Danny met up with his friends again the next day at the library. They both had more questions about the things he had said the day before, about the nature of their elements. He answered them both the best he could. It had been a long time since he had looked into geology or aerodynamics. It seemed his understanding of them hadn't left him, but the gory details had.

Danny was able to get through the adept books on earth and air before lunch. Once again, besides a few specialty spells, like carry voice, there wasn't a lot of new information. After lunch Danny practiced mana manipulation trying to get create different objects out of earth. Having the spell always connected with the ground resulted in unintentional shapes. The last thing he did was create a miniature house about 1/10th the size he could fit in. He was able to fit little chairs, a table, and slab for a bed. If he had made it actual size it would have taken most of the day, not counting getting rid of the evidence afterwards.

Danny was going through his spells one more time when he realized that he might have to be moving while casting during the exam. He might not have the luxury of stopping just to cast before moving again. Danny used an air spell meant for drying out or cooling things off, as this would not cause massive repercussions if it backfired. Quite a while later Danny stood there casting wind on himself for about the hundredth time. Focusing while running sideways, backwards, or anyways but forward was not easy. He was able to maintain his casting almost half the time while running around. Running forward was the easiest.

Danny continued this pattern of training for the next three weeks. In the mornings he started reading elemental theory books, looking for hidden gems into the mana side of the elements. Most of the theories were duds.

Danny looked up from another book that should have been labeled as ‘Waste of Time: Volume 2’, “Hey David, I get the feeling a lot of these elemental theory books are full of incorrect theories. I found more than one case where they were contradicting each other.”

David only nodded while Peter scoffed, “Danny, all the really good theories are stored in the libraries of the nobility. Most of the nobility wrote the best ones, but if they find a peasant wizard with a book detailing new ideas or understandings, they get them under a contract immediately. These contracts enforce crazy penalties should the wizard spread this knowledge or write any more books. Though you won’t hear the wizards complain because they have it made for the rest of their lives.”

David chimed in, “I heard there have been secrete wars between the noble houses over new knowledge or old knowledge that was stolen.”

Peter quickly nodded in agreement.

Danny wondered if it was worth it to try and sell his knowledge. He finally decided he would keep that as a fallback plan.

Mana manipulation with fire was extremely dangerous. Since his mana was connected to his hand any fire rune cast on it would try and burn his hand. He thanked the gods of this world that he had been too scared of discovery to attempt it when he was younger. Without the gloves he would have had more than just the one burn on his palm, where a small amount of mana had existed between his skin and the glove.

He could use flame armor but that would not allow him to use two spells at once. There had to be a way to cast fire with mana manipulation, without burning himself. The spinning trick hadn't increased his level, so that had to be the roadblock. His running while casting had improved. He realized he was trying too hard and let his split concentration ability handle the running. So no dual casting while running.

During his half days of free time, he turned them into full days of free time. He learned that the gentleman who wrote the translation book on the dwarven language was full of hot air. He spent an entire afternoon reading a supposed dwarven encyclopedia only to find out he had not received any language related skills. The worst part for Danny was that the farce of a book now existed in his little mental sanctuary.

Danny wondered why hadn't anyone removed this when it didn't gain them any skills? There were not any translations for any beastman languages. Not surprising.

The best book he read was on the elven culture. The elves had a ruling monarchy. There was also a council of elders that advised the ruling family and had other responsibilities. Elven children were rare, the author never goes into why. Males chose a mate from among the available pool of females. Their culture frowned on relationships lasting for more than a quarter of a century unless a child is conceived. If a child is conceived the couple can choose to separate. The author considered this elven practice immoral, as she believed relationships of this nature should only be between a husband and wives.

Exactly three weeks to the day, Danny showed up in Wizard August's lecture hall. Many of his classmates were already there. Danny found a chair where he had sat in the back before. Wizard August sat at his desk and did not seem take notice of Danny entering the hall. A few of the students noticed him, but no one said anything.

Peak took one look at him and snickered, but other than that it was normal. Once everyone came in the wizard began his class. They were covering the method runes for on touch. Once he finished with his lecture, he held his hand up to stop everyone from jumping up to head out the door.

Wizard August addressed the class, "Today we have a special treat, initiate Creek has returned to us and will demonstrate the dual casting technique, I am sure he has mastered in his time away from us. Let's please head towards the group training room so he can begin his demonstrations, then class will proceed as normal.

August had addressed this in a matter of fact way, not a drop of sarcasm in his voice. Danny decided he was here to meet this requirement then he would be on his way.

They made it into the group training room and Danny put on his casting gloves. Wizard August directed him toward one of the lanes. Casting a spell of his own the wizard flicked his hand at the end of the lane. A stone slab the height of a man lifted into the air where his spell landed.

"Initiate Creek, please proceed with your demonstration," Wizard August announced to the group.

Everyone huddled around the back of the lane. Danny distinctly heard Peak whisper something to someone and they both started snickering. Danny couldn't wait to get this over with.

Pointing both hands toward the end of the lane, Danny simultaneously cast both a fireball and a ball of air at the monolith. A few seconds later, both scored a direct hit. Turning around Danny saw nothing but the white of their eyes. More than a few had their mouths open. Wizard August, on the other hand, looked like he just found out it was his birthday.

"Well done initiate Creek. You have succeeded where many of your fellow students thought you would fail. I am satisfied with your display and will await your entry into the semiannual adept exam in the Fall," Wizard August stated.

Nodding to the Wizard, Danny left without another word.

Light from the late summer sun, that hidden behind the tops of the trees, cut a swath across the small glade. Tiny motes of dust danced in the shade cast by the trees. Fish darted around inside a small pond in the middle of the clearing. If not for the distant sounds of the academy and city, Danny would have thought himself hidden deep in a forest. Focusing on the small stem, hidden in the grass in front of him, Danny pushed his hand out towards the plant. The stem shook ever so slightly then began to grow. Leaves formed on side shoots on either side of the stem. Soon a yellow flower could be seen sprouted forth from the top of the stem.

It was the end of summer and Danny was sitting in one of the small gardens hidden around the academy. Danny had chosen a garden designed like a small forest for the privacy it provided. He also chose this particular one for the location. It was over by an unused dorm building, far away from the dining hall or arena. It was less likely he would be interrupted or more importantly seen. Technically, what he was doing wasn't spell casting, it was mana manipulation. He had been told casting spells outside the training rooms would result in punishment. In the legal world, semantics is king.

This was Danny's first attempt at casting the new elemental rune he had received. Throughout the spring and the summer he had trained his mana manipulation and spells, for all five of the elements he had originally received. Danny was pleased with his progress. First fire affinity had reached level five and then earth affinity reached level six. By the end of Spring, Danny had trained his other element for the exam, air affinity, to level six as well. Danny moved to water for a change of pace. When water affinity reached Journeyman at level six, he was shocked at what he found in his sanctuary.

Inside his mana room, two new walls had appeared. One was between earth and water, called "Nature Affinity." The other new wall was between water and air, called "Storm Affinity." Danny had three levels in each affinity already. Confused he checked and he discovered the same benefit from when he unlocked his original affinities. His knowledge of the inner working of storms and nature gave his affinities a boost. Danny had not seen anything in the novice or adept books on either of the elements. Was this something that only wizard level members of the college were taught?

Danny had tried using his storm affinity with mana manipulation in the training room. The wind picked up and water vapor could barely be seen condensing on the ceiling above. His ears began to pop as the pressure in the room dropped. This continued for some time until Danny realized there wasn't enough water to form an actual cloud. Excited by this Danny wondered what would have happen if a cloud had fully formed. He couldn't try this outside as it would most likely draw suspicion.

Danny next cast nature affinity with his mana manipulation. Expecting vines to burst forth from the ground he was surprised when mud came up instead. Looking at the mud covering his arms and legs. He could also feel it in his hair. The movement of the mud had surprised him and he had lost control of the element. Using rinse followed by wind, Danny was at least glad he didn't have wounds or burns to heal this time. Danny didn't want to give up and left to find a quiet place outside to rest his theory with nature affinity.

After the success with making the flower grow, Danny went in search of something needed to test one more theory.

Looking around he realized that what he wanted was in the dining hall. Begging the staff for what he wanted got him nowhere. They told him to return at supper time. As he was leaving he noticed one of the food carts had what he needed. Asking the woman behind the cart, she refused to help him without proper compensation. Running back to his dorm, he retrieved his money from its hiding place. He went back and paid the woman, then ran down to a training room.

*Let's see if this works underground*, Danny thought.

Throwing the object into the middle of the floor he cast nature magic on it with mana manipulation. Roots emerged from the object to bury themselves into the ground, slowly a stem emerged. As the stem grew larger it darkened. Shoots emerged from the sides sprouting leaves, and eventually apples. A large apple tree slowly appeared before Danny.

Having expected this to happen, Danny had stood on the outside of the room when he threw the apple in the middle. What he had not expected is that the tree would grow right towards Danny like an arrow. Frowning Danny sat confused. How to make a tree grow straight up? He could try a spell. That would work but spells were the easy way out. He thought about his efforts with making a spinning ball of air. Though, he didn't need a spinning apple tree.

While he was thinking Danny grabbed an apple that had grown on the new tree and munched on it. Danny stopped looking at the apple. It was good, really good. Grabbing a few more he set them aside, then had the tree sink into the floor of the training room with earth affinity. Because of the size of the tree this took some time.

Once he got the tree down deep enough Danny realized something else. The tree roots had grown through the rock floor like it was soil. He was sure this wasn't natural. Normally only lichen or other hardy species of plants could latch onto rocks. Even then, their roots were small, to get through cracks. These roots hadn't destroyed the stone floor to get down into the ground. The area around the roots had also started to turn into a soft soil. Danny wondered if his mana provided what was needed to make what he wanted happen.

Throwing another apple into the middle of the floor, Danny used his mana sight and created a ball of mana. Stopping he watched it float there. Like the elemental armor he had acquired previously, without a connection to his mana the ball slowly dissipated into nothing. Creating another ball of mana, he willed it at the apple before disconnecting it. The ball flew toward the apple. He was pleased when it stopped on the apple as he had desired it to.

The mana was still technically his so he tried casting the nature rune on it. To his surprise, and pleasure, an apple tree began to grow. Danny stopped as he watched the mana ball be consumed. The tree grew to a small sampling. Frowning, Danny buried the tree and threw another apple. This time he created a super dense ball of mana, made from all the reserves he had. After a few minutes of this he cast the mana ball at the apple. The tree grew to monstrous proportions, hitting the roof the branches, unlike the roots, spread along the ceiling. Danny felt like Christmas had come early with all the green and red on display.

Cleaning the room, which took a while, Danny repeated his performance from before but when he threw the dense ball of mana but he didn't drop his connection to it. He willed his connection to the dense ball of mana to raise up toward the ceiling in an arch. Then he decided that wasn't enough. He walked closer and willed the connection rising to twist around and spin. Not having really done this before it took some time.

Finally he cast the nature rune and watched the tree grow. As the ball of mana was consumed the tree grew up toward the ceiling. This time however, as it grew it followed his connection from the mana ball twisting and spiraling. As it reached the top of the arch of his connection, Danny realized it was still growing and would come back toward him. Stopping the flow of mana from his and the connection quickly retreated towards the ball. No longer directed by the mana connection, the tree grew up and across then ceiling.

Danny smiled up at the beauty of the twisted trunk, green foliage, and spots of red from the apples. His mana could be used like a paintbrush to direct the growth of the plants he grew.

"Danny!"

Danny looked up to see David and Peter pulling up chairs to the table he was sitting at. A few of the other boys in the room looked over at the sudden noise with annoyance.

"What," Danny asked.

"Don't what me, why haven't you told us," accused Peter.

"Everyone is talking about it, don't what us," David said at the same time.

Danny continued to stare at them confused.

"You entered into the Fall adept exam for two elements," Peter accused.

"Oh yeah, I did, for air and earth affinities. I told you two about that," Danny answered.

"Danny, you did tell us you were going to go for both of those. You also didn't tell us you would be doing this half way into your first year," David said incredulously.

"Oh, well I guess I figured it was implied. If I don't take the exam how do I know what to work on for improvement," Danny reasoned.

"Danny, if you fail the exam, you have to wait a year to take it again," David replied.

Danny thought for a moment before replying, "Well then I will be taking it again whenever most people take it the first time."

Peter tried to remain calm but failed, almost yelling, "Danny, most people don't try until their second year!"

That got some sounds for quiet from the other occupants of the library.

Peter looked around guiltily before leaning in and whispering, "Most students wait till they are absolutely ready because the results are known to the whole city. If you fail, not just your reputation but your whole family's falls. On top of that, there is the fact that you are going for two affinities at once, which is rarely done. If you fail one it probably won't look too bad, but if you fail both, you, and by extension your whole family, will look like fools."

Danny was thinking that Peter's whispering voice was almost louder than his yelling voice, but no one else said anything about it.

"Well then I guess I can't fail then," Danny said while going back to reading his book.

Peter threw his hands into the air while David just shook his head.

David decided to change the subject, "How was your vacation, Danny?"

Peter asked, "Did you tell your family your plans for the exam?"

Danny addressed peter before answering David's question, "No, I didn't tell them. My vacation was good, my mom's crafts are still selling like cheap light crystals. My youngest sister isn't so little anymore. Other than that not much has changed," Danny replied, "How about you two?"

Peter jumped in, "My families businesses are doing well, but what I can't wait for is my dad is coming back. He has been working down south at some border village."

Danny looked over, "Your dad doesn't work in your families businesses?"

"I didn't tell you? He's an earth wizard. He's not as powerful as some, so he gets a lot of work from smaller villages to go and build or repair walls and civic structures. He takes a bit of time and so he charges less than the more powerful mages," Peter explained.

"That’s great, I would like to meet him if I get the chance," Danny explained.

"Peter's dad also sends work my families' way if he comes across someone who can't afford a wizard’s rates," David put in. "By the way, thank him again for that work with the Branch Family, after that job we got a lot of additional requests from their neighbors and friends."

Peter smiled broadly, saying "That's good! I will let him know for sure."

After reading for a bit more, Danny put his book down and asked, "I know it's different every year but what were the exam like in previous years?'

Peter looked like the fact he didn't know this already confirmed his insanity, David on the other hand calmly replied, "They have ranged from having examinees create complex shapes with earth and water, to obstacle courses that can only be completed with the use of the specific magic element. The idea is not to just test if they cast the spells, but if they can use them to solve problems while under pressure."

Danny thought on this a while before going back to reading his book.