Courses at First University are divided into large classes and small classes based on the number of students attending; they are also categorized into university-wide courses and specialized courses according to their professional level; and further divided into compulsory courses and elective courses based on their importance.
Zheng Qing's class is Astronomy 08-1 Class, and correspondingly, Magic Writing Class is their specialized compulsory course.
History, derived from Magic Writing, belongs to the specialized elective courses—this means that the reading list for each new student in Astronomy 08-1 Class has subtle differences.
Another example is Philosophy of Magic, which is not mandatory in Alpha Academy and Starry Sky Academy, belonging to university-wide elective courses. To save teaching resources, the University arranges students from different academies or classes to attend these lectures together. These are large classes, sometimes with over a hundred students.
Yet another example is the upcoming Spell Class; every student at First University needs to earn enough credits in this course, making it a university-wide compulsory course.
All students attending this class belong to Astronomy 08-1 Class, making it a small class.
Upon receiving the warning from the pencil drawing behind the door, the chaotic atmosphere in the classroom slightly subsided.
Everyone returned to their seats and sat down quietly.
Zheng Qing curiously stared at the pencil drawing, wondering:
"How does it know the Professor is here?"
"It has been on the wall longer than many Professors, so it's not strange for it to know what a Professor looks like." Xiao Xiao closed his notebook and sat up a bit straighter: "Besides, do you think that drawing only has this one foothold?"
Zheng Qing nodded, half-understanding.
"Be grateful to our omnipotent seniors," Zhang Jixin said, shaking his head and patting his shoulder.
Zheng Qing sighed and refocused his attention on the open textbook in front of him.
He reviewed the incomprehensible characters again, trying to make one last effort before the teacher entered, to avoid looking too bad in class.
However, incomprehensible remained incomprehensible.
His gaze slid over the textbook, leaving no trace in his mind.
The classroom door was forcefully pushed open with a 'bang'.
A tall, thin figure strode onto the podium.
Zheng Qing looked up, nervously observing the imposing man.
This Professor wore a black robe, its hem fluttering, giving him a peculiar feeling. His complexion was sallow, and he had small but very dark and bright eyes. His face had many wrinkles of varying depths, and although his hair was somewhat sparse, it appeared smooth and shiny, perhaps from a lot of pomade or similar products. Although he was a bit hunched, the Professor's tall stature concealed this flaw, instead giving him a reliable feeling.
Perhaps forty, perhaps sixty, perhaps only Heaven knew his age.
Zheng Qing sat at his desk, chest out, his mind wandering.
"My name is Yao Xiaomi, and I am your counselor, also serving as your Spell Class Professor, and teaching Magic Philosophy to three classes, including yours."
The Male Wizard with a slicked-back hairstyle faced the new students in the classroom, casually waving his right hand, and the three large characters 'Yao Xiaomi' clearly appeared on the blackboard.
Without pausing, he continued in a smiling but very modulated tone:
"You can call me 'Lao Yao.' In fact, I am very pleased when students use such a casual address for me. However, I absolutely forbid any student from calling me 'Xiaomi,' or any derivatives such as 'Gaoliang' or 'Laomi'! This is a great disrespect to a Professor! The impact is extremely negative!"
As he spoke, his right hand made several heavy downward gestures, very much like politicians on television.
Zheng Qing couldn't help but twitch the corner of his mouth, and seeing Lao Yao's actions, a sense of ease suddenly filled his heart.
But many new students were still immersed in the sadness brought by the big news from not long ago.
The atmosphere in the classroom was a bit heavy.
Professor Yao raised an eyebrow in surprise:
"How strange! You are the first batch of new students who haven't laughed when hearing my self-introduction. The sigh of Melpomene, is there something I don't know? Don't make me Epimetheus."
The classroom remained silent.
Only Li Meng's faint sobs could be heard.
Zheng Qing looked at Xiao Xiao, his face a bit pale, as he horrifyingly realized he had understood most of the Professor's last sentence.
"Did the teacher just cast a Spell?" he whispered to Xiao Xiao.
The watermelon-haired boy drooped his head weakly, pushing his notebook in front of Zheng Qing.
"Melpomene, the Muse of Elegy, also known as the Muse of Tragedy; her sigh means 'it's simply a tragedy.' Epimetheus, the most foolish of the gods, means 'he who thinks afterwards.' These are two common sayings in the Wizarding World, not Spells."
Zheng Qing's heart, which had risen, returned to his stomach.
He had always worried that he wouldn't understand the University teachers' lectures.
It felt really good to have a living dictionary.
On the podium, Professor Yao placed his spell book on the lectern and slowly paced, walking up to Li Meng.
"What happened?" He gently patted the Little girl's head.
Li Meng, red-eyed and sobbing, answered brokenly: "Su... *hic*... Su Shijun... has... *hic*... has a child."
Zheng Qing buried his head on his desk, trying his best to avoid eye contact with others.
He wanted to plug his ears too.
Li Meng's words made him feel like he was having an 'embarrassment attack.'
He couldn't understand the Little girl's celebrity-chasing mentality.
Even less could he understand their mindset of intertwining fantasy and reality.
Professor Yao nodded thoughtfully:
"Everyone, don't worry or fret about Councilor Su's matter." The Professor slowly walked around the classroom, comforting them: "This matter, so far, is only vague news, and there's no clear statement yet. The University's October event has already invited Councilor Su as a guest, and then I'll have her explain it to you in person!"
As he spoke, the Professor Domineeringly waved his arm again.
"Will she come?" a new student asked quietly.
This was a somewhat disrespectful rhetorical question, but this doubt was swirling in every new student's mind.
Having an Upper Council Member of the Moonlight Council answer private questions in person for a group of new students seemed a bit absurd no matter how one thought about it.
"No problem!" Lao Yao answered with great certainty, returning to the podium: "I can confirm this much."
The gloom in the classroom gradually faded.
The news of being able to meet the Goddess face-to-face in October dispelled the nightmare of the Goddess having a child.
Vitality returned to these young people.
"Can I ask the Goddess to sign my clothes?"
"Can I give the Goddess a scarf?"
"Can I shake hands with the Goddess?"
"What clothes should I wear to meet the Goddess!"
Almost everyone began excitedly discussing the hypothetical events a month later.
Many began to meticulously plan every detail of meeting the Goddess.
Xin Fatty in front of Zheng Qing was even considering whether to lose tens of pounds to avoid leaving a bad impression on the Goddess.
Lao Yao smiled as he watched the chaotic classroom, without any intention of stopping them.
After a long while.
He cleared his throat lightly.
"Ahem." Professor Yao looked at the new students with a smile: "Aside from today's class, you still have four more classes this month."
The classroom immediately fell silent.
Everyone stared intently at the Professor, trying to understand his meaning.
"I will teach you two Spells this month. Only students who fully master these two Spells will receive tickets to the meet-and-greet."
Seeing that the classroom was about to descend into chaos again, Professor Yao raised his index finger and shook it slightly.
"Don't be disorderly." He shook his head slightly, a mischievous smile on his face: "Don't be disorderly."
"This month, you must show good performance. For example, good classroom discipline and excellent homework."
"This is a prerequisite for the meet-and-greet."
The classroom instantly became silent.
Zheng Qing noticed that several boys next to him even straightened their backs, trying to sit even more upright.
He swallowed, filled with admiration for the Professor's simple Move.
Lao Yao looked with satisfaction at the refreshed classroom atmosphere and resumed his lecture:
"Very good! I hope you maintain it."
"So, let's continue."
"This is your second class since entering First University."
"Put away your spell books. For the first month, you will mostly be adapting, perhaps with some experimental teaching, but overall, it won't be too difficult. So, everyone doesn't need to be too nervous."
Zheng Qing let out a heavy sigh, quickly put away the textbook beside him, and felt much more relaxed all over.
"You don't need to start learning immediately. You first need to adapt to this atmosphere, get to know your classmates, understand why you are here, and realize what you can gain here."