Duck stood in the center of the space and held out his hand. A beautiful silver gauntlet formed around it. It was inlaid with a beautiful palace on the back of the palm and glowed subtly with an ethereal light.
"Tell us about your Memory." Noble stepped back to give him the floor.
"It's called the [Hand Unseen]. And the runes read:
[The King challenged him to a feat of strength in exchange for his life. He completed it without lifting a finger.]
I know it's not the most helpful description, but I still find it interesting."
"It is very fascinating, indeed. I may have an idea about which king this could be, but I would need more information. Ah, that will be for a later time." Noble shook her head, deciding not to get sidetracked. "What does it do, and how does this complement your Aspect Ability?"
"May I?" Duck held out his hand to the android.
A moment later, the alloy assistant was no longer touching the ground and began floating above the Sleepers' heads.
"Look at me, Professor." Bee Two made an exaggerated run in midair. "I'm you!"
Noble's smile tightened.
'That's not how I look!'
"My Aspect has to do with building, and this glove allows me to put the pieces in place without any manual labor." Duck gently lowered Bee Two to the ground, and the assistant took a bow.
"An excellent example of what I mean. Thank you so much for sharing. And please, come see me after class. I want a closer look at those runes." Noble dismissed the student. "Who's next?"
A woman with an Aspect tied to water presented a Memory that allowed her to breathe in the sea. Another lady with an Aspect that helped her to measure distances instantly displayed her magical telescope.
Bicken came forward next. A charm Memory formed around his neck. The stone itself was clear, but there was subtle movement within the colorless gem. It reminded Noble of a gentle breeze.
Bicken cleared his throat and held up the gem.
"This is the [Second Wind]. The description reads
[The moment the wearer thinks they can't go on, they will find they always had a second wind.]"
"So, it's an endurance Memory?" Noble could guess by the wording that this was the case.
Bicken nodded. "My Aspect is related to agility and endurance. This charm basically doubles the amount I can do when I go out hunting."
Unless it was during his Nightmare, the young man hadn't yet been on many hunts. Yet, he could already see the benefit of having extra energy. Endurance was important, especially when the fight was life or death.
"A great contender! Thank you!" Noble nodded.
The girl after him could walk on literally any surface, and it would hold her, even if it was at a ninety-degree angle to the ground. Her Memory made her the gravitational pull to things in her immediate vicinity so that anything she wore or carried would remain in place no matter at which angle she was standing.
Another student could make his hands sticky like glue. He demonstrated by touching Bee Two before Noble could object. Thankfully, his Memory was a putty-like ball that undid the effects of his Aspect, or the android might have made the student into glue himself.
As the class continued, Noble learned as much about the students as she did their Memories. She had done this in her class about once a year, but it never ceased to amaze her just how different Aspects could be.
People could awaken Aspects outside of the Spell, so Noble wondered once again how exactly they were assigned.
"Who's next?"
Vis raised his hand, and Noble invited him forward.
His Memory had already been summoned, sitting snugly beneath his loose fitting shirt. Vis pulled on the silver chain and revealed a large medallion. On it, a gold and crimson cobra was emblazoned with its hood spread wide.
"This is the [Skycoil]. The best way to show how it works would be for me to be lifted toward the ceiling like Bee Two was earlier. Perhaps…"
"Allow me." Noble's eyes swirled.
She lifted the student into the air.
"Higher…higher… a little more." Vis was both nervous and excited. "There!"
The professor paused him at his cue and waited. "Now what?"
A sly smile formed on the sleeper's face. "Drop me."
"What?" Noble blinked.
"Let me go." Vis nodded.
The professor did not have to ask if he was sure. She could feel his emotions. There was only one thing to do.
Noble released her hold on him.
Vis spread his arms, appearing like he might swan dive into the tiles of the floor.
However, before he could reach the ground, the serpent leapt from the medallion and began expanding. Noble was forced to back up as it grew larger and coiled around the wearer of the medallion.
It looked as if it might consume Vis whole. However, since the young man was calm and it was his Memory, Noble did not intervene. The serpent hit the ground, and instead of the sickening thunk she would have expected from the large mass of reptilian flesh, Noble only heard the light bounce of a balloon.
The snake was filled with air?!
A few more bounces confirmed the professor's initial observation. Then the serpent deflated, returning to the amulet and leaving Vis standing with a smile on his face.
Noble felt a little speechless. Was that how the amulet was supposed to be used? This was another Memory that she wanted to study after class.
But first, she needed to complete the lesson.
"How does it complement your Aspect?"
"It doesn't. It supplements it." Vis chuckled. "By helping to negate my Flaw."
The professor furrowed her brow. "Oh? Do you care to explain?"
Normally, Noble didn't encourage people to share their Flaws, but she was quite curious how the Memory counteracted it.
"My Flaw is [You fall from heights.]. What better way to enhance my Aspect than by making my Flaw a non-issue?" Vis nodded.
"That's quite creative. I love the foresight." Noble's Flaw was to never touch the ground, but Vis's seemed to be doomed to always come into contact with it.
Noble looked out at the class. "Who else?"
No more hands were raised. The professor had finally exhausted her pool of contestants.
"If there are no more volunteers, then I suppose it is time to declare a winner. Please keep in mind that there is no prize, and my opinion is just that."
Noble smiled. Who would she choose? There were so many options.
There was only one answer in her mind. Noble coughed lightly to present her findings.
"You all did very well, and I hope you will continue in your endeavor to maximize the benefit of the tools you are given. My door is always open to anyone who wants a closer look at their items, so I hope to see many of you again very soon. Without further ado, I will conclude our time by declaring the winner. That winner is…"
At that moment, every communicator in the room began blaring.