I last heard this name from Lingna on the ship, the little Crab-man.
"Your assignment was completed very well, far surpassing your peers on many problems."
Fisher pointed to her clean and tidy interface and said, "Especially the third question’s discussion on the essence of magic, this perspective is new to me; even I found it amazing. It turns out magic can be explained in this way."
In her third question, she regarded magic as a bridge of connection, distinctly different from how ordinary people consider magic as a tool to leverage the World Resonance. She interpreted the various parts of magic as different parts of a bridge: the direction, body, and foundation of the bridge are the components of the Magic Emblem.
Fisher guessed that this might be the marine demi-human perspective on magic. Although Moli had glossed it over with text, it still revealed a different worldview inherent to the Whale-man Species.
"Ah... I, I just read a lot of the works by predecessors... And then, thought of it that way..."
She explained nervously, fearing that Fisher might discover something amiss.
But Fisher didn’t seem to think in that direction at all; he smiled and said,
"Don’t be nervous; this is a good thing. It means you have an outstanding perspective and a gift for magic. But even so, I must criticize you for lending your assignment to others. You cannot do that again, understood?"
Startled by Fisher’s warning, she straightened up sharply and said a bit louder.
But after seeing Fisher’s surprised look due to her sudden loud answer, her face flushed as she covered her mouth and repeated more softly,
Fisher recovered from his surprise and said nonchalantly,
"That’s right, there are many parts of my assignments that need correcting, and I’m usually busy with other matters, so I’m considering finding a student assistant to help me with the grading and preparation of tutorials. In the tutorials, you’ll need to explain the assignments and address any confusion the students have."
"Of course, this isn’t asking you to help for free. I’ll pay you a salary according to the standards for assistants and can also teach you additional magic and demi-human knowledge... I remember, at the beginning of the semester you were the only one who submitted an application for the demi-human knowledge course I offer."
Here, Fisher’s true purpose became clear.
He seemed genuinely impressed by Moli’s magical talent and wanted to teach her further, while also alleviating some of his workload with correcting assignments—a common practice at both the Royal College and Saint Nali University. For example, Milica was competing to be Lao Fang’s literary assistant, helping her with routine assignments.
However, Fisher’s true aim was to use this opportunity to secure the elusive Whale-man Species he had encountered. He wanted to understand everything about the Whale-man Species, including how she disguised herself as a human and her purpose for coming ashore.
These secrets she kept deep within weren’t easily extracted by ordinary means; he needed an excuse to increase the chances of her slipping up, and offering the assistant position was perfect.
"Ah? But... but I..."
Moli instinctively wanted to refuse. She wasn’t the kind to seek the spotlight; too many people around, and she couldn’t even speak clearly. Under the sea, people generally didn’t talk much; everyone rested in the Sea Trench, and she was the most lively one. Now, having come ashore to be among humans, their enthusiasm made her shy instead.
But deep down, she wanted to accept the offer.
She was curious about everything human. She found humans friendly and creative, creating many beautiful things including their magic, buildings, operas, and most importantly, those delicious foods!
"What’s wrong? Are you afraid of teaching in front of the students?"
Her face turned red as she nodded lightly, clearly hit by Fisher’s insight.
"Well, we can put off the tutorial sessions for now, but I think you should try to develop this skill."
He gathered their assignments back into the bags, and perhaps there was something on his mind when he suddenly said,
"The lack of oral expression could cause you to miss the chance to convey your true thoughts and emotions. While it might seem trivial at the moment, in the end, they all turn into regrets that stay in your heart for a lifetime. This is a sincere piece of advice... So, what is your decision? Can you tell me?"
But Moli lifted her head because of that simple sentence. As if moved by Fisher’s words, she struggled for several seconds before nodding tentatively and responded,