The morning sun illuminated the stone towers of the Royal Astra Magic Academy with a warm golden glow.
The morning breeze blew gently, carrying the scent of fresh leaves from the northern training forest in the academy.
Inside the professor preparation room located on the second floor, Erin stood in front of a large carved wooden-framed mirror.
She wore an official dark blue professor's robe with silver accents on the collar and cuffs.
Her blue hair was neatly tied with a simple black ribbon, revealing her calm and graceful facial features.
Her yellow eyes stared at her own reflection in the mirror, taking a deep breath to absorb her new role today.
"Today is the first day," Erin muttered softly.
She tidied up the stacks of notebooks and teaching syllabi on the desk, then stepped out of the room toward the first-year classroom.
The academy corridor was already busy with the coming and going of students.
There were groups of students walking in a hurry while carrying many books, and there were also those chatting playfully near the corridor windows.
When they saw Erin walking in her professor's robe, several students immediately stopped and bowed respectfully.
Although Erin's physical age still looked quite young for a professor, the aura of calmness and authority radiating from her made anyone hesitant to disrespect her.
Erin returned each student's greeting with a friendly nod and a faint smile.
She continued walking down the corridor until she arrived in front of a large wooden door numbered 101.
Behind that door, the sound of small commotion could be heard.
The first-year students of the basic magic class had apparently gathered inside the classroom.
Erin took a breath once more, held the doorknob, and pushed it slowly.
As soon as she stepped into the class, the previously quite noisy atmosphere instantly went quiet in a matter of seconds.
Dozens of pairs of eyes were directly fixed on the new professor standing in front of the class.
Various expressions were clearly visible on the students' faces.
Some looked curious, some indifferent, and others looked with disdain, thinking Erin was too young to teach them.
Erin walked calmly toward the teaching desk at the front of the class.
She placed her notebook carefully, then swept her gaze across the entire room, observing her new students one by one.
In the front row sat a blonde-haired young man with an upright posture and a noble family crest on his uniform collar.
His name was Leon Arven, a noble student known to be very confident and ambitious.
Beside him sat a girl with neatly braided brown hair, Serena Rose, who appeared to be holding her pen tightly over an empty notebook.
In the back corner of the class sat a black-haired messy young man with sleepy eyes, Kai Renford, a commoner student who looked anxious and avoided everyone else's gaze.
And dozens of other students with very diverse backgrounds and personalities.
Erin picked up the white chalk on the desk, turned toward the large black blackboard, and wrote her name with neat and firm handwriting.
*Professor Erin*
After writing, Erin turned back to face the students.
The classroom atmosphere felt so quiet, as if everyone was waiting for the first sentence the new professor would utter.
"My name is Erin," a soft yet firm voice echoed to every corner of the room.
"Starting today, and for the next year, I will be the professor guiding you in the subjects of Basic Magic and Mana Control at the Royal Astra Magic Academy."
Before Erin could continue her words, a student raised his hand with a somewhat arrogant movement.
It was Leon Arven, the blonde noble youth from the front row.
Without waiting for full permission, Leon spoke in a challenging tone, "Professor, excuse me for interrupting. But seeing your young age and such a calm appearance, I want to ask one thing."
All the students in the class immediately turned to look at Leon, some of them smiling slightly waiting for the new professor's reaction.
Erin looked at Leon without the slightest change in her facial expression.
"Please ask anything, Mr. Arven," Erin answered calmly.
"The question is simple," Leon continued while folding his arms across his chest, straightening his posture to show off his family's pride.
"In this academy, professors are usually senior mages with great battle records or high-level magic research. So... are you yourself strong enough in using magic to teach us?"
The question was direct and openly doubted Erin's capacity.
Some students in the back started whispering, testing how this new professor would handle an awkward situation on her first day.
Serena Rose in the front row bit her lip in worry, while Kai Renford in the back corner lowered his head, feeling anxious about the sudden tension.
However, Erin showed no anger, offense, or panic at all.
Instead, a faint smile appeared on her lips.
Erin walked slowly from behind the teaching desk, approaching the front row of benches where Leon sat.
She stood tall with the aura of a true educator who didn't need physical intimidation to be respected.
"A very honest and interesting question," Erin said in a soft yet firm tone, making the entire classroom quiet down to listen.
"You ask whether I am strong enough to use magic."
Erin stopped her step right near Leon's desk.
"However, Mr. Arven... do you know the first thing a prospective mage must think about?"
Leon frowned slightly, a bit surprised that his question was answered with another question.
He hesitated for a moment before answering, "Large mana power? Or... the ability to cast high-level spells quickly?"
Several other students nodded in agreement with Leon's answer, considering such things as the standard measure of a great mage.
Erin shook her head slowly.
"Not that," Erin answered with her yellow eyes gazing straight into Leon's eyes.
"Great power and high-level spells mean nothing if you don't know what that power is used for."
The classroom atmosphere became even quieter.
"The most important thing in magic is not how big an explosion you can create, or how fast you can immobilize an opponent," Erin continued, her voice sounding clear and meaningful.
"The most important thing is whether you know when to use magic, how to control it so it doesn't harm others, and what responsibility is attached to every spark of mana you release."
Leon was stunned upon hearing that explanation.
Those words didn't sound like a boring lecture from an old teacher, but rather a profound reprimand touching the fundamental essence of magic itself.
The doubt in several students' eyes slowly began to fade, replaced by great curiosity about the new professor's perspective.
Erin turned back to face the middle of the class, walking slowly toward her original position in front of the blackboard.
"Today's lesson is not about attack spells," Erin said while picking up her lesson notebook.
"Today, we will start from the most underestimated basics by novice mages: how to harmonize the flow of mana in the body without damaging your own energy pathways."
Erin opened her book, then looked at all the students with a friendly smile.
"Please open your notebooks to page ten. We will start learning from the basics."
Immediately, the rustling sound of paper was heard across the room as the students began opening their respective books.
Leon sat back down in his chair with a thoughtful expression, no longer acting dismissive, while Serena promptly started writing down every word Erin spoke on the blackboard.
In the back corner, Kai Renford slowly raised his head, looking forward with a glimmer of new hope in his heart.
The first day at the Royal Astra Magic Academy had officially begun.
And for Erin, this was a real first step in her long journey as a professor in a new world.