The majority of the next day went by pretty much as the previous one, waking up, eating and going to class. Spending some time doing some advanced reading on magic and theory, class eventually came to an end and the group went to eat some food before they all would go to their first specialization classes.
"I hope it won't be too hard." Erica said with a troubled smile, having two specializations to alternate between would be hard and she looked nervously at Samuel who had chosen four. "Don't worry, It will be easy!" Sonya said and patted her on the head. "I am more worried about you Sam!"
"How do you intend to have time for all of them, I mean you can get introduced to all four of them but it would mean you only spend like... a quarter of your time at each place, will you even be able to learn anything in such a short time. Even if you can alternate between them later." She shook his head now fully realizing just how crazy he was to have picked four.
"I will be fine!" He replied and saw all three of them didn't quite believe him. "Trust me." He sighed, which made Ulma relent but the other two couldn't help but think he was in way over his head. Samuel looked at the time and nodded, "Time to get going!" He smiled and got up from his seat. "Time? There is like... an hour left to spare?" Ulma confused got up and followed him out the hall. "Well if I had to guess, then some professors will be around earlier and will be able to give out lessons earlier as well!" Samuel smiled and said when he noticed her following him. "If you want to go check out any of your special classes then I am sure you would find them there as well!"
"Otherwise I will see you later!" Samuel seemed way to excited and in a hurry to catch his specialization classes that Ulma sighed as she stood back watching his back as he ran off. 'Always in such a hurry!'
Samuel however proved to be correct. He quickly ran through the college grounds and arrived at the location where his first specialization would take place. Blademage hall. He saw an empty training hall from outside that was lit up with a lonely elf figure in a professor outfit meditating on the floor with her legs crossed seemingly focusing on her longsword in front of her.
Samuel snuck inside the training hall as not to disturb her but he twitched slightly when the elf opened her mouth, "Whose there?" Her calm voice spoke with a certain clarity.
Samuel took a step forward, "Sorry to disturb... I am here for the Blademage class, Names Samuel!" Upon hearing his words she suddenly looked a bit surprised and she got up from the floor and faced his direction.
Like many elves she had slightly longer hair, that was braided to fit a warrior, white blonde and a calm relaxed face with a scar over her face. Thats when Samuel realized she was blind, her eyes were completely white yet she moved as if she still could see and she sheated her own blade without issue. "Well, I suppose someone is eager.. I am glad, I will teach you the basics."
"Thank you... Master?"
"Nereya!"
"Thank you master Nereya! I will have another three specialization introductions to visit, so I apologize if I only stay for a shorter duration tonight..." Samuel gave her a small bow but felt like it might be stupid to do so with a blind person.
"Well if you aren't a respectful young man." She replied which made Samuel suddenly confused, she could see him? "Yes I have other ways to see than with my eyes!" She replied almost as if she was responding to his train of thought.
"So you are the crazy young man who chose 4 specializations. Not to judge your actions but I have a hard time seeing you complete all of them within this year. Even geniuses have completed three at best. But I suppose I wish you luck and ask that you prepare yourself for the hardships that they will all bring."
"But then again I suppose you will pass this specialization with flying colors, I know why you are here... I realized it the moment you entered this room and made me very jealous." When she said that Samuel couldn't help but smile, after all he already had a technique that was the envy of any blademage, true bladecasting.
Blademages that listened to the song of magic and empowered themselves with it, were nothing more than a cheap knockoff version of Bladecasting. The only difference lay in the use of blade, to listen to the song of the blade. "I know you have come here simply to learn how to act as if you are a blademage and to more importantly listen to the bladesong!" Nereya said which although slightly surprised him, he was prepared that a master would figure it out quick. Perhaps not this quick but nevertheless he was prepared.
"Yes, you are correct!" He replied, not wanting to disrespect his new teacher. "It would be useful to know how to fight more like an actual blademage, but mostly its because I want to learn about blade singing." He admitted to her statements and it brought a smile on her face.
"In that case it will be my honor to teach you about the bladesong, you will haveto learn how to listen to it by yourself, but I can teach you the theory of it and help you improve it while you are here." She held a hand out for him to take a seat in front of her which he did and she unsheated her blade and held it in both her hands before putting it down in front of her.
"The longer you have used a blade the better your connection to it and thus the easier it will be to make a connection and hear its song. No blade is the same and they all have a different song!" Hearing this Samuel took out his Gillfall blade and put it in front of him much like Nereya. "You haveto learn how to listen to your blade, to hear its wishes and whims. To discern its true purpose and feelings. Learn to focus on your blade and to hear its song."
Together they sat in silence for almost an entire hour. Samuel knew that patience was key and his mind slowly ran through how he could hear its voice, Nereya didn't seem like she wanted to tell him everything anyway and he realized it was something he had to figure out by himself.
He thought back to all the times he had used the blade and all the things he had gone through with it by his side. He felt like he suddenly heard a whisper, but then the whispers turned to many and he realized several students were arriving to the blademage class.
"It seems I have spent too much time here, but I think I will be getting a hang of it soon master! Thank you for your lesson!" Samuel stood up and gave her another bow before leaving, on his way out he passed all the students that were arriving for the lesson. One of the ones he passed by was Amanda Switchtrix, who looked at him with a hint of surprise. Samuel however didn't bat an eye at any of the ones looking at him leaving.
Nereya sat in complete focus, to become a blade caster was the dream of any blademage, but only so few ever found the way to become one, for 171 years she had tried to become one and here was a 19 year old young man that was one already. She was jealous to say the least, but she would use the small time he was there to train to study him.
In the sense that she would try to find out the secrets of bladecasting by watching him, perhaps it would give her further insight to what she needed. But she was snapped out of her thoughts when the majority of students arrived.
There were a slightly over a dozen. More than most years. She smiled as she greeted them and began her lesson.
Samuel the moment he had gotten a bit away started running. Eager to get to his next specialization, Martial Magic introduction. Which was also part of the skills he had already realized to be proficient in. It was just a matter of realizing the full potential. Thanks to Bregane's teachings about cantrips and the very basics of magic, Samuel had realized several ways to cast magic earlier than many others ever did.
After a small brisk 'jog' he finally arrived at the training hall for Martial Magic and saw that there were at least two dozen people inside already. He took a few deep breaths and entered.