Chereads / The Path to Difficult Life / Chapter 20 - SCEPTER

Chapter 20 - SCEPTER

Fresh air at the morning. I woke up from bed and did some light exercise to stretch my muscles.

I was still feel sore in my arms due to yesterday's practice. I guessed that I swung my sword too much. Luckily my sword did not break easily.

After that I wore my robe and brought my scepter together with me. Today's breakfast was mushrooms soup. It had thicked gravy and nice fragrance. I ate the soup with big smile and satisfaction.

Then, I went to academy.

I entered my class and sit silently at my regular seat. I was still reluctant to talk with my classmates. I didn't hate them but rather feel shy with them. I didn't know how to initiate first talk. I guessed to push this problem to future me.

While waiting for teacher, I pretended to fall in deep thought and closed my eyes. Maybe they would saw me meditating in class.

Then, teacher Tessele walked in the class. I stopped my faked meditation and focused on her. She opened her regular book and begun her lecture.

"You had already learned about defense skills yesterday. At level one what you can defend is limited. You can only defend yourself but not your friend. But when you have reached level two, you can use defense skill to protect or defend other person. We will learn that when you finish the beginner course.

Our next topic is scepter or wand. They are magician's main weapon. Without them, we are helpless to fight strong enemy. They have two primary materials on it.

First is the handle of magic equipment. Usually they are made from wood which has good conductor to enable the flow of mana or magic. The wood would had been soaked in magic water to make them unbreakable when we put mana on it.

Second is the mana stone. It is made from high pressure from concentration of mana at one point. We can find mana stone at place that had extreme weather like volcano, desert or deep sea. We can also find mana stone inside beast monsters when we slay them. Mana stone is used because it can amplify our magic power and help us control magic safely. But not all mana stone is suitable to use as scepter or wand.

The difference between scepter and wand is only at their size. Their ability and function stay same. The wand is lightweight and easy to use in any situation or place. While scepter is heavy but can be used as blunt weapon when enemy come close to us and we don't have time to launch any magic skill.

Using a scepter and wand will greatly increase your magic power and reduce the usage of mana point. So you can continuously use magic for a long time with them.

For today practise, we will use the scepter and wand. Now I ask all of you to move to training area right now."

Huh, her lecture was short today.

So, we walked out from the class and went to training area. I brought my red diamond scepter while others showed their scepters and wands. Three people owned the scepter included me and the rest had wand.

"Today you will use the same attack and defense skill like before but for this time you will focus your magic on mana stone."

Then she took out her wand from inside her robe. There was tiny blue marble on its tip. She waved her wand to get our attention.

"Before this you need to gather the mana around your hand to launch any magic attack. This time, try to move your mana into the wand or scepter. This process may take short or long time depend on your ability. You are success to do that if the mana stone release light and become bright. Now, please try to channel the mana first."

I put the bottom of scepter on the ground and held it vertically with my both hands. I detected the mana inside my body and slowly transferred it to the scepter.

The warm feeling moved from my body and accumulated in my hands and finally entered the handle of scepter. I could feel the movement of mana inside it. After 30 seconds, the red mana stone at the top of scepter shined and glowed.

I successfully channeled my mana into the scepter. I continued supplied my mana on it to practice the stability of my mana's flow.

I saw other classmates had also successfully channeled their mana into wand and scepter. There was many lights shined continuously at training area.

"Good, you are easy to understand my explanation. Channeling the mana is only the first step. Next, gather the mana on mana stone and release the magic. It is same as you use any magic skill before this. Please watching me carefully."

Teacher Tessele raised her wand and released the water ball from it. The water ball travelled fast in high speed than usual to target board.

"So, please practicing to release your magic from wand and scepter. You can start training now."

Then we took each position against the target board. One by one we released our magic skill to target. I fired my fire ball and dark bullet to target board consecutively. This practice continued until noon.

"I see you guys don't have any trouble to fire magic by using a medium. After lunch break, we will practice the defense skill."

Then, I left the class and went to nearby restaurant to eat my lunch. After an hour, I returned back to training area.

"Okay, now I will show how to defend by using my wand. Daisy, please come forward. You can attack me with any skill and I will defend it."

"Yes, ma'am."

Then a tall girl with long yellow gold hair walked to front side and prepared with her wand. She focused for a while and released her attack.

"Wind slash."

"Water shield."

Teacher Tessele quickly protected herself by forming a big shield made from water that floated on the air. The water shield easily absorbed the high speed slash from wind. The wind slash was harmless in front of water shield.

"Now form the pair like before. Practicing your attack and defense skills until you are quite confident to fight any battle."

After that, Eleanor came near and invited me to join her again. I quickly agreed because I unacquainted with others.

We exchanged many attacks and defend against it for each time. I used dark mist, fire wall and wind wall to nullify the magic attack while she used light shield and earth block.

Teacher Tessele dismissed the class after two hours passed.

"Next week we will hold a mock battle to test your skills and abilities. Be prepared for that. Class is dismissed. You can go home."

I feel satisfied to go through the class for a week without lagged behind. I worried if my status as person from another world would hindered my development to learn magic but apparently it was not.

I was quite curious of how I could use magic same like natives here. I thought my body would reject the magic. Maybe my body and soul automatically adjusted themselves to familiarize with magic in this world. Who knew.

Before I had time walked out from academy, Eleanor approached in front of me. I stopped and waited for her but she just stood there without said anything. She was anxious about something.

Last time I feel like she want to talk with me. Now she stood up with me but still no words out from her mouth. I gave her credit for taking a bold move. Please, don't confessed to me. I already had Cara. But Cara was just a friend to me. Arghhhh, this thought confused me more.

"Eleanor, you have something to tell me?

"Huh, no, no. I'm just seeing something here. I don't mean to stop you. Er.. Sorry."

Eleanor, don't make fake excuse with your failed poker face. You were easy to be read. Perhaps I should helped her to be honest with me.

"Urmm, do you want a dinner together with me? I will treat you. Maybe we can talk something over it."

"Huh, dinner? Er, er, yes, I think I can go with you. A simple one is enough for me."

"Follow me. I will bring you at restaurant in west area."

"Okay. Thanks, Dylan."

Before the dusk fell down, I brought her to west area and together we entered the restaurant.

I begun to be curious about her interest toward me. What a person like her wanted something from me which I was a new resident in this world.