Most of the students were shocked and dumbfounded. The death penalty for using magic? Wasn't that… too extreme?
Kyel, on the other hand, didn't show much concern—but it lingered in his mind. Redderen's memories had hinted at something like this before, though never in detail. He wasn't fully aware of how serious the matter truly was.
In the middle of the tense silence across the training ground, Venus spoke up, catching the attention and ears of everyone around him.
"Of course! The instructor didn't mean it literally."
Some students smiled, relieved by what they heard. So, magic was allowed—just don't go overboard with it?
But then Venus continued, and what followed hit them like a thunderclap.
"But, but, but—of course, there are laws that forbid the use of magic. And yes, the punishment is death. A literal, actual death!"
Everyone froze. What? Wasn't that a contradiction?
Venus spoke again as if he were doing it on purpose—drawing their attention back to himself over and over again.
'Yes, look at me, you clueless fools! You don't even know the basic laws of the magical world—despite being the ones who always act superior!'
Of course, that was the inner voice in his mind.
"How can you tell a child—one who fell, suffered, stood up over and over again, learning to walk like he once crawled on his knees—that when he grows up, he must now cut off his legs because he's no longer allowed to walk? Isn't that madness? What about all that pain and struggle? Should it have all been in vain?
Cut his legs off as a child and don't let him walk. Cut the bird's wings so it can't soar and sing. Slice the fish's fin so it can't swim."
"It's the same for us. Why the torment? Why all these years that, for some, felt like living in hell—just to have the freedom of using what we've mastered taken away in the end?"
"Doing that would only fuel hatred, resentment, and bitterness toward the system—and that might lead to consequences far worse than what would've happened had we simply been allowed to use magic. That's why magic isn't entirely forbidden."
A spark of life returned to the students after hearing Venus's words.
But then he added,
"Still, the punishment for using magic outside is death. It's an absolute, total prohibition!"
"Haaaah?"
Everyone was shocked once more, prompting Instructor Lokmin to snap,
"Venus, enough! You're just going in circles and saying nothing useful!"
"The truth is,"
"magic is indeed forbidden outside. But haven't you ever wondered why you're allowed to use it freely here inside the Tower?"
"Yes, you can use magic outside—but only in designated areas. Those are called Clubs."
Some of the elite and honor students already knew this, since they occasionally attended tenth-year lectures. After all, you'll start studying this officially next year.
Instructor Lokmin cleared his throat.
"Using magic in public spaces and in plain sight on the streets is absolutely forbidden—and as I told you before, the punishment is death, as we've mentioned many times already."
"I'll explain it simply. On the continent of Liwanis, all factions are allowed to develop magical power—but not to use it. That power is meant to remain as a hidden card. The reason for the ban and the harsh punishment is clear."
"Knowing that, would you use magic? And if someone still chooses to use it despite being aware of the consequences—what do you think they'd use it for?"
"Would they risk everything to light a candle?
To make a few ice cubes?
To clean their house faster?"
No!
Someone who defies this rule and dares to use magic would do so for major reasons—ones that could threaten public safety or disturb the peace. That's why magic was entirely banned, despite its benefits and how much easier it can make life.
"And so, the Clubs were established. But that's a topic for another time—or just leave it for next year so we don't spoil things for you. You have plenty of things to learn."
Instructor Lokmin continued speaking about several other things, but Kyel wasn't listening.
His mind was somewhere else entirely.
---
The Nation's Private Academy. Tenth Grade. Information Science Department.
There was a scheduled lecture that day, yet the professor on stage didn't stick to the assigned topic.
Instead, he veered off into politics, international relations, and even weapons development.
Kyel didn't know the professor. Nor did he care to.
But some of the things the man said carried a certain logic—especially when it came to chemical and nuclear weapons.
"International law strictly prohibits the use of such weapons. Most countries don't even possess them, let alone develop them. It's forbidden. And yet… the powerful nations? They're advancing them every second—pouring massive budgets into them."
"The ironic part? Even those same countries outright refuse to use them. Why? Because of the devastation. The destruction. The fallout."
"And that's just from early prototypes. Imagine now, after decades of refinement and advancement—just how terrifying these weapons have become. Trust me, none of you wants to know."
"But the real question is: why are they still being developed?"
"Because they haven't lost their value. Because there's always the possibility they'll be needed one day. These weapons serve as deterrents—cards of threat that preserve global balance."
"And why do those nations fight tooth and nail to stop others from developing them?"
"The answer is simple. The fewer who hold the card, the lower the chance of it being played. The stronger it becomes… as a threat."
"But how do we measure the likelihood of these weapons actually being used?"
"It all depends on the appearance of a variable."
"A variable strong enough to make nations abandon their morals, break their own rules, and use these weapons not to maintain balance—but to survive."
"Ah, apologies! I seem to have drifted far from the lecture's main topic."
The professor scrambled to his laptop and shuffled through his notes.
Kyel didn't know why the weight of that memory suddenly resurfaced—especially when he was steadily losing his memories day by day, consumed by this new world.
But it came.
And it lingered.
---
'Well… I guess everything's the same. Even in this world. The laws. The rulers. The leaders. Same game.'
'The only variable... is personal power. Magic grants individuals the strength to challenge those who stand atop it all.'
Of course, that wasn't Kyel's current concern. He had other problems demanding his attention at the moment.
One of them was the new presence that had just stepped into the training grounds—
Megan Hart.
She walked toward Instructor Lokmin with a seductive sway, her hips moving side to side, and the eyes of the students followed her, right to left... and back again.
"What a shame—I'm interrupting the display of righteousness again. Unfortunately, I need to borrow someone from your class for something. Is that allowed?"
Instructor Lokmin blinked in surprise.
"What brings you here? What did you just say—? Ah, no, never mind. You wouldn't answer me even if I asked! I already know how this ends."
"And… who exactly do you need from my class?"
She didn't respond. But she didn't have to.
Lokmin already knew.
Her eyes were locked—predatory and sure—on one person standing just beside him.
Redderen Malzar.
Kyel stared at Megan, his gaze unbroken.
That face…
He had seen it many times since arriving in this world.