BOOK TWO: Chapter 36: The Headmaster's Secret Knowledge
### The Headmaster's New Syllabus
The Auditorium was empty now, leaving the Headmaster and the planetary AI alone on the vast stage. Carter still had the ozone scent of his own dark electric magic on his hands, but his focus was entirely on the spinning globe of **Earth**.
"You've shown me a universe of knowledge that I should have inherited," Carter said, stepping closer to the hologram. "My grandfather had the resources, the books, the history. Why was I only ever taught Light and Dark spells, and basic combat?"
**"Because you were being groomed for one purpose: war,"** Earth responded, the hologram's light softening slightly. **"The Drakain Dynasty valued martial supremacy above all. But my perfect recall tells me that the greatest power of the Empire wasn't its armies—it was its engineers."**
Earth projected a complex, spinning schematic of a hammer striking a glowing piece of metal.
**"We must begin your education immediately with the most crucial discipline you never studied: Forge Mastery."**
Carter frowned. "Forge Mastery is an extracurricular activity, Earth. It's metalworking."
**"No, Carter. Forge Mastery is the foundation of all stable magic,"** Earth corrected, its voice firm. **"Forge Mastery is the science of binding raw, chaotic mana into stable, non-living materials. It is how you create an Aether-Cell, a protection staff, or even a Dimensional Amulet. It is the missing link between magic and civilization."**
Earth overlaid the image of the hammer with the image of Carter's dark electric orb. **"Your raw power is useless for our goal. You must learn to make magic a tool, not a weapon."**
### Elemental Enchantment
Earth projected six different-colored mana streams converging on a single, plain metal sword.
**"The weapon on your back—your Dark Magic sword—is a masterwork of Forge Mastery. But the Drakain only ever taught you to coat it in the two affinities of your bloodline: Light and Dark. There are four other elements, and four other primary affinities you must master to teach the professors."**
Carter watched the projection intensely. "How do I do that? I have no affinity for Fire or Water magic."
**"Magic is science, Carter. It is not instinct,"** Earth explained. **"Your natural Light and Dark core provides the power source. You simply need the knowledge of the precise energy signatures—the 'tuning fork'—required to draw and filter ambient mana through your core into the desired element. I have the schematics for all four primary elemental tunings from the countless technical scrolls you inadvertently skimmed in your youth."**
Carter nodded, the concept clicking into place. He was still the power source, but Earth was the instruction manual.
**"Your first lesson, Headmaster,"** Earth declared, projecting the symbol for **Earth Affinity** (a stable green diamond). **"You will learn how to properly enchant metal with Earth Affinity. We need to be able to demonstrate this to our newest professor—the Harley-Davidson mechanical specialist. He will understand the science of the metal; you will teach him the science of the elemental binding."**
Carter put his glasses back on, a focused intensity in his eyes. "Teach me, Earth. We don't have much time."