First Classes

I put my small hand around the large knob of the door as I stand in front of it. I turn the knob and nothing.

“Well you’re quite early.” An elderly man’s voice says from behind me.

I turn around to see a reptilian similar to the guild master. However the man appears older. How much older, I do not know. The only reason I know he is older is that his voice sounds much older and rougher.

“Oh! I thought I might have been late.” I reply in surprise.

The old reptilian responds by simply wheezing with laughter while he grabs out a key and unlocks the door.

“What’s so funny?” I inquire while he steps into the room.

“The sun has been up for only one wai.” The reptilian answers as I follow him into the room.

“What is a wai?” I ask looking about the surprisingly large space. The sun shining through the fully windowed wall opposite of the door fills the entire room with its bright light.

“Wai is one hundred ren. There are twenty five wai in a single day.” He answers. “Did no one ever teach you these things?” He asks looking at me.

“I was raised in an orphanage, so no.” I answer while I step up the first step of a row of seats closest to the door.

“This place just accepts anyone now, doesn’t it?” The instructor mutters with a sigh.

“How do you read time?” I inquire ignoring his incredibly rude comment.

“Magic, obviously.” He states while opening the desk. “Which depends on the affinity one has or the affinity that the time measuring device the creator used to make it.” He explains answering the question I was about to ask him. So clocks do exist in this world! Why have I never seen any then?

The silence between us fills the large room as I sit down in a seat in the back of the room. Thankfully, neither of us are particularly bothered by it.

The instructor pulls out a stone from the desk. Why was there a stone in there? He stands up and sets the stone down about a meter from his desk. He then proceeds to do this multiple times until he has made a small circle with them. Why was the desk filled with all those stones!?

“Damn journeymen these days! Can’t even put a pile of stones together when a master asks them to.” The reptilian grumbles in annoyance while he sits back down. He grabs a small bundle of sticks from behind the desk and sets them in the circle. Why is he building a campfire inside?

-- -- --

After what I can only assume is about one wai, other students finally start filing into the room. Without a word the instructor begins to write something on the board.

“Yes, yes. I am a troglodyte like the guild master.” The old instructor says. So the guild master is a troglodyte. “Now,” The troglodyte continues “I will be your instructor for introduction to magic.” He groans before adding “Journeyman Ming was supposed to be teaching this but he is currently indisposed.” The others in the class all look about and gasp in surprise. He puts a clawed hand on the board finally introducing himself “I am Master Rato of House Mentil.”

Unsurprising no one actually says anything in response. We are all students, why would we try to talk? Rato clears his throat before he grabs an object from behind the desk. The object looks like a long black metal pipe.

“I know you’re all here because you have above average potential with whatever element.” Rato says while walking over to the campfire he set up before. “And that you all want to be able to fight using it. Make an obvious change.” He continues as the pipe begins to brighten as if it is overheating until the sticks in the campfire ignite. “While our most obvious objective is to slay dangerous creatures.” He adds.

The old instructor points the pipe at the fire once again and the fire extinguishes.

“However, it is just as, if not more so, important that you know how to extinguish a fire as it is to start one.” He says. “Now to actually begin with the proper basics.” He adds while walking back to the desk.

-- -- --

So much time spent going over things that could be explained in like five minutes. At least the class is over. I wait until the other students leave before heading off to the next class.

“Please wait a moment.” Rato’s scratchy voice stops me from leaving. I turn around as he continues “You are that Yamakuma girl, yes?” I nod my head as confirmation. “I see.” The troglodyte mutters almost getting lost in thought. “Be careful during the practical classes.” The master adds before he stands up. A pause fills the room, I am unsure if he has more to say or not. “You may go.” He finishes.

-- -- --

“Well look at you all!” The instructor exclaims looking at all of us applicants assembled in the training yard. “So bright eyed! So ready to cast some magic!” She continues while pacing. “However we have to go over the implements first.” She explains grabbing a staff shaped stone. Or is it a staff made of stone? “Oh right!” The woman exclaims putting a hand to her head. “I’m your instructor for this course. Master Michelada Gimlet.” Michelada introduces herself.

“Michelada.” I mutter unable to suppress a chuckle at the name.

“Something wrong?” Michelada inquires me pointing the stone staff at me. “Who are you?” She adds.

“Nothing is wrong ma’am!” I answer. “I am Yamakuma Lydia.” I add meekly. Class has technically barely began and I am already on this woman’s bad side.

“Oh! You’re that kid I heard about!” The instructor exclaims realization taking hold. “Yeah! You sure you’re gonna be able to cast anything right now?” She adds. I look at my feet, discomfort taking over me for being called out like that. It makes me feel like an actual ten year old. “Anywho!” Michelada cheerily exclaims planting the stone staff firmly against the ground.

Will I be okay? It has been over a week, but I have not cast a spell since I nearly suffocated.

“Now magic doesn’t need an implement to be cast.” Michelada’s voice brings me out of my thoughts. “But a wand or a staff helps with giving you a focus to channel the spells through.” The master adds. She smiles as the stone staff begins to glow with brownish light. “Best to let it go immediately.” She quickly says before a cloud of dust erupts from the tip of her staff into the air. “That was a simple dust cloud.” She explains resting the staff against the ground again while the dust flies away on the wind. “If you have affinity with ground as well you too can cast this fairly easily.” She adds with a bright smile.

-- -- --

I stand alone holding a small wand in my hand. It feels odd, reminds me of what I lost actually…

“Seriously Yamakuma.” Michelada says walking over to me. She stops next to me before asking “Are you gonna be okay casting spells?”

“I don’t know.” I answer with a quiver of uncertainty in my voice.

“I’m here in case anything happens.” The instructor says putting a hand on my shoulder meaning to reassure me.

I take a deep slow breath in and attempt to focus. I have never cast an earth spell but like Michelada- Ha! Ha! Not now! As the master said, it is a simple spell.

I think about the ground. The way dirt is carried by the winds.

I open my eyes and a burst of dust erupts from my hands. I did not choke.

“Good job.” Michelada gently says to me. My vision blurs from tears of joy. “But you didn’t use the wand.” She mutters.