Chapter 45.

PART 1.

Hatori caps another vial, filled with the potion he has just brewed. Nearby, Sultan and Dhiraj are busy discussing some advanced theory, while various cauldrons simmer and bubble in front of them. Once in a while, either of them adjusts the position of the cauldrons.

“Professor, I’m leaving.” Said Hatori. “Thanks for letting me brew these.” He shows them the vial.

“Done already?” Sultan inspects the potion. “You’re doing good, kid.”

“Hmm. The real challenge will be to see how you deal with difficult potions.” Said Dhiraj. “But that’s in the future.” With that, they turned back to their conversation, dismissing him silently.

Though his collection of potions has expanded, he has no safe way to carry them with him all the time. Unable to think of something, he writes a letter to Zeko, and delivers it to a yantra.

PART 2.

Josh is watching the chess match between Maria and Raven. Both players seem to have gotten into the area of each other, and the game looks to be close. Raven is playing against Maria, after Hatori put him on the spot to avoid her.

After that, she pestered him to no end, until he finally agreed to play her on this weekend since they have no classes today.

While watching them, Josh is thinking deeply about himself. ‘What can I do?’ He wonders to himself. ‘Every one of my friends seems to be talented in something or other. But what is my talent?’

Though the game comes to an end with a mutually agreed draw, Josh has still not found the answers to the questions he has.

PART 3.

Hatori is carving the runes on a piece of wood. Given the abundance of trees in the ground, he has no trouble finding fallen branches or twigs. Though the Academy doesn’t teach runes until their third year, nothing stops him from reading a small booklet about them, and carving simple runes to produce simple effects like adjusting the temperature of an object, or producing a sound.

The temperature ones are proving to be especially hard, as the slightest mistake can end up lighting the wood on fire. Though he is lucky enough that sound-related runes just produce nothing when he makes a mistake on them. He doubts he can handle the loud sound.

PART 4. COMBAT LESSON: INVISIBILITY.

Ignoring the presence of Hatori since he is still not over his previous attempt to discipline the boy, professor Bali begins the lesson. “Today, we will learn about invisibility.” He said, while the narrator wonders why the author only shows lessons from some particular professors.

“Invisibility has many uses. It can be used to hide items, such as mark sheets when you get bad grades.” He glared at the class, while the children laughed nervously. Meanwhile, the narrator feels that is getting too close for comfort.

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“Or sneaking in the kitchen for a snack. But apart from that, in combat, if your opponent doesn’t see you, he can’t anticipate your moves, or where you will attack from.” He then shows them the foci movements to perform the spell of invisibility.

“Now, just because you’re invisible, does not mean you are automatically safe. Not only are there spells to break invisibility and reveal you, but you can end up revealing yourself by making noise, or leaving footmarks. You can also end up getting hit even while being invisible, since you can still be touched. So do be careful, and don’t rely on this spell all the time.

PART 5.

When the class is let out, Hatori is ambushed again. At this point, he is wondering whether this class is cursed for him or something; for every time he has gotten out of this class, he has been chased or surrounded.

But this time, he does not give his ambushes any chance of surrounding him. Firing a sudden Slicer spell in their midst, he runs off, taking advantage of the chaos. ‘A blast would have been a better choice. Oh well.’

Until he learns that he has to make with what he has.

A chase goes on, where once more, other students completely ignore him. He tried using the invisible spell, but due to not having enough time to practice with it, he gives himself away every time.

Running by a silent area, he is suddenly pulled into a room, and a finger silences him before he can speak. After he calms down, he recognizes Avinash. He goes outside, and stands in the way of his chasers.

“Get lost, you firstie!” Snarled one of them, but another student quiets him.

“Oy, don’t harm him. He is Amarnath’s boy.” He whispered to the aggressive boy.

“Can I help you?” He asked them.

“Yes.” Said a third voice. “Have you seen a boy running? He has two empty eye sockets.”

“I haven’t seen anyone like that.” replied Avinash.

“What if he is lying?” asked the aggressive boy.

“He doesn’t have a reason to do that. right?” asked the third voice with some menace in his tone.

“Of course.” Replied Avinash, refusing to be intimidated.

When they go away, Avinash opens the door. “You should go straight to your dorms now. Don’t stop in the middle for anything.” He said to Hatori, and left.

Hatori is grateful for Avinash’s help. Though he did not go to his dorms.

During the time of dinner, a yantra delivers his daily potions, along with an envelope and a package. “What’s that?” asked Josh.

“A letter from Zeko.” Replied Hatori, while listening to the letter with his reading spell.

> Boy,

>

> This is the belt which is used by mages to store potions for their travels. The belt will remain hidden as long as it is fastened on your waist. Be careful, though, someone can still find out about it by touch. If they damage the vials you are carrying, the potions will mix up, and will cause you great harm. Take care,

>

> Zeko.

‘It would have been quite useful just a few hours ago.’ He thinks, opening the package, and putting on the belt. His friends didn’t question him about it.

(End.)