AN: Hi, your lazy author presents to you chapter 40, enjoy :).
PR by Bboybrian
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The girls and I looked at our schedules. I had 2 hours of magic class per element, amounting to 14 hours of magic lessons per week. In addition, I also had 2 hours of Premean history, 2 hours of Premean geography, and 4 hours of mathematics - in total 22 hours of classes each week out of the maximum 32. That would leave me with roughly 3 free hours each week to have a look around the library and the different workplaces of the academy.
Muriem and Kerrina had 5 hours of martial arts classes, and 3 different classes, amounting to a total of 15 hours. Kerrina had an additional 2 hours of Zanitra’s geography and 2 hours of astronomy, whereas Muriem had another 2 hours of Zanitra’s history and 2 hours of music and dance. In total, the girls had 19 hours of classes each week. However, that would only apply from next week onwards, as there were plans for the last half of this week to be used for introductions to the different chosen courses.
I now understood why I was given mandatory beginners magic lessons even though I told the head of the department that I already knew spells for most of my elements. The introduction lessons included a demonstration by the teacher, and there would also be a little bit of practice for the students to show what they could do. After all, the students didn't have to cast any spells for the entrance exams.
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We reached the academy several minutes before the start of class. The girls went towards the martial arts department and I went to the magic department. In the entry hall of the magic classes building, there was a wall with several bulletin boards, and a map of the building. Fixed onto one of the walls was something that surprised me a little. It was a ranking of the 100 best students of the entrance exams, and of course, my name together with my age was displayed at the top. There were plenty of students in the hall, some were upperclassmen, but most of them were new students.
Many of the people were looking at the rankings. Some noticed me entering the building and told the others nearby. People everywhere were looking at me while whispering to themselves, and I soon became the center of attention. Word about the rookie with 7 elements was spreading fast in the hall. Looks of wonder, admiration, envy and jealousy came from all sides, and I was getting a little overwhelmed and nervous inside. I quickly checked my schedule and the layout of the building, and hurriedly made my way towards my classroom for the first lesson of the day, earth magic.
Once I reached the classroom, I went towards a seat at the back so as to not have too many eyes on me during the lesson. Shortly after, the teacher came in, and our introduction lesson started. We got a brief introduction about earth magic, which is an element that excels more at defense, support and ambushes rather than offense. After that, we had to do some earth mana manipulation exercises for next to one hour, and it was quite boring for me as I was already used to moving my elemental manas.
Finally, we went outside for a demonstration of earth magic by the teacher, and for the students to show what they could do. Not many students could cast earth spells, and those who could weren’t very good – the spell was still rough and their casting speed was a little slow. They usually knew rock throw and earth wall, the most basic attack spell and the simplest defense spell. I showed the earth spells I knew: rock throw, earth pit and earth wall. Though it was only 3 spells, the execution was swift and quite precise. The teacher didn't look surprised, but looked quite satisfied. Sir Williams must have warned them about me being able to use some spells, though they didn't know to what extent.
After a 30 min break or so, we went to the second introduction class of the day, water magic. Our teacher was a man in his thirties, caecian, but with traces of Yukhan blood shining through in his eyes and hair. An average man, gentle in his tone of speech. Water is considered a polyvalent element due to tis great flexibility. Unlike the previous class, I didn't get to show off since I didn't know a single spell, and both the teacher and the other students looked a bit disappointed. Beginner water magic is a class I had to take no matter what, and I was kinda eager to learn some spells.
After that lesson, I met the girls at the academy restaurant for lunch. The girls told me about their morning, Kerrina had 3 hours of sword and dagger class, with 1 and a half hours dedicated to swords, and another hour and a half dedicated to daggers. They reviewed the basics of the weapons: the different parts, the different types of blades and what they were made for, how to take care of them, and finally a bit of practice. It was the same for Muriem, but with axes, maces and hammers. Although they lacked skills compared to some others, they more than made up for it with battle experience.
During the meal I got a little annoyed because a few guys were looking at our table a little too much, not because of me but because of the girls. I knew they were charming, I wouldn't be upset if they looked a little, but some were ogling Kerrina's chest a little too much. I don't want to imagine how many stared at Muriem's butt earlier. I'm not worried about them being seduced by somebody else, but it was annoying to see others guys blatantly lusting at them. I guess I would have to be a bit violent with a few of them in the future if they gave me the chance.
After lunch, I went for the last lesson of the day, body magic. There, again, I showed off my speed and strength enhancement, and surprised everyone, including the teacher, for casting both of them simultaneously. It seems like casting 2 spells or more at the same time requires a high level of control and concentration, and usually only people of the advanced classes could do so with as much ease as I did. I decided I would use simultaneous casting on all the others magic lessons from now on to impress Sir William and Miss Shara, and gain some favors later.
At the end of the day, I met up with the girls again. Their afternoon was spent on hand-to-hand combat. Muriem caught the eye of the instructor due to her use of capoeira, which didn't exist in this world, and as such the instructor would like to meet me on the last day of the week after lunch. He also picked up on the fact that eastern-like moves were incorporated in their fighting style and strongly advised the girls to focus on something instead of taking things left and right. Taking things from other martial arts wasn't new in my old world, and it worked well, so I told them to ignore him.
We left the academy and went to the city to have a look at the prices of the tools available in the capital. I wanted to continue working on my blacksmithing and alchemy as much as possible, and the girls were also motivated to improve their tailoring and leather working, so we spent the rest of the day in town. Some tools, I would be able to make at the academy, the rest, we would have to buy. Afterwards we spent another sexy evening together before going to bed.
This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.
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For the following days, the same thing more or less happened with the other magic lessons for the rest of the week. We got a little test at the end of the arithmetics and geometry lessons, for which I got perfect grades once again. For Premean history and geography, I got to learn more about the different continents, their dominant climate, which parts that were explored which were not. I learned a little about the probable birthplace of each race, and also a little more about their history and cultures from the following lessons.
On the last day of the week, after my last lesson at noon, I was asked to go to the staff building. I stayed in the waiting room for about 15 minutes before Miss Shara came in to take me to the headmaster's office. There were 3 people in the ornate room: an old man sitting behind a high quality desk, and 2 others to his left and right.
Man 1: «I welcome you to Lana Academy, young Aenthar. I am the headmaster of this place, Count Marcus Basililey, former head of the Basililey family»
Aenthar: «It is a pleasure to meet you, my lord.»
Marcus Basililey: «You already know the head of the magic department, William Sunderset. As for the lady to my left, she is the head of the society department, Lady Victoria Landen. »
Victoria Landen: «A pleasure to meet you. I've heard lot about you. »
Aenthar: «Likewise, nice to meet you. »
Marcus Basililey: «I was pleasantly surprised to hear that a student with 7 elements affinity would join our academy. The results of the entrance examinations proved that you are a young man full of potential, both in magic and society classes, and we were eager to know what you truly are capable of. What people show during the tests is but a little glimpse of their capabilities, which is why we use the first week to judge them further. »
William: «You were given mandatory beginner classes to see if you really were what you seemed to be. Your ability to wield magic is almost on par with the students of the advanced classes. You demonstrated good skills in healing magic, and you can dual cast without trouble. At barely 12 years old, you're the youngest mage to get intermediate magic skills in history. »
Marcus B.: «Your schedule for the next week will change. You will be promoted to the intermediate class for all your magic classes. Like you said before, you still do not know any spells in water and darkness magic, however we believe that with your skills you will be able to catch up with the other students of the intermediate classes.»
William: «And with that, you are now qualified to take compound magic classes, like you wished. I recall you saying that your father was an alchemist; you may have learned a few things from him. With the beginner elemental magic classes cleared, you can also take alchemy classes, though it would focus more on magical preparations and regents.»
Aenthar: «Being able to learn compound magic is the greatest news of the week for me. As for the alchemy lessons...» I took out my card from my wallet «I already reached disciple rank in alchemy. »
The 4 adults present in the room opened their eyes so much I thought they would pop out of their sockets.
Elyhn Shara hastily took the card and examined it, «I can't believe it, it's an authentic card!»
Aenthar: «My father has no magic ability so he tends to avoid magic preparations and I couldn't learn much about it. This is one of the other little reasons I came here. »
Victoria Landen: «You truly are the most impressive student I have ever seen, a true genius. Not only are you skilled in magic and alchemy, but you're also incredible in the field of mathematics. Your tests on arithmetics and geometry were flawless, and combined with your scores in grammar and comprehension during the entrance exams, I have no doubt you would also be brilliant in rhetoric classes.»
Aenthar: «However, I can't allow myself to take too many classes. With the current ones I already have 22 hours of classes per week, and with compound magic and alchemy it would rise to 28 hours out of the weekly 32 hours maximum. I may be a hard worker, but I still want to have some free time. Besides, I'm not interested in rhetoric. »
Marcus Basililey: «Hahahahahaha! What an interesting young man you are. For one as skilled as yourself, there is another option open to you besides a simple scholarship. All your living expenses will be taken care of by the academy. Also, we decided to appoint you to the student council. »
Aenthar: «The student council? What do they do? »
Elyhn Shara: «The student council exists to take care of problems between students, and make sure they respect the rules of the academy. It is composed of 11 main members, 4 from the martial arts sections, 4 from the magic section, and 3 from the society section, and several assistants. The posts are reserved for excellent students, and you definitely are one of the best. »
Victoria Landen: «The members of the student council are role models for the rest of the students and the representatives of the students of the academy. That is a position well fitted for someone of your caliber. »
Elyhn Shara: «You will receive your new schedule tomorrow, along with a notification of your appointment to the student council. As for your living expenses, you will receive 1 gold coin every 4 months. »
Aenthar: «I understand. Thank you very much. »
Marcus Basililey: «On the contrary, we are the ones who are thankful to have one like you in our academy. To think this old man lived long enough to meet such a prodigy. We are looking forward to your future achievements in our academy. »
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AN: I had 3/5 of the chapter written for 3 days now and I could have delivered it earlier... If not for the engine known as ''inspiration'' stalling as I was thinking of the following chapters. There are still some things to take care of in my world building (more details on the history and geography of the world, on the country and the nobles, because the academy isn't just learning about magic and battle).
I've also been distracted by an idea for another fiction popping into my head after replaying a few games and a certain novel I didn't touch for a bit of time, so another side project is likely to pop up and take some more of my writing time.
It will be 3 chapters per week from now on.