Michael’s day didn’t start off as hot as the other ones. Sure, on the one hand, his position in Gnosis had definitely improved. He was aware of more plots than probably most of the student body. He was owed favors. And his arsenal had definitely increased in what amounted to magical armor and packing space.

But Michael was still miffed about Sinestra’s magic. And not even about what he had been thinking of yesterday. Sure, not unlocking a racial magic of a race he didn’t even belong to sucked. Was he arrogant for wanting it? Maybe. Did it still suck? It still sucked. That, however, wasn’t the reason Michael was feeling concerned now.

Right now, he was feeling concerned by why he wasn’t able to receive her mana. Let alone learning the new magic, why was Michael unable to even understand and absorb Sinestra’s mana? Sure, it might have been normally ‘poisonous’, if such a term can even be applied to base magic. But Sinestra was actively using her Skills in order to make Michael internalize both the knowledge and the sense of this new form of Mana. And he had already learned a Spell which could have made use of it. So the fact that Michael still couldn’t learn it…

Should I be worried?

Then again, it was the first time he had attempted to learn it. Sinestra had seemed worried, but perhaps the gorgon was simply assuming too much about his natural ‘genius’. Which was mostly luck, Michael thought. And probably also Gnosis itself helping out at times. Though this new theory was chilling in its own right.

Michael had tried to explain his latest issue to Bob and Micah. The two didn’t seem to think much of it, being more interested in his vambrace. Sure, Michael couldn’t tell them any salient details, but he did explain he had been having trouble learning a new piece of magic from their teacher. That actually made him feel slightly better. He had been spending too much time inside his own head. If his friends thought he was worrying too much… maybe he really was.

That made the morning pass by a little easier.

Even when Sinestra tried to subtly shove her mana inside him during their ‘Basic Magical Theory’ Class and promptly failed, his mental state still remained calm. So what if he failed? He had been taking himself too seriously. He wasn’t some kind of |Hero|, fated never to lose and always to win. No, he was some guy from Earth. Yeah, the castle seemed to have taken a liking to him, which probably explained the better part of his luck, and yeah, he had a lot of magical potential. But that didn’t make him infallible. Thinking that way got him in trouble.

No, now he was just slightly above ordinary Michael, who had to deal with slightly above ordinary problems.

And a pair of them were glaring at each other from across the room, as he noticed after entering the next class.

Nahlil was impatiently waving at the students to take their seats, seeming to be in an even fouler mood than usual. Then again, Michael thought he knew why. It wasn’t even that hard of a guess. Melissa and Erea were both currently on stage, sitting some distance apart from Nahlil, on opposite sides of the centaur.

“Dude, this is gonna get messy.” Micah whispered, grinning.

“I also think the potential for violence has increased dramatically.” Bob admitted.

“Yeah, no, really? What was Nahlil thinking?” Michal asked.

After which he promptly shut up. Because their professor was giving them the mother of all stink-eyes.

Right. He probably knows sensory Spells. Like probably everyone else.

“Sit down!” He ordered the students. “Good. Now, you might be wondering why I have two student helpers instead of one. That is a fine question, one that I am asking myself. I am sure you all know… no. No, that is the wrong approach. You are, after all, first years. And most of you” he said, peering at Michael, “are unaware of greater games. So, I will tell you. Melissa is here because her faction shoved her down my throat.”

Michael heard a collective gasp following the centaur’s bold statement, even as Micah started to shake him wildly.

“I heard that right, didn’t I? Michael, tell me I heard that r-“

“You did, now shut up, I want to listen.” Michael himself grinned.

This is what happens when you mess with the centaur.

“Professor Nahlil, that is quite a presumptuous statement.” Melissa said, trying to be diplomatic. “I understand certain discussions have been had, but that does not imply-“

A Spell shot out from Nahlil’s tail. His tail! How was that even a thing?

It hit Melissa in the stomach and the girl instantly started to float towards the ceiling.

“There have been no discussions with me!” he thundered. “You are here because the Artificers want you here and because they are willing to expend a considerable amount of influence to affect the Gnosis professor body. And I. Do. Not. Care!”

Erea was smiling wider than she did when she spent alone time with Michael. He personally thought that if he could get a recording of this moment and have her watch it with him, then that would be this world’s equivalent of Netflix and chill.

“My assistant is chosen based on talent. Skills. Magic! Not because of their faction’s influence. I have accepted you because stronger arms than mine have twisted my tail. After that, your faction pulled you back. Yet here you are again.”

He wasn’t shouting, so much as barking, arms crossed against his chest. Michael actually felt bad for Melissa. The girl was completely pink in the face and couldn’t get a word in edge-wise. Not that it was even normally simple to with Nahlil’s drill-sergeant type attitude.

“And now I have to accept two assistants? I refuse. Tell your faction that if they have any problems with that, they’ll have to take it up with me. You are dis-“

“Professor Nahlil!” Melissa shouted. “You refer to your class as ‘Battle Magic’, correct?”

“Yes, girl. And what of it?”

“Then allow me to prove my worth. You think me useless. Allow me to show you I deserve to be here. Through battle!”

“Battle?” Nahlil asked, incredulous. “I have cast a Spell efficiently enough that you couldn’t even dodge it through my tail. And you’d have me test you in battle?”

“Not you, sir. But you wish only for a single assistant and you have to pick between Erea and me. Allow me to show you I should be here by fighting her.”

Oh, you poor soul.

Nahlil cast a glance at the elf, who was nodding madly, before speaking.

“Very well.” He said, breaking his Spell and allowing Melissa to plop down to the ground. “I will set up an arena. You will fight until one of you is unconscious, mana depleted, or until I say so. You are not allowed to use lethal Spells. You are to stop casting when I tell you to. Understood?”

“Yes, sir.”

“Got it.”

“Good. But… Melissa. You are an artificer. And I have heard of your latest exploits alongside Erea and a few others. Combat is not your strong suit, it seems. Why wish for this?”

Melissa was silent for a few seconds, before blankly answering.

“Because I have to.”

“Far be it for me to stop anyone from pursuing their ambitions. Whether they are personal or induced.” Nahlil said. “|Barrier of the Arena|.”

The same shimmering wall of magic encircled the two, just as it did Erea and Michael all those weeks ago.

“Five gold- no, wait, ten gold on Erea.” Micah half-shouted. “Any takers?”

“Who would be dumb enough to bet on the human?” a student asked.

“Yeah, Erea’s going to wipe the floor with her.”

It looked like the entire classroom thought the same thing. Melissa was going to get pulverized. Since… not only had the girl intruded on Erea’s position in her favorite class, she had also intruded on her territory regarding Alex’s missions. And when you considered she had set up tutoring sessions with Michael and had been making sweet eyes to him as well… She was toast. The grin on the elf’s face was more shark-like than Michael had ever seen it.

Which just begged the question.

…why is she doing this? She has to know she doesn’t stand a chance.

“Michael.” Bob quietly said. “Look at her.”

He gestured at Melissa. And, indeed… the girl was shaking. Her expression expressed a forced kind of nonchalance, even a lazy smile. But her hands were fidgeting. Her steps were wobbly and whenever she stood still, a slight tremor passed through the girl.

“Seems like she knows exactly what her odds are.” Michael said.

“As well as how much Erea is going to go easy on her.” Bob said, before amending his statement. “That is, not at all. I cannot understand such behavior. I have much to learn about certain kinds of individuals, it seems.”

Michael was perplexed too. Sure, he knew Melissa tried to be around him as much as possible. That’s why the tutoring sessions were shoved down his throat. But at least those were one on one. Acting as the assistant in Nahlil’s class was more of an observer position. So why was she going to these lengths to secure it?

“Ready.” Nahlil thundered.

Melissa tensed.

“Set.”

She raised her hands, one of which contained a wand.

“Fight!”

With a scream that sounded more like a squeal, Melissa cast her Spell, while simultaneously rolling to her left. She got up, shot another Spell, crouched and shot again. Only then did she notice that… Erea hadn’t moved at all.

In a display of sheer spite, Erea had only bent out of the way of the incoming Spells, her feet never leaving the ground. And she had cast no Spell of her own. Which only made the Artificer look like a loon, with all her evasive maneuvers.

“I recognize that wand type. |Quick Bolt|. Good make too. Its |Bolts| hit like proper Spells, cast by experienced mages. Pre-charged, capable of firing five. You’ve cast three.” She grinned. I wonder, do you know any fighting Spells of your own?”

Melissa just glared at her, though her expression was tinged with worry.

“Guess not. My turn.”

Erea ran forward, quick as a thought. She ducked under Melissa’s fourth Spell and landed an open palm strike to the girl’s stomach. It launched her backwards by about four feet, making her land on her back. Her fifth and last Spell was batted aside by Erea’s vambrace.

That’s cheating… I think.

“Use physical attacks only if your opponent has the upper hand.” Nahlil said. “I do not mind them, but this is a fight between mages, first and foremost.”

“What if I augment my strikes with magic?” Erea asked.

“Hmm. Granted.”

The elf started to walk forwards, casually casting |Light Arrow| now and then. It didn’t do much damage, because Erea was aiming at grazing the girl’s arms and legs, but it looked painful. Her robe was already a mess.

“Think you can take over my class, do you? Walk over me? Well, think again. Fighting is my specialty.”

Melissa had tried to summon a weak |Barrier| Spell, but Erea’s |Earth Dart| blasted right through it, socking the girl in the nose. She then tried to run around, but the elf had prevented her from doing that just as she had with Michael. |Water Walls| and pinpoint shots made sure Melissa didn’t run too far.

“I have no idea what you were thinking, but I’m glad you were stupid enough-“

“Erea!” Michael called out. “She’s out. Look at her. You’re better than this.”

The elf startled, looking surprised, before having the decency to look somewhat ashamed. It is one thing to gloat and trash talk. Another to be petty towards a downed opponent. And Melissa was very much downed, even if she was standing upright.

Michael felt truly peeved by the display. Yes, Melissa had nefarious goals and she was arrogant to think she stood a chance against Erea. Yes, she was foolish. But even she didn’t deserve this… mocking. And Erea might be Erea, but even she seemed to know when to stop, albeit after Michael had pointed it out to her.

They were still working on that side of her personality.

But Nahlil?

“Sir, you said that this fight would also stop when you said so. It doesn’t look like Melissa stands much of a chance, does she? Why prolong it?”

The centaur looked at him, out of the corner of his eye, before responding.

“You both need to learn to keep your eyes open.”

What?

“What?” Erea asked, before quickly retreating a few steps.

Because Melissa’s robes had just disgorged a massive amount of soil. And no, not soil as in ‘she just soiled herself’, but soil as in earth. Ground. Dry mud. Heaps of it fell from her robes. So much that Michael was curious as to how that much of it fit in there.

Then again… she had been crouching. Moving slowly for some time now. I thought she was hurt or scared, but…

“Thank you for demonstrating how to cast a Spell from a body part other than one’s hands, professor Nahlil. Indeed, some learn to do it by practice, others by Skill. An aptitude highly valued in my faction.” Melissa said.

Wonder which faction that is?

“Dude…” Micah said. “She got mud to come out of her-“

“Shut up, Micah!” Michael muttered back.

“And dear Erea. You’ve asked me if I know any other fighting Spell. I suppose you would consider |Earth| a very poor attack Spell, if you were to consider it one at all. But Artificers specialize in matter creation.”

“So?” Erea asked, not comprehending. “You saw me use |Earth Armor| and got someone to teach it to you too?”

She sounded skeptical, but also a touch wary.

“Not quite. But you see, I’ve checked the rules. And the rules don’t forbid magical artifacts in a magical duel or battle, like this one. Not unless they are deemed full-mage worthy by the Academy and this one wasn’t, seeing as how it is the first of its kind.”

“You’ve… got another wand?” Erea asked.

Michael got a bad feeling. Nahlil not stopping the fight just added to his suspicions.

Why are you standing around asking her questions? Just knock her out.

He was about to shout that at Erea, when Melissa spoke again.

“Again.” She laughed. “Not quite.”

She touched something under her robes and all the earth around her instantly rose into the air, before packing itself over the girl. It formed… a kind of a suit. Form fitting, but with parts clearly defined. Greaves, gauntlets, helmet. It looked… oddly familiar.

“|Lesser Bond Creation|, |Assume Control|.” She smilingly said.

Before striding forwards and Erea striding backwards. The mud had formed into an armor. An armor reminiscent of a golem. Only the girl’s face had been left uncovered, yet even that was quickly shadowed by a face of earth. Hard, compact earth. Like Erea’s Spell, but looking much more sturdy.

“Artificers are known for their creations.” Her slightly muffled voice spoke. “Our golems. And since I can’t go to my creations, I brought my creations with me!” she said and got into a battle stance.

Of course. This world might not have Iron-Man, but it sure looks like it has Earth-Girl.