Chapter 231: Enchant! Azel couldn’t blame her though. Not at all. Flare had started using enchantments to make up for what she lacked in natural ability. That was the whole reason she came to the Academy in the first place — to study enchantments and find ways to push herself further. She wanted advanced enchantments, not the basics. It wasn’t pride or arrogance, it was survival. For someone with weak mana like her, enchantments were the only way to stand on equal ground with powerful mages. So for her, stacking five enchantments on top of one another was nothing less than child’s play. Azel clicked his tongue softly. ’If she gets promoted now and I get left behind in this basic class... how am I supposed to get closer to her and then save her?’ He absolutely could not let this girl fall into the hands of Reinhardt. Flare was too important. ’I can’t stop her from leaving now so I need something that will make me stand out too.’ He quickly pulled up his System shop and navigated to the Enchantment section. His eyes immediately darkened. Locked. Just like how Runes were just before. He couldn’t unlock it. Not unless he performed an enchantment first. Azel clenched his jaw. ’System... she’s going to leave the class. If you don’t let me unlock enchantments, I won’t be able to catch up to her. Isn’t my whole job to save the heroines? And aren’t you supposed to help me do that?’ For a moment, there was silence in his mind. ’Don’t give me that. If she leaves, my chances plummet. You don’t want me to fail either, do you?’ Then... [Ding!] A notification rang out in front of his eyes. [Enchantments have been unlocked.] [The first three enchantment skills that the user buys will have a 90% discount.] Azel blinked, stunned for a moment. Then he smiled. ’Ah... so you do have a heart after all. Or maybe you’re just pretending. Doesn’t matter. ’If I’m really going to impress, I can’t just show a simple stack. I’ll need something complex. Something that’ll blow Rudeus away.’ He began searching the shop rapidly, already choosing what he’d buy, because he already knew that she was going to ace it. ... Meanwhile, Flare was already walking toward the podium. Her steps were quiet and she could feel the Professor’s eyes followed her closely. Flare bit her lip as she stood in front of the class. She felt conflicted. She had only just started talking to Azel, her first real conversation with anyone in months, but now she was leaving him behind. Still... their paths were different. He was destined for greatness. Perhaps even destined to become the hero himself. It was why fate seemed to favor him at every turn. But her? She was always at the bottom. No matter how hard she tried, that was where she remained. And if stacking five enchantments could help her climb just a little higher, she had to take that chance. "Alright, Miss Flare," Professor Rudeus said, rubbing his bald head with one large hand, "you are free to start stacking anytime now." She nodded. From her storage ring, she pulled out a thin rapier. Its blade glowed under the classroom light. "Ah," Rudeus said approvingly, "you plan to show the enchantments on a weapon. Smart move." Flare nodded again, keeping her focus. She placed her left hand above the rapier. She had practiced this countless times... This was her strength. "Pierce Enchant," she whispered. Immediately, a small glowing symbol flared onto the blade. It was a long vertical triangle like a spearhead, with a single dot at the tip. It glowed gold as it manifested. "That was a good enchantment," Rudeus said, genuinely impressed. "Andit’s very stable too." Flare didn’t pause. "Acceleration Enchant." Above the first symbol, another appeared... two parallel arrows pointing forward, a short line trailing behind them. Golden light wrapped the rapier’s edge. "Lightweight Enchant." The third mark formed: an open circle with four tiny wings on its sides. The sword suddenly looked lighter, easier to hold. "Stability Enchant." The fourth symbol appeared, a neat square box with a horizontal line cut through its center. The glow deepened. Flare raised her rapier into a combat stance, her expression was calm. The enchantments all stacked within a single glowing circle around her blade, each layered neatly over the other. The entire class was silent now. Even Rudeus’s eyes widened slightly. "Stacking four basic enchantments in mere seconds... not bad. Not bad at all." She gave a small nod. She was ready. "Feel free to attack me," Rudeus said, running his hand across his shiny bald scalp. He grinned, showing his confidence. "Don’t hold back. I’ll defend." Flare’s eyes sharpened. She leapt back lightly, creating space between them. Then, with a burst of power, she dashed forward. The Acceleration Enchant kicked in. She became a blur. The blade thrust forward, glowing with a sharp golden light. And just before the tip reached him... "Impact Enchant!" The fifth mark flared onto the rapier: a concentric circle with a tiny starburst at its center. BOOM! The sound of the collision echoed like an explosion. A rush of wind tore across the classroom, forcing students to shield their faces and squint against the gust. Papers flew everywhere and desks were rattled. When the dust cleared, everyone saw the result. Professor Rudeus was standing still, completely calm. With just two fingers, he held the tip of Flare’s rapier, stopping it cold before it could pierce him. But his eyes were full of respect. "You caught me off guard with the Impact Enchantment," he said warmly, releasing the rapier. "That was clever. And well executed. Excellent, Miss Flare." His grin widened. "Wait here a moment. We’ll head to the Advanced Class together." She was happy... she was going to move up and get more Enchantments... And then... "Professor!" A clear voice rang out. Everyone turned. Azel stood, raising his hand with a broad smile. "I also have to say..." He paused deliberately, letting the words hang in the air. "...this class will be too easy for me as well." ’Hey, this sounds really cool to say.’ He thought.