The season changed to Autumn finally. Axel has studdied hard and reading about wyverns in his off time when he isnt goofing off with Adeline, Thall and Thorn. Hearing the leaves crunch with every step, Axel imagined it was him smashing Miss Dunson's ego.
Every day Axel let Clove fly about and stretch its wings and develop more. Clove has grown half its size in the time since Axel started going to school here. From thinking about how Clove's behavior is during combat and reading the book on wyverns, he found a hidden behavior about them that no one has exploited. He searched in the book more for more evidence and to exploit this behavior, he needs to start combat with a polite and clean bow as a sign of respect to the wyvern. If the wyvern or Clover respects the opponents bow, they will bow back. The exploit will come after the wyvern bows back.
Axel came to a few areas where things are going to be difficult for him before and during his mid-term. He is debating on letting his full aura out and use all of the abilities and spells he is learning during the mid-term for an auto win in his head so he cant hide anything but his name. The next thing is that he is restricted from using Clove to get around the campus. And the final thing he is worried about is fighting the wyvern again while not being in the air this time.
As the semester flies by, Axel learns key spells in each element that can help him in the long run. And he is making custom combos with his magic when he has the big doors open in his room. And he is testing if he becomes vocal while charging spells can help them become more powerful and visually pleasing at the same time. Though he felt stupid trying it out, it has shown results of charging spells further. And to widen his capacity of how many spells he can cast and how powerful he can make them. He is currently theorizing that he should be able to cast 20 max charged spells in 12 minutes before he is completely drained.
The most useful thing he has learned from the classes is how to jump using lightning magic. Only thing is, the early versions of the ability is loud. 'If I can somehow jump directly where I want quietly, I can have an advantage for the mid-term', Axel thinks impatiently. Then he remembers how dark magic has a muffling ability that he can learn for extra points in that class.
A wide smile appears on Axel's face as Adeline and the twin brothers walk up infront of the school house. "What are you so happy about Axel? You have been so stressed studying that you always look tired and drained," Thall said as he clung on to Axel playfully.
"Atleast he isnt gloomy anymore. He has been that way for the past couple months Thall," Thorn replied before Axel has a chanse to say anything.
"I think I have another breakthrough with combining an ability with a spell guys. I know this pattern is rediculous with combining spells and abilities but this is going to put me a step ahead of my lightning lectures and an advantage during the mid-term," Axel said exitedly.
Adeline sighed and smiled, "Atleast you are learning useful things magic wise, but how is your martial arts coming along?"
Axel kicks a rock and said, "I only get 1 class every 2 weeks. I told my instructor the situation I'm in and he got me on this schedule. And I want to learn one more passive spell."
Adeline huffs at Axel, "Look Izaak, I get that we are mages but you need put more effort into the martial arts classes so you can have an easier time in close combat situations and not using your sword as a "lightning rod". Plus can you handle yourself against one of the martial artists we started school with?"
Axel's brows furrow as he takes a deep breath. Looking at Thorn and Thall. He replies, "Kate, I'm not too worried about martial arts other than advancing my blocking and perrying techniques. And I'm not planning on using my sword during the mid-term because of how complex the battle may be. And no because I have to worry about casting spells and using abilities against an opponent that is in the air the whole time."
"Hey guys, lets go get something to eat. You two need to relax on this. Classes just ended for the day and you two are probably stressed from today's assignments. Izaak, since you have been spending your funds on books, I'll spot you on meals until our next round of allowances come in. You can pay me back by doing some wicked spells at the arena next week," Thorn said as he separated Adeline and Axel and tugged them towards the cafe.
Thall giggled and pointed at Thorn, "You skipped lunch again, didn't you bro? I swear nothing stops you when you are hungry."
"Well practicing healing magic is very demanding no mater how advanced you are, Thall," Thorn said sharply as he kept tugging on Axel and Adeline towards the cafe.
After a quick dinner, everybody went to the open field behind the dorms. As the others sit back and get settled. Axel decides to bring out Clove.
"You gonna let him fly around again today? You almost got in trouble during lunch!," Thall said as Axel started to bow to Clove. "Not as much this time Thall, I want to get this right so I can go all out with the wyvern next week."
"What's so important about bowing to a wyvern? It's an opponent that is very aggressive at that. There is no way the one you are facing is gonna bow like Clove," Thorn ignorantly said to Axel.
"Actually Thorn, Izaak is doing this because if you can bow to a wyvern correctly, the wyvern will bow back and they both will charge up their fist strike to be as powerful and intimidating as possible. Hopefully Izaak can strike first because wyverns don't take very long to charge their spells and use their breath," Thall explained to Thorn.
"This is getting exiting. I bet Miss Dunson won't see it coming," Thorn said exitedly. "Plus if I didn't know any better, I'd say Izaak could be a prodigy like that guy 2 grades ahead of us. I learned prodigies are rare and only people with 5 or more elements is considered a prodigy."
Adeline quietly gasped and held her breath as Thorn talked about prodigies. She knows Axel is the rarest prodigy using all 7 elements. Adeline then said shakily, "If you had to guess, Thorn. How many elements do you think Izaak can use?"
Thorn looked up and watched Clove dissapear into the clouds before saying, "I would have to say 5 at most Kate. It is almost impossible for us to be around someone with more than 5 elements. I mean look at Chad Ulfgen. He can use 5 elements, so statistically our chanses of meeting someone with 6 or especially all 7 elements is nearly impossible Kate."
Adeline let out a sigh as Axel came over and sat next to her. Axel whispered to Adeline, "I made up my mind. I am going to use everything I learned and go all out. The battle next week will be interesting."
Adeline blushed as her eyes widened at Axel. After a quick gasp, Adeline forgot to whisper back to Axel, "You can't go all out or the entire school will know you are a prodigy of all 7 elements Axel." Adeline quickly covered her mouth and slowly panned her eyes towards the twins who were in shock.
Thorn and Thall said in unison, "ALL 7 ELEMENTS!?!?" Axel's real name went in one ear and out the other. They looked at eachother then looked back at Axel. "Izaak is one of the prodigies of all 7 elements?," Thall asked Adeline and Axel to clarify.
Axel sighed, "Yes but don't tell a soul you two. In 4 days im taking my mid-term against the quad-element wyvern and i want to keep as many surprises hidden as possible for the fight. And I'm sure this wyvern I am facing is Miss Dunson's personal familiar. So in theory, I can possibly strip her of her familiar if i can beat it brutally and fast enough."
Adeline slapped Axel, "How dare you think of stripping the principal of her familiar! Plus it is nearly impossible because she is over twice our age with combat experience like no other. You are basically fighting her mental commands to it if that is the case. Yes you should defeate it so you can pass your mid-term, but don't brutalize it. Think Izaak, how would you feel if someone stripped Clover from you?"
Axel glared at Adeline, "She won't let me use my familiar for travel unless I pass this mid-term and I cant even use Clove for the battle either. She basically stripped me of Clove because I can't train how I want. And I miss the cold wind in my face as Clove flies high. So I am going to make her regret messing with my way of life, the culture i grew up in and my lifetime companion."
Adeline pouts before standing up, "You can't always be an avenger Izaak. I know the past hurts but one day we will put you back on your rightful place as Jarl of the throne."
Axel lays back onto the grass as Clove goes back into the rune on his shoulder, "That is most likely no longer available to me. Even if i did return, I still have Jonah to kill. With everything I'm gonna be doing and what I might become, which I am not saying is certain but, possibly I won't be anywhere fit to be the Jarl when i come of age in 8 years."
Adeline looked around, "When did Thall and Thorn leave?" Axel sighed and replied, "After I told them to tell no one that I'm a prodigy. They shrugged and wandered off quickly when you slapped me."
Adeline gasped and apologized before noticing the time. Axel got up and went to his dorm after Adeline left. Once night time came, Axel snuck out to the field to practice a spell for a couple hours before getting rest.
Axel went to his Darkness class instructor Mr Loriell the next day while he was sitting at his desk. There is a passive ability that Axel knows he can help him find and aquire before the mid-term in 3 days.
"Excuse me Mr Loriell. Can you help me get a passive ability? And if you know where i can find it," Axel asked him after he was invited in.
"It depends Izaak. I need to know what passive ability you are looking for and what you are planning to use it for," Mr Loriell replied.
Axel sighed before speaking, "I would like to learn muffle, the passive ability that i can control at a moments notice. And it is for one of the spells that I will be using frequently so I dont damage my hearing."
Mr Loriell looks at Axel with relief, "It's better to be safe than sorry. I'll be glad to teach you this. And it is something learned instantly. You just have to know when you want to use it and forget about it for however long you want. Thats why I like this passive the most. It give you the choice of when it works and you can turn it off with just a thought."
Axel smiles wide, "Thankyou. How can i learn it?" Mr Loriell leans towards Axel's ear and whispers a chant that is in another language before sitting back in his chair again. "There you go Izaak. You can now muffle any spell or movement. Just be careful.
Axel nodded and ran to the hall outside of anyones sight and activated muffle before jumping to his room. As expected not a sound came from his jump. Axel jumped in joy before resting the rest of the weekend.