The four of them remained silent for a moment, stunned by his sudden interruption. Luther's heart skipped a beat. Ithan was there, earlier than usual, his brow furrowed and his demeanor hostile. Elise, slightly nervous, attempted to diffuse the tension:
"Ithan, it's not what you think…" she said awkwardly.
"I don't think anything, idiot," he shot back, his voice dripping with disdain. "You've been staring at me like there's something on my face for two minutes now."
Borik tried to ease the tension, placing a hand on Ithan's shoulder with a half-smile. "Relax, brother, it's just a misunderstanding…"
Ithan's reaction was immediate and sharp: he brushed Borik's hand off with a disdainful gesture, letting out a displeased "tch." Just then, the bell rang, announcing the start of class. Ithan gave Borik a glare brimming with suppressed anger and stormed off, muttering "freaks" under his breath.
A heavy silence fell over the group. Elise exhaled the breath she had been holding, Naomi tilted her head in a mix of frustration and curiosity, and Borik simply shrugged with resignation.
"Incredible," Naomi remarked sarcastically. "What a delight, huh?"
"Well, I guess we'll catch up later, Luther," Borik said with a sigh, checking the scroll in his hand. "Naomi and I have a different class now, don't we?"
Naomi nodded, and before Elise or Luther could respond, the two of them quickly said their goodbyes.
"Fill us in later!" Naomi called over her shoulder as they ran down the hallway, disappearing into the crowd of students.
"Shall we?" Elise suggested with a gentle smile, trying to lighten the mood.
Luther nodded, still frowning, and they made their way to their assigned classroom together. It was time to focus on the day's lesson, though Luther couldn't shake the feeling that something shady was happening behind his back.
The classroom, while as spacious as the others, had a more relaxed atmosphere. Soft light filtered in through tall windows, and shelves adorned with glowing crystals lined the walls. It was the perfect setting for the subject they had now: Basic Magic, once again under the guidance of Professor Nylaen.
Professor Nylaen entered shortly after they did, her calm and warm demeanor unchanged. She wore her pale blue robe, and her green eyes sparkled with the reflection of the magical orbs hanging from the ceiling. The students quickly fell silent as the teacher took her place at the front of the class. Luther and Elise sat together, Elise resting her hands expectantly on the desk, while Luther tried to push aside the morning's tensions.
"Good morning, everyone. Today, we'll be discussing the essence of all beings in Aether: mana," Nylaen said with a smile. "For those of you who come from worlds without magic, this might seem new. But here in Aether, mana is the energy that gives life and sustains every creature, every stone, and every plant."
The students remained silent, attentive.
"Mana is the vital energy of the universe. It flows through the entire planet, enabling both life and magic. According to legend, this energy was created at the beginning of time when the King God brought the monster T'harak into the world. At that moment, mana began to flow from the core of Aether, nourishing every corner of the planet," Nylaen explained.
"So mana is everywhere?" a student in the front rows asked, his expression full of wonder.
"Exactly," the professor nodded. "Mana is omnipresent, flowing through the air, the earth, the rivers, and even the mountains. The places richest in mana—such as magical forests and volcanic mountains—allow the beings living there to develop exceptional abilities."
"And how does mana work within us?" Elise asked, raising her hand.
"That's an excellent question, Elise," Nylaen responded, smiling. "All living beings in Aether have a mana core. This core is the center of our magical energy, allowing us to channel and control the mana around us. Unlike the natives of Aether, newly summoned individuals like you don't have a natural mana core. However, in training, you've started developing an artificial one."
"And what types of mana are there?" another curious student inquired.
Nylaen gestured toward the magical board behind her, where words describing each type of mana appeared:
Arcane Mana: "This is the most common mana and allows for basic elemental spells, barriers, and enchantments," she explained. "Most of the spells and techniques you'll learn will be based on this type of mana."
Vital Mana: "This type of mana fuels life and enables healing and accelerated regeneration," she continued. "It's essential for healing spells and recovery treatments."
Dark Mana: Nylaen paused briefly at this mention, casting a glance at Luther. "This mana is tied to shadows and the most intense and complex emotions. It's powerful for destructive spells and mental control, but handling it requires great care and discipline."
Divine Mana: "This is the magic of light, the opposite of dark mana, used by those with a celestial affinity. It's a mana that purifies and heals at advanced levels."
Elemental Mana: "This mana allows for direct control of nature's elements: fire, water, earth, air, and lightning. Those with elemental affinity are particularly strong in direct combat."
Ancestral Mana: "This type of mana is very rare and is said to have been used by the King God and primordial beings like T'harak. It's capable of altering reality itself and manipulating matter. However, its power is beyond the reach of common beings."
"So, can anyone control these types of mana?" asked a young, curious-looking student.
"Not exactly," Nylaen clarified. "Each user develops a specific affinity, and with practice, they can specialize. But not all types of mana are accessible to everyone."
"Now," continued the professor, "let's talk about how the mana core develops within each of you. The evolution of the core progresses through various stages, and each stage determines the level of magic you can handle."
On the magical board, the names of the stages appeared along with detailed descriptions:
Latent Core: The initial stage.
"At this level, spells are weak, and control over mana is limited. Newly summoned individuals begin at this stage," Nylaen explained.
Awakened Core: The intermediate stage.
"Here, users can specialize in a type of mana and perform more advanced spells. As the core strengthens, physical and magical resistance increases."
Expanded Core: The advanced stage.
"At this level, the core can store large amounts of mana and allows for the casting of high-level spells. Those who reach this stage are considered true mages or magical warriors."
Refined Core: The master stage.
"At this point, users can alter reality with their spells, and their bodies become resistant to physical attacks. Only the most dedicated mages and warriors reach this stage."
Divine Core: A legend.
"It is said that the divine core allows manipulation of life and reality at unimaginable levels. However, it has only been mentioned in legends, and no one has ever achieved this state."