Chapter 52 - Elementary Formations

Daniel didn't hurry quite as much on the way back to the academy, instead choosing to take a flying carriage. The ride was smooth and pleasant, giving him time to think about the lesson ahead as the city passed below.

He arrived well in time for his lesson, and quickly grabbed some food from the dining hall before heading to the classroom—toast with ringberry jam, and a delicious bonner as a treat.

He ate while walking, savoring the toast and the sweet, creamy pastry. Simple pleasures after an emotionally intense morning.

Saying goodbye to Elania had been surprisingly easy. Of course, he knew they would meet again later, but it still felt strangely casual. Like they hadn't just reunited after a thousand years apart.

Maybe we feel connected again now. I feel this immense relief that she’s still the same as she used to be. Anything else matters less.

Arriving at the classroom, he knocked on the door shortly before entering. The same students were present, except for Zoltran. Perhaps he was content to leave the twins to him now, no longer needing to watch them so closely.

Morin stood by the blackboard, washing away drawings of what looked like deep-sea creatures with a wet sponge. The chalk sketches were surprisingly detailed—tentacled things with too many eyes, fish with luminescent patterns, and creatures that seemed more plant than animal. None of which Daniel had ever seen before.

Merry is helping, I’m guessing?

The mermaid cheered as he entered the room, sitting next to Felicia in her custom wheelchair. Felicia seemed almost as glad as Merry did, but hid it much better. Just a slight upturn at the corners of her mouth and a softening around her eyes.

He also noted the two twins sitting behind them, eyeing him nervously. The tattoos were easily visible on their arms and necks, but their heads were untouched. Too significant a risk of causing mental damage, according to the files Zoltran sent over the previous evening.

The files had been… horrifying. Detailed logs of failed experiments, measurements of pain thresholds, and notes on which children lasted longest. But it allowed him deeper insight into the combination of formations and organic material. 

Unfortunately, it had tons of potential for creating empowered mages. If a mind like his ever seriously set out to research it, there’s no telling what might happen.

Maybe I can talk with them after the lesson? I’d like to get a closer look, see what effects the patterns have had on their bodies.

On the other hand, it may be best to get to know them first. A stranger suddenly asking to study their bodies would likely trigger some powerful trauma.

"Welcome, Professor Hansen. Ready for your first lesson in basic formations?" Morin's voice was welcoming, with none of the skepticism Harringer had shown.

"Always.” Daniel smiled, setting down his now-empty plate on a side table. “Are your newest students behaving?"

"Oh, absolutely! Felicia has a boundless curiosity that even I admire, and Merry here has helped us better understand the lives of beasts in the oceans." Morin gestured to the erased drawings on the board. "It's also very hard not to be infected by her enthusiasm."

"Merry helping!" The mermaid bounced slightly in her seat, causing water to slosh in her tank.

“Though she does get overly enthused at times.”

“Merry quiet!”

Morin just chuckled. “I’ll leave them to you, then. Everyone, please treat Professor Hansen with the same respect you treat me. I’ll see you all tomorrow.”

He waved to the students as he left the room, giving Daniel a quick thumbs-up before closing the door behind him.

And then Daniel was alone with six very different students, all watching him with varying degrees of curiosity and wariness.

"Alright! Nice to meet you all again." He moved to stand before the blackboard, adopting a relaxed posture to put them at ease. "I am Professor Hansen, but you can call me Daniel. I already know the two girls in front, so maybe the rest of you can introduce yourselves briefly? Starting with the boy in the back."

The oldest-looking boy stood from his desk, looking perfectly at ease. “My name is Clarc, and I’m the oldest student here. I come from a small village to the east, and was recruited for my talent in telekinesis.”

“Oh, telekinesis? I haven’t heard of many students being recruited for that reason. You must be quite the talent, then.”

Daniel sensed Clarc’s mana move towards the pens on his desk. But he hesitated, and instead bowed before sitting back down.

Now you’re making me curious. But fine.

“And the girl beside you?”

She looked decidedly less pleased to be presenting herself, arms crossed and body angled slightly away from him. Her jaw was set, like she was daring him to push. Then she sighed heavily before speaking, “Kiara.”

“Nice to meet you, Kiara.”

It seemed best to leave it there for now. Instead, he turned his attention to the twins, and his expression softened deliberately. These two needed gentleness.

“I’ve heard a bit about you two already. Would you like to present yourselves?”

The boy looked at his sister with a quick, nervous glance. She met his eyes and lightly nodded back. Then he stood from his desk like Clarc had done, though his posture was much more tense. 

“I am Allisair, and this is my sister Amille. We don’t like formations.”

Daniel sighed, letting his sympathy show. "No, I didn't think you would. But hopefully, you will learn that they can be incredibly helpful tools. And perhaps you will be smitten by their beauty, like I once was."

It was a long shot. These kids had been turned into living formations against their will, marked and controlled. Asking them to see beauty in the thing that had caused them so much pain was probably asking too much.

Allisair sat back down without responding, though his face was filled with doubt and distrust. Like the idea of finding formations beautiful was a joke he didn't find funny.

"Alright, then I know your names, at least." Daniel clapped his hands once, drawing attention back to the lesson. "How much have you learned about formations so far?"

Clarc raised his arm immediately, eager to participate.

Daniel nodded to him. "Go ahead."

"We have learned of the different types of formations, like protective, controlling, attacking, assisting, and custom formations. Then we started learning the runic alphabet, which we're still doing now."

"Alright, that's not bad." Better than he'd expected, actually. Morin was doing good work with them. "There's more of a focus on understanding formations than using them, then. Felicia, have you been studying the runic alphabet?"

“For half a day, sure.”

"Merry also! But is hard to learn when no… demo-thingy." Her brow furrowed with frustration as she searched for the word.

"...Demonstration?"

"Yes! Demonstrion." She beamed at him, delighted that he'd understood.

"Right. Then I think that's the plan for today."

He summoned another formation of gold light in the air, letting it materialize slowly so they could see the construction process. It elicited varied reactions from the students in the back. Clarc seemed awed, Kiara curiously intrigued, and the twins… 

Their eyes were glazed over, staring down at their desks now instead of at the formation. Sweat began to form on their temples, beading along their hairlines.

Hmm… Bad move. But you need to be exposed to them, since they’re such a normal thing in the world.

He tried to keep his voice gentle as he continued, softening his tone to something more reassuring. "This is a simple formation made from three runes. Do any of you recognize them?"

Felicia was the only one who raised her arm. But she had seen it before when he'd taught her privately, so that didn't surprise him.

"You remember it, Fillie?"

"Air, movement, absorb?" She said it as a question, but her tone suggested she was confident.

“Just so. Would you like to demons—”

“No, thank you,” Felicia interrupted before he could ask. She knew him well. “Merry would love it, I’m sure.”

“Yes! Show Merry!”

Daniel didn’t hesitate, pointing it straight at the mermaid and pushing mana into the formation. A gust of wind appeared in an instant, blowing Merry’s hair straight back.

"Ah! Ahahaa, how funny!" She laughed, bringing her hands up to feel the wind on her face. For mermaids used to swimming at high speeds underwater, even the strongest gust might simply feel like a breeze.

Daniel let the formation fade as the wind died away. “I’m glad someone appreciates it. It’s great for drying wet hair, girls.”

Of the four girls, only Merry seemed excited about that. And maybe Kiara, thought it was hard to tell.

“Now, why did this formation move the air like that?”

Clarc carefully raised his hand again. “Because the action runes were tied together to move something through the center, then the object rune was linked to that combination?”

“Yes, very good! The two action runes are combined to form a certain function, then air is chosen as the thing to perform that action on. So if we were to change it to water…”

He changed it on the fly, but waited to demonstrate. “Then what would happen?”

Now Merry raised her arm. “Water come out?”

“No, that doesn’t work because there is no water nearby. To actually create water would require either a condensation formation or a matter-creation formation, and both are far too demanding for such a simple formation. But you would find plenty of use for it underwater, I’m sure.”

"Yes, Merry has plenty water!" She gestured at her tank and then made a broader motion, as if indicating the entire ocean.

"Fire, on the other hand, can be created much more easily, because it only requires energy and air." Daniel shifted the formation again, this time to a flame configuration. "That's why you often see it used in battle formations. Now, for this…"

Daniel continued to create new combinations, taking his time with each one. He demonstrated each rune as it appeared, showing how different symbols could be combined to create different effects. A small flame that danced in the air. A barrier that shimmered like a soap bubble. A light that pulsed in different colors. 

The students all seemed intrigued, and even Kiara sat with her eyes on the runes. But the twins still seemed very nervous. Even as they looked closely at each new formation, sweat continued to bead on their skin. Their hands were clenched into fists under their desks.

At least they're trying. That's more than I should expect.

"Now, that should help you learn the runes better." Daniel dismissed the final formation, letting the golden light fade away gradually rather than winking out. "I'll quiz you all next time, so be prepared. Class dismissed!"

A decent first lesson, I’d say. The twins will need some more time, though…

The students started packing away books and utensils, then standing from their desks. Felicia and Merry remained seated, though, waiting for the others to leave.

Daniel watched the twins leave first, supporting each other. Then Clarc, who gave him a respectful nod. Kiara left without looking back.

Just Felicia and Merry remained.

"You're on mermaid escort duty, Fillie?" Daniel asked, moving to lean against his desk.

“We live in the same direction, so it’s no trouble.” She stood up and moved behind Merry, angling her away from the desk and out toward the door. “Plus, she can help me with the direction if I get lost.”

"Merry has sharp eyes. Can see looong way!" The mermaid stretched her arms out wide to demonstrate.

"That's impressive." Daniel smiled at her enthusiasm. "Is your tail doing fine in the water?"

"Yes! Danil made great chair for Merry." She patted the sides of her tank affectionately, causing small ripples.

“I’m glad you like it. Let’s go!”

He walked with them out of the classroom, pulling the door closed behind them.

“How was your morning?” Felicia asked quietly, looking toward Daniel.

“Very interesting. I might have created a feud with the previous advanced formations professor, but at least the students can start learning properly now.”

“For some reason, I’m not surprised." There was definite amusement in her voice now. "I’m glad you’re adapting to this new life.”

“Same here. I think it will keep improving.”

Despite all the threats now looming closer than ever, Daniel felt confident. He was looking forward to every new day, which was a first in quite some time.

Another three hours before the date. I should spend some time with my cute little apprentice.

Ch.51 --I-- Ch.53