School Life

Danuja Takezo, Takezo? The same as the one from the orientation, Akari Takezo. Are Miss Akari and Danuja related? Well it can't be a coincidence. What's he doing in a class like this? He's a part of that five family thing right? This is a common course.

Well whatever, I'm not one to pry. There was a brief silence between us. A moment later I decided to ask a question.

"Why do you look so tired? You even took a nap."

He looked at me giving an awkward smile

"Oh, I was training yesterday. I was so into it that I barely noticed it lasted into the night."

Training huh, is he a swordsman? Actually looking at his hands, they're quite callused. He must practice often. And if he does it often he is definitely good at it, let's confirm it.

"Are you a swordsman?"

"Yea I was just swinging my sword yesterday for most of the day. I try to train often to improve myself. What about you, are you a swordsman too?"

"No, not swords. I practice the art of the spear."

Saying that I did an exaggerated motion with my hands as if I were spinning a real life spear.

"Wow, that's amazing, I don't think I ever really met too many spearmen."

He paused for a moment and smiled

"We should spare when we get the chance. I've never spared a spear user before. It'd be fun."

Sparing with him. Doesn't sound bad. I'm not accustomed to fighting swordsmen. Back when I was traveling in that group they had a swordsman with them. He would sometimes spare time with me.

I never won but it was a good experience. Just as this would be, and it should be a lot easier since he's around my age at the very least he shouldn't be around his level. I found myself smiling as well as I responded.

"That does sound fun, we could do it today. I heard that there is an arena around this area."

"You're right it is on the north side of the campus. I'll be there later so if you have time, meet me at the arena."

I nodded in agreement. Soon the first class came to an end and I went to my other classes. According to my schedule I have classes categorized in with my common course being first with Instructor Kaisor. Following a magic course, then a historical course.

Next there is the practical course where we put our skills into real life use. Last is the theoretical course. If you excel in this course creating things like excellent formulas and improving existing spells it's a great chance to advance to better classes or get into Prism for a job as a professor.

From ease dropping from other student's I even heard the school encourages students to share their family magecraft. If they do so it gives them a higher chance to get a good position in Prism. Giving them an edge over other students without such prestigious families.

Then there are also little clubs for gatherings for things like tea ceremony, chess, horse riding and hunting. This academy has a surprising amount of diversity with their clubs. But it's all sponsored by rich families mainly for nobles to join and form cliques. Prism's main focus seems to be solely on magic.

…

Soon I found myself in the magic course. Students were already settled in. I was currently in the class of a Professor known as Siar. And, unlike Instructor Kaiser she started day one with some rudimentary knowledge. Of which she was currently sharing.

"Magic or magick, whatever one likes to call it. It's extraordinary and in some cases super natural power. Something that can and has shaken this very world to its core."

"Prism for years has been developing, modifying and documenting it."

Ha, the amount of times I've heard this makes me think it's less of a mantra and more of an obsession.

"Here over many decades through the hard work of countless professors. We've categorized as many aspects of magic as we could currently come to understand."

"After all, we strive to dissect and peer into magic at its source."

Sitting on her desk was a youthful professor. she wore a black robe over a simple yet lovely white dress. Her black hair ensentuating her beauty.

Her legs crossed on one another she sat rather leisurely as she spoke. Her desk was arranged much the same to how Instructor Kaisers was.

She was sitting on it and explained things to us as if we were kids on a camping trip.

"Thanks to all of this hard work being compiled together, along with collaborations with other towers and researching institutions."

"All of which has been critique and criticized in the Uplicies Seminar, Prism is widely considered the consensus when speaking of magic making it the first thing one references."

The Professor, Siar, was quite knowledgeable; she was even kind enough to demonstrate magic. Which was my first up close look at it.

"Magic at its core allows one to alter reality around them. In its basic form we are capable of using forces of nature such as say Astrosis."

Professor Siar spoke a word I've never heard before. In a slightly strange dialect. Then she demonstrated the formation of a form of magic.

At first it looked like it was forming something hot like fire. There was a spark then steam. However, the steam started to condense. Turning out to be water vapor. From that vapor formed a ball of water.

The outer layer filled first as it reached the center forming somewhat of a ball shape. She then demonstrated heating it up and cooling it down. She even froze the water ball forming a solid shape of ice.

History class also covered some interesting topics. Like where magic came from. It's said that people of the distant almost forgotten past once embodied magic.

They could conjure it by thought much like proficient mages of our modern day, yet still very much different.

They moulded it in ways that even to this day mages still struggle with. It's said Some believe it's a gift bestowed by gods before they disappeared.

Never to this day responding if at all to the prayers of their devout believers. Either way not much is known about those ancient figures.

There are a lot of things I would like to look into on my own time so I'll have to find a library or some books to buy.

When classes were done I walked around the campus familiarizing myself with more of the maze-like halls. Eventually I found myself coming upon two large doors about the size of the one at the assembly hall.

Inside was a cafeteria, where many students were eating and chatting. My inn had a canteen as well, but this looked more luxurious.

Smelling the decadent meals I walked in to check out what was available. There was a line and I took my place in it. Not having to wait long I stood in front of someone serving food. Trays stood on a counter with a small heat source. Some trays were partially empty while others still had a decent portion of food in them.

There was a selection of salad, with many toppings like tomatoes, mushrooms, and olives. Cheeses which I couldn't differentiate, and various dressings.

There was a tray with fish, another filled with quill, one with a mix of vegetables, some with fruits, others with potatoes or rice with unknown sauces, and small sandwiches.

There was a wide variety of choices with a large amount of interchangeability. They all looked delicious and I could feel my saliva gathering like a waterfall. Under the trays there were mini signs displaying their name and price.

The alluring smell of the food, some of which I hadn't ever seen, made me decide to get a plate of food and eat. The total came up to 10 Pyni but luckily I got a free glass of water.

I took an available seat and looked at my food. I chose fish, along with soup, with a small bowl of salad and fruit. I started off with the salad, I dressed it with a dressing called salted vinegar, and lemon.

Taking a bite I felt my jaw clenched shut. There was this tangy and sour taste in my mouth. It was a very, electrifying taste. The residuals still tingled when I took a bite of the fish. Along with the fish I would sip some soup.

Wishing I had gotten bread to go with it I took a bite of the salad again. Then I tried the fruit bowl. A mix of berries was in it and it tasted quite sweet with a bit of tartness.

I continued eating, taking a bit of one thing and eating it with another until I was finished with my meal. I was finishing my glass of water until I heard a loud commotion. I looked at the source of it as well as heard some people talking.

There was a woman who looked like an attendant walking slightly behind another woman. She had a doll-like face with blond hair cascading down to her waist, and her eyes possessed a yellowish hazel gaze. She's dressed in an elegant and refined outfit. Her dress was not too extravagant but it seemed to be in an intentional way.

It seemd to be tailored in a way that wasnt to bostful. Instead it implyed layers of elegance without the burden of extravagance.

A crimson ribbon laced neatly at her throat, offset by a white, square-necked blouse with puffed sleeves that end in tight, lacy cuffs.

Her black high-waisted skirt flared just slightly. Upon closer inspection it was stitched with a subtle rose-pattern embroidery that only the observant would notice.

Over that was a deep burgundy waistcoat cinched tight with black buttons.

Her shoes? Polished black with silver buckles. Her stockings? White, sheer with an embroidered vine-like pattern up the side. A small red beret is perched to the side of her neatly combed hair.

All of this is to say she is by far the most beautiful woman I've laid my eyes on. Not in a romantic sense but just a shocking objective observation that humans could reach beauty of such heights.

She walked into the hall skipping the line entirely. Her attendant grabbed a tray to pick out an assortment of foods.

I heard the gossip of the students around me as I peaked. Still downing my water.

"No way, is that her?"

I could practically feel her excitement from where I was sitting. A woman was talking to her group of friends with utmost yet still restrained excitement. Another spoke after her as if to confirm her statement.

"Yes, thats's real. That's Miss Bella from the house of Zephyr. She's the brother of Sir Kenny Zephyr. From what I heard this will be her first year attending Prism."

"So we'll be attending our first year with her. I never thought I would have the honor of seeing her with my own two eyes."

Another Zephyr huh? She's related to Kenny from the orientation the other day. I didn't see her on stage so she must not be on the committee. Soon her attendant was finished dressing her plates and bowls and placed them on a tray.

They then followed Bella out the cafeteria to an unknown destination. There were other students near me talking about similar things as that group of girls but I paid them no mind. I finished my glass of water and placed it on my tray.

I put the tray at a designated waste area and left the cafeteria. I wanted to check out a library but remembering that Danuja might be at the arena I decided to go there instead. I left Prism Academy's main building and walked towards the arena as designated by my map.

Soon I found it. It was large and spacious. As well as being nothing like the coliseums I've read about. There was a sizable number of students here, some using magic. A surprising amount of them were getting physical with things like swords, fist and such.

There were too many people for me to immediately find Danuja so I had to look around for a bit.

As I walked I felt a strong gust of wind brushing against me. It was windy earlier in the day but now it was really picking up.

Soon I found Danuja, he was by himself performing practice swings up and down. Getting closer I noticed he was riddled with sweat.

His attire had changes, now sporting a white button up partially unbuttoned the collar had a ruffle design reaching down his chest. With the sleeves rolled up. His black shorts and shoes contrasted well with the white shirt.

He noticed my presence before I got closer and smile

"You're here glad you could make it."

I nodded at him and looked around.

"Do you know where I can find a weapon?"

He answered me without delay as if he was waiting for the question.

"Down there, that's where I got this sword. There should be some spears down there as well."

I thanked him and walked towards the weapons. In the area there was a stand with various weapons. Swords, bows and arrows with false tips, short swords, maces, spears and some staff.

I took a spear to test it out a bit. It was a little light for my liking but it wasn't unusable. I twirled it to my side then spun it on my right shoulder walking back to where Danuja was. He continued swinging his sword until I walked back.

"Alright, are you ready?"

Thinking about it I shook my head no. Before sparing I wanted to stretch to be at my best condition.

I placed the wooden spear down and did some basic stretches. Flexing and stretching my neck, arms, legs, knees, and even my ankles.

I tried to stretch as much of my body as humanly possible. I cracked my knuckles and grabbed the spear once more, rising to my full height, then I announced.

"Let's begin."