Chapter 68: Strong

“​So today we are going to study about the other nations surrounding the Empire and their residents—which are dwarves, gremlins, and elves.”

​Mark's words sent a wave of shock rippling across the classroom, answered by collective gasps of utter disbelief.

​“You mean they really exist? Like the ones in fairy tales?” Martha spoke up, her voice laced with astonishment.

​’So they actually exist’, William thought, leaning forward in his desk. ‘Well, I knew about the dwarves ever since Trojjan told me he was a half-dwarf... but the others exist as well?’

​Before the quiet murmurings could settle, another student interrupted William's thoughts. “Then if they really exist, how come we only ever hear about them in fairy tales?”

​Mark offered a faint, knowing smile. “Well, that's precisely what I am going to explain to you now.”

​He turned back toward the blackboard, pulling a fresh piece of chalk from his satchel.

​​“The answer is simple: distance, isolation, and strict royal control,” Mark explained, holding up three fingers. “Let me break them down one by one.”

​He tapped his first finger. “First, the sheer distance. The journey between these nations is so immense that it could easily take a normal person decades to complete—assuming they don't meet a grim end to an accident or mishap along the way.”

​Mark tapped his second finger. “Second, isolation. If you recall our very first class, I mentioned that this world contains zones with unusually high concentrations of mana. These dense mana areas act as natural buffers situated directly between the Empire and foreign lands, and their respective rulers heavily guard them.”

​He tapped his third finger. “And lastly, royal control. While traversing these barriers is extraordinarily difficult, it isn't impossible. However, the methods and routes required to undertake such travel are secrets strictly guarded by the Royal Family. To put it in perspective, even as a mage bound to serve the Crown, my own chances of ever seeing a non-human are slim to none.”

Mark drew a crude sketch of the continent across the blackboard, placing the Krassius Empire at its vast center.

​“Let us start in the South,” Mark began, gesturing toward the bottom of the map. “Here lies the dwarven nation of Ironfell—named as such because it was established inside a massive crater formed where an immense iron stone fell from the sky eons ago.”

​He drew a jagged, menacing line separating the southern border of the Empire from Ironfell.

​“The boundary between the Krassius Empire and Ironfell is defined by the Eternal Thundering Mountains,” Mark explained, tapping the chalk against the drawn peaks. “These mountains are shrouded in violent thunderstorms all year round. Legend says the barrier is guarded by a Lightning Elemental King, who is directly responsible for sustaining those eternal storms.”

​Mark turned back to face the class. “The primary inhabitants of Ironfell are dwarves and gremlins. The common descriptions of dwarves found in your fairy tales are actually quite accurate: they are short and rough-looking, but physically far stronger than any human. They possess an extraordinary natural gift for forging and crafting—making dwarven weapons the finest arms available anywhere in the world.”

​A few whispers arose among the students, but they quickly quieted down as Mark resumed speaking.

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​“If you recall the awakening statistics for human mages, the odds are quite similar among dwarves,” Mark explained, drawing a comparison on the board. “However, the odds of a knight awakening among them are far higher. Roughly one in every ten dwarves is a capable knight—or what they call a Shield Bearer.”

​He tapped the chalk against the board for emphasis. “The key difference lies in their combat style. Where human knights prioritize speed and agility, Dwarven Shield Bearers possess ridiculous physical strength and defense, making them literal living fortresses.”

​Mark shifted his chalk toward the secondary inhabitants of the region. “As for the other residents of Ironfell, the gremlins... fairy tales often portray them as toddler-sized, mischievous thieves. In reality, that is completely false. They are master builders who specialize in crafting complex magic equipment, such as staffs, spatial bags, and various enchanted accessories. Despite making up less than one-tenth of the population, both dwarves and gremlins exist in a mutually beneficial alliance,” Mark continued, tapping his chalk against the southern region. “Gremlins hold highly respected positions throughout the Kingdom of Ironfell, with the most prominent serving as the Chief Advisor to the Dwarven King himself.”

​Mark stopped for a moment, letting the students digest the political structure before pulling his chalk across the board. He drew a thick, veiled barrier separating the western edge of the Empire—right along the border of the Elderwoods.

​“Now, to the West,” Mark said, pointing to the heart of the ancient forest. “Deep within the core of the Elderwoods lies the Forest of Mist—a realm perpetually blanketed in dense fog and treacherous illusions. It is guarded by a Mist Dragon, the creature directly responsible for sustaining the magical veil. And hidden securely behind that mist lies the sovereign country of the elves: the Elven High Court.” Mark turned back toward the students, offering an embarrassed smile as he rubbed the back of his neck.

​“As for the elves... to be completely frank, most of the information we possess about them actually does come from fairy tales. Elves are highly reclusive by nature, so seeing one outside the Elven High Court is nearly impossible. Because their realm is nestled deep within the largest forest on the continent, they have an endless abundance of rare magical plants and beasts. This directly fuels their extraordinary alchemical talents. Elves are the most skilled potion makers on the continent—and to be completely honest, most of the potions used by human nations are merely crude, working imitations of true elven alchemy.”

​He gestured toward the western edge of the blackboard. “Stories speak of their otherworldly beauty, long pointed ears, supreme mastery of magic, and various other legends. However, the few imperial diplomats who have actually met them all share a single consensus: even those glowing fairy tales fail to do them justice.”

​He tapped the chalk against the western region of the map.

​“The Elven High Court holds the smallest population of any nation on the continent—numbering roughly around twenty-five thousand in total. However, elves are uniquely loved by Mana. This means that every single elf ever born possesses the innate potential to awaken. For an elf, becoming a Mage or a Ranger—their specialized profession built on innate forestry and deadly archery—is purely a matter of personal choice rather than opportunity.”

“​But that's just cheating!” Caleb spoke up, leaning forward in his seat. “I mean, the dwarves have greater physiques and the best weapons, while every single elf can become a mage and they have the best potions... but we have nothing like that!”

​Low, deep murmurs rippled across the room as the rest of the class nodded in agreement, feeling the exact same sting of unfairness.

​’He's right,’William thought, staring down at his hands. ‘Only one out of every thousand humans can ever awaken as a mage, but elves are simply born with it…’

​His spiraling thoughts were abruptly cut short by Mark's voice.

​“Oh, you don't even know the half of it,” Mark interjected with a slight smirk. “Even ordinary dwarves can live up to two hundred years, while elves can live up to a millennium. So, if all of that is true, have any of you stopped to think about why humans are strong?”

​Mark paused, taking a slow step toward the center of the platform to gather every single student's undivided attention.

​“It's true—dwarves possess unmatched physiques and superior weapons. Elves possess overwhelming magical potential and an entire millennium to master their crafts. They are strong because of what they all have something.”

​Mark stopped for a second, letting his sharp gaze sweep over the silent classroom before delivering his answer.

​“But humans? Humanity is strong precisely because we don't.”