Radiance - The Alight Archives Book #1

30. Building Blocks

With the first week of their semester well behind them, the professors had eased their grip on the students, no longer insisting on a barrage of challenges or surprise tests that had characterized the beginning of their academic journey. This shift was met with palpable relief from everyone in class; Elaine certainly wouldn't complain about it.

Instead, the instructors embraced a more traditional pedagogical approach, reminiscent of what one might expect from a standard educational institution—be it for sorcerers or everyday civilians. Each lesson began with lectures that provided detailed insights, followed by group readings of assigned textbook chapters. 

The sessions typically concluded with a question-and-answer segment, allowing students to clarify any lingering doubts and deepen their understanding. Elaine found this structured format comforting, though she couldn't help but wonder how long they would be allowed to settle into this routine.

After the grueling demands of her first two days—and the peculiar experience she faced during the Fulcudo game—Elaine had dedicated the remainder of her weekend to recuperation. She spent long hours in her dorm room, alternating between restorative sleep and intensive study sessions. 

The only interruptions to her solitude came when hunger struck, compelling her to join classmates for meals in the bustling Feast Hall or when the need for personal respite drove her to the nearby restrooms. By the time Straize rolled around, Elaine felt revitalized, eager to soak up the knowledge that the esteemed Professional Sorcerers had to impart.

Potion-Making Class, while essential, didn't present Elaine with many new challenges. Professor Lurgs expertly navigated through the syllabus, meticulously explaining various terminologies and outlining the apparatus they would utilize in crafting specific concoctions. Given her extensive experience assisting at her parents' potions shop, Elaine was familiar with nearly everything being taught. 

However, Professor Lurgs' infectious enthusiasm and vivacious demeanor kept her engaged. On the other hand, Simon, now her permanent potion-making partner, had a habit of incessantly muttering observations that made Elaine long for some kind of magical silencing charm.

By contrast, the Arts of Abjuration Class curriculum was laden with complex statistical concepts and esoteric phrases that stretched her mental faculties. Fortunately, with Fearne's steady guidance and patient explanations, Elaine managed to get through the class without feeling too overwhelmed. 

In her Study of Spirits Class, Professor Altair opted not to have them Summon any spirits after their initial lesson. Rather, she immersed them in the rich and nuanced history of the Celestial Realm, illustrating how the various spirit societies had formed well-developed structures of governance and tradition.

The result was a class that felt surprisingly reminiscent of Magihistory; instead of dissecting legendary sorcerers and the epic duels from Incante's storied past, they now delved into the societal hierarchies of spirits. Professor Altair's captivating narrative style transformed the spirits from distant, ethereal entities into relatable beings, revealing unexpected parallels between human and spirit civilizations. 

With each insight, it became increasingly clear to Elaine that, at their core, humans and spirits shared fundamental similarities, mirrored in their aspirations for progress and their complex societal frameworks.

Most of the week drifted by like a gentle summer breeze, but what caught her off guard was the mundane nature of Professor Marsh's lessons. After being trapped in a pocket prison and being forced to take an exam that would decide their futures at the academy, why, she imagined she wasn't the only one in her class on high alert. Just what might their strict instructor try to pull next?