19696 The 2nd Autumn

"Could you explain to us what you did here?" The darling duo of professors, Gorfin and Naagback, gently scrutinize my work.

This is the exam I've been the most angsty about, and for a very good reason at that. We're working with the Grand String, and that's like that math with a lot of letters, only this horror is spiced up with some knitting.

We had three hours, all the materials we could wish for, and only one simple requirement… Make something that can count money automatically.

Not exactly my expertise, but I am confident in my work.

"So…" I rub my hands, dancing on my toes. "I decided to go by weight, let springs and gravity do the majority of the job, and inscriptions do the counting."

The professors exchange glances. "Why?" The dwarf asks with latent amusement in his eyes.

"I didn't have much of a choice, to be honest." I scratch the back of my head. "That's because my Class is water-based, so not the best at creating high-performance inscriptions. And this is more reliable."

"What do you mean?" The gnome doesn't like my last comment, unlike his colleague.

"A flimsy line of magic is more likely to fail than a metal rod."

Magic and machinery go hand in hand. Finding a good balance and the right symbols are what separates working gadgets from perfect ones.

Still, I can already see points being deducted in the gnom's eyes… Those buggers love their twisty lines and intricate mesh and madness.

"Go on!" The professor nods.

The next couple of minutes – which felt like an eternity as try tried not to stutter – were mostly just me talking and the two vertically challenged professors nodding along.

Hoppers and tracks guide the coins. Each line has its own set of three air pressure sensors and tiny metal doors at generous intervals and… that is basically it. Gold, silver, and copper each have different densities and thus can be told apart just like a pressure mine.

I did not include that last part in my explanation.

Lastly, each sensor pings a simple mana action to a premade rotating number dial before falling into their own respective boxes. That's all there is to it really. I went through it all, probably in more detail than necessary.

The dwarf nods knowingly. "Keep it simple-"

"And stupid." I nod along with a poorly masked but absolutely proud grin. "As long as it works, the fewer things that can go wrong, the better."

Gorfin looks over my work and slaps me on the back. "Good work."

"Indeed." The gnome can't deny reality. "Although it fails to demonstrate your capabilities properly. You were too… resourceful."

Never heard that insult before.

"He's just a little pissy because your model stands quite close to the main commercial design, beloved by every bank." Gorfin scribbles something on my exam paper and hands it to his partner. "Which is a dwarven design by the way."

"Yeah, yeah…" Naagback snatches the quill as he can't quite write with his finger, but doesn't make his verdict right away. "If you didn't have the number dials on hand, what would you have done?"

Great question. That is exactly what I asked myself. This was a damn trap all along… Trap a spirit and make it count loud. Slap a drop of aether into a quill and make it respond to every ping of mana. Maybe I could rely on the combined weight of the coins again…

All of these are unethical, secret, and quite a bit of a hassle, honestly.

"Lights and colors." I shrug. "Three lamps for each bin, ten colors for each lamp, every signal a new color, carried over after the tenth… Simple and pretty."

The professors exchange glances and decide to stop bothering me at last. "Twenty-eight points. Great work, Student Elyssia." The gnome hands me my paper and moves on.

"Good going, kid. Been a while since I taught an interesting long-eared." The dwarf slaps me a few more times and follows after his colleague.

Was that a compliment, seasoned with a bit of speciesism? Well, I do tend to do that too…

"Nice." I do a quick, victorious tip-tap dance on my way out. "That's another one down, and spectacularly so. But why the two points?" So I read. 'Crooked lines and imperfect mesh, short lifespan metal inscriptions…' "Okay, so just nitpicking."

Even though my work here is done, the day is far from over. Another exam awaits, and then some combat practice in the afternoon… Melena was so kind as to push it later, courtesy of our duties today.

"Mana Theory should be easy peasy." I walk the corridor with confident steps, well aware that today's victory won't quite earn me anything.

***

Mana Theory is, due to its nature, a typical classroom subject. And yet we find ourselves in the Colosseum of all places with a bunch of rocks, buckets of water, and other magical basics prepared.

"Attention!" Professor Ingrid greets us with her usual roar, marching right in. "Let's not waste each other's time today, people. Those who can't follow simple instructions will find themselves outside, and their test will be concluded prematurely. Today, I'll need a simple demonstration from each and every one of you, using your element outside the box. Let me show what I mean."

She steps up to an ordinary bucket of ordinary water and summons the winds instead of using what's at her feet. The concentrated breeze carries the bucket's content like a guiding hand. The air envelops the water, merely mimicking what is possible with true control over the lament.

"It's important to be resourceful and understand that our Skills aren't restrictions, but possibilities. Think, experiment, and let your imagination run wild… As long as you apply what we've learned, this exam won't pose much of a challenge."

That's one way to put it. Mud, lava, magnetism, and whatever tomfoolery our professor is showing off… I've got this in the bag.

And so while my peers sink deep into thought, I approach my teacher with confidence in my steps. "Uhm, can I start?"

She keeps her composure and nods, so I do what I consider the basics. Some water hovers over to me and I do my thing. It turns into ice, then back to water, then I send a tiny bead of white-hot flame into it for a steam explosion, then charge it with lightning-

"Okay, okay, I think I've seen enough Elyssia. I'm aware you possess a… headstart when it comes to shaping mana." Professor Ingrid stops my solo performance. "Leave some confidence for the rest of them and be on your way! Full marks."

"Thank you?" I mutter and take off before she changes her mind. This was too easy, but I guess I could be the one educating the professor on this subject. If Savant wasn't so picky…

An entire hour had been allocated to this specific exam, but I finished in two minutes. Record time perhaps? I could grab something to eat, but it's a little too early even for that so I just make my way back to the dorms.

There's a letter waiting to be written and plenty of sleep to catch up on. And of course, a long-postponed Class up ripe for the taking. Arguably, a more advanced inscriptionist Class could've helped me tremendously today, but it would've also posed some risks.

I'm already familiar with my current Skills, and there's no guarantee the new stuff would work just as seamlessly. Now that this hurdle is behind me, I have little to worry. And much to gain…

The majority of this week is dedicated to proving we've actually learned something and not just sat in class for the prestige of attending. Turns out that's more common than I've imagined. Hardly any students roam the campus, and even those who do are buried neck-deep in a book or parchment.

Not m,e though. I'm done and giggly and so damn relieved. Better than a successful hunt with food roasting over the fire. Getting hungry for half a day goes away, but feeling dumb stays for weeks.

Humming and skipping, I get back to my room, only to find my roommates already present.

"Hey Eli!" Adele chirps right away when I walk through the door. "Do you have some time?"

All I have is time to be fair…

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"Not really." I answer, not because I'm an antisocial jerk, but to see where this is going. And because I like playing hard to get.

"Oh, that's too bad." She instantly folds, and somehow even her feathers seem less fluffy as her mood deflates. "Maybe another time then."

You're supposed to nag me and try a little harder, girl! I'm so used to playing games with Val and acting sassy with everyone around me that it became my standard. Damn, now I feel bad and stupid.

When I glance at my friend at the table for help, however, she only looks up for a moment from her usual playtime. Stinky eyes, headshake, and nod towards the feathery girl… I'm on my own.

"Okay, fine." I take my shoes off and slump on the couch, keeping my head low and eyes on Alwi. Cuteness is an effective barrier. "Nothing that can't wait I guess… Out with it!"

From the corner of my eye, I still see Val sigh, but Adele's expression tells me there's nothing to worry about. She heals faster emotionally than my brute from a mortal wound. "Great. I got a package today, you see…" She zips into her room and returns in a second. "I write home regularly, and hate winters, and my parents are really worried for me, and so I got this today."

She presents me with the box.

"Uh-hum?" I nod, not much wiser after so many words. She should be roommates with Kayla rather than me. One is outgoing, the other is shy, and both of them seem a tad bit naive.

"So I included in my letter the… you know. The little incident we had with clothes melting and all that." Adele's cheeks turn beet-red as she explains.

"Yeah, good times." I don't even fight the cackle. "Had any trouble with morons like them since?"

All I did was facilitate the change and then walk away after my test was concluded. About a month has passed since so I'm a little in the dark currently. It wasn't my problem to begin with and I did exactly what I was asked to. Still, there's a tinge of concern somewhere in my cold, ruthless heart.

"Oh, that…" Adele blushes once again. "Valka's presence helped a lot. Truly… Some of them still bother me sometimes, talking about my looks, calling me stupid, and all that, but whenever I take a deep breath they just scatter. Maybe they're scared she'll come and bash their heads in, huh?" The girl throws a few flimsy, feathery punches.

Uh-huh. Or maybe they expect you to scream and rupture their ears. Again.

"That's great. So what's with the box?" This is already taking way too long. Exactly what I anticipated right from the start.

Adele rests the box on the table – a little too vigorously for Alwi's taste – and whips something out with theatrical flair before wrapping it around my neck. Needless to say, my combat instincts kick in right away.

If not for my guard being down already and the aloft atmosphere, the room would already be buzzing with enough electricity to kill a bear.

"They were super grateful and sent you a gift." Adele lifts the shawl in a kaleidoscopic color palette from green to blue. "To keep you warm and safe."

This is… unexpected.

A simple shawl. Nothing flashy, luxurious, flashy, or even functional – judging by how it lacks mana almost entirely. A simple gesture and nothing more.

But that's what makes it special.

"Thanks." I flash a genuine smile and wrap the soft fabric around my neck properly. It's warm, a good shawl.

"I'm glad you like it." Adele giggles and disappears into her room while whispering to herself.

"Weirdo." Rona finally breaks her silence. "All of you. The orc in human skin with her metal bird, the actual bird too timid to even sing, and a mage who has the means and personality to become an arch-villain… Just my luck."

I can't even retort. All her words are on point.

"Hey!" Val still makes her displeasure heard, although she does not elaborate.

"I'll take that as a compliment." I, on the other hand, can bear the burden of being cool easily.

"I know."

"You are learning to be a blacksmith, right, Rona?" I ask the obvious.

"Wow, what a lucky guess. It's almost as if we spend every second afternoon in the same workshop." She snorts. Very unladylike.

"No need for sarcasm."

"No need for unnecessary questions either. But yeah, what do you need?" The crass dwarven attitude almost visibly radiates from the girl.

"A round shield, two daggers, and thirty or so nails." I read off my mental shopping list.

"Yeah, no thanks. I value my afternoons." Rone huffs.

"I'll pay you." I try to sweeten the deal.

She takes a deep, burdened breath and raises an eyebrow. "You can buy those just about anywhere! Stop wasting my time!" She snaps before looking deep into my eyes and shaking her head. "I might regret this but fuck it… What do you need them for? You're a Mage."

"Well, I do have a few inscriptions in mind and a Class advancement in the bag. It's gonna be fun though…"

"That didn't answer the question, but I'll think about it." Rona leans back and seemingly considers the conversation to be over.

Fine by me, I still have stuff to do.

"Val, did we get mail?" A month has passed, so it's time for us to receive a briefing and write our report.

"Huh? Yeah, here." She hands me the piece of paper she's been using to play with Alwina all along. Dumbass…

Martha's handwriting isn't even what betrays the sender, but the first line.

To the little devil and Valka…

Very kind Martha, I also have a name.

First things first, stop doing stupid things! Word has already reached outside the island – which is already an achievement on its own, – and made its way to my ears. Don't anger noble families, don't fly too vehemently because the windows are expensive when they start shattering in the dozens, and if you break someone's jaw in secret, then make a greater effort to keep it a secret.

My eyes hover over to Val. "Anything to say for yourself?" Because that one in particular isn't on me.

"He slapped my ass." She grumbles.

"Which one?" I feel incredibly, eerily calm all of a sudden. As if someone just unleashed a piece of winter in my chest,

But my friend only huffs. "Why do you think I didn't tell you? Besides, I broke way more than just his jaw…" She smiles darkly. "But man, the Fist has some solid intel network."

Meaning Martha should know who it was begging to die.

Despite what I said, try to achieve more than passing grades. It's not a tall ask and might come in handy when you retire from the mercenary life. And who knows, you might find something to your liking beyond what any of us could've imagined.

Now to a more personal topic, your investment is doing splendidly. I've been able to get rid of the gems at a little above market rate since Epros has been buying in bulk recently. This means the two of you kids have now about seven thousand gold sitting in assets across three merchant companies.

Holy shit. We're rich.

With that said you won't see any of it for at least the next three years. I'm painfully aware of how the Academy, and more importantly, the predatory shops across the island operate. You'd be penniless in a week.

Fair. Completely fair.

So, make good use of the Den and look for apprentice work if you can. It's good practice and a decent way to earn some money on the side if you have the time. I'll keep an eye on your parents in the meantime and try my best to smooth over any ripples you might cause.

Just please don't kill anyone.

Be good kids and make us proud. I expect a reply within the week!

Your beloved, wise, and graceful Mentor.

"We have much to learn." I conclude.

Our combat capabilities might've gone through some considerable improvements, but the power to know is not ours yet. Information and wisdom take a lot more time and a different approach to grasp.

"What does she mean by apprenticeship?" Val wonders out loud.

"Work, of course." Rona says from the couch. "Some of the shops around do tend to hire students for cheap labor. And because the Academy gives them tax exemptions if they do."

Sounds like a win-win to me. Maybe it's worth looking… into? Work does sound like some real pain in the ass though.

"Solid." Since we received the message, I set the paper on fire. It's the basic Fist doctrine, and we might get into trouble if the content ever sees the light of Solaire. "I'll be busy for the rest of the days, so-"

"Combat meeting." Valka corrects me.

"I'll be busy for the next three hours, I mean. Don't bother waking me up."

With that, I retreat into my room and lock the door behind me just for good measure. There's still a letter waiting to be written and my bed waiting for a lot of catching up after a busy week.

"Man… Why do I even need to participate? I've only lost like two duels out of thirteen and even those two because the matchup was awful and I knew nothing about my opponents." I whine and slump into my pillow. "Life sure is busy."

[Your class [Unconventional Artist of Inscriptions - Water ] has reached lvl 18. Class advancement is now available. Would you like to start the Class up?]

[Y/N]

Skills are all maxed – although one slot is still empty – and I've pushed both my abilities and knowledge quite a bit already. Let's get on with it.

***

Back to the mess hall again, thankfully. Bright and clean, empty and quiet, just the way it's supposed to be. I'm enjoying my time here in the Academy, as much as I'm reluctant to admit it out loud. Still, the attachment is shallow at best, and I don't plan on arranging a special spot for this place in my heart.

About the memories these upcoming years have in store for me… I might not be able to say the same about them.

"Not the time to daydream." Even though I'm technically sleeping. "Plates, to me!"

[Runeflame Scribe - Fire] [Daylight Archivist - Light] [Inglorious Trickster - Wind] [Flamboyant Wordsmith - Fire] [Shadowbrand Artisan - Dark] [Frostscriptor - Water] [Snap Scribe Brawler - Water] [Mana Engineer - Arcane] [Carved Spark of Intent - Lightning] [Advanced Scholar - Light] [Gambler of Dirty - Earth]

Yes, quite a satisfactory assortment. We have some more combative, more academic, as well as a few strongly artisanal options. I only have a vague vision of what role my second Class is supposed to fulfill in the future, so there are some favorites already… But I don't think I'll be able to say no to some extra juicy options.

Yes, I do want to rely on inscriptions in combat, despite my minuscule control over aether. The words of power and spark of desire don't exactly work well the best, and I'm unwilling to relinquish any tools that might save my life.

One relies on strict rules and constraints, while the other is basically the essence of whims and emotions… Not a great match. But I have not given up yet.

With that said, I'm also enjoying creating contraptions and symbols for merely my own satisfaction. Like a hobby.

So if someone were to ask in which direction I truly lean in the craft… I'd say both. I'm selfish, and I want all of it for myself. And if that's not an option? Then I'll just make a new path for myself.

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