Ch11 - Practice, Practice

Author's Note:

Last chapter was kinda iffy, rough day. I might go back and edit it if I really don't like it. This chapter is relatively slower, and light so enjoy. (Could be boring for some)

***

Lucien stood alone in the desolate streets of the capital. His colorless gray hair fluttered in the wind as he walked, his hands tucked into his pockets. 

He wore relatively basic clothing, a light brown sweatshirt and black pants.

'I'm starving. What's open at this time?'

"Hmmm."

I thought as the pain in my stomach only got worse. 

It was relatively late, not past midnight, but still, a time when most people would be asleep.

'Ughhhh, why did I sign up to tutor.'

After my written exams, the professor of Mana and Spell Mechanics asked me if I could tutor some second years that were struggling.

I agreed and we settled on two days after the first section of the tournament, they did it like this so the fighters would be at the best of their ability.

'I should breakthrough as well.'

I had been planning it and the mana in the academy was incredibly pure in some spots I knew of. 

This was a citizen area of the capital so trying to find gas stations would be relatively hard.

There are mostly tourist shops and places open during the day.

After a few minutes of teleporting around.

'Finally.'

A gas station was in the distance and the capital become less extravagant and more modern as I went outward.

Due to the influence of the royal family, the center of the capital, where I was with Cale is a less modern place for tourists and people to have fun.

There were street vendors and festivals there all throughout the year. 

I entered and grabbed just a random bag of chips and an energy drink filled with caffeine.

'I needed this.'

As I sat down on a nearby bench closer to the center of the capital, I felt it, the mana in the air.

"Hmmm?"

I turned around–someone was coming towards me.

"Lucas?"

"Yo"

"What are you doing out here."

I could only inwardly sigh as I saw him standing behind me, his deep blackish brown hair and dark brown eyes.

The dark only added to the charm he radiated. 

"Oh, I followed you."

'Of course he did.'

"Hhah..."

"What?"

"The next couple arcs, you ready for it?"

"Ready as I'll ever be."

He proclaimed a smug smirk tugging at the corners of his mouth as he tucked his hands in shielding them from the cold, damp air of the capital.

"I'm already tired of this shit."

'Mentally, I'm already at the end of the novel.'

"The Demonic War Arc, the Knights of Arceon arc. All of it seems like such a bother."

I said my dull green, jade-like eyes looking off into the distance as Lucas sat taking the space next to me. 

Arceon wasn't the main god. That would be the God of Light, The Radiant Sun, Kaleknov. 

Arceon was instead the Hero of The Gods, in the myths he saved Kaleknov and the world at the "Ragnarök" of this world.

Lucas looked at me, his eyes a sense of amusement and calm understanding.

"That's far into the future, isn't it? Classes haven't even started in the academy yet."

"I suppose you're right, but the future won't wait for us."

A small light flashed up from his phone screen illuminating the greenery behind us.

It wasn't pitch black, there were many streetlights and such.

"You know, you got first place in the Mana Evaluation and Written Test. You should be proud."

"You have a photographic memory; I'm surprised you didn't beat me."

"With those written or short answer questions, you had me completely beat."

Our short conversations went on until late into the night, filled with small banter and laughter as we talked about our lives. 

"You still single?"

"You really can't let that go, you bastard?"

***

'Why did I agree to this?'

My thoughts filled with resignation as I entered the room.

'It's too late to back down, now.'

A man with circle-framed glasses appeared in front of him; he had darkish brown hair and bright green eyes that contrasted my dull ones. 

"Lucien, you're here."

Henry Dunkirv,

he shares the same first name as the protagonist as he's usually referred to as Professor Dunkirv. 

"This is Lucien Polstrey, an incoming first-year. His skills are no joke and since I have a conference today, he'll be helping prepare you for my class."

Three people sat in desks before him, two young girls and one guy.

'Seriously, him?'

I seriously hadn't expected him to be here at all.

'Does he even need to be tutored? He's top of his class.'

Second-year rank 1, Mikhail Kalov Miederon, the second prince of the empire. 

The two that sat with him were complete side characters, a haughty young lady glaring at me the moment I stepped in, and a loner of a girl who silently kept her head down. 

"Nice to meet you, you can call me Mikhail."

He was the first to introduce himself reaching his hand out toward me,

and I naturally took it shaking his hand. 

Soon after Professor Dunkirv left leaving me with the three of them. 

"So, what do you guys need help with?"

I looked at them awaiting an answer of any kind.

Surprisingly, the first to talk was the girl in the middle, the one who kept her head down. 

"We've been struggling with creating a spell... For our uh group project."

She said her voice soft and low. 

"There can be a number of issues when creating a spell. First, the world must acknowledge the spell. Second, you yourself must have full comprehension of the spells, and third, the spell must be within your range of abilities."

I explained to her calmly.

"Everyone knows that. And you're the tutor Dunkirv assigned?"

'Of fucking course why does this type of character have to be here.'

The other girl spoke up her voice filled with condescendence and irritation while Mikhail simply observed us as if evaluating our value. 

"Hah... let me see the spell you want to create."

The spell was created for this class so she should have a paper with it. 

Soon enough, she passed me a slip of paper outlining her spell. 

"We all together couldn't figure it out. Why do you think you can."

'Can you shut up for like a moment?'

I inwardly thought as I checked over the spell.

[Radiant Bloom],

A combination healing spell, that combines earth, light, and water. Light brings the healing aspect and earth, and water spreads it around with nature.

"Can you guys showcase it?"

"Sure"

Mikhail finally spoke up and the other two agreed not wanting to argue with him.

Soon they all gathered into a semi-circle and mana began fluctuating as they put their hands together.

[Combination Magic: Radiant Bloom]

Massive roots and vines like spikes surged forth as if it was an attack spell, a small glacier of greenery sprouted out damaging the floor under us. 

"Ah."

The spell soon vanished after that and a small patch in the floor was completely destroyed.

'These damn idiots. No wonder their spell isn't working.'

"You fucking idiots."

I cursed not caring about seniority or status as I stared blankly at the patch. 

"Did you figure it out?"

"Of course, he didn't. Look at him!"

Mikhail and the other woman said, I hadn't even bothered to figure out her name yet. 

"The spell isn't working for a relatively obvious reason."

"Which is?"

"What are your ranks?"

"1"

"8"

"10"

All S section students of the second year and yet they were completely dunces.

"Do you know how mana becomes a spell?"

"You use mana to manipulate the psions to create magic."

'At least they know that much. Maybe teaching isn't my calling.'

"Keyword you. It's simple each of you is putting something different into the spell. Healing spells need a will to heal. It's like you're pointing at something for another person without saying anything else. You're telling it what to do but not explaining it."

I realized it the moment I saw the spell. One because it's happened to me many times and two because of my gift [The One Who Befriended Mana].

That's why the number one rule of mages is "Keep Calm." A lightning spell without the will to shock or destroy does damage, but not nearly as much as it should.

The three students just looked at me, slightly shocked at the problem hiding in plain sight.

And also slightly embarrassed at how they made a mistake like that.

'Fucking idiots.'

"Let me ask you this. Have any of you used a healing spell before?"

They all replied with a simple no as they no longer met my gaze instead turning away from me. 

'Lucien, remember this is practice. Practice. You need this.'

Seeing these three I resolved my will to teach as I began showing them [Heal], a Basic Magic spell that even martial artists learn.