Reincarnated as the Villainess’s Unlucky Bodyguard

The classroom for Abyssal Hall's magic curriculum was unlike any other space Liria had encountered in her brief time at the academy. Massive, circular, and with no discernible walls, it felt like standing inside a crystal ball. The transparent dome above them revealed a swirling sky of magical energy aetherial currents in hues of violet, gold, and green, twisting and dancing like a living aurora.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

Liria sat near the back of the room, beside Enara, who lounged in her seat with her usual air of disinterest.

"Let me guess," Liria murmured under her breath. "This is the class where they tell us how amazing demons are and how humans should be groveling at their feet."

Enara smirked, her midnight eyes glinting with amusement. "Oh, they save that for history class. Magic lessons are slightly less insufferable."

Before Liria could reply, the professor entered a tall, gaunt man with deep indigo skin and hair that moved like shadowy tendrils around his head. His robes shimmered with faint glyphs, pulsating with restrained power. His eyes, a startling shade of molten gold, swept across the room with a stern, piercing gaze.

"Good morning, students," he began, his voice resonating as though it came from every direction at once. "I am Professor Kaelith, and today's lecture is both a reminder and a test. By now, you should be intimately familiar with the foundations of magic. If you are not…" His golden eyes narrowed. "…you may find yourselves regretting your negligence."

A few students squirmed in their seats, but most remained stoic. Liria felt a flicker of annoyance. This guy already screamed "tyrant with a power complex."

[Analysis: Subject is highly skilled in elemental manipulation. Probability of hostility: low. Probability of being insufferable: 87%.]

I could've guessed that, Liria thought, suppressing a sigh.

Professor Kaelith raised a hand, and a glowing orb of light materialized above his palm. It swirled and morphed, shifting between flames, water, stone, and wind before settling back into a soft golden glow.

"Magic is the lifeblood of our world," he began, pacing across the crystalline floor. "It flows through every creature, every blade of grass, every drop of rain. For those of you too dense to recall your earlier lessons, let us review the elemental framework."

With a flick of his wrist, the orb expanded into a shimmering diagram. It displayed eight distinct symbols, each representing one of the core elements: fire, water, earth, air, light, darkness, ice, and lightning.

"Every living being possesses an affinity for at least one of these elements," Kaelith explained. "The strength of that affinity determines your magical prowess. Most beings are limited to a single element, but exceptional individuals those with high intelligence and exceptional mana pools may master multiple elements. In rare cases, some can control all eight."

Gasps rippled through the room.

Kaelith smirked. "Do not delude yourselves. The probability of anyone in this room mastering all elements is effectively zero. Now, let us examine the nuances of each element."

He began with fire, describing it as the element of destruction and renewal, the embodiment of passion and power. The air shimmered as a small flame danced before the class, crackling with an intensity that made Liria's skin prickle.

"Fire is raw, untamed," Kaelith said. "But when wielded with precision, it is a force of creation. Those who master it often find their emotions closely tied to their magic. Lose control, and your magic will reflect your chaos."

Next came water, represented by a floating sphere that rippled like liquid mercury. "Water is adaptability. It flows and conforms, yet it can wear down even the hardest stone. A skilled water mage is both healer and destroyer."

Earth followed, represented by a chunk of stone that hovered effortlessly in midair. "Earth is stability and resilience. It provides both defense and overwhelming force. Those with an affinity for earth magic often exhibit unshakable resolve."

Air, light as a whisper, breezed through the room, ruffling hair and notes. "Air is freedom. It is the swiftest element, providing both movement and power in the form of storms."

Kaelith paused for dramatic effect before addressing the more enigmatic elements. Darkness a swirling void that seemed to absorb light itself was described as the essence of fear, concealment, and control. Ice, the sharp, gleaming counterpart to water, symbolized precision and preservation. Lightning crackled next, its violent energy embodying speed and overwhelming force.

Finally, Kaelith turned to light, and a soft golden glow enveloped the room. "Light magic," he said, his tone laced with intrigue. "Often dismissed as the domain of angels and other celestial beings. But make no mistake light can be wielded by demons as well. It is a rare affinity among our kind, but not unheard of. Light is illumination, healing, and, when necessary, judgment."

Liria's eyebrows shot up. Demons using light magic? That's unexpected.

[Observation: Subject's surprise is reasonable. Light magic in demonic society remains controversial and underutilized.]

Yeah, no kidding.

Kaelith's voice pulled her back to the present. "It is worth noting that humans often have inferior magic compared to demons. Their shorter lifespans limit their mastery, and their mana reserves are laughably small. However, there have been exceptions."

He glanced briefly at Liria, and a ripple of laughter spread through the class.

Liria clenched her fists under the desk, but before she could retort, Enara spoke up, her voice icy.

"Professor Kaelith," she said, her tone carrying the weight of her title. "Are you suggesting that humans are incapable of besting demons in magical combat?"

Kaelith hesitated, clearly caught off guard by Enara's challenge. "Not incapable, Princess. Simply… unlikely."

Enara's lips curled into a smirk. "Interesting. Because I recall my human guard demonstrating superior skill against several demons just last week."

Kaelith's gaze flickered to Liria, then back to Enara. "An anomaly, no doubt. Shall we move on?"

"Please," Enara said, leaning back in her chair with a smug grin.

Kaelith's lecture shifted into a practical demonstration, with students practicing basic spells corresponding to their affinities. Liria watched as the room erupted into chaos: flames flickering uncontrollably, water drenching desks, and bits of rock flying in every direction.

"Silverthorn," Kaelith called, his tone sharper than before. "Step forward. Let us see what the human is capable of."

Liria rose slowly, ignoring the whispers and snickers around her. She stepped into the center of the room, meeting Kaelith's gaze with a steady glare.

"What element is your affinity?" he asked.

"Fire," she said simply.

Kaelith nodded. "Very well. Produce a controlled flame, no larger than your palm."