The next morning I had breakfast at the inn. Eggs and bread. Ellin and Namrick were there too, so we sat at the same table. Ah, this is the feeling of camaraderie. Grastel was outside somewhere.

「Allen: Heya kids.」

Namrick gave me an annoyed glare.

「Namrick: Stop calling us that, we're no longer kids!」

He tried looking serious. Yeah, sure. You haven't even grown a beard yet.

「Allen: Hah, you're still in the growing age. You're kids to me.」

Namrick punched my shoulder. I felt it.

「Allen: Ouch!」

I yelped, massaging my poor shoulder.

Damn him, his punches are as hard as granite. The bastard was smiling.

「Allen: Oh, by the way. I'm attending the basic magic course at the Arcane Academy.」

I couldn't help but give a hint of self-satisfaction. The path to wizardry was finally within my reach.

Ellin glanced up from her plate.

「Ellin: Great, who is your teacher?」

「Allen: Violet Val Mariannet.」

Her smile dissipated like smoke.

「Ellin: Oh, her. Good luck then.」

Eh? What's with that reaction ?

「Allen: Huh... what is it you're not telling me?」

Ellin grimaced.

「Ellin: I heard she can be... harsh. And being who she is... you best be careful.」

She returned her focus to the breakfast.

Well, this is starting to sound ominous.

「Allen: ...」

I scratched my chin.

No. Ellin must be exaggerating. Violet might be a little bossy and has that icy stare that makes your blood freeze. But she didn't do anything unreasonable. Besides, she's pretty.

「Namrick: I'm sure Allen, will be fine. The mighty Skullcrusher, master of the pan, knows no fears.」

He reclined back in his seat after delivering his line. Looking all smug. Ellin started giggling.

I narrowed my eyes and gave them an icy gaze.

「Allen: You'll see... when I master the arcane powers, I will be the one making jokes.」

I said with an overconfident smirk that only solicited more laughter.

We parted ways and I walked to the academy for the next lesson.

This time Violet made us practice the exercises while holding an Aether fragment. I proudly managed to get a little pathetic wisp of smoke come out from one of my fingers.

Some of the brats were already able to cover their whole arms. Cheaters, I bet they had training beforehand.

More theory followed, we were taught techniques to condense mana that helps, with practice, to increase the amount we can store within our body. Violet also stressed about the dangers of depleting our own mana, because our spirit uses it subconsciously to keep us in top shape, without mana our reactions might dull leading to an untimely death during battle.

Later, in the library, I transcribed more interesting stuff, but there were some terms that escaped my comprehension.

I paid Gregoris a visit, to talk about that and his experience in magic.

「Gregoris: So you're taking magic classes... I thought your expertise was... food?」

He arched an eyebrow. Everyone's just making assumptions.

「Allen: Not really, it's just that there wasn't anything else profitable I could do. When I got here, I didn't know the language, I didn't know anything at all.」

I said with a hint of complaint. Yes, I'm thinking about you, Creator. Just throwing people into other worlds without explanations or anything. Well, at least I wasn't naked.

「Gregoris: Well, you seem to have managed just fine, so far.」

「Allen: For a commoner perspective, yes. But... taking the next step feels like crossing an ocean.」

Gregoris gave me a knowing smile.

「Gregoris: Sure it is. There is a reason for this. The upper echelons of our society want to keep it so. The rich families have access to high paying jobs and opportunities. For an outsider to mingle he'd need good connections... or try the adventurer's life.」

Gregoris scratched his beard, pensively.

「Gregoris: Many adventurers have perished chasing the dreams of riches. Proper equipment is paramount to survival.」

Yeah, not like my shit grade equip.

「Allen: Do I have any hope of increasing my chances at high paying jobs by completing just the basic magic course?」

I asked hopefully.

「Gregoris: Haha, you must be joking. The basic course merely offers the know-how to begin!」

That discouraged me. Just a little.

「Allen: Gah... I'll have to risk my life on more quests to rake up enough money.」

I scratched my head, not sure what else to do. Gregoris only replied with a shrug. No suggestions, huh.

I thought about the goblin attack and my poor limbs prickled by poisoned arrows... hehhhh. I didn't want to remember.

「Allen: Anyway, I wanted to ask you about these unfamiliar words.」

I showed him my notes.

Gregoris raised an eyebrow at me.

「Gregoris: You sure don't waste time.」

He remarked, proceeding to clear my doubts. He's a good teacher.

「Allen: Thank you. I wonder, could you give me some tips about magic?」

He shook his head.

「Gregoris: As I said, I was never a good mage, you'd better ask someone with greater skills.」

Too bad.

「Allen: Thank you anyway.」

I gave him a tip for the bother and went my own way.

I learned a few things about potions and magic items. To produce them, special components are used, like parts of magical creatures or plants. The reason for this is the lingering spiritual component, there's a whole lot about the process of distilling the desired traits from them.

Sounds like a bother, I wonder if it's possible to directly synthesize these components, somehow.

I have yet to figure out exactly how this whole spirit thing works. The fact that dead parts can have spirit residuals, makes me think that it's like another layer, added on top to the classic atomic system I know from my world. Maybe?

I thought about the Creator. He said I would beta test this world. How am I even going to give feedback, though?

Is he spying on everything I do and think? Oh shit, if he does he also heard my prosperous streams of blasphemy. I'm one hundred percent fucked.

Better not to think about it. Yes, positive thoughts.

I found some time to fiddle with the magnets, I haven't gotten yet to making a dynamo, but what I did was building a prototype magnetic board.

Maybe I can sell it to the guild or some other place. I'll try talking Vargas about it.

Another day, another lesson.

This time Violet began with an explanation about the correlation between mana and body.

「Violet: This time we'll have a physical exercise...」

She looked at me.

「Violet: You!」

Me? I started sweating cold.

「Allen: Wha- Yes ma'am?」

「Violet: Come here and start doing push-ups.」

She pointed a spot on the floor.

This is going to be embarrassing, I just know it. At least I have been doing some workouts.

I silently groaned, got to the designated spot and started doing the push-ups.

「Allen: 1... 2... 3...」

「Allen: 49... uhgn... 50... hnnnf.」

I slumped on the floor. My muscles had run out of juice. Fifty should be good enough, right?. It's twenty more than what I used to do. I gave myself a mental head pat for this great accomplishment.

I tried to stand, but Violet batted her staff against my back, pushing me down the floor again.

「Allen: Gah!」

I didn't have the strength to retaliate. Why are you punishing me?!

I glanced to the side, those fucking brats were smirking conspicuously.

I felt betrayed.

Violet sharply turned to the class.

「Violet: Once muscles are exhausted we can begin by trying to boost them with mana.」

She began explaining the process, all the while keeping me down with her blasted staff pressing on my back. You can do it, Allen. Just think of the brea- magic. The magic.

I tried following her instructions.

Her foot stomped hard on the floor.

「Violet: Wrong! How many times do I have to tell you?! Make it flow evenly throughout.」

She said with an angry tone while hitting me with that cursed staff. So cruel.

What have I done to deserve this? Did she notice my stealthy lecherous gazes? Sadness and resignation were starting to tarnish my corporate poker face.

I think I'm starting to understand Ellin's concern.

「Violet: Yes, keep going like this.」

I could only grunt in response. I got a praise!

「Violet: Now, everyone! Follow the lead, I will check on your progress and impart corrections where necessary.」

The kids blanched and got immediately on the floor, doing push-ups.

Haha, who's laughing now, brats? I smiled secretly. My opinion of Violet was instantly restored.

The smug rich kids receiving the same treatment I had, gave me newfound motivation and respect.

After that, no one in the class was able to operate their arms anymore. Myself included.

I hurt all over from my chest to my arms. At first it was the pectorals that failed me but mana had kept them going, then my triceps, biceps, and whatever other muscle was affected.

Recess was spent resting and complaining about the pain.

I used the first breathing exercise to circulate mana back into my aching muscles, it seemed to speed up the recovery. Other students caught on as well.

At the library, I proceeded with the usual routine.

I wish I had a computer to categorize and tag all that information properly. I thought while I struggled to turn the pages with my aching limbs.