"Come in, lass, make yourself comfortable."
Alexandra said as she opened the door to her laboratory, beckoning for me to follow inside.
I nodded, moving my legs as I stepped inside.
There is a second floor in the room, and there was nothing but books on the second floor. It's all probably about magic and whatnot.
I look at the side of the room on the first floor. Some cylindrical flask, tube, beaker, and basic stuff that a scientist would use in a laboratory are laid on top of a long wooden table. Everything about what a researcher would use are here inside this room. Except for the advanced technology I usually see in the movies I watch; the things here are not so different from what a casual researcher scientist would use in my original world.
"Those are for alchemy magic, you'll need those tools to create potions," Alexandra explained as she noticed where I'm staring at.
"Mm, I got it," I said as I nodded my head, looking around the room.
"What do you think?"
I glance at Alexandra. She had that inquiring look on her face, smiling at me expectantly.
"It's good," I mumbled as my eyes glanced at the crumpled papers on the certain desk on the corner. "Just need a little clean up, I guess…?" I added as I gave a wry smile.
"Oh, don't worry, I clean on weekends," Alexandra said, walking to her desk then she hurriedly cleaned it up. She picked up the crumpled papers and threw them in a box full of garbage.
"It's fine professor, I'll do the cleaning for you," I said, helping her pick those pieces.
"You don't need to, lass, I'm a beta, and…"
"I'm your assistant, remember?" I cut her off, giving her a raised brow. "And please professor, don't degrade yourself like that, there's nothing wrong with being a beta, it's a fantastic second-gender actually," I said, smiling at her.
"Lass, no need to cover the truth with flattery," Alexandra replied, scratching her cheek awkwardly.
My brows knitted at this. "But I'm telling the tru…"
"The truth is, beta would always be ordinary, there it is, the truth, now, let's go back to the main point why we're here," said Alexandra, getting blank papers and quill pen on her satchel bag.
I sighed, but I didn't continue to argue anymore seeing how the red haired woman seemed to be in her professional mode.
"Well, first off, can you use your dark attribute?" Alexandra inquired as she took out a piece of paper jotting down notes.
I grabbed the back of my neck, and smiled embarrassedly. "To be honest, I don't know how to use magic…"
Alexandra looked up at me flabbergasted.
"I'm sorry, what?" Said the red haired woman as her mouth hung open, staring at me in disbelief and surprise.
"I said I don't know how to use magic," I repeated with a helpless smile.
Alexandra rub her temple as she muttered, "right, I forgot that you were so neglected in your clan, and they didn't even teach you anything…"
"No, professor, I wasn't being neglected," I hurriedly interrupted, raising my index finger as I explained.
I decided to tell the truth. It would be troublesome if Alexandra found out that I wasn't being neglected in any sort of way in my clan. I don't want anyone to get suspicious that Nasrin is not the same Nasrin anymore.
That's the reason I decided to tell the truth, but the other reason was also because I don't want to trick Alexandra anymore.
I gulped nervously when Alexandra furrowed her brows in confusion as she stared at me. "If you aren't being neglected then did you perhaps experience something traumatic outside your clan?" Alexandra said, grabbing her chin as she pondered. "And why do you not know how to use magic?"
"I…" I trailed averting Alexandra's gaze as I stared elsewhere.
Do I have to lie again?
I bit my lower lip, knitting my brows. No. I'm not going to lie again. I don't want to become someone I'm not.
But what am I supposed to tell Alexandra?
I can't possibly say that the soul in this body belongs to another world where magic and whatnot doesn't exist, right? That would make me look crazy in the head.
Not to mention I can't make anyone know this secret. Even if Alexandra is indeed not a bad person, I still can't afford to risk it.
I sighed, fidgeting with my fingers.
"You know what lass," said Alexandra. "You don't need to tell me, I was just pondering questions with myself because I just really want to uncover new discoveries about this dark attribute, but I guess I made you uncomfortable again, forgive me lass."
My eyes turn to look at Alexandra's face. The red haired woman smiled kindly at me. The same smile she gave me during the test; where I pleaded to her while hugging her thighs. It's a gentle smile like a mother would to a child. The same smile that my mother always gives to me.
Clearly, they look different but Alexandra was just the kind of person who gives you motherly vibes. It made me remember my mom on earth.
For some reason, the eyes of this body started to sting, and water slowly started building on my eyes.
I look up at the ceiling, resisting the urge to cry. Feeling sour on my nose, and a lump stuck on my throat.
"Lass, you don't need to tell me or anyone what you have experienced," said Alexandra as she grab my shoulder, squeezing it.
That triggered the tears in my eyes to fall, sliding on my cheeks. Embarrassed that the Alexandra saw me crying, I hurriedly wiped the tears on my face and smiled sadly.
"Sorry professor, I can't tell you anything, but I'm willing to cooperate with you to study this attribute," I said, staring at the red haired woman.
Alexandra nodded understandably. "Alright, well, if I'm making you feel uncomfortable again then don't be afraid to say it to me, alright?"
I nodded and smiled lightly. After crying, it somehow lightens the load in my heart. My mind and body seem to be on a tacit understanding as they both feel refreshed.
"Well, since you said that you don't know how to use magic that leaves us to go back to the very basics," Alexandra said, going over to the book shelf.
The red haired woman went to the second floor, taking book after book in her arms, and when she came back to me, she showed her familiar evil grin.
"Study the basics," Alexandra said, piling a dozen books in my arms. "I want you to read each of this book first, and when you finish it, come back here and tell me what you learned, because that's where we'll start."
Afterwards, Alexandra pushed me outside the laboratory, and said, "You can't return unless you studied each of these books, and for now, go back to your dormitory or go elsewhere to study these books, because I still need to do something here, see you when I see you."
Bang.
Alexandra closed the door, leaving me standing outside alone.
I stared blankly; rendered speechless. 'What the hell?'
I thought Alexandra said she was going to teach me? I guess I just can't comprehend that red haired woman at all. Sometimes Alexandra looks kind. Sometimes indifferent. Sometimes professional.
'Well, at least, Alexandra didn't point a dagger at my neck,' I thought optimistically.
With a deep sigh, I took the books with me, walking back to the dormitory.
***
Study the basics.
That is what Alexandra told me. So now I'm here with Cliopatra in our room. My eyes moved left to right as I tried to sink the words inside in this body's brain, but the words came in and out my head like air.
"Argh, it's so unfair, Oaf," said Cliopatra, moping on the opposite side. She laid on her bed, pouting as she stuck her gaze at the ceiling.
My brows furrowed, feeling annoyed at Cliopatra. Cliopatra had been whining to me ever since I met her on the way back. It seems she got rejected by Penelope.
I figured that Penelope would do that, and it's exactly why I push the responsibility to Penelope. It would be troublesome if Cliopatra joined as an assistant under Alexandra as well. For many reasons, Cliopatra should not join as an assistant with me.
First, I have no idea who was the spy that the king put in the academy. Even if Cliopatra was the female partner in the novel, it doesn't erase the fact that even at this moment, she is the closest to the king. Second, Cliopatra is annoying, and I don't want her to accidentally discover that I know nothing of magic.
I'm pretty sure that she would start annoying me about it once she discovers the truth.
However, now that the spoiled brat failed to get what she wanted, I ended up being the one bothered, and now I can't concentrate on the book I'm reading.
"So unfair, Oaf, it's so unfairrr…"
I clicked my tongue then sighed at this. This brat had been whining how unfair it was; that I'm the only one who was given permission to work as an assistant.
"Arrrgghhh…why…"
I pinched the bridge of my nose then took a deep sigh. "Brat, I'm studying, could you just please shut up?" I said as nicely as I could.
Cliopatra turned her head to me and sneered, "studying what? Those books you're reading are for a four year old kid, and why are you even here, shouldn't you do your job as an assistant?"
My mouth twitched when I heard her say these books are for a four year old kid.
"That's none of your business, brat," I muttered as I focused my eyes again on the words in the book.
"It's so unfair, you're not even doing your job as an assistant yet you're an assistant, so unfair…"
My brows knitted as I couldn't concentrate on studying. "I don't care, just don't bother me," I said bluntly.
"Arrrgghh…"
Cliopatra cried like a child throwing a tantrum. Her body wiggles on the bed; kicking up and down.
"That's it," I said, standing up from my bed.
Cliopatra glanced at me curiously and said, "where are you going?"
"I'm going somewhere you're not," I said, packing the books inside the brown satchel bag.
"I'm coming with you," said Cliopatra as she stood up excitedly.
I turned to her with a glare and flatly said, "no."
Cliopatra pouted then went back to lay down on her bed again to moped around. "Whatever, Oaf," Cliopatra said, turning her back to me as she faced the wall.
"Brat," I muttered back as I left the room.
I thought I could have some peace and silence in my room since it's my room, but Cliopatra being there made the peaceful time annoying.
With a sigh, I left the dormitory and went to the library. As soon as I arrived, I noticed people staring at me again.
Despite feeling uncomfortable with those unwanted gazes, I still strode forward inside.
I roam around finding a quiet place. The library has three floors, and the first floor seems to be crowded with students. On the other hand, the second floor seems to have fewer students compared to the first floor, however, seeing a few couples making out on the corner, I decided to just go to the last floor.
I release a sigh of relief seeing how there are much fewer students on the third floor. My legs moved to sit on the corner, then I took out the books in my satchel bag, and I started reading them one by one.
After a while, I closed the book in my hand and sighed. I completed reading each book without skipping any page, and somehow, I seem to not understand anything at all.
According to the book, magic came from the ancient word mageia.
It was stated that magic users were called magosh in the past, but now magic users earn the nickname of warlocks, witches, and warmages over the years.
It was because of the 100 year war between magic users from different kingdoms.
Warlock was the term called for alphas. Witches are for omegas, and warmage for betas. The book stated that magic is an ability to use mana, and mana is everywhere.
It was stated that mana was like a force or a bundle of energy. It could be found inside of every living and non-living thing. It is something each individual has, and every individual has a certain amount of mana within them. Manipulating that mana and utilising it to the user's attribute is what magic is.
In addition, there are six basic elements, and each individual has a certain type of element that they are only compatible to use.
The book said that in order to be able to use the mana; the user first has to sense it then will it.
That's the summary of everything that I have read.
I sighed. I seem to somehow understand and yet not understand. The essence and the history of magic was indeed explained. However, the book didn't mention how to wield that mana.
How the heck am I supposed to wield something I couldn't even see or feel? How am I going to sense that mana?
I sighed, feeling a sudden headache.