So.

Things are weird.

There were always weird, this being Gnosis and all, but they were now weirder than most. Some time had passed since the great beatdown, as the students started calling it, even some of the Ascentionalists and the academy had more or less moved on. People had acclimated to the new social hierarchy. Which wasn’t exactly stable, but at least the factions were not in an all-out war.

The Martials and the Bloodlinked kept a steady partnership going, with the former being still a little subdued by their faction leader. The Artificers were acting like business as usual. Even Ravena got out of her chambers and urged her faction to just… well, act normal.

The Ascentionalists weren’t fairing as well, but Michael saw a side in them he hadn’t seen before. Straight up loyalty. He expected the faction of the ‘ever ascending’ to replace Regitris as their faction leader, but they hadn’t. Yes, there were some arguments, but nothing like a vote and much less of a duel. The power balance had been shifted, but… life still went on.

Maybe this isn’t that irregular for Gnosis. Still… damn.

Michael felt more weight on his shoulders than ever, because while things were still weird, they were weird for him in particular. Everyone around him was talking and worrying about the upcoming exams, which were still a while away, but he could only think about Kelunad’s plan. And the means to go about it.

The orc had stopped contacting him and smilingly refused any of Michael’s attempts at contact. Politely, but the Martial seemed to know that Michael was out for information. That damned trick of his still worked splendidly.

And that is why Michael was forced to act normal and worry about the little things, while internally he was constantly worrying about the greater plots happening over everybody else’s heads. The only saving grace was that he was learning magic in a normal way, just like he had been promised he would at the start of this journey.

His study in Alchemy had increased to the point Gerald was hinting that perhaps Michael would be interested in more advanced studies in Potion making. Still salves and ointments rather than true Potions, but the ones Michael was currently capable of producing could still heal bruises, given a day or two. And he even managed to wow the professor by creating a fairly capable ‘stink bomb’. Especially since it was potent enough that everybody got green in the gills and Micah’s keen nose made him faint.

He now knew about twenty different common monsters and about as many races out in the wider world. His runework was still shoddy, but Melissa assured him he would get a passing grade even if they made him inscribe actual runes and Roda almost never asked that of her first-years. The class he was best in was Nahlil’s ‘Battle Magic’ Class, though. In that, he excelled, courtesy of all the extra-curricular activities he had been involved in. Of course, having Alex as a friend and Erea as a girlfriend certainly helped matters. Michael still hated the PE flying bitch and refused to learn her name. That was he could say about that Class.

And ‘Basic Magical Theory’? The Class was going alright, but for him the real class was his private tutoring sessions with Sinestra. And they had been going well. Oh, he learned magic from other classes and his own private study. Him mastering the |Fire Barrier| Spell and then going on to learn |Fire Shield| was proof of that. But his lessons with the gorgon reaped the highest rewards.

He had learned |Air Taste|, which was a part of |Serpentine Senses| as much as |Heat Vision| was. It allowed him to literally taste the air around him, thankfully without flicking out his tongue like an idiot. The Spell allowed him to sense particles in the air, kind of like scent, but much more than that. He could tell in what direction Erea went and how long ago she had passed by that spot with this Spell clearly. Though, admittedly, Erea had been rather sweaty from their… physical activities.

That and |Tremor Sense| gave him an almost complete series of enhanced senses. And he’d learned more than that simply sense Spells. His worked on the foundations of the |Paralytic Touch| Spell and managed to learn |Poisonous Touch|. It wasn’t that powerful yet, unless he overpowered his Spell, but he could still use it in a fight. Even better, this last Spell paved the road for Michael learning to use poison Spells in conjunction with attack ones. Maybe |Poison Slash|? He wasn’t sure that was a thing.

Sinestra told him that he had an overly impressive arsenal of Spells for a first-year and Michael hadn’t even started to learn body-enhancing Spells from her yet. But she also laid out a warning. He was relatively low-level. And he knew a lot of serpentine magic, not even scale magic. And he had a |Scale| Magical Affinity, even if it was coupled with a second one.

The Gorgon told Michael that if he kept going this way and focusing only on the magic coming the easiest for him, then his Class would change to reflect that, almost without a doubt. She’d respect that, she told him, but she wanted him to know. That… sobered him up real quick. Michael wasn’t ready for that kind of commitment yet and may never be with the whole |Exemplar| debacle.

That was why he was currently going to Sinestra’s office, for his recurrent tutoring session. He needed to learn to better control his Magical Affinity, lest it start to control him. He rounded the corner to her office and saw… him.

Kelunad was in her doorway, smiling and talking with the Gorgon. Who was making eyes at him from a mile away.

Really Sinestra?

Bu other than her desire to coil herself around him, she really did seem interested in the discussion. Before Michael could observe more, Kelunad stopped talking and Sinestra’s eyes swiveled towards him.

“Michael, good. Just on time. Mage Kelunad and I were just finishing our discussion.”

“I will see you next time, Mage Sinesra. Until then.”

“Until then, Mage Kelunad.” She smiled sweetly, at least until Michael entered her office and she shut the door. “Couldn’t you wait? I taught you those sense Spells for a reason.”

“Yeah, to better protect myself.”

“And to be aware of those around you. Like a young teacher impressing a powerful, well-built, faction-“

“You know that just because you share skin tones that doesn’t mean you could slither down his-“

“I will poison you.” She warned.

“Fine, fine.” He smiled, hands going up in surrender. “What did he want with you anyway?”

“Can’t two knowledgeable mages share information? Or more, if they are both willing?”

She smiled, but Michael just stared and she gave up.

“Yes, yes, quit your judging. The orc does seem immune to my charms. Unlike you.”

“Hey, if you drop your scarf, by eyes simply go there. It’s not a conscious decision. And you did that on purpose.”

“Sure, it isn’t. Well, Mage Kelunad and I have been having talks as of late. He has been giving me tips.”

“Regarding magic?”

“Regarding teaching. He was been a professor, you know? Taught Nahlil’s Class. Taught Nahlil himself actually.”

“Wha- Really?”

“Yes.” The gorgon laughed. “If you were wondering why the centaur is such a hard-hoof, now you know. In any case, he has been giving me pointers in order to better impart information on my Class. And, I believe, you.”

“Me?”

“I sense that he regrets not being able to act as your mentor currently.” Sinestra nodded. “Why he can’t, I do not know and will not ask. But… well. My magic is good, even for him. There is another reason why he is helping me with my teaching method and it is not simply because he wishes the first-years gain more complete knowledge, though that is what he claims. I do believe he intends for me to be as much of a mentor for as I can, since he currently cannot.”

“Huh.”

Michael… felt oddly touched by that. Whatever the grievances Kelunad had with the Regitris and with the academy, Kelunad truly was an orc of his word. To the extend that he made moves to ensure Michael was properly mentored, even if he himself could not be the one imparting knowledge.

“Yes, ‘huh’. Eloquently put.” Sinestra rolled her eyes. “Now, based on both what Mage Kelunad talked off and what I feel… I believe it is time I start teaching by example.”

“What do you mean?”

“Your Magical Affinity. I’ll teach you to get a proper grasp on it by linking our magic together. It will be different than other times you have felt your magic, since it will not be only your magic that you’ll be sensing. But it should allow you to get a better grasp on what this, well, nuance of magic is.”

She had Michael stand in a spell-circle, while she stood in one opposite next to him. The circles were linked by runes inscribed on her office’s floor and Sinestra had Michael hold on to her tail. Which seemed fairly ludicrous at first, but she used a Skill an focused on her magic and Michael… felt it.

Even with his eyes closed he saw it. Not vision, but understanding. He began to properly see what |Scale| Magic was. How the raw mana of it was present even in Gnosis, gathered in clouds of it around Sinestra, but whisps of it trailing among the regular ‘neutral’ mana. He saw what his Skill could do, given time and practice. He had unwittingly already started to do it, as he sensed his own magic affecting his other Spells, turning them more sinuous, more flexible. Decreasing their potency at the same time. He saw danger, yes, but potential too. Something to be balanced, else it would affect him.

And he also saw why Sinestra didn’t think of this at the start and why she hadn’t done it with more students. Because while their magic was linked, in part so too was their… essence. He noticed feelings and knew they weren’t his own. A loneliness, hidden but present. Something else… schadenfreude he would call it, a type of mischievous humor. More loneliness and desire intertwined. And beneath it all, longing. Longing to grow, to improve. It was mixed with feelings of nostalgia and yearning. A true side of the Gorgon.

Michael felt ashamed and focused more on sensing the magic than Sinestra herself. They must have spent half an hour before she was forced to abandon their link, her mana running out. Yet Michael felt that in that time he had learned something that was essential. He now knew how his own magic could corrupt him and he knew how to begin to keep it in control. More than any of them hoped for, for a first session.

“Thank you, Mage Sinestra.” Michael honestly said.

“’Mage Sinestra’.” The gorgon scoffed, but she was smiling. “So I’m no longer the ‘boob mage’ to you?”

Michael laughed.

“I never called you that, but you have to admit, you- Kidding, I’m kidding!”

She lowered her wand and smiled.

“You are a better pupil than most, Michael. I actually felt you learning. Well, maybe my |Scholar| Class-“

The gorgon remained silent, eyes fixed, looking at nothing.

“Sinestra?” Michael asked, slightly alarmed.

“Yes. I… I just received something. I… huh.”

“What? A |Message| Spell?”

“No… Wait, Michael let me think.”

She stood there for a minute. Then two. Then five. Her face was changing. Longing, warry, interested, decisive and conflicted, one emotion after the other. Time passed and Michael was starting to get a cramp from all the sitting, when the gorgon nodded and spoke.

“Fine. I accept.”

Michael didn’t know what that meant, but he saw Sinestra’s face lighting up in a delighted grin. Yet, it lasted for all of ten seconds, before her expression changed. No longer smiling, but horrified. Furious. And afraid.

“Sinestra?! Hey, you alright? What happened?”

“I… but I didn’t mean- No. No! Why?!”

“Sinestra. Talk to me!”

The gorgon had raised herself up to her full height, but she looked maddened.

“This cant be happening. Why… Was it you?” she asked Michael, who looked on in shock. “No, not- But why? Noooo, please, please. But I only wanted- This isn’t fair!”

She broke down crying and Michael had no idea how to help her. He had no idea what happened.

“Sinestra?” he asked once more, touching her shoulder.

And the gorgon changed. Changed to her old form, the form of her ancestors. All scale and power and venom.

“Leave! Now!” she bellowed.

Michael bolted it out of her office. He’d help her layer… somehow. But for the moment she was Sinestra. And for all her juvenile humor, Michael knew what she could do, better than most really. If he tried to face her, she would have wiped the floor with him or worse. A Gnosian High-Mage.

But he would help her.

They had a bond and he liked the gorgon. And she had helped him. He owed this to her.

But… what the fuck just happened?