"Well?" Mr. Terrell asked in an impatient tone.

Damien was opposite him where the man's desk lay in the corner of the classroom, seated in a chair of earth he'd created when first entering. Mr. Terrell had called him in when he'd knocked on the classroom door and left him to his own devices while the instructor himself scrolled through a multitude of things on his ring. Damien had tried to ask a question at one point and received a glare, so he'd sat quietly and obediently up until now. Thankfully, it seemed the man was done.

Adrenna was sitting on a desk partway up the aisle, ruminating. Damien had been worried initially that she'd get yelled at for sitting on a desk, but it seemed Mr. Terrell not only didn't care what she did, but liked her; if the way that he had treated her since Damien and she had shown up proved anything, at least. No insults, he didn't blow her off... Just polite conversation and greetings whenever they met. It was staggering to see the professor be genuinely amicable.

"I want to learn the basics of enchantment magic," Damien stated.

"Oh, really? How convenient you decided to come to me," Mr. Terrell voiced sarcastically. "Obviously, Mr. Tearen. What specifically is it you wanted help with?"

Damien opened his mouth only for Mr. Terrell to interrupt him.

"And I swear if you respond with something general again, I'm going to drop you in the lake."

Damien closed his mouth and took a moment to formulate his thoughts before opening it again.

"I want to learn a sound-canceling or dampening enchantment."

Damien waited for a few tense seconds as the man before him remained expressionless.

Finally, Mr. Terrell nodded.

"Hmm. Smart choice. Your ears are something that need to be protected during a fight. In fact, I'd suggest you learn sound magic itself when you get a chance as well. While not exactly offensively useful, it can be one of the best ways to distract an opponent during a duel or a battle at close range."

Damien agreed. And the plethora of sounds he himself could come up with... Just imagining distracting someone with the sound of tires screeching made him a bit giddy.

"Then, I was wondering... well, where you would start when learning... an enchantment that did that?" he asked, voice raising near the end of his sentence.

"Are you asking me a question, or questioning your inquiry itself?" Mr. Terrell asked in an irritated tone.

"The first one," Damien stated quickly. "Sir."

The instructor visibly sighed and rolled his eyes in an overly exasperated manner. Damien began to feel a little bad for even wasting the man's time with his questions.

This was all new territory for him. He'd seen Garrett work and watched as he Altered the items he'd been commissioned with spells, but he always did it in such a complex and multi-layered format that Damien could never follow along. Not to mention, Damien primarily did things chantless, more by feel than anything. What Garrett would do was a math problem, and they'd said his time would be better spent practicing with his own abilities. Which was true, calling upon lightning, air, earth, and even raw mana to a degree felt like he was calling upon a third arm at this point, and it was only improving by the day. He just wished he could have had a bit more time to at least try and see how he could apply enchantment to his own person.

But Garrett was no teacher. He was a provider, and his time spent on his work was supposed to be uninterrupted. Damien had also been a bit too enamored with shooting things with fire back then anyway.

"There are more than a few that would do what you want spell wise," Mr. Terrell explained, interrupting Damien's introspection. "How far have you gotten on the spell matrix being taught in Feival's class? Show me."

Damien nodded and held his hands to the side, constructing a basic spell for a fireball that would shoot toward the open classroom if it went wrong.

"Don't point it in a different direction, dammit, point it at me. I need to see what you're doing," Mr. Terrell demanded.

"Right, sorry," Damien said, losing his concentration and the matrix.

He held his hands out in front of the man and began to slowly infuse his pointer and middle finger on each hand with mana. He separated the fingers on both of his hands into two V's that were vertical and held his hands about six inches apart from one another. Finally, he began to allow the mana to flow from his right middle finger to his left pointer, from there to his right pointer, from there to his left middle, and then the stream ended at his right middle finger again, repeating the process.

Once he'd constructed the basic layout, he tried to infuse the spell completely and evenly with his fire attribute. Unfortunately, as the mana began to turn a reddish-orange on the sides, the right side soaked in swiftly, and the whole matrix broke apart, sending a small uncontrolled wave of fire off to the right side of the desk he sat by.

Mr. Terrell waved his hand, and the flame disappeared almost the same instant it appeared, as if nothing on his desk had been in danger of being burnt.

"Not great," he muttered. "Better than I expected, at least. You can construct the basic structure. You just need to control it better. In any case, you're too far away from a simple spell like [Fire Bolt] to even- ah, sorry Adrenna," Terrel called out as he realized the blast of fire had slammed into the aisle by where the Brinter was ruminating, causing her to jump up and away from the blaze. "Good thing that spell isn't attuned to where I'm looking, or an unfortunate thing I suppose for me," he stated as he looked at Damien with tired eyes.

Damien remained seated and unmoving. The blast of fire he had shot had been directed right over his head, and he was more than certain some of his dark hair had been singed. He'd followed it with his eyes and thought that Adrenna would be killed or seriously injured right there, but she'd been just far enough to the side that it hadn't mattered. Her skin might be a bit red, but he doubted she'd be even lightly injured, most likely.

"In any case, chantless casting of body enchantment is much easier to learn. You just do it."

Damien watched on confused for a few moments until Mr. Terrell's eyes began to glow a soft blue, slowly increasing in intensity as if they were self-luminous. Damien's eyes were then drawn to various other parts of the teacher's body as they glowed blue as well.

Suddenly, the man stood up and slammed his fully engulfed arm into his desk and shattered it directly down the center, sending a loud booming noise throughout the classroom.

"Dammit, Ezra!" Adrenna screamed out from behind them. "Stop doing shit like that!"

Damien's eyes widened as he turned around, seeing as Adrenna had once again stopped ruminating. He looked back at Mr. Terrell and saw the man chuckling with an evil look in his eyes.

'This chick is going to get me killed!'

Within moments, the shattered desk put itself back together with extremely rigid movements and overly raucous noises as Damien felt the eyes from his... acquaintance burning in the back of his head.

"Sorry, sorry. You know how bad I am at reconstructing what I break," Mr. Terrell explained in an excessively apologetic voice, glaring back at the girl before turning to look at Damien once again. "Excuse her; she was never taught manners as a slave. I actually pity that you ended up with her. As I was demonstrating though," he continued as Damien did his best to ignore the burning gaze still on the back of his head, wondering how the hell she'd gotten him of all people to apologize twice, "It is almost as simple as infusing your mana directly into whatever body part you want to enhance. Almost."

Damien nodded and continued to watch, spreading his mana sense out over the classroom so as not to miss anything. When it passed over the teacher, Damien could see his various body parts were saturated in a pure mana.

"For you, it'd be easiest to pull mana through your body and let it float in control in front of you. Once you have a good amount, you must imbue it with the effect you want it to have. Envision what it should do. Picture it in its entirety. It's not enough to think to make something stronger, you have to envision what you mean," Mr. Terrell explained as Damien nodded along. "The more solid the image, the better the effect it will have on you. The more mana you condense, the stronger the results as well. Depending on what you're trying to do, it may fail."

"What kind of things fail?" Damien asked.

"Figure it out yourself," the man responded, his tone going from an informational one to an irritated one within moments. "There are books on it. I've given you enough. You're lucky you can cast chantlessly. It should take you years to learn basic enchantments or any spells, but with a little ingenuity and picturing what you want, you can mostly create anything within almost a week. Stop asking for so much help and go experiment for the love of the gods," he ranted. "Anything else, boy?"

"Sound magic?" Damien queried.

He had the man here and in a somewhat informative mood, he might as well get whatever hints he could out of him before he left.

"Same as enchantment. Bye," Mr. Terrell declared as Damien felt foreign mana surround him.

"I really wish they couldn't do that," he grumbled, looking at a surprised and irritated Adrenna as she sat on the grass next to him and the lake.

"Victory goes to Egrum Rummel," an announcer declared as a grip of healers dashed onto the arena platform.

"Dammit!"

...

The yell echoed through the empty arena as its origin slammed the two fists on the right side of her body into the ground, breaking apart the earth slightly as the medics closed in on her.

"Don't touch me," she growled out.

"Krissa, please let them hel-"

"I DON'T NEED THEIR HELP, RUMMEL!" she shouted. "I'll fix my damn legs on my own, go away."

"Miss Bellin we-"

"GO!" she screamed, enhancing the volume of her voice with mana while waving her arm in an arc at the healers, causing them to jump back from the wave of heat she sent at them.

The man and two women paused for a moment, seemingly unsure of what to do. A few seconds of glaring later, they turned around and walked away with purpose. Krissa looked up after a minute had passed and saw Egrum, an Elf, still watching her lick her wounds.

"Reveling in another victory?" she spit out, grinding her teeth.

"No, that wasn't my intention. I just... Why can't you let us help you? You don't even focus in class any longer you just... Let someone-" he started, moving to take a step forward.

She drove her good fist into the ground and a spike of earth shot out of the ground before where his foot would land. She watched as he shook his head and stepped back, looking into her eyes filled with anger.

"Go. Away."

"Fine. If you are so determined to be alone, I don't see why the hell I should keep trying," he declared, turning and moving for the arena exit. "I'll see you next week, fool."

Krissa turned her glare around the arena to make sure there was no one left in it, then moved it back to her legs. She carefully pushed herself up into a sitting position. Egrum had smashed her calves, knees, and bruised a few ribs. It would take a while to heal. She'd be late for her appointment again.

"Dammit," she whispered out, hugging her right leg while resting her forehead on it.

They never let her speak with the important people when she was late.

Mana flowed through her ravaged body and slowly but surely repaired the damage.

After about an hour of sitting still, the arena was once again void of any person, the only indication someone had been there recently being a few tiny spots of damp ground left behind where the girl had been sitting.

"This... I missed this."

A man sat alone in his study, smiling widely to himself as he relaxed. It was his first week back home in a couple of years from the endless battle effort against the Nivari. Sure, he was the best they had when it came to commanding, but he needed a break. The constant expectations, the constant noise, always being guarded... Hell, even the entire trip home he was under watch. They wouldn't let him do anything alone for fear he'd be assassinated.

"Just because I'm not that adept at magic... I didn't even want to be a mage, you know," he mumbled to himself, unable to stop smiling from the glee of being able to relax for once.

He'd informed his army and the Emperor's assistants a while back that he'd be taking half of the next year off, starting with the new year and his daughter's birthday. It was already the third month of the year 5'664 though and he was indeed late to take his vacation. Yet, despite the complaints he may have had, they'd gotten him home. Here he was, alive, well, and most importantly... the man was alone.

"I don't think I'll ever go back," he exclaimed, leaning back in his chair with his arms behind his head. "I'm gonna run away."

The sounds of birds chirping drifted in through his open window alongside a breeze. His eyes slowly drifted shut as his smile became tranquil over his lips.

Unfortunately, while he was alone in this room, he was not in fact alone in his home.

"Oryen!!!"

His eyes twitched while shut as he ignored the call of the she-devil. He loved her and was absolutely willing to spend every waking moment of his nine-month-long reprieve with her, but right now... this was his moment.

"Oryen..." the calling sounded out, much quieter as he carefully adjusted the amount of sound his ears let in.

Sound manipulation magic. The reason he was a good commander. His bread and butter. Almost useless in a fight unless the other man was an amateur, sure, but when it came to commanding, it was the biggest boon one could have. He was a master of it too. In every sense of the word he was. He'd never seen nor ever been told stories of any man that had performed any of the same feats he had with the magic, neither had he been told any stories of any coming close.

Yet despite all his prowess, despite all his years, decades, and centuries of mastery....

"Oryen!!"

That melodious voice of the woman he just wanted to give him a moment still managed to drill itself into his brain.

"ORYEN!" the voice yelled, the double doors leading into his office slamming open simultaneously.

He sighed, lowered his wings in defeat, and cracked his eyes open slightly, sitting upright in his chair.

"Yes, my love?"

"Why didn't you answer me?! I searched the entire house for you," she exclaimed as he subconsciously adjusted the amount of sound his head let in to turn her loud, angry voice down to an octave he could handle.

"I'm sorry, I was just in the middle of an afternoon nap. Reveling in the silence of not being at battle," he replied with a smile as he stared at his lovely wife with her messy hair, eyes blazing with anger, and heavy breathing.

He smiled as sweetly as he could.

Hair the same pure white as snow, bright, firey red eyes, delicate features meant to woo... any man that saw her would do a double-take. The perfect lady in public, caring, kind, intelligent, well-read... any man that knew her would fawn.

'Fools, the lot of them.'

For they would only be deluding themselves. Oryen... he knew. This woman was no siren that she appeared to be on first contact.

"Well stop being lazy! Have you read the letter we just received from your daughter?!" she asked with a very pleasant volume as her face conveyed just how loud those words were supposed to be.

"I haven't my love," he said with a shake of his head. "She sent an actual, formal letter?"

"Yes! And guess what it says! She..."

"Come, sit with me. We'll go through it together," he said, ignoring her newest string of volatile complaints about what he assumed was the letter she held in her hand while patting his leg.

His voice cut through hers like the sharpest of blades and entered her ears, becoming all the woman heard. Her anger seemed to evaporate slightly as she moved toward him, and his smile turned genuine.

His wife. So easy to anger... so easy to appease. The only thing she loved about him more than his voice was his touch, no matter how much she tried to act a prude.

"Fine," she said, taking a seat as her wings folded tight to her back, her body rigid and far away from him.

He wrapped his arms around her midsection and leaned his head around to the right side of hers, looking down to the letter she was gripping tightly as every bit of her slowly unknotted. Gently, he reached for said letter and removed it from her clutches to unfold.

The first thing he noticed was his family crest at the top of the parchment: A golden Celestial with its wings spread high and wide, looking off into the distance to the right.

The second thing he noticed was the unmistakably bad handwriting that was his daughters.

He began to read.

"'Dear Mom,

I hope everything is going well in Hylum. Are Dad and Jemmy doing ok? Is there any sign the Nivari stop trying to invade? I keep hearing things about how horrible fighting them is, I hope they're doing ok. Hellial's attacking towns is no doubt just aggravating everything. Make sure if you ever travel by foot, you stay safe.' She's right you know," Oryen commented with an approving nod. "'I'm doing great in school as usual. Just communed'- oh that's interesting dear, she communed already," he added, tightening his grip on his wife.

"Keep. Reading," she said in a cold tone.

"Alright alright... 'Just communed. Damien helped me'- who's Damien?"

"Just read it!"

With a sigh, he continued.

"-and I was able to keep Diamond away from Eita. Due to everything Damien taught and showed me, I'm the most dangerous Mage currently at the academy and actually took the top spot from Rias as well. Also, you remember how I told you in earlier letters that he and his family were inconsequential? I may not have told you the whole truth.

You're not going to be happy about this so... please brace yourself.

Truth is, him and I have been talking for a few years and have decided to enter into a relationship. I know I've been putting off your betrothal suggestions for a while, with numerous reasons, but he is the main one. I know you won't approve of this and will be downright upset about it, but it's what I'm doing.

So, saying that... I'm choosing to not take part in our cultures betrothal rights until I turn one hundred. I'm also claiming independence until that age to prevent you from forcing anything on me. I hope you'll understand.

You should come out to the event in a few months so we can speak, and to meet him, since I know you'll be coming out with more offers anyway in person. It would be amazing if you could try and like him. He's my best friend.

Also, please don't bring any suitors along. If dad is there or shows up, please bring him though! I want to see him and well, since you're already really mad at me now, maybe he'll be able to calm you down a bit.

I'm sorry to surprise you with this. I've taken a very long time to think about it. Don't forget it's against our culture to try to force me to enter into a betrothal!

Love Alexenna~'"

He finished the letter and set it down in his wife's lap, deliberating. The room remained silent all the while as he processed this information, unsure of how to broach the subject. Damien was a new name to him, and apparently, she'd led her mother into thinking he was unimportant. Now...

"Well, who exactly is Damien?" he asked.

"Some Human Vanessa associates with!" his wife practically yelled. "She mentioned him often in her letters when they were younger, a child to look after and help with his studies, but stopped mentioning him all together these last few years!"

"Well... maybe if you hadn't suggested she stop spending so much time with that Human's family-"

"ARE YOU TAKING HER SIDE?!" his wife yelled, jumping out of his lap and spinning around to face him with her full-blown pissed off face.

"No, no," he said, holding his arms up. "Not taking her side, dearest. I don't believe a Human is right for our daughter either. I'm sure she'll grow out of it. She's young, and he's been around for a long time it seems. They'll part after they both graduate most likely."

His rationale seemed to placate her somewhat as her scowl turned to a grimace.

"What if she doesn't?" she asked. "What if... oh gods I shouldn't have sent her to stay with Vanessa. What am I going to tell them... What if she..." she began muttering, pacing about the room.

He smiled his warmest smile at his wife as she continued to go through a plethora of different emotions, ranging from anger to despair.

"It will be fine. She had to go somewhere and you trust Vanessa the most. You know the Cornalis were looking to do something extreme."

"Still, my sister is definitely not the best influence on her. She's probably why this is all happening!"

"And as far as the other families go," he continued slightly louder, ignoring her outburst, "tell them the truth. She is refusing betrothal. It is not unheard of."

A minute or so went by while she continued to bite at her lower lip, eyes darting back and forth. She chose a random book off a shelf and began to pick at the edges of it as she would often do when nervous.

"Petrina, it'll be ok," Oryen soothed. "It's just unfortunate for diplomacy's sake that she won't be willing to take any suitors for another eighty years or so. Don't blame your sister or alienate her any further, or you may lose the last member of your family besides us."

Petrina glanced up into his eyes and sighed, deflating mostly.

"At least they are just starting out a relationship. She wouldn't be foolish enough to ruin her body for a mere Human, anyway," she finished, all of the sudden exuding an extreme calm as she moved to place his book back on the shelf, staring at its binding. "She's not that big of an idiot, is she dear?"

Oryen straightened up a bit in his chair and nodded even though she wasn't looking at him, the woman's deadpan, monotone voice terrifying him to his core.

"She wouldn't. She knows how important all of this is. Stick to tradition. At least she is willing to do that, as shown in her letter," he explained rigidly, not believing his own words.

"Yes. You're right," she finished quietly, moving for the door. "Carry on, dear. I'm going to go for a walk. I need to explain to the others that I'll be calling off the trip for them."

"Be safe, love," he called after, remaining rigid and unmoving for a full minute even after she'd left his study.

Finally, he let out the breath he'd been holding.

"Gods dammit, she's terrifying," he whispered under his breath. "'Talking for a few years.' Sure. May the lord of souls save that boy's if she finds out..."