�Yay! What�s the question? Hurry up and quiz us!�

Curious, Shirone listened.

�What talent do you need the most when learning magic?�

There was a pause.

It was quite a subjective question in Shirone�s opinion, but those children were recognized for their magical talents. They came up with answers, one after another.

�Effort. Magic is so extensive that you won�t be able to learn everything, even if you study your whole life. So effort is important.�

In addition, there were other plausible answers�such as concentration and memory, but none really reached the headmaster.

He was probably harboring a smile of recognition.

�Money. You would need to buy a lot of stuff in order to learn magic.�

The children burst into laughter, and the headmaster�s laughter was also mixed in.

�If it�s neither effort, knowledge, nor money� Then what talent do you need the most to learn magic?�

At last the headmaster spoke.

�The most important talent for learning magic is perspicacity. This is more simply known as insight.�

A second pause.

�What is an �insight�?�

The headmaster made a groaning sound, but soon explained with a kind tone of voice.

�Insight is more accurate than knowledge, and faster than effort.�

�Woah! Then that�s like, the greatest magic.�

�Haha! I guess it could be seen that way. No, you�re right. All magic that exists in the world began with insight. Let me give you an example. Do you know what one plus one is?�

�Of course it�s two.�

The children answered in unison, as if they were wondering how he could ask such a question.

�I see. Can you explain�why�one plus one equals 2?�

�Huh? Of course��

The children said nothing.

They couldn�t figure out where to start, what to explain, and how to explain it.

Alpheas smiled.

�That strange feeling you feel now is �insight�. Long ago, there was a time when you didn�t know that one plus one equals two. But it�s been verified with a lot of knowledge and effort combined. But don�t you guys understand perfectly that one plus one equals two, without going through that process?�

Shirone slowly immersed himself in the story.

�Magic is a phenomenon that exists from scratch. Like the way that you know the answer is two, even when you didn�t know that one plus one equals two. The way someone puts effort and knowledge to figure it out, and the way someone, like you guys, comes to understand and realize it naturally. As such, insight is the quickest way to understand certain rules.�

�So that means we don�t have to study or try?� JrNovels.com