The Extra's Rise-Chapter 128: Prelude to First Mission (1)

"Alright, students, listen up," Professor Nero declared, his sharp voice cutting through the hum of conversation in the room. He leaned against the podium with the air of a man who knew he was about to ruin everyone’s day and was thoroughly enjoying it. "The Headmaster, Eva Lopez, has decided to rework this semester’s schedule. She’s of the opinion that things have been a bit... how should I put it? Too cushy. So, here’s the deal. Effective immediately, we’ve got ourselves another practical evaluation."

A collective groan rippled through the class like an unenthusiastic wave at a half-empty stadium.

Professor Nero’s lips twitched, just shy of a smirk. "Ah, I see you’re all thrilled. Let me sweeten the pot for you. This time, you’re going to be taking on a real mission. You’ll be paired up, as usual, and tasked with leaving behind your Academy identity. That means no flaunting your noble titles or your Mythos badges. Out there, you’re just another pair of adventurers trying to earn your keep."

The room shifted. The students exchanged glances, a mix of apprehension and intrigue sparking in their eyes. Missions outside the Academy were a whole different beast. Real stakes, real money—and real danger.

"Speaking of money," Nero continued, with the casualness of someone mentioning the weather, "whatever you earn from the mission, you get to keep. Consider it a little reward for stepping into the real world."

That got a few raised eyebrows. A practical evaluation with a payday? That was new.

"Now," Nero said, straightening, "this will also be the last time you’ll be working with your current partners. So make it count. Next year, you’ll face a whole new system. This is just a trial run to prepare you for what’s coming in the second year and beyond."

I leaned back in my seat, my mind turning over the implications. ’So Headmaster Eva is making her presence felt.’ This wasn’t something that happened in the novel. A deviation.

It wasn’t surprising, really. A living, breathing world wasn’t bound to stick to the confines of a written plotline. The novel’s events were a guide, not gospel. But still, the change left me with an uneasy sense of unpredictability.

Professor Nero scanned the room, his gaze lingering on a few of the less attentive students as if daring them to yawn. "Further details on the missions will be provided tomorrow and the missions themselves are next week. Until then, consider this an opportunity to prepare yourselves—and to reflect on how much you rely on the Academy’s safety net. Out there, it’s a whole different game."

With that, he dismissed the class, leaving behind an atmosphere buzzing with nervous energy. ’A real mission,’ I thought, the weight of it sinking in. This wasn’t going to be just another test.

"Well, this is interesting," Ian remarked, leaning back in his chair with an easy smile. "A real mission outside the Academy, with real danger."

"It is," Ren agreed, his tone measured, though I could feel the weight of his violet eyes resting on me, as if he were trying to decode some hidden message in my expression.

The conversation fizzled out after a few murmured exchanges. There wasn’t much to discuss yet—not until the specifics of the missions were revealed. So, we went our separate ways, off to the day’s classes.

For me, that meant light magic, one of the few classes where Rachel and I shared a schedule.

"Arthur," she said as we walked toward the classroom, her voice carrying that particular lilt she used when she was about to dive into something serious. "I want to ask you something."

"What is it, Rach?" I replied, glancing at her. The sunlight caught in her golden hair as she walked, giving her an almost ethereal glow. Fitting for a Saintess.

"How can you use light magic with dark magic?" she asked, tilting her head slightly. "I mean, those two elements are true opposites. They shouldn’t coexist in the same person, let alone work together."

I expected the question sooner or later, especially from her. Light and dark magic weren’t just elements—they were philosophies, forces of nature that were never meant to overlap.

"Well, my Gift helps," I said with a shrug, "but I can’t merge them together, if that’s what you’re thinking. It doesn’t work like that."

Light and dark magic were... strange. They didn’t play by the same rules as the other elements. Fire and water could coexist, albeit uneasily. Earth and wind could complement each other. But light and dark? They were the universe’s greatest paradox. The ultimate absolutes. Their very existence seemed to demand conflict.

"They’re fascinating, though," I added. "There’s a reason they were once thought to be completely separate from mana itself. Did you know most people with an affinity for light or dark magic can’t use any of the other nine elements? It’s like their mana rejects anything else."

Rachel hummed thoughtfully, her hands clasped behind her back as we walked. "Honestly, if you could merge them, you wouldn’t even be mortal," she said, a soft chuckle escaping her lips. "It would break every rule of magic we know."

She wasn’t wrong. The idea was absurd on its face. Light magic and dark magic were as incompatible as oil and water, except oil and water at least had the decency to sit next to each other. Light and dark annihilated one another on contact.

Darkness cannot exist in light. Light cannot exist in darkness.

"Still," Rachel continued, her tone lighter now, "it’s impressive that you can use both at all. Most people can only dream of having one. But you? You’ve always been... a bit extraordinary."

I smiled at her, though a part of me couldn’t help but feel the weight of her words. Extraordinary was one way to put it. Dangerous, another. But for now, I let the conversation drift into easier topics as we reached the classroom, the paradox of light and dark magic lingering in the back of my mind like a puzzle I wasn’t ready to solve.

The light magic classroom was quieter than usual, a serene space that seemed designed for reflection and practice. Only two of us occupied the room: Rachel and I. It made the room feel even larger, its pristine white walls glowing faintly with the residual presence of light mana. The orbs of floating illumination above shimmered like suspended stars, their brilliance casting soft shadows across the marble floor.

Professor Lissandra stood at the front of the room, her posture as perfect as her control over mana. She was a striking woman, with pale blonde hair pulled back into an elegant braid and eyes that could pierce through your thoughts. Light seemed to gather around her without effort, like an old friend drawn by her presence.

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Rachel and I practiced quietly at our desks, working through a series of controlled exercises to refine the way we channeled light mana. Rachel’s ability with light magic was stunning, her spells elegant and fluid, as if the element itself bent willingly to her will. My own attempts, while competent, felt... forced. It wasn’t that I couldn’t use light mana—I could, but it lacked the natural flow that Rachel’s spells had. My connection felt more like a negotiation, hers a symphony.

"Professor," I began, hesitating for just a moment before continuing. "I have a question."

"Ask," she said, her tone patient but direct.

"I recently formed a Black Star," I admitted. Her eyes widened slightly in surprise but quickly narrowed with curiosity. "And I wanted to know if it’s possible to form a White Star too. Is that... something I can even do?"

Lissandra set aside the ethereal orb of light she had been shaping and folded her hands, regarding me carefully. "A Black Star," she repeated, her voice measured. "And now you want a White Star. Arthur... do you understand what you’re asking?"

I nodded. "I know it’s dangerous. But if I want to grow stronger with light magic, I need to push myself further. My Gift lets me use both light and dark mana, so I thought it might be possible."

She studied me for a long moment before letting out a quiet sigh. "It is possible," she admitted. "But forming a White Star is no trivial feat, even for someone with a natural affinity for light mana. And you… you’re a special case. Your Gift may allow you to use both elements, but light and dark are natural enemies. They devour each other, Arthur. If you ever attempt to use both stars simultaneously... well, I imagine the result would be catastrophic."

I swallowed hard. "I wouldn’t use them together. I just need to know if it’s the same process as forming the Black Star."

"It is," she said, her voice tinged with warning. "The principles are the same: compression, purification, and an unwavering focus. But forming a White Star will demand an even higher level of precision. Light mana is... finicky. It’s less forgiving than dark mana. Any mistake, and you’ll disrupt the harmony of the process."

I nodded, absorbing her words. I knew forming a Black Star had been an uphill battle, but light mana had always felt more distant to me, less natural. It would be like trying to carve something delicate out of glass—one wrong move, and it would shatter.

"And one more thing," she added, her tone sharper now. "You need to make a choice, Arthur. Once you form a White Star, you must never lose sight of the fact that it exists separately from the Black Star. They are not two halves of a whole. They are two worlds that must never meet. Keep them apart, always."

"I understand," I said, though the weight of her words settled heavily in my chest. The path ahead was becoming clearer, but it wasn’t going to be easy.