As the professor finished his transformation his face contorted into a devilish grin as he boomed, "I used the same ritual as you, but watch what I am capable of," as he spoke he walked over to the leftmost wall of the classroom and flicked the middle of the wall.
BOOM.
The room shook and as the professor moved back, a plate sized crater in the wall could be seen.
"This, this is what Body Enhancement Rituals are capable of- at first glance I bet many of you wanted to try your hand in the contracting areas of our school however, don't belittle enhancement. A senseless contractor will lose to an enhancer within three seconds of a fight starting if they aren't careful or able to enhance their agility. That ritual took me one second to complete, image how quick I could use one that is on my body. Do not take this class lightly, it could just mean your death out there in the Rally. Back to your positions! Try again and again till the end of class. I don't expect you to get it on your first day but that's what practice is for, once you all can handle the basic formation we can move on to more advanced techniques and even creating your own unique body enhancement rituals. Go maggots!"
The whole class stood shocked, Kendell couldn't believe what he just witnessed, "if I were to try and summon the shadow gate at this level it would take me 10 seconds or more to get it online, let alone call something from its depths. Body Enhancers are another breed…"
The remainder of class was spent with the professor tweaking each of the students mistakes and helping them understand what the flow of energy might feel like.
"Alright class that's our time today. None of you were able to get it but don't lose heart! They don't call this the hardest branch for nothing, now your only work is to get this ritual done and working by next week. Our next class is going to be focused purely on this again which should go better after working on your energy flow in other classes. Dismissed!" and with that final word he turned sharply and walked out of the class leaving all the students to gaze at him.
Celia turned to look at her two friends and whispered, "Meet me in the same study room as yesterday after classes today, I think I have a quick way to master this," and without explaining herself any further she rushed out to their next class. Kendell and Coli just shrugged at each other and went on, but it took everything in Kendell's power not to smirk.
[-----------------------------------]
[ Where would you like to begin engraving the tattoo? ]
[-----------------------------------]
'Just below the base of my neck' Kendell mentally confirmed to the system. When the opportunity arose to engrave the tattoo during the instructor's demonstration it took everything he had not to burst with excitement- not only could he get access to materials faster like the shadow gate circle, he could rise in his class by being gifted at the basic circles by tattooing them on himself. The tattoo should make utilizing the ritual infinitely easier. Kendell grimaced as a slight pain erupted at the base of his neck, but within a few seconds it was gone.
[-----------------------------------]
[ Body Enhancement Ritual, Form Demon I: Current Mastery | 1 ]
[-----------------------------------]
Kendell smiled and walked with Coli to their next class.
Their third class was Language and History of Rituals, led by Professor Miral, a scholarly woman with a passion for the ancient origins of magic. Her classroom was a treasure trove of ancient texts and artifacts, each item a piece of magical history. Displays of old books enclosed behind glass lay about the room.
"Welcome, students," she began, her voice a blend of warmth and authority. "In this class, we delve into the very essence of ritual magic. Understanding the language of rituals is not merely academic; it is the gateway to unlocking their true power."
"Each symbol, each phrase, holds centuries of knowledge." She walked among the rows of wide-eyed students, stopping to pick up an ancient tome. "This book," she said, holding it reverently, "contains rituals dating back centuries. The language used here is archaic, yet every symbol, every phrase, is imbued with power and significance."
Professor Miral opened the book, revealing pages filled with intricate script and symbols. "See here," she pointed, "this symbol represents a bond with the elemental forces. The way it is written, the flow of the lines, it's not just about aesthetics. It's about channeling energy, about creating a connection with the world around us."
The class was spellbound as she translated the ancient texts, bringing to life the rituals of old. As she traced the symbol into the air she spoke in a tongue none of the students could recognize, and the air began to quiver. The class could feel a small amount of energy moving towards the circle thanks to learning the feeling back in Professor Varex's crazy demonstration. After a second she snapped and a wisp of fire appeared before here, then carefully turned into a ring that moved to the end of her hand and had a faint glow filled with warm light. "This light," she explained, "has the ability to discern what ritual or spell the person it is pointing at is using by reading the elemental energy that is coming off of the opposing force. Obviously it is an estimate, however it can be helpful in a tricky situation." With a wave the light disappeared and she moved on, while Kendell grimaced in the corner with an excited look as yet another tattoo etched itself onto his back...
The professor moved on with her lesson and she spoke of the great ritualists of the past, their discoveries, and how their work had shaped the present.
"As part of this course," Professor Miral continued, "we will study various historical periods of ritual magic. You will learn not just how to perform rituals, but why they were created, the context in which they were used, and the impact they had."
Kendell, Celia, and Coli exchanged excited glances. This is where they will finally learn how to use ritual casting! The rest of the class began mummering with mirroring reactions.
"For your first assignment," Professor Miral announced, "you will each choose an ancient ritual to research. You will study its language, its purpose, and present your findings to the class. The best way to do this is to utilize the library on the third floor of our building, but please remember as first years you are only allowed to go on the first floor of the library! If you are found any further the punishment is severe."
As the lesson concluded, Kendell couldn't hold back grinning, not only because of his new found respect for the depth and complexity of ritual magic- but now he had a new place to try and get powerful tattoos with his system, and he was going to get them from the higher floors.