"I guess Mr. Beauregard simply tripped and fell on an uneven path," Dean Martha laughed awkwardly before taking the center front. "Anyway, Professor Dundy is still on sick leave, so I'm leaving you all for self-study. Have fun learning on your own, kids!"
There were a few murmurs, some expressing their complaints, and some rejoicing for free time. This, obviously, was not the first time this had happened.
"Sick leave?" Caelum sneered. "I bet he's on a vacation somewhere on Moon Drop Island. This academy's a sham."
The three wisps settled on Aiden's table, rumbling about various stuff, and kind enough not to bombard Aiden with any more plans about him getting beat down to a pulp. They put up a silent consensus: no more talks about their mortal getting beat up for today.
"Since we have nothing left to do," Riven said, his gaze brushing past the shelves of books that lined the room. "You should take this time to study. We can know more about... whatever this is, that's going on in the mortal realm."
Caelum yawned. "Bo-ring." he said, flying his way past the glass-stained windows until his glow was nowhere to be seen.
"Great. I love studying," Aiden said sarcastically before turning to his seatmate for some help. One glance and he knew help was impossible. Geoffrey had his hands full sharpening a shiv with a pen.
"Wanna get those eyes stabbed?" Geoffrey offered, showcasing his shiv-wielding skills in front Aiden, his fingers masterfully tackling the small weapon.
Even without Riven's instruction, Aiden looked away. Judging from Geoffrey's gesture and face alone, he knew staring would get him stabbed.
"Hmm..." Riven flew upwards to survey the room. "We need help from someone else. Someone who won't kill us."
Lucius joined Riven in his survey. "Who you thinking?"
Only a handful of students were quietly studying on their own, following Dean Martha's instructions. The rest were chatting with friends, sharing snacks, or casually sharpening their shivs, showing little interest in academics.
Aiden stood from his seat, and the wisps followed him with their 'eyes', wondering what he was about to do. Aiden marched to the front, stopping in front of the boy with glasses and two humongous front teeth.
"H-hi, Aiden," the boy acknowledged him. "Can I help you with something?"
Aiden pointed at the book he was holding.
"You wanna borrow my book?" the boy asked, casually glancing at hundreds of books surrounding them.
Aiden, without understanding what he was saying, nodded his head. The boy handed him the book, and like a fool, he took the book as if expecting he'd be able to read it.
"What's that?" Lucius said as they flew towards him. "You're extorting this poor boy for his book?"
Aiden shook his head. "No, I was hoping he'd help me study, but he just gave me this."
Riven checked the book cover. "The Eldritch Scripture—Elementary Year One."
Lucius hovered closer to the book, his flames beaming purple from curiosity. "Turn the pages."
Aiden turned a page, not expecting much as he flipped another... and another—until both he and Lucius froze, their attention converging on one word.
"Holy smokes!" Lucius breathed, his gaze fixed on a word that caught both his and Aiden's attention, sparking Riven's curiosity to join them. Now, all three froze in awe, staring at a scripture inscribed in the ancient language of the gods.
"The mortals are studying the language of gods?" Riven said. "And you..." he stared at Aiden.
"You can read this?"
Lucius gasped, his wispy form spinning around Aiden, eyeing the boy in awe. "Well done. At least you're not that illiterate. Having one is enough for the team."
Aiden shook his head. "Believe me," he said. "No one taught me anything. I don't know how I know how to read this."
The boy with glasses beamed, his opal eyes peering through his thick lenses. Unknowingly interrupting the three on their convo, thinking Aiden was talking to him in a different language. "You're amazing, Aiden! You sound just like Miss Dundy when she's cursing," he said. "But I only know a few Eldritch words. I can't keep up with you yet. Sorry."
"Eldritch?" Lucius said. "That's what they call the ancient scriptures of gods? How lame!"
Riven shook his head. "Even more so... how did the mortals get their hands on celestial scriptures?" He hovered closer to the book. "Flip through the pages more," he demanded, and Aiden obliged.
Aiden walked toward his seat, too engrossed in the book in his hands to hear the boy with glasses yell out, "It's alright! You can borrow that one for as long as you'd like! I still have another one!"
For a couple of hours, Aiden read through the entire book with the help of Lucius and Riven. They learned about the mortals being able to cast spells by using phrases in celestial tongue.
"Oh," Lucius pointed at one phrase, the three of them skimming through a list of badly misspelled phrases. "This is good. I used this once to electrocute Caelum."
"Lightning surges, Foudrans roar?" Aiden read out loud. "Pardon not, obliterate his core."
A few startled screams echoed through the room as a few lightbulbs burst from the chandelier overhead, showering shards of glass like glittering confetti. The three of them exchanged glances, their hearts racing with a mix of surprise and excitement, the electric thrill of the moment igniting a sense of bewilderment among the three.
"Bastardsson! Did you just—" Lucius beamed too bright he almost blinded Aiden with his excitement. "Cast a spell?!"
Riven surveyed the shards of glass on the floor, ignoring the curses Geoffrey uttered as he hovered closer toward Aiden. "How are you feeling?" he asked. "Did you feel your meridians open up?"
"I don't know. Did I do really do that?" Aiden wondered while looking up at the busted lightbulbs, his expression bewildered by the sudden trick that slipped off his sleeve.
"Yes! Do it again!" Lucius said, eyeing a different spell this time. "Try this one!"