After an hour at the library discussing what to choose, the three decides to go on with a basic runic sword from the very start. From making the base sword to engraving enchanments on the blade, Simon, Joe, and Eleanor allocate the jobs among them. Learning how to smith a proper sword using an alloy of iron, zinc and carbon is Joe's job. Eleanor's responsibility is to learn the runes and basic engraving using solvent, binder and a hot tip. Simon tackles data collecting while being the helping hands if requested. Of course that is not being the case of specialization. All three will still be doing the same reading but the one doing the job will have more practical experience.
Bidding goodbye with his team, Simon looks at the hardcover book he has borrowed from the place, 'Introduction to Elemental Magic'. He can do magic but that kind of magic is a bit questionable so now he has to start from the ground up. Aside from from teaching the methodology, application and history of elemental spells from the level of 1-Circle to 3-Circle, the book is generously shared with various tips and sticky notes on a side. The librarian has said that he has ensured that the quality of the paper is not damaged by the notes and further tempering is not negatively looked at. Simon has even received a free copy from the librarian with the 'first year benefit' ( traded with a promise of helping him organizing the books ).
After running to his room and dropping everything onto the study desk, he quickly arrives at the Knights' training grounds. He begins doing his fair share of exercise for the day. Starting from a light jog around the perimeter, he continues with four sets of 30 pushups, 3 sets of 1.5 minute planks. Tiring himself out, Simon gets up with difficulty from the position. Sweat has already moistened the eye brows and breathing has become difficult. Sore muscle is one thing but then looking at all the others training is something extraordinary. Effort is not something worthy of an achievement here. It is a requirement.
From this position can Simon see sparring using real weapons. Various colors cover the melee weapons, leading to clashes of myriad and dust clouds rising everywhere. Losing himself in the exchange of blows between two seniors knights, he is reminded of how talents are literally commonplace in this academy. He remembers how at the villages he has passed on the journey here, the one protecting the whole area is barely scraping the requirements to be here. He then notices how incongruous he is lazing around so he picks himself up and decides to push for two more lap. Pushing the body to its limits is not without consequences. The build up of tension, microtear and imbalance of chemicals should have lead to the muscles being out of commision. And yet as Simon put down the final step, he can recognize that someone has help. He is still going strong and most of the lingering exhaustion is now only mental. Looking around and finding no one, he gives his thanks to the wind and jogs back to his room.
On the top floor of the Knight Department's building that can oversee the whole area, two people can be found looking at the retreating boy.
" Why are you asking me to heal him? It's not like you at all, Dorothy."
" Not everything needs a reason, Maximus. And maybe your wicked mouth needs a rinse to flush out all the pretentious generousity. I am offering you an opportunity to do something good for our juniors. "
" ... Does he ... intrigue you? What did you see in him?"
"..."
" ... I will turn a blind eye off this blatant disregard of me this time. What did your eyes truly see?. "
" The answer is still the same as before."
" I will not take up more of your time, mysterious lady. See you next time an injury occurs."
"See you later!"
Bididng a simple goodbye, Dorothy takes a few more minutes keeping her eyes toward the direction of Simon's dormitory. Her mind is swirling around a single point: Why did she felt a sense of dread for a single moment when looking into his essense ( mana core )?
Dropping the lingering question to the wind, Dorothy leaves for dinner. Practicing and staying up there is her routine.
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It is night and Simon finally begins to learn the four basic elemental spells among the plethera of basic spells.
" Spellcraft is the reasoned, complexified method of utilizing mana to alter the surrounding. Without reasoning and understanding of the phenomenon we wish to be manifested, the spells we cast are not truly spells as academically defined but rather cruder and yet instanteneous 'effects'. In the first few chaptera, to ease the likelihood of mistake in separating the two, the effects will be called 'spells'.
The 'spells' are influenced by the state of the body and the mind. Imbalance in both can lead to unwanted effects. The body, housing the mana that will be the fuel, needs to be adequate for handling the load. The mind, more specifically, the intent, needs to be concise, purposeful and vivid. To manifest an effect is to touch the surface of the pond we call the world using a twig of mana. Most initial stages of a normal mage, circa Rank 1 and 2, is spent on learning these spells and utilizing to gain understanding of what they are dealing with. Weaving spellwork into combat is the first step of being a capable mage.
Aside from elemental spells, the majority of spells belongs to the non-elemental category with specific intention behind. For example, Levitation, despite being aerokinesis for the first few Circles, is its own spell as the main effect is to levitate object. An upgraded version is Gravity Cancle in conjunction with Binding, all higher tier true spells.
Quickly skimming through the first few pages defining spells in order to reach the instruction list for some of the most common, Simon carefully read the requirements. In essence, every 'effects' can be done without any chanting as they only require intent and mana and that the usual chanting, name calling and manipulating the tools are to enhance the vividness of the effects in the mentalscape so that casting is easier. He is familarizing himself with the four spells, his magic arsenal is filled with something else. His goal is to silently use the elemental spells without wide gestures such as hand swiping but rather with finger flicks.
The training is not about the knowledge but rather the intensity of will. Luckily with an outstretch hand as the casting form, all Simon needs to do is to point it toward the windows and to begin firing. The first few are [Gale], their passing breeze sways the tied curtain. Then comes [Ignite], sparks of eager flames spreads the finger tips of a pinched together arm. A simple jab is followed by these sparks shooting outwards onto the lawn below. Aside from being a blatabt fire hazard, [Ignite] is a useful daily spell meant for kindling and lighting.
The [Rock] and [Wet] basically creates material out of thin air from the mana correspondent to the spells' name: a rock and water. Simon dares not to use too much mana as disposal of possible destruction is too much of a hassel.
After testing the four spells, Simon begins training in earnest. The priority now is to further familiarize himself with each of them and be able to cast them without any movements or sounds. Spells after spells begin to be fired out of the window, their intensity and dimensions are controlled strictly by Simon, a practice of control. He begins by whispering and limitting the movements and slowly crawling to sufficient profficiency.
Two hours have passed and Simon looks back at the progress made. Aside from voiceless and gesture-less casting, Simon is also able to now manifest the spells at different locations and rotations on his hands.
Another thing Simon has tried is combined casting, which leads to him finally able tk cast two spells at once with a longer casting time. Something about parallel thinking and multi-tasking is indeed very helpful but simultaneous casting of more than two spells seems ro be redundant until a future time.
Delayed casting is possible but the required mana to maintain the spells does not improve its impact and the spell circle remains there so Simon find no reason to learn it yet. It will be on his radar in the future but not now.
Satisfied with the progress, Simon picks up a small knife for curring vegetables and cut a thin line across his fingertip. A single drop of blood lands on the page of the journal and from the contact point sprouts a web of red threads. Akin to silk, the material is smooth to the touch and cool and by looking at the size and shape of the web can Simon decipher something about the future.
This is a rudimentary 'spell' using a different foci rather than staves or swords. First thought up by farmers with magic talent and scouts who needed to foresee the future, the spell entrusts a future view on tomorrow's events with minimal losses.
"Fine weather, good omen through and through."
Satisfied with the coming tomorrow, Simon takes his time for his night routines before slipping himself beneath the blanket. Soon he is sleeping soundly.
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The sound of rustling feathers can be heard from somewhere outside. To be more precise, it is an owl standing on a branch near a window and flapping its wings. On its feet carries a small tube. Then, a hand reaches out and lets the owl land on the index finger.
" Let's see what your owner bring this time...Have a treat."
"Coo coo COO!"
The gray owl quickly fly down from its perch and begin devouring a small bowl of pet treats. Not minding the messy diner beside him, he begins to open the vial and force out a piece of paper.
" The church is still silent despite a conclave going on ... some sighting of relic hunters along the mountains... some insignifcant news. "
Preparing a few coins, copper mixed with gold, he puts all inside a cloth bag and ties it to the leg of a satisfied owl, its eyes squinting with pleasures. Watching the animal fly back to its sender, he can only think about what the future entails. One thing he is sure of is that he needs to get stronger to get the documents from church officials.
The light is then turned off and drowsiness finally begins filling the room. The owner of the room drifts into sleep, a dream begins to play. The old familar house, the moments of joy and the symbol attached to a caravan belonging to the church.
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In a personal lab
Shuron, while working on improving the efficiency of volumetric spells circles, feels a tinge of something passing through her barriers around the academy. Immediately teleporting to the surveilance room, what greets her is the usual scene.
" Any abnormalities?"
" Nothing, headmistress. The barrier and the area around it is normal."
Shuron's intuition as a mage is telling her that that 'something' before is not normal. She can use time reversal to experience the moment again to glimpse more information from the signal but she decides not to.What she felt, despite how it managed to barely escape her recognition, is not harmful. If so then the various enchantments using draconic runes around the perimeter would need to be inspected individualy. She notices something abnormal, not something dangerous.
' Maybe a student somewhere is trying something, possibly summoning magic'
" Report if you see any thing strange."
" Yes madam."
Teleporting to the Northern, Eastern, Southern and Wester Towers respectively, Shuron inputs more mana into the runic array, their characters and connecting lines brighten akin to the sun on earth.
It has been years since she needed the detection system to work at maximum capacity like this. The difference is that the past her would find the experience to be near-death whereas the current her considers the amount of mana spent trivial. The arrays have already been upgraded but they are only the better version of a 6-Circles mage.
'Better safe than sorry.'
Shuron finally returns to the lab, her joints creaking with eagerness to dwell back into research.