Chapter 112 Rehearsal (4)
While everyone was still eating, Basil had finished his breakfast. Karan was so baffled by Basil's eating speed, he had to stop eating. Imagine his surprise when he saw the reaction of the people around him.
"We've had our fair share," Clovis said nonchalantly.
Karan was puzzled at first. However, upon remembering what had happened yesterday between Basil and Professor Brayden, he nodded his head in understanding. Basil was indeed different.
By the time everyone finished their breakfast, there was only 15 minutes left until the class started.
"So, what classes do you guys take?" Clovis looked at his juniors. "I will be taking Spellcasting, Rune Mastery, Philosophy, and Ancient Language." At Karan's answer, Clovis quirked his eyebrow in interest. "Ancient Language, huh?"
Ancient Language was the language used to form an incantation. It originated from the Age of Chaos, and the history behind it was lost in the disaster. No one could fine any written record regarding it, it was named as simple as it was, Ancient Language.
"Hmm... I have taken that class once in the past, and I got bored of it quickly." Clovis caressed his chin. "In my opinion, it is fairly useless. What is the need to understand the meaning of the incantation, when you know the result of the Spell?"
Clovis was right. Although understanding Ancient Language could help one understand an incantation better, one couldn't actually make a Spell out of the random word one created. Even if one spoke in Ancient Language, our words wouldn't become a Spell.
To create a Spell, one needed to learn Spellcasting.
"I am not learning Ancient Language because I want to make a Spell. I am just fascinated by the mysterious language." Karan smiled. "Oh, is that why you also take Philosophy class?" Karan merely nodded at Clovis' question.
Taking Philosophy class in Magic Institute let one learn the deeper meaning behind an incantation one chanted. Although it didn't affect anything to one's Spellcasting, many people claimed their Spell became stronger after learning the Philosophy behind it.
Therefore, Clovis was curious. "Are you hoping for 'that' result?" Karan faintly shook his head. "No, Senior. Incantation is nothing more than a suggestive command to ourself to produce the result we wanted with our Spell."
Smiling at Clovis, he said, "If someone experiences a boost in their Spell after learning the philosophy behind the incantation, it means they don't master the Spell in the very first place."
"Indeed." Clovis instantly agreed with that.
Clovis turned his gaze to Xiu Li and Basil alternatingly. He wondered what class they were taking.
"So, Xiu Li, Basil, what class do—"
[Ding-dong!]
[Attention to all of our students! Class will be started in 5 minutes. Please, head to your lecture room immediately.]
Clovis sighed. He had been cut by the announcement! He had talked with Karan too long, he didn't have the chance to ask for Xiu Li's and Basil's.
"Well, I guess it's time." Clovis looked at his juniors, and preparing himself to stand. Looking at Xiu Li's face, Clovis couldn't help asking. "What's wrong with you, Xiu Li? Did you eat something wrong?"
Xiu Li blinked, before turning his gaze to Clovis. "Well... The announcement just reminded me of a not so pleasant memory."
Clovis quirked his eyebrow in genuine confusion, before nodding his head in realization. He knew what had happened in the Selection Stage of the Regional Tournament. He had been one the committee of the event, after all.
"Well, see you guys next time. I hope you enjoy your first day at our Magic Institute." Clovis waved his hand, and left the vicinity.
Basil opened his eyes, and stood up. He had been concentrating on his Cultivation since he had finished his breakfast. In the process, he had found the fastest way to breakthrough to the next stage of his Mana Heart Cultivation.
He would build an array in an area with high Mana density. It would attract every Natural Mana from his surrounding, and he would absorb it with his Heart. With that, he would push his Heart to breakthrough to the next stage of Cultivation.
It was the fastest and the most painful way he could think of to breakthrough.
With a light exhale, Basil cleared his mind from any unnecessary thought for the current situation.
With Xiu Li and Karan in tow, he headed to his class.
...
Brayden nodded his head at his class in satisfaction. There were 50 brilliant students who had wisely chosen to attend his class first.
As the youngest professor at Randalvine Magic Institute, Brayden didn't teach a deeper aspect of being a Mage. His age didn't qualify him enough to teach about Spellcasting, philosophy, and anything that took a long time to learn.
However, it didn't mean the thing he taught was not important. Although in terms of experience he was nothing compared to the old professors, his knowledge regarding the thing he was good at was very advanced.
To be a good Mage, one had even mastered the knowledge Brayden taught about. Yes, it was no other than Circle Carving. Brayden's knowledge regarding it was so advanced, he had become a Sixth Circle Mage in the age of 38.
Although compared to Iliana, who had reached higher while being ten years younger than him in the past, he was nothing, he was currently one of the youngest Sixth Circle Mage in Braxtein Kingdom.
"Kuhum! Good morning, everyone." The class replied to his greeting. "As you may have already noticed, our Magic Institute has no tradition like any other Magic Institutes have, such as an opening ceremony." The class nodded at that.
"It is because we appreciate hardwork and talent more than formality. Therefore, even if some of you are still injured, we don't give you any time recuperate. Time is priceless. We cannot waste it on waiting for a failure like you to recuperate."
Brayden smirked, and the students squirmed. Well, some of them. Basil, Xiu Li, and Karan were pretty nonchalant. Even Karan was smiling the entire time, like usual.
"Don't be afraid to be called a failure. It's my job to turn you into a successful Mage from a failure." The students sighed in relief. "Then again, it's not in my responsibility if you fail in the process." The students despaired once again.
Brayden was silently laughing in his head. His prankster side very much enjoyed playing mind games with these pitiful students.
"Kuhum!" He cleared his throat at that thought. "Anyway, with the reasons I mentioned above, we won't be having an introduction session. You only need to know my name, and I will ask your name, if you managed to attract my attention."
Arrogant? Yes. However, he had the right to do so. He had guided many successful young Mages.
"With that being said, you can't attract my attention in a weird way, young ladies. The last time my student did that, I sent her to the Beyond." At that, surprisingly, some of the female students sighed in disappointment.
'These accursed brats!' Brayden couldn't help cursing. He didn't like people who didn't want to work. Snorting coldly, he said, "I am Professor Brayden, a commoner, and a Sixth Circle Mage. I will teach you about Circle Carving."
"It's a pleasure to meet you, Sir!" The class greeted him in unison, except from Basil.
"Very well. Before I shower you with my advanced knowledge, I will have to ask you one thing. What is Magic Circle?" Brayden gazed at all of the students.
He had expected Basil to raise his hand. However, a student he didn't know was the one who raised his hand instead. It was a black haired young man with glasses. Brayden pointed his finger to the student, and allowed him to speak.
"Magic Circle is a concentrated array carved on one's heart using Mana. With the help of Magic Circle, one could utilize Magic with Mana as its fuel." The student sat back, and Brayden nodded his head.
"That was a very textbook-like explanation. What is your name?" Brayden motioned with his chin. "I am Clarence, Sir." Brayden nodded his head once again. One student had managed to attract his attention.
"Your friend has explained about Magic Circle like what you have read, and maybe you have forgotten. However, there is still something unexplained in his explanation." The other students tilted their head in confusion, but Clarence nodded in recognition.
"Concentrated array," Clarence muttered.
"That's right! Magic Circle is built with layers of arrays stacked on top of each other. This is what we call concentrated array. Now, what is an array?" Brayden asked once again.
Clarence raised his hand once again, and Brayden motioned him to answer. "Array is a chain of command written with Mana on top of a surface of something. Array is used solely to gather Mana before processing it according to the written command."
Clarence sat back, and Brayden nodded his head once again.
"Another textbook-like explanation from you, Clarence." Brayden gazed at the students. "I can see many of you are puzzled already. Therefore, I will give you a simpler explanation regarding what Magic Circle actually is."
Brayden turned his back on the students, and started writing on the blackboard. He was drawing a Magic Circle, or to be exact, his Magic Circle.
"This is my first Magic Circle. It is a Grand Circle, which many of you don't have." He turned around. Pointing to the outskirts of the Circle, he asked, "Now, can you see these strange symbols?" The students nodded.
Brayden continued, "These symbols are actually used in Rune. However, instead of using Rune Carving Manual, we use Array Carving Manual to carve this on our heart instead. This is what makes Magic Circle different from Rune."
Brayden pointed to the layers of Circles. "These are called Sub-circles. These guys are the indicator of a Magic Circle's quality. The more you have, the higher the quality." He stopped, then looked at his students one by one.
Brayden suddenly smiled deviously. "Did you know you can improve your Magic Circle's quality?"
Silence descended upon the room, before a gasp full of disbelief was heard.