The sound of friction from volcanic rocks slowly subsided along the Black Rock Valley area.
Three *Giant Spiders* that had been a serious threat to the first-year student group had now been successfully subdued without a single serious injury on the students' side.
On the stony ground surrounded by pitch-black trees, the students stood panting.
Sweat soaked their foreheads, and the field uniforms they wore looked slightly dusty.
However, the expression radiating on each student's face was not excessive fear or exhaustion, but rather a deep sense of relief, pride, and satisfaction.
Leon Arven leaned his back briefly against a large rock boulder, holding his magic staff with both hands still slightly trembling from the remaining tension of the battle.
He looked at his own palms, realizing how far his ability had developed compared to the first day he set foot at the academy—where he thought all problems could be solved just with arrogance and raw power.
Nearby, Serena Rose closed her notebook with a steady motion, then tidied up her slightly messy hair tie.
Although her face looked tired, her eyes sparkled with analytical enthusiasm.
Meanwhile, Kai Renford stood with a posture much straighter than usual.
There was no more hesitation or inferiority radiating from his gaze.
The assistance and mana support he provided to his peers during the battle earlier proved that he had an important role within the group, not just a spectator passing by.
In the middle of the resting student group, Erin stepped slowly toward them.
Her dark blue robe swept the dusty ground surface, and her yellow eyes looked at each of her disciples' faces with calming warmth.
"Your work today was extraordinary," Erin's voice echoed softly, breaking the silence of the valley.
All the students immediately straightened their postures upon hearing the professor's voice.
"You not only succeeded in overcoming mid-level monsters without anyone getting hurt," Erin continued with a faint smile.
"But more importantly, you proved that you are able to work together as a team, listen to each other, and protect each other when situations get tough."
Hearing the sincere praise from the professor they deeply respected, wide smiles began to carve on the students' faces.
Some of them even chuckled because they felt the mental burden crushing their chests had finally lifted completely.
"Professor," Leon's voice sounded a bit hoarse as he stepped one step forward.
Erin shifted her gaze to the blonde-haired youth.
Leon bowed his head slightly, showing a respect he had never shown at the beginning of the semester.
"I... I apologize," Leon said in a sincere tone.
"Because of my foolishness and arrogance in the past, I almost endangered myself and the group. If it weren't for your guidance and help... I might not be here anymore."
Erin listened to that confession with a calm expression.
She did not smile mockingly, nor did she give a long lecturing speech.
Instead, she stepped closer to Leon, then tapped the youth's shoulder gently.
"Arrogance is a magician's biggest enemy, Mr. Arven," Erin said with a patient yet authoritative tone.
"But realizing mistakes and learning from them is a sign of true maturity. You have proven today that you are no longer a yesterday's child who only relies on a family name. Keep up the good work."
Leon's eyes reddened slightly hearing those words.
He nodded his head firmly, swallowing his shame, and felt an increasingly strong inner bond between himself and the professor.
On the other side, Professor Adrian who stood watching from a few meters away crossed his arms over his chest with a faint smile.
As a field instructor known to be harsh and disciplined, Adrian initially doubted Erin's abilities when the young girl was first accepted into the academy.
However, seeing how Erin educated, guided, and shaped the students' mental state without having to use excessive violence or intimidation made Adrian hold deep respect for his fellow colleague.
"Alright, rest time is over," shouted Professor Adrian with a firm voice breaking the atmosphere.
"All groups prepare! We will soon return to the academy main post before the sun shifts too far west. Check your equipment again!"
Instantly, small busyness occurred again among the students.
They helped each other clear away remaining equipment, checked potion pouches, and formed a return journey line.
The journey back out of the Black Rock Valley felt much lighter compared to when they entered earlier.
Even though the path taken was the same, the students' moods were very different.
They no longer walked in anxiety or fear, but discussed casually about the battle experience they had just gone through together.
Serena seemed busy recording various new observations in her diary, while some other students occasionally asked Erin for opinions on the shield spell casting techniques they used when facing the spiders earlier.
Erin listened to every question patiently, providing brief and easy-to-understand explanations, and slipping small praises for those showing progress.
Toward late afternoon, the large group of first-year students finally arrived back at the main courtyard of the Royal Astra Magic Academy.
The large iron gates opened wide to welcome their return.
The students were dismissed to return to their respective dormitories to clean up and rest after a full day facing challenges in the wild.
Erin walked alone along the academy corridor starting to be illuminated by the dim light of night crystal lamps.
Her dark blue robe moved gracefully following every step of her feet.
She felt physically tired, but inside her chest, there was a warm feeling difficult to describe in words.
When she first left the small house in the countryside and decided to come to the capital, her goal was simple: she just wanted to find a job and continue the path of life once traveled by her late mother.
She never imagined that the role of a "professor" would give such deep meaning to this second life of hers.
Seeing young people like Leon who were once arrogant now becoming humble and responsible, seeing Kai who was once timid now growing into a confident individual, and seeing all students of class 101 supporting each other in difficulty—all of that made Erin feel that her decision to come to this academy was the best decision she had ever made.
Erin arrived in front of the door of her professor preparation room on the second floor.
She turned the silver key, opened the door, and stepped into the tidy and quiet room.
The characteristic scent of old paper and warm tea welcomed her arrival.
She placed her magic staff on the work desk, removed her outer robe slowly, and sat in her comfortable wooden chair.
Erin looked out the large glass window showing the academy courtyard now quietly wrapped in night.
Stars began to appear in the capital's night sky, emitting beautiful silvery light.
"A tiring day," Erin muttered softly to herself with a faint smile.
However, before she could enjoy the peace of that night, her gaze accidentally fixed on a small carved wooden box in the corner of her work desk—a box containing her mother's last legacy of old notes about ancient magic theory and mysterious spells she hadn't fully studied yet.
Erin reached for the box slowly, opened its lid which creaked softly, and pulled out an old yellowish parchment sheet.
On that parchment, there was a handwritten note from her mother about a strange phenomenon regarding mana flow and another dimension—a complex theory she had never fully understood.
Erin read line by line of that writing carefully.
The more she read, the more questions arose in her mind.
*Why is my ability to use magic so different from ordinary magicians?*
*Why does 'Spell Transfer' feel so natural to me as if it were embedded in my soul even before I inhabited this body?*
And the one troubling her thoughts the most:
*Is my arrival in this world, occupying Erin's body, and becoming a professor at this academy a coincidence... or part of something much bigger planned beforehand?*
Those questions rumbled again in her head, reminding her that behind the peace of academy life right now, there were still many big secrets regarding the origin of her existence in this vast magic world that remained unsolved.
However, Erin did not feel afraid.
She closed that old parchment calmly, placed it neatly on the table, and took a deep breath.
That mystery did not have to be solved tonight.
There were still many tomorrows, many students to guide, and many new chapters waiting ahead of her journey as a professor at the Royal Astra Magic Academy.