Being a class that required absolutely nothing in the way of special equipment or facilities, Ritual Theory was one of many classes that was located in a building that had been constructed specifically with more mundane classes in mind. A large highly utilitarian classroom complex that made some sacrifices of character in return for fitting as many usable rooms in as possible while still matching the school’s overall aesthetic of converted military fort built of sturdy stone and a tropical flair of local lumber.

Usually with decorative carvings in each.

Which was the subject of Isak’s attempts to focus on something, anything other than a very inconvenient fact that had just presented itself this morning and would be affecting him for the whole of the semester. A fact that Vidal was unfortunately the opposite of helpful in avoiding, as the rock man’s towering stature and ever moving nature of his streams of water meant that he was a beacon of attention.

Isak had so far found this fact to be more amusing than anything else. Students would sometimes point from afar and engage in a bit of gossip, primarily about Vidal which suited Isak just fine. His favorite line of gossip actually about him had been two students who weren’t nearly as quiet as they believed themselves to be wondering if Vidal was some human thing from out in the wastes, possibly even something from an old human kingdom or the Old Masters of the Western Wastes. That pair had jumped back about five feet when Isak responded that their guesses were as good as his.

Such attention would be welcome right now. Even such attention like wondering who that human with the rock man might be that someone that big was hanging out with him. As Isak thought back and wondered if they had meant how tall Xoco was or if she was particularly well off, a voice cut through his thoughts to let him know that all attempts at avoiding attention this morning had failed entirely.

“Moreno.” Jearx spat out as he took a seat at the desk next to the human, with only Vidal standing tall as a barrier.

Isak ignored the goblin as best he could while waiting for the professor to arrive and end his suffering with some nice complex rituals to learn.

It, too, did not work.

“I see they let you stay.” The goblin pressed on as he clambered into the seat, his basilisk sitting at the ready beside him.

Isak made a small bit of electricity arc between his thumb and forefinger before rubbing at his chin. “Weird, looks like I’m still a mage. But maybe a refreshing swim would help me think on it.”

Jearx’s claws dug into the desk as he growled through gritted pointy teeth. He calmed himself and brushed a wave of dark green hair back. “You know tricks, Moreno. Tricks like convincing people that’s an actual Familiar, and tricks like fooling yourself into thinking anyone’s gonna care about you compared to that rock.”

The human stared out ahead, avoiding so much as an attempt at eye contact both out of defense and due to close proximity to a basilisk. He kept his breathing steady as he responded. “Whatever.”

The goblin reclined in the chair, glancing at the clock and shaking his head as their professor was still missing with only a few minutes to go. “You know, I kinda feel sorry for you.”

Isak didn’t acknowledge him as he pulled out a notebook and pen from his bag. He focused on starting an entry in his notes about Rituals rather than think about any of these barbs that were absolutely not sticking at all.

Jearx pressed onward. “I mean, of all people to take an interest in that rock. It’s really gonna hurt when they stop pretending to care about some backwater nobody hiding behind a familiar that’s better than he could ever dream of being.”

If Isak just focused on writing instead of Jearx’s random shots in the dark, then they didn’t exist. He would just very carefully list out the time and date of this class, and subject, and what the weather was like today. Under no circumstances was he giving any credence to accusations that Vidal was already a better mage than he might ever hope to be and his friends are only sticking around because of the cool rock and not some random human.

He was not giving such thoughts any credit at all.

The goblin didn’t let up. “I’m sure once they figure that out they’ll-”

“You know,” Isak cut him off as he glanced at the clock on the wall. “I knew your basilisk liked going overboard but I have to admit seeing you do the same over some ‘boring human’ is surprising.”

“What can I say.” Jearx growled through grit teeth before licking them and shaking off the slight. “I want my education here to mean something. And backwater trash like you just makes everyone else look bad.”

“Just worry about yourself, Jearx.” Isak said with a deep and impatient sigh as he once again convinced himself that of course his friends didn’t just like him for Vidal.

The professor dashed in, out of breath, long light green hair in disarray, at the very second the clock indicated class was to start. The nymph man looked to be no older than his early thirties at most, and in good shape, which Isak took as a sign that his mad sprint here had been a long one.

“You will notice that I am not technically late!” The light blue man of sharp features and tailored black suit that remained crisp in spite of that lengthy sprint he had just undertaken.

Even so, he straightened it out to further perfection as he set down his satchel filled with notes, books, and a bright yellow tarsier scampering out before looking out across the class with confident emerald eyes. “I was neither late nor early. Exacting details are the basis of many rituals as I’m sure you learned in public school. But which details must be perfect, and which can be more inexact? And why? Well now you understand what this entire class will be about! And why I arrived exactly on time because I was undertaking a highly experimental ritual that needed exacting details or my efforts would have gone to waste and possible disaster would strike. Only a small one though, no cause for alarm!”

Many of the students nodded along to his speech, some were convinced that he was providing an excuse as to his arrival time, others simply shrugged it off and opened their books as instructed as he began first day lectures on a course outline and a quick recap on the basics of ritual. Fittingly for his class, Professor Vavau was an at times paradoxical mix of exacting and relaxed.

His familiar, a bright golden tarsier seemed to be a similar exercise in the crossroads of conflicting ideas. Giant eyes for staring, long bony fingers for grabbing, gigantic ears for hearing your fears, and still somehow adorable despite being more than a little unsettling as it scampered about the class to help the professor and prove that those creepy hands were highly dexterous to be a perfect assistant in performing rituals.

Though Professor Vavau assigned homework, it was relatively easy. List your favorite and or most used ritual, and list out which components may be substituted and with what may they be substituted. The accompanying two paragraphs on that ritual’s uses were similarly easy, and no students were complaining about the ease of this assignment.

Isak waited out the end of class, and for Jearx to leave first after he shot a glare his way with accompanying stare from his basilisk as he road it to his next class. It was meant to be a threat, but the basilisk’s eyes were still very much in the shape of a circle rather than even approaching an “X” shape. Even so, the human lad gave it a few minutes to let the goblin get bored and go to his next class rather than run the risk of running into him.

Which gave Isak plenty of time to organize his notes, carefully pack them and his books away, and not think about a single thing Jearx had said. Indeed, as he left the room building complex lit by cool magelight and adjusted to the warm midday sun, he gave absolutely no thoughts at all to his friends only sticking around because of Vidal. That was absolutely absurd, Isak thought while power walking across a grassy field to the old converted armory that housed his Basics of Wilderness Survival class. Absolutely none of his thoughts focused on how Xoco probably wouldn’t even give him the time of day if it hadn’t been for Vidal the walking mystery coming complete with linguistic secrets and conundrums as well.

Instead his thoughts focused on how none of that was true. At all. Not even a bit. And he was so confident in none of that being even slightly true that he kept thinking about how it was not true, just to be sure.

He walked with Vidal between him and the sun to afford him some shade as he confirmed to himself that of course Xoco liked him for more than the mystery that Vidal provided.

“You know, probably just as a friend.” Isak thought aloud to Vidal, his eyes focusing on the large armory building growing closer with each step and not on any other troubling thoughts. “Which could change, but that would be because of me. Not that there’s anything wrong with you, buddy. Just don’t wanna be overshadowed, you know?”

The rock man loomed tall, giving cover to the young human from the bright blue orb in the sky. He turned his head, looking down to Isak as he spoke. “I am to protect you, Master Isak. Would you allow your rival greater control of your thoughts than that of you and your allies?”

“No!” Isak protested. “I just...just talking out loud. It’s obviously not true.”

Vidal came to a stop, with Isak following a moment after as he arched a brow up at him. The rock man’s voice was a low rumble. “If you have no reason to fear the sun, then why do you walk in the shadows Master Isak?”

“Uh…” Isak was at a complete loss here as he searched for a response, but found one in a touch of cool metal around his neck. He hoisted up Zyn’s necklace of solar protection in his left hand. “I have this necklace sure but, I’m just not used to tons and tons of sunlight and…”

The last words died off in a mumble as he looked at the necklace the drow had given him the very same day he met him, the arm holding it completely absent of any scars thanks to another friend, which had first been put there by a girl worried for his well being. He tucked the necklace back under his blue uniform shirt in silence before taking a few steps out in front of Vidal. Isak looked back to him with squinted eyes as the sun shone bright.

“I’m probably reading way too much into this.” He shook his head to ward off the doubt still gnawing at his mind. “But thanks, buddy.”

“Lead on, Master Isak.”

And so the human lad continued on to his next class, Vidal at his back as he chuckled to himself. It took him a bit to figure out why before he spoke to the rock man while pressing on. “You know it’s going to take a while for this lesson to really settle in with me, right?”

“This is a school, Master Isak.” Vidal said as he thudded along after the human. “It is built around the idea of learning taking time and dedication.”

Isak glanced over his shoulder back to the rock man only briefly before looking forward again to find a place outside the classroom to wait for Zyn to join him for their shared class. “You’re full of surprises, Vidal.”

“I am to protect you, Master Isak.” Vidal responded, in his usual even tone. “I shall do what I can to fulfill that objective.”

Isak smiled as he leaned against the outer wall currently fully bathed by the sun. “You’re doing good so far.”

“As are you.” Vidal said as he stood next to him.

Isak and Vidal didn’t have to wait long as Zyn arrived a few moments later, waving to them along with Ozzy. The two boys walked into the large building together as they caught up with one another.