"I must be truly lucky..."
Theo smiled slightly as he heard Tina mumble. Suddenly a low gurgle echoed through the small room as both Theo's and Tina's stomach cried out for sustenance. After an awkward pause, the two kids bust out into laughter. Wiping the happy tier from his eye Theo let out one last chuckle then said.
"Maybe that's enough studying for tonight."
Tina stifling a chuckle she patted her belly and said with a grin.
"Yeah, let's get food before our stomachs yell at us again!"
After putting away their books, the duo left their room and Tina began leading the way down the stone hall. A few minutes later the pair found themselves at the same corner with the wall castle map and gargoyle. Tina looked sternly at the gargoyle then stated.
"Two for the Dining Hall floor one"
Just like before a green light began to shine out of the gargoyle's stone eyes. The light quickly grew brighter and brighter till it flooded the pair's vision. After the green light faded and the two kids found themselves right next to a massive stone archway that led into a vast dining hall bustling with the chatter of other students. There were at least fifty large round tables clustered around the room. Each table looked to be seemingly able to sit around ten people. Floating around a foot above each seat at a table was a light blue glowing orb of light the size of a softball. Tina led Theo over to one of the few empty tables and the two sat down. Theo did not fail to notice a few groups of students starting at Theo who look quite out of place in his singed blue smock. Ignoring the stares Theo turned to Tina as asked.
"Hey, Tina what was that gargoyle thing we used to get here?"
Glancing back at Theo, Tina said with a slight chuckle.
"The Gargoyle Circle? Makes sense if you have never seen one before... They are a special network of Teleportation Circles that can only be found in a Magic Academy, the Mage Tower of an Archmage, or the castle of some Earl of the kingdom. They are really, really expensive to make..."
Raising an eyebrow Theo turned to face Tina and asked.
"Is the Gargoyle Circles the only way to get around in the Academy?"
Tina let out a slight chuckle as she turned to face Theo she said while shaking her head.
"No, you can take the halls to get anywhere on campus. However, the Gargoyle Circles are still the fastest way to get around campus. Do you know how late every student would be if we didn't use the Gargoyle Circles to get to classes!? Stonehall Magic Academy is like the size of a small city!?"
Hearing this Theo let out a sigh of relief as smiled wryly and mumbled.
"that's good to know. I'm glad if those Gargoyles ever stop we won't be completely trapped~"
Theo was jolted out of his mutterings by a slap on the back from Tina who said with a beaming smile.
"Enough grumbling, let's get some grub! Today is Saturday so that means~"
Tina then poked the light blue orb floating in front of her with her index finger. the light blue orb began glowing a light green and floated down till it popped in a flash of green light. After the light cleared a large plate with a massive heap of spaghetti and meatballs lay on the table in front of Tina who continued.
"~It's Pasta Night!"
Seeing this Theo immediately poked his orb and just like for Tina, the light blue orb began glowing a light green and floated down till it popped in a flash of green light. when the light cleared Theo's mouth began to water as he stared at the large plate of spaghetti before him.
Forks in hand, the two kids began to chow down on their dinner. A few minutes of feeding later, both Theo and Tina were patting their bellies Fully satisfied with their meal. looking at their empty plates the duo watched as the light blue orb once again began glowing a light green and floated down till it popped in a flash of green light. Although this time after the light created from their vision the table was once again empty and clean.
Theo chuckled slightly the looked at Tina and said with a beaming smile.
"I think I'm going to enjoy being a student at this academy."
Tina's smile beamed back at Theo as she nodded and said.
"Same here! Although, we both still have to pass the entrance exam. However, after hearing about some of your spells I am not worried. you are probably going to take the top spot~"
The sound of a hand slamming against the table suddenly startled to pair cutting TIna off. with an irritated frown Theo turned to see a young girl with curly bright red hair who slammed their hand on their table making so much noise. Theo decided he would call her Noisy Girl as per her loud first impression. Noisy Girl was in the same type of uniform as Tina. Theo guessed her to be around twelve, the same age as his current body. This was because her chest was almost nonexistent.
Seeing Theo's expression the girl's face twisted into a making smirk and loudly stated.
"Oh, so you think you can take my top spot?! You!? Judging by the rags you are wearing, you are so poor you have never even seen a Grimoire before! Hah! I bet you can't even cast a Cantrip!"
Apparently, while Theo and Tina were chatting about the entrance exam Noisy Girl overheard us and had walked over to our table to check out the newcomers. Although after hearing what Tina said about Theo taking the top spot she decided to speak her mind. All be it very loudly and with quite a lot of privileged attitude.
Theo, ever the critical thinker decided to correct Noisy Girl's early statement as it was not entirely correct. Putting on his most polite smile Theo stated in a calm voice.
"Well, Noisy Girl you were only partly correct in your previous statement. As it is true that I have seen a Grimoire before that is not due to the lack of funds. It is because where I come from books of magic are called Textbooks. Furthermore, I was back home I'm one of the top Magical Professors. So I do in fact know how Magic works. So considering revising your previous statement as if that was an exam you would have gotten only 50 points out of 100 see as your statement was only half correct. That is a failing grade by the way."
Both Tina and Noisy Girl's expression was frozen in shock. Neither of them expected able to say a word. Tina was the first to break the silence as she burst out into stifled laughter as she added.
"Wow, Freya I have never seen you so quiet before!"
she then looked toward Theo who was still smiling politely and said with a beaming smile.
"This is quite the accomplishment Professor, You must teach me how to do that in our next study session!"
Hearing this Theo smiled warmly and replied.
"Of course, I will prepare an in dept lecture on "Killing with Kindness" as soon as we both take the top spots at the entrance exam this semester."
Tina was a little stunned by Theo's confidence. so with a raised eyebrow she tentatively asked.
"Theo, do you really think the two of us will take the top spots? We would have to beat Freya in Magical Combat. Despite how annoying she is, she is super good with fire spells~"
After hearing her name being mentioned, Freya snapped out of her stunned stupor loudly interjected.
"That's right, I am the youngest Apprentice Fire Mage of the kingdom! When it comes to fire spells there isn't a single first-year student in the whole school who can beat Freya Adelaide Ernest in terms of casting speed!"
Hearing Freya's claim Theo turned to the young girl a polite smile back on Theo's face as he calmly inquired.
"Really, the youngest Apprentice Fire Mage of the kingdom? That is quite the accomplishment, Miss Freya. If I may ask what is the fastest fire spell you can cast? I am curious to know it compares to my own fastest fire spell."
Hearing the compliment Freya puffed out her nonexistent chest. Then, while wearing the smuggest expression Theo had ever seen she proudly stated.
"My fastest fire spell is Firebolt My average casting time is 6 seconds! That's the same as a true Fire Mage"
Theo could almost see Freya's already massive ego growing before his eyes. However, Theo was not quite ready to crush Freya's ego just yet. So while not changing his polite smile he replied.
"That is indeed quite impressive, Miss Freya. I will certainly have my work cut out for me if I wish for both me and Tina to beat your cast speed. In any case, we must be heading back to our room. Goodnight and we will see you at the entrance exam."
With that, Theo stood up from his seat a polite smile still fixed to his face, as he began to head toward the exit of the dining hall. moments later Tina caught up to Theo and with a bit of doubt, she quietly asked.
"Hey Theo, was all of what you said back there really true?"
To this, Theo Smiled warmly at Tina and simply stated.
"I have made it a habit of telling the truth whenever posable as the best way to win an argument is to speak nothing but truth and facts. In any case, let's head back to our room I have much to teach you before the entrance exam."