Chapter 5

Sitting In a classroom, sitting in a wooden desk. It was like the clock for Amy had rewound, moved back to a time before her heartache, when she wasn’t buried in her books studying grim reality in minute details, she would be imagining herself off on an adventure in her lively fantasies. Except this time, she was to study a reality fantastic, in minute details. The word thrilling would have been just a glimpse of the novel sights and sounds she heard on her way to the school. In the distance she couldn’t discern the enormity of the vast network of structures and spires made of smooth white stone. The grand building in the center the size of a mountain, a testament to the deepness, richness, and vitality of a grand culture that had been hidden away in the world. She saw markets, restaurants, and inns; she saw the different species interacting selling and buying. As she neared the guild tower, she saw the individual shops, she was surprised as she saw chains with names suspiciously similar to the ones she knew: Starlucks Coffee, McDdonalds. At that point seeing the life teeming below her she started to understand a little of the fundamental nature and perspective of her new dragon friends, and why they were unfailingly kind to her. Instead of being aloof, they felt a responsibility to watch over those beneath them like a new mother hen fussing over her first fuzzy baby chicks.

Amy smirked to herself, after coming here she realized how much the residents of this world sought after the culture of humans, from the everyday items to the obscure particulars. Whereas on Earth, the people of magic there, wanted to maintain the dignity and prestige of a heritage hearkening from a mythical place. In other words, they wanted to feel special, because in the tower realm they were normal. While the denizens of the towers felt confined, and wanted to experience something different, something they thought exotic. Amy looked around in the classroom. She could easily identify who came from where, the ones from the tower of Arbell: the Draegun, wore clothes after the latest- human fashion, while the Earthers: those who were from earth, wore clothes that carried a more ethereal atmosphere.

In this new environment, this new location Amy could not restrain her giddiness that bubbled up from the depths of her soul. During the feast she conversed excitedly, well, as excitedly as her shy nature would allow. Even still, her words were kept in between Sean, her, and Glyn. Especially after the focus of the entire hall was on her. Although, she knew Liam had no malice when he brought her in front of everyone’s two eyes with his words of welcome. Amy’s ears reddened and her face began to feel warm.

Class had yet to start, and of course all present were busy with their gossip, discussing the rumors and current trends of this hidden society.

“Did you hear about Master Ian?”, Gwynyveve the elf said as she lifted her hand to her forehead, while fanning her face with her other hand, “He took down a hidden guild of thieves operating on earth, with wily and unpredictable magic”.

Satriana the female voluptuous orc continued the conversation, “William was there too”, she said, “I wish William would come sweep me away to his lair!”.

“But Master Ian is the best with his wavy black hair, fair skin, and deep green eyes”, Veve as her friends called her, said.

“But Master Liam is by far the most handsome is he not Glyn?”, Shaitra said, while Glyn’s shapely brow twitched and shot a glare containing all the howling icy winds of a forsaken tundra at Shaitra.

Amy turned her hips slightly, and inconspicuously looked back at Osgur and Loren, sitting together, bickering, striving to prove to each other who was more beautiful Satriana, or Gwynyveve.

Amy turned to the target of Osgur’s infatuation Gwynyveve, his uttered not so quiet whispered words were almost worshipping her like some goddess of beauty descended upon the world. With flowing white hair, she was tall, graceful, and slender. Amy had seen her walking elegantly in front of her and knew her stature to be at least six feet. Her pale complexion complimenting the pale-yellow matching flowered long skirt and blouse. They seemed like clothes from a fashionable but reasonably priced clothing outlet, appealing to the taste of teenage girls and young women, not unlike what Amy’s sisters wore. Satriana was draped in a short one piece that revealed her toned luscious thighs, and deep mocha skin. If Gwynyveve was likened unto a delicate flower, Satriana was like a beautifully curved vace. Indeed, the two had many followers and male admirers in their wing of the tower. The chief of which was Osgur who worshipped every step of Gwynyveve, Veve as his club called her. And Lorenn the aloof elf, praised the shape of Satriana and painted her as a seductive goddess. Shaitra sat back in her elegant flowing robes haughtily, twirling her brown hair. Amy did not dislike these boisterous people, in fact she admired these people. No they did not hide, they were unabashedly true to themselves, and were not afraid of exercising their lips to spill their thoughts into the air, like a farmer casting seeds to the wind letting them fall where they may.

Glyn scooted closer to Amy and grabbed her arm. Amy had no chance to survey the room and choose the most inconspicuous spot, far from the reach of other's attention. Upon entering this theatre shaped classroom, Glyn had grabbed her hand and led her to the front curved row, right in the middle closest to the teacher’s desk. The reason for this particular spot became clear as Liam walked into the room in robes, Amy knew why Glyn had chosen this spot. Whilst Radim strolled in behind him with his hands in the pockets of his khakis.

First Liam did a double take of Glyn sitting in the front row with surprise marring his dignified face. Amy stared at Radim behind the desk because of his relaxed demeanor, causing Liam to look back at Radim, and he turned forward avoiding the look of the two girls.

Amy noticed a brief burning flame of envy in Liam’s eyes as he looked forward and said, “Good morning everyone”, he raised his hands in the air, “Welcome, welcome. I came here on a bit of business. Amy would you mind coming forward”.

The noise that had ceased when Liam entered, suddenly began to stir once again as whispers were uttered. Amy got up hesitantly, time seemed to lengthen as she approached Liam.

“She’s so adorable”, Amy could hear Gwynyveve saying with a subdued voice as she walked past the row in front of Liam.

She looked up sheepishly, “Yes”, Amy said.

Out of the air in front of him Liam brought forth a tablet and said, “I believe you will need this”, as he handed it to her, “This is a Waga tablet, made by our kin in the tower of Waga in Hokkaido. It has many more useful functions than just being a vessel for your mana. It’s the latest model, and Radim made sure it contained all the required material you will need for his curriculum this semester”.

“Thank you”, Amy said looking down at this electronic device she now possessed.

“I came here unconnected to my obligations as guild master. I expect great things from you young miss”, Liam said with a warm smile as he placed his hand on her head.

Amy looked at it turned it around then to the surprise of all she threw it into the air.

“Hopp”, Liam grunted as he gracefully, deftly plucked it from the course of its meeting with the white stone floor. Liam chuckled, “You have to set it up first lass before you can do that”. He stood up and handed it back to her, “Well my purpose here is done. Lads, lasses brilliant morning to you all”.

Amy sat back down and watched Liam exit the class, before he crossed the doorway into the halls, he stopped to stare at Radim who was lounging in his comfortable chair as if he had seen a clue to solve some great riddle.

Radim sprightly launched from his chair, despite his aged appearance, he grabbed his nice looking office chair which jarringly contrasted with the dignified, aged appearance of the classroom, brought it to the front of the desk, and said, “Little Pits’l would you mind coming forward yet again. We’ll get you set up”.

Amy got up yet again. She handed Radim her new tablet.

“I was ready to catch it you know”, he said with a wink.

He pushed the button at the top, the screen turned on. It had wallpaper like the one she had at home. It was a picture of a waterfall.

Radim eyed Amy with a look meant for inspection. He had a strong bulbous nose and sand-colored eyes, curly grey hair, and a long equally curly beard.

“I’m old I can let my hair grow”, Radim uttered as he noticed Amy taking note of his appearance, he cleared his throat, “Hmmm, this may feel a bit uncomfor…”.

Mistaking the cue of him holding it out, she grabbed the tablet politely, when in fact he was about to wave it in emphasis. He was going to position the chair behind her, then hand it to her in case the load of the synchronisation was too much for her human body.

“Oh dear”, Radim said.

The students in the benches gasped with surprise. She felt a prick on her right finger, the index finger to be precise. The screen lit a fluorescent blue, for the briefest of moments Amy felt like she was being pulled towards the tablet. Like she was a light beyond the event horizon of a black hole. Indeed, it was brief, as soon as she experienced this sensation, she felt she had returned to the classroom, returned to the place she was standing.

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“Thank you Master Radim”, Amy said as she nodded and covertly returned to her desk, amidst the open jaws, having had her fill of being in the spotlight.

She felt the stares, and dared not look up; but she did peek up beneath her bangs at faces of her new classmates. Everyone was silent as a stone, everyone looked as if Amy was a specter of some ancient figure.

“Why is everyone looking at me”, Amy whispered to Glyn in a subdued panic as she sat down.

Glyn who looked like all life had been drained from her and responded slowly, lowly in voice as if waking from a dream, “Usually the magical calibration can be an ordeal, and take a toll on one’s constitution”, She paused as she swallowed her saliva, “That’s why Master Radim brought his chair. You know, just in case, if you needed to sit down or something. In truth I was afraid for you. I was worried, some people faint, some throw up emptying their most recent meal. Depending on one’s control skill it can be quite jarring. Even Sean and I as dragons felt it to be quite unpleasant. That sticky feeling of being sucked up and spit out. You adjusted instantly; it seems I needn’t worry so much”.

Sean who sat on the other side of Amy remarked, “I imagine you will be all over social media today, news spread fast on social media”.

Amy couldn't help but feel the shallowness of their explanations. She did not comprehend the gravity of what she just did.

“Quite remarkable young lady”, Radim said with a puzzled expression, recovering himself he coughed then continued, “Right my rising stars. This year we will be going back to the basics”.

A loud moan so full of despair, that it almost made the smooth white stone walls weep, left the students’ lips.

Amy was looking at the water fall screen saver. She touched the screen and went to the home page. It was blank save for a few basic apps.

“Right so think of your profile and it should appear”, Radim said as he looked down pacing the floor waiting for everyone to reach their profile page. Let’s review our progress since winter”.

As Amy thought profile, a screen appeared before her lingering in the air, occupying a space in which there was nothing.

[ “Hua, Amy, Le” ]

[ Class: Mystic of the Ancient Dragon

Grade: ???

Level: 1 ]

‘Ancient Dragon? Level?’ Amy thought to herself, ‘Is this some kind of Korean light novel?’. She had many questions she would bother Glyn with later.

She continued reading.

[ Due to the magical composition of your blood and the characteristic therein, your class has been determined. Please note this class is not definitive, it is just a guide for your future endeavors :). The contents and characteristics of your class can not be understood by the system, and thus cannot be explained.

Class related quests (unknown) Current quests (0)

Stats: Imagination (immeasurable), unfortunately all other stats belonging to this class are unknown.

Abilities: unknown

Skills: unknown

Titles: none ]

Amy was staring at the screen in front before reading her class her heart beat faster; but, it calmed after she learned nothing about herself, except her overactive imagination, of which she was already keenly aware.

Amy touched the screen in front of her and was surprised to see a drop of blood coming from her finger. She looked at her finger remembering the prick and the mention of blood.

Sean said, while looking forward, “Power and magic is in the blood. Don’t worry if the class may not appear to suit you, or isn’t of a high grade with few modifiers, or your stats are low. The system responds and evolves to your actions and adjusts things accordingly adding titles, effects, and evolving your class with more modifiers. The tablet is bound to you through the sharing of blood. In essence it quantifies your abilities and proclivities”.

“Now everybody bring up the quest section”, Radim said as he pushed a nonexistent object forward.

Amy could hear a gentle ring in her ears.

[ Quest: Arbellornddaryn Spring Term

Status: Ongoing

Quest clear conditions: receive a passing grade from Master Radim

Rewards: Certificate of Completion, One level

Failure Penalties: none

Description: as an enrolled guild member, this quest has automatically been accepted. You will be studying the sacred tongue, the basis of all magic. Good Luck! ]

“Alright now everybody we will begin”, Radim said as he scrolled through his tablet.

Radim uttered a few words unintelligible to Amy. Suddenly in a sandy tornado the whole classroom had turned into a desert. Vast sands reaching out to the horizon, then giving way to blue skies and two blazing suns. Fiercely looking down unleashing their wrath upon the ground. Amy was surprised she could feel the heat, although it was comparable to the heat in Vietnam, it lacked the edge, without the humidity. Although, others in the class had only been wrapped up in the cold or cool climate of Arbell, it was like the flames of hell were released upon them, and came down to turn them to ash.

“Welcome to Stretching Sands”, Radim said with a smirk on his face, “Your task is simple, reach that point marked by the lone palm tree. But be forewarned once you take the first step, you will realize that this exercise is not as simple as you may think. Remember to always keep your eyes on the goal.”.

Amy was expecting something terrible to happen as soon as she took the first step; however aside from the heat she felt no peculiar sensation. She looked at her fellow class mates who were struggling, wandering. Even Glyn and Seanm, though they were facing forward, still struggled step by agonizing step. A transparent notice flashed in front of her eyes as her tablet floated around her.

[You have been bewitched by a strong illusion]

[You have resisted]

“I really enjoy this quz, it is quite entertaining to watch people wandering around the sands shouting randomnly”, Radim said after a few moments, as he focused his gaze on Amy, a glint in his eye “Even Sean and Glyn are facing difficulty. Fantastic!”.

Amy had a rather conflicted impression of Radim, he reminded her of an uncle she had in Vietnam, who greatly favored her, but she knew why some of her guild mates uttered the moniker 'Demonic Instructor'. Even so, unlike with her peers, some of her shyness diminished, with this questionably kind uncle.

“Hmm”, Radim uttered as he looked at her, his brows perking up, eyes concentrating solely on her, a moment of silence then several more inquisitive groans left his lips, “This is supposed to be a grueling exercise to fortify the mind... Whatever shall I do with you my little pitz’l”, he said as he stroked his scraggly curly beard, “Confronting your greatest fears and advancing forward step by exquisite excruciating step: that was the point of this trial. I see I’ll have to take more modified measures with my curriculum when it comes to you”.

Amy gulped as she looked out over the sands, all of them were moving from foot by foot, to mere inches, slowly, painfully. Some were even shouting words like, ‘go away’, ‘noooo’, or, ‘leave me alone’. Radim took a deep breath and started humming, as he seemed to be enthralled by the scene before him; however, Amy felt no malice from him. Even though he had a gentle disposition and reputation, he took a degree, no a shade of pleasure in his students struggle.

Master Radim shouted with an odd mischievous glint in his eyes, “Yessss! Struggle! Overcome! Your displeasures and hardships will be fertilizer for your growth!”.

“So, you experience your greatest fear?”, Amy asked as she shuddered involuntarily thinking of spiders.

“Not just that”, Radim answered energetically in his aged deep voice, he was proud and confident in his methods, “With each step your feet grow slower, grow heavier until you must concentrate all your will towards just one more step. Illusions can be unbearable for enemies, but useful for teaching”, he began to walk over to Shatira the earther, as she began to falter, then fall. Without missing a moment, “of course I must maintain my vigilance as a diligent instructor”.

In a span of five minutes, Shatira had far outpaced the others. Radim crouched beside her as he placed his hand on her sweat beaded forehead, and uttered the same language as Liam at the restaurant. Before it had seemed foreign, ethereal, almost alien, and now a note of familiarity rang out from the unintelligible symphony of jumbled words.

Shatira was gasping, she was struggling for air, her thin silky baby blue robes rose quickly with each inhale, and then fell just as swift with each exhale.

“There there child”, Radim said as he soothed her fears with a warm gentle voice as he held her face. The sharpness started to return to Shatira’s eyes

Now Amy understood Radim’s philosophy in teaching: comfort the comfortless and disturb the comfortable.

“You”, Shatira shouted boisterously pointing at Amy, her cheeks flushed advertising her embarrassment, she began advancing towards Amy with a purpose, “Tell no one what you saw!!”.

She then walked off as if she was trying to forget the interaction had even taken place, “Whew 33 yards!! I am the best!!”, Shatira boasted proudly, rejoicing as if she had passed the most challenging trial that ever existed, then she looked at Amy and patted her shoulder, “Hmm, well It’s a pity you only made it five yards. Not everyone can be great like me”.

In between the subdued shouts and whimpers of Amy’s classmates still stepping forward a clear ‘hmmm’ could be heard from Radim.

“She cleared the test already”, Radim said nonchalantly watching his beloved students as he extracted the last exquisite excruciating drop of effort.

“Whah!!!”, surprise exploded from Shatira’s stoic lips, the pat turned into two hands clenching the collars of Amy’s light blue denim jumper, her breath hitting Amy’s face, “How did you do it so fast?!”.

Alarmed by a possible confrontation, Amy looked over reflexively at Radim.

Radim cleared his throat, and Shatira released her grip strengthened by bewilderment, “Hah, we’ll sort you out”, she said, and walked away.

The sand under her sneakers crunched and ground against itself as Amy moved around awkwardly regaining her composure. Amy returned to spectating.

Osgur had fallen to his knees in despair, “Don’t reject me Veve”, he said, his tears flowing like an underground spring in the hot desert.

Lorenn had collapsed next to him, tears flowing from his eyes as he lay on the sand prostrated trying to reach for his glasses, which actually he did not need, “Satri, at least in the end we are together”, he said.

Soon all the guild intitiates had given in, save for Glyn and Sean, who disposed of their dignity crawling on the sand, crawling on each other trying to reach out with last of their strength to grasp the tree which was on the edge of Glyn’s finger tips. Then Sean pulled her leg and pow, she kicked him right in between his eyes and sent him to the prison of slumber, then Glyn triumphantly touched the tree.