Magical Training (Part 2)

"Nonetheless, let us move on to the next one, the Amelioration School. This school is associated with the calm, transformative and emotional element that is Water. Experts flock to this school to learn the archaic and the most dangerous art of succor, or healing. Amelioration harnesses one's own vital life expanding it and giving it a purpose. Sharing our own pain and suffering, happiness and contentment with others, these are the core principles of this school."

"To alleviate the pain and give others reprieve, these noble mages or a more apt word, healers battles the natural order of life and death and could even fan the faintest flames of life into a wildfire. He that has control over life could even cure the most incurable of diseases and release anyone from the icy grip of death."

"So, in short these mages are basically doctors of this world?" Zeke asked, he knew what healers were, when he used to play just a little bit of RPG games, healers tend to always be a vital part of any group for they are the backbone that supports everyone, if they go everyone follows suit.

"Precisely, although they are a little more complex than that for they can also do the reverse, that is to take life. This is why students of this school goes through rigorous training and qualification exam, a gift of knowledge to the wrong hands could ultimately prove fatal, this has happened quite a few times already. There were people who were selfish and evil enough to use this gift of magic for their own gain or for all the wrong reasons."

"Healing is a double-sided blade, it could be used for pure good or pure unadulterated evil, the choice falls to the hands of the wielder and responsibility that comes along with it."

Zeke suddenly remembered that Magnus could wield Holy Magic, is that a part of this magic school? But,  holy means light and amelioration school represents the element of water not light. Confused about the whole subject, he brought this information into the attention of Aelessa.

"My farmhand who is a knight wields a certain way of magic, it is called Holy Magic, is this a part of Amelioration School?" he asked.

"Perhaps, it depends on how he wields this magic, would you kindly enlighten me so we may figure this out together? That is of course if you don't mind," Aelessa replied.

Zeke cannot think of anything that would be confidential about Magnus' magical abilities, the only thing that he wouldn't say for sure is about his origins so Zeke obliged.

"I can't say for sure because we really ever went on an expedition once three weeks ago so I don't have a general scope of his abilities but I believe he prioritizes defensive abilities, if I remember correctly."

"Would you say that he  protects all of you?"

"Yes, I would say so that is the general idea of how his magic works I believe."

"Then yes, his magic comes from this major school, but I have to say Protective Magic is a branch of amelioration, and if that is the case I would guess that your farmhand hails from the world  Meteré?"

The shocked look from Zeke's face is good enough to give it away and Aelessa picked up on it.

"I am right aren't I? And of course you wanna ask the question how?"

Zeke nodded curious to know how Aelessa knew these certain facts about his farmhand.

"Well it's actually not that easy to deduct, it's only for the fact that protective magic originated from the realm. This way of magic used to be the defining trait and was exclusive and a kept as a highly valued secret of the Royal Family but then it was nationalized because a certain someone leaked the art to everyone. Evidently, everyone could wield such styles of magic but only a person who has the royal bloodline can fully utilize the secrets of this rare way of magic. So, even if your farmer should ever try, he  could only ever do protective magic of the lowest to low caliber."

Zeke gulped and tried really hard to keep a poker face on, "Zeke that's absolutely right and this is all interesting to know."

"Definitely, now let us move on to the next school of magic and that is the Divination School which incorporates the elemental energy of Light."

By around this time Zeke can feel the discomfort of having to stand while having a long conversation like this and thankfully, Aelessa realized this fact.

"Oh! I do apologize please do sit I keep forgetting to offer my guests a sit, well, guest since only you will ever come into this room," Aelessa giggled.

All of the sudden, with a flourish of Aelessa's hands two cushiony and comfortable mini sofas has appeared out of thin air.

"Amazing! You can even materialize furniture using magic?!" Zeke exclaimed in jubilance, "this would be useful for our house, I could just summon appliances and such without ever having to spend money for them."

"Hold your horses my dear pupil, this is only a mere display of teleportation, for these two sofas are placed inside my room," Aelessa said while waggling their finger, "you cannot summon inanimate creatures and don't ask me how or why, these are just the natural laws of these realms, I am just following them. I would also summon these kinds of things if I could you know."

"Ahh heh heh, my bad for jumping into conclusions," Zeke said kind of apologetically.

"Alright anyways, now that we are comfortably seated at least for the duration of this lecture I hope you keep your attention sharp, these are crucial information for a fledgling mage such as you."

"Mhm! My attention is present."

"Good attitude keep this up and you might gain my favor. Okay, the prestigious divination school of magic is a school that is highly sought after by people with spiritual inclinations. Folks who excel at clairvoyance, mediums and psychics. A tiny glimpse of the future is all that they will ever need in order to prepare, people who study under this school are able to see what others cannot and they are able to obtain information on things that a normal person could not. In a way, they are reconnaissance experts."

  "Cool! Does this mean that they gather intel from everyone and everything?" Zeke asked excitedly.

"You could say that, but divination is much more than just intel gathering, they also have some sort of connection to the world beyond."

"World beyond..?" 

"Yes, in other words the world where all the departed goes to. They have a determined and strong will for if you ever have a weak one, you will almost never survive this way of magic. They fight not through the means of a physical one but rather within themselves, if you ever see a mage of the divination school you would always see their eyes closed, their face full of sweat and their movements erratic, this is because they are in a war with something that none of us normal people could ever see."

"I see, so like, ghost and stuff?" Zeke asked while gripping both his arms.

"Yes, spectral, visage and every incorporeal beings, these ghostly monsters are their enemy. Divination shines light upon the unknown, giving knowledge and certainty in times of despair, 'light shall forever be the cornerstone of humankind, directing all of its holy arms upon even the darkest reaches of the world'  is one of their countless mottos."

"That sounded deep and meaningful, this gives me the impression of how they are as an individual person," Zeke mused.

"Yes, they are knowledgeable but ultimately unsociable and solitary but I think it has something to do with their focus and I've heard that people would be in great danger if they are near a mage of divination while they are battling with something, so it is better to stay clear, at least that's what they said."

"I see, this is getting more and more interesting," Zeke said.

"Interesting? Of course it is! We are talking about magic here, the basis of all life, but we're not done yet, I still have two more schools to cover and these two are competing on which one is the more destructive of the two."

"Is one of the schools the one that you have mentioned before? The, um,  Ruination...School?"

"Correct, that is indeed one of them and speaking of which let us discuss about this school further.  Ruination School is arguably the most famous school or infamous depending on one's perspective, among the seven, it has the most prestigious school and has the highest skilled of destructive students in it. Naturally, this way of magic is represented by the element of unrelenting Fire. Burning passion and unstoppable ambition are the foremost goals of it's students resulting in devastating battles between two highly skilled mages, the school didn't use to have a battle room but the countless battles between the students forced the administrators to take action and gave them a place where they could wreak havoc to their hearts content."