"Hello? Are you okay," her voice releases the worries I had been holding onto, "Can I have my stuff back?" I fumble with the books and extend them to her.
"Here you go," I say organizing my thoughts, "Sorry it's just you remind me of an old friend. Well, I'll be going to my seat now. See you later." I feel my lips twitch as I try to give her a smile. Then I plop down in the back burying my head next to Maria. I hear the chair beside move as Orion sits next to me.
"So, are you going to explain what just happened or do I have to ask your sister?" A bit of amusement enters his voice. My ears start to burn.
"No, I'm not and she doesn't know either." I hear a sigh and a thud from him slamming his head on the table. I mull over my thoughts in silence tears stinging my eyes.
"Alright class, quiet down," I look up and see a man standing at the front of the room with a short black elegant cane, "This is Introduction to Sorcery, if you're in the wrong class leave now." Giggles come from a few of the students.
"Alright, this portion of your schedule will be used learning the basic lessons of sorcery," He lifts his cane launching balls of light through the room, "Sorcery requires conduits such as my cane to manipulate and control ether. All of you here, today will get unbound trainee conduits to start your training. All of you will make and bind with you own conduits later to progress as a sorcerer. Now who can tell me the first step of becoming a sorcerer?" A few timid hands rise in the air.
"Yes, you," He points his cane at a tan boy upfront.
"Getting your conduits?" The boy says timidly.
"Incorrect, any other guesses?" the few hands that were in the air drop down. He stares at the class expectantly.
"Awakening your mage sense." I speak up breaking the silence.
"Correct," He nods his head, "Do you know how that is done, Mr.?"
"Alexander Cleargrey sir, and it is done in three possible ways," I speak confidently, "You can meditate, have another sorcerer forcefully awaken you or awaken in a life-or-death situation." There is a fourth way but that's not known to the public. He gives a slight smile.
"Well, that is correct Mr. Cleargrey," He turns to the board behind him and taps his cane against it causing writing to appear on it, "In our school we will have you awaken through the first option, meditation, as that is the safest option. Now let me explain on the fundamentals of meditation."
"His lecture went on forever," Orion stretches his arms as we pack up after class, "Also you would think the conduits would look cooler like a wand or something." He holds up his conduit a metal sphere the size of an apple.
"They won't give a bunch of crazy designs to us if we are only going to use them as trainees," I hold mine up, "It's more efficient to use a basic design and mass produce it since we won't use them very long."
"I guess," he shifts the weight in his hand, "If anything it would make for a good projectile weapon."
"I hope you don't think that I would allow such an occurrence," Mr. Polanas speaks up from the front of the room, "Mr. Cleargrey can I speak with you for a moment?"
"Yes sir," I look back at Maria and Orion, "You guys go on ahead I'll meet you in the dining hall."
"Hurry up," Orion smirks, "Because if you take too long your sister might kill me." He got a well-deserved elbow to the ribs for that comment.
"I'll make sure he stays out of trouble," Maria drags Orion out the room with him making help me faces. I turn to Mr. Polanas curious.
"So, sir, what did you want to talk to me about?"
"I was wondering if you received any training before coming to the academy?"
"I have not, I just read up on sorcery in the library last night to get a head start."
"Really, then you are a well-driven student if that's the case," the corners of his mouth turn upwards on his stubbled face, "Hopefully you keep that determination up as the year progresses."
"Don't worry, Professor, I have plenty of things I want to achieve."
"Well, I'm glad that's so, if you have any questions or concerns my door is open."
"Thank you, professor, I need to go. Have a nice day."
"You as well." I walk out the door to go to the dining hall.
"I got to say they have good grub," Orion speaks through a mouthful of food, "You guys got any idea for your first conduit?"
"I want a sword," Maria said with a look of disgust, "And will you please close your mouth while you're eating."
"She is right you know," I say after swallowing some of the peppered beef, "You are a noble shouldn't you have better manners?"
"You both sound like my parents," He scoffs, "I came here so I didn't have to deal with the nagging, and yet here it is. Moving on what about you, Zan?" I honestly didn't know exactly what I was going to make, but I had a few ideas for the process from past life knowledge and Elliott's journal.
"Well, I have a few ideas but I haven't settled on a singular idea."
"Why not all of them we can bind to multiple conduits," Maria points out.
"Well standardly yes but I'm looking into an uncommon idea."
"What is it?" Orion leans back finished with his food. He glances around the dining hall at the other students.
"Not sure yet still in the middle of research," I rest my hand on my bag confirming the journal is there.
"Well cool, tell me when you're done, it should be interesting," Maria picks at her food.
"Yes, it should."
The training field for the First sword is crowded with about 90 students separated into three groups. I see a banners with class numbers on them and head over to our class. A few of our classmates are already there including Zenith who is talking with a few of her friends. I fight down my emotions and turn towards Orion and Maria.
"So, who do think will be our teacher?"
"I don't know, I just hope that they can recognize my talent," Orion humors already laying against the fence post.
"Or someone to fix you," Maria smiles as a shadow falls over Orion. Standing on the other side of the fence post is Miss Elizabeth.
"Fix what Tiger girl?" Orion smirks, "I am a catch, you are lucky that we are friends."
"She probably talking about your immaturity, you brat." Orion jumps up startled by Miss Elizabeth's voice.
"What are you doing here, Miss Elizabeth?" He chuckles nervously, scratching the back of his head.
"She must be our teacher you imbecile," Maria smiles pleasantly at Miss Elizabeth, "What are we learning today teach?"
"You are correct, and we will begin shortly," she hops the fence with ease, "Gather round everyone, I'm going to teach you how to be a true warrior." The students chatter as they gather in a circle around her.
"Alright can anyone tell me what the first sword represents?" A plump boy raises his meaty hand, "Yes, you there."
"It stands for the ki warriors, ma'am" His squeaky voice rings out.
"Correct, now can you tell me what ki is?" She looks around but no one raises their hand.
"Ki is life energy built up and held within our bodies, used to reinforce and amplify physical abilities." I speak up. If I want more resources and support to grow, I needed to show off.
"Correct Alexander, right?" She smirks.
"Yes ma'am."
"Do you know how it's awakened and gathered?"
"Yes ma'am, through pushing the body to the limits and meditative breathing exercises. Other ways to increase ki is through certain elixirs and medicines."
"What he said is exactly correct," she addresses the class, "and that leads into what we will be doing today. I want everyone to run 20 laps, do 500 pushups, 500 squats, and 500 lunges. Just to check your physical condition." Following this statement was a collective groan from the class.
"That was absolutely terrible," a boy lying on the common room floor groans. I am sitting in one of the armchairs across from Orion soaked in sweat but still energetic.
"I'm surprised you kept up, Zan."
"Just because I like reading doesn't mean my mother didn't train the hell out of me," I glance toward the closed for cleaning sign on the washroom door, "You would think it would be cleaned while we are in classes."
"Yeah, sucks that the girls are the only ones allowed to wash right now," he sighs, "When do you think you'll awaken your mage sense? Do you think you will take the full week?" He starts tossing his round conduit up in the air and catching it.
"Probably not, they say two weeks because that's the longest people with aptitude take to awaken," Also I have something in the grimoire that can help me. "Did you see the postings at the entry way for different clubs?"
"Oh yeah, I'm going to stop by and see the alchemy lab sometime this week"
"Didn't know you were interested in that."
"it's just a little hobby of mine. The school store doesn't sell the potions I usually have so I figured I'd make my own," He winks. He is obviously up to something but before I could do anything the door opened.
"Alright boys, the washroom is clean help yourselves," A middle aged man says removing the sign on the door.
"Come on let's wash up," Orion grins.