Basic forms…channelling mana

“What exactly do you guys mean about…basic forms?”

“Channelling mana is already hard enough but spiritual energy is mostly a pure source of mana which is why learning the basic forms helps to channel Spiritual energy,” one of them explained 

“And before I can start I must become stronger?”

“Yes, and you must understand the basics of mana,”

I didn't know much about mana but I could probably learn in the academy.

“I see, then I will try…” 

“You better run along,”

When I opened my eyes I found myself back in this lonely room…I wanted to stay there for longer.

I rolled around annoyed feeling the pain in my ankle gone, it was strange that it was gone suddenly when I entered the spirit world.

I picked up my handbook on the side, bored searching for something to do.

My schedule for tomorrow's lessons.

Breakfast: 4 am - 5 am

Homeroom: 5am - 5:30 am

Magic theory: 5:30 am - 7 am

Sports: 7:30am - 8:30 am

History: 8:50 am -10:30 am

Free studies: 10:30 am - 12 pm

lunch: 12 pm-1:15 pm

Combat theory: 1:20 pm - 3:20 pm

Combat practice: 3:20 pm - 5npm

Alchemy and Potion Making: 5:30 pm - 7:30 pm

Extracurricular activities from 7:30 pm

Note: Students must be in at least one extracurricular activity which you can sign up for in the hallway - The weekly house quest will be posted on the board every Friday.

I wonder what the classes would be like? Probably gruesome and violent for commoners like me, judging by how Brian ended up when he came back to the academy on his break, he could be called lucky only losing his sanity and limb and not his life. I couldn’t just try to stay alive, I needed to become stronger…I needed to climb whatever ranks they had here just like Liliana.

Knock. knock.

There was a light knock on the door, I hopped off my bed wondering who it could be, most likely not Winter or Liliana so it was most likely my last housemate. 

I pushed the door open slightly, peeking through seeing no one there until I looked down to see a small basket with items and a note with messy handwriting. I picked up the note reading it.

You probably don’t have much stuff so there is some stuff: hair and skin care, a bonnet, and some makeup. You can convert merits into points which you can buy stuff within the academy shops. -from Liliana (I don’t hate you it's just difficult)

I sighed. She was so difficult to understand now, different from my best friend who was afraid of the dark and was so gentle. I guess sometimes the people you know the most will eventually turn into the people you fail to understand the most.

I picked up the basket going through the stuff she got me. I was grateful for a bonnet and hair care. That way I was able to maintain my hair. Maintaining something that helped me feel close to my mother, I would sit on the floor between her legs while she hummed the most beautiful song and it was peaceful. I didn't know what happened to my family or if they were alive but they were alive in my memories. I will find them after destroying this academy no matter what it takes.

Although there was some fancy makeup and skincare stuff that I only saw once when I went to the capital to help my father sell stuff. Did they really use these things to maintain their skin?

I leaned over on the vanity table and pushed the basket to the side of it. I stared at the mirror for a while inspecting myself, would I also change? Become someone unrecognisable? 

I went out of the room to see Liliana and Winter about to leave.

“Seriously Liliana you signed up for two extracurricular activities last year and now you want to do five!?” Winter groaned now in his uniform with his trousers quite baggy and shirt untucked while Liliana turned around with her hair up and her baby hair carefully placed down, her eyelashes looked bigger and lips looked glossier than usual and her face looked flawless.

“Yeah but it feels so great to beat those nobles,” she said as she turned to look at me

“Oh hey Nolly,” she said casually waving on her tiptoe over Winter while her skirt was rolled up and top button was undone. 

“Um hey?” I replied 

“Me and Liliana are going to sign up for the extracurricular activities,” Winter explained “Do you want to tag along, we have a lot to catch up on,”

We have a lot to catch up on.

We did. And there was an unsettling distance between us, what happened during the two years we were apart?

“I umm,” I paused as I glanced at Liliana, her violent violet eyes that were cast upon Winter as she wore a warm innocent smile completely contrasting the wild side I’ve seen so far of her in my time in the academy.

“I’m kind of tired, I’ll come down soon,” I told them. 

In truth, I felt so lost, so lonely, so lifeless. Would I truly be able to become stronger? Would I be able to become the chosen one? Would I be able to find the other books? So many questions with no one to answer them. 

As Liliana and Winter left the room, I just stayed inside the house slumped into the sofa. 

“Such gloomy energy aura,” a familiar voice stated. I tilted my head to see V no it T. 

I felt goosebumps as I stared into his ocean blue eyes drowning in it once again. 

“Ah shit I forgot my glasses,” he mumbled, reaching into his blazer pocket for what was glasses. He placed on sunglasses hiding away his ocean eyes however when he did that I was finally able to break eye contact. I wasn't drowning anymore or felt like there was a current pulling me toward him.

Unconsciously, I threw a cushion at him out of anger, although he caught it with ease and looked at me with a confused look.

“Huhhh….is this the new flirting method for girls?” he questioned looking down at the cushion.

Was this guy fucking serious? He literally helped that crazy Doctor Slyvia dissect me!

I stared at him annoyed as my heart raced with fear. What was he doing here? 

“What the heck do you want from me!?” I called out gripping onto another cushion as my hands trembled.

“That voice…” he muttered

“You're that girl from the lab,” he said plopping down the cushion.

I scoffed and annoyed at him, “How could you not recognize me after literally torturing me!?” I yelled in frustration.

“Woah umm I didn't have much of a choice,” he said with his voice a shaky retreating back as I walked forward up to him. 

I looked him up and down. His black hair carefully gel backwards as his uniform was properly fitted and he had a strangely strong scent. But who wears sunglasses indoors? Was this some sort of noble fashion? 

“Look, my gifts are extremely useful to school and I don't have much on whom I use them because I got into major trouble last semester. I am sorry you had to go through that”  He paused as I got closer to him. “And the reason I didn't recognize you is because I can see people's auras a bit too well so it confuses me and mixes people's faces even a pretty one like yours,” 

His last line made me wonder if this guy was actually right in the head because it seemed no one in this school was. But he reminded me of Liliana being forced to help them against her own will. But there was something about this guy, he was both scary, strange and incredibly stupid.

I stopped as I stared at him. What was I planning to achieve? Beat up him, who is clearly stronger than me alongside what they called gifts. 

My heart raced as he set down a bag on the floor…he was the last housemate to arrive, I hated it and him too. I hated everything. 

He looked at me for a moment (at least I think he was since I wasn’t sure because of the sunglasses)  and moved forward closing the distance between us.

“You probably hate me and I totally understand that but give me a chance to make it up to you,” he requested wearing a goofy smile that showed off his dimple. 

“Make it up to me? Is a noble like you willing to lower their pride to be in debt to a commoner like me?” I scoffed folding my arms.

 “Well let just say that I like being on good terms with my housemates and I can even help you settle into the academy…safely,” 

“I don’t think I would be safe around you and could just ask Liliana to show me how things work,” I said. 

Although I wasn’t really sure about hanging out with Liliana she was a better option than this guy and there must be plenty of other commoners for me to get to know.

“Ah yes Liliana your childhood friend however I advise you to not hang out with her…she is on a lot of people's bad side,” he warned

“I shall decide that myself,” I stated folding my arm

“Just saying, Liliana and Winter those two love birds,”

Did he say love birds? Liliana and Winter were…dating?