As they gathered for a final talk, Professor Kageyama addressed them, "You have all grown this week. The path of an assassin is full of challenges, but I do not doubt that each of you can continue!"
-HP-
Saturday and Sunday were spent with the focus mostly shifting to a prolonged lecture and practice onwards. The two mornings, in particular, were dedicated to intensive lectures detailing the thousands of types of wards, their unique traits, and some quick and easy methods of dismantling them for a short period. Meanwhile, the afternoons were used to practice the techniques learned during the previous week.
The second week began with another lesson on combat infiltration, but this time, the lecture prioritized strategies for infiltrating hostile environments during combat. Professor Kageyama presented and talked about tactics for maintaining stealth, and their pros and cons during different scenarios, to ensure that the students would be able to hide themselves quickly if the situation progressed differently from their expectations and plans.
In the practical session, the students had to try to infiltrate a simulated war zone and steal important documents. They fought through a labyrinth of traps, and spells, all while avoiding detection by wards and enemy spellcasters.
Tuesday's focus shifted to close-quarter combat. The morning lesson covered the most important combat stances and movements for assassins, with Professor Kageyama demonstrating various techniques. The students then practiced duelling drills, while trying to maintain fluid and precise movements.
The afternoon session talked about weaponized transfiguration, as they had already learned in their first year and most upper-year students had already practised extensively. Their professor explained how to transfigure everyday objects into deadly weapons, and which objects were preferable for which transfigurations. The following practical exercises made the students transfigure a lot of objects while trying to use them in simulated duels.
The morning of Wednesday was used to teach combat healing. Professor Kageyama taught emergency healing spells and techniques while underlining the importance of being able to heal your own injuries amidst a battle with his own experiences or colleagues' failures. They practised several easy healing spells on how to stabilize and heal wounds quickly, or at least how to sew cuts and wounds.
In the following afternoon, their focus switched to counter-infiltration. This lesson covered methods for detecting, and countering infiltrators, while exercises had them set up traps and alarms to effectively weed out enemy spies or assassins.
-HP-
[A/N: Became a bit of a philosopher in the next two paragraphs, lol.]
The early morning sun filtered through the high windows of their regular classroom, casting long, but bright shadows across the polished stone floor. The air was thick and filled with bubbling anticipation, as the excited students gathered, their faces presenting a blurring drawing of a mix of eagerness and trepidation. Today was Thursday, and the promise of learning about the sophisticated art of elemental magic in close-quarter combat had every student on edge, awaiting today's lessons.
The professor stood in front of the students, his face strict but also joking, as always. "Today," he began, his voice loudly echoing through the room, "you are going to delve into the primal forces of nature; Fire and Ice. These opposing elements, when mastered and used correctly, can turn the tide of any battle."
He waved his wand, and a vortex of hot flames burst forth, swirling in a precisely controlled vortex, before quickly dissipating into the air. With another flick, a sharp and glistening spear of ice was conjured, before flying against a wall and harmlessly shattering into a thousand glittering shards, which turned into water, which in turn vaporized in seconds.
"Fire and Ice for both offence and defence!", Professor Kageyama continued, "You will have to learn to use both elements with quick precision and control. Remember, in close-quarter combat, the slightest mistake can be fatal!", he finished, reminding them or the death toll amongst assassins.
They were divided into pairs of two for the practical session and had to either practice or deepen their spells and skills for both offensive and defensive uses. The important and deciding factor was that it couldn't be large and flashy spells, but small, hidden and still powerful spells, so they could continue the infiltration after a short and decisive battle, without alerting all opponents!
"Start with fire.", Aiden, who practiced with Sebastian again, suggested, knowing that it was Sebastian's strength, to which Sebastian nodded, and raised his staff. Swirling flames came out of his staff and grew into a thin but long lance of fire, as he directed it toward a dummy. The heat was concentrated, and the flames burned the dummy to ashes quickly, not giving it a chance to recover.
Aiden watched, then raised his wand, and conjured a sword of ice that shot forward, piercing through the air towards another dummy. The sword struck the dummy and pierced through it cleanly while freezing the dummy before it shattered into pieces.
"Good, but now combine them!", Professor Kageyama instructed, as he walked among the pairs. "Sebastian, use your fire to create an opening on a dummy with a shield, and Aiden, follow with ice to destroy it before the shield recovers!"
They nodded, understanding the strategy, as it was simple enough. Sebastian conjured another lance of flames towards a dummy with blue glitter in the air in front of it with precision. The barrier ignited and a small hole was created. Aiden quickly cast his ice spell, and the sword shot through the hole and froze and shattered the target.
Although casting these spells was simple enough for all upper-year students, the precise manipulation and focusing on small points and targets, like an artery was completely new for them, as combat was mostly shooting large spells at each other in the higher strata of power! Some of the most talented students are already at the level of AUROR, their growth was formerly only stunted because of the meagre support and resources at the beginning of their schooling. Had they gotten the support countries like Britain gave their students, some of their talents would have already touched upon the level of Hit Wizard, like in other countries. Unfortunately, only the last three years of newcomers had the privilege of fully available spells, research and resources, which was why the current second years were bound to surpass the current fifth-year students in one or two years, minimum!
In other countries, classes for Wizards specialized in combat had every graduating student at least at the level of AUROR, showing their superiority.
After an hour of continued practice, Professor Kageyama called for a short break, and most students, drenched in sweat and their magical durability running somewhat low, gathered around. "Remember,", Kageyama said, "control is everything! Large spells are more dangerous to you than to your opponent when you infiltrate an enemy base! Focus and cast your spells precisely! There is also a tactic I think can be very important. Our bodies react immensely to heat and the cold, and so do physical and magical shields. If we rapidly change between the heat and the cold, a body can quickly collapse, and the body fails. As do we, so does any material and magic alike! In the future, you can try using this principle to quickly overcome shiels, or to defeat your enemies."
The break was short, and soon they were back at practising, this time practising defensive manoeuvres. Sebastian and Aiden faced each other, wands at the ready. Aiden conjured a small barrier of ice with a wave of his hand, and it was Sebastian's turn to attack.
He created two Ignis Projectilis and sent them in a concentrated burst of flames toward Aiden's shield. The fire arrows met the ice with a sharp hiss, and steam began to rise as the spells continued to clash. Aiden's shield held, but cracks appeared as the ice struggled against the heat and flames.
"Strengthen it!", Professor Kageyama barked, and Aiden followed his demand, focusing more on the shield and conjuring more ice. The cracks mended, and the shield became stronger until the flaming arrows burst in a small explosion.
"Now counter!", the professor commanded.
Aiden had already dropped his shield and swiftly sent two ice and two fire swords towards Sebastian, who quickly reacted and chantlessly cast a Incendium Barricade, melting the ice swords and absorbing the fire swords with a superior heat.
The exercise continued, and the students switched between offensive and defensive roles, practicing both their reflexes and control until the students gathered for lunch. They quietly ate, reflecting on their strengths and weaknesses they showed this morning, as they knew, the afternoon would not become any easier, with additional exercises on silent killing and concealment. The ultimate test of their current stealth and precise lethality.
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Please comment of errors or loopholes.
There will be chapters on Saturday/Sunday, depending on the power stones from now on.
50 = 1 Chapter on Saturday
100 = 1 Chapter on Sunday
200 = Additional bonus chapter