Chapter 260: Thunderbolts and Lightning (Mixed)

The young man's movements were fluid and smooth, similar to how one might have touched the surface of a pond without ruining its shape, that was until his mana coursed through the ground and then changed the atmosphere completely.

First was peace and silence.

Then the earth in front of him rent itself open—a fissure formed out of the wand and directly into the Battle Mage's path. Professor Howard Carnus dodged and moved ten feet towards the right, safe and well once again.

He blinked.

"Huh… that didn't happen during the morning." Han poured almost everything into that one shot and the earth beneath him trembled and shook. When he glanced behind him, it had caught some Students off their footing. Others were being helped up in the front row, while those in the back only looked shaken.

"So that is what you have learned…?" the Professor said and cleared his throat. "It seems you had something hidden up in your sleeves—it's worthless in my eyes, but it's something."

"Worthless?" Han gawked at the older bushy-faced man. "Are you serious, Prof? Haven't you seen that I just split the ground—"

"Geomagic, yes." the Battle Mage sighed and nodded, "It surprised me, but anybody with the [ Steady Footwork ] wouldn't have tripped like your classmates did and this Spell is only applicable for those you are fighting in the land terrain. What if you were fighting a kraken during an ocean voyage? That fissure of yours, even if it were magnified to say… [ Earth Splitter ] would be useless for water and aerial enemies."

Han would have deflated then and there, because he had worked on it and it was something—

Professor Carnus patted him on the back, "I did say it's worthless, but in terms of showing me that you are serious in learning the path of magic, despite being a Mixed Curriculum Student—you did a good job."

"Finally!" Han grinned and rested an arm across his forehead, "Recognition! Thank you, Professor. I'll do better next time, for sure."

.

.

.

Battle Mage Carnus sighed, but nodded. "Alright, you can take your seat, Han."

Perhaps he almost regretted the fact that he said something encouraging to the man, but it was time to move on to the next Student. Timothy Cook. Professor Lavelda had a lot of good things that she said about him, especially that of his unnatural mana capacity for a non-Noble, but now it was up to him to gauge him for himself.

The Test Trial was only a trial to them—it was a lot harder, and they needed to work smarter if they wished to stay long in Kraelonia Academy.

"Mister Timothy, it is now your turn." he addressed them with an acknowledging nod. It was irritating that the Headmaster accepted Students so late, and it got the better out of his temper, but it would be a terrible thing if someone who had a high aptitude for magic could not find himself able to.

"I didn't prepare anything, Professor Carnus."

The Battle Mage blinked and then stared, "What did you say, young man?" He hoped that he was a little hard of hearing because if he heard this boy correctly—he wished to strangle him right now.

"I have no Spell to present today." he said.

Professor Howard Carnus had other options beside Kraelonia Academy, rich Noble families that wished to hire him as a personal tutor but the Noble kids there were often too arrogant and lazy to even study.

Do not tell him that it was the same for this boy who had come from some village at the edge of the continent?

"Alright, young man—what about the start of a Spell at least?"

"No, sir." he shook his head.

There had to be a reason for them coming here… but if this was all the effort that this young man was going to show him. Professor Carnus gritted his teeth and then turned to the three Students who had done well with the Elemental Orbs. "Please show your classmate here why it's valuable to actually study if one wishes to pass my subjects?"

It might have been painful for others to watch and experience—but this was the way to carve the lessons into the boy's body. It was necessary that he understood what it meant to be given a chance by him and then fail it. It was disappointing, but the professor could not fail the man, so he would make this young man wish that he could leave all on his own.

.. .

Han didn't know what to feel—but there was already the look of horror in his face, or something in his chest at the sudden words of Timothy saying that he didn't prepare anything at all. 'Damn, bro—do you want to fail class?!'

Timothy even had the audacity to say it with such a calm resting bitch face if he were to be honest and that meant that the young man had been too upset to actually learn anything. As for the reason he got like that? Han had no idea. But whatever it was, he had a feeling that it was related to Iola.

And that made him worry far more than he ought to be.

In that, he was a lot more concerned about a girl than his own Companion. Now it wasn't like he couldn't see the fact that Timothy was running around and avoiding injuring and debilitating blows from their fellow Students—but Han was also worried about her.

When one observed Ellynn, Kyse and Elliot throwing around their Elemental Orbs at Timothy… he couldn't help but think of slipping away right now and checking how the girl was.

He had spelled something close to a rotting stench of decay in the room when he had been just standing outside of the room. Plus add the fact that Timothy didn't go to breakfast at all—so it meant that the girl hadn't eaten yet or something. He refused to think that the stench was related to the girl. But yes, if Timothy was willing to starve a person because he was in a bad mood, well he was begrudged on that…

Timothy slipped for a moment on one of the puddles, his ankle bent weirdly, and barely escaped a thunderbolt thrown his way. The Kyse dude was going all the way out acting like some Zeus with his Elemental Orbs.

Han ground his teeth and then shouted, "Run, faster!"

Penelope shouted at the same time as he did. And the man was nearly electrocuted on the spot. Timothy threw him a look that might have been his most normal glares as he ran across the courtyard—two out of three were enjoying themselves while they shout out water blades, electric-like cutters and wind gusts at the younger man.

Han was really tempted to check Timothy's status screen now and actually check what was up with them right now… but it had always been invasive to him. Unlike the Demon Lord who told him to use the other people in this world to his advantage, make himself a King and probably gain minions, or at least followers.

His stupid self was saying that it didn't feel right at all.

Timothy didn't share his Class? Alright, he'd respect that.

Could he by-pass it by checking on the Companion Status screen? Why, yes. Yes he could.

But would he ruin the man's trust by doing just that? No, he couldn't do it even if it were more useful to do just that. Han didn't want to play as 'god' who could contribute character and ability points into someone else. It felt natural if that was a game, but it was more than a game.

Han would keep reminding himself of that.

And yet if by interceding himself now with this situation could contribute to Timothy surviving this situation…there were truly some things that one might need to do to save another person's life right?

Even if it sometimes overstepped boundaries.

'Companion Tab'

.. .

The Lord himself couldn't drop by due to the circumstances on hand—but it was she who had been sent by him to meet up with one of the former hires. And the woman didn't know what to feel about it. Should she be happy or upset? The woman held on to the necklace that hung around her neck and sighed.

She remembered the contents of the letter, even while her father had tried to hide it, she managed to secure it for herself and see. A possible replacement for her? That seemed to be the case, even when the man himself assured her that was not the case.

"He always wanted a son…"

And this was his chance for him to finally get it. She knew that she ought to find the younger man, it was his right—just like it was hers, but sometimes she wished she could turn back and claim that it was false. Through the window came the sound of a caw—and a crow dropped into her carriage, she smiled lightly. If not a little weakly.

"Freya, I hope you have some good news for us?"