Arc 3-Initiate-Part 21
I’m a little surprised that my first class is held on an open field beside the Foundation Hall, the center for acolytes focused on sharpening their martial prowess. The people hanging around the imposingly and honestly unattractive gray block of a building all wear polished armor, weapons attached to their waists and slung over their shoulders.
On one of the fields, a man covered in what looks like armor made of scales is shouting at a group of over forty acolytes, each standing perfectly still in parade lines, expressions blank as they take the verbal tirade. Another field shows combat training underway. This is a little hard to connect to a place I consider a center of magic. Saints know I won’t be doing this crap once I’m done with mandatory Foundation I.
Wait. Kierra’s going to drag into more of this nonsense, isn’t she? Oh, no. These crazy people have been up even earlier than , sweating first thing in the morning. I can’t let that be my future!
Reaching the field designated for initiates on my schedule, I spot my fellows and banish my negative thoughts.
The first thing I notice is that they are young. I’m pushing twenty while most of the brats in front of can barely be fifteen, though there’s a few older dogs like .
The second thing is that most of them are nobles. I can tell from the scowls on their faces at the early hour and their unpractical clothing, especially the girls.
A few are hard to place being very composed and well prepared. Of those, a girl dressed in light armor stands out the most. Mainly because she has short hair. Noblewon don’t do that but she doesn’t shrink away from the others, making think she’s noble born after all.
The last thing is that none of them are particularly impressive. I don’t know what I was expecting from a gathering of the kingdom’s supposed geniuses. Maybe for them to glow with an inner light. Sothing…special.
In the end, they’re simply n and won. Boys and girls, really. Flesh and blood mortals. It makes feel imnsely better about learning with and, at the heart of it, competing against them.
I stomp onto the field wearing a big smile, a little excited. With my elentals with , I draw attention. So of it very unwanted as a few hungry eyes latch onto Geneva. I draw a few more eyes when I casually sit down on the grass.
Idiots making themselves uncomfortable because they’re too good to take a seat. I bet the early birds who rushed here to impress or out of fear are feeling especially upset, seeing as the teacher is nowhere in sight.
“Shaful.”
I turn my head to see one of the girls staring down at with clear disdain. A fine example of pride and repeated teachings of superiority forging an obnoxious personality. Who wears such a heavy dress this early? And doesn’t she understand that we’re going to have Foundation before she has ti to change? Kierra is going to destroy her if she has the distinct misfortune of being in my wife’s class. But for now…
“The first thing you should say to a person is a greeting. Or did you miss that lesson in etiquette?”
She sniffs. “I don’t need to be spoken to of etiquette from soone willing to roll around in the mud. Your family should be ashad for raising such an animal.”
An animal? Saints witness, I’m sitting cross-legged on a patch of grass and that makes an animal? This is why I never got along with the other children.
Snorting, I stretch out on my side, propping my head up with a hand. No, better idea. Geneva, co here.
Seeing what I want in my mind, she sits back on her heels beside . I roll so my head is on her thighs, letting out a comfortable sigh. “Well, I’ll lie here comfortable in my sha while you spend the hour standing with your pride intact. See how that works out for you.”
She turns away from in disgust. Sweeping my gaze over the crowd, about half are of her sa opinion. Most of the other half don’t seem to care or are purposely not getting involved, their gazes firmly looking at anything besides us.
I do have one comrade. The girl with the short hair and light armor. Moving a little closer to , she sits down cross-legged. I wave and she gives a brisk nod. Look at that, made a friend already. Well, the gesture wasn’t quite friendly but here’s to hope.
The princess wannabe is doubly annoyed now that the savages have multiplied. With the look she’s giving , I wouldn’t be surprised if she’s sizing up her chances of taking us out before the teacher arrives. A suspicion confird by Bell, who straightens up from her lounging place by my ankles to give the girl a scowl.
Luckily, our teacher arrives before she can work up the courage. At least, I’m pretty sure it’s the teacher.
The young man wearing the sa kind of expensive robe as Aurelius, damn him, but it’s deep red instead of silver. His long dark hair hangs straight down his back, a silver headband keeping it out of his face. Half a dozen bead necklaces hang on his neck and his collar is undone, exposing a bit of his pale chest. Jeez, I’ve seen noble girls less…grood than him.
“Hello, new initiates.” He puts his hands together and bows to us. “My na is Mano. It is an honor to be the one to welco you to your new lives here at the Grand Hall. Today, we take the first steps on your new journey of magic.”
I can’t see a hint of deception in that smile. He’s genuinely excited to be teaching us, I think. Reassures my slight nerves. This isn’t a tutor who can’t say one thing to if they want their salary paid. This is an esteed institution. My previous work ethic will get a good dose of embarrassnt and perhaps kicked out. One more thing driving to succeed.
“As you all know, this is Mana Work. Here we will practice using pure mana.” He raises a hand palm up and wisps of red mana curl up from his fingertips. “I’m sure you’re wondering how useful mana in its pure form can be, as opposed to a solid earth wall or burning fire. There are many things but for those of your level, we will focus on the most imdiate benefits. One, it makes you more sensitive to the use of mana. Seeing is believing and a caster is nothing if they can’t prove their spells. So, if you six would group together. Stand close now, backs facing us.”
The chosen initiates follow his instruction, the rest of us watching their uncomfortable shuffling with amusent and curiosity.
“Now, one of you form a spell. Don’t release it.”
There’s a mont of silence as Mano waits for them. Then he quickly steps forward and taps a young guy on his shoulder who turns with wide eyes. Wide eyes that are glowing.
Wow. He just picked out soone trying to cast without seeing them. That’s incredible. And one of the most valuable skills to defend against an enemy caster. Why didn’t my tutors teach this? I would have never been caught by Crowley Cain or anyone like him.
I feel like Father took the cheap route when it ca to my educators.
“Sensing the mana around you is not a hard technique but it does require diligence. Now, the second effect which I’m sure you all will appreciate much more, is that active practice manipulating pure mana is the best way to grow your mana pool, increasing your mana coefficient.”
Yes, definite appreciation there. His words have everyone paying rapt attention now if they weren’t before.
Mano nods. “Then let’s get right into it. You will be remaining still for a long ti so I suggest everyone get comfortable.” His eyes go to and we share a grin.
The others shuffle about. So give in to their dark desires and sit on the grass, wincing at the thought of their expensive clothes. A few remain stubborn, including the little princess who berated at the start, standing while giving us looks filled with disdain.
Mano does nothing to correct them. “The first step is simply being aware of your mana’s flow.” A finger touches his chest. “The core is right beside the heart and pumps alongside it. Out to the shoulders and along the arms. Pooling in the navel before flowing down to the legs. Along the spine to the crown of the head.” A finger moves demonstratively as he speaks. “And hundreds of branches to reach every part of the body. The body does this naturally. Feel it. Then follow it.”
Mano sits down on the grass and closes his eyes, taking deep breaths. I try copying him, closing my eyes while focusing on my heart. It’s fairly easy to feel my mana core but as for the rest of it, my mind is drawing a blank. I doubt it’s ant to be sothing imdiately picked up. I understand that, really.
But it’s hard to stay focused on literally nothing. My feet start to twitch as I struggle to keep feeling for…whatever I’m supposed to be feeling.
[Would you like to intervene?]
Please do!
She chuckles. [And you were so excited to improve by your own hands.]
I’ll do the work but I won’t stop you from making it easier to understand. Honestly, it’s the main reason I ford our contract. Teach away.
[Very well.] Geneva’s hands co up to either side of my head. It’s as if the world beyond disappears. I can’t hear the frustrations of the others, sll the earth, or feel the sun on my skin. My awareness is narrowed onto myself, my heartbeat thundering in my ears.
I can feel my awareness being sucked deeper into myself, until the pounding of my heart is not in my ears, but all around . No, not my heart. This warmth is my mana, making it my core. Looking around, I can see ten thick lines of energy branching off from it, rather than five.
[Your young teacher is correct in describing the main mana veins. The darker vein is the negative flow, your mana returning to your core as it reaches the end of the vein. Each flow has a reverse but let’s forget about that for now.]
The darker blue lines disappear.
[Feel it, Lou. Follow the flow. Only once you’ve learned each and every vein can you learn to manipulate it.]
With Geneva in my ear, I fall into a deep ditation while focusing on my mana.
-
I feel her pulling my consciousness up and then the world cos back.
I blink open my eyes to see everyone around moving, most stretching. Huh? Is the class over? But we just started.
“That is good work. If you feel like you haven’t made much headway, don’t worry about it. It takes ti to master such an ability. Every day, the first ten minutes is set aside for questions. Ask anything and I will try my best to assist you.”
Once again, he places his palms together and bows to us. The students throw their farewells back, hurrying off to their next class. I leisurely get up and stretch, trying to see if there are any notable changes in my mana pool.
[It’ll take more than a day to show progress, even for you.]
Good point.
“See you tomorrow, Mr. Mano.”
“Ah, wait a mont please.”
I pause as he walks up to . He’s smiling so this can’t be a bad thing, right? “It’s Lourianne To, isn’t it? A senior teacher spoke to about your elentals.” He inclines his head toward Geneva who gives him a shy wave in return, using her ek public persona.
“Well, a summoner is nothing without her elentals.”
“Indeed. Though I have to admit, I didn’t realize how valuable they are.” His eyes are hot as they continue to stare at her. Saints bless this pit of depravity, not another pervert! “Earlier, I noticed your ditation. Only the most senior of mana manipulators can reach such a state that your elental can induce. As you’re not doubt aware, it can greatly increase one’s cultivation.”
Oh. He’s only after her for her magic. Sorry for thinking the worse of you, friend.
“If your elental could do this for others, it would be valuable indeed.”
“Um…” Hm. I want to outright reject him. Geneva is mine. I don’t want to share her just because it’s useful to you. Also, I’m trying to keep the true extent of her capabilities secret. She’s my ace in the hole but if it becos common knowledge that I have an elental with a coefficient of close to a thousand with , then the kingdom can no longer ignore .
I need privacy to develop to my true potential. Don’t make my life difficult.
“Ah, don’t worry.” Mano holds up his hands. “This isn’t taking advantage of my position to get so benefits. In fact, if sothing like that happens, tell a teacher imdiately. The Grand Hall severely frowns on that and they can bring in Interrogators for that sort of thing. I am simply pointing out that if such a service could be made available, then it would be worth quite a lot. One of the main ways a caster grows in the Hall is through an exchange of favors.”
“Ah. I understand and will keep your advice in mind.” An exchange sounds much better, though I can’t imagine what I could get from him.
Mano seems satisfied. “Thank you for your ti, Lourianne. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“See you.”
I leave the field with a bit of a bounce in my step. Already making gains though they’re not quite what I expected.
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