Thankfully, the lesson went perfectly smoothly after that. Sir Ironskin very carefully and very professionally demonstrated the skill Metal Warping several times and even answered any and all questions he received from the students - Lone included - as he explained how the skill worked and functioned.
Before the class ended, Sir Ironskin gave everyone a sheet of paper that contained some fundamental knowledge and theories on basic metal magic, as well as the assistance chant for Metal Warping.
He had asked everyone to memorise the knowledge of that sheet of paper if they could, but not to stress over the matter. Sir Ironskin also encouraged practising learning the Metal Warping skill on any loose bits of metal that they could legally obtain, though he did remind them that gold would be, by far, the easiest metal to work with.
Of course, Lone had accepted the paper and tried to not show off much more during the class since he didn't want to start another uproar, though he had most definitely already learned the Metal Warping skill mid-lesson.
Naturally, while Lone was following The Academy map that Teacher Rax had given him to his second and final class of the day, he decided to look at the info of the two new skills that he had just acquired.
Active Metal Magic Skill: Metal Diffusion
A standard application of the metal magic school where the caster focuses the sub earth element, the element of metal, to split metal seamlessly and without any loss of mass.
Diffusible metals: Gold.
Cost: 10,000 MP Mastery: Beginner Level 1
Lone could immediately see this being useful with his blacksmithing and steamforging hobbies. If he could perfectly separate metals, then that meant that he could disassemble the steamforged trinkets that he received from Frodley without simply destroying them like normal, which he was looking forward to.
Of course, he'd have to practice the skill on gold to level it up and see it had any hidden extra effects at the higher levels.
Lone could always ask Sir Ironskin during next week's lesson, but to him, it was far more entertaining to figure things out for himself. If he got stuck or had a question in regards to the magic that he couldn't answer on his own, well, that would be when he would rely on his teacher.
Active Metal Magic Skill: Metal Warping
A standard application of the metal magic school where the caster focuses the sub earth element, the element of metal, to alter metal.
Can only alter metal by 5% of its original shape per use.
Alterable metals: Gold.
Cost: 20,000 MP Mastery: Beginner Level 1
This skill was fairly useless at face-value, but again, Lone could see it being incredibly helpful not only with smithing and steamforging but also in combat. If he could warp a person's armour to press into their chest, or make a helmet cave a person's skull in, well, then he'd have a very powerful magic in his hands.
'I wonder what're the limits on the types of metals that can be affected? Will more unlock at higher ranks, or does it work based off of which ones I train myself to warp? Some skills are special like that like Soul Sensing, so I dunno... I'm hoping it's the latter. If I can learn how to warp divine starlite metal, then I can start working on that sword I was 'gifted'. I really need to make new weapons for Sophie, Swind, and Breena...' Lone thought as he approached the door to his next class - a theory class, Herbology.
Pushing it open and walking in, Lone was surprised to see that the room was very reminiscent of an indoor greenhouse... though only the far side of the room was like that. The closer half was very much so like Teacher Rax's classroom with a lectern and a blackboard at the front while several rows of ascending pews were in the back.
Of course, numerous shelves lined the door's wall, a quarter of which held books while the rest housed jarred plants of various shapes, materials, and colours.
"Ah, Student Lone. It's a pleasure to meet you," a small plant in a pot sitting on the lectern said as the face on the plant's head smiled at him.
"A plant? No... A transformed dryad?" Lone asked himself as he looked back at the plant. "Hmm... If the books I've read are right, you should be a Rytholia Dryad, right? You guys are insanely rare. Not only are dryads rare even amongst their fellow border-demis, but there are only, like, what, twenty Rytholia Dryads in existence? This is a pleasant surprise."
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Lone was genuinely happy to see such a rare sapient species for the first time. He had a good impression of tree-like and plant-like species thanks to his interactions with Leshers as well as due to his relationship with the eastern world tree, Elestia.
"You're Teacher Nobleleaf, right? I was honestly expecting a Lesher due to your name, but this is even better. I'm really looking forward to learning under you now," Lone said as a very honest and innocent smile surfaced on his face.
The potted plant was very surprised. 'He knows my species and even my race? He's so polite despite the rumours... and that genuine smile... I'm sorry, Professor Fredley, but there's no way that I can be mean to someone so clearly intelligent and eager to learn about Herbology.'
Little did Lone know that his joy at meeting such a fabled and rare race of dryads had spared the potential trouble of getting into an argument with yet another one of his teachers.
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After 2-hours had passed, the class came to an end. As it so happened, while practical classes lasted for 3-hours, theory-focused ones only went on for two.
Since it was now well into the afternoon and the only thing left for the day were optional lectures, Lone decided to contact Soph as he made his way through the halls of The Academy's main building.
'Hey, Soph. How'd your classes go?' he asked with a soft tone so as to not startle the girl.
'Lone?' Soph was surprised at first but soon replied in a chipper tone. 'Um, well, I didn't really understand much in the water magic lesson, but I think if I have a few more lessons, I might, um, I might learn the Crude Waterball skill... maybe. And, um, the class on the barrier around the monster continent was fun, but I didn't really learn anything important like I'd hoped, but, em, it was only the first lesson, so yeah...'
Lone smiled. He was happy to hear that Soph hadn't encountered a similar situation to what had happened to him in his metal magic lesson.
'Uh... W-What about you, Lone? Did you have fun in your classes too?' Soph asked sweetly.
"Well, one was very interesting, while the other was super fun and engaging. One of my teachers is a rare race of the already rare dryads, so it was a lot of fun being taught by a potted plant," Lone happily responded.
Soph giggled upon hearing that. The two talked for a short while longer about their classes before Soph had remembered something that Lone would probably want to know.
'U-Um, Lone... I-I was approached by a lot of the students during my classes and while I was moving between the water magic lesson to the barrier one. Even now, I just got approached again while we were talking,' Soph said with a mildly worried voice.
Lone frowned and stopped walking, resulting in the students near him getting startled at his sudden change of atmosphere. 'Did they challenge you to a duel?'
'Em... No... I-It was only boys or men... T-They all proposed to me. S-Some of them said that I should leave you since you're a, um, a demi. They were a lot harsher, but that was the gist of it...' Soph explained.
Lone remained silent for a while before he sighed deeply, only confusing the students near him. 'So, how did you reject them? I bet you were flustered, right? I'm sorry you had to go through something like that.'
Lone had absolutely no doubts in his mind that Soph firmly rejected all of them one way or another. She was a very shy and reclusive girl, but not only was she actively trying to come out of her shell, but she was also a very firm believer of not leaving loose ends which was something she shared with her other personality, Sophie.
'Um... It was so unexpected, and when I tried to say no normally, they wouldn't listen, so I told them that if they could beat you in a fight, then I'd, uh, then I'd listen to their proposals again. I never said I'd agree! Just that I'd listen to them again. Um... even if you somehow lose, I'll just say no again...' The nervous tone of Soph's warmed Lone's heart.
The foxkin started grinning as he replied, 'Good. I was gonna ask you to tell me who they were anyway, but if they're heading for me on their own, then that saves me the effort of finding them to beat the shit out of them.'
'Potty mouth... And, uh... Yay! G-Good luck, Lone,' Soph adorably encouraged.
After that, the two agreed to meet up in the cafeteria to get lunch and try out The Academy's food. Lone was curious if it could come close to the perfection of his Creation Magic or the homely feel of Swind's cooking.
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"Eolande's with you?" Lone asked in surprise as the three of them ordered their food and found a seat.
As it turned out, The Academy's cafeteria was far more like a restaurant than the cafeterias that Lone was used to back on Earth.
Eolande held her chin in her hands as she rested her elbows on the table and smiled coyly. "Did you miss me?"
Soph pouted. "She chose The Great Barrier class too, and we happened to, em, be in the same class."
"It was quite entertaining to watch Soph reject all of those boys then push it onto you, Lone," Eolande said teasingly.
Soph's cheeks flushed red with embarrassment. "I-I didn't know what else to do..."
Lone shook his head. "I already said it's fine."
As if by fate, at that exact moment, a gorgeous young man who looked no older than maybe 15 or 16 approached their table and smiled at Soph before turning his attention to Lone. "Lone Immortus, I presume? I challenge you to a duel under Headmaster Erion's rules."
Lone frowned. "We're about to have lunch. Fuck off for about 30-minutes, yeah? I'll kick your ass then."
Both Soph and Eolande were aware that Lone was unable to use any MP right now, so they wore worried expressions while the boy looked incredibly offended.
"As rude as the rumours say... Regardless, no, you shall fight me now. Headmaster Erion never said that you had the right to refuse any duels, so if you don't wish to fight back, then simply stay seated as I defeat you," the boy arrogantly claimed.
Lone sighed deeply. "Hey, Headmaster Erion. You can hear me, right? You're a Divine who specialises in magic after all. Do you mind if I use Primal magic? I know it isn't conventionally treated as magic since only beastkin who awaken can use it, but come on, what else could it be but magic?"
A moment later, a soft voice entered the ears of every who was in the cafeteria.
"I can consent to the use of Primal magic, yes. However, I will not allow the use of your Ascended or soul skills during any duels. I believe that's fair, no?"
No one present knew what Headmaster Erion meant by 'Ascended', but regardless of that, they were all far too shocked at the fact that he'd actually responded to Lone's insolent and quite frankly rude question.
Lone slowly stood up and cracked his neck. 'Darkness, are you up for stretching your legs a bit? Sky's loyal to me, right? Tell him I want you to take over my body for a little bit. He and Radiance should have recovered enough to suppress Void on their own while you have a bit of fun, right?'
'Ahaha, oh, Master. I like you more and more every time that we speak,' the flirtatious Primal replied before all of Lone's tails, his eyes, as well as his hair, turned a deep shade of purple.