"Come" Professor Gaius called, extending his hand in an inviting gesture to Carl. Still immersed in a sea of fascination, Carl had been observing the mystical elements floating in the air, now visible to his newly awakened eyes. He slowly rose from his chair, his eyes still scanning the wonders invisible to the common eye, and walked slowly toward the professor. His eyes were shining with the whole situation.
"Take this," Gaius said, handing a booklet to Carl. It was a plain-looking book with an unassuming cover that concealed some secrets. Gaius spoke in a low, calm tone, careful not to disrupt the concentration of the other students who were still struggling to achieve what Carl had already accomplished. "This is the basic mana refinement technique that the academy is offering. Take it and go. You were one of the first, but others may take the entire day to achieve it. That's it for today; go study this technique on your own. See you tomorrow," Gaius instructed, with an encouraging smile, a knowing wink, and an affirmative thumbs-up gesture. Carl, holding the book as if it were a treasure, felt a mixture of pride and confidence, now that he knew he could use his knowledge by applying it to mana, and perhaps even with magic.
Before leaving the room, Carl cast one last glance around. The boy who had awakened in the second row had already left, leaving only an empty chair as evidence of his success. His eyes turned to Damian, who was deeply concentrated, with his eyes closed and a serene, almost sacred expression. Carl left the room, thinking, "I guess a sandwich with eggs will be nice now, after that, I'll head to the dormitory," his thoughts turning to something more mundane as he made his way to the cafeteria. The voices of other students mixed with the sound of his footsteps, creating a familiar melody that Carl had heard a lot during his childhood and adolescence, the everyday sound of school.
As he walked through the hallways, Carl couldn't help but admire the view through the large windows. With the ability to see magical elements, every common scene transformed into a vibrant tapestry of colors and movements. Leaves dancing in the wind glowed with an ethereal light, and the sky displayed a depth he had never noticed before. "This is madness," Carl thought, a smile spreading across his face as he recalled his past on Earth, where he dreamed of moments just like this. Every step reminded him that he wasn't just learning magic; he was living in a world where it was as real as the air he breathed.
Hungry, Carl devoured his egg sandwich in the cafeteria, his hands working almost as fast as his mind. Finishing quickly, he headed to the dormitory. As he left, he noticed that the campus was deserted, enveloped in unexpected calmness. "It makes sense, it's the first day of class, everyone must still be in their classrooms," he reflected, feeling a bit lonely in that silent vastness. He looked around, taking in the serenity of the surroundings. With a determined sigh, he decided to pick up the pace, turning his walk into a run, eager to immerse himself in the mana refinement technique.
"I need to read this refinement technique as quickly as possible," Carl thought, feeling the wind humming in his ears as he sprinted across the campus at full speed. His heart beat to the rhythm of his excitement, and the coolness of the wind contrasted with the heat of his determination. A walk that would normally take fifteen to twenty minutes was about to be completed in a mere three. Avoiding the central square, which was usually bustling with students, Carl chose a shortcut, running straight across the green lawn, his footsteps marking a path he hoped would disappear by the next day.
Carl, with adrenaline coursing through his veins, ran toward the dormitories, driven by a surge of enthusiasm. In his haste, he didn't notice a figure standing in front of the dormitory, and with a muffled crash, he collided with it. The impact sent him sprawling to the ground, a dull thud echoing in the empty space between the female and male dormitories. As he turned, his eyes met Sarah's. The memory of Damian's words about her reaching the first stage of strength made Carl understand why the collision felt like hitting a concrete wall. The surprise on his face mixed admiration and astonishment, reflecting his bewilderment at the hidden strength of the young woman.
Sarah, normally alert to her surroundings, appeared surprisingly stunned by the unexpected encounter. In a normal situation, with two ordinary people, the collision would have knocked them both down, but she remained unshaken, like a statue. Her gaze, a mixture of surprise and caution, locked onto Carl, who was getting up from the ground with a confused and slightly embarrassed expression. She, the first in her class to complete the task, hadn't expected to find anyone around at that hour, and for a moment, her guard had dropped. The result was the curious sight of Carl, looking bewildered, trying to understand how Sarah had remained firm in the face of the impact.
"Sorry for bumping into you, I was too excited to read this," Carl said with a mix of enthusiasm and remorse, holding up the refinement technique like a trophy to show Sarah. "It's okay," she replied with a lightness in her voice, "Were you the first in your class too?" Curiosity sparkled in her eyes. "No, I was second, excuse me," Carl replied quickly as he stepped away, leaving behind a perplexed Sarah. It was unusual for her; usually, men sought to prolong any conversation with her, but Carl... He simply ignored her after a brief interaction. Why?
Feeling an unexpected discomfort, Sarah remained still, watching Carl move away toward the male dormitory building. Only when he disappeared from view did she manage to compose herself and head to her own dormitory. Meanwhile, Carl had just entered his room. Darkness prevailed, so he promptly opened the curtains, letting the morning light flood the room. It was at that moment that he saw Sarah in the opposite building, doing the same. Their eyes briefly met before Carl quickly closed the curtains. "Strange girl," he muttered to himself, sitting on his bunk. With the technique in hand, he immersed himself in reading, momentarily forgetting the world around him.