"...what the…?"
And letting out a shocked gasp when a perfectly beautiful snowflake floated down onto his palm, staying there only for a second before melting due to the man's body heat…
"It cannot be natural… someone has to…"
He mumbled in disbelief as the snow began to fall from the sky without even a single cloud that could birth it…
"T-teacher! L-look!"
Someone called out fearful, and everyone looked in the pointed direction only to witness the increase in the white glow coming from the circle surrounding the seated Rotsard...!
"HUH?!"
The sight of whom caused even the leading teacher to let out a shocked voice.
The white frost and fresh snow were covering the youth like a thin blanket.
With his eyes closed, seated with his legs crossed, with his hands on his knees, Rotsard Vallhall looked like a sculpture.
As the snowfall turned into a snowstorm and the layer of snow was increasing by the second, through the bluish-white glow, the air around him began to vibrate, and before everyone's eyes, a pair of disjointed ephemeral white wings appeared, hovering over his body.
"T-teacher Karlasth! Th-that's the spell from Essence of Winter! The descent of silent night!"
"What?! H-how do you know that…?!"
The assistant teacher called out through the snowstorm, causing the leading teacher to shout, taken aback.
"I…! I've seen the patriarch of the Vallhall family use it once as a demonstration during a tournament! That student must have used it to show off and lost control! We have to stop him, or even the two of us might not survive it!"
"!!!"
The assistant teacher cried out in panic, causing the leading teacher to tense up and look back at the other students.
Those youngsters were crouching down, at the verge of freezing, none of them appeared capable of running to safety.
Something had to be done! A decision had to be made!
"Crap…! Fireball!"
*tsss*
The leading teacher gritted his teeth and then reached out his hand, shouting an incantation, but the tier 3 fire magic spell fizzled out in his palm before it could form properly…!
"..."
The man bit his lips as if fighting an inner battle before raising the hand he lowered again.
"GREAT ELEMENTAL BLAZE LANCE!"
He roared, and this time the spell activated.
A flaming spear appeared by his side, momentarily warming up its surroundings before launching towards the target its caster was pointing at.
A truly impressive tier 6 fire spell! One that only a capable magic user befitting the position of a teacher in the prestigious Royal Academy could conjure!
*tsss*
…and also one that fizzled out into nothingness the moment it neutered the circle of white glow surrounding the peaceful, sculpture-like student…
"T-teacher Karlasth! Forget trying to defeat the spell of Essence of Winter! We have to use a compatible element instead! Water blade!"
The assistant teacher glanced at the stunned leading teacher and called out, casting a spell on her own.
*shing*
The next moment, a seemingly feeble crescent of water cut through the snowstorm, freezing over and turning into a blade of ice, a blade of ice that nicked the cheek of the motionless student.
Far too little to cause any real damage…
"!?"
But just enough to draw blood and jolt him awake!
The moment that Rotsard's concentration was broken and he opened his eyes, the mirage of wings and the circle of white glow disappeared without a trace. and the snowstorm died out as if it never happened…
…although the knee-deep layer of snow left behind was telling a different story…