The next item on the schedule was Magic Theory.
Finally. This was what all the recruits were waiting for.
They were herded into a wide hall built like a miniature arena, with a polished podium at the front and curved rows of seats rising in steps. The air practically crackled with anticipation.
The recruits rushed in, scrambling for seats at the front. Even Zeke and the others got swept up in it. Zeke spotted a few acquaintances from other merchant families and made his way over. Anna followed him, dragging Helga along by the arm. She was also acquainted with some of them.
As she moved, she turned to the others behind her, calling out, "Hey, guys! You can—"
"Wait, where’s Zephyr?" She looked around, confused.
Somewhere during the shuffle, Zephyr had slowed down and went on his way. He was now seated at the very back, giving them a slight wave.
Cedric, spotting him, paused for a second, then also went his own way, finding a seat not too far away.
Jet also gave Anna a lazy wave and dropped into a middle-row seat not far from where he stood. Kathelyn trailed behind and quietly sat beside him.
Anna blinked, clearly a little thrown off, but shrugged and headed to the front with Helga in tow.
Everyone had their own reasons for where they sat.
’Looks like I caused a chain reaction,’ Zephyr thought, watching the others disperse to their seats.
He leaned back slightly, crossing his arms as excitement buzzed around him. This was one lesson he already knew he wouldn’t be taking too seriously... at least not in the way everyone else would. When it came to magic talent, he was at the bottom of the barrel. He knew he had the weakest mana core here for sure. So, becoming a combat mage wasn’t really on his agenda.
He was here for something else entirely.
’Runesmithing... That’s my path.’
He remembered that in the schedule from yesterday, there was supposed to be a window in the evenings for learning a craft or skill, and it was voluntary. If he could show what he was capable of with rune inscription, maybe he’d get noticed. If he played it right, maybe they might even recommend him as a runesmith when the actual service began. He wouldn’t have to fight at the front lines.
All the more reason why he was kind of pissed of at himself for revealing his strength at the combat training earlier today.
’Urgh...’ He facepalmed. ’I hope that isn’t worth much on the greater scale... Or I can wow them with my runesmithing skills so they focus on that instead.’ He sighed before turning his mind back to the present.
As much as he didn’t expect to shine in this class, he wasn’t about to tune out completely. Magic was still magic. And understanding how it worked might give him an edge when it came to runes.
Old Bjorn used magic in his work all the time. Zephyr had watched him work for years, and deep down, there’d always been a part of him that wanted to know what it felt like to hold power in his hands and shape it.
Sure he may never throw fireballs or summon lightning, but if there was something here that could help him carve better runes, even a little, he was going to learn it.
As Zephyr let his thoughts drift, the low murmur of voices in the hall suddenly faded as an old man stepped through the doors.
He walked with a straight back and firm steps, not at all like someone his age. His white hair was tied into a tight bun on top of his head, and his long beard had been split and knotted neatly in two parts. He wore a special gray military uniform, pressed and clean, with badges showing his achievements and high rank, but what really caught Zephyr’s eye was the walking stick in his hand.
It didn’t look like he needed it. The stick seemed like it was more of a statement than for support. It gleamed with polish, carved from a dark wood that shimmered faintly, and inlaid with detailed runes that danced with structure.
Zephyr leaned forward slightly in his seat at the top with his eyes squinted. The craftsmanship looked insane. He even felt an urge to just grab it, turn it over in his hands, and study every rune on it.
The man climbed onto the stage with confident strides. This was a powerful man, no doubt. But despite that, his deep blue eyes were kind and gentle. He looked around the hall with a calm sort of warmth. The kind of gaze that said he’d taught a thousand students before, and he was ready to teach a thousand more.
He stepped up to the stage, took one look at the crowd, rest his hand on the lectern, then smiled.
"Alright, looks like everyone’s here. It’s good to see you all so eager to get started. I’ve always liked teaching students who are excited to learn... it makes everything feel more lively, you know?" He said while walking to the edge of the platform.
"Now, I know some of you might have already come across the basics of magic, mana cores and mana nodes in one way or the other. You might have picked up a few things from other people, maybe your parents. Maybe you’ve even studied it before. That’s great. But I’ll go into this like you all have no previous knowledge at all. We’ll start fresh and make sure you all have a solid understanding of the fundamentals." He said pacing around the platform.
"For those of you who already have some knowledge, don’t worry. This will also help clear up any gaps and make it all a little clearer, so we’re all on the same page by the end. Magic is one of those things that can seem a bit confusing, no matter how much you think you know."
"So with that, let’s jump right in," he said with a clap