Emilia paced back and forth at the front of the classroom, her heels clicking softly against the floor. Her sharp eyes scanned the students, making sure they were paying attention as she spoke. Her tone was firm, yet there was an undercurrent of passion in her words, a clear indication of how much this subject mattered to her.
"Mana," she began, stopping briefly to face the class, "is the essence of the world. It exists in everything tied to life, whether it’s the plants, the animals, or us. In its purest form, mana is called Purus. It’s untainted, raw, and can be converted into any type of elemental mana."
She gestured toward the windows as if pointing to the unseen spirits beyond. "The spirits all around us play a role in this. Some transform Purus into elemental mana, while others do the reverse, turning elemental mana back into Purus."
She resumed pacing, her voice steady but insistent. "No matter what class of hunter you are—whether a warrior, mage, or even a non-combatant—your ability to manipulate mana is critical. Sometimes, being efficient with your mana can mean the difference between success and failure in battle—or even life and death."
Her gaze swept across the room, lingering briefly on a few students who seemed to slouch in their seats. "Some of you," she continued, her tone sharp, "may have been blessed with an abundance of mana at birth, while others might feel like you’ve been left with scraps. But remember this: talent is not everything. Efficient use of mana can close the gap. With proper control, even someone with little mana can compete with the strongest."
The room was silent as her words sank in. After a moment, Emilia walked to her desk and picked up a small ball made of tightly woven threads. Holding it up, she said, "Now, I’m going to show you how to channel mana efficiently. Pay attention."
She pulled out a single thread from the ball, her movements smooth and deliberate. Holding the thread between her fingers, she closed her eyes for a moment, her expression softening into one of calm focus.
"First, feel the mana," she said, her voice quieter now but still carrying easily through the room. "It’s a cool, refreshing sensation like a gentle stream sliding over your fingers. At first, it’s difficult to grasp, like trying to catch smoke with your bare hands. But with practice, it will feel natural."
As she spoke, a faint glow began to radiate from her fingertips, the thread she held shimmering faintly as mana flowed into it. She skillfully guided the mana along the thread and into the ball, the glow spreading until the entire ball pulsed with light.
"Do you see this?" she asked, holding the ball up for everyone to see. "This is what control looks like. The key is patience and precision. Rushing will get you nowhere, and losing focus will break the flow."
The class was mesmerized, watching her every move. Emilia allowed the glow to fade before setting the ball down and turning to the students. Her expression softened slightly, and for a moment, a faint smile crossed her lips.
"For the application of mana related aspects, go and pick any book by great Arcanist Researcher Marcus Moroni.It would be quite helpful."
She was about to say more when a bell ring erupted.
"Hmm! It seems our time is over."
Pausing a bit, she looked around and spoke, "This is your assignment for next week. All of you need to pull a piece of the threat of 5 cm and try to extend the mana from one to the other. I will check each one of your progress."
"Also, the clubs will be starting soon so start thinking about what to join already."
"Class is dismissed."
....
The cafeteria was buzzing with life, chatter echoing off the walls. As I stepped in, grabbed a tray, and filled it with whatever didn’t look like it had been sitting out for hours, I sighed and made my way to a quiet corner. Eating alone wasn’t glamorous, but it had its perks—no pointless conversations, no drama.
Or so I thought.
Just as I was about to take a seat, an arm wrapped around my neck. I didn’t even need to look to know who it was.
"Lukas! My man! I was just thinking about you!" Reed’s overly enthusiastic voice was followed by him tugging me away from the table I had chosen. Before I could protest, he steered me to another table where Ashton sat, already halfway through his meal.
"Alright, guys," Reed said as he dropped into the seat across from Ashton, dragging me along. "Which club are we thinking of joining? This is important. Life-defining, even."
Before either of us could answer, a loud bang echoed as a tray slammed onto the table. I glanced up to see Roderick towering over us, his grin as wide as it was irritating.
"Ashton," he said, his tone mockingly dramatic, "is this your new friend? Forgetting old ones for new ones, huh?"
Ashton, ever the silent type, just rubbed his temples, probably regretting every life decision that had led to this moment. I didn’t blame him.
Reed, however, wasn’t one to let things slide. He turned to Roderick, narrowing his eyes like a hero facing off against his archnemesis. "Hey, bro, why do your words sound suspicious for some reason?"
Roderick smirked. "And who are you, little squeak?"
I almost choked on my drink as Reed puffed out his chest, radiating what I could only describe as delusional confidence. "Hmph! A puny figure like you wouldn’t understand who I am. My greatness is beyond your comprehension. To even speak to me is a privilege, but I suppose I can entertain you for a moment."
"Oh yeah?" Roderick said, leaning forward, his grin turning feral. "Let’s see if your ’greatness’ can stand up to my fists, squeaky toy."
And just like that, the two of them devolved into bickering, their voices loud enough to turn a few heads in the cafeteria. Reed spouted something about "divine destinies" and "untouchable potential," while Roderick fired back with the creative insults of a five-year-old.
Meanwhile, Ashton and I exchanged a look. Neither of us said a word, but it was clear we were both thinking the same thing: Why do we know these people?
I took a bite of my food, tuning out the noise as best as I could. Ashton did the same, chewing slowly, his expression as blank as always.
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After a moment of silence—or as close to silence as you could get with Reed declaring himself "The Ancient One Heir" in the background—I turned to Ashton. "So, which club are you thinking of joining?"
Before he could answer, the racket died down, and Reed jumped in, apparently having won whatever nonsensical argument they’d been having.
"Clubs, huh? A critical decision indeed!" Reed said, tapping his chin like he was pondering the secrets of the universe. "I, of course, am destined for the Elemental Mastery Club. To control the elements is to control destiny itself."
Roderick rolled his eyes. "What, so you can light a candle and call it a day? Please. Real men join the Martial Arts Club. It’s where legends are made. They even have a Master Hunter visit every year to train us."
"You’re just saying that because you like being a punching bag," Reed shot back.
"And you’re just saying that because you think you’re special!"
While they started squabbling again, a nearby table joined in on the conversation.
"Adventure Explorers Club sounds amazing," one of the students said. "They go on real quests. It’s like living out a fantasy novel."
"I’m thinking of joining the Combat Tactics Club," another chimed in. "They say it’s great for strategy and planning. You know, useful stuff."
"Robotics and Gadgets for me," someone else added. "Building things sounds way more interesting than running around pretending to be a hero."
The cafeteria seemed to come alive with opinions about clubs, everyone tossing out ideas about where they’d go. I kept eating, letting the noise wash over me. I wasn’t in a rush to decide. Clubs were just another part of the academy’s elaborate structure, and while everyone else seemed hyped about them, I was focused on thinking about the clubs that align with my goals.
Still, I couldn’t help but glance at Ashton. He didn’t talk much, but he had this air about him, like he was always planning something.
"What about you?" I asked, keeping my voice low enough that it didn’t carry over the chaos.
Ashton shrugged, finishing the last bite of his food. "Haven’t decided yet."
"What about you?"He asked.
I pondered for a moment before answering,"I will have two or three clubs or might be more."
The conversation continued without us, Reed and Roderick’s voices rising above the rest. I tuned them out again, focusing on my meal and the little bit of peace I could salvage.
Eventually, the bell rang, signaling the end of lunch. I stood up, tray in hand, and glanced at Ashton. "See you in class?"
"Yeah," he said simply, following me out while Reed turned around to ask where are you going.
"The library."I replied and ran away before the chunni could act and start spouting bullshit.