Dirin was interested in magic more than anything else he was going to learn. Magic covered a wide variety of things with how it worked. Multiple spells were available, even if you trained the bare minimum, with it being one of the most versatile starting paths there is, and if you trained even more and learned more about magic and mana, then you would be that much better off.
Dirin looked around and saw multiple types of people. Many were leaning forward with their eyes on the professor, while a smaller number of people were looking at the walls or their hands. In Dirin's opinion, people who just sat in the classes but didn't do anything should not have attended Falem. He could've gotten a seat if they hadn't.
The professor was talking about safety to everyone when using magic, even though no one there had any to begin with. Putting it in the minds of people earlier made them act faster when they didn't inevitably make a mistake for the first and second time. "I'm eighty-six and I still make small mistakes. Thankfully, they aren't as serious when I was younger, or else my old bones wouldn't be able to take it!"
The professor then turned around and took a piece of chalk, and started to draw. The drawing was a simple box with arrows going from each of the lines into the next one. "Flow is how your spell is made from mana. The type of flow you have is what mainly determines how your spell will function. You can add more things to it to change how the spell would act, but this is a class about the basics, so we won't cover it."
He then started to draw multiple boxes with them being in different layers. "If you use multiple spells at once, then congratulations, you can do the bare minimum to go to Rank 2. If they are of the same type of spell, they can be put in the same space, but make sure to remember to separate them with your thoughts, or else you will experience the backlash of two spells immediately. You can separate them by keeping track that they are the same spell but different instances."
Many of the students were taking notes as the professor was explaining how magic worked, while some of the other students who weren't paying attention previously were showing some interest now. "To make the flow of mana start, you need to give it a push. Thankfully, it works like that, or else you would have to make your spells at a much faster rate than you do, but once the flow starts, then it can't stop."
He then drew another line. It was a straight line that only had the flow going in one direction. "You can't have a flow suddenly stop. It needs to go somewhere, or else the whole line is going to break. This can be done by making the line flow back into itself or by making another flow that connects to the end and back to its beginning. You can do this with any number of lines and have them flow into each other in any way as long as the beginning and end points are connected to something that can keep the mana moving and the spell working."
He then drew six lines and then drew more lines to connect all the points. As he did this, he started to simulate how mana would flow. It was like a river that went through the path that was made for it, but as he did, he slowly made a single line that he was neglecting, with the line fading away.
"If you don't think carefully when making the flow, then one of the paths would start to break down if no mana goes to it. This means there more mana than the flow can handle, making the whole thing break down and giving you backlash. This could be solved by making a couple of more paths during the process before it breaks down, so it's not the end of the world."
Dirin found himself nodding as the professor explained everything. It made sense compared to what he found online, where it tried to add a bunch of steps to making things like this. I don't think I've even heard of how mana flows before this.
It was simple and straightforward with the very basics. The drawings were also helpful to him, even though he thought he could understand it without the drawings. Almost all of the students in the class were paying attention while taking notes on what he was saying.
The class started to fly by as the professor's words made them all pay attention to what he was saying. "There are many books in the library about magic. Feel free to use them all to further your studies. What I just taught wasn't enough for you to use and step into Rank 1. So make use of your own feet and eyes and go check out some of the books. My wife is the librarian and would be happy to have all the company. Dismissed, and if you feel like there is a question that the books can't answer and you must ask me, then I'll yell at you before helping."
After that, the professor was the first to leave the class. Many people were still scribbling down things in notebooks or typing on their computers. There were a lot of excited murmurs as people filtered out of the class, talking to friends or the people they sat next to. The only entrance was at the very front, so Dirin decided to wait for the class to empty before making his way there.
"So what did you think of all that?" The man next to Dirin asked.
He was a portly man who was much shorter than Dirin. He had a black cap on and mischievous green eyes with pale skin. He had big hands and thick fingers that were playing with the binder of his notebook. He wore the blazer and loose black pants. His hair was hidden by the cap, but his eyebrows were black, so Dirin assumed they were the same color.
"It was interesting. The professor could make a lot if he read books, though. He has the voice for it." Dirin wasn't that interested in talking with this man since he was more eager to get to lunch. He didn't even notice, but it was already twelve fifty. He missed one of his classes that he wanted to attend, but wasn't discouraged. He would just go there the next time it was available or ask someone about it.
"I agree. I was about to record it because it had me entranced. Maybe I should put it through AI and listen to him read me a story." The short man said.
What? That is the creepiest thing I've ever heard. At least be slightly normal and make it a woman whom you listen to. Maybe he just misspoke. He didn't mean it like that. Yeah. "That's not normal." Dirin wasn't going to hide his disapproval. He was hoping the man would retract his statement.
"It's not creepy! I have insomnia, and having a soothing voice helps me sleep! It's like medicine, but there is no addiction!" The short man was very adamant about it. "It's much better than those weirdos who listen to those onl-"
"You are much worse than the people online. They at least listen to it from people who did it of their own free will!" Dirin was very creeped out.
"I AM MUCH BETTER! I USE IT FOR SLEEP! THOSE PEOPLE USE IT FO-"
Dirin pushed his hand over the short man's mouth. People were staring at them. He didn't want to be included in whatever rumors this person was going to be a part of in the future, but at this rate, he was going to be a part of them as well.
Dirin was doing quite well on silencing the man before he stuck his tongue out, causing Dirin to immediately pull back and wipe it down on a napkin. He would've done it on a dirtier surface if it meant getting this filth off his hand, but sadly, he only had this clean napkin at his disposal.
"Don't put your hand on my mouth again. If you do, I'll do more than that." Dirin shuddered in fear at the short man's words. What could be worse than that? "I'm Zack Milford. You?"
Dirin looked at the man. Did he just ask for his name? No. "Kieth Dune." Dirin then left the class after that. He wasn't proud of what he did. Not yet, at least. Once Kieth says something about it, he would be very proud.
***
Markus was in a sweltering room with little light, with most of it coming from the furnaces when it opened. He had a leather apron on and thick gloves as he held tongs. He was making nails in this class. He was sweating and breathing heavily. It was a constant effort not to wipe his face with his hands. He had to use a special cloth that the instructor provided for him.
There were only twenty people in this class, and they were all equally covered in dust and powder. Markus set his tongs down and picked up another pair of tools to make the nail. He was told to draw out the metal to make it longer and thinner, which would make the shank, and he would use his hammer to make the end pointy.
As he was hammering the nail, it started to cool off with the red fading back into its dark gray. He would keep hammering until he got the shape or there was no red or orange left on it. Thankfully, he got the shape quick enough and set it back inside the fire for it to heat up again.
Once it was ready, he cut the nail and started to hammer in one side to make the head. After that, he was done. He walked up to the teacher, who was Rank 2. Ms. Veil was a very attractive woman and was almost as tall as Markus. She had long black hair and a pretty face that was covered in soot from her working in the forge all day. She wore the same type of gloves and apron as Markus, but he thought she looked much better in them than him. She was very muscular as well, but he wasn't paying much attention to that. The best part was that she was only five years older than him in his eyes as well.
"Another one? Markus, you only needed to make three, but you've already handed me nine. You've already made more than anyone here, so maybe take a break, big guy. I'm looking forward to seeing you again." She dismissed him, and he smiled and walked away, thankful that the dim lighting hid his face as much as it did.
I'm so glad I decided to do this class. She even knows my name! I never told her! Should I ask her out? No. She's my teacher! I can't ask my teacher out. Why does she have to be so beautiful! I'll ask Dirin for his advice. I'll bring him with me! He can wingman! Before Markus even finished his thoughts, he had already talked himself out of his own reasoning.
His class took up about two hours, with most of it being some of the techniques smiths use to make things like nails and other things, and he was paying attention because he wanted to learn as well! It's just not what kept his attention as well. He was really hoping Dirin would come with him tomorrow.
It's for pointers! Yeah! That's It!
While Markus headed back to the dorm to take a shower, he was thinking of ways to ask Dirin to help. Maybe Keith would be interested, too? Dirin was better suited, though. He got a girl's number on the first day here as well.
As he was lost in his thoughts, he spotted Dirin walking towards the dorm with a small smile on his face. To Markus, Dirin was a nice person, so he would want to help naturally. His smile even showed that he was in a good mood.
Markus picked up his pace and started to regret swinging his arms as his muscles were sore. "Dirin! I need you to come to blacksmithing with me tomorrow!"