Rocky raised the secret silver dagger and, kneeling down on one knee, awkwardly blocked Michian's attack. The sharp and cold sword edge grazed his ear and pierced through behind him.

This was a wonderful opportunity. Rocky's dagger quickly followed, reaching Michian's weapon and getting stuck in the guard. At the same time, his other hand swiftly threw a punch.

Michian was no match for Rocky's strength, and unable to free his weapon, he had no choice but to release it and retreat.

The two of them paused again, not because they had something to say, but because the elements in this classroom had almost been depleted by their high-speed casting. To continue using magic, they would have to either leave or wait for new elements to fill the room.

Now, the only remaining means of attack was close combat, but Michian had lost his weapon, and Rocky needed some time to adjust himself.

Elemental adjustment... Rocky squinted slightly. Michian must have used elemental adjustment in order to break through his defense so mysteriously earlier.

The magical knowledge acquired by the inheritors of magic is generally similar, but there are differences in some details. After all, every magician will have their own understanding and insights into magic as they grow. When they become magic mentors and pass on these understandings and insights to their disciples, they transform into more practical techniques to be taught. These techniques are often unique, and unless personally taught, opponents cannot replicate them.

Earlier, Michian had used a technique unique to her inheritance, which was elemental adjustment. Rocky had read a rough description of this ability in a book before. Elemental adjustment is the fine tuning of the arrangement of magic elements to achieve the desired casting effect. Generally, the arrangement of the elements in the same magic is fixed. If it can be broken down into an equation, then every time a magician recites that equation, it will be exactly the same. However, with the effect of elemental adjustment, the magician can modify this equation to some extent in a magical way, allowing the traditional magic to exhibit new effects. However, this does not involve creating a new magic, as the equation still remains constant. Elemental adjustment is about adjusting the details of magic without changing its foundation.

For example, earlier, when Windmill Cut hit the rock wall, Rocky sensed that there was something different about it compared to a regular Windmill Cut. It contained multiple Windmill Cuts, and these Windmill Cuts were not of the linear attack type. Michian had modified the arrangement of the elements controlling the direction.

If Rocky hadn't been very vigilant and his reaction speed quick enough, he would have already died under Michian's attack.

Rocky stood straight, feeling the elements gradually replenishing the classroom, preparing to cast magic.

But it was still Michian who made the first move, another Windmill Cut.

However, Rocky responded differently this time. Michian had her unique casting technique, and he had his own.

He stretched out his hands, both hands shimmering with the brilliance of magic, each with a different color. The magic mentors in the corner of the room stared in disbelief. What a strange casting technique! It's impossible for a magician to perform two types of magic at the same time. Even for plural incantations of inheritors of magic, it is only additional magic added to a completed spell... But at this moment, it was without a doubt that Rocky was simultaneously using two different magics with his hands.

With a flick of his hands, two bolts of lightning shot out from his palms and suddenly exploded near Michian. Countless focused lightning strikes interwove and traversed, forming a web of lightning. This time, even the air seemed to ignite!

Multiple incantations, multiple detonations, delayed casting... he was using various techniques inherited from magic mentors simultaneously. The focused lightning strikes transformed into another magic - Thunder Curtain.

The web woven with thunder and lightning instantly enveloped Windmill Cut, dispelling whatever had been modified, whether it was elemental adjustment or something else. And the Thunder Curtain didn't linger at all; it irresistibly closed in on Michian.

Her only defense at the moment was to exhaust all her gathered elemental power to once again encase herself in an earthen prison. But by doing so, although she was able to block the Thunder Curtain, she was powerless to counterattack. After all, her sword was still lying on the side, while Rocky calmly prepared for his next magic, ready to kill her.Time seemed to reverse as the clash between the lightning element and the earth element occurred once again, but the outcome was completely different.

The destructive power of the lightning curtain was far greater than that of the concentrated lightning strike. Even though Michian exhausted all of her elemental power, she could only barely withstand the attack. The rocky shell was shattered into pieces, and under the force of the thunder, Michian could only helplessly raise her hand to protect her head. The flying debris pierced her arm, leaving behind a trail of crimson blood on her fair skin, a sight that was both unbearable and yet strangely captivating.

There was no next magic spell. Rocky stopped his attack. After all, she was the Pope's daughter, and he would never kill her no matter what.

Silence filled the classroom. The magic instructor had already fled when Rocky unleashed the lightning curtain. Now, only Rocky, Michian, and Alice remained.

Rocky stood expressionless in his place, his torn and tattered clothes revealing bloody wounds caused by razor-sharp winds. But he stood tall, as if unaware of pain.

The only sound was Michian's heavy breathing. Slowly, she stood up, her left arm still bleeding. She looked at Rocky with a complex expression.

"I know you didn't use your full strength before, and maybe you still haven't now," Michian suddenly said. "Five years ago, when the Oshias clan was still around, my teacher told me that your magical talent surpasses mine, second only to... your sister."

"If you know that, then what else can we fight for?" Rocky said.

"A person only becomes powerful when they protect what is most precious to them... And now, what are you protecting? I can't see it," Michian looked at him, her gaze unwavering. "Do you really not want revenge?"

Rocky didn't immediately answer. He took a deep breath, as if trying to drive away a certain impulse, before speaking again. "I am grateful for the Church's forgiveness. My clan has committed grave sins, and they deserved to die... I have no revenge to seek."

He had said the same thing yesterday in Dean Karm's office, and now he said it again to Michian, resolute and unquestionable.

The anger in Michian's violet eyes disappeared unnoticed, replaced by a sense of desolation. "You've changed so much."

"People always change," Rocky revealed a serene smile. He smiled beautifully, but it was rare to see him smile. It was as if it was something that needed to be hidden away. He continued, "Growing up, I realized how childish I was when I was young."

Michian didn't say anything more. She turned around and left. Sharp-eyed Alice noticed something sparkling drop from her chin.

The duel was over, and Rocky relaxed. He sat down on a chair and stared blankly at the classroom, now in ruins. Alice walked over and sat next to him, taking out ointment from her bag to treat his wounds.

..............................................................................................................................................

The news of Rocky and Michian's duel spread throughout the Merzian Holy Academy on the same day, but the outcome was shrouded in mystery. Besides Alice, no one knew the final result.

The only magic instructor who possibly knew more details remained tight-lipped, leading people to speculate various versions based on the classroom's devastating state. Most of them claimed that Michian had beaten Rocky mercilessly, sparing his life in the end when he begged for mercy. However, Rocky retaliated and injured Michian when she was on her knees.

These rumors further damaged Rocky's reputation. Clearly, everyone believed he was a cunning and malicious person. This was evident from the way he was treated in class: if he sat in a row, there would be no one else except for Alice in that row.

In the early morning, Rocky sat by the window, enjoying his breakfast. His life was always disciplined, as if a clockwork mechanism was installed within him.

Most of the students at the Merzian Holy Academy were either wealthy or noble. When not attending classes, they would return to their luxurious mansions, being chauffeured in alchemy motorcycles. However, there were also talented students from humble backgrounds studying at the academy. To accommodate them, the school had residential areas within the campus. Students who were willing to stay on campus would be allocated a small villa, and Rocky's residence was among them.Rocky didn't like sunlight very much, so he usually pulled the curtains closed. But suddenly, someone started knocking on the window.

Alice went to open the curtains and saw a small bronze bird tapping rhythmically on the window with its beak.

"Ah, is this an extra breakfast?" Alice licked her lips, her face expressing appetite. "Unfortunately, this probably won't be enough to fill our teeth."

"Alice, you and your love for food..." Rocky looked disappointed at his own contracted apostle. He got up and opened the window, and the bronze bird flew in and perched on Rocky's shoulder. "This is an alchemical messenger, a metal object infused with magical energy. If you're really hungry, you can give it a try."

Alice grabbed the little bird and examined it... It was indeed a small creation made of an unknown metal, brought to life by magical energy, just like a real bird... but clearly not edible.

"The alchemical messenger has become quite popular in the past decade. It's not only used by wizards, but also by nobles to send messages. It has a low-level spatial magic in its stomach that can be used to store letters or other things, but of course, not too big..." Rocky explained, while taking the bronze bird and pulling out a scroll from its mouth.

Rocky opened it and a formal invitation letter fell onto the table. The top left corner neatly wrote Rocky's full name, and the bottom right corner read "Mercia Holy Academy Student Union," with the student union's seal stamped on it.

"To the esteemed Rocky Dolaville Oxias: In advance, we extend our... After many days of preparation, the student union is pleased to invite you to the Freshman Welcome Banquet, which will be held on October 16th of the 323rd year of the Reles Calendar, at the Red Maple Pavilion of Mercia Holy Academy. We look forward to your presence." Alice grabbed the invitation letter and tilted her head, reading it.

Alice skipped over the formal greetings in the letter, finding it too troublesome. After finishing reading, she looked at Rocky. "October 16th... What date is it today?"

"October 14th."

"So it's the day after tomorrow..." Alice repeatedly looked at the invitation letter. "Why would they invite you to the student union's banquet... Rocky, you don't have power or influence now. This feels like we're being invited to a free meal and drinks. How nice."

"Yeah, how nice." Rocky finished his morning tea in one gulp and stood up. His deep blue eyes sparkled in the morning sunlight, clear like the sea.