Chapter 30: The Witch’s Lecture

Chapter 30: The Witch’s Lecture

Sakura

I stood close to my team, waiting and watching as the other groups filed into the underground stone amphitheater.

So, Victor is it? Modgy asked of their group's resident westerner. What are your strengths?

Be nice, Todgy glared at her brother, but Modgy just shrugged.

No it's a fair question. Victor saved the young mage from a tongue lashing. We havent had the opportunity to get to know each other very well yet.

Precisely, thank you. Modgy motioned to the broad shouldered, and somewhat soft bellied westerner. At least someone knows reason when they hear it.

Victor grinned a toothy grin that sent shivers down my spine. His canines were somewhat longer than most others their age, which only added to what I knew from Vaushs reports on the boy was a red hot core of ambition that seemed to burn brightly in his eyes.

My skills are pretty straight forward. I trained for most of my youth under my older brothers as a warrior. he motioned towards the warhammer and shield on his back with his chin. And while I've of course received an adequate education on magical matters, it's only been in the last few years that I've become particularly fond of the practice. And so far, my blood line seems to have an affinity for several types of mana. I find myself drawn towards fire attuned mana personally. But I have a cousin who is a blood mage, and a healer in the capital itself.

I sense youre a high level silver, perhaps a low level gold. I said, adding to the conversation as I watched the other groups file in with hawk-like attention.

Well youre not far off. Victor said as he leaned back comfortably in the stone backed bench they had selected as a team. I am currently level eleven. But thats a recent growth. Im hoping to reach level fifteen by the end of the year, and spend my second year overcoming that bottle neck.

Bottle neck? Regi asked, confused. Victor began explaining how the levels the westerners were so fond of measuring power with, mapped onto the cultivation stages. Oh, so youre talking about advancing into the noble realm. That would be an impressive feat if you accomplished it!

Indeed, but youd have to be worried about your foundations being weak. Tedgy asked, as she played with the slack string that hung loose off her bow. Advancing so quickly, without properly stabilizing your core, mana channels, chie lines and meridians, would be . . . well dangerous is an understatement.

Hmmm. Victor was considering her words for a moment, as I watched finally, as the very last group to enter, Landar and his team joined the others. THey found a place up behind my group near the top of the tiered benched seating. Oh, Hey landar! Victor waved at his friend, and Landars expression which I was watching extremely closely for any clue as to what his reaciton would be, looked surprised to see his friend.

Uh, hi victor. I didnt expect to see you here.

Yeah, well. Victor's face went a little red. I was kinda wondering why you didnt ask me to participate in your group.

Landar winced. Honestly man? It just . . . didnt seem like something youd be into. As Landars group settled in, he took a few steps down and sat next to Victor. You said you were really focusing this semester on learning as many spells as possible. I didnt think field work would be helpful.

Victor seemed to take that in stride, smiled, and patted his friend on the back. Bah! Dont worry about it. We did chat about it a little, but I get where you are coming from. But no, I'm not just focused on spell work this year. Im . . . Victor looked chagrined for a moment as he realized every eye in the place not directly involved in another conversation was watching their exchange and lowered his voice so only those close by could hear him. Im trying to grow as quickly as possible. I mean . . . you know why. We chatted about that right?

Landar nodded. Yeah, I think I get it. Victor's expression softened as a mix of relief and determination spread across his face.

Sakura was gracious enough to ask me to join her group. Itll be great to get some real world experience, and to brush up on using my old combat skills.

Landar gave me a puzzled, but pleasant look and I knew that though he wasnt sure why I had chosen his friend, he also didnt think I was out to create a wedge between them. Good, I was concerned hed take the wrong message from my decision. But im confused why hes confused about my choice of Victor. Or . . . maybe he doesnt know.

Humans are not good at smelling predators in their midst. Sky said. And his wolf is asleep.Updated from n0velb(i)n.c(o)/m

The two continued to chat for a minute until the back doors opened, and Edna the Witch and their instructor entered the room lackadaisicaly flying on her broom. She stopped at the top of the stairs, and as quickly as she landed her broom turned into a powerful staff that she used to help her down the stone steps.

Edna the registrar, and our instructor for this particular class was short, her hair was blond but losing its luster to a dignified white, and her squat frame was wrinkled and old. But I could feel the power roiling off her as if it were a tangible thing.

She feels like father, when he lets his aura slip. Only, not as sharp or pointed.

Her presence was immediately felt by everyone in the room. Even Vaush flinched where he stood in the corner watching and austensibly guarding my brother and I.

That pronouncement sent the already quiet room into utter silence. As students, their friends, family, and guards who accompanied them reevaluated the worth of the class.

But, as with everything, great risk comes with great reward. Every class consists of two parts. First, the mission. Then, the meditation. Sixth day will be mission day, and seventh day, after religious observances of course, will be for a group meditation on how each student did individually, and how each group did.

Someone raised their hand, and I had to suppress a slight gasp at the interruption. Rayce and my fellow easterners all looked confused or concerned at the young woman with all the little golems as she asked her question.

Yes, Synthia. What is your question? Edna invited her, despite her rude interruption. As if it were simply part of the class.

Why are you all so tense? Victor asked in a hushed voice.

She interrupted the professor's lecture, I heard Moshi explain. Where we come from such a thing would see the student expelled from the class for the day.

Oh . . . Victor said, but I didnt hear his explanation as the girl asked her question.

I was not aware this class would pose a potential risk of death or dismemberment.

Oh? Edna was interested in what the girl had just said. Then why did you sign up?

My fathers patron, Count Windon, suggested it. I apologize, but I must consult with my family to see if this would be an acceptable level of risk before I can continue on with the class. I mean no disrespect to you professor.

Bah, Windon is an old battle ax. As loyal as a hound at his master's feet, but just as thick. Tell you what girl, I'll allow you to withdraw from the class, along with anyone else who wishes to do so. I had already planned on it of course, but only after tomorrow's meditation. Sound fair?

Yes, of course. Thank you Professor Edna.

Good . . . now. Does anyone know about the Silver Tower from which our academy gains its name?

The lecture went on a bit of a history lesson. Half way through, several students or members of their entourage were politely and quietly asked to leave by several of the school's guards who had been quietly watching the room and inspecting the students.

I hadnt even noticed them until they started moving. I wonder if it's a piece of magic, or if I've really become so accustomed to guards and servants I dont see them anymore. I asked myself, concerned I had forgotten my roots from Earth too much. I had been far below any of the guards or people who had served me in this world, and had died because the way I was treated had lead me to embrace death via a falling building, rather than continue living. I will make an effort to correct this, I thought to my companions.

Correct what? King asked, confused.

A snake does not concern himself with the affairs of mice. Sky said, rather unhelpfully.

But those guards, and the people in my life, even the lowliest commoner are still people. Not mice. I promised myself I would protect them, that their lives were worthy of sacrifice in order to protect and keep safe. I fear I might have lost sight of that a little.

Perhaps, Kings voice rumbled in my mind. But all you can do is clean a crack in your shell until it heals. You cant go back in time to stop it from breaking because you werent paying attention. Nor would it be helpful to fret over it so much you make it worse. Do what you need to do to fix it, dont focus on the failure. But the solution.

Sky hissed in my mind in annoyance. The . . . turtle, is right. Solution, is best to focus on. Not the failure.

A few minutes later the students or members of the retinue returned. This time usually equipped for a fight, or in clothes more fitting for adventuring and hiking.

And that is how the academy was formed, and how a simple gift of a genus loci from our neighbors to our far east in the Jade Empire created a tradition that has spanned many generations here in the kingdom. Edna cleared her throat as she whisked the wand in her hand and all the writing she had left on the wall behind her disappeared in a puff of mana.

Im glad you all came prepared for adventure given the gear and equipment you have with you. Those of you who were asked by the guards to get better attired and prepared, know that I am displeased. You should have known we would be doing something fun today! Your assumption that just because I'm old, I have to be a boring teacher on day one is as hurtful as it is wrong. Edna sniffed and a few of those students looked deeply uncomfortable.

A few of the students said various apologetic things, sorry professor or we dont think that were among the small chorus of concerned students.

Apology accepted, my young pupils. I see you are all ready now. Thats good, very good. Because today, all of you will be entering level zero of the basement of the Silver Tower.

The room erupted in excitement and fear among the westerner students. While confusion seemed to reign on my and the other easterners part. What does all this mean? I asked Victor as I leaned down to hear his explanation. The other members of my party were doing likewise hoping to figure out what was going on.

As chaos, albeit only momentarily reigned in the amphitheater a distinct cackling laughter reverberated off the solid stone and sent shivers down my spine.