As the evening grew darker, Phaistos and Zara were deeply immersed in their respective meditations, each exploring the new insight they had shared regarding the water element. Their minds were filled with possibilities and potential breakthroughs.
In his room, Phaistos visualized the currents of water, trying to synchronize his energy with the natural rhythm of the element. He imagined himself becoming one with the fluidity and adaptability of water, feeling its power and grace in every movement. The sensation was both invigorating and calming, and for the first time, he felt a slight shift in his understanding.
Zara, on the other hand, focused on the nurturing and life-giving aspects of water. She imagined the water nourishing plants, filling rivers, and sustaining life. Her approach was gentler, emphasizing harmony and balance. She felt a warmth spread through her, as if the water was responding to her call, encouraging her to go further. She had managed to work with two elements simultaneously. She had no idea, but if an instructor heard about it, they would undoubtedly call her a genius.
Hours passed, and the two friends remained immersed in their meditative states, each making small but significant progress. When they finally emerged, they felt more connected to the water element than ever before.
Looking out the window, Phaistos was astonished. "It's already morning! Usually, I can vaguely sense the passage of time when I meditate, but this time, it seems my concentration was much deeper than before."
As he focused on his water element, he noticed a detail that shocked him. His magical core was much more refined than before. He hastily summoned his status to understand the situation.
[Phaistos Astraeus]
[Rank 1: Initiate]
[Magic Power: 20]
[Combat Power: 15]
[Light initial stage - completed - awaiting a breakthrough]
[Water middle stage - 0%]
[Spiritual Origin: B-]
[Magical Control: E+]
[Lineage: ???]
[Talent: ???]
"How did I manage to break through in the water element when I have barely meditated on it since my arrival?" thought Phaistos with a certain sadness in his tone. Honestly, he was, of course, happy with this result, but it managed to discourage him regarding his practice of the light element, which he had been struggling with for several days.
"I should think about checking if they will offer me two hours of training in the Water Hall," he mused as he went to take a shower.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
After taking his shower, he went down to the living room. Seeing Freya and Miki chatting in the living room, he felt awkward about having avoided them yesterday by rushing to meditate in his room.
"Hi Phaistos, how are you?" his two companions said in unison.
"Very well, thank you, and you?" Fortunately, it seemed they hadn't paid attention to what had happened yesterday. Freya and Miki continued their conversation without the slightest mention of his absence. They seemed completely absorbed in their topic, animatedly discussing their progress and recent discoveries. Freya spoke with enthusiasm, her eyes sparkling with excitement, while Miki nodded with a smile, adding comments and pertinent questions.
Phaistos listened in silence. He was still deeply immersed in his morning breakthrough and wasn't really in the mood to talk. On top of that, he still found it hard to hide his awkwardness.
The most ironic part of the story would be if Phaistos learned that they had returned last and the other three were already meditating in their rooms when Phaistos and Zara were talking.
After a few minutes of waiting, they heard noise coming from upstairs. Two people were talking. Gradually, the sounds became clearer. Of course, it was Zara and Kibi approaching. Zara looked absolutely radiant.
Phaistos called out to Zara and discovered that even though she hadn't managed to break through in the water element, this illumination had given her great inspiration regarding her plant element. Thanks to this, she had been able to break through the barrier of her understanding and was approaching mastery of her rank 1 spell.
[Zara Ibn Malik]
[Rank 1: Initiate]
[Magic Power: 17]
[Combat Power: 10]
[Nature middle stage - 5%]
[Water initial stage - completed - awaiting a breakthrough]
[Spiritual Origin: B-]
[Magical Control: D+]
[Lineage: ???]
[Talent: ???]
[Nature Rank 1 Spell: Mother Earth's Contract: 75% comprehension]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
As they talked quietly, they noticed that their friends seemed confused by their conversation. Zara decided to explain the discovery they had made the previous night.
Freya, Miki, and Kibi listened attentively to Phaistos and Zara's account. The discussion was lively, full of excitement and hope for their collective progress.
Freya spoke up, "It's incredible to see how each of us perceives our elements differently. I think we should try to learn from each other's experiences and integrate them into our own practices."
Kibi added, "Nevertheless, it doesn't have a direct impact on us. But I think you should continue working together more often, as it should improve your cultivation speed."
Miki, however, disagreed with Kibi, "I think you're forgetting that within this entire academy, we are not just the five of us. We can very well find discussion partners in class or in our specific halls."
These simple words instantly sparked an idea in the hearts of our protagonists. Indeed, since they came from the same place, they had grown closer and somewhat ignored the others. Yet, others could also be of great help.
They decided to try to talk with other classmates whenever they had the chance.
After noting each other's progress, they headed to their classroom to discover the new lesson for the day: Stellar Socialization.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The classroom doors opened, revealing a grand amphitheater illuminated by stellar orbs floating above the desks. The walls were adorned with frescoes depicting different civilizations through the ages, each engaged in conversation or cultural exchange.
The students took their seats as the professor, an old man with silver hair and a mysterious aura, walked towards the podium. He wore a starry robe that seemed to shine with its own light, and every step he took resonated with ancient wisdom.
"Welcome to the Stellar Socialization course," he announced in a soft yet authoritative voice. "I am Professor Orion, and today we will explore the art of communication and collaboration between different races and cultures across the universe."
He paused, scrutinizing the curious faces of the students. "Stellar socialization is not just about the ability to speak or hear, but to deeply understand the nuances and contexts that shape societies. It's an essential skill for any mage aspiring to influence and harmonize the forces of the cosmos."
"I like to give my lessons a sense of purpose, which is why we will never look at theoretical procedures together. We will only look at practical procedures from everyday life. You will form groups of five and together you will work on a case that has actually happened in our history or is still happening today."
Fortunately for our protagonists, luck had decided that the professor would assign groups of five. This allowed them to stay together, which reassured them in a way.
As the groups were all formed, the teacher took the time to explain to everyone how to use the sparkling orbs on their desks. These orbs were actually like vast libraries brimming with immense secrets. They also had other features, such as the ability to write according to their owners' thoughts.
"Witchcraft!!!" shouted Kibi.
The other four were completely taken aback and burst out laughing. Freya quickly said, "You forget that we are in a magic academy, I believe, Kibi."
Kibi hid his face, visibly embarrassed by what he had just said.
"I will now display your topic on your orbs," said Orion.
[Case Study: The Lyra Alliance]
[Context: The Lyra Alliance was formed between the peoples of Lyra, Vega, and Altair. Each of these civilizations had a unique culture and social structure, as well as a distinct mastery of magical elements. Despite their differences, they united in the face of an orc army invasion. After years of wars, the two peoples resolved their conflict through a truce. Today, the Lyra Alliance and the orc army each share half of the planet, with a slight territorial advantage for the Lyra Alliance. However, thoughts of war are resurfacing, and the Lyra Alliance is seeking protection from the magical alliance.]
[Main Challenge: The main challenge of this alliance was to overcome the cultural and magical differences between the peoples of Lyra, Vega, and Altair. Additionally, finding a way for the integration of the Lyra Alliance into the magical alliance to occur smoothly.]
[Timeframe: One Month]
"Professor, I don't understand what the one-month timeframe means," asked a student after Orion gave him permission to speak. "It means you will need to present your solution during the first exams, which will take place in a month. Over the next month, we will work on your case studies in each class."
The morning passed quickly, and when they left the class, they felt enriched and inspired by the knowledge they had gained. Professor Orion had a very particular way of teaching, as he left it up to the students to work with the concepts they wanted. As soon as the students addressed a concept, he was there to explain and highlight it. Despite being skeptical at first, they realized they were able to explain several concepts they had barely touched upon during their work.