My Second Chance in Life in Another World-Chapter 55: THE ART OF BEING STRONG WITHOUT TRYING

"Why me?" I asked, my confusion evident in my voice and expression. Fia’s declaration still hadn’t sunk in, and her reasoning was unclear.

She tilted her head slightly, a playful smile tugging at her lips. "Well, you said you could learn from anyone, right?" she responded casually.

"Yes," I replied hesitantly, still unsure where this conversation was going.

"That means you have confidence in yourself. You must be strong," she said, her tone matter-of-fact.

Her conclusion baffled me. How did she arrive at that?

"You believe you’re capable of learning from anyone, which means you don’t rely on others to hold your hand. That kind of self-assurance only comes from strength. It’s why I’ve decided you’re the strongest one in this class."

Her explanation was straightforward, but it still didn’t make complete sense to me. There wasn’t any tangible evidence supporting her claim, and yet her conviction made it seem undeniable.

I opened my mouth to respond but stopped myself. Did it matter? If she wanted to teach me, wasn’t that a good thing? I was still wrapping my head around it when a sharp voice cut through the tension.

"Wait, sorry, but can I say something?"

I turned to see the dark-haired boy with glasses standing up from his seat, his expression a mixture of disbelief and frustration. He adjusted his glasses, the reflective glare hiding his eyes momentarily.

"Yes, what is it?" Fia asked, her voice calm yet curious as she turned her gaze toward him.

The boy straightened his posture, clearly determined to speak his mind. "I’m sorry if this seems rude, but you said that guy is the strongest here?" he asked, gesturing toward me with a sharp movement.

"Yes," Fia said simply, tilting her head as though puzzled by his question. "What’s the matter?"

"That guy just joined today, and moreover, he’s from the swordsmanship classes. I think—even as a teacher—you’re being disrespectful to the rest of us by saying he’s the strongest," the boy explained, his voice steady but laced with indignation.

The rest of the class murmured in agreement, their whispers creating an undercurrent of tension in the room.

"But he is, though," Fia said, her tone light and matter-of-fact as if she didn’t see what the fuss was about.

"Huh? As I said, he just joined today—"

The boy’s voice rose, but before he could finish, Fia interrupted him, her authoritative tone cutting through the room.

"I asked all of you earlier to raise your hands if you wanted to be my student," she said, her golden eyes sweeping across the room. "All of you raised your hands—except him. That means he’s confident enough in his abilities to learn without my teaching. And that confidence, that self-reliance, is what makes him the strongest here."

The room fell silent. The murmurs and complaints stopped as everyone processed her reasoning.

Her explanation clicked in my mind. Now I understood why she had called me the strongest. It wasn’t some magical ability to gauge strength, nor was it based on skill or raw power. It was her perspective, her way of thinking. In her eyes, my refusal to seek her guidance made me stand out.

However, her logic didn’t sit well with the boy. He clenched his fists, his frustration evident as he stood rigidly in place. "I won’t accept it. I still believe I am the most fitting to be your student," he said, his voice sharp with determination.

It was clear his pride was driving him, unwilling to let this decision go without a fight. His gaze flickered between Fia and me, as if willing her to reconsider.

I sighed inwardly. This was starting to escalate unnecessarily. Deciding to intervene, I raised my hand slightly to catch their attention. "Ma’am Fia," I began, hesitating for a moment before continuing. I didn’t know what to call her, so I opted for a respectful title. "As I said earlier, I don’t need your teaching. I can learn from anyone, so you can teach him instead."

There was a pause as my words hung in the air. I hoped this would diffuse the situation and give the boy what he wanted. After all, I hadn’t come here seeking the spotlight or the drama that now surrounded me.

"No, as I said, I’ll teach you myself." Fia’s voice cut through the air like a blade, her usual cheerful tone replaced by an unyielding seriousness. The shift in her demeanor was palpable, and the room seemed to shrink under the weight of her authority.

Her golden eyes scanned the room, her gaze sharp and commanding. "Listen, everyone. I’m the teacher, and you’re the students. I don’t care about your opinions on who’s the strongest or not. I’m here to do my job, and that includes deciding who I teach. Instructor Refu entrusted us with this responsibility, and I’m making the call. Do I make myself clear?"

The room was silent, the tension thick enough to cut. Even Fia’s classmates—fifth-year students who had entered with confidence—were stunned into quiet submission.

"Do I make myself clear?" she repeated, her voice firm, brooking no argument.

"Yes," came the unanimous reply, a collective surrender from the students.

The dark-haired boy with glasses, who had moments ago been ready to argue further, faltered under her gaze. His shoulders slumped, and he lowered his head, muttering something under his breath as he backed down. It was clear that Fia’s sudden seriousness had shaken him.

"Good," Fia said, the corners of her mouth lifting into a smile as her cheerful tone returned, as if her earlier display of authority had never happened. "Now, let’s not waste any more time. All of you, partner up quickly so we can get started."

The class obeyed, pairs forming almost instantly. The previous tension lingered, but no one dared to question her again. Soon, everyone was ready, and we exited the classroom, following Fia and her classmates as they led us to the training area.

The training field was located at the back of the fifth-year building, far from the bustling heart of the academy. The area was an expansive grassy field bordered by trees, its open space stretching to the horizon. This part of the island felt isolated, almost tranquil, as if it were a world apart from the academy’s structured halls and classrooms.

Fia stopped in the center of the field and turned to address us. Her golden hair glinted in the sunlight, giving her an almost otherworldly presence. "Alright, everyone, you can spread out, but don’t go too far. Stay within sight, and start your lesson. When the bell rings, that’ll signal the end of class. We’ll meet back here afterward. Understood?"

"Yes!" the students answered in unison.

With that, the pairs began dispersing across the field. Some headed toward the shade of trees, while others found open spots where they could practice without obstruction. Fia glanced at me and smiled. "Let’s find our spot, shall we?"

I nodded, following her as she walked a short distance away from the group. She stopped under the wide canopy of a large tree, its branches casting dappled shadows over the grass. "Here’s fine," she said brightly, dropping to the ground and leaning her back against the trunk.

I hesitated for a moment, unsure if I should sit as well. When she noticed my hesitation, she patted the ground beside her. "Why are you sitting so far? Come closer," she said with a playful smile.

Reluctantly, I moved closer, lowering myself to sit beside her. I kept a modest distance, but it was clear she wasn’t having any of it.

"Don’t be shy," she said, gesturing for me to sit closer still.

I shifted awkwardly, closing the gap between us. She seemed satisfied and leaned back against the tree with a relaxed demeanor. "Now, let’s start with introductions," she said, her voice light and friendly. "I’m Fia, an advanced earth magician. Nice to meet you."

Her words caught me off guard. An advanced earth magician? I knew she was talented—her reputation preceded her—but to hear it confirmed made me wonder just how strong she really was.

"I’m Will," I said, trying to keep my voice steady. "A first-year student. I haven’t learned any earth magic spells yet, so I hope you can help me. Nice to meet you."

Her golden eyes sparkled with recognition. "As I thought," she said, a hint of excitement creeping into her tone. "You’re Mister William’s son, aren’t you?"

My head snapped toward her, my surprise evident. "Huh? You know my father?"

"Of course," she replied, her smile widening. "Mister William is... someone very special to me."

"Special?" I asked again, tilting my head slightly.

Fia’s golden eyes softened as a small, nostalgic smile spread across her face. "Yeah, he once saved my life," she said, her tone quieter now, almost reverent.

Her expression changed as if she were momentarily lost in the memory, a mixture of gratitude and something deeper flickering across her face. It was clear that whatever had happened held a deep personal meaning for her.

Not wanting to press her, I decided to let it go. It was obvious she didn’t want to talk about the details, so I wouldn’t ask. "I won’t ask for the details, but how did you notice that I’m his son? Maybe you’re mistaking him for someone else? There are so many people named William, after all," I said, trying to inject a bit of lightness into the conversation.

Fia’s smile returned, this time more playful. "You have a similar face," she said simply. "So, I just thought it could be you. I also met him a while back, and he mentioned that his son was about to attend the academy. He asked me to keep an eye on you."

I blinked, surprised by her explanation. "Our faces aren’t similar, though," I said skeptically. My father and I didn’t share many physical traits—or so I thought.

"No, you’re very similar, if you ask me," she said with a nod, her voice firm as if there were no room for debate.

"Okay, okay, we’ll leave it at that," I said, raising my hands in mock surrender. "So, that means you owe my father, and he asked you to watch over me?"

"Yeah, that’s right," she answered with a bright smile.

"And is that why you paired up with me?" I asked, narrowing my eyes at her.

"Yeah, that’s right," she said again, her smile unwavering.

"And your explanation earlier about why I’m the strongest in the class?" I pressed, giving her a pointed look.

"Ah!" Her eyes widened slightly as if caught, and then she laughed—a light, carefree sound. "I just made it up."

I sighed, running a hand through my hair. "I thought so," I said in a monotone voice, feeling a mix of amusement and mild exasperation.

It was incredible how easily she had convinced me earlier. Her confidence had been so unwavering that I hadn’t even questioned it at the time.

"But," she continued, her tone shifting to one of sincerity, "I do think you’re the strongest in that class. You’re Mister William’s son, after all."

"You really look up to my father, huh?" I said, studying her face. The admiration she held for him was written all over her expression.

"With that, I now know who I’m supposed to watch over," she said, her voice soft but filled with a sense of purpose. She extended a hand to me with a warm smile. "I’m glad to make your acquaintance. You can come to me if you ever need help, Will."

I hesitated for only a moment before shaking her hand. "Yeah, I’m glad to make your acquaintance too, Miss Fia."

Her grip was firm but kind, a perfect reflection of her personality.

"Then," she said, clapping her hands together as if to signal a shift in focus, "let’s start our lesson now. Instructor Refu told me to show the first years how to cast rock bullet, but you’ve already learned it, right?"

I scratched the back of my head, feeling a bit sheepish. "I don’t even know the incantations yet," I admitted.

Her eyes widened in genuine surprise. "Eh? Is that so? Well, no worries!" she said, her cheerful tone returning. "That’s what I’m here for. Let me teach you."

She stood up and dusted off her robes, her movements fluid and confident. I followed suit, standing beside her as she began explaining the spell.

"First, let’s start with the basics of channeling earth magic," she said, gesturing toward the ground. "Earth magic is all about understanding stability and resilience. You’re drawing strength from the earth itself, so you need to connect with it."

As she spoke, she demonstrated the proper stance, grounding her feet firmly and closing her eyes for a moment as if feeling the earth beneath her.

I mirrored her movements, my feet sinking slightly into the soft grass. She adjusted my posture, her hands lightly tapping my shoulders and arms to correct my form.

"Good," she said with a nod. "Now, let’s move on to the incantation. For rock bullet, it’s a simple phrase: "Earth, hear my words. Gather your strength, form a weapon, and strike the foe!" But it’s not just about saying the words. You have to channel your mana while visualizing the spell. Imagine a piece of earth rising from the ground, forming into a projectile, and then launching forward."

She stepped back, raising her hand toward the ground. "Like this."

With a fluid motion, she cast the spell. A chunk of earth rose from the ground, compressed into a small, dense sphere, and shot forward with incredible speed. It hit a distant tree trunk with a dull thud, leaving a small dent in the bark.

"Your turn," she said, turning to me with an encouraging smile.

I took a deep breath, focusing on the ground beneath my feet. The incantation echoed in my mind as I tried to visualize the process. "Earth, hear my words. Gather your strength, form a weapon, and strike the foe!" I said, extending my hand.

At first, nothing happened. Fia watched patiently, her expression calm. "Try again," she said gently. "This time, focus on the connection. Feel the earth responding to your mana."

I closed my eyes, taking another deep breath. I imagined the earth shifting, responding to my will. "Earth, hear my words. Gather your strength, form a weapon, and strike the foe!" I said again, more confidently this time.

The ground trembled slightly, and a small clump of earth rose shakily before crumbling back down.

Fia clapped her hands. "That’s a great start! You’ve already begun channeling the magic. Now, let’s refine it."

Time flew by as we continued practicing. Fia’s guidance was clear and patient, and she never seemed frustrated, even when I struggled. By the time the bell rang, signaling the end of our session, I had managed to cast a rough version of rock bullet.

"Not bad for your first time," Fia said, her smile warm and encouraging. "You’ll get the hang of it soon."

"Thanks, Miss Fia," I said, feeling a sense of accomplishment.

We made our way back to the designated meeting spot where the other students were gathering. The air buzzed with chatter as everyone shared their experiences, but I couldn’t help feeling a bit of pride in my progress.