Dark Dragon: The Summoned Hero Is A Villain-Chapter 8: What Is Magic?

Noah stepped forward.

Just one step.

The crowd quieted slightly, unsure of what he was doing.

Damien had presented himself before him as a sacrificial lamb. A perfect opportunity to show that he meant business. The perfect idiot.

The noble had forgotten that a FFF rank skill was particularly effective against a FFF rank opponent.

And since he was a first year like Noah, he was probably also a FFF rank mage.

Noah raised one hand.

Damien blinked. "What are you—"

Noah placed two fingers against Damien’s shoulder.

And activated Roar.

The sound didn’t explode from his mouth. It didn’t come with flames or wind like would be expected from a dragon.

It sank.

From his hand, the vibration surged through Damien’s body. There was no visible wave, only a pulse that sunk deep.

Damien’s eyes widened.

He dropped to his knees.

Then he moaned in pain.

He doubled over, vomiting onto the stone floor, his limbs twitching. His mouth gaped soundlessly, like he couldn’t breathe. The other students jumped back in shock.

Noah said nothing.

The noble had received the skill pointblank. Of course, it would cause incapacitation.

Noah simply lowered his hand and walked past the kneeling noble.

The circle of onlookers parted without a word.

For a moment, there was silence.Then someone whispered, "I thought Roar was useless..."

Another voice filled the air. "Was that... from his hand?"

Another student joined in. "No way that was the same skill. Right?"

Noah didn’t turn.

He kept walking, his face calm.

Behind him, the whispers began to spread.

Fast.

Like wildfire.

And this time, they weren’t laughing.

[][][][][]

Noah climbed the steps of the south tower, following the directions he had memorized from the campus map.

The corridors here were simpler than the rest of the academy. Plain stone walls with flickering lanterns, and faded banners that looked like they hadn’t been replaced in years.

He found the door marked Classroom 6B and stepped inside.

Rows of wooden desks filled the room, and nearly all of them were already taken. He recognized the uniform color instantly. Stone Tier students, just like him.

Heads turned as he entered. A few students looked up from their notes or conversations. Some nodded at him, curious but not unfriendly.

No one sneered. No one whispered.

They were like him, pushed to the edge of the system and left to climb on their own.

Noah walked to an empty seat near the middle and sat down. He pulled off his satchel and retrieved his scrolls, quill, and ink bottle.

The buzz of quiet conversation continued. Some students shared notes, others whispered guesses about what their first real lesson would cover.

Then the door opened again.

The room fell silent.

A woman stepped inside, robes trailing behind her. She moved with calm authority, her posture straight.

She looked to be in her late thirties, tall, with a commanding presence that didn’t need to raise its voice to be respected.

Her dark brown hair was tied back into a high twist, a silver clasp in the shape of a rune securing it.

Her tight fitting robes were trimmed in gold, and a long silver chain looped around her shoulders, fastened with a carved lion’s head at her collar. She wore no makeup nor perfume.

"Good morning." She said. "I am Professor Cecilia. Welcome to Magical Theory."

Her voice was even and measured, neither warm nor cold.

"This class will last one semester." She continued. "After that, your foundation in theory will be considered complete. You will then move on to specialized fields."

She paused at the front of the room, eyes passing across each student.

"The academy expects you to understand the difference between knowledge and belief. I do not care what you think about magic. I care what you can explain."

A few students straightened in their seats.

"Now," she said, turning to the board behind her. With a flick of her hand, a piece of white chalk rose and began to write.

What is Magic?

"Magic," she said, "is the word we use to describe effects created using mana. However, it is not a single practice. It is divided into two distinct categories. Ritual Magic and Actual Magic."

The chalk moved again, sketching two lines beneath the words.

She gestured to the left.

"Ritual Magic is the oldest form of magic. It uses ambient mana, which is mana found in the world around us, to create a magical effect."

"This is done through structured methods. Drawn shapes, aligned resources, and timed catalysts."

She turned to face the room again. "The summoning of the heroes was a ritual."

Several students glanced toward Noah.

He didn’t move.

Professor Cecilia continued without acknowledging the looks. 𝘧𝓇ℯ𝑒𝓌𝑒𝑏𝓃𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘭.𝒸ℴ𝓂

"Rituals require preparation. Materials. Time. Some circles must be drawn during specific phases of the moon. Others require precise weather conditions or sacred locations. But they are stable. Reliable. And they are the foundation of our society."

She tapped her fingers lightly on the desk beside her.

"They are also how mages are made."

A ripple of understanding moved through the room. Students nodded, remembering the moment they were merged.

"Ritual magic is exactly what was used to safely bind your souls to that of an abyssal beast. That ritual did not just grant you new potential. It restructured your very nature."

She turned and drew a simple spiral on the board.

"It is also through ritual that you ascend. If you wish to move from FFF to FF rank, or higher, you must perform the ritual designed for your beast."

She looked out at the class.

"For example, let’s say one of you has bonded with a beast that requires bone ash, elderwood, and a night with a full moon to perform their first ascension ritual to ascend to FF rank."

"You must gather those resources. You must prepare the proper magic circle. And only then will the ritual grant you the next rank."

She nodded toward a boy two rows ahead. "Some beasts are well documented. Entire families have built their legacy around specific creatures. They hoard the ritual knowledge. Pass it down. Refine it."

Then, subtly, she looked to Noah.

"But others, first generation mages, have no guidance. No history. No instructions. They’ll have to find their rituals themselves."

Noah didn’t react.

The professor turned back to the board.

"Now," she said, "Actual Magic."

The chalk wrote again.

"Now that you are bonded and changed, you have access to a different kind of magic. Spells and skills."

"Your beast grants you affinities. These affinities allow you to learn spells, which are written formations of mana, cast through personal control. You’ll learn all about them in your spell casting class."

She paused.

"But skills... skills are different."

The room leaned forward slightly.

"Skills are innate. They are powers granted directly by your beast. You cannot learn them from a scroll or book. You must unlock them."

She raised a hand. "And how do you unlock them?"

Silence.

Then she answered.

"Overdrive."