Challenges of the Aether: Call of the Abyss

Chapter 16: A Noble Dispute

  I silence my alarm, careful not to wake Sylvia. I quietly make my bed, get dressed, and head to the bathroom to prepare. I glance over to see Sylvia still asleep. I grab a glass of water, book, and bag, then lock the door before leaving.

I head out of the dorm and go to the cafeteria to check out what's on the breakfast menu for today. As I stepped in, I noticed several other students and professors already there.

I decided to grab a bite to eat and find a cozy spot at one of the tables. I remember reading about a training spell in the book I bought recently, so I eagerly started experimenting with it.

I start by summoning an orb of mana in my palm, playfully rolling it on the table before attempting to lift it into the air. Unfortunately, I can only make it move a few inches before it plops back onto the table.

"Hey there, Rune! It's great to see you so full of energy as always!"

"Morning, Nytsul! How's everything going for you?"

"Pretty good so far! Hey, what's that you're working on?"

"Just experimenting with my mana control skills. I'm trying to manipulate this mana orb, moving it around and lifting it in the air."

"That sounds like a lot of fun! Would it be okay if I try it?"

"Sure, go ahead, Nytsul! Maybe I'll be able to do it if I see someone else doing it.

Nytsul creates his mana orb, just like mine, and carefully sets it on the table. With a gentle touch, he starts swaying it back and forth and then gradually lifts it off the table, swirling it around in the air.

"Wow, that's incredible! When I attempted that, I could only lift the orb off the table by a few inches at best before it fell back down."

"It's not entirely unexpected, considering I've dedicated years to honing my mana skills and practicing magic. So, experiences like this happen naturally over time.

I have to head out now and prepare for my lesson today. I'll catch you later in my class."

After finishing my meal in the cafeteria, I decided to head outside to the arena building to try a spell from the new book I purchased. As soon as I stepped inside the building, I spotted a few students a few years ahead of me, playfully dueling with each other. Excited by the sight, I found myself a spot and eagerly started practicing my skills.

I grab the book from my bag and start flipping through the pages, searching for something intriguing. I stumble upon this fascinating spell called Shadow Whip. The idea is to gather your mana, shape it into a whip, and infuse it with the Dark attribute.

I start by reciting the spell out loud and focusing my mana into my hand. From the Darkness that surrounds me, I bend to my will, Shadow whip. As I finish casting the spell, I can feel my mana drain from myself and the nearby shadows while the whip slowly materializes.

As I get ready to crack the whip against the ground, I feel energy building up in the tip. A small burst of force radiates outward when it finally touches the ground.

Looking where the whip landed, a small crack was formed. It's impressive how powerful this is, especially since it's only the first attack spell in the book.

Glancing at my watch, I realized it was nearly time for class. Without wasting a moment, I quickly packed my belongings before heading off in a rush.

As I walked into the classroom, I couldn't help but notice that the day's topic written on the board was voting for the class president and vice president. As I made my way to my seat, I heard a conversation between two students discussing their thoughts on who should be the class president.