I kept taking Gregoris lessons, who taught me a lot of valuable stuff. Like, that in this world a year lasts 373 days split into 8 months with weeks of 8 days. Now I understand why I kept fucking up appointments. I also paid a visit to the Arcane Academy and confirmed the fees required for taking the basic class, 15 gold coins for a month worth of lessons, which will also give me access to the library.

The next term would start in a couple of weeks, so I spent most of my time grinding my reading skills. I can do this sort of things when I'm properly motivated.

I plan to diligently follow the basic class, while secretly copying all the books I might need from the library. The paper is going to cost me a fortune, but I don't know when else I'm going to get enough for the next round.

Rationalizing, I'm not too eager to get in another adventure, at least not until I feel more confident about my skills. I was also considering the beginner alchemy course, but to enroll the beginner classes I'd need at least 20 golds. In any case, I'm required to clear the basics before being allowed to attend.

It'll have to wait.

I'm hyped, I'm fucking hyped.

During these two weeks, Vargas the merchant got in touch with me, and as promised I taught him how to make pasta based recipes, like noodles and ravioli. He was very thankful, he too loves cooking as a hobby. He also promised me good deals if I need anything from him. Looks like he hadn't forgotten I took a couple of arrows for him.

Meanwhile, my pizza businesses are going steady, Lord Radenrouge has stolen some of my audience, but in the end, he targets the upper classes, so we didn't get affected much. It would take powerful connections to enter that market, we simply don't stand a chance. At least people know we are the original.

Skipping to the end of the second week, I got praised by Gregoris for my efforts. I can understand almost everything I read, and my calligraphy is readable. Good enough.

I already went a paid the Academy's fee. this is gonna be my first magic class. MAGIC!

I woke in the morning all pumped up and crossed the Arcane Academy's threshold. I asked directions for my class and entered the room.

I took a look inside and frowned. It was full of people who were at best half my age. I suddenly felt old.

I sat on a free spot, trying to ignore the weird gazes. I could hear the little shits smirking behind my shoulders. Damn them.

I took a good look at the teacher. She was around my age, black hair in a bob cut, piercing blue eyes and a voluptuous figure. Her chest was amazing, and she did nothing to hide it. I found myself smirking and quickly restored my poker face.

「Teacher: Silence!」

She slammed her fists on the desk. Everyone shut up. You don't mess with magicians.

「Teacher: You!」

Uh oh, she pointed at me. Fuck! I'm smirking again!

「Teacher: What do you find so funny?」

Oh shit! Oh shit!

「Allen: Uh... I-I'm just excited...」

No! Stop thinking about the tits! Stop blushing!

「Allen: ... attending a magic class has been my dream since I was a kid.」

She narrowed her eyes but shifted her attention away from me.

Phew. Nice save, Allen.

「Teacher: Listen well you brats, I don't care from which noble family you've come. Here in this class we, the teachers, are the absolute rulers!」

To make her point she made a glowing sphere of fire float above her hand.

「Teacher: Am I clear?」

「Everyone: Yes, ma'am!」

The teacher nodded.

「Teacher: Very well, my name is Violet Val Mariannet. Now, introduce yourselves.」

After the introductions, Violet made a brief explanation of how the academy worked, the rules of conduct and such.

Finally, the real lesson began. I greedily took notes. It's happening.

According to Violet, the magical energy called mana is stored within our body and spirit. The spirit commands the magical energies to take shape. To do so it needs to be trained, like a muscle, by performing specific mental exercises.

One of these closely reminds me of a meditation practice, with a focus on visualization. It consists of breathing in, imagining luminous mana flowing in, spreading within the whole body, then breathing out imagining that energy pouring out from the skin.

She told us to practice until we can literally see a faint luminous smoke emanating from the skin. As an example, she closed her eyes for a second and when she opened them again we could clearly see a faint light seeping away like smoke.

「Violet: It will be unlikely for you to reach a similar result in short time, but you should keep practicing nonetheless. Remember to always follow the three tenets of magic. The first tenet is Grasp, the second tenet is Control, the third tenet is Power.」

Violet made the energy take the shape of a winged goddess. Then made it glow impossibly bright, I could feel my skin prickling by the intense energy emanated.

Cool!

During recess, the brats divided themselves into groups and chatted with each other. I refrained from trying to butt in. Instead, I went to speak with the academy personnel.

Thanks to that I found out that the basic class rarely sees adults joining in, mostly because only rich people have the funding for doing so, and they send their kids as soon as possible in the hope they'll grow powerful and secure the family name.

As I already experienced, there aren't many people able to cross the chasm between commoners and upper classes. The Arcane Academy costs more than a lifetime of work.

I'm really glad I met my adventurer friends, if not for them, I'd be still struggling in the dirt.

I got back in class for the next round.

After the lesson, I asked Violet if there were books pertaining to the lessons I could find at the library, she gave me a short list and I thanked her. I made an extra effort to stare at her face, not her boobs.

Only one book was available, but that was enough for me, I sat down at a desk and took a look, transcribing the interesting bits.

It talked about the various schools of magic, proposing categorizations by the kind of effect and lists of relatively known spells. For example, heat-cold magics fall into the physical energy manipulation category, while under energy emission there are spells like telekinesis and illusion. I wrote everything down and gave the book back to the librarian.

The magic schools are subdivided as follows:

matter energy manipulation (heat and cold)

spiritual manifestation (telekinesis, illusions and solidifying mana)

matter transmutation (anything that involves transmuting or rearranging matter)

spiritual interference (spells affecting the mind or the spirit itself)

spiritual binding (spells with conditional activations, like oaths, curses, triggers, golems)

spiritual displacement (mana shields and force fields)

spiritual energy manipulation (like mana drain or boost)

matter displacement (teleporting matter across space)

I went back to the inn and started practicing the exercises we were taught.

I have to admit I kept losing my concentration due resurfacing memories of Violet's alluring figure.

I slapped my face. Get it together, Allen. I focused and practiced until late.

I dreamed of breasts, lewdness and of being incinerated by a giant ball of fire. Pretty hot.