Crazy Plant Lady

“Erm, sir what are you doing?” The previously smug orc jumped at my comment. I was squinting at the light shining in my eyes from the window, so he probably thought I was still meditating.

*Cough grumble “Humph, so he lives after all. See, I told ya he wasn’t dead. As for you, you’re a complete idiot.”

“What do you mean? Wasn’t I supposed to find my mana and calm it?”

“Ha! Like you could do that without help! No one gets it on their first try, especially not a human. Now the orcs over there, they almost got it done in under an hour. Heck, those elves are just now finishing up. Don’t tell ME, that a human is good at all. Next time you lie about harnessing your power in my class, this won’t be your class got it!” Standing up, the orc went to walk to his desk.

“Come! You must have a humongous backlash from failing so hard to calm the flows. Here, use this regeneration potion so you can try again. Bintar, come here. For calming your mana the most today you receive a full gold. Tomorrow I expect full control though, got it!”

“Yes sir, I will control the mana fully by tomorrow.” At that a huge orc walked up beside me and collected his unjust bounty. It was obvious I was the most in control, but the teacher was playing favorites for sure.

He handed me a small flask made of copper which I promptly took and walked back to my corner observing.

I wasn’t even sure this wasn’t poison, so I just stuffed it into my pocket after acting like I took a drink.

Of course, the teacher was engrossed in talking with the orc students. After all, he couldn’t have a young HUMAN overtake his Orcish students in magic manipulation.

Most humans didn’t have magic control in prior lives, while most other species had an innate ability for it. He was hoping the humans would fail out actually. Aggravated, he sat at his desk to put notes together for his Orcish students.

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Of course, I had already achieved success in finding my mana. Some other smarter students actually approached him secretly and asked for some tips. It was quite obvious to those from worlds previously with magic, just how successful Jake had been.

If he had failed, he would’ve had a massive headache. The students smart enough to speak with him left with puzzled looks and notes displaying what he had done, imagined, achieved, and how it was done.

Over the class period another boy and three girls broke through and controlled their magic. Many others found it but failed. Still, this was further than the orc had gotten them. Soon enough the whole class would get the procedure down pat he thought.

I didn’t have much to do, but class only went on for another thirty minutes. When the bell rang he sat back waiting for everyone else to leave before departing. No more stair incidents for that day, or that was what he was hoping for.

True to his desires, he made it to his next class without incident. This one was up another floor. Entering in high hopes his mood was slightly dampened upon seeing the teacher once again. The lady had twigs and sticks poking out of her hair, and her clothes were covered in green burn marks.

Taking my customary seat, as far from the front as possible, I waited to see just how crazy this class was going to be.

“’Ello students, my name is Ms. Maquin welcome to alchemy. In the next few days, you will learn to harvest soochrum leaf, antler rose, and many binding components for to create minor stamina, minor mana restoration, and minor healing potions.

At the end of the class you will have the option to buy a simple alchemy kit, so don’t worry right now. Now if this is the entire class, I would like you to each receive your introductory books to plant, animal, and mineral identification. If you do well, I will offer you a bonus recipe book. Come now hurry up.”

I hurried to the line making it about half way to the front. I could see some crappier books missing pages, so I wanted a good copy. When I reached the front I didn’t rush by after picking a random book. After 30 seconds and a couple of shoves from behind I found a decent book containing all the original contents.

Of course, the ones who rushed were now giving me the stink eye for their stupidity. No matter, I wasn’t going to flunk out because I was missing the instructions.

“Unless you receive the recipe book at the end of the week, you will need to return these books unless you would like to owe me money. Each book is worth five gold, so don’t rip ‘em up like my last class. You’ll still owe me if it’s damaged more, and trust me I know how bad each one is.”

Of course, she gave us a scary look making her eyes squint as she stared all of us down.

“Now, if you will turn to page sixteen please?” The class went by smoothly despite her antics and evil glare. AS it turns out, the orange spotted viper sapling behind her desk was to blame for the green burn marks and twigs in her hair.

One poor guy tried taking a leaf to examine and the trunk opened up before roots shot acid at him. He almost lost his hand! Thankfully there were plenty of healing potions and chemical wash basins located in the room. For good reason I’d say. I laughed when a blue hemp leaf latched onto one of the orcs faces though. I think he actually respects our teachers’ bravery now despite her being human.

I on the other hand kept careful notes from the BACK of the crowd during demonstrations and lessons. The antler rose looked pretty scary. It had thorns which could move slowly and grab your hand unless you severed the rose bud fast enough. Did I mention you had to reach inside to get the bud?

The dang teacher actually let a few students get caught before explaining a set of forcep like tools was typically used. Also, the bud may be for healing, but the thorns are practically deadly. The poison stops clotting, so you have to use a healing powder to stop the flow directly. If you don’t stop the flow, you’ll bleed out. Stupid psychopath lady actually smiled as the kids yelped in pain… Better them than me I always say!

By the time class was over, I was convinced I should just privately study for the tests. We all received some samples, gathering tools, vials, and a mana Bunsen burner with a few glass beakers. I didn’t really trust the other students with stuff like this, but I guess it’s their pockets paying if it’s damaged at all. Of course, the books she lent us had all the information and more than we actually needed for the lessons that week. But I’m not complaining.

While some kids looked at pictures or man-eating flytraps, I was busy reading through the animals and minerals section familiarizing myself with the most valuable and or dangerous things to watch out for. I wasn’t going to die from wiping my behind with a poisonous leaf while on a hike near town.

Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.

After agonizing and cringing at descriptions of plants for over two hours it was finally lunch time.

Of course normal classes were shorter and more plentiful, but this was the simple training for survival. After a blissfully boring lunch of some sort of fish and chips I made my way up to the top floors of the building for the rest of the day. I ended up in a simple survival class teaching you about tents, fire-starting and the hunting and gathering of simple foods. The class was run by a group of senior students, but we all got another pamphlet skimming over simple survival tactics.

Put shortly the day was pretty boring until our last period. This was actually held inside in the arena we sat around the first day for the speaker.

“Welcome to combat class! Listen up or die later you runts. The names Kane and today you will watch a few demonstrations from some of my senior student’s. Afterward you will pick one of these weapons used as a main weapon to train in this week. Don’t pick something stupid, pick something YOU think you can actually use. BEGIN!”

As soon as he said that three archers stepped out from one side of the arena. *PING! They all fired off using a few different bows shooting a target which in turn moved and they were forced to fir off more shots to steady the dummy before shooting again and again until they missed the moving targets.

The speed was incredible and some shots were imbued with fire of ice near the end for speed or sowing effects on the target.

I was amazed by the skills shown in the short time frame, then they all ran in a circle shooting a flipping target which in turn spun until they missed. Add in obstacles and I was sitting wide-eyed as they fired away.

After the bow demonstration a few skirmishes using varied swords including the rapier, long, and short swords took place. Same thing happened with and without shields with them imbuing minor enchants into their weapons as the fights progressed. On a few occasions the students were actually hurt and carried off on stretchers to an infirmary.

There was a LOT of blood, like you would not believe. I was interested up until the orcs started a death chant for one opponent…guess my decisions made! The elves were staring at the orcs like they wanted to gouge out some eyes. A bunch of them seemed to lose interest after the bow demonstration so it was pretty safe to say a lot of those were gonna go for bow training.

Well, they’ll probably show me up but whatever. At least I’ll have some backers who hate orcs as well. Besides, everyone has to learn the dagger anyway since we all received one.

Of course I wouldn’t be showing up for the sparring days… I’m not chicken, I just don’t have a death wish! Anyway, I already know a little about archery from bow hunting back on earth in the good ‘ol days.

I’m probably a little rusty, but then again I should just find out what a fireball takes… ya that sounds smarter. Or maybe something NOT involving putting my life in peril. Like construction or crafting, heck at the rate injuries come in a healer job sounds kind of lucrative!

After a few more demonstrations including halberds, spears, axes and tridents the fighting was finally over. Looking up from my notes the class was talking excitedly as they lined up for equipment rentals and signups.

Technically the class was a sparring and self taught thing, but the teachers would wander around giving tips and examples. In this way you actually remembered the forms and steps involved since it was your own doing half the time.

They just gave you the framework for your own work. Of course you could watch the teachers spar too and learn something, but I didn’t think archery needed too much demonstration. More so just instructions than anything else. Although the imbuing process could be a problem at some point.

Lining up near the end we slowly got equipped. When it came my turn he asked my name and weapon of choice. I repeated archery to him and moved on to some helpers checking out the equipment.

There wasn’t much left, but I easily found a simple enough bow. There were more elaborately designed bows, but most were riddled with cracks or simply looked cumbersome. I settled for a tough, yet supple recurve made of a hickory looking wood. They all had prices over ten gold, but whatever. I then checked out a bundle of arrows which were actually given to me free of charge.

Of course a lot of the humans chose huge cumbersome weapons, while few chose bows or tomahawks. Most of us smarter people consisted of woman, but meh. When my life’s on the line at least I won’t have as many issues finding the cuter girls.

As I checked out they also handed me a free bowstring. Evidently my bow wasn’t as ‘adequate’ as the others they said. I just chuckled and moved on, if they were giving stuff away why not?

After everyone was settled they told us the times the practice fields were open between classes. The archers were all lined up across one wall while the others all got a crash course on hand to hand and melee.

I was already appreciating my intelligent decision when they told us to fire at will until the whistle was blown to retrieve arrows. At first, I couldn’t hit the straw dummy at all. But as I started into my third round I just stood trying to remember my lessons from my father.

Hand down, index and thumb touching, loose grip, push bow out, breath in, aim, breath out half way… fire… follow through and watch arrow… let bow stay loose in grip… watch arrow until impact. *Thunk! “Yes, woohoo that’s what I’m talking about!” I accidentally let out a girlish whoop of delight as I see my arrow pierce the dummy in the groin. Doing a little victory jig I am stopped by a look from the students and teacher. “Sorry… won’t do it again.” I think I’ve just lost my chances with most of the girls here… I hear giggling all the way down the line as everyone watches my antics.

Face still beat red, I g back to shooting slowly. I hit the target more or less the rest of the day by going through the steps. Heck, by the end I’m hitting body mass at the 40 yard mark, so it could be said I still got it.

Of course, all the others do better than me. The elves especially do great, at least as good as their bows allowed them. They went for the fanciest ones available, so at least I think my eyes better when it comes to quality.

By the end I’m sweaty and am forced up to the showers. The others are so tired they don’t even make fun of me from today, woopy! After a brief dinner I head to bed. Surprisingly, experiencing multiple dangers in one day AND falling down a flight of stairs will make you really tired.

Crap! I forgot to ask about the runes. Oh wait, I have Noajin. Maybe I can ask a senior or other teacher?

(A.N: One or two more chapters coming later today, hope ya like it! If you see any issues, please comment, I read them all.)