Hearing the 12th bell, the students filed out Wizard's Tower. Will joined the mass exodus and headed to the dining hall. Will was interested to see how the Mage Academy's dining hall looked. He passed by the dining hall all the time, coming, and going from the Knight Academy. But as Will approached the dining hall, he saw groups of students split off and diverge. Will realized he was the only second-year walking to the dining hall.

"Hey, Will! I've been waiting to see you." Rebecca called out.

Terror gripped Will, he froze in front of the dining room double doors. Will looked around and saw a group of students was looking at his sister and him.

"Sister, how were your classes?" Will said courteously. Will looked at the growing number of students watching this family reunion.

"Follow me!" Rebecca said, grabbing Will's wrist and running away.

Rebecca ran Will towards Elder Thaddeus' cabin but took an errant path. The path was blocked by bramble, but Rebecca somehow knew the way inside.

Will looked around and realized they were alone in a secret garden. There was a single bench, rose bushes, a small birdbath. The entire small garden was quite romantic.

Rebecca motioned for Will to sit on the bench, with a warm shy smile. Will looked at the exit but decided to stay. Rebecca was many things, but she was not one of them. For her to seek this amount of privacy it must be something important.

"Rebecca, why did you bring me out here? I need to eat before my formations class." Will asked trying to hurry the conversation along.

"Will this be the first time that you and I have ever had lunch together after class? Usually, you are at the Knight Academy. This is a special moment," she said.

"I'm hungry Rebecca, what is the point of all this?" Will asked.

Rebecca took out two bento boxes and handed one to Will. Will opened the box and to his surprise, he saw steaming rice, tempura fish, and blanched crispy vegetables. Will was surprised and figured this delicious-looking lunch brought Rebecca a few more minutes.

"Thank you, Rebecca. This is lunch wonderful," Will said gratefully.

"Since you arrived at Guidon, we have not had any moments alone together. You've been so busy building your business, studying with your master, and working for your guild. This is something, I desired for so long, and I'm happy it's finally happening, even if it's just this once.

You've always been so focused; you always knew what you wanted…it made me jealous. I admire you, Will. If it wasn't for Cardinal vont Clermont offering me the position, I wouldn't know what I do after graduating," Rebecca's eyes were glossed over. She spoke to Will, but their eyes never met.

Will sat and ate. He listened to Rebecca without interrupting.

"When you and I were little, we were always so close and now I feel we're growing apart. After this school year, I'll be in the capital, and you'll still be here. What if we stop talking, stop seeing each other…what if you forget about me.

I never got along with Jason, Catherine, or Marcus, but with you; we bonded. I don't want to lose my friend and brother. Do you know that your success, and absence at the Mage Academy, made people flock to me to gain access to you? That's the reason the vont Whitby's oldest daughters first talk to me. I'm not a fool Will, I knew the reason they befriended me.

It's exhausting! And, I feel all these people are driving us away from each other. All I want is to stay close to you," Rebecca cried. Tears flowed down her face.

Rebecca's opened her heart and showed Will her vulnerability. As an old man, Will viewed the practical side of relationships. Listening to Will, reminded him of the importance of family and close connections. Listening to Rebecca, made Will feel alone. Who could he count on? All his friends were classmates or employees. But, their friendships were only skin deep.

Rebecca was the only person he could open up with. He finally somewhat understood his sister's awkward behavior. Will decided to take the opportunity and share it with his sister. Will told Rebecca about being arrested in the Tribal Lands, the lockdown in Rijilir during the race riots, and losing Teacher Eleanor during a revenge-filled bloody wedding. Will saw Rebecca's emotions roll coast as he described his summer.

For an hour the two siblings chatted back and forth. Enjoying lunch and each other company. After the 13th bell. The two got up to leave.

"What's your next class?" Will asked.

"I have to go to church for my training," Rebecca replied.

"What about you?" she asked.

"Formations," Will said shrugging his shoulders.

"Oh, I know that class. I took that my second year too. Grandmaster Takahashi is nice and easy-going, you'll like that class. Since my training includes learning healing formations, I don't have to take that class." Rebecca said, kissing Will goodbye on his cheek and leading him out of the hidden garden.

Back outside the bramble, Will looked back and saw how inconspicuous the hideaway was. He was curious how Rebecca had found the place and learned her way inside.

"Rebecca, how did you find this secret alcove?" Will asked curiously.

"Secret? Everyone knows about 'Lovers Lawn,' it's where romantic couples sneak away. I thought it was the perfect place for us to spend some time together," she said bashfully, tucking a string of hair behind her right ear.

Will's palms hid his face, 'this yandere sister of mine. Does she not know what lovers mean?' Will thought.

Will followed Rebecca back to the Wizard's Tower. As soon as he waved her off, goodbye, she ran up to him and offered to give him another goodbye Will expertly dodged his sister's lips and ran to the second floor.

"Late you are. Let's not make this habit Sir. William vont Ballard. Your sister was never late to my class," Grandmaster Takahashi chided Will.

"I apologize, sir, I was having lunch with my sister and time got the best of me," Will responded honestly.

"Very well, don't make it a habit," he waved at Will to take a seat.

Will sat down next to a dark-skinned boy in the back, with brown wavy hair.

"Hi, I'm Rupert, just Rupert. I'm not noble," he said sticking out his hand and smiling.

"I'm—"

"I know who you are, it's a pleasure to meet you, Sir. vont Ballard," he interrupted.

"Call me Will, all my friends do," Will replied.

"Alright, Sir. Will—"

"No, just Will. Sir is not necessary," Will interrupted back.

"Okay, Will. Here's to a good class and a great semester," Rupert said.

Shortly after the introductions, Grandmaster Takahashi began lecturing.

"Spell formations, magic circles, arrays are different names for the same spell. Formations are areas of effect spells, that cast a wide spell over an area. There are formations for gathering mana, barricading oneself or allies, attacking, imprisoning, or traveling. The spells I announced an increase in difficulty. No Formation Master, not even I, knows all the varied formations.

Formations are a complex series of ancient magic and rune craft, that draw external mana and control the flow of mana to create a physical manifestation of ethereal properties. You harness the flow of mana and redirect it to your desired outcome.

Thus all formations start with a circle to ensure no man is lost in the spell. The circle must be complete, there are no gaps. An incomplete circle loses mana and weakens your formation. After your circle is complete, then comes the difficult part. Different arrays require different shapes. A fire mana gathering formation includes two squares. A water mana gathering formation includes two triangles. An earth mana gathering formation included rotating concentric pentagons. An air, formation includes two circles. The most powerful mana gathering formation is the Five-point mana gathering formation, which includes two encircled stars.

Inside each formation, are strategically placed ruins. Runes are an ancient form of script. According to ancient texts, runes are the true name of each element and command great elemental power.

Together these shapes and runes draw energy from the spiritual environment to the physical plane. Now in front of each box of sand and a brush. I want you to practice drawing a mana gathering formation that matches our element. You have the rest of the hour to practice, I will walk around the room to assist each of you.

For the remainder of the class, Will practiced drawing an earth mana gathering formation, with what looked like a calligraphy brush and a zen garden. Although instead of a rake that usually comes with the zen garden, he had a brush.

Will practiced drawing the rotating concentric pentagons, without lifting his hands, but it was too difficult.

"Close, but not quite. Imagine the rotating pentagons spiraling upwards to the sky, imagine drawing a rising mountain when you draw. Close your eyes, picture the mountain rising as your draw. With each stroke, the mountain spirals higher to the sky, until the mountain peak penetrates through the clouds, and the mountain's domain becomes immovable and resolute," said Grandmaster Takahashi.

Will closed his eyes and imagined a mountain climbing from a 2D to a 3D object, forming a pentagonal pyramid. As he pictured the mountain, he felt the mana in his body flow into the calligraphy pen. As he glided the pen around the sandbox, he felt the sand begin to rise to form a mound. However, no matter how hard he tried, he could not connect the first pentagon to a second.

Will kept practicing, with each feeling closer to achieving his goal. The best Will achieved was dilapidated looking ant hill. Yet, he continued to practice until the end of class.