"What's going on?" Eunim asked. "Why are we sitting here?"

Tercius looked at his roommate and said, "Nothing much, I just wanted a change,"

"We are having breakfast underground. Isn't that change enough?" Eunim said as he glanced at where Euria, Lomera, and Penelope ate their breakfast.

Tercius shook his head. The breakfast was made up of two hard-boiled eggs, two spoons of marmalade, a piece of bread, and a single cup of tea. Tercius made short work of it in mere moments, while Eunim and Jorro observed as the girls occasionally threw glances at Tercius.

"Did something happen?" Jorro asked. "What did you do?"

"What makes you think that I did something?" Tercius asked as he wiped his hands. As he folded his napkin he saw that his roommates barely touched anything of their breakfast.

"An instinct," Jorro said.

"I guess it's not sharp enough," Tercius smiled, then pointed at their plates. “Are you going to eat that?”

Jorro placed his hand around his plate— giving his answer.

Eunim said, “I will give it to you if you tell me what is going on. Why did you sit here when they were sitting over there?”

Tercius looked at his young roommate. “What would you do if I say that I don’t want to talk about it?”

Eunim seemed confused at that. “What do you mean what would I do? What can I do?”

“Well, let's say that I have information and you want it. How would you go about getting it?”

“I would ask,” Eunim said with a shrug. “Where are you going with this?”

“Patience, I won’t be long,” Tercius said. “And if I refuse to tell you?”

Eunim bowed his head for a moment and thought about it. “I don’t know. Is this ‘information’ you have important for me in some way?”

“As far as you know it’s some kind of gossip,” Tercius answered after a moment of consideration. “But, you could have some suspicions that it might be something bigger… Maybe.”

“Then it’s none of my business,” Eunim said. “Besides asking, I don’t think I would do anything else,”

“How about you, Jorro?”

Jorro was just biting into his egg when Tercius asked, but he chewed quickly. Between mouthfuls, he said, "I'm with Eunim."

“Well, then. Penelope and I had a bit of a… disagreement. That’s it. Now hand over your plate.”

Eunim pushed his plate to Tercius, but his face was a bit sour. “What kind of an answer is that?”

“The only one you’re going to get.” Tercius took the two eggs as he knew that Eunim rarely ate them, then pushed back the plate to the boy. “Now eat your marmalade. You’ve seen how late the breakfast was, who knows when the lunch is going to be…”

Jorro’s pale skin went a shade whiter. “What? But, but… They can’t do that!” he practically yelled around a piece of bread. “Are we going to starve?!”

Jorro was always munching on something, and meat of any kind was his preferred snack. The boy had brought a whole bag full of dried meat which he kept in a part of his closet. Tercius thought it weird until he saw how much the boy was able to eat. No meal was ever enough for him, and he used that meat as a snack between breakfast and lunch, and then lunch and dinner. Sometimes, Tercius even heard him get up in the middle of the night and munch away. The boy was one of the most physically active amongst the students. Tercius and Jorro would share their morning runs, and Tercius would stop with the activity for the day, but Jorro would go for a run after lunch, and then one after dinner. Besides running, Jorro had a daily routine that included all kinds of exercises; sit-ups, push-ups, squats, and a few others Tercius never saw before. Considering that the boy was as skinny as he could be before it was a health hazard, all of the food he ate was spent within a day, probably.

Tercius chuckled at the horrified expression Jorro had. He would have liked to tease the boy a little, but the time for eating was running out. "No, I think this is only until they get a schedule in order. A day or two at most."

“Oh, that’s… manageable…” Jorro said with a sigh, then went back to chewing. “I won’t mind eating more jerky, but… I’m running low as is. I need to replenish my stock soon,”

It was a few minutes later that an audible snap ended all conversation. From a buzzing beehive of activity, the hall turned stagnant.

“Breakfast is over,” Master Lazarus proclaimed as he rose from his seat at the table where Masters and Mistresses ate. With a snap of his fingers, one by one, plates left the tables gently floating away and neatly stacking themselves at the end of the hall.

“We talked yesterday of affinities. I hope everyone held their Affinity Appraisal Crystals close at hand. Now let's see, bring them out.” Master Lazarus came to walk between the tables where the students sat, while the other Masters and Mistresses still ate and watched the proceedings.

Tercius fished out his marble out of his pocket and held it in his palm. A transparent, polished piece of glass-like crystal, it was the same as it was yesterday. Glancing around he saw that some marbles had gained colors, and those that did had a radiance to them. Most, however, seemed dim, much like his own.

"If your AAC is still transparent, then place it back. For some it just takes more time, so don't worry. Try to use your skills more frequently," Master Lazarus said. "For those of you whose AACs are glowing, place them on the tables before you,"

Fragile-sounding glass found a solid stone surface in the pitters of rain, all around Tercius. Eunim's AAC was also blank, like Tercius's, while Jorro's had a snowy white radiance.

"Let's start then," Master Lazarus said, and headed over to the nearest student. Master picked up the ACC in his giant hand, and the small brown-yellow marble seemed tiny in his hand. A pair of black-rimmed spectacles appeared in the Master's hand and he placed them on his nose. "What's your name, student?"

The boy murmured something, but Tercius did not understand a word.

“Speak up, child,” Master Lazarus rumbled. “Mistress Fenia is making note of your affinity. We need to get you the appropriate first spell,”

“My name is Xerian, Master,” the boy said more loudly this time.

“Fenia, please note that young Xerian needs a spell related to earth. Mistress Helfira, please check,” Master Lazarus said, and the marble floated away to the old lady.

“Agreed,” the Mistress said. She passed the marble to Master Kot, who also gave his affirmative. The AAC went from hand to hand and the decision was unanimous. Mistress Fenia was at the end of the line and once she gave her verbal agreement, she placed the AAC into a box. Taking a pen she scribbled something on a scroll that was near her.

“Next,” Master Lazarus said.

Metal, then air, then lightning. On and on it went, the students giving a name while Master Lazarus gave them their affinity. The delegation at the table agreed with no exceptions, and the AACs were placed back into a box.

Of their group, only Jorro's and Lomera's AACs had found their affinity.

After Lomera stuttered out her name, Master Lazarus said, "What do we have here?" The master spun a small green marble in his hand, as he brought it to his spectacles. "The main affinity is for life energies, most certainly, but I see another one. A tiny one for… I think dust,"

That seemed to wake the teacher's table up. Previously they had been munching, and lazily exchanging words, but they visibly perked up when Master Lazarus said 'life energies' and then even more when he said 'dust'.

"Hand it over," Mistress Helfira said and the marble flew like a bullet to her hand. Master Lazarus seemed startled as he squeezed his empty hand. Tercius turned to the teachers' table and saw equal looks on the faces of the younger Masters and Mistresses as they looked not at the AAC but the oldest Mistress there. For her part Mistress Helfira ignored their stares and seemed focused on peering into the small crystal. She frowned, for a moment, but still nodded. "You are correct, Lazarus. Life and dust."

Mistress Helfira turned her gaze to Lomera. The old woman played with the small marble even as Master Kot tried to take it from her, and her focused gaze remained on the unsettled Lomera for quite some time.

Master Lazarus had moved on and he eventually came to Jorro. "Name?"

"J'ro, Master," the boy said. Tercius perked up as he heard the boy say his name. His senses told him that there was a subtle change to the pronouncement. When Tercius met the boy for the first time he had been introduced by Eunim as 'Jorro' and Tercius thought that this was his name.

"Snow," Master Lazarus said and sent the marble to the table where other Masters and Mistresses verified his findings.

J'ro, as Tercius immediately used the amended name, seemed disappointed by that. His eyes dropped at the table, and his fingers went over the smooth surface in circular motions.

"I think that's all for today, regarding affinities. Now we will move on to the next stage. For those who still don't know your affinities, don't worry, you will in a day or two. So listen well, for this applies to you too. Mistresses and Masters present in this room will, starting tomorrow, from after lunch up until dinner be available to those of you who don't have Mana Manipulation. Lists will be posted after classes tomorrow assigning each of you to someone who will guide you in acquiring this skill." Master Lazarus said. "Those of you who have Mana Manipulation, you will be given a few exercises to start building up your levels."

The man made a pause as he had to take a drink. It was a long half-an-hour of finding out affinities.

"Now regarding Mana Metamorphosis, you will need to make a certain decision before you start practicing to gain this skill. Before I explain that let me make a few terms familiar to you. First, we have 'Speaker', then 'Shaper' and finally-" Master Lazarus chuckled at something one student said. "-no, it does not begin with an 'S'. The final one is 'Gesticulator' or as your savvy colleague called it 'Snapper'. No more interruptions, Bo. Don't make me talk to your mother."

"Where was I? Speaker. A 'Speaker' is someone who uses his or her voice to cast spells. It does not even have to be a voice in the strictest of sense, as any kind of audible medium if applicable here; a drum for example, even singing— another popular name for Speakers are Singers. Any kind of spell cast or projected by audible means is under the purview of the Speakers. What do you think the advantages of audible means of casting spells are?-- Raise your hand first Bo, or your lips will be glued together for a day."

A hand went up. "It sounds nice."

"It sounds nice, Master," Master Lazarus corrected.

"Yes, that. Sorry." Bo said, then quickly added, "Master."

Master Lazarus shook his head with a booming laugh. "Any advantage comes to mind to anyone?-- Anyone other than Bo?"

A hand went up near Penelope's group and Tercius recognized the voice. It was that girl from the library, from last night. "A wide cast area, Master."

Master Lazarus nodded. "True, true. Any disadvantage you can think of?"

The brown-haired girl had an instant answer, "It's difficult to differentiate friend and foe when casting in such a way, Master,"

"True," Master Lazarus said. "Then let me tell you about 'Shapers'. This method focuses on visual casting. Here a mage paints out a spell, makes a visual plan, a shape, of some kind, in his or her mind. Can anyone other than your two helpful colleagues think of an answer?"

"Maybe it's easier to differentiate friend and foe? Master," a male voice said.

"Is that a question I hear? Oh, it's you," Master Lazarus said as he glanced at a boy. "You answered with a question yesterday too if I remember correctly. Try to rid yourself of such a habit, as soon as possible. Still, your answer is true. A disadvantage? Anyone?"

There was a silence for a few moments while the students stewed, while Master Lazarus seemed like a fish in water. One girl raised her hand and said, "I think that it's slow, Master,"

"Why do you think that?" Master Lazarus asked as he made way to the small girl.

"I paint, and it's usually a slow process. Master."

"That is true," Master Lazarus praised the girl. "Now we have 'Gesticulators'. These mages cast spells by using some kind of physical movement. A twist of the arm, a flick of a finger, a twirl of the whole body, these actions are all spells for Gesticulators. I won't bother you with advantages and disadvantages here, and you will see why in a moment. I have asked my colleagues to stay after your affinity testing to make a small demonstration of each type of casting. Mistress Fenia, if you please,"

Mistress Fenia smiled serenely. Her hands started clapping in a slow rhythm, and then she opened her mouth. There was absolute silence as almost two hundred heads turned to the Mistress.

Unfamiliar words, soft and gentle escaped Mistress’s lips.

The voice of the Mistress echoed off the stone walls, floors, and ceilings. The surroundings started blurring, as the students faded away, a scene of outdoors appeared before his eyes. Evergreen trees, animal sounds, above him a single sun shone. He felt himself floating, being carried away…

Tercius snapped himself out of it.

As soon as he saw the small wooden cabin among the evergreen trees, he knew that something was wrong. And once that feeling came to him, it was so easy to peel off the fog that his mind was drifting in. The sweet silk-like voice was still slowly drifting in the background, but his will had primacy once more.

Standing up with a start, he saw his fellow students still sitting, while their eyes stared into space.

He saw that some had snapped out of it, and the teachers noted those who did. Master Lazarus nodded to Tercius as soon as he stood up. Tercius's mouth was dry, all the moisture escaping to his lower back where it slowly started to stain his shirt. What the hell?! Isn't this forbidden? Mind magic?

Tercius knew from Mistress Dea that Mind spells were strictly forbidden for all, be they teacher or student, on Academy grounds. His hand gripped where his amulet was and his hand found nothing. Fuck! With a sinking feeling in his stomach, he realized that they were no longer on Pyramid grounds. A perfect place for Insurgents to strike, his heart skipped a beat as his hands clenched. He looked where his friends were and took a look where the Masters and Mistresses were, where the exits were…

His mind was in a whirl as he realized that he had no way of saving everyone.

Hells, he had no way to save himself.

What do I do?

Then a calm part of his mind suppressed his paranoid one and he noted that the Masters and Mistresses all behaved normally. Mistress Fenia had stopped her song, and silence reigned once more.

Students around him came back, their eyes gaining light and liveliness that was absent a moment before.

"I'm sorry," Mistress Fenia's voice echoed over the silent room. Tercius looked at her and saw that she was looking at him. She stood up and started walking over to him. "The spell was supposed to conjure a vision of a place dear to your heart, one untainted by grief. An Illusion that allowed you a moment to see it. I don't know what went wrong in your case. Are you all right, student?"

"I… I… need a moment," he said, his voice shaky. His legs were threatening to give out, but the rest of him demanded he leave immediately. "Can I… go to a restroom? Mistress."

"Go, we'll take a break," Mistress Fenia nodded. "If you need anything just call,"

***

Tercius's hands shook.

He had trouble calming his nerves even after he splashed cold water all over his face and neck. That small cabin he saw was his. It was his in Tercius's old life. It was something he got as a gift, right around his eighteenth birthday, and a place that had grown on him. The remoteness, the fact that his closest neighbor was over ten kilometers away, the time he spent there... it was all part of the charm the place had.

It was his place on Earth. His own and no one else's. Any time he had a difficult time, he would retreat there and cut off all contact with the world outside. A month alone would always recharge his batteries.

Entering Meditation, Tercius relaxed. The soothing skill mellowed out the raging emotions with each passing moment.

To take his mind off of the cabin he tried to remember what he read or learned of Illusion magic. It was a sub-branch of many kinds of magic, from Light to Sound, but it was also known that a part of it was under Mind magic. Illusion provided external stimuli that prompted the target to experience a mirage, vision, whatever you'd call it. Tercius understood it as a magic that gave someone mind blocks of lego, and then let that mind build whatever it wanted with those blocks.

He read that it was used for everything from healing to attacking, a recurring theme with spells.

Tercius turned off Meditation and thought about what happened.

He thought that he and his fellows were about to be turned into some kind of zombie bargaining chips. He did not know what Mind magics, or rather skills, were capable of, but something like unwilling puppetry was what he imagined. Maybe trapping someone, making someone see or hear things that were not there…

The problem was that he did not know the limits and that by itself was what scared him the most.

His uncle's words about a skill of some kind for mental defense repeated over and over in his mind. "I need to get to Seliana," he whispered. "Maybe on the weekend? Will they allow such a thing?"

Tercius needed a few things to align themselves for him to get this skill. He needed the wisps to visit and open a passageway to the Core, then he would…

I got Energy Sight after Energy Manipulation, even when that skill was still not pacified… Uncle thought that they are some kind of a set and that made things easier, but it could be anything… Maybe it was their combined interference that was prohibiting me from gaining a new skill? Can I get a new one now? Why didn’t I in the previous month and a half?

He shook his head. These questions never stop, do they?