The Spells
[Rain's POV]
Selene's worried gaze met mine, and my heart began to rush. "How are you doing? With a worried tone, she questioned, "What happened to your face? Instead of looking up at her, I looked down, absorbed in my own thoughts. Selene's mouth tightened, evidently annoyed. At minimum, you ought to speak with your father. How is he able to?”
"I'm okay now, Selene," I gently cut her off in an attempt to finish the talk.
I could feel the weight of her scrutiny as her frown grew. "Really?!" she screamed, momentarily not believing it. With greater intensity this time, she insisted, "You should talk to your father at least." I responded with a sombre nod. With a sigh, Selene took my hand and guided me to a bench nearby.
"Why do you just give Rain a nod? "Try having a conversation with him," she irritatedly replied. "At least tell him you're good at healing subjects, but not so good at spells."
I sighed once more. "It's not too serious; everything will work out."
Exasperated, Selene shook her head and got off the bench. Most likely, something has to be fixed. It's unbelievable that you would let anything of such magnitude to elude you. She strode out towards the academy, muttering in disgust, and I followed. We strolled onto campus together as the sun began to drop.
For the first time, we were walking towards our lesson amid claustrophobic quiet. My friend Selene and I had been best friends since elementary school. We were both adept in our own magical fields, and we had always supported one another. I was good at making potions and curing medicines, but Selene had a natural knack for sapphire stones. As a team, we were unbeatable.
When we got to Adrian, he was deep in concentration reading 'Stone Resonance and Vibration.' Adrian was a childhood friend who has extraordinary alchemical talent. He had been assisted in realising his aspirations by his father, a well-known Alchemist from the Reyes family. Adrian was attractive and well-liked, particularly by the girls, and he had a lot of charisma. Adrian took up his mother's responsibilities after she left the Reyes clan at the age of seventeen and wed an unknown person.
He looked up as Selene sat next to him, a warm smile lighting up his face. "Hey Rain, Selene." He got up to welcome us. Selene smiled back at him, and I nodded curtly.
"Today, Rain, I'm going to spend time with my boyfriend," Selene stated, her eyes rolling as though it were apparent. I scowled with disapproval. She continued, "Why don't you look for someone else to keep company with?" I gave her a warm grin and moved on. Now that the class was full, I turned back to Selene.
Selene laughed, obviously enjoying my predicament. "I think she can't live without me, and I have no complaints, even though she's such a tsundere."
Selene yelled, "Rain, sit there," gesturing to an empty table in the front row where some rubbish had been left behind. With a sigh, I moved in its direction and sat down. I tried to look calm in spite of the cold, crossing my legs and resting my elbows on my knees.
"Whatever became of her?" After I had settled down, Adrian asked quietly. He took up his pen and resumed writing. Selene gave a nonchalant shrug. "Her father slapped her for not practicing spells, as usual," she said. However, you may argue that he's an arsehole. Adrian giggled quietly as she concluded with a tiny smile.
The first class began when the bell sounded, interrupting Selene before she could say anything more. Our Stone Resonance and Vibration teacher, Mr. Montgomery, came into the room. He wore a plain black robe that matched the school uniform, and his long white hair fell over his shoulders. As he spoke to us, his brown eyes sparkled mischievously.
Alright, allow me to quickly finish this. Today, we're exploring the intriguing topic of Stone Resonance and Vibration, which examines how various magical stones vibrate and resonate to affect their attributes. We'll go over the basic ideas of resonance as well as how different kinds of magic and their spells are impacted by vibrations.
Pausing, Mr. Montgomery studied the class. Most students attentively took notes, while a few were already getting bored. "I'm sure you know that today is the last day before winter break, but before we go into the theory. I'm sure that some of you are getting ready for a trip or returning home. He grinned at the happy faces. You can still attend Stoneforge's winter classes, though, so don't worry. Thus, kindly refrain from getting ahead of yourself. After that, he turned to write on the board the schedule for the winter vacation.
Some pupils seemed resigned, while others who were excited about the holidays seemed disappointed and even a little furious. When he saw the unhappiness, Mr. Montgomery remarked in a comforting voice, "Don't be sad, kids." "Okay, so we can enjoy ourselves and unwind during our break just like we would any other time?" While some kids appeared happy, others remained irritated. I took a note of the board's schedule:
- In the morning: Practice basic ice spells
- Stone attunement and meditation in the afternoon
- In the morning: complex spell methods
- Afternoon: Spelling check and fieldwork
- Morning: A winter magic theory
- Afternoon: Spell design and group projects
- Morning: Stone upkeep and ethical behaviour
- Afternoon: Practice integrating different magics.
- In the morning: Actual exam
- Afternoon: Feedback and review by peers
With delight, Mr. Montgomery declared, "There is the twist." "You will receive the Petrus Academy scholarship if you pass all of the exams." Cheers erupted in the room. My heart began to race as I watched in shock as the news hit home. In order to honour my father, I decided to enrol in this university. Even though I knew it was required, I was reluctant.
Something heavy struck my shoulder, startling me out of my reverie and interrupting my thoughts. When I turned, I saw Selene standing behind me with her arms crossed and a smug smile on her face. "Are you alright? You realise that you were zoning out?
"Oh yeah, definitely," I replied, trying to be cute. Selene merely chuckled and sat down next to me. "I find it annoying that you sit here by yourself," she said.
We both turned our attention to Mr. Montgomery as I responded with a sincere smile, "It's okay, I knew you'd come."
Selene jokingly informed me, "Adrian kept turning his homework into a toad—he couldn't keep his spells straight." I chuckled quietly before returning my focus to the lecturer.
"All right, let's resume with the lecture," Mr. Montgomery said. Kinds of Enchanted Stones: 1. Luminite: This light-emitting stone is utilised in spells for illumination and cleansing. 2. Shadowstone: This light-absorbing stone is necessary for hiding and being stealthy. 3. Heartstone: renowned for its ability to strengthen healing spells and emotions. 4. Storm Crystal: Ideal for controlling the weather, it channels elemental energy.
Mr. Montgomery said, "Casting Spells with Stones," and I opened my notebook to swiftly record the information. I was determined to pay great attention since I didn't want to chance getting slapped by my father again or failing the examinations.
"The potency of spells can be focused or amplified by stones. For example, a light spell can be strengthened and made brighter and more durable with the help of a Luminite crystal. Spelling example: Radiant Beacon
Proclamation: "Excellent!"
Method: Hold a Luminite in your palm and picture a lighthouse. Concentrating on the brilliance of the stone, recite the incantation. A brilliant, guiding light that can disclose hidden facts and brighten shadowy locations will be created by the spell.
While I was writing everything down, Selene was fiddling with her hair. I smiled at her after noticing her look.
Could you give it a shot? Selene enquired in jest. I gave her a look, shook my head, and went back to studying my notes. Selene studied everything carefully and gave a nod of approval. That is rather good. I'll teach you after the lecture. It's quite easy. I returned the smile and looked back at the professor.
Mr. Montgomery went on, "Objects can also be enchanted by using stones to give them magical qualities. For instance, a Shadowstone embedded in a cloak can increase the wearer's stealth or make them invisible.
Spell example: Cloak of Shadows
The phrase "Umbra Invocare!"
Method: Recite the incantation while inserting a Shadowstone into the lining of the cloak. The cloak will develop into an effective disguise item that is ideal for sneaking about or running from danger.
Multiple-Stone Rituals
Several stones combined can have significant consequences. Every stone offers its distinct energy to the ceremony, resulting in a combination that has the potential to produce amazing outcomes.
Sample Spell: Harmony of Elements
The cry goes, "Elementum Concordia!"
Steps to Take: Form a circle with Luminite, Storm Crystal, and Heartstone. Imagine the mixing of light, storm, and emotion as you direct your energy via each stone. This ceremony has the power to restore harmony to chaotic situations and balance elemental energies.
I was taking notes rapidly as Mr. Montgomery turned to address the class after concluding his lecture. "This is an advanced topic, as I mentioned yesterday, but there will be a lot of things in the future semester that might be of interest to you. In case you haven't already, don't forget to take notes. Here is the next practical exercise.
a component of this course. It will teach you how to use the things in front of you to perform and cast three spells.
I was about to yell, "What the hell?" when I saw that water had leaked across my notebook. It had fallen by mistake, and now all my notes were smeared.
"Sorry! With an embarrassed expression, Selene apologised to Rain and hurried to use her towel to dry my notebook. I grabbed my notebook back and rolled my eyes in frustration.
"Selene, why did you do this?" I asked, clearly frustrated.
Selene gave a casual shrug. "I apologise; I'll teach you."
I gave her a scowl but chose not to challenge her. Rather, I grabbed my suitcase and exited the classroom, ready to get away from Selene's accident. I didn't even realise she was following me as I ran down the hall.