The whole class was stunned by Habiki's introduction
She glanced around the class and could tell from Maya's pleading eyes that she expected more from her
Letting out an exasperated sigh, she calmly stood up
"My name is Habiki. President of the student council in Listeria Magic Academy"
She gently flicked her bangs to the side and put on a smile, displaying overwhelming confidence
Her eyes glowed amber, and her pupils glinted. Her very presence commanded attention
She was a standout, as the students gazed in awe
"I align with the Blazia magic discipline, but I don't use a grimoire."
"I'm good at everything, but if I must pick one, I'd say defense is my specialty."
Habiki then glanced in Naki's direction, her stern stare prevalent, promising peril
"Welcome to the class of Sages, instructor Naruki. I look forward to learning from you," with a voice bathed in irony, she said, returning to her seat.
Naki returned her animosity with a smile
"(That's weird, going by my knowledge from the books I read, Listeria has 2 magic departments.)"
"(Aquila discipline is for support mages, and they channel their magic through magical spirits called familiars)"
"(While Blazia discipline is for combat mages, who channel their magic through grimoires and wands...)"
Naki stared up inquisitively at Habiki, whose gaze avoided his
"...I'm curious, Habiki."
"Hm?" She raised a brow in his direction
"How do you practise the magic arts without a grimoire, particularly as someone in the Blazia discipline?" Naki asked.
"Ah, instructor, given you're new, allow me to explain"
Maya interjected
"President Habiki is a prodigy in the academy, and one of the reasons is her high attunement to the spirits of magic," she continued.
Then,
Bisky rudely took over, applying polish to her artificial nails
"Ye, So Presi is like so in one with the spirits, all she needs to cast her magic is imagination and unlocked Pshi gates, eh. None of that state of being wahala"
"For newbs like veeps and ma over 'dere, they use grimoires to link up better with the spirits required to cast high level magic arts ya copy?"
Maya was rattled by Bisky's interruption and grossly summarized explanation, puffed her jaws
"Hmph! What she said." She looked away, annoyed, her ears red.
Bisky chuckled, "Sorry for taking your shine, ma, we all know if you were allowed to explain, we'd be here all day."
Louise snickered, "I always love how she calls you ma."
"She doesn't mean it as a compliment, Louise," Maya shrugged
"So," face supported by her left hand, Habiki locked in on Naki.
"What are you going to teach us today, instructor?"
A few simple words, but enough to completely flip the mood of the hall.
The time for jokes had passed, and the sage potentials were looking to learn
"(There's still so much I don't know about this class. I need to talk to Habiki too, there's a benefit to this facade she's not seeing, more than just talking to Maya.)"
"(And it revolves around her)." Naki looked at Bisky, who had put aside her makeup kit
"(She's our ticket to the hero Emile. I just need time, time to convince them all I'm the right guy for the job.)"
Then he looked at Maya, a cherry smile glued to her face, the whole time
"(Well, not all of them I suppose.)"
Naki turned around returning to the podium
"(I'll go with a trick from grandma's books, something from the rare category, something only their prodigy can probably pull off.)"
Naki gave Habiki a look, 'I need your help' was the intent.
"(...Does he perhaps have a reason for doing all this? ... I guess I'll play along)" Habiki nodded quietly
"(Good, she's on board. I can do this)"
Naki turned to the rest of the class, "Today was all about getting to know the class of Sages. But I've come to realize you're not yet convinced I'm the right guy for the job."
He sighed, "You might be thinking, he looks too young, what could he possibly know, what is Samantha thinking recommending this slouch?"
"Huh, no kidding, I was thinking that," Louise whispered
Maya pinched her leg, "ouch!" she cried
"Ouch! is right. Unaware of what truly happened, Naki pointed at Louise, using her cry to his advantage
"My feelings are hurt, my pride...is hurt. So, I'm going to demonstrate my capabilities."
Naki then guided his finger to Habiki
"By having Ms. President perform what should otherwise be impossible"
Jhun's brows curled into a frown. "What do you mean, Naruki?"
"You will address the instructor with respect, Jhun. I will not watch my right hand break the rules just to satisfy his fragile ego." Habiki sternly called him out
"Tsk", he bit his lips and averted her piercing glare
Her rebuttal of the VP only further solidified her status and reminded the class of the etiquette she expects from them
Louise in particular had to cower in response.
"I can't help but be curious, though. What exactly do you have in mind, instructor?"
"Hmph, glad you asked. Tell me, how many Pshi gates have you unlocked, Habiki?"
"Seven"
"SEV!!?", realizing his blunder a little late, he quickly pulled himself together, "ehmm"
Louise couldn't help but sneak a short laugh
"(what the hell is she? She's only 3 gates away from Sage?)" Naki thought
"Instructor? Will that be a problem?" Habiki asked curiously
"Ah, sorry about that. no, no problem at all. Yes, that will work nicely."
Naki stepped away from the podium
"We're going to have you execute a cast of the 8th gate."
The whole class gasped
"HUHHH!!"
Habiki's eyes widened in surprise as well,
"Ha-haha...instructor, you are funny. I-I just got to gate seve- I can't even cast my seven artes with maximum proficiency yet!!" Her voice stuttered, inconsistent.
Even Habiki knew that was a tall order
"(Bingo! that was exactly the reaction I was gunning for)"
Naki smiled, "You're right! It is an impossible feat, but what if I say I can do it?"
Bisky whistled, "Whaaa, for real?"
Naki smiled, "President Habiki, can you tell the class what my current Pshi gate is?"
"Huh?"
"(didn't mistress Keifa say the devil child have no Pshi gates, becuase they use the devil's mercy system?)"
Habiki did not expect the question, and Naki gave her another look. 'Wing it' was the message.
"...fine," she left her seat and walked to Naki
"I'll use base estimation if you don't mind."
She lifted her hand towards Naki's forehead and concentrated. A blue light circle shot up from their feet as strange glyphs painted the floor.
The light shone for a brief moment and then faded.
It was all for show.
"Via quick analysis, I'd say the instructor here has unlocked gates seven as well"
She lied, returning to her seat,
"Hoh...so Naruru is Habi-bae's equal?" Louise muttered
"Now with that, I'm going to teach you a little something called emergency casts"
The class stood attentive, then it occurred to Habiki, Naki's plan
"(Wait a sec...there's no such thing as an emergency cast...don't tell me he intends to-)"
"...Wait!?"
She was visibly unsettled and stood up involuntarily
The class turned to her
"Habiki? Is there a problem?" asked a concerned Maya
She stared at Naki, her eyes twitching, fists trembling.
"...No, nothing." She closed her eyes and returned to her seat.
"Hmph! You've not been your usual self today, President Habiki. Makes me wonder if you've been shirking in your duties lately."
Jhun fixed his lenses and pounced on the opportunity to get back at her for calling out his blunder before.
She frowned and stared at Naki, "(He plans to cast without offering a vice, doesn't he? With a small display of his black flames, he can easily convince them it's an 8th gate art.)"
"(But that's too risky! The circle could fill up at any moment and we'd lost every chance we have left to bargain with Lucille)" Habiki bit her lip in frustration
"Now then, I'm going to showcase a Gate 8 art. Watch"
Just as Habiki theorized, Naki stretched out his hand forward, his sigil glowed underneath his cloth, and a wall of black flames surrounded him, the very same he used in his battle against Habiki
The flames were menacing, so Louise and Maya had to pull their chairs back to keep a safe distance.
Jhun stayed on high alert as his hand reached for his grimoire
Meanwhile, Bisky's eyes for the first time narrowed into a piercing glare at the sight. This caught her attention
"If you follow my lessons, you shall be capable of this, and much more"
Naki turned off the flames and smiled
"(Sorry for acting as my foil Habiki, but it had to be done.)"
"(There's no such thing as emergency cast, and the only way to have them respect my position is by doing what their cherished prodigy could not)"
"(With that, we have checkmate)"
Then Naki brought his hands together
"Alright then, that will be all for today. I expect you all in our next study hall. Until then"
Naki turned around, leaving the class stunned by his magic, as they could hardly believe their eyes.
The silence was palpable, and for a moment, they looked at each other like statuettes
"THAT WAS AMAZING!!!" a jubilant Louise said, jumping on Maya
"I CAN'T WAIT FOR NEXT STUDY HALL WHOOOOO!!!"
"Hahaha, neither can I," Maya shared in her excitement.
"Ye, I must admit, that 'dere is an intriguing introduction to a class if I ever saw one" Bisky said, playing with her curly hair
"ain't that rite, prez?" She turned to the side and noticed Habiki was absent.
"Huh? Where did prez go?"
Meanwhile the hallway
"ARE YOU OUT OF YOUR MIND!!?" were the first words that left Habiki's mouth upon catching up with Naki
"Now now, before you judge-"
"There's nothing to judge! That was a stupid move! do you even know the risk?"
"Yes, I calculated the risk. See, only the 6 sub 7 circles covered," Naki revealed his sigil to her with a grin
She shook her head in disbelief, "Unbelievable. Lucille may not be a liar, but the same can't be said for his pawns, it'd seem."
"Hahaha, sorry for using you as my foil," Naki chuckled, "But trust me, it was necessary," he continued
"Necessary? How so?"
"To preserve our only shot at infiltrating the hero's party"
Naki said with a determined expression that convinced Habiki he had a plan up his sleeve, a confident plan.