At Nineheart, classes are separated into three types: foundation, liberal, and integrated. Foundation classes encompass courses that are relevant to a specific sub-school, and they're required core classes. Liberal and integrated classes are essentially electives, with the former focusing on things like culture or social sciences.
For Lionheart, foundation classes are broken down into four types: combat specialization, vocation, general arcana, and mystic study. At least one class from each type is required, and there is no limit to how many classes you can take except for the space available in your schedule.
Before arriving at Nineheart, I went over what core classes I should take with Heflin. As an agent of the Arbiter's Association, assessing and building upon an arbiter's strengths is one of his key skills, so I trusted his say on everything.
Combat specialization refers to the type of combat you specialize in, whether that be swordsmanship, arcana, or martial arts. Of course, I went with Introduction to Swordsmanship.
Vocation classes teach students to pursue a specific niche based on their capabilities and combat style. As a swordsman, I figured I'd take Vanguard Discipline I, which is kind of a straightforward course on how to act as a damage-dealer on the frontline. It sounds significantly less nuanced than a class like Recon Discipline I, which teaches those light of feet how to gather and analyze information without revealing oneself.
The majority of the vocation classes teach students based on the assumption that they'll be working together to complete certain tasks or missions. I heard that we have to form a team with students from any vocation class, which I'm not particularly happy about.
There are many kinds of arcana courses, ranging from classes that teach elemental magic (either general/low-level or specific to each element) to summoning techniques. There's actually no class on physical enhancement arts, largely due to the fact that they're incorporated into combat specialization and vocation classes. In addition, many of the arcana classes are integrated as well.
Originally, I was going to take Flame Arcana 101 because of 'Hela's Authority' creating fire, but Heflin told me that fire is the most competitive element because of its significance to both Nineheart and the Ark of Passion, so I decided against it. Besides, the flames of 'Hela's Authority' don't even burn, and I don't even know if it'd be effective with the martial art that Callen said he'd teach me.
Heflin talked about a type of magic I could use even with mana reversion: enchanting. It focuses on inscribing arcane arts into tools or weapons, which is my only realistic option for imbuing my sword with magic power considering I can't do it through normal means. The class he said fit my interests best is called Intro to Arcanum. It's an integrated class that's actually catered towards Maestros and Archons, but as long as it's a form of magic I can actually use, I'll take it.
Lastly, mystic study revolves around studying otherworldly concepts such as monsters or supernatural phenomena. At first, learning about monsters and their weaknesses sounded interesting, but then I realized I have an ability that already covers that. As a result, I ended up deciding on a class that covers the latter, which supposedly goes into detail about things like dungeons or the system that the divines created. Introductory Mystic Sciences, or something like that.
These four classes make up my core, and I've had them all saved on my app for a while now. I was planning on locking in my choices the moment registration opened, but now that I have electives to think about, I have to consider my schedule seriously since electives are more limited than foundations in both space and lecture times.
With that said, in the fifty or so minutes I've spent skimming through the course list, I haven't really found anything that stood out to me. Electives aren't required at Nineheart, but I feel like I won't be busy enough with those four core classes alone. Maybe I should look into other foundation classes as well.
I might as well head to the demonstration for Intro to Arcanum so that I can actually understand what I'm getting myself into. I can figure out what to do from there.
My PDA says that it's taking place outside at some place called Field Amore, which is apparently northeast of where I am, and where I am is... I have no clue. I've been trying to map out Lionheart in my head, but it's just so wide. Plus, a lot of the buildings look the same. At least the map technology in my PDA was advanced enough that it could literally point me in the right direction by projecting an arrow hologram and even show a 3D map of my surroundings. The latter is annoyingly showy, so I settled on the arrow. I discovered that, for up-to-date maps, the arrow adjusts itself toward optimal turns and routes instead of just pointing in the correct direction.
After following the arrow for ten minutes, I arrived at a large dirt field with small tables scattered throughout with a number of ordinary-looking rocks on each. In the center, there's a hologram projector showing a scene taking place elsewhere. There aren't that many other Lionhearts here, but I more or less expected that.
I approached one of the tables, looking over the display. There were four stones on the table, all of them seemingly normal—except for a different set of esoteric markings on each. Arcane inscriptions, also simply known as enchantments. Below each was a small note that explained the purposes of each.
From left to right: an enchanted stone that reflects force up to a certain limit, a stone that absorbs ambient mana and releases it as a weak electric current, a stone that makes you calmer just by touching it, and a stone that manifests an illusion when mana is pushed into it.
They're elementary-level enchantments, but for someone like me who hasn't seen them before, they're kind of inspiring. I picked up the illusion stone and pushed my mana into it. A part of me was afraid it wouldn't work, but I felt relieved when I saw a small frog appear on top of it. Like 'Blade of Chivalry', I can move mana outside of my own body as long as I'm in direct contact with a vessel, such as a spirit vein.
I set the stone back down and turned my attention to the projector in the center.
A 3D projection of a lab floated a bit off the ground, showing a frail-looking, older man enchanting a sword on a table. It didn't seem like there was anyone else in the lab, so I assume this is just his method of providing demonstrations to all the sub-schools. His hoarse voice came out from speakers beside the projector.
"Now, there is more to creating arcanum than just tossing on arcane arts. Inscribing a simple effect like 'sets aflame when charged with mana' is something even a child can do."
He lifted the sword. In the next moment, the blade suddenly set on fire.
"A weapon, armor, or tool with only that cannot be considered real arcanum here at Nineheart. This is nothing but a flaming sword. It is as dangerous to my opponent as it is to me."
The professor brought the blade close to his sleeve, causing a small ember to take hold of it. He quickly doused it with water before speaking.
"True arcanum combines a multitude of different arcana to incredible effect. However, it is not as simple as tossing in more and more arcana: the more you put in, the more complex it gets. Contradicting factors, volatile elements, incompatible arts: these exponentially increase the difficulty of enchanting. There is also the matter of inscription, but I will save that for the real class."
Suddenly, a flash of light caused the scene to distort for a few seconds. After it cleared, I saw the professor holding nothing but a handle. The blade had broken apart, its pieces scattered to the floor.
"This is what happens when you fail to account for any of those things. Now, I'll show you what happens when you understand how to do that."
This time, he took out another sword that seemed identical to the one before. It set on fire as well, but when the professor pressed it against his skin, nothing happened. Then, he pointed it at a target on the wall. A burst of flame shot out from the tip, striking the target in the center, leaving a scorch mark.
"By the end of this class, you'll learn to do this much. Possibly weaker, possibly stronger. Regardless, you'll understand how to combine arcana to develop simple functions like this without blowing yourself up."
He lifted the blade upward, followed by six embers separating from the sword and coalescing into multiple floating blades of flame. They lingered in the air around him, pointing forward as if waiting for a command. He swung the sword horizontally, causing the six blades to pierce the target, erupting in a mild burst of flame. It didn't seem all that strong, as far as I could tell.
"At the next level, you might be able to accomplish something like this. Again, possibly weaker, possibly stronger. You are essentially learning and reinforcing the foundations of enchanting, and from there you'll derive how to amplify the power of your arcanum. You will not be evaluated on strength, but on application of theory."
Again, there was another flash. When the projection settled, he was holding a new sword. Unlike the previous two, it looked to be of high quality, forged from an unfamiliar crimson metal.
"That is because the majority of you lack the talent to accomplish something like this. If you are in the Confessional, please turn your attention north. If you are among the Archons, look east. If you are in Lionheart, look northeast."
The scene in the projection suddenly shifted, and now the professor was outside. The sword in his hand suddenly lit aflame, this time with a blaze so fierce that the projection was beginning to warp. I quickly faced northeast, and a few seconds later, a massive blade of flame suddenly manifested in the sky. It was so large, in fact, that I could see it from the complete opposite side of campus.
My jaw dropped.
Is he allowed to do that!?
There was a loud clamor coming from the speakers, comprised of a series of angry shouts. Shortly after, the blade in the sky vanished. I leaned closer, trying to pick out voices amidst the chaos.
"Professor Lambent! Are you trying to destroy the campus!?"
"Who authorized you to use Vermillion Fang?"
"You are disrupting other demonstrations!"
"The students are going to be concerned!"
Despite the barrage of admonishment from other staff, Professor Lambent seemed unfazed.
"I'll be ending the demonstration here. I'm not sure when I'll be able to show the next one, so let your friends know ahead of time if they're planning on looking into my class. I hope to see some of you next week."
The projector shut off, leaving me and everyone else around completely dumbstruck.
I don't really know how to react to that, to be honest. Is that professor normally like that? And what on earth was that arcanum?
In any case, I've decided: this is, without a doubt, the class I want to take for my arcana core.