Chapter 25: Strange Movements
Kai knew the answer to it. Jane had been his teacher for years, and Herbology was the subject she knew most about. However, he decided to remain quiet and avoid attracting more attention.
Since no one else responded, Jane spoke up, "Magical herbs are essential for all sorts of things. You can use the right herbs to brew potions that increase your Wisdom, heal wounds, or inflict damage on certain types of creatures. Not to mention that consuming the wrong thing in the wilderness can mean death."
It was quite common for Arcanists to embark on 'missions' in remote areas, and knowledge of wilderness survival was essential for all of them. Thus, familiarity with plants was a necessity.
"We will have a few introductory classes focused solely on Herbology, but we will also delve into potion brewing. Director Finley desires an enhancement in potion-making, as it's an area where the Kingdom is currently lacking," Jane explained.
She then gathered a few plants for the students to observe. These plants were common in the vicinity of Lunengard, the first location they would be studying. Kai paid close attention to all of it.
He enjoyed Herbology, relishing the sensation of not being powerless in the midst of a forest and being able to harness the power of nature. However, what he truly wanted to learn more about was Alchemy.
Jane had mentioned to him that Alchemists were in short supply not only in their own Kingdom but also in the neighboring realms. It was a career path that offered lucrative rewards.
Having been exposed to magical herbs since childhood—thanks to Jane—Kai was curious to see if Alchemy would also pique his interest.
During class, a few students asked Jane questions, which she gladly answered. Most of them wanted to know the usages of certain magical herbs.
"I live in the southern part of the kingdom, and there is a plant there that looks like a heart. Do you know what it is?" a girl asked.
Jane smiled, "This one is used to make a love potion, though I don't encourage using such things to win the heart of someone you love."
At the end of class, Kai was confident that he would be able to identify a few of the magical herbs one could find in the wilderness around Lunengard, which was pretty good for just one class.
Trevor, Kai, and Nefarios were walking through the corridors, heading to their next class of the day.
"I like her," Trevor said. "She knows how to explain things properly."
"Me too," Kai agreed. "I kind of want to learn more about Alchemy, so I should pay more attention to Jane's class."
Nefarios was walking with them, and it seemed like he was trying to be part of their group. Kai still couldn't understand why that was happening. Neither could Trevor.
"Isn't that Nefarios? Who are those with him?"
"Maybe nobles from families his is friends with?"
"Didn't you hear about it? Those two are commoners."
"What? Why is Nefarios with them?"
It was the first day Nefarios was walking around with them, yet the entire school knew about it, especially the first-year students. No one could understand what was happening.
The second class of the day was about the history of magic, and the professor responsible for it was a young man who looked to be in his twenties, with slicked-back hair.
"Theodore," the professor said as he wrote on the whiteboard, "That's my name, and I will be teaching you about the history of magic."
Kai paid close attention because it was the subject his brother Hugh loved the most. The subject that made him go to another kingdom to study.
"We don't have much evidence about the Arcanists before the system came to be what it is today, and who created it, but we do know that it improved all of us overall."
Theodore talked about the so-called ancient magic, and how the ancient people utilized mana. They still couldn't quite understand how the ancients utilized mana from the atmosphere directly and not through the sea of consciousness, but according to Theodore, the spells utilized by modern mages were much more powerful.
Kai was curious about the ancient Arcanists and their civilizations too. The thing he had seen near his village still lingered in his mind, along with the mysterious pocket watch found there.
However, Theodore could only explain so much in one class, and they soon moved to the next one, which was with Alastor again.
The school had a few subjects that all students needed to take during the first months, and then they could choose a few of their liking. Wanessa was responsible for the introduction to magic, Alastor for the combat classes, Luke for magical beasts, Jane for Herbology and Alchemy, and Theodore for the history of magic.
Because there weren't that many different subjects at the start, it was common to see the same professors multiple times during the week.
"I'll be watching your progress with the spells I taught, and I will help you by answering questions and fixing your mistakes," Alastor said to all the students in the gymnasium.
Everyone had a good time and was slowly progressing, but Kai was not. Alastor could not help him.
"Remember what I told you," Alastor whispered in his ear as he walked among the students.
The students looked at Kai with pity but didn't say a word about it, as they didn't want to be the next ones getting on Alastor's bad side.
Kai had to work much harder than the others when it came to combat classes, and that's one of the reasons he was always reading and taking notes in the library, even when it was really late.
One night, the librarian came to him and said, "I will be leaving in ten minutes, so get your things ready."
No one else was there. The students were probably sleeping, even some of the professors. Kai, on the other hand, was so focused on his studies that he lost track of time.
"Okay, sorry," he said.
When Kai left the library, he saw the academy completely empty and in total silence. That's when he saw a cloaked figure in the distance, and he knew it was not someone from the school.
Gifts
-- Gift
received Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone