"I hope that this request isn't something unreasonable Brian."
Hernando adjusted his posture, still smiling but giving off more of an authoritative presence. Possibly in an attempt to deter me from truly asking for an unreasonable request.
However, my request was quite reasonable. And in fact quite normal. At least when compared to whatever he had in mind.
"You don't have to be concerned about that Mr. Hernando."
I paused, still having doubts about joining. If I do ask for this request, wouldn't that mean in exchange I would have to join the disciplinary committee. But on the other hand do I want to join the committee for just this one favor?
Maybe I should ask for two or even five requests before joining. I can also still decline and leave. It's not like I'm obligated to join. At the end of the day it's my choice. I was silent for a moment then came to a decision. I looked directly at Hernando and spoke.
"I can't make a choice right now. I need a day or two to think it over. It's as you said, this is a good opportunity that I could turn into a long time career. As such I want to think of the long term positives and negatives before committing."
Hernando was quiet for a moment. So was Danuja, in fact he looked a little relieved.
"Alright, that's a respectable choice. Take your time and get back to me on Thursday. That should give you two days to sort your mind and come to a decision."
"However, now I'm curious."
Upon hearing that, I gave Hernando an inquisitive look. He continued speaking.
"You know, what was the request you wanted me complete for you? You had me convinced you would ask for that in exchange for joining the disciplinary committee."
I paused for a moment, confused as to why he was bringing it up now.
"Shouldn't we be discussing this on the occasion that I decide to join the committee?"
Hernando gave me a smile before speaking.
"Yes that's true, but with the way you were acting earlier now I can't help but be curious. If you don't mind, tell me. I might be able to work something out. Of course this will be a separate matter from you joining us."
I thought about it for a moment. Deciding that there was no harm in sharing.
"I was going to request that you provide info on black smiths, one who can forge weapons."
Hernando paused for a moment. Then a second later he responded.
"That's all?"
"Yes, that's it."
A moment later his face expressed exasperation. A slight curve to his lips, he leaned further into his chair in a relaxed manner, then continued speaking.
"Ha, you had me thinking about all sorts of matters. To think you simply wanted a smith."
Mr. Hernando started stroking his chin considering something.
"Alright I'll see what I can do. No promises though. Like I said, this is a separate matter from you joining the disciplinary committee but, if and when necessary, you'll have to pay expenses for the services yourself."
Really, he'll ask around for me? Not to mention it's not related to joining them. That puts me at ease, and it's only natural that I pay any cost needed for the crafting, maybe even for the information.
"Do I have to front you Tyro or-"
But before I could finish my sentence, Mr. Hernando interrupted.
"No need, I already have someone in mind. I'll ask them to recommend me to one of their guys. Come back here tomorrow in the evening. I should have someone I can recommend to you by then, and your courses would be over for the day. You might even get a discount if you're lucky."
Great, this played out much better than I hoped it would.
"Anyway I have other business to attend to. I'll write you both a slip to excuse your absence, If you haven't made up your mind on whether you'll join or not, you may leave."
"Don't forget to drop by tomorrow Brian. And Danuja, well I hope the next time we meet you'll be in one piece."
At that I took the initiative to leave followed by Danuja.
"Thank you very much Mr. Hernando."
I nodded my head bidding farewell. Danuja bid similar pleasantries and soon we both left the discipline committee's room.
We walked through the halls in silence, the only prominent noise being our shoes as they hit the floor. Walking I took a look inside the classrooms. They were empty, well aside from the occasional Professor or Instructor staying busy in their rooms.
I continued looking at the different classrooms while walking, then Danuja spoke, breaking the silence.
"I'm sorry about that."
I noticed he stopped walking so I did as well. He continued speaking.
"It was unbecoming of me to push that onto you. I mean I should have given a straight answer instead of pinning mine on yours."
His head was turned to the side looking out a window so I couldn't see his expression. His hand rubbing the back of his neck. His dark auburn hair shifted slightly. I was silent, nothing in particular going through my mind.
I smiled then answered. "Yea, you're right."
He looked up, a bit surprised. Perhaps he wasn't expecting me to be so blunt. After a moment I continued.
"But, you don't need me to tell you that, and what you should do next."
I began walking once again. I thought I heard Danuja say something but it was faint, so I paid no mind to it and Danuja followed. We walked in complete silence the rest of the way.
…
Danuja and I departed. Although like he said it wasn't entirely pleasant for him to have done that. We are going to be classmates from now on working together. So I would rather if we could keep a cordial relationship.
After leaving the disciplinary committee room and leaving the building. I attended the rest of my courses. The first day for all of them was more or less an introduction to the course.
So when my last course came to an end I made my way to the library. I've never really been to one. At least what I would officially consider a library.
There was a place where books were kept back home but, that was more like a storage room. Not a full on and magnificent grove of knowledge.
Finally finding it I entered the library. There were numerous columns of shelves with books filling every nook and cranny. Nothing in the library had dust, showing how well taken care of it was. It is quite an amazing place.
Now then what kind of books do I need? Magics books, World maps? I am curious about neighboring nations. What else, maybe some spear techniques and styles? It doesn't hurt to improve my existing skills.
I walked around getting acquainted with the way the library was categorized. That being by type or genre then in alphabetic order. I gathered a few books, one being a general knowledge history book.
Another was "The Beginnings of Magic". I was also looking for a spear book. I saw some similar ones but none of them were what I was looking for. It seemed that there were no books I could use for self improvement.
I let out a silent sigh and wandered toward the last section of the library I had not yet explored. It was tucked near the back, where a towering, floor-to-ceiling window stood.
As I rounded the corner, something—or rather, someone—caught my attention.
She sat at the center of that quiet area, framed perfectly between the towering bookshelves and the tall window. The first thing I noticed was her fiery red hair, cascading just over her shoulders.
Reminding me of the fire magic from Professor Siar's class. She wore a white robe, with a black blouse beneath it, though most of the details were obscured by how she sat.
A dark red skirt reached just to her knees, and one pale olive leg, a soft olive tone that seemed to glow faintly in the diffused sunlight lay draped over the other, resting flat on the floor. Her eyes, a cloudy shade of greyish white, held a distant focus.
Her features were almost doll-like—graceful and still. She was quite, how do I put it? Picturesque, I guess. Her beauty reminded me of Miss Bella, though in a completely different way. Bella was elegant—this girl was... ethereal?
I must have stared too long too hard because her eyes shifted. She looked at me directly, a questioning look on her face.
I felt awkward at the sudden attention. I didn't need someone thinking I was weird. Thinking fast I came up with an excuse.
"Um hi, sorry to intrude but uhh, Could you perhaps point me towards spear techniques or style books. Anything like that."
I felt a bit more at ease talking but the tense feeling from before returned when she didn't immediately respond. For a moment I was concerned, but after another moment she answered.
She looked back towards her book as if she was giving it some thought, then a light and clear voice resounded reaching my ears.
"You will find books on that topic down there three shelves down."
She pointed in a direction. I was shocked for a moment wondering if she was telling the truth. This was just an excuse. I didn't expect her to actually know where what I asked for was.
But it's even more impressive that one could memorize the categorization of such a vast number of books. Let alone remember their exact placement in the library. I thanked her.
"Thank you and sorry for disturbing you."
She gave a gentle smile and nodded. I continued walking, going to the area she had pointed and looked for the books. I scanned the titles of a few before one caught my eye. "Astounding Spear Techniques for Beginners*"
Why is there an asterisk? I flipped the book over and found a different title. "Astounding Spear Techniques for Idiots."
My mouth twitched. Not pleased at the title, I still took a look inside of the book. And I was pleasantly surprised at its contents. I took the book and found a seat near the entrance of the library.
I started off by reading the history book. It featured the kingdom's establishment, the first king, notable historical events as well as royal and noble figures that came and went. As I continued reading a particular section grasped my attention.
The Baalklees-Bartholomew war. A war between the Baalklees Empire and the Bartholomew Kingdom. During the war the three heroes rose up vanquishing the forces of the Baalklees Empire and forcing them into a peace treaty.
After a bit more flipping I came across a page titled world map.
I took a look at the geographical contents of the map. There were six land masses three larger than the others. The north western sclate containing the Kingdom of Bartholomew.
Neighboring it to the east is Sloan and to the west is the U.S.B.J. Union. Which is the place I journeyed from to reach Prism.
Another notable geological feature I noticed was a mountain range or ring of volcanoes in the ocean east of the north western sclate not far off from Sloan. It was marked as the Wartian sea.
The central sclate Kingdom of Velmora. And the south eastern sclate, with the Olysier Kingdom. There are various islands and established nations, kingdoms and what not but these stood out the most labeled with the largest letters.
Looking more I turned the page and noticed three more large land masses. They weren't arranged in any specific orientation so all I could really discern were their names.
One of them was the United Nation of Qorcise, The Imperial Barzalmik Empire and the demon infested sclate of The Baalklees Empire.
After reading a bit more I became content with the knowledge I gained and bored, so I closed the history book and opened another.
"The Beginnings of Magic", I could feel my heart quicken a bit. Maybe this will reveal a secret to how to use magic. I turned over the cover. Skipping over the various beginning pages and table of contents until I reached a desired section.
I skimmed over some parts starting from a paragraph that spoke directly about the application of magic. Scholars have magic divided into four broad purposes; Offensive, defensive, barrier and binding. And magic can fall into one or more of these categories.
In total there are six magics; elementary, deviant, supplementary, summoning, barrier and binding. And within each of these magics lies hundreds of thousands of spells. In elementary magic there are fire and water spells that can be used for offensive or defensive means.
Deviant magic is the alteration or alternant form of elementary magic spells. Elementary magic spells like water can turn into deviant magic ice spells.
Supplementary magic spells such as holy, life or space can be used for offensive, defensive, barrier and binding means. Each magic has its own spells and applications.
Beyond this, spells themselves have a categorization called the OZ scale. A system for determining the destructive scale spells can pose. From the lowest to highest starting the scale off was beginner. Followed by intermediate, advanced, disaster, grand, and world.
I took a moment to comprehend what I had just read. The first three were more or less one's adeptness at controlling spells, right? While the latter three was an actual description of a destructive measurement.
Yet despite my thoughts the book went on to describe the relative destruction each of the six levels in the OZ scale could deliver. Beginner spells if used efficiently can cause great harm or even death to an individual or individuals.
Intermediary could topple a moderate to large tree or a cadre, while advance is stated to be able to destroy a modest size to large houses under certain circumstances. Advancement under the use of powerful practitioners can destroy a small town.
Then there seemed to be a massive jump in power from Advance to disaster. Disaster level spells can incite just that, disaster from a small town to a large city. Grand level spells have the potential to wipe a city or country off the map and World magic, though not explicitly stated, implies that they have the power to destroy continents.
It didn't outright say that world level spells could destroy continents nor do I recall one being blown off the face of the world. Do such spells not exist yet?
Could something like this have happened in the distant past and had been succinctly covered up? Or could Prism be currently developing a spell on this scale of destruction.
That would explain Prim's almost obsessive pursuit of magic. Heh, do they wish to annihilate the Baalklees Empire? Wiping of the face of the map. Haha, I started to laugh out loud for a bit before remembering that I was in a library.
But then I paused upon a realization. No wait, this is actually a terrifying line of thought.
At first I thought it was funny but, thinking further, doesn't the word world, implies that it would affect not only the Baalklees Empire but every other neighboring sclate. Just thinking about it sent shivers down my spine.
What the hell, you mean to tell me that magical spells can reach such a scale of destruction. That would consume a monstrous level of essence. You'd damn near need the world's total essence pool to pull off a move that would in turn destroy the world.
Well isn't that counter productive. At the thought of the comedic situation I almost laughed out loud once more. I took a moment to regain composure and continued reading.
The text goes on to explain that there are different runes that go in tandem with chanting when invoking spells. There's a rune for shaping, shaping in the literal sense is for shaping elemental spells and some deviant ones into physical constructs.
Constructs such as spheres or balls, beams, arrows, beams, and jevalins. There are also other runes. Each rune produces a different reaction.
Some are for compression, others pressure, heat and cold. The text within the book also went over some basic incantations and invocations to use when invoking some spells.
Another section of the book mentioned a category of spells named black magic. Black magic, despite what I assumed, turned out to not be quite as ominous as I thought.
Beyond the superstition that could be associated with such magic. In the context of the book, it's though not directly mentioned it's a list of magical practices and spells that are labeled banned and taboo. Put simply these spells are illegal to use.
In another section it said that if one is caught using these spells they would be breaking laws under the magic codex. They would then be arrested, and tried in tribunal for their crimes.
I spent the better half of an hour devouring all the information the book dubbed "The Beginnings of Magic" could offer.
To me it felt like it should have been called "A Magical Grove of Knowledge" as it had a lot of information. But it also made me wonder what more advanced magic books contain within their contents.
Thinking about it, dejection settled in. Since I wasn't capable of using magic right now none of these spells were available for me to use. But since I was still invested in the book, I turned the pages skimming through some parts.
One page slipped from my hand and fell. I took a look curious about its contents. On the page was a diagram of a body.
The body was outlined in black with no discernible features. Seven circles were centered along the body figure—conspicuously unlabeled. Only the one on the man's head bore any mark, a crown. Other than that, there was no information.
Confused, I turned to another page. It was labeled Spirit Origin.