After I had gotten Mr. Giles's letter to Student Resources, they assured me that everything would be taken care of, that I could just focus on my classes. I assume that meant things like tuition and uniform costs. After all they could be bothered to spend on every single student for every uniform. Despite the expansive campus.
The clerk at the desk inside thanked me for my time and sent me off with a tidbit of information, that the Magus Council in charge of the Academy will get in touch with me regarding the specific classes that I am to take. So, there will be classes that are required of me aside from basic studies?
As I left, with a few papers to guide me through my time here, I read through the material on my way to the suite dorms, the way to them courtesy of the map I had just acquired. That'll be handy indeed.
First off there would be an introductory testing session the day before the school's opening ceremony. This would serve to label the students' current magic output and designate them from rank 1 to around rank 5. Sebastian estimated that I would come out at Rank 4 at least with my dynamic movement and powerful impact attacks. This would be the starting point for us, as we worked to climb those Ranks during our careers as mages. Master Sebastian was a Rank 9 Infernal Caster. Which put him on par with an entire army's worth of soldiers in combat. Then there was the significant increase into Rank 10 which would be a catastrophe class mage that could level an entire city. It was said only one mage in Arcadia held that rank currently.
Other than that, courses would start up next week, after the opening ceremony in the auditorium, after which students will begin their classes that morning, consisting of various electives and required classes.
Electives, meaning there are classes that I get to choose from? Supposed that made sense. Each student would be different with how their magic acted and manifested. For example, I most likely would have a few classes different from Rachael, a Tidal Caster, as I was a Tempest Incursor. Our mana types were exceedingly different. So, it would be correct to assume that there would be courses specific to my element, even some specific to my combat type.
Naturally mages were separated into classes and types based on their mana type and their body's way of using said mana. Master Sebastian made sure I knew the specific differences in each. First of all, you had your base elements. I of course, was wind. This gave me the half-title "Tempest". My mana specialized in controlling and expelling wind in various forms.
Then there was Fire, master Sebastian's element. Fire was labeled "Infernal" when classing a mage. Aside from him there was:
Water: "Tidal"
Earth was "Quake"
And the rare element type of Light. They called those "Brights"
Very rarely mages were born with dual elements that often times combined to form a new variant, called an Aberrant Element. For example, Earth and Fire could generate a mage that could use Magma, but it could also turn out differently. Sebastian said once he met an Earth and Fire element mage that could control and even form metal as his Aberrant element.
The secondary name of a mage's type was their combat classification. An Incursor like me generated mana and expelled it from their body at close range. Incursor was a play on the word incursion, a quick and sudden attack. We got in close and dealt real damage to our opponents while using our magic to enhance ourselves.
Casters, like Rachael Bayern and master Sebastian, used their bodily mana to remotely cast spells at varying ranges. They specialized in medium to long distance attacks that were made to overwhelm opponents at range.
And finally, there were Alters. Based on the word Alteration, an Alter changed mana and magic to meet their needs, essentially they were magic "Wild Cards" that differed greatly from the other two classifications and even could differ from each other, as Alters were unique individually as well as generally. Sebastian said he once met a wind Alter that could oxidize nearby metals with his magic and render weapons like swords irreparable by rusting them almost instantly.
These classifications labeled me as a Single Element Tempest Incursor. Which told you that I could only use wind and I was a close to medium range fighter.
I flipped the page again and found something even more interesting. Or at least definitely what I had been expecting.
Combat classes.
These seemed to range from magic courses like team fighting practice to basic combat training like swordplay and physical combat. Wonder if they have any hand-to-hand combat training? That might be fun.
"Advanced Mana Physical Enhancement, Weapon Mana Arts, though I don't particularly use weapons. Does that make me some kind of pugilist?" My eyes continued to scan the parchment labeling anything that might be interesting. "Specializations?" Question for another time.
These classes would be taken on the east side of the campus, where the academy had large buildings catering to those specific classes needs. Like sparring rings, target practice, etc.
I'm definitely going to like these courses, as they basically called to my competitive nature.
Several minutes found me walking outside alongside the west side of campus. Several groups of students dotted the courtyard around me. As a port city, Arcadia hugged a large bay that fed into the Yvalt Sea. The Academy of Magic was built on the higher ground of the cliffside just outside of the city but bordered on the opposite side by the cliff itself.
The suite dorms that were built for nobility were part of the structural marvel of the academy. From the school it looked like an elongated building that edged the cliffside, but grand staircases dipped down and allowed you to gain entry to the rest. The ground floor building was replicated downward until it reached close to the water down below, staggering each floor like steps. Easily twenty suites made up each section, totaling at 120 individual dorms before the bottom. From my place on the railing above, I could see all of it, curved into the rock face.
"As if that doesn't look a bit excessive. Nice. But excessive." I said to myself before making my way down the staircase. It took three flights of stairs until I reached my floor.
"Room sixty-four, sixty-four. Ah, there we go." Before I could open the lock to enter I heard a commotion coming from my left, something like muffled yelling. I couldn't quite make them out until the door burst open in a flurry of objects and a man dressed as a servant, rushing to flee from the onslaught of projectiles flinging out the door, a few of them even being launched out into the sea.
And then, her voice, in all its frivolous rage. "And make sure you come back with the right ones!"
The servant fled up the stairwell as the source of that voice came out to retrieve her belongings. I immediately noticed her hair, long and flowing down well past her shoulders, and it was a beautiful deep, cherry red.
Then her dress, clearly of noble birth by the fine detail, was made up of mixtures of dark reds and whites. I think it was after I noticed her pristine, white heels that also noticed how close I was. I had gotten just these close steps away from her all the way from my door.
I looked back up to her face to find her dark red eyes staring back at me. "Who are you?" the girl asked me.
"Your neighbor, apparently." I responded. "Can I help?"
She huffed a breath as I saw her hair seemingly flush brighter, "Absolutely not, I do not need your help. Now be so kind as to leave me alone."
What? "Hey, I'm just trying to be nice here."
The red headed girl stood and whirled around now to face me head on, "I do not care, leave me alone!" I wasn't mistaken, her hair flared up with fire mana, causing it to light in small bursts with each sentence she uttered.
I didn't understand what was wrong here, but it seemed like she was angry about something, and I had just gotten in the way and was very close to taking it out on me instead. "Alright. Alright. I'll go. Clearly you're going to be a bit volatile–"
Wrong move.
"Volatile!" she flared. "How rude!" She leveled her finger in my direction to chastise me, "You're the one getting himself wrapped up in my business, I have no need for your help or want you anywhere near me!"
This little… "It was just a gesture of good will, you don't have to scream at me for it, princess." I countered with the last word being spat in her direction like an insult. If she wanted to act like one then she would be called one.
"Hmph, as long as you know how beneath me you are, then good."
This prideful, annoying girl was really getting on my nerves. "You seem to have a really high opinion of yourself."
She crossed her arms and sneered, "Naturally. It comes with the title. As long as you make sure to stay out of the Flare Princess's way, then you'll do just fine for yourself." She turned and retrieved her things, glaring at me one last time before slamming her door closed.
Flare Princess? Was that her mage title?
"Arrogant girl." I muttered before walking back my dorm suite.
Inside the suite, immediately I was met with a decent sized open space. The entryway of the suite led into a living area of sorts, with couches surrounding a rectangular table. Off to the side I saw a door that must've led into the living quarters for a servant or two. I knew Miss Fennec would be living here for just a week until she departed, but that wouldn't be true for the nobility students.
After the next week it would just be me here.
Further in were my living quarters that was more like an apartment Flat. Separated from the rest of the dorm suite, my room was a multi-floored area with the large king-sized bed being on a raised platform above the rest of the room. The rest of the bedroom amenities were a personal bathroom, walk-in closet, drawers, a section for book shelving next to a large desk for studying and such. It really was a lot for a "student". Just goes to show how nobility get to live their lives. I guess it wouldn't be a bad thing, I certainly did not mind the extra space.
Miss Fennec entered the room then after knocking, "Just wanted to let you know that everything has already been stocked in the closet and drawers. I have to go into town later and get some more things like toiletry supplies. We should take some part of this week to also go clothes shopping for more than the few outfits you brought." She suggested. As always she was on top of the things I didn't think too much on.
I dropped my coat down onto the bed then went about the closet to find my combat gear. "Thank you, I'll make sure to set some time aside for it."
The maid crossed her arms. "And what exactly will you be doing in the meantime that will take up your free week before school starts?"
Like she didn't already know? "Training, of course."
She huffed in defeat and palmed her face. "You could at least act like a fifteen-year-old boy for once, you know. Make some friends, maybe even talk to some girls."
If any more of the perspective choices were like little miss princess next door, that might be difficult. "I've at least made one friend already, who just so happens to be a girl. Besides, I'll have plenty of time to explore my love life without rushing into it on the first week being here."
"Very well, young master." Miss Fen seemed to be satisfied with my answer and moved about to fuss over minor things like the bed linens and such as I closed myself in the closet to dress in my gear.
…
Thanks to the map from earlier I managed to find my way to what the map designated as the arena. A large building on campus that supposedly would be where students in their free time could perform mock battles and matches to practice. Admittedly I really wanted to see some other mages in action. Aside from master Sebastian and one other instance, shudder, I didn't have much to go on from my cloistered three years back at the estate training my body and mana, so this would be an opportunity I was excited for.
The Arena was large enough to hold several combat platforms. Three circular stages raised from the ground floor. On either side of these stages were bleachers for spectators that were raised above a wall that separated the stages from them, most likely for safety. From the looks of it, two of the stages were currently in use, with adults nearby that must be instructors. They must be on standby to interfere just in case.
I made my way up the left set of bleachers to sit and watch.
Several student groups were scattered around this side, where they watched and discussed the mock battles. Some were even taking notes. It made sense that watching other elements and combat classes fight would be very informative. You had to learn carefully what each one was good at, or in more specific cases what single opponent was good at if you intended to develop a counter for their magic.
Just as I found an empty space away from some of the other groups, a yell shot out from the middle stage, quickly drawing my focus.
Two boys were facing off, swordsmen the both of them. The one that shouted before, a sturdy built ginger-haired boy, was waylaying the other with a flurry of quick attacks with his large great sword that had him on the defensive. This one, with longer brown hair tied back, was blocking with a steel shield but being pushed back at first glance. But he wasn't.
It was clear here who had the advantage, even if the great sword user hadn't realized it yet. His attacks were harried by his aggressive rush, causing him to push too hard when his opponent continued to block with each backward step. When the massive weapon came sailing from overhead, the shield user spun on his back foot, glancing the blow off his shield and using the momentum against his opponent. His sword arm clocked the ginger boy against the side of his head using the pommel of his weapon, causing his mana aura to flare in response to the strike against it.
I assumed matches such as these would be decided once one's mana aura was broken, such as when master Sebastian and I would spar.
"He'll never break Halston's guard that way." I heard one of the nearby students murmur. They would be correct of course. The boy with the great sword would need a different strategy against that shield, especially because of his opponent's element.
From what I could tell with discerning eyes, this "Halston" was positioning his stance in a way that would distribute the force of his opponent's blows evenly through his body, but the trick is that I couldn't see his body actually receiving these blows naturally. The bend of his knees didn't chance much with each block, nor did his arms buckle under the force of that massive sword. All these factors together, I determined that Halston was an earth element Incursor.
Incursors enhanced their own bodies with the properties of their element, a magical skill known as "Enchantment". This allowed them special traits, like faster movement, stronger physical endurance and strength, even Enchantments like the ones I often used, like enhanced agility and weightlessness to allow more freedom in real combat. What Halston was doing, was distributing the force of his opponent, likely transferring this force into the very ground he stood on. This made it very difficult to physically overpower an earth mage, especially in close combat.
The ginger boy created distance and held his weapon in front at the ready. I learned forward with my arms on my knees, "What will you do now?" I silently asked.
My question was answered when I perceived mana being gathered into his weapon. The great sword ignited, engulfing the weapon in flames. That would mean the great sword is made partly of Embersteel, a variant of metal that was rich with fire mana. Which would explain the slightly reddish tint to his sword.
Manasteel is the catch-all name of a mineral that is generated in mana-rich regions that came as it was or took on the properties of the mana type that it was most saturated in, for example, Embersteel was capable of conducting fire mana. Likely mined nearby to lava beds or volcanos. Sometimes you could even find these deposits nearby to monster dens, as the beasts radiated mana, and enough of it for the surrounding area to generate the material if they were powerful enough. Mages typically used only weapons forged with this material, or with more natural ones like master Sebastian's ember oak cane.
The boy charged his weapon with fire mana, condensing it. When he seemed to have amassed enough, he rushed forward and swung the huge sword laterally, from his right side. The flames condensed and extended past the reach of his weapon, allowing him to strike at his opponent at a longer range. Halston charged his own shield with mana but didn't apply his element to it. This reinforced his plain manasteel shield to receive the attack, which slammed into it in an eruption of flame.
A hazy purple shield flared around their stage, blocking the heat blast that ensued from getting out. That would be how projectiles didn't leave the arena and harm the spectators. Smart.
"Oh?" I said with appreciation. This Halston character was indeed withstanding the next rush of attacks from his opponent without manifesting his element. With sheer reinforcement and enchantment alone. That would be something I could never do as a wind mage, at least not until I increased my skill with enchantment.
The ginger warrior continued his onslaught, without reward, as Halston received all of it.
"Are you just going to keep blocking! Fight me for real!" The great sword user shouted. He was getting impatient with the duel, as were a few of the other students that began to call similar remarks.
"Finish it!"
"Let's go, crush him!"
"Stop hiding!"
I labeled those ones as incompetent immediately, because they didn't see what I did. Halston's calm demeanor persisted as steadfast as his element. He was only biding his time until he could make a perfect counter and cleanly finish off the larger opponent. This I knew, because it was how my master fought.
When the ginger swordsman swung his blade in a wide arc in frustration, I knew it was over. The earth mage Halston ducked low under the blade's trajectory, then thrust his shield into the boy's unguarded abdomen, who buckled under the strike. In the next instant the shield came up fast to bash into his chin. That double smackdown from that mana enhanced shield would hurt, and definitely disorient the boy. Just enough for Halston to whirl and deliver piercing thrust at his chest to finish the job. His opponent's exterior mana flared wildly at the strike, then shattered entirely, deciding the match.
Well done, I thought. That was quite the learning experience.
After those two vacated the center stage, a new individual dropped down from the opposite stands. A dark-haired boy in dark blue colored battle robes walked up the center stage and stepped up, presenting himself as a prospective duelist. He wielded two large gauntlets around his arms. It didn't seem important, but there was a silvered band around his left arm.
Let's give this a shot, I thought excitedly, then vaulted over the edge of the bleachers into the arena. The fighter, clearly a close-combat Incursor by his gauntlets, smiled as I made my way up the steps to stand on the stage. "Don't think I've seen you around here before. First year?"
I nodded, "First day actually."
He sneered, "So you decided to come to the arena to make an early name for yourself then? Allow me to give you your first lesson about weakness.. Think you'll be a good enough punching bag for me?" He said while bashing his gauntleted fists together.
I donned my combat cloves and strapped them around my wrists. So, he wanted to be cocky? Let's show him something. I smirked while putting up my hands in a ready pose. "I apologize in advance if I embarrass you then."