They finished breakfast in relative peace, but as they left the cafeteria, Alex noticed that the crowd outside had grown. More students were gathered in little groups, all talking excitedly.
"...heard he's taking students..."
"...completely new approach to magic..."
"...Emma's cut healed perfectly..."
Alex stopped walking. "How do they know about Emma?"
Marcus checked his phone. "She posted about it. 'Amazing breakthrough thanks to wise guidance from a fellow student.'"
"She didn't mention names, did she?"
"She tagged you."
"How does she know my social media?"
"Everyone knows your social media now. You gained two thousand followers overnight."
Alex didn't have social media. He'd never signed up for any of it.
"Someone made accounts for you," Marcus explained. "Fan accounts. They're posting analysis of your fighting style and theories about your training background."
"This is getting out of hand."
"You think?"
They walked toward their first class—Introduction to Magical Theory—but the crowd followed them. By the time they reached the classroom, there were at least fifty students trailing behind them.
Professor Stone, a thin man with wire-rimmed glasses, looked up as they entered.
"Mr. Chen," he said. "I trust you're settling in well?"
"It's been interesting."
"I'm sure it has. I understand you've been providing some... unconventional demonstrations?"
Alex glanced at Marcus, who was suddenly very interested in his textbook.
"I threw an apple core at my roommate."
"Yes, I heard about that. Very creative use of improvised projectiles."
"It was just garbage."
"Biodegradable waste," half the class said in unison.
Professor Stone raised an eyebrow. "Indeed. Well, today we'll be covering the theoretical foundations of mana manipulation. Perhaps you'd like to share your thoughts on the subject?"
"I don't really have thoughts on theoretical foundations."
"No? How do you approach magic, then?"
Alex thought about it. "I just... do stuff. And it works or it doesn't."
The class was silent.
"You just... do stuff," Professor Stone repeated.
"Yeah."
"Without theoretical framework or structured methodology?"
"I mean, I think about what I want to happen, and then I try to make it happen."
"And this works for you?"
"Usually."
Professor Stone wrote something on the board. "Class, this is actually a perfect example of intuitive magic theory. Mr. Chen is describing what scholars call 'natural integration'—the ability to manipulate mana without conscious effort."
"I am?"
"It's quite rare. Most mages require years of study to achieve even basic integration."
"Huh."
"Would you mind demonstrating for the class?"
Alex looked around at the thirty pairs of eyes staring at him expectantly. "Demonstrate what?"
"Anything. Simple mana manipulation will suffice."
Alex sighed and held out his hand. He thought about light—not the technical aspects of photon generation or energy-to-light conversion, just... light. The kind of warm, comfortable light you'd want to read by.
A soft golden glow appeared above his palm. It was steady and warm, casting pleasant shadows around the classroom.
"Excellent," Professor Stone said. "Notice the quality of the light. Most students' practice lights flicker or produce harsh illumination. Mr. Chen's light is stable and naturally pleasing."
"It's just light," Alex said.
"Yes, but it's perfectly controlled light. No energy waste, no excess heat, no color distortion."
Alex looked at his hand. The light did seem pretty normal to him.
"This is advanced-level control," Professor Stone continued. "The kind of precision that typically requires months of practice."
"If you say so."
"How long did it take you to achieve this level of control?"
Alex thought about it. "I don't know. A while, I guess?"
"Months? Years?"
"I've never really thought about it."
Professor Stone made more notes. "Fascinating. Completely intuitive development."
The rest of the class went by in a blur of theoretical diagrams and complex formulas. Alex stopped paying attention and doodled in his notebook instead. He drew a little apple with a face, then a stick figure getting hit by the apple.
When class ended, Professor Stone called him over.
"Mr. Chen, I'd like to invite you to join my advanced study group. We meet twice a week to explore practical applications of magical theory."
"Do I have to?"
"It's optional, but I think you'd find it interesting. We could use someone with your... unique perspective."
Alex looked at the group of students waiting outside the classroom. They were all watching him through the window.
"Will there be snacks?"
"I... could arrange for snacks."
"What kind of snacks?"
"Whatever you prefer."
Alex considered this. "Okay. But I'm not giving any speeches or anything."
"Of course not. Just informal discussion."
"And cookies. Good cookies, not the cardboard ones from the vending machine."
"I'll speak to the department budget committee."
"Deal."
As Alex left the classroom, he heard Professor Stone talking to another teacher.
"Most promising student I've seen in years. Completely natural talent, no ego, innovative approach..."
Alex shook his head and walked faster. All he'd done was throw an apple core and tell someone to relax. How had that turned into "revolutionary magical theory"?
His phone buzzed. A text from an unknown number: "Heard you're taking students. Can you help with my transformation magic? Will pay well."
Then another: "Apple core technique seminar when???"
Then another: "Teaching fire magic? My family interested in hiring you."
Alex turned off his phone and stuffed it in his backpack.
This place is insane.
All he wanted was to learn some magic, eat decent food, and maybe take a nap. Instead, he was apparently some kind of magical genius who revolutionized combat theory by throwing fruit.
Tomorrow I'm eating breakfast in my room.
Behind him, he could hear students discussing his "natural integration techniques" and "intuitive mana manipulation methods."
Alex just wanted to find a quiet place to sit down.
Maybe under a tree.
With an apple.
Actually, maybe not an apple. He was getting tired of apple-related attention.
A banana seemed safer.