Raegar and the girls continued with Aether Fundantals as Professor Silvershade taught them how to level up to Vapour. Zahara turned to him as the class was writing notes on their preferred elent.
''Why are you taking this class if you've already advanced?'' she curiously questioned.
Without turning his gaze away from the board, he answered honestly. ''Because there's much more to learn apart from advancing. How to condense my Aether so it becos more efficient, how to cast my spells better, and all sorts.''
''You're truly here to learn, aren't you?'' Dominique said with an amused smile.
Raegar glanced at the vampire, replying. ''Of course. This stuff will stay with us long after leaving Drakenwood, we should benefit from it to grow strong and explore the unknown.''
When hearing this, her green eyes narrowed. ''Who said I want to do that?''
''Fair enough,'' he said. ''What do you want to do?''
''Find rare monsters to ta and travel to the lost southern continents,'' she responded.
Raegar was about to speak, but Professor Silvershade interrupted them. ''Now that everyone's taken notes, we will try working on your elents out in the gardens where you can gather to advance.''
When the class heard this, they got excited as Zahara turned to the vampire. ''What elent are you doing, Dominique?'' she inquired.
He was curious, so he listened when their friends answered. ''Maybe Earth, I can use It to defend myself while using Dark to attack, I avoid Death thanks to it instantly killing things, which is inconvenient here.''
The blonde nodded in understanding, prompting Raegar to comnt. ''We'll do it alone if you want. I know so people find it strange, but it's always fascinated if I'm honest.''
Dominique's eyes widened at his words, causing her to question. ''If that's okay with you? My parents said the atmosphere changed when a Death Mage advances.''
Raegar laughed at this before leaning in, whispering. ''Do you forget that I can also use it along with your other Elents?''
''Oh yes, I rember now,'' she giggled. ''It's not every day you et soone who can use it.''
Following that, the three of them began listening to the professor, who was outlining what he already knew, from gathering and controlling the Aether so it wouldn't overflow. He learned that the hard way while advancing his Water Elent.
'I was lucky but I won't be doing that for a while,' he mused, clenching his right arm that looked disgusting.
He was disheartened by his new appearance and couldn't wait to heal his grandmother so she could finally heal him. Raegar knew it would hurt thanks to all the damage; he wanted to avoid more, but knew trouble always found him.
After this, Professor Silvershade called out to him. ''Blackwood, how much Aether does one have to gather to advance?''
''Enough to fill up your pool until the rim. Then you have to focus on it so it doesn't overflow,'' he answered. ''It's painful, yes, but worth it in the long run as it improves everything.''
The green-haired woman nodded, smiling. ''And why do we need to do this?''
Raegar's red eye glowed with interest, catching both girls' attention as he responded. ''The purpose is to give us more Aether, allowing our bodies to passively absorb it from the world around us.''
He noticed the other students staring but continued talking. ''This process is subtle, a constant undercurrent, but it accelerates when we gather, drawing in the raw Aether through heightened states. The benefits, however, are deeply personal, shaped by the unique interplay of one's elental affinity, their mastery of knowledge, and the body.''
Professor Silvershade's blue eyes widened in surprise, but she motioned for him to continue. ''For so, it might enhance their strength; for others, it could unlock deeper connections to the primal forces. It's a transformation as varied as the person.''
His explanation hung in the air, each word carefully chosen to convey the complexity of the process, inviting his listeners to glimpse the vast potential that lay within the disciplined pursuit of Aether mastery.
Following that, the older woman nodded with a big smile. ''Good answer, Blackwood. Thank you for listening.''
He nodded while relaxing as his body hurt him. He grimaced when feeling this, but didn't let it show. After this, the class continued like that for a while longer before the next lesson began.
Zahara and Dominique carefully stowed their books in their bags, their movents practiced and unhurried. Raegar followed suit, tucking his texts away with a faint wince, his muscles still protesting from the morning's exertions.
As the trio stepped out of the classroom, the bustling hum of the academy surrounded them, students weaving through the halls in a vibrant tapestry of chatter and purpose. His thoughts drifted to his next class, Devil Hunting with Selene,
His aching body recoiled at the thought of combat training, yearning instead for a mont of reprieve. Monts later, they erged into a sunlit corridor, the stained-glass windows casting kaleidoscopic patterns across the stone floor.
Zahara and Dominique turned to him, their faces bright with smiles. Zahara spoke first, her voice warm. ''I've got Healing Arts next, and Dominique's headed to Summoning. How about we et up for dinner later?''
Raegar paused, his brow furrowing as he processed her words. ''Wait, don't we have lunch now?'' he asked, a thoughtful expression settling over his features, one hand absently rubbing at a sore shoulder as he glanced between the two girls.
The vampire laughter bubbled up, light and teasing, as she nudged her arm. ''Lunch, dinner, slow down, Raegar, you're already skipping half the day!''
Her green eyes sparkled with mischief, and she tossed a playful glance at Zahara, who was stifling a grin. Zahara shook her head. ''He's right, though, it's lunchti now. I just got ahead of myself. Let's grab sothing at the dining hall before we split for classes. You in?''
Her smile was warm, but there was a knowing glint in her eyes, as if she could sense the fatigue weighing on him. Raegar rubbed the back of his neck, his aching muscles protesting even the thought of walking to the dining hall.
'Yeah, sure,'' he said, managing a smile under the mask which hid his face. ''But if Selene makes spar in Devil Hunting, I might just collapse into my stew later.''
The thought of facing Selene's relentless fighting made his stomach twist, though he tried to mask it with a casual tone. As they started down the corridor, the crowd of students parted around them, their footsteps echoing against the polished stone.
Dominique fell into step beside Raegar, her summoning to tucked under one arm. ''You'll survive,'' she said softly. ''Selene's tough, but she knows when to ease up. Besides, you've got us to patch you up afterward.''
She winked, gesturing toward Zahara, whose healing skills were already renowned among their peers. The brown skinned girl chuckled, walking on his other side. ''She's not wrong. If you co out of that class with so much as a bruise, I'll fix you up before dinner. Deal?''
Her offer was genuine, but the way her eyes lingered on him held a trace of concern, as if she could see the toll his training was taking. Raegar chuckled at their worry before reassuring the duo.
''I don't plan on fighting for a while,'' he revealed. ''I want to be healed before the tournant starts, which is after sumr break, thanks to the empire moving it back due to the Devil attacks across the realm.''
The two girls nodded as Dominique comnted. ''Yes, so I heard. The first fights started in spring to determine who will fight once we're back from break.''
Zahara bead. ''At least I have ti to learn how to fight properly, I was worried about it beginning in spring,'' she said.
Raegar smiled when hearing this before turning to the vampire. ''Are you competing?''
''Yes, I was taught how to use a sword from a young age thanks to my father,'' Dominique answered.
Following that, the three of them reached the dining hall where they t Rune, Caspian, Luna, and Vienna. The group greeted each other until a red blur appeared, and soone suddenly hugged him.
Raegar let out a sharp yelp as a jolt of pain lanced through his battered body, his teeth clenching tightly to stifle a groan. Dominique's eyes flashed with concern as she swiftly stepped forward, gently but firmly pulling Selene back.
Her voice carried a stern edge as she admonished the Demoness. ''Careful, Selene! Raegar's still recovering from those damned assassins. Go easy on him.''
Selene's yellow eyes narrowed, her lips curling into a faint, unapologetic smirk, though a flicker of guilt passed through her gaze. ''He's tougher than he looks, Dominique,'' she confidently said.
She adjusted her stance, the faint shimr of demonic energy around her fading as she reined in her intensity. ''But fine, I'll play nice, for now.''
Raegar couldn't help but smile at her happiness. ''It's fine, girls, I'm used to the pain, but sotis it gets too much.''
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