Tak... Tak... Tak...
The chalkboard produces a rustling sound as the teacher writes something that looks like a theory for performing a circle ritual.
Three symbols drawn on the board; fire, fire, and air.
It is also explained there, repeating the creation of a fire symbol in a magic circle will produce a larger flame, while air will create a gust to blow the fire.
"Fire, this is basic magic. Besides being useful for daily life, such as cooking and keeping warm, it can also be used for self-protection, like repelling and killing wild animals," teacher Edele says in a clear voice, pointing to the air symbol on the chalkboard. "The air symbol in this magic circle, when combined with fire, will produce a larger and stronger flame. To activate this magic circle, we only need to use the hand gesture of God or fire, as we are indeed summoning fire. Any questions?" she adds while demonstrating the hand gestures of God and fire.
All the students started writing to record what Edele had written.
"Teacher Edele, a question. How can we control the magic circle if we successfully summon fire?" Waify asks, and Poetica silently agrees in her head.
"At that time, you just need to focus on the magic at your hands and command it in your heart to go where you want. Remember, the farther the range from the magic circle, the more it drains the magic flow within you within certain limits, if you want to stop the ritual, simply stop the flow of magic in your hand as explained in third grade. " Edele answers.
"Why is fire never blamed?
Because it always 'flares' with hot responsibility!"
A student who remembered his parents' words made a joke about the nature of fire followed by the teacher answering that with justification, and the class to start laughing apart from Rozer.
Ding... Dong... Ding... Dong...
With the school bell signaling the end of the day, the sounds in the class suddenly subside as they start tidying up their books and writing tools, while Teacher Edele writes again on the chalkboard and commands,
"This is homework to be submitted tomorrow on my desk."
The students complain, but Teacher Edele ignores them and reiterates her command, "... It's useful for tomorrow's practical magic lesson in the field."
At the blackboard, She assigns the students to draw symbols of fire and air on one full page each—at least 50 draws.
"Creating symbols must be precise and not overlook important details; otherwise, the magic symbols won't work," she adds.
After Edele declares the class finished, all students stand and thank her for today's lesson. Teacher Edele responds, advising them to be careful on their way home.
"Why is this kid acting strange today—too rigid, is he no longer interested in learning the basics?" Edele wonders, shaking her head at Rozer's behavior in front of her. Then she leaves the class with the teacher's guidebook.
Likewise, other students look at Rozer with strange glances before leaving the class. Rozer doesn't even respond to their greetings, staring blankly ahead.
After bidding farewell to Poetica and Waify, Cyka leaves them in front of Rozer's desk.
"Hey! What's wrong with you? It's time to go home." Poetica calls out to Rozer, who still has a vacant look.
Poetica becomes worried, wondering if the cause is herself, for hitting him hard in the library.
Waify pats Rozer's shoulder quite hard, "Rozer? What's wrong?"
Rozer looks at Waify with a vacant stare, his mouth open but without a word.
Poetica still tries to snap him out of it by waving her hand in front of Rozer's gaze.
Waify blushes with embarrassment as she continues to be stared at by the guy she likes, "Stop staring at me,"
Poetica can't hold back anymore, "Stop it!" she says and hits Rozer's head, the sound of bone hitting bone.
Rozer snaps out of it, "Huh? What? What's going on?"
"Class is over, aren't you going home, Rozer?"
Looking around the empty classroom, Rozer is surprised, scratching his head, "Wasn't I in the library earlier?"
"You came back since this afternoon, are you daydreaming?" Poetica replies with a raised tone.
"Since this afternoon?" Rozer is shocked, recalling vague memories of when Barend patted his shoulder and looked into his eyes.
"So, this is hypnotic power," Rozer mumbles.
Waify adds, "This afternoon, you entered the class without permission during the teacher's lecture, walked like a person waking up from sleep, didn't answer classmates' questions during break, seemed in a bad mood all the time, and the teacher even called you several times because you were blank during the lesson."
Rozer tries to piece together everything she said in his mind.
"Ehhh? No way! Really?!"
Hypnotic magic is worse than when he challenged Barend to do it for the first time.
"Did my punches make you like this?" Poetica asks with guilt in her tone.
"Punches?" Waify responds.
"It won't, my little sister."
"Call me Tica, just that! Don't reveal this too much elsewhere; it's our secret," Poetica explains.
"...Tica... Okay! Tica!" says Rozer.
Waify has a clear imagination in her mind about what happened between Rozer and Poetica. She nods approvingly as she corrects and enjoys the scene she created.
"So, are you going home or not?" Poetica asks.
Rozer thinks for a moment, as if something is unresolved.
Digging into his shirt and pants pocket, he finds a rolled-up paper. It is...
"I will come back to this place," the underground labyrinth map. He unrolls it and tries to memorize all the details on the paper before looking at it as a whole.
Before he can see it entirely, Poetica snatches the paper and reminds him, "We were warned not to go in here again; do you forget? I, for sure, won't go there again."
Waify adds, "That's right, Rozer. We shouldn't break the rules, or we'll be expelled from school."
Pushing the chair with his body, Rozer stands and looks at them, "Is that so?"
"Are you going home?" Poetica asks.
Rozer just smiles.
"You will go home, right?"
Walking past the middle school, the teacher's room, and the vocational academy...
"I knew it! Even though it's only been a few days since I met you, I already know your nature, you're really something!" Poetica grumbles.
"Why do you want to go there so much, Rozer?" Waify asks.
"I am a person who doesn't do things half-heartedly. I will enter there and find out what's inside." Rozer reveals.
"Bravery like an adult man!" Waify admires.
Poetica also agrees silently, shaking her head quickly to shake off the thought. She says, "No... No... If you're a man, you should follow the rules."
Rozer denies, "I'm just a kid, What are you talking about?"
Waify is increasingly amazed, not only is Rozer great and has a strong spirit, but he is also self-aware. Poetica throws her face away, unable to comment.
"I will continue to follow you, Rozer! Even if danger awaits, I
won't be afraid if I'm with you." Waify declares.
"Do as you please."
"Yess!"
Poetica feels disgusted with Waify's overly enthusiastic words to Rozer.
They stop in front of the stone wall that should be the entrance small hallways, where the labyrinth gate is located.
"This is strange, yesterday, didn't we enter here?"
"Yea, did the teacher block this path?"
Rozer touches the wall; he feels magic flowing inside it, merging with the stone. "This is magic."
"So the teacher did block this path so we couldn't enter."
"Let it be; what if we go back?"
"Magic is magic; it can be countered and reversed. Moreover, this is a stone; stones can be crushed."
"Crushed? When the sound of a stone breaking will be loud enough to make the teacher come, right?"
"Yeah, let's just go home,"
"I refuse,"
Rozer makes a hand gesture; the stone is in his left hand while his right hand is still feeling the wall. "Oh, unnamed stone in front of me, return to your original form."
The wall moves—trembles and sinks into the ground, leaving some stone fragments on the floor.
"Amazing!"
"I admit you're quite talented."
After that, they walk into the small hallways. Before going down the short stairs, they see a male teacher with long white hair and a thick white beard sitting cross-legged in front of the labyrinth door. Waify and Poetica hide behind Rozer and whisper that if it's the headmaster, they'll surely get scolded and suggest going back before that happens, but Rozer refuses and approaches him.
"So, Mr. Zerenia's words are indeed true," the teacher mutters, looking at Rozer's face.
"Rozer!" he exclaims, "Why are you here? Didn't I block this place?"
"Why? I just want to enter the labyrinth."
"Not that! Didn't your seniors warn not to enter here? This is an academy rule!"
"Why can't we?"
"I admit you're quite talented, but it's still dangerous, and I've also heard from your father himself to educate you here because you lack manners and general knowledge.
Therefore, follow the existing rules because rules are part of manners! Do you understand?"
Remembering Sierra's speech that manners is the outer form of a person, and also because of carrying Zerenia's name, Rozer can't deny the teacher's words. He nods, "Alright, I'll follow the rules."
Sighing with relief, the teacher looks at Poetica and Waify, who feel afraid, and adds with a different and softer sound, "And you, as princesses, must act gracefully and study earnestly at the academy. Try to persuade your friends who act wrongly like Rozer as an additional lesson to become wise princesses."
"I understand, headmaster." says Poetica and Waify with a guilty tone.
"You can go home now. Please leave."
Before leaving, the three of them bow to show respect, while the teacher remains in his position, ensuring that they have indeed left.
"What a daring child, even bringing two princesses, goodness." he thinks with amazement.
###
In the exit hallways, Rozer turns around, clenches his hands tightly, and raises them while saying, "Oh, unnamed stone in front of me, make a wall for me!"
The floor shakes, and a stone wall emerges from below, closing the corridor.
"Rozer?"
"What's up?"
"Why did you close it again? Isn't the headmaster still there?"
"I just returned it to its original state."
"That's not polite."
"Is that so? Let him try to return on his own."
Poetica chuckles, "Yes, let him try."