Chapter 336 - General Elemental Magic Practice

Kai twirled his fingers, channeling a trickle of Water mana to get rid of the sweat. He had taken three wrong turns before getting here.

I must look like a mess. How do they even expect us to find the right hall without an indication?

The enchantments on his uniform should smooth the creases from the run, but he couldn’t entirely fix his disheveled appearance without a more flashy magic, and Valela had already locked eyes with him.

He thought he had done well memorizing the layout of the building—and he had—the problem was navigating the hallways and corridors inside. In the hurry to stick to his schedule and digest the deluge of information, he had forgotten they might have a lesson together.

Valela sat in one of the side rows, her auburn hair cascading on her shoulder, poised and prim like usual—no way to delay.

“Hey.” Kai scooted between the desks to reach her seat. The rows were arranged in only three levels on the hall's floor. “Did you keep a seat for me?” He asked with a teasing smile.

Valela pursed her lips, turning to tidy the pens and the textbook already set on her desk. The red volume sported a title in black letter on the cover and spine—Foundation of General Elemental Magic Practice I: by Rogulli Tan Teociis.

“I— It was empty.” Her stiff posture gave away her act. “I wasn’t sure you were in my same group for Elemental Practice. You can sit here, or look somewhere else.”

A head of golden curls giggled. “Of course, she kept a seat for you.” Lys leaned back in the chair beside Valela, watching him with a prim smile. “Hi, Mat. I always thought Raelion’s uniform was drab, but it looks good on you. Shows your arms.” She cupped a hand to whisper. “Most students have such spindly limbs, it’s disheartening. But tell me, how did your first day go? Any trouble finding the hall? I have a hot drink if you’re thirsty.”

Uh… Is this how it feels speaking to me?

Opting to ignore her comments, he gave her a nod while he tugged his jacket. Perhaps he should have asked for a less tight-fitting. “I’m fine, thank you.”

Renaria dipped her head in greeting in the last seat. “Good afternoon.” Behind her quiet demeanor, her teases were just as sharp.

Why did Hallowed Intuition not warn him of the danger?

Stupid skill. Of course, they’re in class together.

Kai considered using an excuse to escape. A strategic retreat might be less awkward than two hours beside them. He must have really been too tired not to notice.

“Are you not going to sit?” Lys rested her chin on a hand, batting her long eyelashes as she leaned on her desk to look at him. “You wouldn’t break my heart like that. Would you, Mat?”

“Yeah, never…” Kai put down his bag, resigned, as he sat down. “Thank you for keeping me a spot.”

“It’s really nothing,” Valela said, pulling a lock of hair behind her ear. “Not many people sit in the front rows in this class. But how did your first day go? When we enrolled, we had a week at the academy before the lectures. And it was still overwhelming. It must be worse for Winter Intake.”

“Well, the professors have been quite intense, but I can manage,” Kai shrugged as he massaged his writing hand beneath the table. “I just need to adapt to their pace.”

“They want to weed out the weak ones,” Lys said as she checked herself in a pocket mirror with a glossy pink case. “No one likes when the hallways are packed after an intake, professors included. I heard they’re intentionally harsher to make freshies drop out and slim the classes. Better to focus their efforts on those worth teaching. Well, unless you’re one of those new clueless students.” She innocently tilted her head at Valela’s stare. “What? I’m just being candid. You always say bitter truths are better than sweet lies. I’m sure Mat will pull through, right?”

“I will.” Kai gave a stiff smile and bent to take out his notebook, half the pages already filled with the morning lectures.

“If they admitted fewer students, they’d solve both issues,” Renaria dryly said as she leafed through the pages of her textbook.

“And not get their tuition fee?” Lys poured a steaming cup from a silver canteen, taking tiny sips. The drink smelled like a combination of chocolate and jasmine tea, although still appetizing. “How do you think they pay for our gourmet meals and the rewards of merit? Whether you’re expelled on the first day or make it through to the second year, once you set foot on the academy grounds, you pay the same.”

“Regardless, you shouldn’t say that on Mat’s first day,” Renaira gave a slight shake. “You’re being inconsiderate.”

“He doesn’t seem like someone who gets discouraged so easily…”

The two continued bickering among themselves. Valela looked torn between the desire to strangle them or sink into the floor. From the way she massaged her temples, this wasn’t an uncommon occurrence.

“Sorry,” she whispered. “Don’t pay any heed to what they say.”

“It’s fine,” Kai shrugged. “It doesn’t bother me.”

As long as they aren’t teasing me, it’s all good info.

“See!” Lys smiled triumphantly. “Mat appreciates my honesty!”

How did she hear me?

Renaria shook her head. “That’s not an excuse to—”

A silvery chime signaled the fourth hour of the afternoon. The chatter in the hall dropped to a few voices, including Lys and Renaria, who flipped open their textbooks, the arguments seemingly forgotten. Only some new students still whispered, slow to catch the changing atmosphere.

Is this course so bad? Or is the professor another hardass?

Kai looked at Valela. “How’s General Elemental Magic Practice? Anything I should know?” It was his first lecture that mixed the first-year intakes, so he didn’t know what to expect.

“Hmm, listen to the professor,” Valela said, looking relieved that the lesson was about to start. “The lecture shouldn't be too hard for you.”

“They’re actually awful. The professor is never satisfied. No matter how well you do, she’ll just rip apart your efforts.” Lys lifted her palm with a pious expression as if praying to the Moons for mercy. “To put you with us on the first day… You must have crossed a moonless bridge last night.” She gave him an empathetic look.

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“You’re exaggerating again,” Renaria said. “Professor Tho—”

The crisp staccato of steps cut off the rising argument. Kai turned to see a familiar face stride into the hall.

Oh…

“Apologies for the delay. Something requiring my attention came up. So I went to grab your academic texts.” Professor Thornwyn descended the stairs to the raised dais, carrying a tall pile of books in her arms that she deposited on the lecturer's desk.

Kai recognized the red spine as six more piles appeared beside the first. Most professors possessed a spatial artifact, though the mere fact that most were not all told of their rarity better than words could.

Invisible force, likely air, arranged the textbooks in neat piles. Professor Thornwyn took her seat and introduced herself in her calm, dry tone. “Welcome to the new students joining General Elemental Magic Practice. Since today we’re in a hall, we’ll go over a brief overview of the course before splitting into groups to assess your skills with some mana exercises. Expect a lot of shuffles in the classes in the first weeks, while we look for the class most suited for your development.”

Wait! Is there like… a class ranking?

Kai wrote down his questions and notes. Just explaining what they’d do, put Professor Thornwyn above half the other lecturers, with bonus points for having brought their coursebooks.

“Raise your hands if you don’t have a text.” The professor motioned at a group of senior students in the front row, who stood to hand out the pile of books.

Arm stretched high, Kai watched the girl distributing the textbook to his section of the hall, trying not to tap his foot. “Thank you.” He snatched the red volume from her hands just as she hinted to give it to him.

The girl murmured a stiff ‘you’re welcome’, moving past.

Some proper info at last.

Kai split his mind to follow the lesson and flip the book. The sharp and elegant letters in the index looked printed, though lacked the formulaic details and colorful images expected from textbooks on Earth.

Only black ink on crisp white paper, with a few simple drawings and diagrams in the latter half. The volume had two main sections: for general elemental theory and exercises magic elemental skills, respectively. Skimming the pages, he encountered a few unfamiliar technical terms, although he could deduce their meaning from the context.

Finally, a class where he understood the subject matter.

Of course, the practical course is still half theory.

The first section mixed basic physics with a sprinkle of superstitious notions, explaining the concepts associated with each affinity. The mutability of Water, the passion of Fire, the evolving balance of Nature, and a dozen chapters of more dubious nonsense.

Kai wasn’t sure how that knowledge would help cast spells, but the practical exercises looked much more interesting.

How did I not think of this…

He was used to weaving intricate constructs of unattuned mana for training. Why had he never thought of doing the same for Water Magic? The book showed hundreds of ways to shape the elements to improve his Magic skills, requiring no or minimal tools.

Am I an idiot or…?

Looking around the hall, a few new students worriedly skimmed the theory chapters, but not a single one seemed to care about the practical section.

Does everybody already do that? Really, again?

Kai was tempted to slap himself when a sliver of common sense stopped him.

Perhaps I’m not an idiot…

Elemental motes took longer to gather, and he didn’t know how—if it was possible—to reabsorb them once he cast a spell. Wasting Water mana for exercises was impractical, especially in the thin ambient essence of the archipelago, where he lived most of his life. When he wanted to test his skills, fighting beasts or exploring mana zones was always more effective.

And it wasn’t like he had never exercised his elemental skills. He just looked for a more utilitarian purpose—an ember of Fire to warm his palms, Water to meticulously wash the kitchen, Earth and Nature for building camps in the wild.

If I were born a rich patrician, exhausting my mana in convoluted shaping exercises might make more sense… maybe it’s even the only good way to train.

He had never been in the position to empty his reserves in his summer estate, casting concentric loops of water or building star-shaped trees.

Is that really how mages level their skills?

If such exercises could fill hundreds of pages in just one of Raelion’s coursebooks, these methods must be decently effective. It wasn’t bad that he’d never tried them before. The Guide rewarded new experiences, meaning they’d only be more effective for him.

“…only one of many fields of spellcraft. Regardless of the path you choose, mastering the foundations of elemental magic will offer inspiration.” Professor Thornwyn finished the explanation. “If everyone has received a textbook, we’ll try some simple exercises to test your proficiency.

“Your seniors already know how to split into the seven main elemental branches. Those with more than one major affinity can choose the one they’re most comfortable with. Today's showing won’t count towards your final grade, but it may affect future lessons. So do your best. If any of you specializes in an element outside the main branches, wait till I get to you. I’ll ask your seniors to show some patience guiding your newer peers. You can gain much insight from teaching someone. Start with the exercises on chapters twenty-seven and thirty-one till I pass to check on…”

The class began shuffling into seven groups with the ease of habit; some students went to the cabinets in the corner of the hall to take out bags of dirt, potted plants, mirrors and other tools. Only some new students stood around, looking lost.

“Already practice… The lesson barely began.” Lys raised a dainty hand to her chest with a forlorn look.

Valela quickly gathered her things. “I remember you complaining about the theory lecture last week. And you don’t even take notes.”

“That’s because your annotations are better than anything I could ever write.” Lys let out a light sigh that managed to sound both humble and dejected. “I can recognize when I’m outmatched. Instead of chasing the moons in a fruitless endeavor, I must play to my strengths.”

“Of course,” Valela said with a wry smile. “Unfortunately, I can’t cast spells for you.”

“Unfortunately…” Lys agreed. She unhurriedly stored her things in her spatial bag. The smaller hall let the students rearrange the desks without too much shuffling. “Truly, why must we practice those wearisome exercises in front of the class? I can’t wait to select my own courses. Though she’ll probably focus on the freshies today. What’s your affinity, Mat? I can offer some advice for Light Magic if we’re together.”

Huh… What do I pick?

“I’m best with Water.” Kai followed Valela, walking between the rows of desks. “I’ll be in the group with you, right?”

Ice belonged to the Water branch. He remembered reading that the highest affinity often swallowed the other elements in a branch. If someone possessed both Ice and Water, or Stone and Earth, they were almost always minor affinities.

“I—yes. We’ll be together,” Valela kept her gaze stiffly ahead. “I’ll do my best to explain. The shaping exercises seem tricky. But they aren’t much harder than what you’re used to once you understand how to approach them.”

“Thanks. I’m glad I’ll have someone to ask. I didn’t expect an exam on my first day.”

Valela pulled back a lock of auburn hair to give him a reassuring look. “Professor Thornwyn only wants to see where you’re at. I’m sure she won’t demand anything outrageous.”

Uh, hopefully jinxing doesn’t work by proxy…

“I’ll trust you then,” Kai said.

“You two enjoy the lesson.” Lys winked and strolled to join the students gathering around a set of tables filled with crystals and mirrors.

Renaria gave them a polite nod before heading towards the Fire Breathers. A boy was already casting a helix of flames in front of a line of awed students from Winter Intake.

Rob’s trick was more impressive. But it looks fun.

Sparks of magic soon filled the hall.

Kai and Valela joined the third-largest group, made up of about fifty Water Summoners. Despite the large number, most people stood in teams of five or less, with a clear distinction between the senior students already casting and the newbies gaping at the pages of their textbooks.

It was chapters twenty-seven and thirty-one…

He quickly found the page in his manual. There were twenty exercises in each chapter, though only eight were suitable for Water Magic.

This will be fun.