Chapter 18: School Experiences
After receiving a verbal scolding from the admin for their disturbance of the entrance ceremony that lasted over half an hour, the five continued to their first day and classes of the year. It was all new for Riné as he looked forward and simultaneously nervous for his first day in a school environment.
'First period…Intermediate Magic Theory this will be interesting. I doubt the theory taught will be more useful than what my master taught me but it's never right to ignore someone's teachings.'
Riné stepped into the academic hall as around him were silver lockers against the wall and the traffic of students donning the black uniform of Sophis making their way to their new classes, some chatting and laughing, while a crowd formed blocking the walkway preventing Riné from moving forward. Two figures stood in the middle of a ring of people watching as they held each other's collars.
"Your hair. Cut it. It's above the mandatory hair length limit of the dress code you delinquent."
"Fuck off disciplinary dog, I'm a part of the student council which means I don't have to."
A neon green-haired student with fair snow skin and long draping hair seeming to reach the bottom of their back earned the ire of the student holding their collar. The other student donned a grey sword pin on their suit collar similar to the student council pin as the dark-skinned disciplinary officer with pink twists held a scowl on his face.
"Student council or not you have to follow the rules, unless you want a problem?"
Giselle began to look away before opening his mouth with an annoyed tone whilst grabbing their hand and throwing it away.
"Yeah, I think I do."
The sounds of gasps and students eager to see a fight caused more to congregate as the sound of teachers approaching the hallway was too late as the two threw their fists toward the other with great force. Riné was left in shock as he couldn't turn away too intrigued by the fight.
'Fighting already on the first day? Wait hold on…'
Gizelle weaved the first blow as his fist got grabbed the disciplinary between their palm as holding tight to Gizelle as they moved forward before rotating their posture turning their back toward their opponent and holding their arm over their shoulder.
'A throw!'
As a great force aimed to lift and slam Gizelle into the ground, they retaliated with a side knee into their ribs causing the officer to fall over and throw them to the side as Gizelle rolled off his shoulder before standing up. Gizelle threw a rapid flurry of jabs that were deflected with calculated parties with the officers hands as Gizelle sprinted and jumped aiming to do a flying knee as the disciplinary officer stood in place waiting for contact ready to throw their opponent onto the ground teachers began to break apart the crowd causing the officer to turn around and leave while Gizelle landed on the ground on his feet clicking his tongue.
"Everything's gotta be a problem for you disciplinary dogs. So uptight, how can you see with your heads so far shoved up your asses."
"If you want to attend here at least have the gall to follow the rules instead of playing mutt for the president."
This comment seemed to make a vein burst for Gizelle as they exposed their canines retorting.
"This mutt has fangs that'll-"
Feeling a hand on their shoulder they stopped in their place as they were dragged away by the teachers to get disciplined while the officer adjusted their collar scoffing. Riné was impressed by the simple exchange with one being able to respond quickly in various ways and the other a martial artist in grapples.
'A street fighter and a grappler they're both very skilled but they weren't using magic. If they did they'd have instantly been stopped but they're about similar to my level, hand-to-hand, most likely greater yeah probably…'
Self-deprecating his own capability in the face of the fighters he's just seen the hall's volume increased as students were a buzz with discussion and excitement as students turned toward each other gossiping.
"That was the Disciplinary Committee Captain and the Student Council's Treasurer trademark clash that was so cool!"
"Wait they do that often?"
"Not to this level but seeing as how Gizelle is growing out their hair from last year I guess it's more of a pressing issue…'
"Wait how much time u til class starts..-There's only a minute before class begins!"
The halls cleared quickly as students turned away from gathering to rushing to their classes with Riné following in their steps toward his first period making it on the clock as the door was nearly shut he slipped through the side turning his body to enter the classroom. The one shutting the door the teacher was not amused at all from the near late entrance as he pointed toward the seats where Riné saw Mime, Kairi, Keth in the seats each giving a differing reaction to their friend with Mime giving a thumbs up for being on time, Kairi waving with a smile and Keth signing a free seat nearby as his seat next to him was filled. Riné noticed a free spot with a familiar face as the ginger-haired boy with glasses from the information kiosk was sitting alone.
'He seems nice I'll sit next to him I guess..! I should apologize for abandoning him again as well.'
Creeping up slowly as the other was unaware of their presence Riné sat next to them suddenly causing the other to jump holding their chest.
"Jeez, you scared me.. You can't sneak up on people like that..!"
"Sorry…"
Riné bowed their head slightly as they sat down before they were about to spark a conversation the bell rang signaling the beginning of the first class. Unable to speak the teacher made his way to the signboard writing his name.
"Mr Greer. Now I'll begin today simply with a question. Is there evil magic?"
When he asked this question in many of the students' expressions and thoughts the answer seemed clear.
'Yes?'
Which wasn't a surprising answer when historically certain magic had ravaged lands and peoples to the extent they were considered forbidden and the magic a crime to use by citizens without self-defense. Mr Greer pointed to a random boy who responded a bit shakily.
"Yes..?"
Mr Greer didn't seem fazed as he continued with his interrogation.
"Name an example of evil magic."
The student thought of various kinds of magics that if mentioned would result in him being ostracized or kicked out of class as he chose an answer.
"Torture magic?"
Mr Greer began to nod his head at the answer as he contemplated its validity before shaking his head.
"Torture magic is a very dangerous magic that is intended to cause harm but if that is used for the sake of the nation it's good correct?"
The student got cornered wishing he wasn't chosen as he shook his head affirming his question.
"Magic isn't evil. Magic has the potential to cause harm making it dangerous but there is no such thing as inherently evil or good magic it's all subjective as they serve as a tool for mages. There are only good or evil mages, dangerous and non-dangerous magic. That's the principle of magic theory to explore the processes by which magic operates."
Riné understood the meaning behind the teacher's words as he'd been taught the same thing from his master back when he was a child. Lightning magic was an insanely unstable magic that Riné knew from experience. It has hurt people and he had hurt people which is how he had learned first hand magic was dangerous but he eventually learned that it wasn't evil which allowed him to accept his magic as himself but even to this day he struggles to use his lightning against others. The feeling of lightning melting flesh was an unbearable feeling that made Riné sick to the core. Hence he refused to use it against Kenn offensively in the practical exam with him holding back severely.
'Now though.. I'm able to easily defeat Kenn without my lightning magic now that I've reached Commandante.'
As the professor lectured Riné thought of the rewards he reaped the other night. He essentially took the opportunity of allowing the orbs to build up before destroying them over and over to the point that multiple hours had passed to gain a significant amount of development. Each stage of the magic center had different phases corresponding to the concentration of mana in the center with Commandante having four stages that followed the set standards for each rank differing in mana concentrations and type.
Below 25% concentration of pinnacle stage mana meant Primary Stage
Above 25% and below 50% concentration of pinnacle stage mana meant Secondary stage.
Above 50% and below 75% concentration of pinnacle stage mana meant Tertiary Stage
The final stage was the Quaternary Stage which meant one was able to break through to the next level and reach the pinnacle of their concentration of mana in quantity and quality. Currently, after his intensive training and experience that left him riddled with wounds that still ached he had reached Commandante Secondary Stage.
'At this rate by the end of the year, I'll break through to General.'
As each stage was achieved the scale of accumulation of higher concentrations of mana also became much more difficult. For Seekers, this meant that their progression was much more difficult because their larger mana quantity needed to be concentrated over periods of time to avoid it diluting and losing great progress and falling through stages.
'I'll break through faster and faster without faltering.'
As Riné thought it over and over to himself the class ended with no assignment being given and as he continued his day the easy beginning seemed to blur the different introductions and meetings until the worst class began for him.
"Well, Well, Well class! Looks like since we have two honor program students they'll be role models and show you how to do two hundred burpees and do the hundred laps!"
'I should have swapped my class I regret it.'