"Hmmmaah." When I finally flop back onto my bed after putting my backpack away, I'm rather tired. Not because the books in my bag were so heavy, mind you
Rather, it was because I had a bit of a fight at the gate to the academy. By the time I had managed to get back, the gate was already closed. And the only reason they ended up letting me in was because of the fact that I was from the prestige class.
But before I proved this by showing them the emblem and telling them my name. They accused me of being some kind of thug who stole the uniform of a student in the city.
They even almost drew their weapons on me. Before I managed to de-escalate the situation by explaining myself and proving my identity. "That was tiring. For a second there, things looked bad."
It's no wonder, then, that I go right to bed after putting my things away and taking a quick shower. Skipping dinner entirely since it's already late and I have to get up tomorrow. `Don't wanna be late. Don't wanna lose points I can't afford to lose.`
My lights go out and come back on in what feels like the same breath. But it was morning now. So I get up and do my morning rituals with a yawn.
The morning passed by relatively uneventfully. I take my bath. Dress. Go eat breakfast. And then grab my books to go to class. The bookbag I received from the academy is slightly heavier than it was yesterday.
About three books heavier. Since I figured keeping them on me was the smart choice. We hadn't yet used any of the books. But I'm sure that would change either today or soon.
So I arrive at the class, sure in the knowledge that I have everything I need. Picking the same spot I sat in yesterday. In the upper left half of the room.
I'm not all the way in the left corner or anything. `I'm not an anime protagonist.` I sit just far enough back not to bother anyone else. Yet still close enough to at least appear like I want to participate in the class.
But the surrounding seats do remain empty today as well. Despite no one saying anything rude or sneering at me anymore. I remain alone in the back left of the room. Which is fine by me. I appreciate the peace.
Well. I'm alone until the door opens again. And a certain princess walks in.
Elira scans the room with her sharp red eyes once before walking right towards me. Without a word. She just sits down right next to me with a stiff, regal posture.
The complete opposite of my own relaxed, easy posture. "Good morning." I greet her with a casual nod before I go back to reading the textbook in front of me. She doesn't seem all too eager to have a conversation.
Not that I mind. It was entertaining enough to me that she chose to sit next to me. `Does she feel the need to pay me back somehow after what happened yesterday? Should I tell her to just ease off since I don't want anything?`
I'm still pondering if I should just tell her that it was alright and she didn't owe me anything when Calveth walked into class. Starting the class and drawing my attention away from my new seatmate.
The staff in his hand clicks against the floor as he walks into the middle of the room. "Good morning, Adepts." He begins as he takes the stage with an air of authority. Undoubtedly, he is more in his element today than he was yesterday.
"Yesterday, we did a review of the exam and spoke at length about administrative things. So we had no time to tackle any of the subjects I will teach you from today on forward. But today we will begin our classes in earnest." He was a professor first and foremost, after all.
So, of course, the thing he does best is teach others the subjects he knows. "We will begin today with a two-hour lecture on Circlecraft." And he wastes no time getting right into things.
Launching into a two-hour explanation on Circlecraft that barely lets me catch my breath. Really showing that this is the elite. There will be no hand-holding. You either swim or you drown.
Fortunately, even just thrashing around wildly can sometimes keep you above water. At least that's what I feel like at the beginning. I barely understand what is going on. Struggling to filter out all the useful information.
Only walking away from the first two hours of real classes with a slightly better understanding of the basics of magic. How Runes are only the first step of the equation that is magic.
Magic works by manipulating raw mana within the body and channeling it through the mind. And the better one understands the fundamental forces behind whatever magic one attempts to use, the easier and more readily it can be manipulated.
For example. If someone knows the chemical process behind how fire is created and sustained, it is then easier for said person to wield pyromancy. Because said person can choose the right runes for what he wants to do.
All of this is, of course, expressed through magic circles and runes. Runes are the fundamental and basic version of a magic circle.
Each rune represents a letter of the language of the thirteen stars. And there are different runes for each of the stars.
Tying runes together in a magic circle allows you to fine-tune what you want the mana to do.
The more intricate and detailed the mana circle is, the easier and more refined the use of mana. Allowing even someone with bad potential to cast higher-level spells as long as he can map out the magic circle in his mind and provide the necessary mana.
Which, in turn, makes visualization and clarity of mind one of the most powerful tools a mage can have. Usually, the calmer and more focused the mind, the better the circle or the clearer the rune. And that, in turn, makes it easier to cast the spell with minimal use of Mana.
There is still more to this, of course. Like how runes interact within magical circles and how the proximity of one rune to another can change how it behaves in the circle. But I'm overwhelmed just trying to understand the introduction Claveth gave us on this subject.
Although one thing I managed to filter out of the lecture does give me a little hope. And that is, of course, the fact that someone who understands chemistry and physics has a clear advantage here.
`Yep. That's me, alright.` My knowledge about how the fundamental forces of the universe work was definitely above average in this world. Hell. It was above average back on Earth.
So I'm not completely lost during the next two hours of classes. Since that is exactly what we talk about next. "We will spend the next two hours on understanding elemental principles." After the first fifteen-minute break, Calveth goes right into the next topic.
"This topic might appear deceptively simple and maybe even boring to some of you." He starts. His words caused me to raise an eyebrow at him. `No?` I think with a quirked eyebrow. Though he is obviously not referring to me here.
Which becomes clear with his next few sentences. "But do not slack off. You have already seen what a good understanding of the principles I'm going to teach you in this subject will allow you to do. Especially after Adept Blackwell's explanations yesterday."
A little grin spreads on my lips at his words. I also lean back in my chair a bit more. Confident that what comes next isn't going to be all that difficult. At least not as difficult as the first two hours of today.
And I'm proven right. In fact, the next two hours are spent on elementary school-level chemistry. Of course, not everyone struggles with the topic. But I do genuinely see three or four people struggle with understanding the things Calveth talks about.
`Ehhh. Not like I can blame them for not knowing this. Half the people on earth with an education don't know this stuff. And that is with a device in their pocket that allows them access to almost all the knowledge we have.` I think in passing during those two hours.
Then it's time for lunch. Where I load up my plate with a lot more sugary treats than usual. Since my brain will need all the energy it can get. `The next topics probably won't be that easy.`
Before it's time for the afternoon classes. Where I get a lot more opportunities to actually use my brain. And my hands. Mostly my hands, really. The next two hours are spent on the topic of runes, after all.
And I try my best to note down each rune Calveth mentions or brings up on a separate piece of paper besides the books. For myself. With short explanations on what each one means and does, as well as how they interact with each other. For later reference.
Something Elira does not do. Probably because she knows all these runes already. But then again, I have been noticing that she rarely takes notes. Like she simply remembers or already knows everything Calveth is talking about.
Which is not impossible, considering she came in fourth out of everyone in the school; she must be ahead by a good bit. At least compared to some peasant like me.
The funniest thing to me, however, is that despite my constant scribbling. And the hums and hahs I let out, she never admonishes me. She just silently sits beside me in her stiff way. Staring down Calveth when he speaks with an almost unnerving intensity.
Only getting up when the bell rings. Rising in one smooth motion before quickly leaving. To God knows where. And returning only right before the bell rings again. Just to sit back down next to me without a word.
This whole phenomenon happened exactly four times today before classes were finally over. Only when the final bell rings does she linger for a moment after getting up. Looking at me with an almost expectant expression.
But I'm wiped from the day. I don't even have the brainpower left to guess what she wants from me. "Good work today, girlie. See ya." So that's all I say before walking past her and shambling out of class.
To my dorm room, where I can thankfully take a short break without anyone possibly deducting points for terrible posture or bad behavior. "Ahh. Get up. Come on." Not that I take a long break.
Before long, I'm back up on my feet and moving around again. Today really taught me that I can't afford to laze around, after all. So I shake my exhaustion off and get to work.
Doing my homework on Circlecraft as fast as possible before I allow my brain a break. `By torturing my body instead. With some horrible training. Some truly vile-`
I keep the workout fairly simple. Just doing exercises in my room that are easy to do without any equipment. Push-ups, sit-ups. Those kinds of things. Mind you, I don't take it easy on myself.
But I know better than to train until I collapse. This simple workout is more than enough to put this body through the wringer. So after only about an hour and a half, I stop exercising.
Take a shower. Eat dinner. And go back to studying. Trying to absorb as much of the knowledge I learned today while also trying to cram more new things into my head. To mixed results.
I do still remember the broad strokes of everything I heard and read yesterday by the time I wake up in the morning. Not all the details, but the important bits are easy to recall.
Which was good enough for me. As long as I could explain something in my own words, the details would resurface if I needed them. All I'd have to do is think hard about something to remember. That is how it has always been for me.
And that is what I do throughout the morning. I randomly try to explain concepts I learned yesterday to myself in my own words. To see how many details of the topic I can recall off the top of my head.
Until classes start, of course. Then I focus my attention back on absorbing new knowledge. Today's subjects are even more difficult and new for me to understand, after all.
Right at the start of the day, Calveth tells us that we will delve into three topics today. Runic Syntax. Spellcraft. And the whole afternoon is spent on Anatomy for Mages.
Runic syntax is the art of conditional logic in Circles. The "if this, then that" logic in magic circle design. Something we've already started to discuss yesterday when we talked about runes and how they interact with each other. But haven't delved deep into it until now.
Spellcraft is a bit easier for me to get. Since it's simple and logical. Yet it's no less complex to keep up with. Especially because I still don't know a lot of the runes for the spells we discuss and attempt to modify.
At least the textbook for Spellcraft really does come in handy. Since all the magical circles we discuss are in the book. With instructions on how to modify them. So even when I'm called on for questions, I can just read the instructions on the page.
I'm glad that I bought a second copy of it. Just in case. I'm also glad I bought a copy of the textbook for Anatomy of Mages. But that's for a different reason.
"Adept Keldra. Where is your textbook for this subject?" While I was just getting ready to get my ass beat by a full four hours of a topic I had no idea about. I see someone else has a worse day than me for a change.
It was that black-haired girl from the first floor of the cafeteria. The one I assumed is a scholarship student. Apparently, she forgot to bring her textbook for this subject.
"Forgive me, Professor. I forgot to bring my textbook with me today. I promise it won't happen again." She explains to snickers from others. Sounding genuinely contrite for her mistake.
A sigh escaped me at that. Before I look over at my bag, where I know I have the second-hand copy. Not that I hesitate at all. I'm already reaching for it by the time Claveth speaks again. Ready to meddle if it comes to it.
"Adept Keldra. This is unacceptable. Every student of Oridalis Academy should have every textbook with them during school hours. I will have to deduct some points for this tardiness." What Calveth said would happen was, indeed, happening. He really was about to deduct some of her points for simply forgetting a book once.
That is, until I speak up. "She can have mine. I got a spare anyway." I explain as I get up and walk over to Calveth and the girl called Keldra. Showing Calveth that I really do have two copies before handing her the new textbook, while I keep the spare one.
"Give it back later. Or keep it. I don't really care." I add with a shrug before I return to my seat. Since I really don't care if she keeps it at this point. `Ehh. This is as good a use as I would have probably gotten out of it myself. So this is fine.`
The class continues on after this little hiccup without much issue. Though, as I assumed. I get my ass beat by this topic. Anatomy of a Mage is all about internal mana pathways and how they relate to the physical body.
Or differently put, it's actual anatomy. Something I was never particularly good at, since it's very much a topic where you just have to memorize things. And I hate just blandly memorizing things.
`Bruh. If I wanted to play memory, I would.` I think with a deep sigh as I drag my body back to my dorm after another long day of classes. Knowing that this is only the beginning of things.
`We haven't even talked about every subject yet. But I'm already cooked, broiled, sauteed, and roasted.` Yet despite my own thoughts trying to drag me down, I force myself to learn for the rest of the evening.
Giving my body a break from working out since recovery is just as important as hitting the weights. Instead, I opted to spend the rest of the day with my nose to the books. Doing my homework and then self-studying for the rest of the evening.
Reading long into the night after dinner. So absorbed in the material, I don't even take a shower before I go to sleep. Not that I even needed one. Today I didn't train, so I wasn't sweaty. So my usual morning bath would be more than enough to stay clean.
My last thoughts about baths and bath bombs before I zonk out for the night.