So turns out there's no wifi here. When I asked about it last night everyone began laughing because it has been so long since they've been in touch with the outside world and the web that there was no need for sanctuary to have wifi. If it's like that then just when did they switch over to have wifi for Stephen to use during his studies as a student? Oh well I guess we'll cross the bridge when we get there. For now all I have to do is try to fit in and learn as much as I can. I'm currently heading towards breakfast with some of the older students as I have no idea how to navigate this maze of a school. It's so old and ancient that I'm sure at one point in time even the Ancient One was just as lost as me when she first started here.
Breakfast was fairly simple. You have two options: rice porridge or noodle soup. Now it seems like the simple choice would be noodle soup over rice porridge but there's no toppings, no meat and the broth look fairly thin. With the rice porridge there's at least some sea weed being sprinkled on top....I'm not even going to ask how we have seaweed this far away from the ocean. I walked over to the porridge line and grab myself a bowl before joining Sara and James at a table. There wasn't much for me to do besides eat slowly and eaves drop on nearby conversations. I was listening in on someone talking about master Kaecilius and how he had just failed another student, when I felt a nudge coming from Sara. "So Ned, how old are you anyways? You seem pretty young compare to most of us." She puts on a simple smile without showing her teeth. Damn is smiling with your teeth just an American thing? Because I don't ever remember seeing anyone else smile with their teeth besides me. That was until I arrived here and spot a few American students.
"Uh I'm seven...I think." I begin counting my fingers before noding my head. "Uh yes. I just seven last summer. With this spring I should be about seven and a half." I smile at her with while showing my teeth. Fuck me! I begin turning a little red as I can't believe how fast the world is changing around me and I really am still just a fucking kid. Everyone around the table starts to laugh while listening in on me. "Well Ned, just how did you came to learn about Kamar-Taj?" James askined before continue to slurrp on his noodles. I pause for a moment to decide how I want to tell this part of my story. I can't just tell them the truth or else I would be too crazy and unbelievable. But I can't keep living for the rest of my life either....
"Uhh that's a very complicated situation. If you were to asked me about Kamar-Taj and magic just a few months ago, I would have no idea what you're talking about. But recently when I lost my family, I had a dream. A calling almost. To come here to Nepal and learn magic. As for how I found Kamar-Taj or how I made it here on my own...well that's a story for another time." I give everyone a huge grinning smile before getting up as breakfast was done and classes were about to start. "Hey what's about the rest of that tale?" One of the older student call out to me but I had already halfway between our table and the dish station.
After I was done putting away my dirty dishes I walk over to a corner of the courtyard to get a vantage point on the whole area. With me being so young and short I can't really see my way around here. I begin searching for anyone I can recognize...oh shit? A smile grew on my face as I spot my master...well not yet but I really want to learn from him. I walk over to master Kaecilius to try and build relations. I know he'll eventually become 'evil' turn to the dark side. But that's just potato~potâto. The Ancient One also taps into the dark dimension for power and Stephen will one day tap into the Darkhold for power. There's really no such thing as evil magic in my eyes. Just useful and useless magic.
"Ah young SīChóu or should I say Ned? How are you liking your new life as a student of the mystic arts?" He lets out a hearty laugh while putting his hands behind his back. "Good morning master Kaecilius. I uh can't really say much since it's only my second day but what I can say is that I like it. Yeah I get lost trying to find the right classes but I really really want to learn how to be a sorcerer like everyone." I give me a huge smile before asking. "Do you know where I should go after breakfast? Everyone here seems to know where they're going but I have no idea what to do." He puts on a smile too before noding his head. "You should head over to the introduction class like yesterday. In the morning they have practice in this courtyard then after lunch they will head back inside to the same room you were shown yesterday." I give him a bow as well as thanking him before heading out to look for the same teacher from last night.
It didn't take me long to find the group of students gathering up near one end of the courtyard. Everyone is waiting in unison as another group of students clean up the tables and chairs from the courtyard using magic and the ancient technique of elbow grease. Soon the courtyard appears empty and open enough for our small group to have enough space to practice forming our spells. I stand in the front of the group but to the left of the teach so I can actually see him but also not be his main focus for today's lesson. I extend my hands out just like everyone else as we mimic his actions to form the simple spell.
"When learning to become a sorcerer. The most important thing isn't how advance of a spell you can cast but how constantly you can cast your spells in the heat of the moment. As sorcerers you had sworn an oath to protect this world from all forms of danger. Whether that's danger from beyond our planet or even beyond our dimension. These dangers can be unpredictable and far worse than what we can teach you here in your trainings. However if your body can form these spells before you have the ability to even think about what to do next...well you just might live long enough to be in my position teaching new students on how to survive." The teacher spoke loudly and clear so that everyone can hear him well. I don't know if he's serious, trying to scare the new students who can't really back out now or trying something new, since I have never seen him in the movies before. But I like his teaching style.
If put in a high stress situation, it's better to have the body be acclimated and move according to muscle memory than to have a shocked brain try and force a paralyzed body to listen...wait a minute what the fuck! That's exactly what happened during my trip. My body frozed up and wouldn't listen when I was trying to run away from that...that thin- "Ned! Where are the whites of your eyes? If you don't focus on training and catching up with your fellow students. You'll only have yourself to blame when you're at standing in front of King Yama" The teacher yells at me as I was spacing out too much. I thought I could copy the hand gestures and think at the same time but apparently not.