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A Song Through Time - Chapter 44
🕑 Added 2024-05-08 20:42:12 +0000 UTCAndrew Cline was a simple man with simple dreams, wanting to get himself a wife and have children while living peacefully in the countryside.
However, fate didn't let him do as he pleased. Born into a poor family, at the age of fourteen, he was scouted out for his magic potential by the Tower Master of Time, Arlington Conwyn.
He was taught magic on a fundamental level and became extremely powerful despite not wanting to at first.
As the years passed, he became more and more used to his status as the sole student of Tower Master Arlington, dwelling deep into magical phenomena and magic in general and finally falling in love with the craft.
After he turned thirty, he began to have a fascination with the occult and nonsensical, and his focus drifted towards the arcane, becoming one of the leading researchers on the subject.
He had reached the fifth stage despite only being forty-seven, an awe-inspiring feat.
At that moment, this incredibly talented mage was mentally preparing himself to enter a classroom full of teenagers, feeling anxious.
He had just recently become a professor at the Marinus Mage Academy, the most prestigious academy for magicians, and today was his first-day teaching.
He would be teaching basic magic theory and mana phenomena to the students, as well as being the new freshman representative teacher.
However, at the moment, that very talented teacher was having doubts about his own talents and beliefs. He wasn't sure if he could teach these new students due to the burden on the rest of the teaching staff.
He was the youngest and also the weakest, with all the other staff being sixth-stage mages at the very least.
Casting a small mind-calming spell on himself, he took a deep breath, and his composure returned. He was now back to his usual self. Pulling out a set of vision glasses from his pocket, he wore them, his cold black eyes barely visible behind them.
He fixed his slightly messy hair, brushed his beard, and fixed his suit. After making sure everything was alright, he exited his office and made his way to the classroom, hearing the constant buzzing noise of the students chatting with one another.
Opening the classroom door, he entered, making the whole room enter a state of pin-dropping silence.
The students turned their attention to the new professor, their curiosity evident in their eyes. Andrew Cline scanned the room, observing the eager faces before him. Some students looked nervous, while others appeared excited to start their magical education.
Clearing his throat, Andrew spoke with a calm and authoritative voice, breaking the silence.
"Good morning, everyone. I am Professor Andrew Cline, and I will be your instructor for basic magic theory and mana phenomena."
He paused for a moment, allowing his words to sink in.
"Today marks the beginning of your journey into the world of magic. In this class, we will explore the fundamental principles and concepts that underpin the study of magic. We will delve into the mechanics of mana and its manipulation, the different magical disciplines, and the significance of understanding the mana phenomenon."
Andrew walked to the front of the classroom, where a large board was mounted. With a wave of his hand, a diagram illustrating the flow of mana appeared on the board.
"Magic is not simply about waving a wand and reciting incantations. It is a deep connection with the underlying forces of the world and the ability to shape and manipulate them. Each person has their own distinct method of manipulating their mana and, at the same time, has their own type of affinity towards the elemental attributes."
He once again paused his speech and glanced around at the focused students, noticing that only one of them seemed to be nonchalant about the class.
William was looking at Andrew with a mundane gaze, still listening to his words but already having a grasp of what he was saying. In fact, William was probably far more knowledgeable on these subjects than any other magician, including Leonardo.
Andrew didn't mind his gaze, as he had already read through everyone's files before classes even began.
There were a few students that stood out from the bunch, like Regina Dragonlance,
Gary Olsen, Walter Davis, Daisy Norman, and, of course, William Virtu.
William especially had one of the most insane files he had read through, being a second-stage mage at the age of fourteen with the ability of mana 'telekinesis' while also being an Aura knight.
He didn't find it weird that such a student was complacent about his lessons, but still, he didn't like it, thinking that William was being arrogant.
Ignoring the slight discomfort he felt, Andrew continued with his lecture.
"Throughout this course, we will explore the intricacies of mana manipulation, the different types of magic, and the foundations of spellcasting. It is essential to understand these principles as they form the basis of your magical abilities and will be crucial in your future studies and endeavors."
He glanced at William once again, this time with a more stern look, hoping to catch his attention. However, William seemed unfazed, still maintaining his nonchalant expression. Andrew made a mental note to keep an eye on him, suspecting that there might be more to the young mage than meets the eye.
"As we progress, you will learn about the different elemental attributes and their corresponding spells, the principles of magical energy flow, and the importance of concentration and visualization in spell-casting. We will also explore various applications of magic in different fields, such as healing, enchantment, and elemental manipulation."
Andrew paced back and forth at the front of the classroom, his voice steady and confident.
"Magic is a vast and complex field, and it requires dedication, discipline, and a thirst for knowledge. I expect each of you to approach this class with the utmost seriousness and commitment. We will have practical demonstrations, hands-on exercises, and assignments to help you apply what you have learned."
He glanced at the clock and noted that the class was approaching its end.
"Before we conclude for today, I want each of you to take a moment to reflect on why you chose to study magic. What drives you? What are your goals and aspirations as magicians? Write a short paragraph and submit it before the end of class."
The students nodded, their pens and quills already poised above their notebooks. Andrew watched as they began writing, their expressions ranging from deep concentration to excitement.
As the students worked on their reflections, Andrew's eyes once again landed on William. This time, there was a flicker of curiosity in his gaze. Despite his apparent disinterest in the class, Andrew sensed a hidden depth within the young mage.
William's sharp green eyes were staring at his paper with concentration. Unlike the other students, who just had to write the truth, he had to hide his abilities and knowledge but leave just enough to get credits for the class.
Credits were earned through many different methods, ranging from class scores to mundane things like cleaning. William was sure that writing this paper would reward them with credit, so he wanted to earn as much as possible while at the same time not showing too much of his knowledge.
He had found a few unique places he wanted to enter, but they all required credit, so he was stumped till now.
After a few more minutes, the students finished writing and started to hand in their papers. Andrew collected the submissions, glancing briefly at each one before placing them in a neat stack.
"Thank you all for your participation. I look forward to reading your reflections and getting to know each of you better throughout the semester."
Andrew said, his voice filled with genuine appreciation. It was evident from his attitude alone that he enjoyed teaching.
With that, he dismissed the class, allowing the students to take a break. Since it was break time, many students left for the cafeteria while others stayed to interact with their classmates. Andrew also left and headed towards his office. The students still had quite a few more classes to attend.
As Andrew walked back to his office, he couldn't help but replay the image of William in his mind. Something was intriguing about the young mage—something that made him stand out from the rest of the class. Andrew decided that he would keep a close eye on William's progress and behavior in the coming weeks.
Entering his office, Andrew settled into his chair and began reviewing the students' reflections. As he read through their words, he gained a deeper understanding of their motivations and aspirations. Some wanted to use magic to protect their loved ones, while others sought to unravel the mysteries of the arcane.
When he came across William's reflection, Andrew couldn't help but raise an eyebrow. The words on the paper were well-crafted, displaying a level of maturity and depth that was uncommon for someone of his age. It was evident that William had a profound understanding of magic and a thirst for knowledge that surpassed that of his peers.
Andrew sensed that there was much more to William than met the eye. He wondered if the young mage's nonchalant attitude in class was a deliberate act to hide his true abilities. Andrew had encountered students before who hid their true potential, either out of humility or for some other undisclosed reason.
However, there was also the possibility that William was simply bored with the basic magic theory class. Andrew pondered over the best approach to engaging William and challenging him intellectually without overwhelming the rest of the class.
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William left the classroom as soon as the break started, heading over to the library for a quick read.
The breaks lasted around fifteen minutes, so he only had time to read through one book at most.
Sighing, he went over his first class. The professor, Andrew Cline, was someone he had never heard of, probably someone who died without being able to do anything against the demons.
Although what he taught was attractive to those who had just entered the first or second stage, to William, it was nothing but the bare basics he had long comprehended.
He was more interested in the next class, which was related to history. Roia's history was fascinating to him, especially the history before the Demons first began their invasion more than five thousand years ago.
After barely finishing a book, the bell rang, and he had to return to class. Grumbling, he got up and headed back, seeing the crowd of students rushing.
As William entered the classroom, he took his seat and glanced around at the other students. Many of them seemed excited for the next class, not sure what to expect from the history teacher.
William found an empty seat right next to a familiar person, Regina Dragonlance. Seeing him sit next to her, Regina nodded as a greeting and focused her attention towards the entrance as a figure became vaguely visible through the glass windows in the door.
Professor Elizabeth Stone, a well-dressed woman in her fifties with a warm smile, entered the room and greeted the students. She had a reputation for her extensive knowledge of Roia's history and her engaging teaching style.
Placing her items on the desk, she sat in the amphitheater-like classroom and spoke, her voice resonating throughout the room.
"Good morning, everyone. I'm sure Professor Andrew's class has given you an idea of how classes in this institute work. As this is the first day of your classes, I will not delve too deeply into history since most of you are not acquainted with the subject as much as other students."
Professor Stone began speaking, her voice calm yet commanding.
"Today, we will embark on a journey through the rich history of Roia. We will explore the rise and fall of ancient civilizations, the conflicts and alliances that shaped the continent, and the impact of magic on society throughout the ages. This will be a quick introduction to history, without any specific details, just for you to get a taste of what's to come and prepare mentally."
William's interest was piqued. This method of teaching was unique yet appreciated. It would create a positive image of history in the student's minds, even if they didn't really enjoy the subject.
Professor Stone waved her hand, and an image appeared in the ceiling of the room; its dome-like shape now made sense to the students.
The dome recreated a sky while countless images flashed by them like wisps and spirits.
Elizabeth was a sixth-stage mage specializing in illusion magic, more specifically, the merger of attributes to create such phenomena. She used sound magic, nature magic, and light magic to make the scenes of the past, giving an authentic scent, sound, and sight to the students.
As the class progressed, Professor Stone delved into various eras, starting from the earliest recorded civilizations and advancing towards the present day. She wove vivid stories of kings and queens, wars and alliances, and the discoveries and advancements made by mages throughout history.
As the class came to an end, Professor Stone assigned a research project to the students. They were to choose a specific era or event in Roia's history and present their findings in the form of a written report and a short presentation.
