Post breakfast, preparation for Isaac's departure began with him receiving Aveline's spare clothing and snacks before he stepped out the door. It would certainly be embarrassing to see a male student in the dormitory wearing female-oriented clothing. But, on the bright side, it certainly would assist Isaac in his approach to romance…
With the gender he prefers not to have romantic relations with.
Shit… Gay fuckers are gonna think I'm a submissive femboy…
I should really hit the gym…
"Stay safe, Isaac!"
Oh… Mother…
"Remember to come back often, okay?"
Father…
"See you, Isaac! Give me the reviews of the books if you had time to read them."
Sister…
"I'll be back. Take care!"
Hah~ I'm still not used to it…
And the dream of his mother dying by his side this morning did not help.
Nevertheless, Isaac's next destination lay in the shopping district northeast of the Institute. He sought to purchase the materials necessary for his studies. The scholarship, generous though it was, covered only the essentials of the Wave Binder's core curriculum, leaving little allowance for indulgence or extraneous expense.
"Wind Walker."
This term, I'll be undertaking 6 subjects under the Mage's syllabus.
Although…
The materials listed do deviate heavily from EAA.
I expected the Magical Theory / Practical and Biology, but the syllabus instead immerses us students entirely in rigorous foundations of mathematics and science.
Hehe.
0.4 GPA's MF when they find out Quantum Mechanics is actually js advanced calculus and not watching YT tutorials and that one bald dude.
Shit… What was his name?
DDOS?
Eh… Fuck… I can't remember. Eh?! FUCK!
WAIT!
No way, bro… Come to think of it, a majority of my humor is references…
That means… In a world where everything is different from Earth media-wise…
Nobody is going to get my references?
…
NOOOOOOO…
Oh dear T-T
Nobody is gonna get what I mean by lowkirkenuinely bro…
FUCK!
Textbooks needed:
- First Year Noësical Theory: Way of the Wind, Beginner to Adept-Class
- First Year Noësical Practical: Application of Noësis to combat and further
- First to Third Year Physics
- First to Third Year Biology
- History of the Kingdoms and Wave Binders
- First Year Noësiscal Calculus
Aduh… Speak of the Devil.
Calculus.
The contrast is really staggering; ignoring the terminological change, back in EAA, such an omission of the syllabus would have been unthinkable. Yet the inclusion of all these empirical subjects is just fucking highlighting the corruption of the main story and how superior these guys are to OG EAA.
The cries of merchants and the bustle of commerce rose as he stepped onto the streets, the autumn air carrying the mingled scents of parchment and freshly baked bread from nearby cafés.
God, I wanna big back so badly… I should have asked for an allowance…
Isaac noted the essentials:
I need three pairs of uniforms, tailored specifically in the Institute's signature colors, then 12 water-resistant notebooks to prevent mishaps during practical lessons, the textbooks, a water bottle, a shit ton of pens/mechanical pencils, and, lastly, my hygiene products.
Shit, I should have just stolen some of Aveline's shampoo.
…
On second thought…
Maybe not…
I don't want to seem like a femboy twink.
Other than that… I personally won't need MagiTech items yet, if they're even still called that.
Catalyxical Engineering Creation, this world's MagiTech, represented the union of Thaumitonic Theory and cutting-edge technology, where circuitry vibrated with mechanical precision, producing tools that defied conventional limitations.
Unlike traditional Noësis, which depended solely on a caster's willpower or pure technology, CEC bridged the gap. The Alchemist, who branches into engineering, invents new devices, rendering the impossible both reproducible and scalable.
If they do exist. Maybe some form of glasses. Wow, this boy's left eyesight sucks shit. One is nearsighted with a high power, and the other is just normal.
The process of purchase was refreshingly normal. How long had it been since Isaac went out to purposely shop in preperation of an academic year? Yet, as Isaac moved from shop to shop, he could not suppress a quiet amusement at the ordinariness of it all.
In a world dominated by 'Noësis' and all those fates pre-determined by some fucker in a higher dimension, there's really something so damn funny and grounding in the simple act of visiting stores, talking to cashier after cashier, purchasing uniforms, and comparing the grip of different pens…
Ooh.
This bottle is nice, it feels quite light.
I don't really wanna carry a heavy ass tumbler while being this weak.
So… What else?
There is definitely some stuff I wanna get here that is too pricey for current me.
I'll just remember their prices for the time being…
Come to think of it… Do people not take notes on their tablets?
I don't see a single person my age in the electronics store.
Also… hmmm… Interesting…
Æ
With his supplies secured and the final errands completed, he turned his attention to the last step of his introduction to the Institute.
The dormitory.
The Institutes' housing system was as much a tradition as it was a spectacle. Four houses awaited, each aligned with one of the cardinal students who had specialized in their respective Modules and brought reputational fame to the Institute.
The assignment is simple.
A student's first Resonance Archetype dictates their house, binding them to its legacy regardless of any future Modular mastery they might attain. Even if one were to later invoke plasma or aqueous substances, academic bylaws forced unwavering loyalty to their original house during formal events, a reasonable rule as unyielding as the foundations of the campus itself.
"The first spark defines the flame," Headmaster Orthellius often says.
The names of the Four houses are based on the Pinnacle-Class (15-Star) Mages who founded them:
The House of Yves, Earth
The House of Esyphyr, Wind
The House of Meris, Water
The House of Tleli, Fire
Hoh! I remembered them! No way!
Oh ya, it was always impressive that 3 of the 4 Founding Mages were women.
You go, girls!
Fuck… I sound zesty as shit.
I blame the body.
Nevertheless, Esyphyr will be my house.
The Esyphyr dormitories were located at the southern edge of the Institute. It was a tower of arched windows catching the sunlight and scattering it into the prisms. From within, the laughter of upperclassmen resonated in the hall.
The heavy oak door of the Esyphyr Dormitories groaned upon Isaac's entering. A vaulted common room bathed in the glow of floating orbs, suspended perpetually by Catalyxical Engineered Creations' Wind/Magnetic Currents. The air smelt of dried lavender from sachets tucked between the bookshelves.
To the left, a spiral staircase of pale wood ascended. Isaac's assigned room was on the third floor.
My knees are not built for this…
As he climbed, the murmurs of other students faded, replaced by the distant rustle of wind against the building.
Isaac arrived at his door.
This is the place I'll occupy until the conclusion of the story… or, perhaps, until the end of the world.
Eh... Let's see.
The door clicked open with the insertion of his student ID, contrary to the vintage vibe of the outside. Inside, a space austere. The walls were paneled in silver-gray paint. A bed was tucked against the far wall with crisp linens, while a desk sat near the window.
Yet the room's true appeal to Isaac was the window, a tall, arched portal framed by stained glass that fractured the sunlight, the remaining traditional aspect of the modernized room. Upon Isaac pressing his palm against the sill, the glass felt cool.
Hmmm… Was using Wind Walker colder than this?
Nevermind… These air conditioning improvements have to be THE thing I personally patent when I get back to Earth.
The same technology was used in the students' dorms as well, in fact, to a better degree than the Mun Household's. Wherever Isaac went, everything highlighted the great departure from the original story.
But, Isaac accepted that already.
What mattered most… He was comfortable.
What more could a transmigrator ask for in an unknown world?