“Listen carefully. There are various ways to categorize magic. Today, I’m teaching you the classification by purpose.”
“Combat magic is mainly divided into melee magic, ranged magic, and support magic. But due to traditional perceptions, unless you specifically add the words ‘melee’ in front of ‘magic,’ the term ‘magic’ generally refers only to ranged and support magic.”
“This is because, strictly speaking, melee magic is more like a ‘martial skill.’ Its incantations are short, sometimes requiring no chanting at all. Some legendary warriors can use melee magic as easily as monsters use innate magic, which contradicts traditional magical theory.”
“So, although warriors who use melee magic should all be called ‘magic warriors,’ in reality, only those like me—warriors who mix ranged magic with melee magic—are called ‘magic warriors.’ If you can’t do that, you’re just an ordinary warrior.”
On the Arena of the Central Temple, Ino was patiently explaining magical knowledge to Lulumia.
Compared to the Commercial Street Temple where Lulumia lived, the Central Temple was much grander.
Its followers were mostly nobles dressed in luxurious clothing, making the atmosphere quieter and more solemn.
As for the Arena, it was an open-air training ground located toward the outer section of the Central Temple, resembling an ancient Roman Colosseum.
Rows of spectator seats circled the space, with an empty field in the center for training.
It was worth mentioning that, due to the high cost of maintaining the grounds, only high-ranking clergy and approved followers were allowed to use the training field.
Even Ino had to pass two rounds of guard checks upon entry.
Thus, aside from Ino and Lulumia, only a handful of people were training there, which eased Lulumia’s nerves.
“Although the higher your level, the more mana you can command, a high-level person doesn’t always utterly crush a low-level one. The number of spells you’ve learned and your rich combat experience are what truly decide victory. For example, the first king of the Holy Ounheim Kingdom defeated a level-67 demon when he was only level 41. That’s the advantage of battle experience.”
With her light blue hair tied back, Ino explained in a serious tone.
Lulumia felt that Ino seemed like a different person today—no longer smiling things off no matter what she did. Instead, whenever her attention wandered even a little, Ino would send a ‘Water Bullet’ flying her way, making her forehead ache.
Maybe this means she values me more now?
“Hiss…”
“Mia, you’re distracted again.”
Seeing Lulumia covering her forehead, her bangs dripping wet, Ino angrily raised her eyebrows.
Lulumia felt that if there were a blackboard, Ino would already be rapping the chalkboard with a pointer.
“Forget it. Just explaining theory is boring; I don’t like it either. You’ll understand after tasting a loss.”
Ino shook her head helplessly, her light blue hair swaying side to side.
She drew the silver cross-shaped sword at her waist and pointed it diagonally toward the ground.
“Let’s start directly with a fight. Mia, what kind of weapon do you like?”
“Ah? Start with a fight? I think theoretical knowledge is a bit better…”
What kind of joke is this?
Magic should be about keeping a safe distance, chanting a super long spell, and then unleashing some city-destroying move like ‘Falling Skies’ or ‘Heaven’s Canopy.’
Melee is something for small fry to learn.
Besides, before coming out, Ino had specially changed into a silver swordswoman skirt for easier movement.
No matter how you looked at it, this was going to be a beatdown for her.
“What the Academy teaches is too outdated. Just hiding at the back and throwing fireballs doesn’t count as real combat. You experienced it yourself: that smuggler Amy had a higher level than you, but you still found an opportunity to defeat her. That’s the difference between theory and actual battle. That fight was no different from two little girls pulling each other’s hair.”
As she spoke, Ino pointed to the Weapon Rack not far away, where so many weapons were displayed that Lulumia’s eyes went blurry.
There were even different sizes of the same type of weapon.
“You have three minutes. Pick one from over there.”
“Three minutes?”
That’s way too short!
In a game, this would be as important as choosing your class—it decides your entire future experience.
Ino raised her eyebrows, her tone stern like a drill sergeant.
“You’ll only know if a weapon suits you by using it yourself. Who says you must use the same weapon for life, just because you picked it once at the start? You have two and a half minutes left.”
“Uh…”
At that moment, Lulumia felt Ino was as strict as a father.
Although being forced to study by a girl younger than herself was irritating, Ino’s expression said loud and clear: If you don’t study hard, you really will get a beating.
With the air of someone going to her own funeral, Lulumia picked out a silver spear taller than herself—at least one meter eighty.
A dragon girl needs a spear.
Seeing Lulumia drag the weapon over, Ino’s tense expression finally softened a little.
She had already decided to keep Lulumia by her side.
Her current strictness was to ensure Lulumia wouldn’t get hurt in the future.
“Today, I’m teaching you two spells. One is ‘Flow State,’ which focuses your mana at a single point, and the other is ‘Flowing Water Blessing,’ useful for both attack and defense. If you can master these two, ordinary people and first-year Academy students basically won’t be your match.”
“‘Flow State’ is tricky to learn. I have a magic book prepared; you can take it home to study later. For ‘Flowing Water Blessing,’ just follow my movements.”
Ino pointed her cross-shaped sword forward, her sapphire eyes radiating a warrior’s unyielding will.
“Circulation forms a shield, rapids form a blade—’Flowing Water Blessing.'”
With the obscure incantation, thick streams of water, each as wide as an arm, suddenly appeared and wrapped around Ino like a silken cocoon.
Lulumia could clearly see that the water was not stagnant, but flowed rapidly in undulating waves.
Some streams even spiraled around the cross sword, moving forward like nimble little snakes.
For some reason, this spell seems like it could be used for… dubious things.
Staring at the tentacle-like water, Lulumia’s thoughts momentarily drifted toward yellow^waste territory, but she quickly straightened up again, as Ino’s sapphire eyes staring at her made her skin crawl.
“Mia, attack me.”
Ino took two steps back, widening the distance, her blue eyes half-hidden behind the flowing water.
Her cold, stern face reminded Lulumia of the first time they met—those cold, murderous eyes.
That night, the image of the decapitated corpse rose in her mind.
A faint fear welled up in Lulumia’s heart.
For a moment, she felt Ino was unbeatable.
No matter what angle she attacked from, the water swirling around Ino would block her, like an impenetrable wall.
She gulped.
No, I’ve come to another world.
If I keep shrinking back, how will I ever become a great mage!
It’s just water. What’s so scary!
Summoning her courage, Lulumia waited for a split-second when Ino was distracted, then charged in with all her strength, thrusting the spear forward.
Yet, when the spear tip was still a full meter from Ino, the water swirling around her turned into a shield, blocking the path of the spear.
As soon as the spear tip struck the water shield, Lulumia felt as if she was stabbing into rubber.
Her charge was abruptly stopped, and the recoil made her palms go numb.
But it wasn’t over yet.
“—’Firework’!”
Flames shot up along the spear shaft, only to be instantly doused by the swirling water.
Water and fire collided with a terrifying “sizzle,” filling the area with steam that quickly obscured both of them from view.
Lulumia didn’t stop. After a brief chant, a fist-sized ‘Water Bullet’ formed at her dragon horn and shot through the mist, angling toward Ino’s forehead.
But the water swirling around Ino precisely blocked the water sphere.
Then, as if angered, the water turned into a huge, transparent python, maw wide, lunging at Lulumia from above.
—Only to become a small tentacle that gently patted Lulumia’s head.
“Where did you learn these tricks?”
Emerging from the fog, Ino dispelled the spell, her face looking odd.
Lulumia’s battle performance and fluid use of magic were nothing like a beginner’s.
“I had already thought about my plan before the fight,” Lulumia said, still a bit rattled from thinking the water snake would eat her.
“When I saw Ino use that spell, I started coming up with counter-strategies.”
Once you see your opponent’s deck, you organize your own counters in your head—that’s basic gaming sense.
Besides, the original Lulumia had memories of similar battle tactics; even if she’d never slaughtered a pig, she’d seen one run.
Ino’s expression grew even stranger.
Her gaze kept flicking between Lulumia’s dragon horns and her twitching tail.
“If this isn’t a preset of a magic automaton, then Mia, you’re a genius at battle. When I was your level, all I could do was stand there and get beaten up. I had nothing like your variety of moves.”
With one arm crossed over her chest, Ino seemed thoughtful.
“But keep this in mind: this fighting style is frowned upon in the Church. Try to use the proper forms of combat as much as you can.”
As if reading Lulumia’s confusion, Ino raised a finger and explained earnestly.
“Clergy and nobles value fair, just duels. Deliberately creating steam to block vision is like tossing sand in your opponent’s eyes for a sneak attack—even if you win, it’s a disgrace. Sometimes, it’s worse for your reputation than losing honorably.”
“But in actual combat, isn’t winning all that matters? Staying alive is more important.”
As the saying goes, warfare is the art of deception.
Battle isn’t just about strength, it’s about strategy.
Those who insist on one-on-one duels are just naïve idealists.
Ino sighed helplessly.
“That’s the difference between nobles and adventurers. To an adventurer, every fight is a struggle for survival. But to a noble, battle is a ‘performance’ for all to see. They don’t care about momentary victory or defeat, but about lasting fame. A win by underhanded means brings shame to the whole family. Without the pressure of survival, they care much more about honor.”
Thanks to the steam, the scent of gardenia from Ino was even stronger.
Under her silvery swordswoman skirt, her healthy legs wrapped in pure white tights showed a hint of skin tone.
Lulumia couldn’t help but sigh—a beautiful girl teacher is truly the best.
“I’m a commoner, so I don’t mind those kinds of tricks, but if Mia wants to live in the Church, you’ll need to adapt to local customs. Come, recite the ‘Flowing Water Blessing’ incantation. For today, just remember the chanting rhythm. Don’t force yourself to cast it just yet.”