Next day comes, and it's now the second day of the second week since the classes started. Raiden, Tyiyn, and I are heading to the training field.
Earlier in the cafeteria, I told Chris that I would join earth magic classes from today. I particularly told it there so Crestia would also hear about it because I didn't get the chance to inform her yesterday.
The day continues like any normal day, Instructor Gord orders us to run 20 laps.
Alad is still gazing at me with the same expression as yesterday, but he's not doing anything other than that, so I just ignored him.
After we finished running, unlike yesterday when he gave us free time, Instructor Gord asked us to make pairs and have sparring with each other.
Tyiyn asked me to be his sparring partner. I don't have any reason to refuse, so we spar with each other until it was finally lunchtime.
Since his practice match last week, I've been interested in Tyiyn, and that's also one of the reasons why I accepted to partner up with him. But he didn't show any exceptional moves like last week.
I've been wondering what he means when he said that what he did last week wasn't a coincidence, but maybe that was really just a coincidence after all.
The three of us head to the cafeteria and meet up with Tork who came earlier than us.
"I'm glad that I now have someone who will accompany me in learning magic," Tork said while eating.
"We're not going to the same class, though," I said and then also take a bite from my food.
"That's right, I haven't asked the reason yet. Why did you suddenly want to learn magic, Will?" Raiden asked.
"That's right, that's right. You're already a good swordsman, so even if you don't learn magic, you can still pass as a soldier if you just train hard," Tyiyn said, he stopped eating then pointed his fork at me.
"Hey, that's bad manners," Tork said, then made Tyiyn continue eating.
"Well, I just thought that since I have the affinity, why not try to master it? If I just focus on swordsmanship, it would be a waste, right?" I explained.
"You have a point, but I still can't take the fact that you lied to us about having an earth magic affinity," Tork said, sounding like he's sulking.
"I'm really sorry about that. It's just I couldn't trust you completely since we were strangers at that time," I said.
Last time, I only told them that I had an affinity for water magic and talent for swordsmanship. I didn't tell them that I have an affinity for all magic because I might stand out if that information spread, and I don't want that, so that's why I lied to them.
"So now you're not hiding anything from us now?" Tork asked just finished his meal.
"Yeah, I'm not hiding anything anymore," I said, just finished my meal too.
I lied again, and I feel bad about it, but that's necessary if I want to continue my life in the academy and remain peaceful.
After that, Tork and I stood up and said our farewell to Tyiyn and Raiden, who were still eating.
Tork and I promised that we would accompany Chris' group on the way to the magic classrooms. Since Tork and Chris are classmates, both of them agreed easily. This way, I can protect Crestia if ever something happens.
After we left our table, we head to Chris' group, who were still at their table chatting. When Chris saw me, she immediately stood up and then said, "Shall we go?"
"Yeah," I answered.
The six of us, including Chris, Lana, Lucia, Crestia, Tork, and I, are now heading to the magic classrooms.
When we reach the classrooms, we separate ways to enter our respective classrooms. Tork and Chris went to the fire magic classroom, Lucia went to the wind magic classroom, Crestia and Lana went to the water magic classroom, and for myself, I went to the earth magic classroom.
I entered the classroom, and as they said, there weren't many students in this class.
Earth magic was the most rare and difficult of the four elemental magic. That's why even though one week already passed, the lesson was still on the basics because this element is much harder to master than the other three elements.
For me, who mastered two beginner magic elements, I can't tell if it's really hard. That's why I want to test it, and if it's true, then choosing this class is the right choice because I can learn it from scratch with everyone.
I sat at the back near the window. I could feel everyone's gazes, curious about me, who's new to their class.
I'll just wait for the instructor to get here, and then maybe he would let me introduce myself.
As I was thinking that, the door of the classroom suddenly opens, and 32 students entered and stood at the front of the classroom.
They don't seem like first years like us, and I can even identify one of them. Well, who wouldn't?
"Hello everyone, because of some urgent business, Instructor Refu won't be here. So instead of him, all of us, the fifth-year earth magic students, will be the ones to teach you today," explained the girl in an energetic tone.
That girl can be recognized by anyone who attended the opening ceremony because she's none other than the top-ranked magician in this academy — Fia.
She's also the girl who helped Chris and me find the venue of the opening ceremony since we were just new here at that time and almost got lost.
"If I remember correctly, there are only 23 of you, right?" Fia asked.
"Yes, there were 23 of us before, but someone just joined in today," said a boy with dark hair and wearing glasses, looking at me.
"Thank you. Then for today's lesson, we were tasked to show you how to cast the easiest spell in earth magic called rock bullet," Fia explained.
"I think it's still early for that since it's only been a week, but that's what the instructor told us, so we'll just follow what he said. With that, we'll take our lesson outside since we can't cast spells here. It's cramped here, and we might cause damage," Fia continued.
"But before that, since there are 32 of us here and 24 of you, I'm thinking of pairing one student and one teacher. With that, the teacher can focus more on teaching since there's only one student, and the student can ask about the things that he can't understand since he's the only student. Is that okay with you?" Fia asked.
"Yes," the whole class said at the same time.
"Okay, so it's decided now. Then we'll pair everyone now. Who wants to pair up with me, raise your hand," Fia said, and then all 23 students present raised their hands.
Well, who wouldn't want to be coached by the top-ranked magician in this academy? But for me, I didn't raise my hand.
I also want to learn from the top rank, of course, but with this many options, of course, Fia wouldn't choose me, the one who's sitting at the back. She might probably choose someone in the front who's really enthusiastic about raising their hand.
As I was contemplating this, suddenly I felt a presence in front of me, so I raised my head, which I unconsciously lowered.
I got surprised because I didn't expect that Fia would come all the way here, and I don't even know the reason why she came in front of my desk
"You, why didn't you raise your hand?" She asked me with her natural smile still intact.
I was confused by her question but managed to find a way to answer it.
"I thought I didn't really need your teaching since it was just the basics of the basics, and anyone from your class has already mastered the spell, right? Besides, even if I raise my hand, I know I won't get picked since so many of us are eager to learn from you," I replied in an almost panicked tone.
"You don't want to be taught by the top-ranked magician?" She asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Of course, I want to, but I think others deserve it more since I'm fine learning from anyone," I said, now in a calmer tone.
"Hmmm, then you're the one. You'll become my student," Fia said, smiling as if she found something interesting.
"Huh?" The word involuntarily left my mouth.
""Huuuuuuuuhhhh!?"" After me, everyone in the class seemed to echo my surprise.