Chapter - 39
"Hey, Callum!" Cassia's voice broke through my thoughts, drawing my attention back to the group still lingering around me. "Do you think you could help us out sometime? With Iridium flow techniques and all that?"
Jennifer nodded, her icy composure softening slightly. "It's clear you've put in a lot of work. If you have the time, I think we could all benefit from your insight."
Livius grinned, clapping me on the shoulder. "Count me in too! Though, uh…" He glanced at a clock on the wall, his expression twisting into a grimace. "Actually, I've got something to take care of right now. But I'm definitely going to want want your help, Callum. You're not getting out of it!"
With a wave, Livius darted off, leaving just Jennifer, Cassia, and me.
"Well," I said, running a hand through my hair, "I'd be happy to help. I've spent a lot of time working on this stuff, so if it can make things easier for you guys, why not?"
Cassia gave me a bright smile. "Thanks, Callum. That's really generous of you."
Jennifer glanced at me thoughtfully. "If we're all done here, maybe we could grab lunch? There's a cafeteria nearby, and I'm starving."
The mention of food reminded me just how long it had been since breakfast. My stomach growled softly, as if in agreement. "Sounds good to me," I said with a grin.
---
The three of us made our way to one of the academy's many cafeterias. The place was bustling, as expected for this time of day, but we managed to snag a small table near a window overlooking the training fields.
"So," Cassia began, "how long have you been practicing Iridium flow techniques? You made it look so… easy."
I chuckled, shaking my head. "Trust me, it wasn't easy. But, I had a basic understanding of some things that helped me when I first started."
Jennifer sipped her drink, her sharp green eyes studying me. "Still, it's impressive. You've been here the same amount of time as the rest of us, but it's clear you've put in extra effort. Is that just… you? Or is there another reason you push yourself so hard?"
Her question caught me off guard. For a moment, I hesitated, weighing how much to reveal.
"Well," I said slowly, "part of it is just how I've always been. If there's something worth doing, I want to do it right. But another part of it…" I paused, searching for the right words. "I guess it's because I don't have the safety net that a lot of you do. No noble house to fall back on, no family connections. If I don't succeed here, I don't have anywhere else to go."
'Literally', I thought in my mind.
Cassia's expression softened, and she reached across the table to give my hand a light squeeze. "We're friends now, Callum. At the very least, you've got us." I smiled, feeling a warmth in my chest that had nothing to do with the food.
After we finished our meal, the three of us leaned back in our seats, satisfied from the hearty food. Cassia was the first to break the comfortable silence.
"So, Callum," she began, her tone curious. "Think you could give us a quick lesson on skill conjuring? Just a little something to get us started."
Jennifer nodded, "You've clearly got a knack for this. A head start would make a difference, especially since none of us managed it in class today."
I smiled faintly at their enthusiasm. They were already beginning to rise from their seats, clearly expecting me to lead them to a training hall, but I raised a hand to stop them.
"Hold on," I said, leaning forward slightly. "We don't need to go anywhere just yet. The foundation of this isn't about brute forcing a skill. It's about understanding your body and how Iridium flows through it. That starts with theory."
Cassia blinked, her brow furrowing. "Theory? What do you mean? Isn't it just about directing the flow of Iridium with your mind?"
Jennifer crossed her arms, looking skeptical. "If it were that simple, everyone would've gotten it today."
"Exactly," I said, nodding toward her. "There's more to it than just focusing. You need to visualize the Iridium channels in your body, the way they connect and move energy. The problem is… most people don't have a clear picture of what's actually inside them."
Their confusion deepened, and I leaned forward, clasping my hands together. "Look, I know this might sound strange, but let me explain. Before I came here, I worked in… well, a kind of healer's trade. I learned a lot about how the body works—muscles, blood flow, organs. That knowledge has been essential for me when it comes to channeling Iridium."
Cassia tilted her head, her red hair catching the light. "You're saying understanding how the body works helps with magic? How?"
I smiled, gesturing for them to stay seated. "Give me an hour, and I'll show you."
---
We stayed at the table, and I began with the basics, keeping my explanations as simple as possible. I sketched out a crude diagram of a human body on my notebook. It showed the basic musculature and circulatory system.
"Alright," I began, pointing at the drawing. "Let's start with the basics. Your body has channels for Iridium, right? Think of them like rivers that flow through you. Now, you know Iridium flows to specific points when you're casting a skill—hands, feet, whatever the spell requires. But did you know that those channels work like a system? If you don't understand the flow, you'll waste energy or even damage yourself. These thick lines you see, they're called arteries, they take blood from your heart to your vital organs, giving them energy. While these thin lines, they're veins. Veins take blood toward the heart, to get the blood filled with energy once again. This is the circulatory system that keeps your body running. Iridium follows much the same principle. You have the core, from which Iridium flows throughout your body."
Jennifer leaned closer, her eyes narrowing. "How do you know all this? None of the teachers ever mentioned 'systems' or 'arteries.'"
I hesitated for a moment, then shrugged. "It's just something I've pieced together over time. Think of it as a different perspective."
Cassia's eyes lit up with curiosity. "So, what's the connection to skill conjuring?"
"Good question," I said, drawing a series of lines across the body I'd sketched. "This is what I imagine when I channel Iridium. I think of my veins and arteries as pathways, and I try to follow the natural flow of energy through them. It's not perfect—Iridium isn't blood—but the principle works. If you push against the flow or overload the channels, you risk tearing them apart. That's why Hecate warned us not to be overzealous in our training."
Jennifer frowned, her brows knitting together. "Tearing them apart… that actually makes sense. But I've never thought about it like this before."
Cassia nodded, her voice thoughtful. "Neither have I. No one's ever explained it this way. It feels… different, but I can see how it might help."
For the next hour, I walked them through the basic systems of the body as I understood them—veins, arteries, the heart as a central pump. How the muscles worked in tandem to these blood vessels, and how the skeletal structure encompassed everything. I kept the details light, focusing on how they could visualize these systems to guide their Iridium.
Jennifer was sharp, asking incisive questions that forced me to clarify my explanations. Cassia, meanwhile, absorbed the information with wide-eyed fascination, nodding along and occasionally jotting notes on her notebook.
By the time we wrapped up, both of them seemed more confident, though I could tell it would take a few more lessons before they could comprehend everything and for the knowledge to sink in.
"We'll have to do this again," Jennifer said, standing and stretching. "Tomorrow, maybe? I want to see if I can actually put this to use."
"Agreed," Cassia added, her voice bright. "I feel like we're onto something here."
I nodded, gathering up my notebook. "Sounds good. We'll meet after classes tomorrow."
Jennifer offered me a rare smile. "Thanks, Callum. I'll see you both tomorrow." With that, she left, her stride as confident as ever.
Cassia lingered behind and hesitated for a moment before speaking. "Callum… about the academy holidays starting in two weeks…"
I raised an eyebrow, curious. "Yeah?"
She tucked a strand of red hair behind her ear, her cheeks tinged pink. "I just wanted to remind you about our plan. To go to my family's estate together. I'll be waiting for you."
I couldn't help but smile. "I haven't forgotten. Thank you again for inviting me, Cassia. I really appreciate it."
She smiled back, a touch of nervousness in her eyes. "It's nothing, really. I think you'll enjoy it. My family's not perfect, but they're kind. And besides…" She trailed off, "You shouldn't have to spend the holidays alone."