"~Ok, Study Buddy are you ready to learn!?"
Throwing her hands up in excitement Tina cheered.
"Yeah!"
Now thoroughly amped up Tina waited for Theo's next instructions. Seeing this a smile curled up Theo's face as he spoke.
"Well if you're ready to learn, grab a blank journal and something to write notes with. Professor Theo's first lesson begins in one minute!"
Nodding her head in affirmation Tina hopped up from her pillow and hurriedly grabbed a blank leather journal as well as a charcoal pencil and quickly got back to her seat. Seeing that Tina was ready Professor Theo cleared his through and began his lecture.
"Now then, Welcome to Professor Theo's first lesson! Today I will be giving a lecture on the simple yet complicated question; What Is fire? Simply put, fire is the visible effect of the process of combustion. Now that leaves us with another question; What is combustion? Combustion is a special type of chemical reaction process in which one or more substances are changed into different substances. It occurs between oxygen in the air and some sort of fuel. The products from the chemical reaction are completely different from the starting material~"
Before moving on to the next point of his lecture Theo gave a glance at Tina to see how she was doing with her notes. She was just staring at Theo her face scrunched up in confusion. Seeing this Theo had remembered a crucial detail about his current student. Tina is a 13-year-old child! Plus she has no knowledge of the Periodic Table of Elements, States of Matter, or really any of the common knowledge of his earth! Theo smiled wryly at the confused Tina and said.
"I'm sorry Tina I completely forgot I am not in my homeland so what is common knowledge for me is new ideas and concepts for you. Let's put the topic of Fire and Combustion on hold. I need to teach you about chemistry!"
So for the rest of the afternoon and most of the evening, Professor Theo taught Tina about the basics of chemistry. Theo was astounded by how fast Tina was able to understand the concept of Atoms and Ions. However, then Theo remembered that Tina was likely this parallel earth's younger version of himself. Chuckling to himself Theo smiled glad to see that even his parallel self was a genius.
The hours flew by and Tina was now learning about the Periodic Table of Elements from Professor Theo. Tina was listening intently to Theo list off the various elements. Her small leather journal was nearly half full of the various new concepts and ideas.
As she continued to take notes Tina thought back to the first Grimoire she had ever read. It was five years ago. She had just moved out of her local small village to Stonehall City with her father. The reason for the move was simple, Arthur had recently gotten a job as an Advisory Professor in the local Magic Academy. Before like most Mages of a peasant background in the Soran Kingdom, Arthur had joined the kingdom's military as a War Mage in reserve. Though soon after enlisting, the Second Great Magical War broke out and he began serving the kingdom as an active War Mage. After four long years of fighting, the Second Great Magical War came finally to an end. Arthur was honorably discharged receiving many accommodations for his service.
After returning home, Arthur would often tell Tina heroic stories from the war. From storming the sands at the Battle of Nominier Beach all the way to the Battle of Okana. Although Arthur tried to hide the cruel reality of the battles from Tina, she was a smart girl. She could tell that he was hiding the truth from her. As she noticed during the late hours of the night she would often find Arthur the dead look in his eyes staring out the open window looking off into the distance. Tina could tell the war had caused Arthur a lot of pain and was so glad that her father was able to get this job. Tina hoped that this job would help distract himself from his trama.
As they were visiting Stonehall City for the first time Tina used the new environment to keep her father's thoughts off the war by dragging him all over the city. After visiting many different shops they found themselves at a pawn shop. As the two explored the array of odd items on display Tina noticed Arthur staring fondly at an old tattered palm-sized book. wondering what her father was reading that could make him smile like that. Tina glanced curiously at the book. Seeing this Arthur handed the book to her and said.
"This is an old Grimoire from a former student at Stonehall Magic Academy. The same place where I went to learn my Magic as well as where I met your mother."
Tina took the small book and stared down at it in awe as she had never met her mother as she died during childbirth. Although one time Tina was trying to haggle over the price of some rock candy at a food stall her father suddenly let out a hearty laugh then said with a chuckle.
"You remind me of your mother."
He then ruffled Tina's hair then he bought them both a stick of rock candy. Arthur never really mention mom much nor did she ask as to not bring up sad memories. Tina was naturally curious about his parent's life at Stonehall Magic Academy. so looking up from the small book Tina asked.
"Father, what was mom like at the academy and how did you meet?"
Closing his eyes Arthur smiled warmly reminiscing about his past days as a student. then opening his eyes he let out a light chuckle and said.
"I first met your mother as I was on my way to the second semester's entrance exam for first-year students. Oversleeping I woke up to find myself on the verge of being late for the exam. I was racing through the halls of my dorm building heading to the nearest Gargoyle Circle. As I turned the corner that led to the Gargoyle Circle of this building I bumped into a young girl with beautiful straight brown hair that went down to her shoulders. After awkwardly helping her up and a bit of brief conversation I learned that she had been tricked by one of the other students into taking a Gargoyle Circle to the opposite side of the campus and ended up getting lost. I led her and myself back to the exam grounds. somehow making it on time we ended up passing both of us scoring in the top five. After the exam, we became close friends and eventually lovers. I often find myself thinking to myself if have never slept in that day I would have never met your mom. So whenever I sleep in I think of that fateful morning and smile."
After hearing the story Tina wondered if she went to Stonehall Magic Academy she would meet someone special too. So looking back at the small book in her hands Tina mumbled to herself.
"Maybe If I could go to Stonehall Magic Academy I could~"
Just then Arthur let out a chuckle and while ruffling Tina's hair said with a smile.
"Well let's think about that once your twelve that's how old you need to be a student at Stonehall. Until then why don't we get you this Grimoire so you can start to learn basic spells and cantrips?"
Hearing this Tina hugged her father and thanked him with a beaming smile. After paying for the Grimoire the two left the shop. All the while Tina nose deep into her new Grimoire. After a bit of reading, she learned about Arcane Focuses and the force called Mana. Tina was curious about Mana and why the Arcane Focus can allow mages to manipulate it to cast their spells. However, when she asked her dad about it he smiled and said.
"Tina, mages have been asking that same question for thousands of years still know next to nothing about Mana as well as how and why an Arcane Focus lets us use it to cast spells. Who knows, maybe you'll be the one to find the answer?"
Years later Tina was now halfway through her first year at Stonehall Magic Academy, she still had yet to find any clue as to the mysteries of Mana in any of the Grimoires she read during the first semester. During the week off before the second semester starts Tina was walking outside her the memory of that conversation echoed through her mind. Suddenly a Blinding golden light startled her out of her thoughts. when she opened her eyes Tina saw a young boy in charged oversized clothes floating above a ring of colorful rocks surrounding the unconscious kid. she felt that same burning curiosity about the mysterious young boy as she felt about Mana. Carefully Tina grabbed the floating kid and carried the boy to the Infirmary Ward Tina felt that there was something special about that boy.
Now sitting here listening to that same mysterious young boy teaching her all these amazing things about Mana. Tina knew that in her heart that the mysterious kid named Theodore Jennings is special indeed. Tina smiled internally as she felt so grateful to her new friend and Study Buddy Theodore Jennings. Glancing up at Theo, Tina smiled warmly she mumbled softly.
"I must be truly lucky..."