What would someone consider 'Magic'? Was it the use of mana? The action that results in a phenomenon that bypasses the natural laws? Or perhaps it was the lies told with absolute confidence and deceit?
"I know some of you here are new to Magic, and a handful already learnt it beyond what class could teach you. Nevertheless, we will all reinforce the fundamentals."
The voice of the professor made all other students' ears perk up. Magic was something anyone and everyone sought after.
"When do you all think Magic began?"
Rosalia Fae Garrant, the perfect student anyone could ask for, had raised her hand.
"Yes, Miss Garrant?"
She stood up and Jacob belatedly realized just how tall she was. The most eye catching attribute that she had was her pale wheat colored hair yet now it's her astounding height.
"Magic first began when the First Sage, Maverick Faust, spread his teaching and understanding of the phenomenon after the Era of Strife."
Professor Howard nodded to signal Rosalia, she gracefully sat down.
"Yes, Miss Garrant is correct. Maverick Faust was the first person to discover the phenomena known as mana, and he was the first mage to cast a spell. Known as the First Sage, he is the father of all magic."
The name Maverick Faust was written on the board.
"However, Magic back then was lacking. In form and creativity, after the Era of Strife, it had one single purpose. It was the Second Sage, Katherine Fowler, that expanded the horizons of what mana and magic could do. Hailed as the Violet Witch and Second Sage, she was the founder of Arcanium and the mother of modern magic."
Katherine Fowler, a name that was also written on the board.
"After the Era of Strife, where Magic first began, and the beginning of the Era of Exploration, where modern magic derived from, the gap in between these Eras were only two centuries. Yet the gap between the Era of Exploration and our newly begun Era of Peace, is over five centuries."
Jacob was taking notes, he didn't know if this was going to be on the test. A sudden realization hit him, He took out the Basics of Magic book and opened the page where the exercise he practiced was at. Below the exercise was the name, Katherine Fowler.
'Huh, I guess these guys are this world's version of Isaac Newton and Galileo.'
The professor returned back to the podium.
"I see most of you already have your books with you."
Jacob looked left and right, all of the Noble Students and most of the sponsored students, differentiated by their uniforms, have bought out their text books after seeing Jacob bring out his.
Medea's sharp gaze still lingered for a moment when he took a glance again.
"How about a simple exercise?"
Jacob's ears perked up. Exercise, someone said?
"This will be a simple exercise."
Hoping it was the same exercise, Jacob had his fingers crossed.
"The Second Sage left this exercise that anyone can practice. Manifest your mana on your hand."
Inwardly Jacob was shadow boxing in celebration.
"First, hold out your hand."
Jacob knew all the steps, he was confident.
"Remember that feeling when you first touched a mana crystal, that feeling of mana inside you. Bring it out, channel it through your hand, on to your palm."
Maybe it was frustration or perhaps tiredness of the practice itself but Jacob inwardly wished he knew what the professor was talking about.
Taking a glance at the other students, it was nice that a good majority was struggling but there was no in between. Medea, her hand was practically a faucet with all the mana pouring out. Jacob had some confidence in his marble size mana, but after seeing that he had lost all confidence.
'Just like yesterday.'
He held out his arm, a cold yet electrical feeling came from his heart, through his arm, on to his hand, with the marble sized mana trying to expand but instead dripping down his palm instead.
"Well done, mister Kaleigh."
The professor was acknowledging the six monsters at the front. But something caught Jacob's eyes, mana wasn't as equal as he thought it was. A large majority of the nobles and almost all of the sponsored students had their mana as this ethereal, steam-like aura around their palm. It was pale blue, that looked like a formless gas.
Two other sponsored students beside him had the liquid like deep blue mana.
'No, hold on just a minute, it's only been five minutes, why did everyone get it on their first try?'
Jacob was feeling slightly behind, whatever the professor said greatly boosted their understanding and idea on how to do the exercise.
— A few minutes later
"Well, it seems you all have a natural aptitude for mana."
The professor opened his book and took note of something.
"Mana is divided into two categories. Aether and Arcane, those who had their palms covered in the pale blue aura have Aether and those with deep blue liquid, have Arcane."
The words Aether and Arcane were written again on the board.
"These are the results of a mages' Mana Pool being too small. This is a trait gained by birth and can't be changed, you can always increases the size of your mana pool but your mana will always stay the same. When the mana pool is too small, the mana inside you will natural condense in order to fit inside your mana pool. Those with the aptitude for magic will always be born with the same quantity of mana but depending on the mana pool the quality of mana will differ. While Arcane Mana is a better quality, it always lacks the quantity of Aether Mana. So, those who have Arcana mana strive to expand the size of their mana pool, while those with Aether Mana strive to increase the quality of their Mana."
Jacob didn't understand why he had a small mana pool when, by the evidence stated by the system, he had at least 180 mana. The other 180 was thanks to his passives, making it a rather large total value for a beginner.
Yesterday his exercise reduced his mana by one point every time that a droplet was made. Ultimately he had a pretty sizable chunk of mana. Unless the standard was larger than he thought.
The class continued with a bit more on modern magic being more centered for utility rather than being combat oriented like old magic that Maverick Faust introduced. Though there were still some old lineage that carry the old magic like the Baalstrum Family who were once called the Maelstrom Clan.
Just as Jacob listened to class, for once in his life was taking notes, a ding sound appeared in his mind.
[ Time to put the Glasses on: (2/4) ]
So did classes count? Or was it the fact he was taking notes and listening in? He couldn't tell and frankly as long as its something like today then he didn't need to figure out the mechanics behind it as long as it's his new regular routine.
On a side note, he still didn't know how to close the Status Window. So, trying to be inconspicuous, he wanted to swipe it to the back of his head so that it didn't cover his field of view. But a certain golden eyes would random find its way gazing on him with a rather sharp look. It WOULD be awkward if he suddenly did it while they were watching. He wasn't exactly a schizophrenic.
— A few hours later
After the two and a half hour lecture, it was time for lunch. While others may say breakfast is the most important meal, some would say it's lunch but that's just a theory.
'Hopefully it's not some disgusting sloop, PLEASE!'
Inwardly Jacob cried. He knew that a lot of the culinary advancements of the 21st century was done pretty recently and if he goes by a logic he completely guessed and assumed, this world shouldn't have that level without the proper tools, techniques, and access to ingredients that was halfway across the world. Or so what Jacob thought.
Jacob approached what looked like the serving counter. It seemed empty, most probable cause was probably because there were multiple places students could get food from. This was the place his Senior had brought him during his academy tour.
"You certainly look like a new face. What do you need? Heavy or light?"
The man on the counter, he had a scarred left eye that looked like it was a nightmare of agony when it was made.
Following the man's question, Jacob assumed what he meant either a heavy meal or a light meal.
"Uhm... Heavy?"
Though his assumptions have been wrong more times than he could count. He wasn't really all that confident.
"Well you certainly need those meat in your bones. You look like a twig for your age."
Jacob blinked and inwardly recoiled.
'First of all, rude, and secondly... he's kind of right though.'
The man grabbed a wooden tray, took a wooden bowl, filled the bowl with two scoops from a ladle with some sort of vegetable meat stew. Added a wooden plate with what looks like freshly cooked poultry. Jacob couldn't tell what kind of bird it came from but it could be chicken. And added two pieces of bread on that tray before handing it over to Jacob.
"You must be a first year, one of those rising youths the alliance called them?"
"Yes. I just got here and don't really understand how things work yet."
The question came out of nowhere but Jacob was certain he was one of the 'Alliance's rising youths', if that letter was anything to go off by.
"It's a first for me as well seeing some fresh blood coming to this side. Most of them usually go to the center part."
"I had a senior take me yesterday who said this was where the academy served meals at. I didn't know there were other places."
The man let out a soft laughter.
"Looks like you've already met Magnus."
"So that was his name. He didn't really tell me anything about him, he just kind of dragged me around."
"Yup, sounds about right. Anyway, just get going and start digging in."
Jacob paused for a moment before looking at the food and then at the man. Does the food come free with the sponsorship or is there something he's missing here.
"The food here is free, its all paid by the academy."
The man said before going to the kitchen, leaving the serving counter.
Jacob shrugged and grabbed a wooden spoon from a nearby tray. Took a seat and decided to enjoy his meal. Contrary to his belief, they were pretty good, the stew was savory, the mystery bird was juicy, the bread was kinda hard but still it was a pretty good meal.