He stared out the window at the small field. Two birds were pecking away at something in the grass. He looked back over the classroom at the rows of desks and the sea of light blue tunics. The room was made almost entirely of wood but it was of incredibly high quality. The floors were so polished, they glinted. He had tried running his nail across an edge to feel for a crack but it was impossible. He looked at the eager students staring at the instructors up ahead. This was all part of his introduction to magic after awakening his insignia but there was something about it. The classroom was amazing, it was just, so, so …WRONG.

He scratched his head in frustration. Why am I back at school! He was in a fantasy world for Christ's sake. Why was he back in the one place he was glad to never see again. He sighed loudly and lent back in his chair. He stared at the pattern the planks made on the floor.

He glanced at the seat next to him. Instead of paying attention to the instructors Wilbur was busy ogling a particular alluring female’s Neophyte’s body. Maxwell scoffed. He was the most sacrilegious religious person-in training he’d seen. Well, it’s not like I'm paying attention to them either. He remarked. How can I though, my mind is filled with the events earlier today.

Should I have done something back there? He wasn’t sure, he felt only uncertainty at that question. He opened and closed his hand. Wasn’t he blessed with incredible power? What was the point if he never used it. Is this the same as that time back then as well? Someone else had stepped in there too. Yeah and look how that turned out. He thought. Colin had just ended up dying. He sighed. The things the face in the orb had said to him flashed in his mind. They could have been simply to cause him pain but he couldn’t help but consider the possibilities. Maybe that face was right maybe I am everything it said. He clenched his fist until his knuckles turned white. I swear I didn’t leave them!

He felt heat emanating from his hand. It was glowing bright yellow.

“Oh crap,” he exclaimed before hiding it firmly between his thighs under the desk. He looked around hurriedly. Nobody saw that right?. A bead of sweat ran down his forehead.

Maxwell stared blankly at the front of the class. He nodded aimlessly, as he faked paying attention. WHy the hell is my hand glowing.

“Enough with the explanations for now,” said the instructors. “We’ll move on to some practical exercises.” One of them gestured toward the door. “For this exercise in mana control we have a special guest.”

In through the door walked a young priestess followed by a couple of assistants. SHe had a bucket of dirt in her hand. She nodded in greeting to the instructors before turning to the class. Her assistants walked in behind her wheeling in a cart full of similar pot of dirts.

“As you all know this is the high-priestess in training, please give her a warm welcome.” said one of the instructors.

“Hello everyone!” she beamed. She had familiar black swirlings on her robes and her band of fabric around her eyes had fancy gold markings that adorned its edges. Excited whispers buzzed around the classroom. Maxwell along with most of the other students perked up. What is she doing here? She was the one who helped that boy from the guards if he recalled it correctly. I believe her name was Adelaide, the one with the golden eyes.

The assistants began passing around the pots of dirt. “Pass them on backwards to make sure everyone gets one,” they announced in the way tired teachers often do.

Wilbur passed one onto his desk. “Thanks,” said Maxwell politely. while crouched over.

The priestess clapped her hands together. “OK, before you all isn’t just a pot full of dirt, within that dirt there is a seed,” she began. “These seeds are unique, they grow in the Somed forest and are highly sensitive to magic. Each of you guys are to channel your mana through your body and into the seed.”

Maxwell grimaced. This is the worst time to be doing an exercise, how do I stop my hand from glowing? I don’t want to cause a commotion by letting everyone know I have light magic. He wished he’d paid better attention just a few minutes ago to what the instructors had been saying about mana control.

He took a couple of calm breaths. Maybe if I calm down the light will ebb. It’s the only thing I think that could have caused this. He peeked at his hand and to his pleasure it was reduced to a dim glow. Nobody would notice in the brightly lit classroom. He reached forward and inspected the pot on his desk. It was simply a pot of dirt.

“Let’s race,” declared Wilbur,” Loser has to give a third of their dinner!” He hovered his hands above the pot. His face turned bright red.

One of the assistants nearby raised an eyebrow. “Are you sure mana is the only thing you’re trying to release?”

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“Wha-” Wilbur’s face turned a different shade of red. Several people around us chuckled.

“At least I’m trying!” retorted Wilbur to the snickering students.

I better get started too. Maxwell held his hands out as well. He closed his eyes shut. Remember what it was like when dispeling the violence pact. It was a single clear memory he had of using magic. He cracked an eye. His left hand illuminated the pot. He hurriedly shoved his hand under the desk. The pot crashed onto the ground. Crap… This day is not my day, he sighed.

“Another pot for someone here!” shouted Wilbur.

“Shh!” said Maxwell. “Don’t yell, we could have shared a pot.”

A pot was gently placed on his desk.

“Try not to break this one OK,” said a familiar gentle voice.

Maxwell’s head snapped to the voice. He felt power surge to his fist.

“Oh, yeah, I'll be careful,” he said weakly. I didn’t notice her approaching us at all.

“I think I’m starting to get the hang of this!” exclaimed WIlbur. His seedling had started to bud and was almost a hand-length above the soil. He waved his hands around deep in concentration. Not entirely unlike a scam artist flashily reading a crystal ball.

Wilbur pointed at Maxwell’s pot. “There’s nothing growing there at all, are you sure you’re really trying?”

He puffed out his chest. “Well, you’ll get there someday.”

I swear he’s got the biggest head of everyone I know.

“Are you having any difficulties?” said the priestess. “Anything I can help you with?”

“Um…” he began. He looked at his pot of dirt. Not a speck of green graced its surface.

“I didn’t really understand the teacher’s explanations, that's all,” he said.

She nodded understandingly.“It’s OK, they can be confusing.”

She reached into her robe and pulled out a seed.

“The secret is really visualising the mana within you, don’t think of it as something you’re actively controlling, it’s a power bestowed to us by god, it is up to him whether we have control over it or not. Lots of students struggle with this but you have to give up control and not try and force it,” she explained. The seed sprouted in her hand, it’s roots stretched around her hands. Its stem lengthened and grew before opening up into a dazzling rose.

“Whoa, I see,” said Maxwell breathtaking. He felt that spark of excitement within him. Magic really is amazing.

She plucked the rose, snapping the bottom of the stem. She then placed the flower into Maxwell’s pot.

“See, what I did,” she said.

Maxwell nodded. Maybe he could use her advice for his hand as well. It's worth a shot, I can’t seem to get it to dim through sheer force of will. He didn’t really know if all magic really was through the will of the gods but considering he had met one, it could very well be true. He focused on his hand, and took deep breaths. I need to not force it. I need to simply let my mana flow out of my hand of its own accord. He felt the tingling in his hand subside and he knew the light had disappeared. She’s a surprisingly good teacher. He remarked.

He raised his hands in front of the dirt.

“I’ll try it out in Adelaide,” he said.

“Dude!” exclaimed Wilbur turning his head from his sprouting seed.

“Huh?” said Maxwell at his outburst. Did I say something wrong?

“I’m sorry, holy priestess, this fool doesn’t know who he’s talking to, it’s a wonder he can do basic chores,” he said, shooting daggers at Maxwell.

“It’s alright,” said the priestess laughing. Maxwell was stunned. He’d never heard such an innocent laugh. “ At heart I feel the same way as you guys, we are the same age after all,” she said.

“You must have heard it back then, right?” said the priestess.”I don’t recognize your face.” Is she referring to when she helped that boy. Also does she remember everybody’s face, there’s no way that’s how she was able to tell that I’m new? Didn't Wilbur say people pass through here all the time.

“Yeah,” said Maxwell. “ I didn’t mean to offend you.”

“No, no you didn’t.” she said. “To be honest it’s nice to be called by simply my name, most people treat me at arm's reach like i’m some precious metal they’re afraid of smudging with their touch.”

Maxwell noted a hint of bitterness in her voice.

“You should probably call me priestess though,” she said. “It would bring attention if only you were to call me by my given name. It might cause misunderstandings after all,” she explained.

“Why would that cause..” he realised it when he said it. His cheeks tinged red. . “ Right, right I see,” he said rapidly.

She laughed awkwardly.

“Enough about me now, Let’s see you get on with the practice.”

She watched him as he focused.

“Do you mind if I suggest something?” she asked tentatively.

“Hold your hands on either side of the pot.”

“I see,” said Maxwell. “That way I can focus on channelling it between my hands and through the pot, Instead of focusing on projecting it outwards by focusing on sending it to your hands you have a more clear image.”

She smiled. “Exactly, you’re a surprisingly fast learner.”

Maxwell shrugged. He was used to words like that at his old school. Although schoolwork had never meant much to him then. Here he felt he was actually getting something out of it. It is literal magic after all.

“I’m starting to think you didn’t need my help in the first place,” said the priestess. Maxwell shook his head. If I didn’t have your help I wouldn’t have gotten it so easily.” He paused awkwardly. “So.. thanks,” he said awkwardly. Upon uttering those words he realised he hadn’t said those words once since coming to this world. Why do I find that so weird?