After Arriving at the Training Feild, Theo explained to Tina the equation needed to cast TJ's Flame. Tina was easily able to grasp the Spell as it was simply using concepts she already learned. After practicing for about an hour Tina was able to consistently cast TJ's Flame with relative ease.
"TJ's Flame!"
Theo watched as the dark red flame enveloped the stone target. nodding with approval he put his hand up signaling Tina to stop casting and come over. After Tina walked over, Theo wore a beaming smile as he stated.
"Excellent work Tina! With that spell, you should have no problem holding your own against most other students thanks to that spell's six-second casting time! Although, keep in mind this spell's power is pretty low. However, that makes sense since the flame color is dark red."
Tina nodded her head in agreement as she remarked on the lack of power in the flame with a wry smile.
"Yeah, I noticed as I held the flame when making it I could barely feel any heat. it seemed a lot weaker than the firebolt cantrip... No offense~"
Theo let out a hearty laugh then shaking his head he said.
"Well of course couldn't feel much heat! This spell's whole point is to be a fire starter not to deal any damage!"
Tina threw up her hands in frustration as she said with an angry glare.
"How am I supposed to win top marks in Magical Combat if I can't deal any damage to my opponent!"
Theo smiled mischievously as he simply stated.
"Don't worry with this spell you will definitely get top marks on the exam. Would you like to know how?"
After a few moments of glaring, Tina let out a sigh of resignation then asked.
"How can I still get top marks with this weak fire spell?"
Seeing Tina's doubt, Theo smiled wryly and said.
"I see you think the fire spell is weak. Well, that is only partially correct~"
Theo walked over to the practice mound and turned to face the stone target dummy. Then with his right hand clutching the necklace that held his Arcane Focus, he thrust out his left palm to face the stone target as within four seconds a bright yellow flame formed about a foot in front of his palm. Then, the bright yellow flame shot out from his hand and was launched at the target as he yelled out.
"TJ's Flame!"
As the bright yellow flame enveloped the stone target in flames, the stone target began glowing reddish-yellow for a moment. As the flames dissipated the stone target had been warped slightly by the heat of the flame.
Tina's eyes widened in shock her mouth hanging agape as she stared at the stone target. Pointing a finger at the melting stone target, she stuttered out.
"T-the stone is m-melting~"
Theo's smiled triumphantly as he nodded with satisfaction at his work. Tina glanced at Theo and asked still pointing a the statue.
"T-that was the same s-spell?
Theo's smile widened as he stated with a hint of pride in his voice.
"Yup, that was indeed TJ's Flame! Although the difference between your previous casting and my casting just now is the addition of two Spell Enhancements I applied to TJ's Flame while casting it."
Tina turned to face Theo, as she asked eyes sparkling with curiosity.
"Spell Enhancements?"
Switching back into professor mode, Theo nodded in affirmation as he explained.
"To be more specific I used Boost-Casting five times to bump the temperature of the flame from around 500 degrees Celsius to around 1,400 degrees Celsius making the flame hot enough able to melt the stone target. I also used Quick-Casting two times as well to make the time need to complete the casting four seconds rather than six."
Tina quickly glanced at the still melting statue, then she looked at Theo and asked hesitantly.
"So, If I learn those spell enhancements I can do that?"
Theo walked over to Tina placing a hand on her shoulder and said with a wry smile.
"While it is true using Boost-Casting to that degree will make TJ's Flame melt stone. Due to how the flames engulf the target, even a Dark Red flame can cause someone to pass out due to a lack of Oxigen. So, I recommend sticking to the Dark Red flame when casting TJ's Flame any living thing unless your goal is to take its life~"
Hearing this Tina's expression fell, as she glanced over at the melting stone target. Now realizing how dangerous TJ's Flame really is, Tina nodded in understanding.
"~However, just because you probably shouldn't use Boost-Casting in the entrance exam since it's going to involve Magical Combat against other students doesn't mean you can't use Quick-Casting to make your casting speed even shorter to really stick it to Fraya!"
Hearing this Tina looked up at Theo who was wearing a beaming smile and nodded with determination as she said a fire in her eyes.
"Yeah! I'll work hard to make my casting time as fast as possible and I crush Freya's record!"
Seeing Tina's determination Theo's smile grew, as a similar fire was ignited in his eyes he said cracking his knuckles.
"That's the spirit, Tina! However, Quick-Casting isn't going to be as easy to learn as TJ's Flame. You are going to need to cast TJ's Flame at your current casting speed over and over until it becomes second nature! Only then can you try subtracting time off your casting speed with Quick-Casting!"
Tina, understanding the tough road ahead began to spend the rest of the afternoon casting TJ's Flame. Only after the sun started to sink below the horizon did the two kids finally head back to their room.
Back in Room 121, Tina lay exhausted on her bed in the top bunk. her stomach was in knots since she skipped dinner to get more practice in. Even after Training for almost 6 hours straight she still couldn't get a single second off her casting time using Quick-Casting! Tina thought back to how Theo could cast TJ's Flame in only four seconds. Tina closed her eyes swearing she would catch up to her amazing teacher, she drifted off to sleep.
The following morning, Tina and Theo woke up around eight and made their way to the First-Floor Dining Hall. While chowing down on some bacon and eggs Theo discussed with Tina their plan for the entrance exam tomorrow.
"So Tina, since the entrance exam tomorrow I just want to double-check something~"
Tina looked up from knowing on a thick piece of bacon, nodding her head urging Theo to ask his question.
"~The entrance exam is broken into two parts, Right? First, a short preliminary exam to test our maximum magical ability using our best spell against a stone target like at the Training Feild. The second is a knockout tournament in one on one Magical Combat consisting of the passing students of the first part. do I got that right?"
Tina swallowed her final piece of bacon and nodded in affirmation adding with a wry smile.
"Yup, that's pretty much the just of it. Although I hope when I see you in the tournament you won't go overboard."
Theo chuckled awkwardly scratching the back of his head as he promised not to use Boost-Casting in the tournament. After the two kids left the First-Floor Dining Hall, the pair headed over to the Training Field and spent the day practicing Quick-Casting. As the sun began to set, the two kids headed back to Room 121. Exhausted from another long day of training Tina once again climbed up to her top bunk and drifted off to sleep.
Down in the bottom bunk, Theo took out his journal from under his pillow. Flipping to back pages and spent a few minutes looking at the start of a new spell concept to potentially get him home. written on the small page was a slew of equations and formulas, some of which had been crossed out. with a heavy sigh, Theo closed the small book and placed it back under his pillow. quietly climbing out of bed, he stood in the center of the small room staring at the stone ceiling.
Theo thought back on the past few days he spent in this strange world. He thought back to when he first arrived and met his eccentric parallel self, Tina J. Croff. He thought of chatting it up while eating chocolate chip pancakes with Tina's father, Arthur. A man who had long since passed away in Theo's version of earth. He thought of the satisfaction of seeing Tina's eyes sparkle with joy and curiosity as she learned chemistry or how her eyes would burn with determination when she set her mind to mastering Quick-Casting.
Theo glanced at the young girl sleeping in the top bunk, a warm smile on his face. Theo then turned his gaze to the pillow hiding his journal and the start of his spell that could take him home to his earth. waking back to his bed Theo snuggled into bed as he thought to himself as he drifted off to sleep.
'This world isn't too bad. I can wait on finding a way home, at least for a now...'