The Shield of the Abyss

The first class of the morning was dedicated to practical magic manipulation.

The students of Class S, having donned their lightweight training attire for ease of movement, made their way to the academy’s esteemed indoor training grounds.

The expansive space boasted a dome enchanted to mimic the open sky, while the floor was etched with a colossal runic array designed to absorb any errant magical energy.

I positioned myself at the very end of the line, striving to diminish my presence.

Yet, the heroine’s persistent gaze clung to me, an inescapable shadow.

The instructor for today’s session was a retired Knight Captain named Barton.

His physique was imposing, his countenance stern, and his fiery red hair perfectly complemented his decisive and resolute demeanor.

“Alright, you fresh-faced youngsters!”

Instructor Barton’s voice resonated like a deep bell.

“No matter how much theory you cram into your heads, if you cannot apply it in actual combat, it amounts to nothing more than a heap of worthless parchment! Today, we shall delve into the very bedrock of all magic, a pivotal technique that could very well preserve your lives—the [Mana Shield]!”

As he spoke, he extended his right hand.

A pale azure mana converged in his palm, swiftly coalescing into a translucent, circular shield that emitted a gentle luminescence.

“Observe closely! The essence lies in maintaining a steady output of mana and molding it into form! Do not overreach, nor should you succumb to impatience! Now, pair yourselves up freely, and begin your practice!”

The four words, “pair up freely,” detonated in my ears like a sudden clap of thunder.

‘Oh no.’

Instinctively, I scanned my surroundings.

As expected, everyone appeared to have reached a prior agreement, swiftly locating their respective partners.

The prince and the knight’s son formed a pair, while the other noble offspring likewise found their matches.

In the blink of an eye, the vast training grounds were left with only two solitary figures standing still.

One was myself.

The other, naturally, was the heroine, Ella Smith, who, owing to her commoner status, was instinctively shunned by everyone.

She stood there, arms crossed, a palpable sense of helplessness emanating from her.

The moment her gaze collided with mine, she recoiled as if startled, swiftly averting her eyes as a faint blush crept across her cheeks.

Instructor Barton had evidently taken notice of our predicament as well.

His keen eyes swept between us before he strode purposefully in our direction.

“What is the meaning of this, you two?”

“Instructor, I was just—”

Before Ella could offer an explanation, I interjected.

“We are partners.”

My voice, though not raised, carried with startling clarity to the ears of every person present.

For an instant, a profound silence descended upon the entire training grounds.

Everyone stared at me with expressions as though they had witnessed a specter.

Ella, in particular, snapped her head up, her emerald eyes wide with a mixture of shock and utter disbelief.

‘Why did I do this?’

‘Because I had no other choice.’

‘If both she and I remained unpartnered, the instructor would inevitably intervene, and the scene would only grow more awkward, attracting even greater scrutiny.’

‘Rather than being passively forced together, it was preferable for me to take the initiative, thereby integrating this unusual pairing into my carefully cultivated “unfathomable” persona.’

“Oh?”

Instructor Barton raised an eyebrow, appearing somewhat taken aback himself.

He scrutinized me from head to toe before offering a slow nod.

“Very well. Then, Eckhart, Smith, you two may proceed to practice over there.”

Without another glance at Ella, I walked directly to the empty area designated by the instructor.

Ella hesitated for a brief moment before trailing after me with small, hesitant steps.

She stopped before me, her nervousness so profound that her fingers were subtly curling.

“Um… Miss Eckhart…”

she whispered, “W-why did you choose me?”

“Because you were still standing here.”

I responded with a cool indifference, my gaze fixed on my own palm as I began to attempt to stir the mana within my body.

“Begin.”

This aloof demeanor, which kept others at a distance, successfully caused her to swallow any further words she might have uttered.

We commenced our practice.

Or, more accurately, it was Ella’s practice alone.

Following the instructor’s guidance, she diligently strove to condense light elemental mana in her palm.

Her talent was undeniably exceptional; soon, a soft, firefly-like glow began to illuminate within her grasp.

However, she seemed somewhat overly eager for immediate success, causing the light to flicker erratically and preventing it from solidifying into a stable shield shape.

As for me, I remained rooted to the spot, utterly motionless.

‘I dared not move a single muscle.’

‘The sea of mana within me was simply too vast, too impossibly heavy.’

‘To condense a minuscule shield, for me, would be akin to attempting to navigate the entirety of the Pacific Ocean with a mere embroidery needle.’

‘The slightest misstep, and I wouldn’t just fail to form a shield; I might well inundate the entire training grounds.’

Time continued to tick by, minute by agonizing minute. Ella had already failed more than a dozen times, beads of fine sweat now glistening on her forehead from sheer exasperation.

My complete lack of activity, in turn, gradually drew the attention of those around us.

“Look, what ails Lady Lilliana? Why does she remain motionless?”

“Could it be that she is still feeling unwell?”

“Impossible… She is a prodigy from the Ducal House of Eckhart; how could she possibly be incapable of even the most fundamental Mana Shield?”

The hushed whispers, like bothersome gnats, burrowed into my ears.

Just then, Instructor Barton’s voice boomed once more: “Alright! Halt! Now, it is time to assess the fruits of your practice! One of you shall cast the most rudimentary offensive spell, the [Mana Bullet], while the other will be responsible for defense! Remember, exercise restraint!”

My heart instantly plummeted to the depths of despair.

****

We remained silent for a moment, prompting Instructor Barton, who had sensed the anomaly, to approach us.

“Which of you two will take the offensive?”

Instructor Barton’s gaze settled upon us.

“I-I shall defend!”

Ella, seemingly apprehensive of my potential embarrassment, hastily volunteered.

“No,” I stated, my voice so remarkably steady it surprised even myself. “I shall defend.”

‘I could not possibly expose the truth that I was incapable of even the most rudimentary [Mana Bullet].’

‘Defense was my sole recourse.’

Ella froze, then a look of profound concern etched itself onto her face. “But, Miss Eckhart, you haven’t practiced even once just now…”

“It matters not.”

I cut her off, my gaze unwavering as I met her clear green eyes, and spoke softly.

“Simply launch your attack.”

My composure seemed to instill in her an inexplicable surge of confidence.

She drew a deep breath and nodded.

“…Then, I shall be so bold!”

Ella retreated a few paces, extending her right hand.

This time, her speed in condensing mana was significantly swifter than before.

A fist-sized [Light Bullet], composed of pure light elements, coalesced in her palm, radiating a warm and brilliant luminescence.

I closed my eyes.

‘I abandoned the ludicrous notion of attempting to control an ocean with that laughable “embroidery needle.”‘

‘Instead, I submerged my consciousness into that abyssal, pitch-black deep sea.’

‘I no longer sought to actively control it; rather, I transmitted a far simpler impulse, one that originated from the profound depths of my soul.’

‘—[Protect].’

‘Protect me.’

The very next second, that quiescent, silent sea of mana, which had slumbered for untold millennia, stirred as if it had heeded the summons of its sovereign.

A single ripple disturbed its surface.

In the tangible world, before me, without the slightest premonition, there materialized a… shield.

It was nothing like the translucent, softly glowing shield Instructor Barton had demonstrated.

It was almost pure black, devoid of any luster on its surface, as if forged from the purest, most concentrated dark matter.

It hung there silently, emitting neither light nor sound, yet it exuded a chilling, heart-stopping stillness capable of devouring every trace of surrounding light.

It resembled a miniature, solidified black hole.

Ella’s [Light Bullet] had already launched from her hand, soaring towards me with a gentle whisper through the air.

Under the horrified gazes of everyone present, that luminous [Light Bullet], the instant it contacted the black shield, neither detonated nor was repelled. It did not even emit the slightest whisper of sound.

It simply… vanished.

Like a snowflake dissolving into molten lava, it was utterly and silently consumed, annihilated by that abyssal shield of darkness.

The entire training grounds remained enveloped in a profound, deathly silence.

I slowly opened my eyes, just as the black shield quietly dissipated, as if it had never existed.

I gazed at the cherry-haired girl opposite me, who stood utterly frozen in place, her mouth slightly agape from sheer, overwhelming shock.

Then, with a tone so nonchalant it was as if I had merely crushed an ant, I spoke softly:

“…Too weak.”