Never before had Velis felt that merging with the original Velis’s memories was so useful.
She had only been in this world for a short time; without the original Velis’s memories, she would have been completely at a loss.
Not to mention anything else, just that ambush on the road a few hours ago—without the help of the original memories and experience, she would likely be dead by now.
And now, Velis fully experienced the benefits of possessing past memories.
At this moment, standing under the bright glow of the magic array, countless eyes below were looking up, eager to see her make a fool of herself.
Only a few people sensed what Velis intended to do, but they couldn’t speak up.
High on the platform, Emperor Lubath Egbert narrowed his eyes. He hadn’t seen this daughter of his in a long time, but at this moment, she seemed different from the Velis he remembered.
What remained unchanged, however, was the proud, aloof soul of an Imperial Princess.
“As this student has said, someone with only the strength of a Mage cannot serve as a teacher, nor can they instruct others… So let me ask…”
As she spoke, Velis raised her right hand, spiritual power and mana flowing slowly as she gradually constructed a resplendent magic array.
The teachers and students below all looked at Velis strangely, wondering what she was doing.
But some professors had already discerned her trap from the magic array in her hand and shook their heads with sighs.
They lamented—the Empire’s Imperial Princess was truly no ordinary person. That young lady of the Lyons Family was likely in for a loss.
Soon, the magic array in Velis’s hand was complete.
Her voice was not loud, yet it carried such majesty, looking down from above.
“May I ask this student, do you know what magic array I hold un-released in my hand right now?”
Faced with Velis’s question, Ophelia couldn’t guess her intentions and inwardly cursed.
‘What timing—this witch still wants to stall for time. Let’s see what trick she’s playing!’
As the one called the Genius Mage of the Lyons Family, Ophelia Lyons recognized the source of the magic array in Velis’s hand at a single glance.
She said disdainfully: “What Her Highness the Princess holds is the most basic spell in Light Magic—Illumination. It hasn’t even been optimized, it’s the original version.”
“May I ask what Your Highness intends to do? Or is it that you only know this most basic Illumination spell, and can’t manage anything more complex?”
On the Vistoria Continent, although there were restrictions based on elemental affinity, many of the most basic spells across various magic systems could be used by anyone.
Because these spells were so fundamental, even without affinity for that element, one could still cast them with ease.
And that was how Velis was able to use the basic Light Magic spell—Illumination.
Velis ignored Ophelia’s provocation and continued asking: “Since you know this is the basic Illumination spell, do you recall who created it?”
“Of course I do. 3,714 years ago, it was created by the Grand Sage, Bourvil Hadru!”
Ophelia was growing irritated as she spoke.
“Your Highness, could you please not change the subject? Stalling for time won’t change the fact that your skill is lacking!”
The golden-haired girl flicked her bangs triumphantly. She had long since memorized this knowledge perfectly.
Velis wanted to stump her with such basic questions, to make her lose face and back down—impossible!
To her surprise, Velis nodded approvingly: “This student is correct. The basic Illumination spell was indeed created thousands of years ago by the late sage Bourvil Hadru.”
“His Illumination spell, refined by later generations, continues to this day and is widely used across the entire continent, found in every household.”
“But I have a doubt. According to historical records, although Bourvil was called the Grand Sage…”
A smile curled at the corner of Velis’s lips as she looked at Ophelia and asked: “This student, do you know what level of strength that departed Grand Sage possessed in his lifetime?”
In an instant, Ophelia felt a chill run through her entire body. Clever as she was, she had already realized what was coming.
Her delicate fists clenched tightly, knuckles turning white!
‘Velis Egbert! You vicious woman!’
But with countless eyes upon her, even if she didn’t answer, everyone would know.
All that could be heard was Ophelia grinding her teeth as she said: “The late sage, Bourvil Hadru, remained an Apprentice Mage until his death!”
“Oh, how interesting… With such meager strength, he was still called a sage, a Grand Sage.”
Velis’s teasing words struck Ophelia’s chest like knives, making it hard for her to breathe.
“Then let this Imperial Princess ask again, how many students did the Grand Sage teach in his lifetime?”
“Countless, like stars in the sky, like sand and stones on the ground!” Ophelia’s delicate body trembled.
Velis pressed on relentlessly: “And what of the Grand Sage’s life deeds? How many disciples did he instruct?”
“He created countless magics that continue to this day, from basic to high-level, everything imaginable!”
Ophelia’s eyes blazed with fury, but she still shouted out, refusing to concede.
“His disciples ranged from royalty and nobility down to the common people. The Sage of Teachers was revered like a deity!”
“Indeed!” Velis clapped her hands, then asked again: “I’ve heard that not only the Grand Sage, but Weizi Aheng from several hundred years ago, and Gallahad Stanney from over a hundred years ago…”
“Even one of the founders of this Imperial Royal Academy, Leopold Kelly—this Imperial Princess has also heard that, like the Grand Sage, their strength was lowly, yet they taught countless students.”
Though Velis’s voice was not loud, Ophelia felt fine sweat gathering on her back.
And her aggressive demeanor, her rhetoric that shifted like clouds and rain in an instant, made some of the teachers and students present break out in cold sweat as well.
“This Imperial Princess asks you, throughout history, there have been countless such figures. Do you still believe that low strength disqualifies one from being a teacher? Or do you think that I, an Imperial Princess of the Empire, am unworthy of being a mere teacher at this academy?”
Velis’s words crashed down like towering waves, and Ophelia stood helpless and alone like a small boat upon the raging sea.
She bit her lip hard, eyes blazing, forcing down the fury that threatened to burst from within her chest.
She almost ground her silver teeth to pieces: “Th-the… this student… wouldn’t dare!”
“Then, I am qualified to serve as a teacher, am I not?”
The words seemed plain, but there was only one possible answer!
To deny it would be to insult the sages who had contributed so greatly to magic and the entire world!
Their influence was not just in books, but in the faith of the people across all nations—it was not to be questioned!
To deny it would carry consequences far worse than pulling the Imperial Princess down from her seat!
With such a weighty accusation overhead, even the Lyons Family could not bear it!
Ophelia was no fool, so at this moment she could only follow Velis’s lead and say hatefully: “Acceptable!”
But she was not resigned.
“Since Your Highness invokes the sages, this student will not hold you to your lack of achievements in creating spells. I will only ask you this…”
Ophelia took a deep breath, struggling to calm her surging emotions, then met Velis’s gaze.
“If you become a teacher with strength as lowly as the sages, yet your own spells—only one has reached proficiency, and it’s far from even the threshold of an Apprentice Mage!”
“How do you explain the false strength and reputation you’ve obtained through your authority!? You aren’t even an Apprentice Mage!”
“What right does an Imperial Princess who deceives the world under false pretenses have to compare herself to the sages and serve as a teacher of this academy!?”
The moment Ophelia’s words left her mouth, everyone present drew in a sharp breath. The members of the Lyons Family nearby were all stricken with terror, their voices trembling.
“Ophelia! What are you saying!? Apologize to Her Highness the Princess at once!?”
This was no longer a discussion about Velis’s personal qualifications—it was an insult to the entire imperial family!
But at that moment, the Emperor, Lubas, who had remained silent all along, raised his hand to quell the commotion in the hall, and merely said: “It’s fine. Continue!”
And after Ophelia calmed down, she too was overcome with lingering fear.
But seeing that the Emperor wasn’t pursuing the matter, she felt relieved, then looked up at Velis on the stage with a provocative gaze.
‘Let’s see what you do now!’
‘Even if you can use the sages to dodge the threshold of insufficient strength, you can’t solve the problem of your own magic itself!’
‘Velis Egbert, get out of the Royal Academy!’
‘Unless… you get on your knees and beg me!’
‘And that night’s pain—I’ll repay it double!’
But the next moment, Velis’s actions made Ophelia’s eyes go wide with utter disbelief.
Velis smiled lightly, her gaze sweeping over the teachers and students below.
“No matter… Since you all believe my strength is insufficient to serve as a teacher, then this Imperial Princess shall have to speak at length on the matter.”
“Velis turned slightly to look at Mark beside her. In that instant, Vice Dean Mark suddenly felt a chill run through his body, and a sense of foreboding rose in his heart.”
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