He had spent the previous night poring over the small stack of books that had been provided to him—a basic introduction to magical theory, a guide to the elements, and a history of the Academy.
The material had been dense and unfamiliar, filled with terms and concepts that were entirely new to him. He had tried to absorb as much as he could, but the sheer volume of information had left him feeling overwhelmed. Now, as he prepared to step into the unknown, Alexander couldn't help but feel a twinge of doubt.
Back in his old world, he had been a math teacher, a man of logic and reason. The world of magic, with its arcane symbols, mysterious forces, and unspoken rules, was unlike anything he had ever encountered. Would he be able to keep up with the other students, many of whom had likely been immersed in magic since childhood? Or would he find himself out of his depth, struggling to grasp concepts that came naturally to those around him?
Pushing the thoughts aside, Alexander dressed in his Noctis robes, straightening the crescent moon insignia on his sleeve. With a deep breath, he gathered his books and made his way to the Great Hall for breakfast, where he would meet the other students before heading to his first class.
The Great Hall was already buzzing with activity when Alexander arrived. Students from all five Houses were gathered at long tables, chatting excitedly about the day ahead.
Selene, the quiet girl who had also been sorted into House Noctis, was already seated, sipping a cup of tea as she leafed through a book. She looked up as Alexander approached and offered him a small smile. "Morning," she said softly.
"Morning," Alexander replied, taking a seat across from her. He glanced around at the other students, who were deep in conversation about their upcoming classes. "Everyone seems excited."
Selene nodded, her expression calm. "It's the first day of classes. There's always a lot of energy. For some of us, this is the beginning of something we've been dreaming about for years."
Alexander felt a pang of envy at her words. While many of the students had likely grown up in magical families, surrounded by magic from a young age, he was coming into this world as an outsider, with no prior experience to guide him. He was starting from scratch, and the thought of how far behind he might be was daunting.
Before he could dwell on it, a loud chime echoed through the hall, signaling the start of the day's schedule. The students quickly finished their breakfast and began to file out of the Great Hall, heading to their respective classes. Alexander checked his schedule, a slip of parchment that listed the day's lessons, and saw that his first class was "Introduction to Magical Theory and Practice." He gathered his books and joined the flow of students heading toward the classrooms.
The classroom for Magical Theory was located in one of the older wings of the Academy, a tall, narrow building with ivy-covered walls and windows that looked out over the courtyard. The room itself was spacious, with rows of wooden desks arranged in a semicircle facing a large chalkboard. Shelves lined the walls, filled with ancient tomes and scrolls that looked as though they hadn't been touched in decades.
As Alexander entered the room, he noticed that many of the students had already taken their seats, chatting quietly among themselves. He found an empty desk near the middle of the room and sat down, arranging his books in front of him. The air was thick with the scent of old paper and candle wax, a reminder of the countless students who had passed through this room before him.
A few moments later, the door to the classroom opened, and the instructor entered. He was a tall, thin man with sharp features and a neatly trimmed beard. His robes were deep blue, embroidered with silver runes, and he carried himself with the air of someone who had spent a lifetime studying the mysteries of magic. He moved to the front of the room, setting down a stack of papers on his desk before turning to address the class.
"Good morning, students," he began, his voice clear and precise. "Welcome to Introduction to Magical Theory and Practice. My name is Professor Arlo, and I will be your guide as we explore the fundamental principles that underpin all magic. Whether you are new to magic or have been practicing it for years, this class will provide you with the foundation you need to succeed in your studies here at the Academy."
He paused, his gaze sweeping over the room, taking in the faces of the students before him. "Magic is a vast and complex field, one that requires both intellectual rigor and practical skill. In this class, we will delve into the theories that explain how magic works, as well as the practical applications of those theories. You will learn to understand the forces that govern magic, to recognize the patterns that form the basis of spells, and to apply that knowledge in a controlled and disciplined manner."
Professor Arlo turned to the chalkboard and began writing out a series of symbols, each one intricately detailed and unfamiliar to Alexander. "We will begin with the basic building blocks of magic—the runes. Runes are the symbols that represent the fundamental forces of magic. They are the language of spells, the way in which we communicate our intent to the magical energies that surround us. Understanding runes is essential to mastering the art of spellcasting."
As Professor Arlo spoke, Alexander furiously copied the symbols into his notebook, trying to keep up with the explanations. The runes were unlike anything he had ever encountered, each one representing a different aspect of magic—fire, water, air, earth, and more abstract concepts like time and space. The complexity of the symbols was daunting, and Alexander quickly realized that simply memorizing them would not be enough. He needed to understand the underlying principles that connected them, the way they interacted with each other to create a cohesive whole.
As the lesson continued, Professor Arlo demonstrated how different combinations of runes could be used to create simple spells. He drew a series of runes on the chalkboard, explaining how each one contributed to the overall effect of the spell. "This is a basic illumination spell," he said, pointing to the completed pattern. "When cast, it will produce a small orb of light that can be used to illuminate dark spaces. The key to this spell is the balance between the rune for light and the rune for energy. If the balance is off, the spell will either fail to produce light or will produce too much, blinding the caster."
Alexander watched as Professor Arlo demonstrated the spell, his movements precise and controlled. The runes glowed faintly as the spell took shape, and a small orb of light appeared in the air, hovering just above the professor's hand. It was a simple spell, but the elegance of it was undeniable, a perfect harmony of intention and execution.
"Now," Professor Arlo said, extinguishing the light with a flick of his wrist, "I want each of you to try this spell. Start with the basic runes, and focus on the balance between them. Remember, magic is not about force; it's about control."
The students began to work, drawing the runes on their parchment and muttering the incantations under their breath. Alexander hesitated for a moment, unsure of where to start. The symbols in front of him seemed to blur together, their meanings elusive and tangled. He closed his eyes, trying to clear his mind and focus on the task at hand.
He began by drawing the first rune, the one that represented light. It was a simple, elegant symbol, a single line curving into a small circle. He carefully added the rune for energy, a more complex design with multiple lines radiating outwards like the spokes of a wheel. As he worked, he could feel the strain of concentration, the effort of trying to channel his intent into the symbols on the page.
When he finished, he sat back and looked at the completed pattern. It was rough, the lines uneven and the runes slightly misaligned. He knew it wasn't perfect, but it was the best he could manage at the moment. Taking a deep breath, he raised his hand over the parchment and muttered the incantation that Professor Arlo had taught them.