Chapter 205
Monday Grind-Day!
Slink-slink, slash.
The weekend ended quickly, not as quickly as I had expected them to end, but quickly all the same. I did manage to perform most of the primary and a few of the secondary actions on my lists for the weekend.
Primary Actions:
Oversee the first two rounds of the Hungry Competitor Tournament: Check.
Ensure everyone had three rounds, if needed: Check.
Identify cool tricks and skills that would be worth stealing and claiming as my own: Double check.
Secondary Actions:
Investigate the overarching Blight on the tree and find its source: Sort of, I found a lead.
Take a dip in those Qi pools: No, that was where I got my first lead and decided it was best to wait.
Meet new people in my climb: Again, double check, but they were two people who were waiting to meet me. So the audience is still out on RaSean and Alilian.
Those were a few of my action items and while I did get most, I still felt oddly lost in the whole process. First off, those Qi pools are likely the sucked out sap of the world tree by the odd strain of Blight that has infected the upper floors of the great tree Yggdraspirit.
Clank-clank, shink.
I always find that my morning workouts are the times when I have the most clarity to go over what I am going to do for the day.
Yes, I am a teacher at a college that bears my name, I have a full load of classes today, and I have no clue what I am going to teach anyone.
Always good to go in with no clue, right?
Let’s see in the morning I have Qi Manifestation, followed by my Magic Resonance, and Enchantment classes, and I feel like I am missing something, though I don’t know what?
My mind is racing to come up with plans on what exactly I should do. Though again that pile of looming doom seemed to have doubled, as now out of the corner of my eye I can see that there is clearly a second, albeit slightly less annoying task that I need to do today.
Seeing the second pile of energy form, I realize that my innate instincts were correct and that I did in fact miss something, but what?
I’ve got a rough outline for what I will do with my Qi Manipulation class, as I will try to introduce a few of the interesting tricks used during the martial tournament and try to teach them to myself and my students.
Then the same goes for my Magic Resonance and Enchantment. Normally I have been letting Rahul fill in for Enchantment, but I need to push them, as I don’t think they are getting enough of the Energy Resonance Alteration, Magic Theory, Spell Deconstruction, and Arcane Understanding from Rahul. While I do trust him with teaching Enchantment, Alertness, Magical Awareness, and Analyze. I cannot trust him to teach the other components in a level that is necessary for the students to pass.
This lets me realize that I should find specialists and recruit them for different aspects of this. I might try to get more class participation out of people like Penelope who are already experts at Magical Awareness, and Mana Circulation. But how?
The easiest way to do it would be to come up with a lesson plan that I first teach to Penelope, and then get her to teach those same principles and lessons to the rest of the class.
Then like that, I come up with the fact that I can create a self-sustained runic device that will create a manifested silhouette of the user who is powering it, and from there they can be given different runes to create and infuse with power, having to alter the energy put into the device to make the rune the most effective.
It will be sort of like a self-sustained video game where the levels get harder based on how well you do and how well you know the different base runes that will then be added together to form more complex structure.
I am so lost in this thought, that I fail to recognize the impending blow coming in.
WHAM!
I punch myself hard in the face. Well my Simulacrum does as I get up, hold up my hand and call for “Time.”
At that my Simulacrum stops their attack, while I quickly cast Heal on myself.
“Get me…” I am about to tell my Simulacrum what I need, when I realize that there is a much simpler way to do this. Opening my mind, I mentally connect a Telepathic link to my Simulacrum and get her to start getting me different components that are needed.
Poof.
My Simulacrum goes away to collect my pieces, at least I hope that is the case. Though to be honest, right now I would just be happy if she stopped hitting me in the face long enough for me to get this thought out.
Mentally I am already pulling in the framework of the device.
While I originally intended this to be for the Enchanting class students, I realized that it could be altered to fit my other magical classes as well.
My Simulacrum appears with the components that I needed, these were the parts that I had begun to create for my Gear Infusion, these were metals and equipment that was designed to withstand Tier III class magical threats, AKA, they could be within my presence and not degrade like a copper statue being exposed to the air.
“Perfect, now please get as close to a hundred of these as possible. Make sure to requisition the components from Mallory or Jhonny as needed.” I mentally send to my Simulacrum who nods, sends back an “Acknowledgement” mentally, and then leaves.
And like that I begin working on my first prototype for the revolutionary device that should help teach others of any magical ability level how to increase their skills and get the most out of their abilities.
New Item Made: The Outsourcer 5000 (Enchantment Edition): A device made by and patented by Cassiopeia Spiritlight that will teach the fundamentals of the following Enchantment Degree Path Related skills: Enchantment, Alertness, Energy Resonance Alteration, Spell Deconstruction, Mana Circulation, Magic Script, Magical Awareness, and Analyze. By circulating mana into the device a display will show different runes and rune types that need to be filled with corresponding amounts and types of energy. Once certain proficiencies are met, the user will be forced to deconstruct other runes, focusing on the base components of the runes used and then find ways to direct the released energy to acceptable places, without going over the noted limit for any scenario.
The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.
Cough.
Well, the name of the device was what I was thinking of while working on it, as I desperately wanted to outsource my teaching requirements to others to let students have a way of constantly being able to improve themselves without constantly pestering me.
Sad, as I think this means I am becoming even more anti-social.
From there I make one for Magic Fundamentals, where the user just casts spells in different ways and with different intensities. Then for my Magical Resonance class students, I focus on finding different routes and patterns that the user must both extend and hold their magic in order to pass onto the next level. This is what I was constantly teaching them in classes, but now rather than me yelling at them to not mess it up, an enchanted device will do the same.
New Item Made: The Outsourcer 5000 (Magic Fundamentals Edition): A device made by and patented by Cassiopeia Spiritlight that will teach the fundamentals of the following Magic Fundamentals Degree Path Related skills:… New Item Made: The Outsourcer 5000 (Magical Resonance Edition): A device made by and patented by Cassiopeia Spiritlight that will teach the fundamentals of the following Magical Resonance Degree Path Related skills:…
I am so lost in making the first prototypes of each class that I might have lost track of time.
Ahem.
A semi-familiar cough pulled me from my work.
Closing my third-eye so I can focus on more than just the immediate product I am working on, I realize that my entire cultivation class is lined up and ready to go. Jhonny is standing at the front of the formation, as both my bodyguard and the unofficial class leader.
“Shiza.” I think to myself as I realize I still need to make more of these and teach class. My mind also realizes that switching a few function of the device used to forge the Magic Fundamentals, and Magical Resonance devices could be used in a Qi based version of this device.
The only problem is that I would need more time for that, and obviously more time to create enough working models now that the prototypes are done and mostly successful.
That’s when I come through for myself and allow me to breath easier.
“If all you need is copies made of these I can do that.” My Simulacrum tells me and I am so happy with her that I could almost kiss her.
“Thank you.” I reply back then see my Simulacrum immediately go about reproducing my different prototypes, so I might be ready for my magic classes.
Realizing, I like always am not prepared for my Qi classes, I decide to do what comes naturally by now and just wing it.
“All right, who here is ready for a bit of light exercise, followed by some guided meditations?” I state as excitedly as I can. Now that I am not the one getting punched in the face, I realize just how fun morning workouts can be, and am ready to burn off a bit more of my energy.
Groans.
Everyone groans with their most enthusiasm, letting me know it is truly Monday.
“There we go. Let those joyous sounds of Monday out, as we have a busy week ahead of us.” I say excitedly, then burst into our hell workout. Well I didn’t come up with the name, it was given by the class collectively, but I rather like it, especially starting off the week with such a workout, as “it is all downhill after this one, so lets enjoy it, and the burn that our muscles will have once we are done.”
More groans.
“That’s the spirit!” I shout, getting more into this as time goes on.
I personally push myself a little harder than normal, especially as I cut my own personal workout short this morning as I got struck by inspiration. I realize this, as I get some of my students to fall out of our movement formation almost immediately.
From there, they know the drill, the fall out or can’t keep up then they need to break out and do finger meditations, where they balance their entire bodies on their fingers while the rest of us finish our morning warm ups.
Meanwhile the rest of us are running through obstacle courses, jumping over walls, dashing across rooftops in the neighboring village in silence.
That is another thing I teach, that if we are going to do these fun runs, then we all need to be silent while doing so. No use in waking people up by our physical fitness routines. This means that anyone who lands too hard while jumping onto a building or off has to break away from formation. We keep doing these runs around town and the academy until either only one student remains or we complete twenty laps.
The students that complete all twenty laps can just sit out and watch the rest of the class as they recover from their runs.
Yes, I am apparently teaching my first group of Qi Manipulators to be silent ninjas, but that is ultimately a basic form of cultivation, right?
When the run is over, I am surprised that five students have managed to complete the run. Well, I am surprised in the fifth student, as Jhonny has finally managed to make it through all twenty laps without causing too much noise, or falling off random buildings.
“Congratulations Jhonny, welcome to the relaxation zone.” I say, gesturing for the five to take up their spots in the back. This way if they don’t want to do the exercises they don’t have to and it won’t interfere with the other students.
“Hah, like I’d stop now that I finally made it.” Jhonny replied, then as usual he went to his spot right by my side and began going through the next set of equally tough exercises that focused on Qi flow and movement in the body. This was meant to be the way for everyone to use their own Qi to heal their muscles and rejuvenate their bodies into a healthier form.
Surprisingly, it was Jhonny that got the other four classroom superstars to join the rest of the class as well.
As time gets close to the end, I begin on our last set of exercises. “All right everyone, time for your favorites.”
Silence.
At that everyone looks up at me with clear shock and anticipation. Seeing their faces, I can’t help but smile widely, “that’s right, it’s time for Burnouts!”
Even more groans.
Hearing the students all still being able to groan is like music to my ears. It means that they still have enough spirit to both fight on, and enough energy to protest, which is good as they are going to need all of that energy and resentment to push through this final stage. Which is where we all cycle our Qi throughout our body and into our limbs and force out the hardest workout we can.
This requires me to use both external magic and internal Qi at the same time. Externally I cast a Mass Gravitational Field over us that slowly increases in weight, while we do pushups until we collapse from the weight. Once a student collapses, I lower the weight to where it was just before and have the student go to a squatting horse stance until the end of class while I wait for others to slowly burnout as well.
I of course take off my weight reduction spells, and let Gravity take full hold on me. The one great thing about this exercise is that even at full weight, I am still half or a third as heavy as some of the other students in the class. Meaning that while gravity is increasing my weight it is nothing that my enhanced Attributes can’t handle.
Physical
Base
Bonus
Strength
132
513
Dexterity
164
1129
Endurance
151
650
This time those students who fell out of our formation first are once again the first to have to switch to the squatting horse stance. The reason for this is that the pose that I made them take up while the rest of us finished our ninja fun run was designed to work the arms and fingers specifically. Now that we are ending with an equally devastating workout for the same body part it is a given that those fifteen will have a harder time completing.
Though to my surprise a whole seven students are still down with me doing pushups until the very end of class.
I smile a little, seeing that Jhonny is once again right there with me, his arms are shaking and I don’t think he could go another round of gravitational increase, but he made it. Seeing him, I turn to him and give him a giant smile and head nod.
“And that’s time. Great job everyone. Go relax some, then I’ll see you all tomorrow.”
The other students begin to get up sluggishly as I dispel my Mass Gravitational Field from everyone and some shoot up to their feet, while those in the horse stance take an involuntary step forward for balance.
Incoherent moans.
As the class begins to break up, I hear their moans and barely discernable head nods with a bit of satisfaction, as that means that they all pushed themselves as hard as they could for the day.
As the other students leave, Jhonny comes over still panting, though he has a giant smile of satisfaction on his face.
“Good job. You completed everything today.”
Nodding and panting.
That was all Jhonny could do as he took in deep breaths and slowly began to refill his clearly depleted Qi from his body.
Finally, once enough time passed and the spark of Qi formed in his body he relaxed slightly as he slowly became more alive.
“Thank you. Also what are those devices that you are working on.” Jhonny said, pointing out my Simulacrum that was still in the process of mass producing my Outsourcer 5000s.
Oh how long I have waited for this day where I can take the easy road, thanks to outsourcing minions of myself to make my life that much easier.
“Those are prototypes for ways to teach students magic in an interactive way.” I state, “I will need to make one for Qi users as well, but I am at least prepared to teach the two magic classes I have today.”
Then I pause, wondering when it became sort of a non-issue that there were more than one of me around. Normally I try to keep us apart, or at least give a second one of me an avatar. But for this time, I got a little distracted and let my Simulacrum continue to work in the background while I taught class.
“Also, why didn’t you all say anything about her being in that form?” I ask, clearly indicating my Simulacrum.
With that Jhonny just stared at me like I was crazy. “We all know that there are multiple of you, and that you can and will catch us at random goofing off or eating fatty-cakes at the chow hall.”
“I don’t care about what you eat.” I protest.
With that Jhonny just smiles, “I know. I’m just telling you what others are afraid of.”
“So I’m like the drill sergeant from hell?”
“A simple drill sergeant? No, you are like an intense Baba Yaga Drill Sergeant monster child.”
“Child?”
“That is what you took offense to?” Jhonny asked.
With that I just roll my eyes.
“Fine, but are you ready for classes?” I ask Jhonny.
“Yeah, I’m actually looking forward to at least sitting in on your Legendary Bloodline Awakening course. I’m hoping that it will help me understand what to expect with my Royal Bloodline Awakening course.” Jhonny said.
And like that, I saw the second pile of ever increasing fate burst to life and cover me in an odd combination of glowing energy particles, goo-glitter, and sweat.
Yeah, getting hit with a looming threat was annoying. Worst of all, I knew I was missing something, but for the life of me I could not understand what it was until Jhonny just warned me about it.
Hearing his words and apparent excitement about what my class would entail, I could only utter two words in recognition of my own failure to remember this new course and material that I would need to teach others if I wanted to get the materials that Mallory promised me for my Apothecary recipes.
“Dang it…”
Then as always, Jhonny “Captain Obvious” stated the obvious, “I take it you forgot?”