"Good afternoon, Prof. Dimitrio, it is a pleasure to learn under such a prestigious instructor of the Royal Aubrianne Imperial University. I have read all your research and followed your studies in the magical propertied of plants since I was a child," said Mordecai who gave a respectful bow as he neared the elderly professor.
"You praise me too much, Mordecai," Prof. Dimitrio laughed like a young girl. "There are still so many I need to learn, and as you can see, I am not growing any younger."
"And I pray that you have all the time in the world to learn everything else you wish to learn," added the medic with a dashing smile.
"Oh, enough of that," Prof. Dimitrio laughed some more. "Eurydice," she looked at the Dryad, "I'm afraid you have more things to teach me than I, you. May we guide each other well in this lesson."
"Likewise, little Belladonna." Eurydice nodded curtly at her.
"And you, Mr. Revious, are always very curious about my plants. I know we shall have another interesting lesson today.
[As always, professor.]
"Do you mind if I assist you, Prof. Dimitrio?"
Sebastian turned to face Prof. Raevers who looked back at him with a frown.
"I'm afraid your students might be a handful for you," she added, not taking her eyes off Sebastian.
"Same here, I would like to learn more about herb lore myself!" Prof. Dupont said from behind her.
"Oh, Professor, we are here to assist, not to learn!" Raevers turned around to face him, her frown suddenly gone.
"Ah, but aren't we all merely students of those who are wiser than us?" replied the alchemy professor.
"That is true!" said Mordecai, "I look forward to your guidance, professors."
A couple of paces away, stood Prof. Althea and Patrice Bennette.
"Just how much do you love medicine that you still chose me, when we just had a class together 15 minutes ago?" Althea asked her student.
"I-I still have a lot to learn... and the lesson earlier concerning blood vessels... can we continue it...?"
"Ah, the young medic."
Patrice jumped out of his skin when he heard the low voice of Prof. Reginald Morel. He was leaning by the young medic's left ear.
"Do you mind if I assist you, Prof. Althea?"
"Of course, not, Professor Reginald. And may I inquire about Prof. Randalle? When does he plan to return to the University?"
"I am afraid that he has decided to take a break from teaching," the other replied. "I would be taking over his position from now on."
"I-is he okay?" Patrice asked, holding his chest that was still thumping with fright. "B-before... Octavious said that Vincent broke his arms – "
"It was merely a small fight among siblings," Prof. Reginald quickly said. "Do not worry, we Morels are built differently. He has long since healed all his injuries."
"And Octavious' arm?"
"All healed as well, thanks to your help, but we are not here to talk about my siblings," he looked at Althea who has staring suspiciously at him. "Shall we start the lessons?" He smiled at the two, showing his long canine teeth.
"Pan Phineas!" Dorin ran towards the hooded oracle. "Finally, I can have a proper lesson with you!"
"And I, with you." Dorin could hear amusement in the oracle's raspy voice though he could not see his face.
"So..." pan raised a bony hand which tapped something solid beneath his hood. "Where do we begin?"
"I actually have no idea, besides, with the seal Aunt Agate gave me, wouldn't it be hard to teach me to control my lightning?" asked Dorin.
"Ah, yes, I almost forgot."
Pan Phineas began to float away from the other groups. Dorin followed him as they went farther towards the other end of the large circular room.
"This seems to be far enough," said Pan as they neared the farthest wall. "Give me your hands."
Dorin did as he was told.
Pan's hands looked withered as he held Dorin's. They were as cold as he remembered and felt like it was merely made of bone.
"Do you remember when I removed your seal before?"
"Yes." Dorin nodded.
"Where you anxious that day?"
"Anxious?" Dorin frowned.
"Where you afraid or worried that you might not be able to get the scholarship?"
Dorin thought for a while.
"No."
After all, he knew that he was good enough to pass.
"Where you worried that something might go wrong?" Pan Phineas asked again.
Dorin nodded.
"What were you worried about?"
"That... That people might think I'm too strong and send me to the Capital..." Dorin confessed.
Pan Phineas gave a soft hissing sound. It took Dorin a while to realize that he was laughing.
"Child, there is no need for you to worry," he said, "you are safe here, and we, your instructors, are here to guarantee it."
Dorin nodded again, this time with a weak smile.
"Now, do you know about the two kinds of lightning?" Pan Phineas asked him.
"Two kinds?"
"Yes... the negative one and the positively charged ones," Pan replied. "In case you don't know, lightning that is positively charged has a much stronger electric field since it comes from the top of the storm clouds, and thus, must burn more air as it reaches the negatively charged ground." Dorin nod at his instructor. "Likewise, a lightning god with strong negative emotions brewing inside them, conjures lightning clouds and attracts positive lightning from within it."
Pan Phineas leaned closer to Dorin and trailed his cold fingertips towards his upper arm.
"Do you understand, Dorin?" he asked as he raised his head to face him. Dorin could see the base of his non-existent nose and his lipless mouth.
"This time, when I pull the wards off, I want you to empty your mind and remain as calm as you can be. Think of nothing. No happy or sad thoughts. No positive or negative ideas. Simply think that you are floating in thin air with nothing to hinder you. To be nothing. To be null."
"But what if..."
"Shh..." a cold finger was suddenly on Dorin's lips. "Think of nothing."
Dorin closed his eyes.
He cast all thought aside and emptied his mind of everything.
He felt nothing around him, for in truth, he was currently floating three inches above the ground. He barely felt Pan Phineas' touch as he pulled at the thaums of magic that made up Althea's ward. Neither did he notice the static that rose from his skin and dissipated into the air around him.
He simply floated in the calm darkness in his closed mind until he heard a gentle voice call his name.
'Theodorin, Open your eyes.'