Chương 38: MUSIC TRUNK

She lifted a finger and a portion of soil raised from the ground. "Everything has a different amount of water in it. The soil has water, the air has water, plants have water. The higher your water affinity, the higher your energy signature, and the higher your energy signature, the higher your chances of being able to use pure water as your element. It is that simple. If you do not understand, please as your questions."

Seeing no one raising any questions, she continued.

"In the beginning, Melody Manipulation was created for those with low energy signatures. It was an idea that had been raised. it was originally stipulated that using music would assist them in breaking through the restrictions that bound them from having water as an affinity."

The image on the soil board changed again. The image depicted sylphs playing instruments. There were different kinds of instruments. At the top of each sylph's image, there was a word that showed the element they used. Water, Air, Earth, and Plant.

"However, this did not work. Instead, those who played certain melodies passed down from our ancestors were able to better control their affinities. What's more, it was controlled over such a long distance that it left the scholars in shock. Even if it had not produced the expected result, it was still a success as something new had been discovered."

The yellow-haired boy raised his hand once more. "Miss Frea, weren't melodies passed down since long before? Why would they only discover this after such a long time?"

Miss Frea thought for a moment before answering this. "Music was a joy. It is something passed down from our parents because it was passed down to them by their parents. It relaxes the mind and it brings us closer to the water from whence we once came. When they were experimenting though, those playing the instruments were instructed to play while infusing their energy to the instrument."

The image changed once more. This time it was a large lake that spanned the entirety of the board. "This small infusion of the energy signature caused different elements to rise up at once. It caused an earthquake, it caused a whirlpool of water splashing on the sylphs, plant vines entwining themselves around their ankles, and small air tornadoes hitting their faces. It also caused all the instruments to break."

Lexine realized she was more invested in the lesson than she would have expected. Of course, that was probably because what she was listening to sounded like something pulled straight out of a novel or movie. Seeing as she had grown around instruments, it was unbelievable that an instrument could break just after being played. The wood instruments were made of were very sturdy. That must be the reason why she raised her hand to ask a question. "Why did the instruments break?"

Miss Frea's smile deepened even more. "Those instruments were made of normal wood. The wood could not withstand the energy signature that was infused into them. It made the particles of wood grow rapidly in size and this, in turn, made it increase in size and bam." She suddenly clapped her hands.

Lexine nodded after she understood.

"Therefore, why do we call this method of controlling our affinities Melody Manipulation? It is because we use melodies imbued with our energy to manipulate the water specific to different affinities. However, not all melodies are able to manipulate the water, and in turn, some melodies do not work for some affinities while it works for others. This is why the First family has, over the years, strived to create melodies that work for different affinities."

Miss Frea waited for them to raise any questions for a few seconds. When no one raised any questions, she drew a circle on the soil. She then lay her palm flat on the soil. The space between her palm and the soil rumbled and glowed for a second then she raised her palm. As she raised her palm, a wooden trunk the size of her arm raised from the soil as well. The wooden box had dark brown spots on it. The latch at the front of the trunk was a dark metal that shone in the morning sun.

Miss Frea patted the wooden trunk with a smile on her face. "This is my Music trunk. This is the doorway through which I get my instrument. As you all are aware, one can only use the instrument from their music trunk in Melody Manipulation." From her trunk, she pulled out a pair of maracas. They were a gleaming white color and had a brown design drawn around them.

"This instrument comes from the Music trunk. How? You might ask. All students are given this after joining the academy." She pointed at the latch at the front of her music trunk. "After infusing the latch with your energy, it directly makes an instrument suited for you. This process takes a few days of course."

Alara raised her hand, "Miss Frea, how is it that all students are given a music trunk. Don't other species have different methods of controlling their elements? Only sylphs can use Melody Manipulation in controlling their elements."

"It is manipulating elements, Miss Kai. The music trunk was originally made by the doormakers for the sylph kind. However, when the drakkons got jealous of the instrument that could improve our manipulation of elements, they bought one of the music trunks. The results were unexpected, for they gave the drakkon a weapon instead. The doormakers did not change the name despite the fact that their trunk had found another use."

Miss Frea swirled around the maraca on her left hand. Lexine sat up in anticipation, wanting to see what exactly would happen after the instrument was shaken. However, nothing happened. Lexine's usual frown deepened in displeasure. 'That was anticlimactic.'

"This is what happens when you use your instrument without infusing it with your energy. Nothing. However," she shook both maracas thrice. Her earring glowed a bright brown. The white maracas then slowly changed color to a bright brown color. The ground beneath them rumbled and the area in which Lexine and the others were seated was cut in a circle and they were ejected straight into the air!

Quira's hand grabbed the edge of Lexine's jacket tightly. Lexine looked to her right. Quira's face had gone pale and her eyes were wide. Her breath came in short, heavy pants. Was she afraid of heights? Lexine patted her hand in an attempt to calm her down. Quira's eyes landed on Lexine's form and her hand stopped trembling.

A crow flew directly in front of them as they were suspended in the air. It cawed once in shock at the students who had invaded its airspace.

They stayed in the air for a few seconds before gravity worked its magic and the slab of rock that had been pushed up in the air began its descent. It fell fast and Lexine heard some of her female classmates shout in shock. To Lexine, it felt like she was on a rollercoaster. Her face remained passive.

Quira also strengthened her nerves. If her human housemate was not frightened by this, then she too would be strong. Despite the fact that her face was completely serious, the hand that was holding onto Lexine's hand froze. Her insides churned and she felt the contents of her breakfast being pushed up.

Lexine held onto the edge of the bench as she did not want to fall off in case they landed with a crash.

Miss Frea did not seem at all perturbed by the show of power she had just shown them. She played her maraca again and a block of the soil rose up to meet them halfway before landing softly on the ground.

The grip on Lexine's arm loosened as Quira settled down. "This is just a fragment of how powerful using instruments make us. For today's assignment, I would like everyone to pour mana into their trunks back at the dormitories and see what kind of instrument they will get. After that, write down what kind of instrument you have gotten and research possible melody sheets that will best work with your instrument."

She placed her instruments inside the trunk and closed it shut. "Since it may take some time for the trunk to decipher what instrument you shall use before forming it, this assignment is due a week from now. You are not to try playing the melodies you find on your instrument without my supervision."

She paused her instructions when a scream resounded through the school. Lexine jumped a little shocked by the sudden scream. No one else seemed perturbed by the scream though. Miss Frea continued her instructions, "It seems that our time together has come to an end. Since the bell has rang it is time for your next lesson." Lexine was confused, the scream she had just heard was the bell? "Therefore, before you leave, I would like to advise you all to remember not to use mind wave. If you do, the points that advance you to the next class will be deducted, therefore, be careful. Miss Woods, see me before you leave."

The rest of the students filed out of the classroom and Lexine stayed seated with Quira.