Room 802: Introduction to Magic

Ashani smiled, stricken happy by actually nailing it even though to her, these fundamental concepts were just that--fundamentals. Here she knew she'd gain more practice in those basics and a solidifying of theory, which was always helpful.

"Of course, you can spend years.. decades, learning or inventing the various effects and practicing the extent to which you can cast to the other parameters such as space, and time. The latter activity, of practicing, requires a lot of channeling. Channeling is pulling from the power present throughout our world. This power goes by many names, from simply magic, to corruptions of the word like mana or magicka. Some refer to it as aether, though it all draws from the same fundamental place. In this world... some areas are stronger affected than others. In nature, there exist what are known as leylines, streams of this energy that amplify our channeling, and in some rare cases, imbue strange or mundane power upon ordinary objects in the form of natural enchantments. In traditional shamanistic circles and many origins of civilization, these were very often used as channeling aids."

The professor went into greater detail on channeling and its relationship with mental clarity, focus, and determination, and on how it can be amplified with certain enchanted objects such as wands and staves, though could in truth be practically anything.

"Many preferred staves as they were convenient and could be carved of certain woods that seem to conduct mana more efficiently. So while the magician can get very creative with channeling devices, wooden ones became particularly popular. Over time this led to the introduction of the wand..."

Magical channeling artifacts and their rough history was written onto her parchment in excruciating detail. When the parchment filled with words, the ink began to vanish, clearing the same sheet for a second set of notes. Where the first half hour of notes went was anyone's guess.

Roy gets up and stretches. Well, that was nice. He'd learned a lot that class, and the twins didn't prod him. Overall, a good day. As the students leave, he walks over to catch up with Ashani.

"Hey, good to see you made it in. We were signing up at the same time, remember? Good job with that icicle spell thing."

He grins.

"I'm Roy, by the way. If I didn't say so last time."

Roy turns as he hears the twins talking about him. He turns red with embarrassment...or at least, he would if he wasn't a vampire.

"Hey! Go away!"

He turns back to Ashani.

"Sorry...it's not like that. I'm just trying to be friendly...ugh, those twins aren't very nice. They set me on fire earlier."

Roy nods.

"That's good to hear. Classes here are expensive...luckily, the academy of magic in Aaedan is paying my tuition here."

He glances nervously over the shoulder for the twins, and breathes a sigh of relief when he doesn't see them. This is purely out of habit, of course. He doesn't need to breathe.

"So...what are you planning on studying here? You seem to have the basics down completely."

"Potions? That's kinda dangerous, isn't it? And interdimensional magic isn't exactly safe, either..."

Roy's worry shows on his face. Dangerous things are things that happen to other people. Well, except for that one time when he got turned into a vampire. Oh well.

"Do you have a class right after this one? I was just going to head to the library..."

"Welcome, welcome, welcome! I see some new faces today, some lucky folk who were on the waitlist. You may need to find another classmate and acquire their notes from yesterday. Aside from that, simply make sure you've signed up on the sign-in sheet and are seated quietly and ready to learn."

The professor made his announcement just after he strode into the room, to a class of eager students.

"Yesterday, we discussed the parameters of a spell and the history and concept of channeling. Today, we're going to practice our channeling."

A wave of his arm heralded the spontaneous opening of a box in the corner of the classroom, from which what appeared to be tiny glass spheres all flew through the air, one to each student in the room. They hovered before them all, dangling as though on invisible rubber bands from the ceiling, a few feet before them.

"This... is a basic manascope."