Anton wasn't in a rush.
The young man, wearing his usual oversized white cloak, strolled leisurely through the University's halls. Although his pace and demeanor were peaceful, his mind was anything but. His thoughts kept drifting back to the events of the morning—the strange events in the Manamancy class, the meeting with the Moon Fang, the talk with Principal Khan. It all swirled in his mind like a maelstrom of confusion and intrigue.
The corridors were relatively empty at this hour, his footsteps echoing off the ancient stone walls. Occasionally, he passed other students hurrying to their classes. A few gave him curious glances - word of the morning's events had likely already spread through the University's ever-efficient rumor mill. Not the way Anton wanted to make his first impressions. Exploding a wall of a building on his first day of class was probably more attention than he ever wanted.
Lost in contemplation, he almost walked past the entrance to the Spell Crafting classroom.
He took a deep breath and walked in.
The room was unlike the others he'd seen so far. Instead of traditional desks arranged in rows, circular workstations dotted the space, each equipped with what appeared to be crystalline interfaces and floating runic displays. Motes of multicolored light drifted lazily through the air like luminous dust, casting ever-shifting patterns across the curved walls. The ceiling seemed to ripple like liquid silver, occasionally revealing glimpses of arcane formulae that swirled and reformed in endless combinations.
Each workstation was surrounded by a faint, dome-shaped barrier shimmered with protective enchantments. The crystalline interfaces pulsed gently with an inner light, responding to the ambient magic in the room with subtle color changes.
The air itself felt charged with potential, carrying the sharp, clean scent of ozone mixed with hints of exotic spices and old parchment. Occasionally, soft chimes would echo through the space as the runic displays automatically adjusted themselves, their symbols rotating and realigning like the inner workings of some grand cosmic clock.
This room seemed more like the lair of a mad scientist than a classroom.
"Anton! Over here!" A familiar voice called out. Mia was waving from one of the workstations, her usual cheerful energy evident even from across the room. Her workspace was already cluttered with various tools and components - delicate metalwork instruments alongside more traditional magical implements. "We're ssstill pretty early!"
Anton's eyes widened as he recognized Mia. She had sold him the Fire Quill. Sadly, he still hasn't had the chance to use it.
He made his way over to her table. "Hey Mia. Glad to see familiar face today..."
"Oh, you're not the only one. I'm glad to sssee you too!" she said with a grin. Her scaly skin glistened lightly against the motes of light that floated in the classroom. One of the motes drifted over to her and she reached out to touch it.
Anton slumped over on the workstation next to her, trying to catch up some breath. Mental Exhaustion wasn't something that usually plagued his life, but it seems that A.M.U. breaks everyone's expectatives and routines.
Over the next few minutes, more students filtered into the classroom. Anton wanted to pay attention to them, but his brother's voice and orders to make friends still echoed inside his mind.
The variety of species and magical affinities represented in just this one classroom spoke to the University's reputation for drawing talented individuals from across the magical world. Each student seemed to carry their own unique tools and implements - everything from traditional wands and staves to more exotic devices that hummed with barely contained power.
As the clock struck precisely 5:00 PM, the ambient lighting in the room shifted, drawing everyone's attention to the front. Where moments before there had been empty space, a figure now stood - or perhaps 'existed' was a better word.
The being was composed of a mesmerizing quicksilver substance - Eldorian Steel, as Anton had once read - that flowed and rippled like liquid mercury yet maintained perfect structural cohesion. Its humanoid form stood slightly taller than any human, with a sleek, streamlined physique that seemed to defy conventional physics. It was faceless and featureless if not for the hundreds of runes that covered its entire surface.
Across its entire surface, intricate Eldorian runes pulsed with an inner light that shifted in intensity with each subtle movement, the ancient symbols not mere decoration but integral components channeling and regulating the flow of Mana through its form. The construct's "face" was a smooth, featureless plane broken only by two glowing points of light that served as eyes, somehow managing to convey a depth of intelligence and purpose through subtle variations in their luminescence. As it moved, the living metal of its body flowed with liquid grace while maintaining precision, each gesture deliberate and measured, as if every motion was calculated to mathematical perfection.
It's mouth didn't open, but a voice echoed through the room all the same. It was Deep. Cold. Metallic.
"Greetings."
"Initiating standard introductory protocol," the figure stated, its voice resonating with the precise harmonics of Eldorian steel. "I am designated as Argentum, Magister of Spell Crafting. Your presence in this classroom indicates enrollment in the foundational course Spell Crafting 101." The glowing points of its eyes shifted subtly in intensity. "My function at this institution spans 247 years of instruction, during which I have guided 12,849 students to proficiency. Statistical analysis indicates my methodologies maintain a 94.7% success rate in knowledge transfer. It would be logical for you to maximize your receptivity to instruction."
Anton nodded. He was now more or less used to the diversity and multitude of figures that would now be part of his daily life. Living in a human town, he was not used to seeing many different species, races, and magical beings. That was one of the biggest motivators for him to join the University: To see more of that the world has to offer.
He didn't expect to be taught by a Golem, though. He looked to the side, where Mia was already nodding along. He still didn't know what to make of her. She seemed bright and intelligent, having picked up the art of crafting Magical Artefacts - however, her personality and demeanor were... conflicting. Perhaps it's a trait for Lizardfolk?
The construct's featureless face rotated precisely 15 degrees, the two points of light methodically scanning the room with mechanical precision. When they detected Anton, the lights flickered with a brief surge of intensity, logging an anomaly for future analysis.
"Statistical analysis indicates 87.3% of new students operate under the misconception that spell crafting is a simple matter of magical component recombination," Argentum continued, its form shifting with mathematical precision. "This assessment is inefficient and lacks critical data. True spell crafting requires understanding the base variables of magical theory. One must perceive the particles of Mana that maintain universal equilibrium and learn to reconfigure them into optimal patterns. Spell Crafting is the science of transforming Mana into forces."
The construct's glowing eyes dimmed slightly, a gesture that somehow conveyed both patience and mild disappointment. "As per established curriculum parameters, this course begins at foundational comprehension levels. Students with pre-existing knowledge may experience 3.2 lessons of content review before encountering novel information. This is..." a brief pause, "...suboptimal but necessary for maintaining educational standards."
Looks like Anton was in the right class, but it would take a while before he would be able to learn anything.
The runes across Argentum's form brightened as it continued, "Commencing primary instruction sequence. Maximum attention is advised for optimal knowledge transfer. Talking and interruptions are not permitted for the duration of the sequence. Questions will be answered at the end of the sequence."
Anton nodded. He was ready to learn. He took out some parchment and his new Fire QuilHe channeled as little Mana as possible into the quill and lightly tapped the tip on the parchment. The tip glew red from the heat, and burnt the parchment precisely. He looked at Mia, who smiled, seeing her sold artifact in use.
From the workstation behind them came a whispered, "Ooh, nice quill." Anton turned to see a student with iridescent butterfly wings carefully folding them close to avoid disturbing others. She introduced herself in a hushed voice, "I'm Beatriz. Where'd you get that? The burn marks are so clean."
Before Anton could answer, Mia beamed proudly and whispered, "I crafted it! Drop by the Artificer's Guild sometime, I've got more-"
"Attention." Argentum's metallic voice cut through their conversation. "Social interactions during instruction reduce knowledge retention by 23.4%."
The students straightened in their seats.
The room shimmered with soft, internal light, the crystalline interfaces pulsing gently with an inner light, responding to the ambient magic in the room with subtle color changes. The construct walked to the center of the room and pointed an appendage to the ground. A circular platform rose from the floor, and Argentum walked over to it.
"Spell Crafting 101. First lesson. Spell Components."
The construct's glowing eyes seemed to grow brighter, as if it was excited to teach.
"First. Much of the science around Mana is still recent and in progress. The discovery of the Mana Particle is only 400 years old, and the discovery of the Mana Particle's properties is only 150 years old. Much work is still being done by researchers and scholars today. Much of the knowledge about Mana was lost in Eldoria's Dark Ages, and we seem to be rediscovering it."
"Before advancing to theoretical concepts, foundational understanding must be established."
The construct extended an appendage, and a small, glowing orb of ocean-blue light appeared in its hand. It floated in the air erratically.
"Observe: standard Mana Particle representation. This fundamental unit serves as the basis for all magical phenomena. The actual particle dimensions exist beyond visual perception threshold." The construct's voice echoed through the room, its tone now more serious. "The Mana Particle functions as the universal constant in magical theory - All spell crafting derives from the precise arrangement and direction of these particles."
"Consider the Mana Particle in its base state - pure energy. The logical progression leads us to question."
He spun around, and pointed at the orb. "Query: How does this energy transform into functional spells?"
Anton noticed several students leaning forward with interest. The crystalline student's facets seemed to sparkle with increased intensity, while Luna's wings twitched slightly in anticipation. Even Mia had stopped fidgeting with her tools to focus entirely on the demonstration.
The construct paused, allowing the glowing orb to float higher.
"Mana Particles follow predictable interaction patterns with the natural world. They form bonds with fundamental elements - not unlike natural processes you observe daily. These bonds create what we designate as Elemental Mana, each variant possessing unique properties and behaviors."
With another gesture, the blue orb split into several smaller orbs, each taking on different colors - red, green, brown, and white. "Each variant represents a distinct bonding pattern. When Mana encounters flame essence, it produces Fire Mana." The red orb pulsed brightly. "When it encounters earth essence, it produces Earth Mana." The brown orb trembled slightly.
"The precise mechanics of these bonds remain a subject of ongoing study," Argentum continued, its runes flickering thoughtfully. "While the patterns of elemental mana formation demonstrate remarkable consistency in observation, the underlying theoretical framework contains... gaps in our understanding. Some scholars postulate that Mana contains inherent resonance patterns attuned to specific elemental essences. An elegant hypothesis, though one that requires further empirical validation before integration into accepted theory."
The construct's eyes dimmed slightly, as if acknowledging the limits of current understanding. "What we do know with certainty is that these bonds are consistent and reproducible. Fire Mana will always exhibit the same properties, regardless of where or how it is created. This consistency is what makes Spell Crafting possible."
"Consider this fundamental principle: a Mana Particle bonded with the essence of an element will always produce that element's Mana. This is not random chance - it is a law of magical nature, as reliable as water flowing downhill or the sun rising in the east."
With a slight gesture, the construct's glowing eyes dimmed, and the orbs of Mana disappeared.
"Ambient Mana permeates all physical space with measurable density variations. All living beings notice the elevated mana concentrations within university grounds. This is by deliberate design - increased particle density optimizes research and instruction efficiency. For contextual reference: current classroom mana saturation measures 250 particles per measure, contrasting with global baseline readings of 2-3 particles per measure in standard atmospheric conditions."
Almost a hundred times more. Anton now understood why he was having such difficulty adapting to the new environment.
"Proceeding to next instructional phase: Mana Particle manipulation methodology. Analysis indicates 98.7% of students present have prior spell-casting experience. However, only 2.3% demonstrate comprehension of underlying spell architecture. This knowledge deficit must be corrected. Direct observation of spell structures is a prerequisite for advancing beyond basic replication to achieve optimal spell crafting efficiency."
Argentum's form shifted, the liquid metal of its body flowing like quicksilver as it raised both appendages. The air in the center of the room began to shimmer and twist, forming into a complex three-dimensional pattern of light.
"Observe," the construct's metallic voice resonated through the classroom.
The pattern of light resolved into what appeared to be a magnified view of swirling mana particles arranged in a perfect dodecahedron.
At each vertex, a brilliant point of light pulsed steadily, connected to its neighbors by gossamer threads of pure energy that traced the edges. Within this framework, smaller particles orbited in precise helical patterns, creating nested geometric forms that rotated in alternating directions.
Around the dodecahedron, a glowing barrier of hexagons formed, each hexagon connected to the dodecahedron by a single point of light.
"Analysis: Complex spell matrix displayed. Classification: Barrier-type protective enchantment. Observe the geometric efficiency - twelve vertices serve as primary mana conduits, while the helical internal patterns maintain structural integrity through perpetual energy circulation. The design demonstrates optimal resource distribution. The result is a barrier spell that protects a focus point from all directions."
When Argentum displayed the complex spell matrix, a collective "wow" rippled through the classroom. Anton heard someone behind him whisper, "It's like sacred geometry..." followed by the scratching of multiple quills as students rushed to capture the pattern in their notes.
One student raised a hand. Argentum's eyes flickered briefly before stating, "Questions are reserved for the conclusion of the instructional sequence. Your patience is appreciated."
Anton leaned forward, fascinated by the mathematical precision of it all. His Fire Quill traced the intricate pattern - the perfect pentagonal faces, the golden ratio evident in the spacing between orbital layers, the way each particle's path intersected with exactly five others at mathematically precise angles.
He'd cast barrier spells before, of course, but he'd never seen the underlying structure laid bare like this - a perfect marriage of magical energy and sacred geometry.
"Spell crafting's core principle is pattern recognition and manipulation, not the rote memorization of verbal components or somatic gestures," Argentum's metallic voice resonated with analytical precision. "Analysis indicates that spells are, at their most fundamental level, precise geometric configurations of mana particles arranged to achieve specific magical outcomes. When these base patterns are combined according to established mathematical principles, the logical result is the creation of new spellforms. The process is elegant in its predictability."
Argentum waved his hands, his runes pulsing with an intense, almost blinding light. The barrier spell, previously a perfect dodecahedron, began to morph and shift. The twelve vertices, once equidistant, stretched and elongated along a single axis. The gossamer threads of energy connecting them rewove themselves, the helical patterns within unraveling and reforming into new, more linear configurations. The dodecahedron was transforming, its symmetrical beauty giving way to a more utilitarian structure - a towering prism, sharp-edged and imposing.
As the transformation completed, the nature of the Spell shifted fundamentally. No longer a barrier encapsulating a single point, it became a shimmering wall of magical energy that bisected the classroom, dividing the space into two distinct halves. A collective gasp arose from the students, a mixture of awe and apprehension at the sheer power and control demonstrated by the construct. The wall pulsed with contained energy, its surface rippling like heat haze, a testament to the density of the mana particles now arranged in this new, formidable configuration.
The construct's eyes flickered briefly as it surveyed the class. It seemed to deeply analyze who is keeping track and the progress of what's being thought. Anton shivered as once again the Golem's gaze fell on him.
"Consider the difference between a mage who merely casts spells and one who crafts them. The former is like a musician who can play written music beautifully but cannot compose. The latter understands the underlying theory - the harmony and rhythm of Mana itself - and can therefore create new compositions."
With another grand gesture, the barrier transformed back into a sphere, and the sphere began to slowly rotate, revealing different angles and connections.
"This course's objective is for you to master these fundamental patterns. The curriculum is structured as follows: First, memorize these fundamental patterns. Second, comprehend their properties. Third, develop the ability to modify and synthesize them to generate novel spell constructs. This knowledge is foundational to advanced spellcraft."
Anton nodded. This was not the first time he had heard or studied this. But it was the first time he truly saw it.
The way Argentum was able to create the Spell was... beautiful. Words couldn't describe it.
With another gesture, the magical circle vanished, and the room returned to its original state.
"We will now proceed with a more practical section of this lecture. You are required to bring me spells you can cast but don't understand, and I will break down the spell-crafting process that led to the creation of the Spell. Raise your hands orderly to get your turn."
Beatriz, the petite student with iridescent butterfly wings that shimmered with every movement, eagerly raised her hand. Her wings caught the ambient light from the floating mana motes, casting delicate rainbow patterns across her workspace. Argentum's luminous eyes focused on her, their glow intensifying slightly as its analytical systems engaged.
"Student Beatriz. You have a spell for analysis?" The construct's voice resonated with metallic precision.
"Yes, Magister," Beatriz replied, her voice slightly hushed but tinged with excitement. Her wings fluttered nervously. "It's a simple levitation spell I learned from my mother. I can make small objects float, but I've never understood the how it actually works."
"Demonstrate," Argentum instructed, its voice devoid of inflection. The runes across its liquid metal surface pulsed with a subtle blue glow, indicating its scanning protocols had activated.
Beatriz nodded and focused intently on a spare quill resting on her workstation. Her wings stilled completely as she concentrated.
"Airo."
With a delicate gesture of her fingers - tracing what Anton recognized as the simplest Air rune - the quill lifted into the air, hovering a few inches above the surface. It rotated slowly, perfectly balanced. As the quill floated, the air around it began to shimmer and distort. A faint, three-dimensional pattern of light materialized, layer by layer, revealing the intricate network of mana particles that underpinned the levitation spell. The particles, glowing with a soft yellow tint, danced and flowed in geometric precision, forming a complex but elegant structure.
"Analysis: Basic levitation matrix," Argentum's voice echoed through the classroom, each word precise and measured. The construct raised one liquid metal hand, causing the visible spell matrix to expand so all students could see clearly. As he continued his explanation, the matrix moved and gleamed in different manners, emphasizing different parts of the Spell as he detailed them.
"Primary analysis: The Spell's foundation centers on a classical Air Rune configuration. This structure efficiently channels ambient Air Mana, concentrating the energy at a precise focal point. The tetrahedron formation directs Mana flow along a singular vector - in this demonstration, upward. Observe the containment rings - these elegant structures regulate mana distribution and modulate the applied force. Their removal would result in significantly amplified force output, transforming this controlled levitation into raw propulsion. The Spell exemplifies efficiency through simplicity."
The construct's luminous eyes traced the floating matrix methodically, its surface runes pulsing in harmony with each point of analysis. "Secondary observation: The distinctive flow patterns and harmonic resonance indicate Sylvan design principles, most likely originating from the Third Era of formalized spellcraft. The mathematical precision is... most elegant."
"So, uh, just to make sure I understand. This Spell takes the air mana in through the Air Rune, channels it in a direction through the little pyramid, and then controls the force through the circles?"
"A crude but correct understanding, Mrs. Beatriz. Congratulations on learning. Any questions remaining?"
Beatriz smiled and shook her head. She looked at her own hands and the levitating quill, and smiled sincerely. "Thank you, Magister. My mother never had the chance to learn this. I'll make sure to tell her about it."
The construct nodded, emitting a satisfied hum. Anton wondered if this was his version of a smile. "Next."
Anton lifted his hand.