"Magic," the lecture began, "is the physical manifestation of mental control over Magic Power. Why does the mind affect magic? Research hypothesizes Magic Power might actually be a lifeform—existing as subatomic particles too minuscule for humans to fully observe. If we treat it as living matter, Magic Power could be a rare radio wave-based organism. It reacts to human consciousness to parasitize and reproduce. That explains why mages often sire mages."

Yan Lingxuan watched Bai Lingyue—so teacherly, yet his adorable little sister. Amusing.

Avalon.

The colossal egg-shaped building north of campus housed all magic classes. Right now, Yan Lingxuan’s practical session took place in one of its training rooms.

The space was vast and bright: a perfect cube, 200 meters wide, 100 meters high. Seamless white walls enclosed a springy, resilient floor of unknown material.

Yan Lingxuan’s gaze lifted to the ceiling.

A glowing Magic Array floated there, rotating slowly. Its light cascaded like snowflakes—beautiful, fleeting. This array reinforced the room’s structure; even a tank’s depleted uranium shell couldn’t breach it. Powered by Magic Power, its ancient runes hummed with forgotten civilization’s wisdom. Unlike standard arrays requiring mage maintenance, Avalon’s worked autonomously. *How?* Yan Lingxuan didn’t know.

Unlike last theory class, everyone wore tight training suits like Lingyue’s.

About a hundred students stood in five neat rows. Ages ranged wildly—six to twenty-two. Magic awakening wasn’t age-dependent; many, like Yan Lingxuan himself, discovered their power later.

His attention snagged on a little girl beside him. Twin black ponytails bobbed above a small, sun-kissed face dotted with freckles. But her large, spirited eyes shone bright.

*Real little girls are precious,* he mused. *Not like that "loli" principal—technically an adult. True loli charm lies in pure, untainted hearts. Worldly corruption ruins it.*

The girl noticed his stare. She beamed up at him, mouth wide with crooked milk teeth.

Yan Lingxuan smiled back warmly.

*No wonder loli-connoisseurs exist. But she’s still no match for Lingyue’s childhood photos...* He sighed dreamily.

Bai Lingyue, mid-lecture, spotted her brother grinning dopily at the girl. *He’s got a loli fetish?* She resolved to correct his deviant tastes—though honestly, he’d been weird since their reunion.

*From sister-complex to loli-complex? His standards keep dropping. Will he target toddlers next?* Su Fangwen glared at Yan Lingxuan’s back.

"Next exercise: Magic Ball drills. Pair up!"

Bai Lingyue’s announcement ended the briefing.

*Magic Ball Toss*—concentrating Magic Power into spheres, then hurling them telekinetically between partners. It honed mental control, stamina, and magical sensitivity. Simple. Effective.

Students scattered into pairs.

"Brother, will you partner with me?" The little girl’s bright smile sealed his agreement.

Su Fangwen strode over smoothly. "If you lack a partner, I could—" She froze, seeing him already claimed. Her glare turned venomous. Yan Lingxuan feigned innocence.

"Does Sister want to partner with Brother?" the girl asked innocently.

"Ugh..." Su Fangwen sighed under those guileless eyes. "Fine. I’ll yield him to you." She turned away sharply.

"Care to partner with me?"

Qi Jun approached Su Fangwen with unexpected warmth. Yan Lingxuan raised an eyebrow.

Old grudges flared in Su Fangwen’s icy stare. "I’d rather not partner with *your* kind."

"Don’t scare children with that face," Yan Lingxuan chided gently. The little girl shrank back, frightened.

Su Fangwen instantly softened her expression—for the girl. Toward Qi Jun, it remained glacial.

"I regret my past actions," Qi Jun said humbly, stripped of his old arrogance. "Can’t we start fresh? We’re from the same hometown."

"You’re just lonely here. No daddy’s boys to bully. We’re not your lackeys."

Qi Jun flushed but stayed polite. "Understood. I’ll find another partner." He walked off.

"*Rehearsed* that apology, didn’t you?" Su Fangwen called after him.

The little girl tugged Yan Lingxuan’s sleeve, glancing worriedly between Qi Jun and Su Fangwen. He winked.

"Qi Jun. Partner with me?"

Qi Jun spun around, stunned. "Why?!" Su Fangwen sputtered.

"Everyone stumbles," Yan Lingxuan said lightly. "If we only trusted perfect people, the world’d be cruel. Besides—it’s none of your business." He turned to the girl. "Sorry. Will you partner with this grumpy sister?"

Her freckled face lit up. She nodded eagerly.

"Hmph. Whatever." Su Fangwen paired with her instead—*better than letting him corrupt a child*.

"Nita Hai," the girl introduced herself. American-born Chinese.

*Hai?* Yan Lingxuan’s pulse jumped. "Harold Hai—is he your brother?"

"Eh? How do you know my brother?"

"Small world! Tell him Yan Lingxuan says hi. We’re buddies."

"Okay!"

Nita wasn’t conventionally pretty, but her guileless smile radiated warmth. *Harold must be a hardcore sister-connoisseur too.* Yan Lingxuan felt kinship. *Is this... romantic interest?*

---

Training intensified. Magic Balls flew between pairs.

Bai Lingyue observed from the sidelines—mostly watching her brother.

Yan Lingxuan trained silently with Qi Jun. The drill felt trivial. He could’ve intensified his Magic Ball, but Qi Jun was already panting. *No point.*

He held no real grudge against Qi Jun. Past arrogance wasn’t unforgivable evil. Yan Lingxuan never claimed moral high ground anyway.

Boredom nearly lulled him to sleep—until danger snapped him awake.

A massive Magic Ball hurtled toward him. Nita stood directly behind him. Dodging meant dooming her.

*Block it telekinetically? Too slow. Brace for impact—*

He braced... but no collision came.

His eyes flew open. The 120cm-wide sphere hung frozen one meter away—then silently dissolved.

Bai Lingyue had erased it with a thought.

Yan Lingxuan’s grateful gaze met hers. Nita, Qi Jun, and Su Fangwen finally noticed the near-disaster.

A blond foreigner sauntered over.

"Sorry my Magic Ball almost hit you." His smirk held zero remorse. His exhausted former partner slumped nearby.

"Not all partners can handle my intensity," the foreigner drawled, catching Yan Lingxuan’s glare. "He’s useless."

"Oh?" Yan Lingxuan’s smile turned sharp. "No partner? Train with me." He glanced at Qi Jun. "You don’t mind?"

Qi Jun shook his head.

Yan Lingxuan strode to an open space, crooking a finger. The foreigner’s smirk twisted into a sneer as he followed.

Training halted. All eyes locked on them.

"This isn’t a dueling ring," Bai Lingyue warned. "One misstep, and I intervene."

"Just training, Teacher Bai!" Yan Lingxuan flashed a cheeky grin.

"Try catching *my* throws," he said sweetly. A basketball-sized Magic Ball formed in his palm.

The foreigner scoffed at its size. "Bring it."

"Happy to."

The ball shot forward—faster than a bullet.

***SLAM!***

It cratered the wall behind the frozen foreigner. The structure shuddered but held.

"Size doesn’t equal power," Yan Lingxuan purred, watching sweat bead on the man’s brow. "Still want to train with me?"