Chapter 105: Yes Sir!
That night, Mike laid awake, thinking about the things he had read about in the history text. There were some interesting concepts, that when taken from his perspective as a reincarnated person, made a lot of sense. He'd been confused about the similarities between the cultures and methodologies of the people of Ea, and his old world. If some ancient humans of Earth either stumbled upon or were abducted by the High Elves, it would explain a great deal about how their culture developed in such a similar pattern.
In some ways, even the gods themselves appeared to be influenced by concepts that existed in his own world. This was especially true in the case of the System, which was torn directly from video game culture. Perhaps the gods of Ea once inhabited Earth, or have some means of exchanging information with the people there. The timelines don't quite add up, not that anything was certain about the multiverse. And that didn't preclude the existence of other reincarnated individuals.
Most importantly, however, it meant that there was a means of inter dimensional travel available in this world. Means that might allow him to travel back to his old world some day. It really made him think.
He had already accepted that he would likely live out the rest of his days in Ea, so the idea that he might have a choice really resonated with him. A large part of him found the idea of returning…..unpleasant. Not only was he in a new body, but the life he'd led prior to being reincarnated had been nothing of note. In few months he'd been living on Ea, he'd already done and seen more than his entire previous life put together.
[I should at least go back and make sure my family is alright, but after that....I don't know. Anyway, it's a moot point at the moment, since I wouldn't even know where to begin when it comes to setting up a portal like that. I guess I'll just keep my ears open for clues in the future.]
He slept well that night again, despite his heavy thoughts, and after waking up, changed into the school robes for the first time. He observed Tal and Brenden dragging the sleep addled Oracle out to the training yard before going down for a brief breakfast and heading to class. He had Basic Elemental Magic first, and wanted to get there early, since it was being held in an outbuilding on the far eastern side of the campus.
It took a little bit of hunting, but he eventually made it there before the fourth bell struck. The building in question looked a great deal like an oversized barn that had been repurposed for the class. Walking in, Mike found himself standing on a stone floor virtually covered in eldritch runes, many of them similar to the testing circle he'd seen during the admissions test. They created a vast open space, ostensibly to practice magic.
The air inside was clean, and free of dust despite the numerous windows opened for ventilation. A green-tinted chalkboard was set up on one side of the building around which a handful of people were gathered. Making his way over, Mike took the opportunity to examine his classmates.
There were only five of them from the looks of it, which surprised him initially, until he realized that only brand new students that practiced Elemental Magic would need to take this class. Three were humans, one was an elf, and that last one was a male beastman of a type he'd never seen before. He nodded a quick greeting before using Appraise on him.
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R'hakun Malakenti
Age: 16
Race: Bat Beastman
Class: Elementalist
Title: Night Diver
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The beastman had large, pointed ears that took up the greater portion of the sides of his head and were which quite visible despite the wavy brown hair that fell to his shoulders. Membranes of skin extended along the length of his arms and stretched to his sides, requiring him to wear a modified uniform. He was glancing around curiously at their surroundings, and speaking quietly to the elf, who was also male.
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Kalith hur Yilathiti
Age: 62
Race: Sun Elf
Class: Elementalist
Title: Forest Shade
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He looked a bit like a more masculine version of Tal, so it was no surprise that he turned out to be a Sun Elf as well. He adjusted his long blonde hair, tied back in a ponytail while laughing at something the beastman said. They appeared to be acquainted.
[I guess Tal's just unusual for her kind.]
Two of the humans appeared to be friends as well. A pair of young women were currently talking animatedly about something. One had brilliant red hair cut asymmetrically, with long flowing locks on one side, and short cropped stubble on the other. She held herself with an easy confidence.
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Aine Connaught
Age: 20
Race: Human
Class: Pyromancer
Title: Daughter of Flame
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[I can guess what her chosen element will be.]
The other was a timid looking woman with dark, wavy blue hair who was looking around furtively at the others, clearly uncomfortable. She laughed nervously when Aine slapped her shoulder while delivering a joke.
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Rebecca Sower
Age: 18
Race: Human
Class: Hydromancer
Title: Still Pond with Unseen Depths
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[So, fire and water. Strange pairing. Not that I'm one to talk, I suppose.]
The last student was a slightly hefty looking man about 180cm tall. Although he was not exactly fat, there was a sort of awkward bulk to him that made him appear ungainly. With his shaved head, he almost resembled a Buddha. The man was quietly flipping through a notebook with an almost frightening level of intensity, as if reviewing for an upcoming test.
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Quentin Tiller
Age: 19
Race: Human
Class: Apprentice Elementalist
Title: Student
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[How....unremarkable.]
Mike found himself a spot to lean against the wall, and waited for the instructor to arrive. He was trying to read one of the runes carved near his feet when the door to the building slammed open dramatically, and a man stormed in.
He was dressed in the slightly different robes Mike had come to associate with instructors and professors. A silver department symbol was emblazoned on his chest, and three stripes of green and black decorated his sleeves. The voluminous robes did little to hide his athletic frame. Short, grey and brown hair and cold steel-blue eyes gave him a decidedly militant appearance. Mike took a quick peek with Appraise before he got started.
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Johnathan Turney
Age: 38
Race: Human
Class: High Elementalist
Title: Master of Shades
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"Alright, the lot of you line up!" The teacher called as he strode over to the group, eliciting a few moments of confused motion before the students stood on line.
"Let me make this abundantly clear. I don't care who whelped or what kind of money you have. When you are in this building, you are all equally scum until you prove yourself otherwise. Is that clear?"
The students looked around in confusion, with the exception of Mike who had snapped into the position of attention.
[I guess he's acting as a Drill Instructor here. Better play along.]
"YOU WILL ANSWER ME WITH A, YES SIR, WHEN I ASK YOU A QUESTION! IS THAT CLEAR?!" He yelled dramatically, shocking the other students.
"""YES SIR!"""
"Good! Now that we've gotten that out of the way. Let me tell you a little bit about myself. I'm Mage Colonel Johnathan Turney, retired. I served the kingdom in three separate wars and killed enough men and women to fill a small city. Believe me when I say, I know the power of a magic, and how deadly it can be in untrained hands. That is why you are all here today, to learn how to use your magic without killing yourself or the people around you. Is that clear?"
"""YES SIR!"""
"Ah, I like quick learners. The faster you finish developing the tiny iota of skill required to not implode the first time you try a real spell, the sooner I won't have to look at your faces. Now, who among you have already awakened to an element?"
[Wasn't that kind of a requirement when joining the University? Was there maybe another kind of test for people with the potential, but not the skill?]
Everyone besides Quentin raised their hands. The chubby student reddened in embarrassment, and lowered his head in shame.
"Five out of six....not bad." He gave Quentin a cold look before sighing. "Don't worry too much, son. I'm quite good at wringing the magic out of young Elemental Mages. It's why the University lets me teach this class. Anyway, starting the elf on the end, list your element."
"Earth." The Tal lookalike replied in a soft voice.
"Water." The bat beastman went next.
"Fire!" Aine answered confidently.
"W-w-water…" Her friend commented meekly.
Quentin remained silent.
[Well, here it goes, I guess.]
"Fire, Water, Earth, Air, and Light." Mike called in a slightly resigned voice.
There was a moment of silence when everyone in the room just stared at him as if he lost his mind.
Johnathan marched over to stand directly in Mike's face. With a glare, he spoke in a quiet, menacing voice. "I don't have time to be playing games, son. So, you better be straight with me. What is your element?"
"It's just as I said? Do you need me to prove it to you?"
"Alright, I was going to save this for later in the class, but go ahead. Prove me wrong." The instructor sneered while motioning to the area in the center of the barn, sheltered by runes.
"Okay." Mike replied with a shrug. He was starting to get a little angry with the whole situation. Despite deciding to reveal a large portion of his power while at the school, he had repeatedly been forced to prove himself. It was starting to get on his nerves.
Allowing his irritation to fuel his magic, he figured he would give this crew a show. He first summoned an intense ball of fire, which made his audience squint in the sudden brightness. With a wave of his hand, the ball morphed into a sinuous serpent of flame which circled through the air with a soft hiss.
Maintaining his concentration, he conjured a second snake made of water, then directed the two creatures to twine in a hypnotic dance. Once they had become fully entangled, he rolled them together, converting the both of them into a cloud of steam.
He relaxed his mana for a second, before stomping on the ground, forcing a pillar of stone to spring forth from the floor. With sharp chopping motions he unleashed blades of compressed wind that whittled away at the pillar, eventually transforming it into the likeness of a sword buried in a mound of rock.
[Got to love the classics.]
Finally, almost as an afterthought, he imbued the new statue with an unearthly glow, causing it to illuminate the room with its celestial brilliance.
Finished, and feeling quite vindicated, Mike looked out over his audience to check the result. The five students were staring in wide-eyed shock, completely speechless. Rebecca even looked like she had fainted on her feet.
Instructor Johnathan alone was still looking at Mike with the same expression. He gave a curt nod, and then quietly added, "Huh. Guess I was wrong. Anyway, get back in line, showoff. You'll be cleaning that hunk of rock up after class today."
Sighing, Mike rejoined the line, feeling the weighty gazes of his fellow students.
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