(A/N I may have borrowed some elements for Waver's lecture from Bleaps Fate/World fic and OtakuDaiKun's magecraft videos on Youtube)
Normal POV
I took out my pen and notebook ready to take notes while Flat put his hand up to rest his chin on it.
I get your a bit of an enthusiastic air head Flat but seriously as a student you should take this seriously, I thought with a bit of sweat drop.
Waver clears his throat and started his lecture "well now where was I? We were discussing the nature of self-hypnosis at the start and now...Aha yes the subject of Mystery! Now Mystery as we know struggles to exist and the manipulation of mana has come to a decline ever since the age of Gods came to an end. Our current era is streamlined with modern technology and sciences. Humans have for the past few years unknowingly have started to decipher mystery and because of this it has grown weaker. In our time we are forced to understand the way things work as they are. Which as a result affects the mindset and belief of us magi and thereby rendering our spells less effective. Now of course one could consider isolation and not allow themselves too take in the information of what should be considered impossible as now possible. However!"
He spun on his heel smashing his chalk piece against the board spelling out the word 'TRUTH' in a giant bolded manner.
"Simply isolating yourself doesn't change what the rest of the world believes and thinks. The human psyche is wired to parse information in a certain way that would make self-isolation pointless. Because regardless of what you personally believe in, once you get even the barest minimal of social interaction all your efforts would be rendered null and pointless. So in conclusion Magecraft must always work alongside with science possibly even technology," the professor took a pause for breath.
Meanwhile I couldn't help but frown a bit.
While I understood that Magecraft requires the use or working alongside the field of science.
It just didn't really sit all that well with me.
In my opinion the way I've been treating magecraft and by default the little spells I've been performing have all been under the philosophy and mindset of.
'Even if the use of logic is used, mana was involved, mana is what allows me to act and use mystery, therefore when I act, access, or use a mystery. I am still technically using magic and for me someone who has never performed magic much less manipulated mana. The existence of what was once impossible in my old world was too amazing and mysterious no matter what logic was used. Because magic is magic in the end. Even if its not exactly 'true' magic'.
I tightened my grip on the pen, the words in my notebook blurring as my thoughts tangled with Waver's lecture.
No matter how much science tried to explain it, no matter how much logic was applied. The sheer existence of mana and mystery was something that defied my ordinary comprehension.
Yet regardless of whatever mindset I have the belief from the rest of Humanity will make any spells I perform still weaker.
My current mindset and beliefs alone means that the spells I use will certainly stronger than normal. But still quite weak because I am only just one person against the thoughts and beliefs of billions.
"BORINGGGG!" Flat suddenly interrupted the professor and had his arms crossed in a dramatic X symbol.
"Come on teach seriously...magecraft is supposed to be like 'Fwaaah!" and 'Hayahh!' Flat raised his palms as sparks of beautifully colored lights manifested.
The guy didn't even use a chant or anything he just did it! I mentally exclaimed.
How exactly did he do that?....Maybe I can ask him once class is over.
Although, asking someone how they perform their own magecraft or spell might offend them. Flat didn't seem like he'd get offended or anything though.
He actually kind of reminded me of those shounen protagonists like Naruto or Luffy who are always willing to help.
Yet are also incredibly idiotic and get into trouble all the time.
Meh I'll take a leap of faith and ask him anyway.
Class soon continued after Waver scolded Flat via by throwing a piece of chalk at him with perfect aim at his forehead.
.
.
.
Seconds turned into Minutes.
Minutes then finally turned into an hour.
By the time class was over my left hand was all cramped up from all the notetaking I did.
I packed up my things and slung my bag over my back "hey Flat wait up a second!" I called out to the blond who was about to leave "huh? Oh what's up Rai!" again he called me by that nickname.
Not that I minded just still a bit surprising at how quick he was to give me one.
"In class," I began carefully, lowering my voice a bit as students filtered past us in the hallway, "earlier... when you made those lights. You didn't chant, use a phrase, or a circle of any kind. You just sort of did it."
Flat blinked twice before eventually speaking "oh! That?" he said, waving a hand dismissively "yeah, that kinda stuff just happens."
Bro says what now?!
Is he seriously telling me that he just...ignored the rules?
"That's not normal bro," I said blankly.
Flat tilted his head, genuinely confused "it's not?"
I had to stop myself from groaning. "no it's really not. Even professor El-Melloi the second said when magecraft is performed. It either needs to connection with a foundation, structure of belief, or at least a defined system," I explained.
Flat hummed thoughtfully, rocking back on his heels "huh? I guess I don't really think about that stuff? I just imagine what I want to happen, then poke the magical energy around until it listens."
"You poke it?"
"Yup!"
My eye twitched.
Flat leaned closer conspiratorially, lowering his voice as well "see, most people use mana or Od like fuel, right? They pour it into a spell that already exists. Sort of like loading bullets into a gun someone else designed but is being borrowed by whoever is casting the spell."
He tapped his temple "but you see I don't really like using other people's guns."
That... was not where I expected this to go.
"So instead," Flat continued, blue eyes sparkling with excitement, "I make a new gun on the spot. Then I throw it away since it basically has a onetime use and make a new one that's similar to the original gun if I ever want to reuse something similar to it."
My breath hitched slightly.
"Wait so you're basically creating a new foundation every time?" I asked slowly.
Flat beamed "oh right! I forgot that's what it's called!"
That confirmed it.
Flat Escardos was doing the absurd casually.
"It's actually super fun to do since there's all sorts of things I can do with it!" he cheered.
I pinched the bridge of my nose.
This guy was basically a Potential Man although maybe less of a bum since I've yet to hear or see him bring out a 'with this sacred treasure.'
"So how do you know if the foundation would even work in the first place though? And just not produce any results at all" I asked quietly.
Flat's grin softened into something more focused "well it's sort of like a game code for me. I just do the mental formula, rearrange the instructions in the formula until I get a result that I want."
"Holy shit your a genius bro!" the guy just gave me several ideas that I could work with.
"I am? Man that's the first time someone's ever said that to me hehe," Flat laughed.
"I'd like to ask a couple more things, but I've got another class soon. Do you think we can exchange phone numbers?" I questioned.
"Oh yeah sure I don't mind…bro?" Flat said testing the phrase out.
Seemingly satisfied with the slang he pulled out his phone and exchanged numbers before he left.
I was about to leave myself when the familiar voice of Gray called out "wait Rigel!'
"Huh? Oh Gray what's up?" I inquired.
"Lord El-Melloi the second wanted to give you this, but you left before he could," she said extending out my official Clocktower ID card while adjusting her cloak so that no one saw her face.
Seriously how can someone look so cute like that? I mentally thought and then sighed soon after.
I sounded like a major simp when I said it like that didn't I?
"Sorry to inconvenience you like this Gray, I am sure you had other things to do," I apologized while pocketing the card.
Gray shook her head "n-no it wasn't much of a problem," she mumbled.
"Right well...if that's all," I trailed off a bit awkwardly.
"Wait um the professor also said to come by his office once you were done from your second class. You're going to start work today," Gray informed.
I shrugged "alright well I'll see ya you two there then," I waved her farewell and started to leave for my next class.
Only to realize.
I didn't know where the fuck I was going.
I turned back to see if Gray was still there, but she was gone.
"Shit," was all I could really say.
The stars weren't in my favor this time.
-end of chapter seven-
Next chapter covers a bit of a small lecture of Kabbalah or at least using what I know from OtakuDaiKun's video for it.
Keep in mind though I won't always be focusing on lectures and such stuff since I mainly want to focus on other things.
I am planning a bit of an original brief arc with the MC and Flat...it's going to involve lots of Death Loops and Suffering.
To clarify I made Gray 16 in this fic.
MC himself is only one year older and is 17.