"~I Tina J. Croff formally welcome you to Stonehall Magic Academy!"
Theo stared blankly at Tina for a moment then yelled out in surprise.
"Eh!?"
Theo began to massage his temples in a desperate attempt to calm the panicked thoughts racing through his mind.
'Her last names Croff!? that's my last name! wait she has the same initials too! is she my daughter from the future or something!? No, that can't be it! This place looks more like the past than the future! Think she said this place was some kind of Magic Academy, right? Maybe in addition to traveling through time, I also traveled through the multiverse to a parallel earth where fiction and reality are flipped? if that is the case how am I going to get back home without science!? Am I going to be stuck here~'
the concerned voice of Tina jolted Theo out of his panicked thoughts.
"Theo, are you ok!? Did something happen to you? Is it because of the stones!?"
Theo let out a deep sigh to calm his nerves and began to think about what's important at this moment.
'ok calm down, you need to gather more information, I cant jump to any conclusions just yet. I still have to deal with this Temporal Amber. who knows, maybe it can help me get home...'
After composing himself Theo turned to face Tina he said with a wry smile.
"No nothing is wrong with me, but I do need your help moving these stones to a safe place where we can guaranty that they won't be disturbed. Do you know any place like that?"
After seeing there was nothing wrong with Theo, Tina closed her eyes and began to think about a possible place that met Theo's requirements. A few moments later Tina's eyes shot open and said with a confident smile.
"We could keep them in my dorm room! I don't have any roommates this semester so we should be fine!"
Hearing this Theo took a second to think it over. Judging there should be no problems he nodded in affirmation. He then remembered the old garden shed they passed on the way here he asked Tina to get him a few flower pots, some gloves, and a small shovel. she then bolted off to gather the requested items.
After a few minutes of waiting, Theo saw the energetic form of Tina wearing a pair of big leather garden gloves carrying two medium-sized flower pots, a small gardening shovel rattling around in one of the pots.
Theo was slightly stunned that Tina was able to carry all that in one trip. After setting down the flower pots, Tina took off the leather gloves and handed them to Theo. with a curious face, she watched as Theo began to shovel layers of dirt into the pots then using the gloves he one by one began to pack the stones in making sure none of the stones were touching each other. he then adding another layer of dirt and repeat. after Theo finished the first pot Tina could not hold her curiosity and asked.
"So Theo, why do you need all this to move these stones? I know you said they are dangerous, but what are they exactly and what happens if someone touches them?"
Theo let out an exasperated sigh and without interrupting his routine began explaining.
"Well, for starters they are not stones they are hunks of crystallized Temporal Sand. As for what happens when you touch one to be honest I am not quite sure..."
hearing his explanation Tina furrowed her eyebrows and said with a hint of irritation.
"Then why are you saying they are so dangerous if you don't know what it does!?"
Theo paused his work for a moment, glancing at Tina with an annoyed look. Then while staring at he said plainly.
"Because this is crystallized Temporal Sand and I am very knowledgable of the effects of direct contact with Temporal Sand. Trust me It isn't anything good..."
Tina's expression softened a bit as she began to understand what Theo meant. Tina's face scrunched up in a confused pout asked.
"Ok, I get that but what would happen if I touched this Temporal Sand stuff?"
After packing dirt over the final hunk of amber Theo picked up one of the flower pots with a grunt. turned to Tina and said with a strained smile.
"I explain fully once we get to your dorm room..."
Hearing this Tina begrudgingly picked up the other flower pot and began leading Theo to her doom room. Around 5 minutes later the pair of kids were walking down the stone halls of this massive castle. Unable to bear the awkward silence any longer Theo decided to ask one of the many questions he had about his current location.
"So you said this place is called Stonehall Magic Academy right? I have never been to a magic academy before, what are Magic lessons like?"
Without looking back Tina responded with a bit of surprise in her voice.
"Well sure have never been to a magic academy before, kids are only allowed to join a magic academy once they are at least 12 years old. not to say you can't learn magic outside of a magic academy. there are Grimoires on the basics of magic sold all over the Soran Kingdom. Although the newer Grimoires can cost anywhere from 22 to 24 gold pieces!"
unsure of how much a gold piece is in comparison to an American dollar Theo stayed quiet doing the occasional nod.
"I mean that's half my father makes in a year! Thankfully the academy lets students use the library for free. Although the latest Grimoires can cost an arm and a leg, the older volumes are a lot more affordable. That's why it is not uncommon to see new students bringing their own Grimoires to magic academies."
Tina paused for a moment and glanced back at Theo then said.
"Theo, I just noticed You don't have a Grimoire on you. If you are going to be a student here you are going to need one. Did you lose yours when you made that flashy entrance of yours?"
Theo stayed silent as in his mind he was having an internal debate on what to do next.
'Ok, It is obverse I won't be able to get back to my earth without building another Time Winder. However, to do that I will need a space to use as a lab or workshop. Although If this world is truly a version of earth parallel to my own, then it is highly likely that I will have to relearn some if not all of my inherited knowledge. If that is the case It would be a good first step to join this magic academy~'
Theo's thoughts were interrupted by the bubbly voice of Tina.
"Alright that's is my dorm right over there, Room 121!"
Seeing as their destination was in sight, the duo quickened their pace and soon found themselves in front of a stone wall, evenly spaced brass plates with room numbers engraved into the metal are pressed into the wall. There was just one thing missing, a door. Theo was at a loss for words as he cursed in his mind.
'Ok where if the ever living hell is the door how is anyone going to get to their room without a~'
But before Theo could finish his internal complaint Tina just walk through the wall disappearing from view. Theo stood there in stunned silence as before his eyes the stone wall melted away like falling water. In Its place an open archway leaving into a small room reminiscent of a college dorm room from Theo's own earth.
After setting down the heavy flower pot Tina began to climb to the top bunk of the bunk bed. halfway up the small later she turned to Theo and said with a curious look.
"Hey Theo, I have been meaning to ask what classes are you going to take this semester? I have already picked my four core classes with Advanced Magical Combat as my elective."
setting down the other flower pot Theo looked at the beaming smile of Tina and said with a wry smile.
"Funny thing... I am not actually a student here, although I would like to apply if given the chance."
There was an awkward pause as Tina blinked a few times then her expression shifted into that of stunned surprise as she blurted out in shock.
"Ehhhhh!?"