Chapter 200 - Greenhouse

Magic.

It is something that people considered to deviate from the natural laws of the world. Magic is something that isn't found everywhere, as it fails to adhere to the physical world of Earthland.

"People who are born with magic eons ago are said to be belittled and burned to stake," said Professor Miketsukami Dalki, the Dean for Magical Theory. He then started to write on the chalkboard.

'Magi'

"Can someone tell me about what they are?" Professor Miketsukami then turned to Michelle, who raised her hand. "Michelle,"

Michelle stood up. "The Magi are a tribe that inhabited the island of Magierstadt many years ago. They are said to be the ones who are the pioneers of magical spell, as they created their own incantations."

"Correct. Thank you, Miss Michelle." Professor Miketsukami exclaimed. "The Magi tribe are the ones who were the pioneers of magic, but they aren't the ones who founded Magierstadt. The one who established this country and this school is the very first schoolmaster—he is said to be the son of a Magi Shaman Priestess and a General from Zweite."

Faustina, along with the other students, turned the page of their books. And then they, once again, saw him. Although the picture didn't have any color other than the opacity of the ink against a faded paper, Faustina could still envision who this person was.

"Now, the elemental theories aren't new knowledge given the fact they are already in the texts of Alte Stadt, the Ancient Ruin." The Professor asserted. "But magical theory is different. Magic is something that is considered to be a mysterious entity. This is where mana comes in, as well as the chants that power a certain mechanism…"

**

"That was a lot to take in,"

"Right? And I couldn't focus since Professor Mike is so dreamy!"

Faustina closed her notebook. She had just finished a fifteen-paged lecture in just a few hours. Magical theory tackled the important people who contributed to the realms of magic, which is connected to the history of Magierstadt. 

'It'll be over in a jiffy,' was the thing Professor Miketsukami said before he started his classes—yet Faustina felt as if she just spent her entire day just in one subject.

"But we're only doing lecture types." Faustina turned to a student who sighed as she buries her face into her desk. "My friend from the fifth Ianua said they learned how to fly their own brooms last week."

"I wonder why we're only doing lecture-type activities? And only discussions?"

Faustina wondered why, too. It was only Professor Mariam's orb that tested their elemental compatibility that served as the other activity that wasn't lecturing. And would they even consider that as something very major? Touching a transparent sphere with a fingertip didn't do much, after all.

"Is this what they call 'unfair'?" One of the students asked.

"Unfair?" 

The student who was complaining then straightened as a Professor ambled her way towards Faustina's classroom. It was Professor Yoan Brigdt.

Faustina blinked. Michelle, who was beside her, tilted her head in confusion.

"Wait, do we have Astronomy as a subject for today?" Michelle asked.

Professor Yoan sighed as she eyed the student who complained, who then flinched in response.

"I am here to call you all and escort you to the greenhouse."

First, there was silence, and then suddenly there was a beam of surprise and cheering.

"Yes! We're finally doing something that isn't lecture!"

"Finally!"

Professor Yoan then gave the students a stare. That was enough to have them rearrange themselves.

"Listen here. All of you are still untrained and are still pebbles on the sides of the roads. See, you lot are the examinees who barely passed the exam. If the failing grade is 74, then you fall in the 75 category!" Professor Yoan thundered.

Silence.

"That meant you start with the very basics—lectures! Because you're all incapable of engaging in activities that require more amount of mana. Instead of complaining, you should focus on improving yourselves." 

"If all of you would run at the same pace as—let's say, the fifth or even the third—then you're going to simply fall behind because of the gap between your abilities and the others around you. Let's say if you, a student from Ianua VI would be in an activity with an Ianua III, you would definitely have poor results while they would perfect it."

"That's—"

"I am not generalizing all of you and is saying this with a basis!" Professor Yoan thumped her staff against the floor. "You're all here, in this Ianua, for a reason. It's because all of your abilities are subpar, and not enough to compete with the ones above you!"

Faustina, hearing such words from a teacher, felt a pang in her chest. It was different from the pain that she felt from Professor Mariam's words to Anakin. Professor Yoan's words hit differently—and perhaps, it was because they were deemed to be the truth.

And the truth always stings.

"…But remember, all of you are on the road to improvement," Professor Yoan exclaimed. "It is in the palm of your hands if you would try to prove to us you are more than a student from the sixth Ianua. All of it is your choice, so stand straight, do not complain, and study! Do you hear me?"

"Y-yes, Ma'am." 

"What was that?"

"Yes, Ma'am!"

"Good." Professor Yoan exclaimed. "Then, let's go. To the greenhouse."

**

Faustina stared in awe at the insides of the greenhouse. The glass that enclosed the entirety of the place was making Faustina unable to fixate her eyes on one thing. The plants and the vines atop the glass roof which was opened for sunlight were sending beams of sun rays which bathed the entire place with soft light. 

Plants that she had never seen before were enclosed in vases. The whole enchilada looked like a magical greenhouse sprouting with colors that were arranged beautifully by a gardener.

"Welcome to my humble abode," Professor Devon Belle gently smiled. "Hello, Yoan. Thank you for escorting the dear students to my greenhouse."

Professor Yoan nodded.

"Then I should be taking my leave." And with that, Professor Yoan had set off.

Professor Devon Belle was standing parallel to them. She had soft features and she looked like a modest and really gentle lady. This was Faustina's last subject—Greenery.

"I am Professor Devon Belle ... if my students forgot about my name." Professor Devon exclaimed. "Unlike the other professors, I am not a Dean in any field. I'm just your humble professor that takes care of the dear plants here."

"Now then, students," Professor Devon smiled. "Let us begin our class."

--

The greenhouse was chockfull of plants that were arranged into different criteria: edible, non-edible, interacting, and poisonous. 

"First-year and second-year students of any Ianua aren't given any access to poisonous plants due to the danger they impose. But if you would be a member of the Greenery Club, you may be able to handle them one day once you're third year." Said Professor Devon as she tours the students to each of the subdivisions of the greenhouse.

"Ah. Did you also know that the prodigy, Eulalia Fortunatorum is once a member of the Greenery Club?" Professor Devon beamed.

Faustina stopped. Did she hear that right? Eula was a part of the Greenery Club? 

"But she's also a part of other clubs, I believe. I'm young, so I don't know much about it since the president of the club by that time was Professor Yoan." 

"Now then, here we are." Professor Devon then stopped by the edible division of the plants. "Here are plants that are brewed into medicines. At first glance, you wouldn't notice anything different about them, right?"

It was true. Faustina couldn't see anything but normal medicinal (and non-medicinal) plants in vases and in vines. 

"These plants are actually magically modified by our researchers." Professor Devon explained. "Magical modification, you see, is when a researcher changes or enhances a specific genome in a plant that correlates into a particular specification. That way, it is made convenient for people. For instance, this certain plant here." Professor then picks a leaf that was growing from one of the potted plants. "Originally, you would need to get at least twenty leaves to get the desired concentration for an enhanced effect—but our researchers modified the entire plant to only have one leaf alone to equal the amount."

"Innovate," Professor Devon said. "That is what our researchers here in Magierstadt are aiming to do—and they are pushing for new heights. Sustainability is one thing that they have done and that can be seen in this entire greenhouse. You can actually see it in the Magierstadt's streets—the boar meat is, in actuality, not from butchered animals but magically cultivated animal cells."

Faustina parted her lips as the professor's expression changed.

"That is why Magierstadt is counting on all of you. Some of you may become mages and fight on the frontlines, but some of you might interest yourselves at the realm of knowledge that simply lies in an island—a floating island—" 

"The Research Facility of Magierstadt."