Chapter 72.

PART 1.

While Hatori is practicing with his newly learned runes from Zeko, the master who taught him those runes is taking a look at the list of courses for this year. When the students reach the third year, they get to choose subjects upon their interests, which are often recommended to them by professors after looking at their performance for the previous two years. They also get their protection lifted, meaning if someone from the older student wishes to target them, they are free to do so. Personally, Zeko never understood the meaning of that. A third year is just as defenseless against an older and more experienced mage as a first year, since they won’t get to utilize their magical knowledge against the attacking older mage.

Exceptions being his students. Hatori himself has proven to be strong enough to take out older students, although by tricks. But surviving by itself is a win, no matter how you do it. One day, he will get so strong that he won’t need any tricks to use to kill his opponents. Until then, he must continue to train and improve himself.

“Tell me, boy, what subjects do you want this year?” asked Zeko. “Choose them carefully, because you will be stuck with them until your fifth year.”

“What are the options?” Asked Hatori, while he wove a symbol of fire in the air, and flames appeared. He tried to do that with standard runes; but no matter the modifications, the flames refused to appear.

Zeko decided not to point out that he will need to add some other runes to make a single flame appear in the standard runes. Let him figure that out for himself. “You’re options are: potions, runes, magical combat, the study of extraterrestrial races, the study of animals, transmutation and conjuring, ritual magic, history, and math.”

“I think I’ll drop the magical combat. That class is horribly behind compared to what you already have taught me,” said Hatori.

“Don’t say that anywhere near your professor can hear you, unless you got me around to protect you.” Said Zeko, and they both chuckled. “Anything else?”

“I think I’ll also drop history. It just doesn’t interest me like it does Raven and Josh.” Said Hatori.

“Okay. what else?” asked Zeko.

“I’m not sure about studies of animals and extraterrestrial races. I think I’ll go with math, potions, runes, and ritual magic,” said Hatori.

“Just one above the required three. You are getting lazy, kid.” Said Zeko.

“No, I think I’m using my time efficiently. Why waste time on something which doesn’t help me, and which I can always learn later?” asked Hatori.

, And how will you learn about say, animals, those races, or history?” asked Zeko, putting the list down. He’ll put the letter to the teleporter later for sending it to the school.

“I can always learn about the animals by studying them in the library and observing them. The same for races, though if they are intelligent, then I can learn more about them by having actual conversations with them instead of listening to lectures about them.” Said Hatori. “And history is a wide subject. I can always pick a book about a particular period or some certain event.”

“Whatever works for you kid.” Said Zeko. “Now, in the runes class, do keep my runic system secret. Don’t tell anyone about that. You’ve got experience with runes already, so you will always be ahead of the class. But it doesn’t mean you won’t get to learn new things. Listen to your professor, alright?”

Hatori nodded and went back to his experiments. The big advantage of learning to weave runes in the air is that he can experiment without using paper or wood with their effects. Though he still cannot create a fully functioning script without using a material object.

PART 2.

It has been two months, and the children have worked hard. Now it is time for them to go to the castle once more. Zeko is telling them about the formal dinner party hosted there by Ketu this year. “Once we go there, we will go to the party held by Dhoom Ketu. After that, you boys will go to the Academy.”

“Wait, will it be a formal occasion?” asked Hatori.

“Yes. Why did you ask?” answered Zeko.

Shuttering, Hatori mumbles, “Nothing.”

He has no interest in repeating his formal dining experiences. Someone like Daphne won’t be here this time; he had to follow all sorts of useless rules there. He does not look forward to it.

“Don’t worry, this time, things will be easier. This won’t be a formal style of Albion. Instead, it’ll be Subcontinental style.” Said Zeko, trying to assure Hatori.

Hatori smiled. “Yeah, less annoying utensils for sure.”

“Of course, you’ll also have other kids; you’ll enjoy it, I’m sure.” Said Zeko.

Though Hatori didn’t know, his friends also shuttered after hearing about the formal event, except for Josh. He shakes his head. He does not understand why his friends have such a hard time with formal events. Usually, he just dressed pretty and took naps. No one took notice either, and he always woke up at the right time to eat dinner. The utensils are not a problem for him either.

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“Before we go back, we all have something to show you. right guys?” asked Josh.

“Yep. Since you brought up the topic, why don’t you go first?” said Shin.

“Sure. Can I get some water, please?” he requested from Zeko.

“Of course.” A yantra brings up a glass of water to Josh.

“See.” Josh stabs his foci at the water in the glass, and it starts to move, congealing into various shapes.

“But that isn’t all.” He cupped his hands, and the water was lifted from the glass entirely; it started to revolve around his body in the shape of a globe.

“Now, it is my turn.” Raven brings out his foci in the shape of a wooden sword. After a slash, he throws a fireball, which whizzes past Hatori’s ears. “Naturally, I can do this without it either.” Putting his foci away, he throws another fireball, which passes by Hatori’s other ear.

“Are you holding a grudge or something?” he asked, and everyone started to laugh.

“I’ll go next.” Said James. Moving his newly bought foci, which looks like a surgeon’s knife, James points it to the ground, and the small stones on the ground change their shape.

Putting his foci away, he makes some hand movements, and stomps on the ground, and once more, the stones responded. “Interesting. You learned the hand sign methods, didn’t you?” asked Zeko. At James’s nod, he continues. “Once you master it, try to perform spells using just one hand. It’ll improve your control.”

James takes the advice gratefully. They’ve all learned that Zeko doesn’t mind sharing his knowledge with them, even though they are not his students.

“Finally, my turn.” Said Shin. With a flourish, he brings out his foci. His original foci were destroyed, so he now uses a normal-looking staff. None of his friends have ever given him grief over it, though. With a swishing movement, they all feel the breeze ruffling their hair.

Putting his staff away, he puts his palm forward, and another breeze ruffles their hair and clothes. “The wind element. Believe it or not, it is the hardest element to learn, for unlike fire, earth, or water, it can’t be seen. How can you manipulate something when you can’t see it? good on you kid. Work on it, and you’ll have a powerful weapon in your hands, since wind is everywhere, all the time.”

Hatori is happy for his friends, as they all get in the car. But he has one thought on his mind. Why didn’t anyone pick up the lightning? ‘No matter. Once we go to the Academy, I’ll pick that element, and make it my own.’

For some reason, the clouds appeared out of nowhere, covering the sun, and thunder shook them up.

PART 3.

Just as Zeko told them, the party has a formal dinner at the end. Ketu took some time out to meet the kids. “So, how are you doing?”

“Good.” Said Hatori. “We’re about to leave for the Academy the next day.”

“Yes, do rest up for that properly, would you?” He said, and then left, drawn into other conversations. Many people are vying for his attention.

“I couldn’t be like him.” Said Hatori. “I would have lost patience with people a long time ago.”

“That’s why you’re not involved in royalty.” Said Zhuge Liang.

Maria and Liang are here as well, along with Avinash. Though they don’t see any other kids from their class. Hatori met Liang the previous year when they teamed up for an event and ended up being part of a large army of Josh.

Since the dinner is a traditional subcontinental affair, all the guests are seated on the floor, with low tables in front of them, while the staff of the castle goes from person to person to serve them food. Though there are spoons, Hatori is happy that there is no need to use forks or knives. Knives are for cutting things, not eating. And a fork is a useless thing, not fit to exist.

“So, I hear you’ve learned Shogi from Maria.” Asked Liang.

“Yeah, but he needs to practice more.” Said Maria. Hatori is sitting between them, while his friends are spread throughout the room.

“I’m sure I'll be better than you one day.” Said Hatori.

“We’ll see that,” said Maria, the competition always fires her up.

“Why don’t you teach me how to play go?” asked Hatori.

“What makes you think that I know that game?” asked Liang.

“You’re name.” Said Hatori. “You see, Nihan is a country in the normal dimension, though with a different name. Maria is actually from that country, and she knows Shogi.”

“And since Zhongguo is also in your world, where Go is played, you thought I knew that game.” Liang completed Hatori’s thoughts for him.

“Yes. Though the idea of Go not existing in this world didn’t occur to me,” said Hatori.

“It does exist,” said Liang. “And I’ll be happy to teach it to you.”

“You could have just said yes,” asked Maria. “Why did you question him so much?”

“Because I wanted to see whether he'd get annoyed or not.” Said Liang.

“You’re picking up on your father’s bad habits.” Said Maria.

Among the ambassadors, Liang’s father is famous for testing the patience of people who are either dealing with him or the students who wish to learn the art of diplomacy from him. “That is a compliment. I thank you for that.”

(End.)