The next class was Necromancy. This time, the teacher was another traditional-looking old, black mage. Instead of just having a staff with a skull on top like Professor Henderson, his entire staff was made out of either a long bone shaped into a staff or several bones put together to form a staff. His face was hidden behind a skull mask that looked to be made from some type of wolf.
"Hello, everyone. My name is Professor Hess. I will be teaching you all the basics of necromancy even though I am sure that most of you will not really use it or even try it. Until I see some interest or talent from you, I will simply call you by descriptions since I can't be bothered to learn your names."
The older man had little care for teaching students, especially 1st years. Since many of them were going to flunk out, he didn't want to waste his research time babysitting idiots who didn't even enjoy his subject.
He then went on to explain the basics of the necromancy subject.
Necromancy was the school of Black Magic that dealt with the physical undead, the spiritual undead, and necrotic energy.
Undead spells were ones that not only turned beings into undead creatures but also spells related to bones and corpses such as Wall of Bones and Corpse Explosion. In fact, there were really only 3 spells that created physical undead creatures that students would learn during all 3 years at the academy.
The process of creating undead was not complicated but it was finding the right corpses to use as well as one's ability to control the undead. Unless one had a superior undead, each undead was controlled through the will of the mage that summoned them through basic orders.
Then there were the spiritual spells. These spells not only allowed black mages to summon spirits from the dead plane using corpses but they also had their own list of spectral spells such as spirit flame or spirit sense.
Unlike the Undead category of spells, Spiritual Spells had countless more spells that created various types of spirits. The downside was that the type of spirits that could be created was based on the environment and dead bodies near them.
A rabbit in a peaceful meadow couldn't be transformed into a banshee would be the best example. Instead, they would need a place like a battlefield or a cemetery filled with dead bodies. Those would be the only places with enough negative energy to sustain a banshee's form unless it was a creature that died with enough resentment and life force.
The last category of Necromancy was Necrotic spells. These were spells that caused those hit by them to rapidly age or rot. They took the very life force from creatures and weakened them unimaginably if they lived through the spell. These were considered some of the most dangerous spells used by black mages because they could only be undone by stronger White Magic.
To undo even a low-tier necrotic infection or wound would need a mid-tier spell to cure it. For this reason, forbidden-tier necrotic spells were actually forbidden unlike those from other Black Magic fields just because of how dangerous they were and that they could never be undone. As such, these were the only spells not listed in the necromancy textbook and would not be taught until their 2nd year due to how dangerous these spells were.
After going over those and giving explanations for each type of necromancy spell, the entire remainder of the lecture period was mainly going over the strengths and weaknesses of the undead.
"Most people think that White Magic is the greatest way to beat a necromancer but that is incorrect. The best way to fight a necromancer is by using another black mage.
The strengths of the most undead are as follows: resistant to physical damage, immune to frostbite, psionic spells, poison spells, they don't bleed, and they don't tire.
The strengths of most spirits are even more numerous. Not only do they have the same strengths as the undead, but they also are immune to non-magical physical attacks, have the ability to unleash psionic attacks, and can become invisible and incorporeal allowing them to sneak up on almost anyone.
These are only the basic strengths of lesser undead. Stronger ones each have their own unique abilities but common ones shared are necrotic attacks, reforming their own bodies, and commanding undead themselves.
The main weaknesses of the undead and spirits are White Magic and Dark Magic. White Magic has special properties that undo the essence that holds an undead together or disperse the spirit. The weakness of this however is that the undead can be remade fairly easily if the body retains enough of itself.
On the other hand, Dark Magic is able to use Acid Magic to destroy the undead completely. These spells will melt down the bones to nothing and make it impossible to fix them or for the necromancer to reuse them. Darkness Magic and Necromancy is able to control the intangible which is easily able to affect spirits who are resistant to most physical touch and other spells.
Always remember that White Magic is not the greatest way to oppose Necromanc. It would be Black Magic."
Wyne made sure to note everything he said down. Necromancy was the perfect way to gain strength for himself that could easily be replenished with some effort.
Hess saw that of all the students, only 10 students seemed to be interested in what he was saying at the time. Of all of them, it was Wyne at the front row and a girl behind him on the 2nd row who both seemed to be the most interested and taking down the most notes.
'There might be some students worth teaching. Selena sent out the notice to take care of him because of his talent but this boy might actually become a half-decent black mage in the future.'
"I'm leaving early. You guys have 10 minutes before the next professor comes in so do whatever you want."
Hess smirked behind his mask before slamming his staff on the ground. A magic circle appeared under him before he disappeared with a flash of silver light.
Wyne was glad when he heard that. He was planning to save it until after all the lectures were over but it was better to strike while the iron was hot. So he got up from his seat and walked up to the stage before turning around and looking at his classmates.
"I will be straightforward. I plan to abuse to privilege that Prof. Thebih to gain some benefits. What are you willing to offer me for a spot in the top 10?"