Good news were good news. But Michael had just gotten up from bed. From the medical wing. After being put there by a dryad who possessed him and left his mind reeling. After Michael and his friends had fought it, in a grueling session of stealing time, trying to remain alive long enough for help to come.

So, yeah. Sinestra gaining a new Class was a good thing.

But couldn’t she have gained it two days from now?

Still, Michael was happy for her and it showed. He smiled and she smiled back, clearly thrilled over her new acquisition, even though she looked dead on her feet.

“But, wait, are you alright with another Class? You’ve mentioned the more you have the worse… something gets.”

“I see no harm so far.” The gorgon hesitantly said. “Yet it is still better that none find out about this.”

“No worries, your secret is safe with me.” He reassured her.

“Thank you.” She smiled.

“Now, can I ask what this new Class is?”

“What? Damn me, I forgot. Yes, of course. I’m sorry, I’m quite tired. Yes, yes, well, I fibbed a little. I didn’t unlock a new Class. It is simply that my |Mage| Class has transitioned. I am no longer a mage, but a |Serpentine Mage|. And yes, I’m aware the name doesn’t sound all that wondrous. I’d hoped for something better myself.” She sighed, grinning.

“No, no, it’s good. So I’m guessing there’s no issue at all, then. Since you don’t exactly have a new Class, right?”

“No…” she said, hesitating. “Though this is quite an unexplored area for me. There may be delayed effects. There may not be. For the moment, though, I am safe.”

“…right.”

“I am sorry for being obtuse. But some secrets must remain secret.”

“Fine by me. But you said that this is when my tutoring begins. I’m guessing the Class transition also unlocked something new?”

“Quite a bit.” The gorgon smiled. “But most importantly, it also manifested a new Skill for my |Scholar| Class.”

“Wow. I didn’t know one Class could affect another.”

“Neither did I. I honestly thought any knowledge I retrieved I would have to wrack my mind trying to convert to a usable form for you. But it seems that fate smiles upon me. Perhaps this is a sign that my Classes might merge after all.”

“Right. Erea mentioned that was a thing. Is that your goal?”

“I… wouldn’t call it a goal. It is not what I desired when I started this journey. No, if it happens, it would be incredible luck. Since, well, I would be back to a single Class and all dangers would be averted. But perhaps that would be asking for too much…”

“Hey, this is Gnosis, after all.”

“True.” She smiled. “But enough talking. Are you ready for your first lesson?”

“Always.” Michael smiled.

“Good. But first, where are you in your lessons?”

One groan later, Michael had to give his report on what he had recently learned regarding Spells to a tired Sinestra in professor-mode. She was satisfied with him knowing |Numbing Touch| and |Bolt|. The last Spell will be used by him to branch out into an entire array of Spells.

Though the gorgon mentioned learning |Dart| will have to happen sooner or later.

She also mentioned that since he had learned |Numbing Touch|, it was time he tried to learn |Paralytic Touch|. That added to the list, Michael confessed that his encounter with the dryad had left him knowing the |Rot Slash| Spell.

Sinestra mentioned that she knew very little of dryads, before she also confessed that while Michael had been fighting for his life, she had sequestered herself in her chambers, focusing her magic and her mind. It was what gave her this new Class. That being said, she mentioned that though it was similar in action to poison type Spells, a rot Spell was outside her area of expertise.

“You can try focusing it into a |Rot Bolt| Spell. But since you learned it by happenstance instead of study and you don’t even remember learning it in the first place, I would prioritize the Spells I’ve already mentioned.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

“Don’t get cute with me.” She yawned. “I’m not old enough to be a ‘ma’am’ yet. Your girlfriend’s probably older than me.”

I… should probably look into that?

“And now for the main course. Michael, I want you to understand something before we start. Doing this… it might give you a new Class. Or change your current one. It’s probable that it will be offered, but there is still a chance the change will be imparted to you. I want you to understand this before you do this, alright?”

“I got it, Sinestra. I know there’s danger in having a new Class. But… well. You undertook that risk yourself. Not just because you wanted to teach me, but also because you wanted this for yourself, I know that. But… if you had risked it, I will too. Besides, whatever happens, I get to grow right?”

“Right. Of course, you could also only get a new Spell or Skill. If you’re bad at it. Or just really unlucky.” The gorgon teased. “Remember that too.”

“Or if you’re a lousy teacher. Yeah, yeah. Let’s get on with it, before you start snoring.”

“Very well. |Serpentine Mana|, |Mana-Rich Environment|.”

Michael’s |Sense Mana| Skill bloomed to life, letting him know that the area around him was absolutely infused with the primal, unbound form of magic. And… he also got the sense that it was different than what he had felt before. Not that he wouldn’t have caught on to that with Sinestra naming her Skill out loud.

“The first Skill is one of the few I’ve received with my Class change. It allows me to convert my natural mana into a form more suitable to the type of magic me and you are attempting to learn. Right now, I am currently pumping it into the area around us. With the level of ambient mana and your own Skill, you should be able to feel it. Am I correct?”

“Yup. I do. It’s… heavy.”

“Do you feel its nature? Does it feel any different for you?”

“Uhm… I can tell it’s different. But… I don’t think I feel anything else about it. Should I?”

“Yes.” She nodded. “Though I did not expect you to notice at your current Level. Listen to me closely. I will attempt to explain the basics of mana absorption and conversion. At the end of our session, you will use your |Mana Absorption| Skill, while I use a Skill of my own. If we’re lucky, your own natural magic will change. It may change to reflect my own, to become a mix or even transcend lower forms of mana. Or, you could get violently sick.”

“Way to encourage me.”

Sinestra laughed and started her speech, as Michael sat down on the floor.

“I’ve taught this in my classes before, but I will tell you about it again. Magic permeates everything. In this, me and your faction head agree. There is nothing that cannot be touched by magic. Nothing in the world, because though there are those who do not practice magic and materials that are not magic in nature, magic can touch them. Infuse them, change them, affect them. And mana is just magic without form.”

Michael listened, taking it all in.

“Think of mana like water, though the comparison is not perfect. Water can take on different shapes, can change to other states, yet it always remains the same element. It is part of humans and gorgons and elves alike. In this case, water is mana. Now, think of the temperature of said water. Of how said temperature makes it interact with its environment differently than hotter or colder water. That is how you may try and perceive the different natures of mana.”

“So, basic mana can be used by all mages, while certain types of mana can only be used by some?” Michael asked.

“Not exactly. There are some that say that ‘basic mana’, as you call it, is simply one other aspect of it. That basic mana does not actually exist and what we experience as free flowing mana is simply the most populous version of it. Yet, that is best left for those who wish to theorize such things. I can offer you no perfect explanation, since that would entail time we do not have and knowledge you do not possess. But what I can say is this: Mages can use free flowing mana and even a few other types of individuals and Classes. Mages can even use other types of mana, through training, Classes, Skills or luck. Yet there are select types of Mana, such as the one you are currently feeling, that cannot be used easily. Indeed, I would have been very much surprised if you could have perfectly perceived the mana I am generating in your first attempt. Perhaps even suspicious.”

“Glad I’m lousy at it then.”

“My Mana is by its very definition dangerous.” The gorgon grinned. “The fact that you are not feeling ill simply by being surrounded by it is a testament to your potential. Do not get greedy.”

“Fine. But, alright, I understood what you meant. Now what happens? I try and absorb it?”

“Yes. But, first, a word of advice. My Skill will allow you to understand the basics of what I call… mine. Yet, just to be safe. Think of |Serpentine Senses|. Don’t use it, just… think how it made you perceive the world. Do it in your own time. And let me know when you’re ready.”

Michael nodded and closed his eyes.

That Spell of his… it truly made him see the world under a new light. Sounds were more real, slower. His sight though? Blurry. Almost inefficient to use. Yet, that was compensated by his sense of touch. It almost blended into his hearing. He remembered feeling the earth move, feeling where something was even before hearing it.

His taste and smell were one. He could almost taste another person. And… whatever he smelled, it didn’t make him feel hungry or disgusted. He just registered the smell and… moved on. Same with his heat sense. Disorienting, yes, and without arousing anything in him. It simply allowed him to perceive the world under a new light.

Was there a metaphysical aspect to that Spell? Michael honestly didn’t know. But he would admit this, it certainly made him see the world from a different perspective.

“I’m ready.”

“|Knowledge Slithers In|.”

Michael got hit with a wave of… something. They weren’t thoughts. More like instincts. He didn’t see, but perceived the mana around him just like Sinestra did. He saw how it could be part of him. And he also… understood its potential. Not as varied as normal mana, but more reactive. Powerful, if used correctly. Mana apt for change, for poison, for speed. Was this something he was imagining? Or was he reading it correctly? Only one way to find out.

“|Lesser Mana Absorption|” he spoke.

And choked. The mana around him flooded inside his being. For the first few moments, he greeted it as if he was speaking a foreign language for the first time, clumsily, but with enough skill not to drop it. But then, something happened. The Serpentine Mana touched something inside himself and that something reacted violently. He felt like he wanted to throw up, not with his stomach, but with his entire being.

He started to convulse, before a cool hand touched his forehead and the pain retreated.

“That was definitely not what I was expecting.” Sinestra said, sounding both awed and disappointed.

“What… what happened?” he croaked.

“You had an adverse reaction to my mana. I thought… but even if your talent in absorbing specialized mana was virtually non-existent, my Skill should have still allowed you to form a compatibility. I… I did not foresee this.”

“Wait. I don’t get it. So, I’m… what, I’m incompatible with gorgon magic?”

“It’s not gorgon magic.” She muttered, sounding tired. “It’s a form of mana used by all manner of scale bound… you know what? I’m too tired for this. I have to analyze this matter. I can’t make heads or tails of it right now.”

“Sinestra, wait. At least tell me what this means for the future. Does this mean I can’t learn your magic?”

“You’ve obviously already learned a piece of my school of magic. |Serpentine Senses|. But as for specialized magic… I’m not sure. I watched you as you tried to absorb my mana. You were alright at first, but then… It looks like there’s a part of you reacting badly to it. Or perhaps, you simply lack training. I confess, I haven’t used this Skill much either.” She said, before stifling a yawn. “We should both get some rest, Michael. Gods know, I could use it.”

They left the room after that, Sinestra going to her chambers and Michael to his room. He felt robbed. Yes, learning a new secret, special type of magic wasn’t a given, but… he’d put in the effort. Helped Sinestra, bargained with her ancestor. For him to gain nothing from it… it simply didn’t seem at all fair to him.

Sure, things didn’t have to be fair. His recent brush with calamity told him that even if he was the protagonist in this story, that didn’t exactly mean he’d make it out alive regardless of circumstances. Same with learning magic. He just simply wished he could expand his magical repertoire in this direction.

Besides. Did this new development mean his magic rejected Sinestra’s special kind of mana or all types of mana?

“I should probably try and learn other mana types too.” He muttered.

Sullenly, he made his way to his room.

Without ever noticing the stealthy figure trailing him like a shadow.