The teacher allowed the students to murmur among themselves about the 'stolen possession of the king' and took a seat. I didn't have any friends besides Mira, so all I could do was occasionally lift my head, listen to the whispers, and bury it in my arms again. It worked out for me since I was sleepy and my body was sore from being out all night.
A stranger's hand touched my shoulder, and I turned around. To my surprise, no one was behind me; the desk was empty. The closest person to me was Mira, who was sitting next to me, talking to her friends. Thinking it was just a mindless prank, I didn't give it much thought and put my head down again. But after about ten seconds, I felt the cold hand again on my shoulder. This time I turned around quickly. And – there was no one.
"I'm going crazy…" I whispered, leaning back into my chair. "Fucking James… I'm becoming paranoid."
"Say what?" Mira asked, looking at me. "Sorry, didn't hear you."
"It's nothing. I was just mumbling to myself."
"Won't you just tell me what's wrong, Axel? What are you hiding from me?"
Before I could respond, Mr. Vlad announced, "Okay, class. Let's begin. I gave you time to gossip and it's over. Come on, chop chop. Everyone to their desks."
"Yes."
"Yes, sir."
"Okay, sir."
Mr. Vlad walked to the front of the room and cleared his throat. "Today, we're going to review how magic works. Pay attention because understanding this is crucial."
He picked up a piece of chalk and began writing on the board. "Magic in our world is divided into five primary disciplines: Essence Weaving, Elemental Mastery, Life Bonding, Shadow Crafting, and Mind Shaping. Each discipline has its own unique spells and uses."
"Essence Weaving," he continued, "is about manipulating the fundamental energies that flow through all living things. Practitioners can enhance their physical abilities, mend wounds, or disrupt the flow of energy in others."
"Elemental Mastery," he said, moving to the next point, "deals with controlling the natural elements: fire, water, earth, and air. This can be used to create powerful attacks or manipulate the environment around you."
"Life Bonding," he emphasized, "is the discipline of healing and protection. Those skilled in this area can heal injuries, cure diseases, and create barriers to protect themselves and others."
"Shadow Crafting," he went on, "involves the manipulation of shadows and darkness. It's a versatile discipline that can be used for stealth, creating illusions, or even offensive attacks. In my honest opinion, it's the weakest discipline."
"And finally, Mind Shaping," he concluded, "is about controlling and influencing thoughts and emotions. This can be used to calm or enrage, deceive or enlighten, and even manipulate memories."
He put the chalk down and turned to the class. "Each of you will have a natural affinity for a particular discipline, but it's important to have a basic understanding of all of them. Now, let's start with some practical exercises."
Mr. Vlad gestured for a student in the front row to come to his side. Since it was only our second day at school, the teachers hadn't learned our names yet. Hell, I didn't even know Mr. Vlad's first name... wait, was his name Vlad or Nilad? Well, it didn't matter. I preferred not to remember the names of people who were of no use to me.
"Alright, come up here," Mr. Vlad said, pointing to the student. "Let's demonstrate Essence Weaving first. It's the most fundamental discipline and a good starting point."
The student, a nervous-looking boy, stood up and walked to the front of the class. Mr. Vlad handed him a small, smooth stone. "I want you to focus on the stone and try to channel your energy into it. Imagine your mana flowing from your core, through your hands, and into the stone."
The boy nodded and held the stone tightly, closing his eyes in concentration. A faint glow began to emanate from the stone, growing brighter as the boy's face scrunched in effort.
"Good, good," Mr. Vlad encouraged. "You're doing well. Now, try to control the flow of energy. Don't force it, just guide it."
The glow stabilized, and the boy opened his eyes, a look of surprise and accomplishment on his face.
"Well done," Mr. Vlad said, taking the stone back. "This is the essence of Essence Weaving. With practice, you'll be able to enhance your abilities and even heal minor injuries."
"Yes, sir."
"You can go sit. Thanks for helping me." He turned back to the class. "Now, who's next? Let's try some Elemental Mastery."
He picked another student and gestured for him to come forward.
"Alright, now for Elemental Mastery. This is a bit more advanced, but I think you'll manage," Mr. Vlad said, handing the student a small bowl of water. "Elemental Mastery involves controlling and manipulating the elements around you. In this case, I want you to try to move the water."
The student, a tall boy with a sad expression -probably cursing at his luck that he got picked of all the students- took the bowl and stared at the water. He raised his hand over the surface, his fingers trembling slightly as he concentrated.
"Remember," Mr. Vlad instructed, "your mana is the bridge between your mind and the element. Visualize the water responding to your will."
The student's brow furrowed in concentration, and after a moment, the water began to ripple. Slowly, a small stream rose from the bowl, hovering in the air before dropping back down.
"Excellent," Mr. Vlad said, nodding in approval. "Elemental Mastery is about finesse and control. With time, you'll be able to manipulate fire, earth, and air as well."
He placed the bowl back on his desk and turned to the class. "The next basic discipline is Life Bonding. Any volunteers?"
Mr. Vlad surveyed the room until his gaze settled on me.
"Shit, not me. Not me."
"You there," he pointed at me. "Please come forward."
"Ugh…" I rose up from my seat. "Of course, sir."
"Now, use a healing spell on me." He said, prickling his arm. "It's the most basic spell of all time, so I'm sure you wouldn't have any problems with that."
Reluctantly, I made my way to the front of the class, my heart pounding with anxiety. I stood before Mr. Vlad, feeling nervous under his gaze.
"Go on," Mr. Vlad encouraged, his tone gentle yet firm. "Channel your mana and focus on the healing spell. You can do it."
Taking a deep breath to steady my nerves, I extended my hands toward Mr. Vlad and tried to summon the healing energy within me. But no matter how hard I concentrated, nothing happened. It sucks that I only have ten points of mana…
"I'm sorry, sir," I said. "I can't seem to do it."
Mr. Vlad's expression remained understanding. "That's alright, Axel," he said. "Healing spells can be challenging, especially for those with limited mana. Remember, it's not about the spells you can't do, but the ones you can."
He then turned his attention back to the class. "Let's see... you there," he pointed to another student. "Please come forward and demonstrate the healing spell."
The student confidently stepped up and cast the healing spell. A soft, warm green light enveloped Mr. Vlad's arm, and the small cut he had made healed instantly.
"Excellent work," Mr. Vlad praised the student. "That's it class. We'll continue tomorrow for the last two. Shadow Crafting and Mind Shaping. Be safe, and stay away from strangers. You're all dismissed."