Alex woke up to the sound of birds chirping outside his window. He stretched his limbs, feeling a slight ache from the intense training with Oswin the day before. He couldn't believe how much he had learned in such a short time. But today was an even more exciting day - his first arcane lesson.

For years, Alex had dreamt of becoming a mage, and now finally, he had the chance to learn the craft from some of the most experienced mages in the kingdom.

He got dressed, feeling a mix of nervousness and anticipation. As he made his way to the academy, he couldn't help but think of the legends and tales he had heard about the feats of the great mages of old. He wondered if he had what it takes to become one of them.

As Alex entered the classroom, he was immediately struck by its grandeur. The room was much larger than he had expected, with high ceilings and tall windows that let in a soft, diffuse light. Rows of wooden desks were arranged in a semi-circle around a raised platform where the teacher's desk was placed, complete with a towering bookshelf and an array of strange-looking artifacts. The walls were adorned with intricate tapestries depicting various magical creatures and symbols, their colors muted by age and dust. The air was heavy with the scent of incense, which seemed to come from several braziers placed strategically around the room. Alex could feel the energy in the air, a palpable hum that seemed to vibrate through his bones. It was clear that this was no ordinary classroom.

As Alex entered the classroom, he scanned the room for a familiar face. His eyes landed on Samantha, who sat in the front row, looking every bit the noblewoman she was. Her long, blonde hair was pulled back into a neat bun, and her emerald-green eyes sparkled as she flipped through a leather-bound book. Alex had always found Samantha captivating, but he knew better than to try and strike up a conversation with her. She seemed to exist in a world apart from everyone else, lost in her own thoughts and interests.

Feeling a tug on his sleeve, Alex turned to see his friend Jiten sitting in the row behind him, buried in a thick tome. Jiten looked up and gave a small smile when he saw Alex, but then went back to his reading. Alex slid into the seat next to him, not bothering to ask for permission. "Hey, Jiten," he said, grinning. "Ready for our first arcane lesson?"

Jiten looked up from his book, his expression one of boredom. "I suppose," he said, closing the book with a sigh.

"dude, is everything okay?" Alex asked, concerned.

Jiten sighed, running a hand through his hair. "No, not really. I'm having trouble finding the last ingredient for the sleep-smoke potion, and I hate arcane magic. It's just not my thing fire boy."

Alex nodded sympathetically. "I get it, magic can be tough. But hey, you'll figure it out. And who knows, maybe you'll even find your own unique way of using magic," Alex said, patting Jiten on the back.

As Jiten seemed lost in thought, the professor, Cecilia White, entered the room. She was a stern-looking woman with graying hair, and she immediately commanded attention as she stepped forward to address the class.

"Good afternoon, students," she began, her voice firm and authoritative. "I am Cecilia White, a member of the board and your arcane professor for the year. I do not tolerate any nonsense in my class. You speak only when spoken to, and you do what I tell you to do when I tell you to do it."

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Alex couldn't help but feel a shiver run down his spine at her words. He knew that this was going to be a challenging year

As Cecilia White began her lecture, the room fell silent. Her voice was commanding and had a way of holding the students' attention. "Magic is not a toy, it's a powerful force that must be respected," she said, her eyes scanning the room. "It's based on the manipulation of mana, a type of energy that flows through all things, living and non-living. Those who have the innate ability to manipulate mana are known as mages."

The students listened intently as Cecilia explained how mages must train to develop their abilities and control mana effectively. "Mana is a finite resource," she warned. "If you exhaust your mana reserves, you risk negative consequences."

She went on to explain that different types of spells require different amounts of mana to cast, and that more powerful spells require more mana. "The more skilled a mage is, the more mana they can channel and control, and the more complex spells they can cast, and some mages have natural affinities for certain types of magic, which allows them to cast spells more easily or with greater power." she said.

Cecilia White's voice grew stern as she addressed her students, "Let me make this clear, casting spells is not child's play. It requires discipline, focus, and a deep understanding of the forces at play. Magic is not a toy to be used carelessly or recklessly. The consequences of your actions can be severe and far-reaching."

She looked each of them in the eye before continuing, "Now, listen up. Verbal incantations and nonverbal incantations are powerful tools that can be used to manifest your desires, but they must be performed with precision and intention. Spell components can be tricky to master, and the use of the wrong ingredient can have disastrous consequences. Channeling mana requires mental fortitude and control, and any slip-up can result in catastrophic effects. And, let me warn you, rune casting is not for the faint of heart. One mistake in the arrangement of the symbols, and you can be dealing with an entirely different outcome than what you intended."

She paused for emphasis, "And don't even get me started on enchantment. The responsibility of imbuing an object with magical properties is not to be taken lightly. You must be sure that you have chosen the right object, the right spell, and that you have the right intentions."

Cecilia's eyes blazed with determination as she concluded, "I expect each of you to take your studies seriously. There is no room for carelessness or recklessness in the practice of magic. The consequences of your actions can be devastating, both for yourselves and for those around you. So, keep your wits about you and always be mindful of the power you wield."

Jiten sat alongside Alex, his quill poised over his parchment as he tried to keep up with Cecilia's lecture on spellcasting. However, his mind kept drifting away from the lecture and toward the potion method he had been studying for the sleeping potion.

As Cecilia spoke about the various ways to cast spells, Jiten's fascination with the runes used in potion-making grew stronger. He couldn't help but wonder if there was a rune that could control evaporation during the process of turning liquids into vapor.

Without realizing it, his hand shot up, and he blurted out, "Excuse me, wise teacher, but is there a rune that can control evaporation?"

Cecilia paused mid-sentence, her eyes narrowing as she turned to face Jiten. She could feel her annoyance bubbling up inside her. She had been teaching magic for decades, and she had little patience for students who interrupted her lectures with questions.

"Young man," she said sternly, "while there may not be a specific 'evaporation rune,' there are certainly spells and runes that can control the elements, including water. But I expect you to pay closer attention to my lectures and not disrupt the class with irrelevant questions. Do you understand, Mr. Jitendrasingh Feller?"

Jiten looked at Alex and whispered, "How in the hell does she know my name?"

Jiten felt his face flush with embarrassment as the other students turned to look at him. He nodded quickly, trying to show Cecilia that he understood and was sorry for his interruption.