With the practical event, the only activity during this grace period between the travel club trip and midterms, finished, I didn't have much to do.

Although...one thing kept me busy.

*Ring~ring*

As the bell rang, signifying the start of classes for the day, I eagerly lifted my head off the desk and peered at the whiteboard, where two massive, shining words lay.

[Mana Manipulation]

It was time.

Out of all the first-years, only Leo could imbue his sword with mana, using his magic-null attribute.

*BAM*

As the door slammed open, Professor Lily casually walked in, stopping before the lectern and glancing at each row.

Finally, she started.

"There are four levels to the mastery of mana manipulation."

"The first threshold, also known as the "mana sword," is unlocked when you figure out how to imbue your sword with mana."

"To do this, you must harness the mana within your body and slowly lead it to the hand, or hands, holding your weapon."

"From there, it is different for each person, but you must understand how to lead that mana gathering in your palm into your weapon."

"For bow-users, it's the string, and for other weapons, it's usually the hilt."

"Each mana sword has a different attribute, depending on your traits. For example..."

Pausing, Lily grabbed a sword and loosely held it in her hands, barely stopping it from dropping to the floor.

As she raised the sword, it slowly took on a jade-green hue, to the point where the sword's cool silver medal wasn't even visible anymore.

All that could be seen was a swarm of jade-green particles, in the shape of a blade, atop a hilt.

As she waved the sword around the classroom, an indescribable sense of exhaustion seemed to seep into my brain, with some students beside and behind me actually dropping to their desks, having lost the energy to hold their bodies up.

My head lifelessly swayed back and forth, like a pendulum, as my thoughts slowly came to a halt.

*BANG*

In the next moment, a resounding bang echoed throughout the classroom, as Professor Lily slammed her now regular sword on the lectern.

Instantly, I fell forward, barely catching myself, while Ruby to my right fell out of her seat alongside many students in the class.

"That is drowsiness, my attribute."

"Now, let's head to the coliseum, shall we?"

...

...

...

Standing in front of the crowd of students, Professor Lily raised a glass vial, full of some bubbly purple liquid, before announcing.

"Everyone will be handed one of these potions once. And only once. Made by the academy personally, the potion allows you to see the mana within your body, something you cannot usually do until the third stage mastery of mana manipulation, for a short period of time."

"Please use this short period of time to the maximum to attempt to draw all your mana towards the palm holding your weapon."

"Think of your body as a labyrinth. You are attempting to push the mana up from your legs or down from your head into the correct vein leading to your han-"

Ignoring her explanation, I simply unsheathed my new golden-jade Willow Leaf Dao in my left hand, not my right.

Then, holding the sword upside-down so that its tip was facing the palm of my right hand, I took a deep breath.

How had Leo unlocked his blade back in the dungeon?

He had injured his right hand, causing massive amounts of blood to flow there, and needed to have it repaired.

And, like a surfer swept away by a wave, the mana within his body was washed away by the blood, forced to follow it to the right hand.

Of course, Leo had properly learned how to control mana, without harming herself, but I was a completely different story.

Everyone around me had been in this world for tens of years, their bodies and minds accustomed to the sense of mana.

But...I had arrived less than 2 months ago.

The 2000th-ranked student in the first year could probably sense mana better than I.

Thus, this was my only way.

However, beside me, I heard a sudden murmur.

"I'm not even going to ask."

Looking to my right, where a purple-haired girl stood, I simply nodded and responded.

"I bet I can guess your attribute."

"..."

She ignored me.

However, as Professor Lily began distributing the potions, I continued.

"I'll bet you a secret formula I can guess your attribute. But, you have to give me an hour in your laboratory in exchange."

Her eyes still not at me, she answered while looking ahead.

"You're insa-"

"Illusion."

A person shot by Serena's purple-hued arrows would begin to experience illusions, unable to distinguish between reality and imagination.

Just as I received my potion, a sudden yell sounded from before me.

"M-MAGNUS!?"

"HE DID IT!"

Rushing to the front of the crowd of students, with Serena following beside me, I peeked forward and saw Magnus casually leaning backward, his sword embedded in the ground below to hold him still.

Except...

Professor Lily burst through the crowd and paused, gazing at Magnus's gold-shining sword.

"Do you know your attribute?"

He simply nodded his head and emotionlessly answered.

"Greed."

The ability to plunder and steal your opponent's strength or even...abilities.

In my opinion, the most dangerous power to me.

I was nothing without my abilities...if even for a second my holographic lines were stolen, I would be stranded and done for.

Looking at us, Professor Lily ordered.

"Back to work."

Returning to my original spot, I unscrewed the vial and drank the purple liquid in one go, relishing in its sweet and sour taste.

Although I didn't physically or mentally feel any changes...As I gazed down, my entire body was bathed in a dark purple light.

Glowing dark-purple dots were all over my body, mostly centered around the left side of my chest, where my heart stood.

Taking a deep breath, I bit my lip and stabbed my left hand downward.

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