After arriving in the training room, Snow asked Mor to sit down opposite her. As they both got comfortable on the floor, she fixed Mor with her gaze.

"You want to learn how to gather magic energy from your surroundings, right?" she asked him, and Mor nodded.

"Yes, but could you also teach me the full technique?" Mor asked back.

"Sure, I don't know what you could gain from learning to imbue a crystal. I can teach you." Snow answered.

°Nice, now we are getting somewhere.° The human commented.

"Then we need to start at the basics and don't expect to succeed immediately. This is a rather difficult technique every step of the way." Snow explained.

"I understand," said Mor.

°Yeah, could have guessed, so it's business as usual.° The human added.

"Good, then let's get started," Snow said. "Firstly, just try to feel the magic around you."

Mor took a deep breath and concentrated, trying to even get a feel for any other magic than his own. Of course, on this first try, nothing would happen.

°Yeah, guessed as much. No choice but to keep trying.° The human said.

This went on for a whole week. He would go with Snow whenever she wanted to see some part of the school, attend his lessons, or train after class. To Mor's relief, Ranbor was nowhere to be seen for all those days.

Then, finally, after a few pointers from Snow, Mor had his breakthrough. He could feel the energy around him; even Snow radiated magical energy, which Mor accounted for as her life force. He got a big smile.

"I got it." He told Snow.

"Very good, faster than expected." She nodded with a smile. "Then on to the next step, getting the energy from your surroundings into the crystal."

"Wouldn't it be better to learn how to absorb it myself first?" Mor asked, and Snow shrugged.

"I can't help you with that. I can only teach you how to get it into the crystal. After that, you have to find out everything else yourself," she explained to Mor.

"Oh, I get it," Mor answered.

"Good, then take this crystal." She handed him a spare arrowhead. "Get a feeling of how empty it is, and then try to guide the surrounding energy into it."

°Sounds easy enough.° The human commented. °Can I try again? We never got me to guide the energy.°

°Can you even feel the magic?° Mor asked.

°I can feel something,° The human said.

°Well, no harm in trying.° Mor agreed and let the human try, but no progress was made after trying for a few hours.

°Fuck, why can't I do it!° The human complained.

°I don't know, but maybe it is because you don't have any magic?° Mor put forward.

°This is bullshit...° The human pouted.

The next day, it was Mor's turn. He concentrated on the crystal, felt the energy flow, and instantly, it filled with energy and shattered. Mor looked surprised for a second and then cursed.

"Shit! What happened?" He asked.

"You concentrated too much on filling the crystal and didn't use the energy from your surroundings but your own energy," Snow said.

Mor looked at her, surprised, and asked. "How do you know?"

"I can also "feel" the energy flowing, so of course I would know it. The surrounding energy was still." Snow explained. "You need both. Gather the energy around you and guide it to the crystal. Go slow and steady until you think the crystal is filled."

"I don't want to shatter another one. You don't have an unlimited amount for me, right?" Mor said.

"Don't worry, I have enough for you to grasp the concept. Shattering a few will be no problem. The pieces are useful in making weapons, so just go ahead." Snow told him, and Mor nodded thankfully.

After breaking three more crystals, they decided to end the day and take a break on the next. Now that Mor had some free time, while Snow went and explored on her own, at her own request, mind you, he decided to talk with his friends again and went to look for them.

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Mor found Orth after class in the library.

"Hey, Orth," he greeted the other boy.

"Hi, Mor." Orth nodded.

"Sorry that I ignored you the past few days." Mor apologized.

"Don't worry, I get it. It must have been shocking for you to find out the nobles were keeping secrets. I mean, it was for me, that they do, but it had to be worse for you." Orth said, understanding.

"Thank you for being so understanding and my friend," Mor said, and Orth smiled.

"You're welcome. Also, I won't retract my offer because of that." Orth said.

"Before I forget, the Saphire girl came to me and seemed angry with how I treated you, and I guess I was not nice to her because of my ill temper," Mor said awkwardly, and Orth sighed.

"I can guess how it went...." Orth began, but Mor interrupted him.

"Please let me finish. I would like to apologize to Saphine for being an ass. She didn't deserve that for just being concerned about you. Could you tell me where I can find her?" Mor added.

"I don't know where she is, but I can tell her you want to talk to her again and also apologize with you", Orth told Mor.

"Where's the ice-kin today? Aren't you responsible for her?" asked Orth further.

"She wanted to explore by herself," Mor answered.

They talked a bit about random stuff, like the last week, until they spoke of Ranbor.

"I haven't seen him for a few days," Mor said, and Orth nodded.

"He is probably angry at his punishment because his oh-so-great power is now severely limited. He will get over it and appear again, just as haughty as ever." Orth dismissed.

"I hope you are right, and nothing worse will come from it," Mor said.

°Why!? Why did you say that? Now, it will get infinitely worse. Murphy is always listening!° The human shouted.

°What's your problem now, and who's this Murphy?° Mor asked.

°Murphy is a human who said that "anything that can go wrong will go wrong"! And with you saying you hope nothing bad will happen, it will happen.° The human said.

°How does that work?° Mor asked again.

°It just does!° The human insisted.

"It probably won't. His pride is just hurt, and he doesn't know when to stop. He has always been like this. I have known him since early childhood. He's the pampered son." Orth said.

"You knew him since then?" Mor asked, and Orth gave him an affirming nod.

"We are both high nobles. Saphine does as well." He told Mor.

"Then do you know why Ranbor has it out for me?" Mor asked.

"Honestly, it may be a multitude of factors. Firstly, you are a commoner and, therefore, beneath him. Secondly, you already beat him in a contest of wits after you aced the entrance test and, third, probably the most importantly, your mother," Orth explained.

"What about my mother?" asked Mor further.

"You don't know? Well, I think an uncle or cousin, I don't remember that clearly, acted out, and your mother put him back into place with total ease if I can remember correctly. That wouldn't be a big thing, but she later refused an open offer to marry into the Sapphire or Emerald family and gave up her status to an uncle of hers. This way, the slight against the Rubys was enhanced, as one of theirs was beaten by a commoner." Orth chuckled.

"WAIT, my mother had a marriage offer from two high noble families?" Mor was stunned by this revelation.

"Yes, how do you not know that?" Orth asked incredulously.

"I don't know that much. My mother and father talk very little about their heritage. They say their life now with me is far more important."

°Well, it is, but at least that explains a lot. Pride is a powerful thing,° The human said.

°Have I told you already that I'm getting sick of this shit?° Mor asked.

°Yeah, you did.° The answer came back.