"Mr. Vandiese, what is the influence within bloodlines for attributes, mana pool, and one's talent for manipulating the force? Answer with relevant theoretical frameworks, an example, and tell us the history of the previous hierarchical societal structure that came as a result of over-dependence on the classical interpretation.

"Miss Yhir, what are the major variable factors in spell formation are responsible for increasing the force a target feels? What role does the factor, Composition, play in determining the influence of the other two?

"Miss Kanata, it seems you're awake this time. I hope to see you pay attention in class for the remainder as well."

Mathias answered first and Fara followed soon after. The questions were not random: they were the topics they would be covering today. If they only talked about the theory mentioned in-class (either prior or what was on the lesson-plan), the answer would be insufficient.

Both had their answers correct so they were allowed to rest so long as they did not disturb the rest of the class. The sorting orbs did a fine job of placing both of them in the back, be it by design, by chance, or by accident.

Ayla, however, dared to ask a question.

"Mr. Shields, before we start I was wondering if you could help us with something?"

He glanced at her indifferently, reiterating, "the two will be here for the second half of class. I suggest you take advantage of their knowledge and expertise either then, at training, or after an appointment..."

He paused.

"Or is that not sufficient?"

"We're looking for a judge actually! Since it's somewhat class-related, we were wondering if you would have time on Sunday? We're planning on setting on a gallery with sculptures made inside... uh... Wendi?"

"Stasis stones..." Wendi hesitantly offered, knowing she was not strong enough academically to incur his ire and fail his questions.

"Yeah! Those! So since it requires what we're learning in class, we were wondering if you could judge them?"

"From a technical stand-point, I assume?" His face remained unchanged, but his voice seemed a little curious. "Those stones are effective for beginners, but we expect you to be beyond that point. There were many trials you all have to do before being granted admittance, or am I mistaken, Miss Argentine?"

"Y-your not mistaken," Ayla felt she had to push a bit further but was nervous. "It's just... well, we feel like it'll be worth-while since, after yesterday's lesson, a lot of spells have become strange. Mine was almost solid, which is strange for wind; Stacy's attack was too strong and cut through Jill's, instead of expanding and deflecting it; and there are Lisanna and Synthy's fire attacks... I'm sure I'm missing some people, but since they changed a lot, I think it would benefit us to have you judge how well the newer versions rather than the common ones we were all taught prior."

She talked a lot - not uncommon, but it was a first with Mr. Shields being the recipient.

The young teacher looked around the room before nodding. "Miss O'Clair. Your spell will be perhaps the best suited for this task, as Miss Rettih would be likely more comfortable with the specific form when not in a desk. Do you mind demonstrating?"

Lisanna bit her lip and stood up. As the class's eyes were on her, she was a little nervous. Thankfully, she was effectively converting most of her normal flames to the congealed variants. It first formed an orb before she automatically compressed it into a disc, as she did many times this morning. The edges flickered a little, but it was enough to get the point across.

"Very good, Miss O'Clair. Miss Argentine, I suppose that is what you're referring to?"

"It is... would you be interested?"

"I suppose I can make time on Sunday," Mr. Shields said before addressing the class. "We have yet to cover it so I will describe the feature you've just seen: it is, simply put, a personalized manifestation of one's internal mana signature. It is where many get stuck at this level where they can only work with the primal elements, we have specifically tested you all to ensure you have the aptitude to manifest the later levels.

"For example, if you'll recall Mr. Vandiese ice attacks: they're quite refined, in all honesty. However, they're only at the first stage, not dissimilar to the flames you see in front of you. All non-earth manifestations will generally appear the same, due to the compositional factor Miss Yhir so eloquently described earlier. If the goal of this... gallery, I suppose you'd call it, is to demonstrate this, I'd be happy to attend. I will judge based on the level attained in that category. You will need someone else to judge the looks of it all, as it is beyond me."

"Great!" Ayla shouted. "We'll also be auctioning some of them off to help pay for class-expenses!"

"And these expenses are being allotted to?"

Seeing Mr. Shields' dispassionate eyes made Ayla freeze when she was about to mention the cake meeting. "T-training, sir. We met up yesterday to practise what you taught us in the morning..."

"I see. I look forward to your results. I can mention this to my colleagues, if you're interested in attracting more attention. Otherwise, I'll be quiet about this."

"If possible, can you tell them tomorrow? We still haven't gotten the supplies so... yeah, we'll need to verify if we actually can..."

"Understood. I will confirm with you all tomorrow. If all goes well, I'll tell my colleagues then."

"Yes! Thank you!"

"Now, if that is all, I will be starting. Unless there is anything else I need to be made aware of?"

"..."

No one spoke up so Mr. Shields continued with the lesson. The sound of furiously scribbling pens was now a well-accepted accompaniment to his lectures, even amongst those that had the luxury of sleeping through them. Or rather, half-sleeping.

Neither were so stupid as to reject the possibility that they would not be called upon. At the one-hour mark, he called on both of them again. It was about a concept earlier described and more basic than their previous questions. They both answered swiftly. And the class resumed all the way to the two-hour mark.

"You'll have a ten-minute break now," Mr. Shields said and walked out of the door.

"Wah... I-I was so scared..." Wendi shook as she let down her pen.

"Yeah... Erik, next time you're doing it!"

"Hey! You're the one who volunteered this morning! Ah, right, where was everyone this morning?"

He addressed the question to the entire class.

"I was sore..."

"Practising for next period..."

"I just slept in," Hana said. Most water mages agreed with her with comment with 'yeahs' or silent nods.

"Well, it's fine. But since everyone is here, we'll meet come lunch to try to double-check the matches and go over some of the rules we struck out in the morning."

"That's fine if Synthy is going!"

"Synthy?"

The girl in question nodded.

"Okay, after that, we shouldn't have anything really major planned for tonight. Wendi, are you still okay with picking them up by yourself?"

"Yeah! Anyways, what're your guys' themes!?" Burning with curiosity, Wendi asked the class as a whole, with a specific gaze directed at Ayla.

"Uh, what's a theme?"

"... What? You don't know?!" Wendi pursed her lips and started to explain. "It's the meaning behind your work! Even if it is good from a technical standpoint, there has to be a reason for people to care about it! It can be serious, light-hearted, or anything in-between! It could represent something abstract like love, loss, courage, devotion, or anything - anything!"

With the remainder of the five-minute break, Wendi lectured her classmates on the importance of a 'theme' in any given work. Many were indifferent to the idea, but Wendi gave them an assignment: "You all have to come to me by lunch with a theme! I'll help you plan it out, give you tips and ways how to go ahead with it!"

If she wasn't so passionate about art, many would have thought she was trying to get a leg up on the rest of them. However, her disarming appearance was able to curtail some suspicions, as was her genuine, knowledgeable background.

Mathias' shoulder was shaken and his rest disturbed just as the break was to end. "So what's your theme?"

"... I don't care about things like that. Let them decide for themselves."

"Th-"

"We'll be starting now. Get to your seats." Mr. Shields walked in with both aids trailing behind him. "As it seems you've all been practising, we'll be continuing where we left off yesterday. This week is designed to drill in the fundamentals, so I expect to see improvement in all of you, particularly those who had issues."

The seven who were pulled to the side collectively gulped. Jennifer's anxiety sky-rocketed and even Wendi's fiery gaze, a remanent of her previous lecture, was washed away with frigid waves emanating from Mr. Shields' eyes.

"We'll be starting with the same exercise. Since it seems pertinent to describe to those who are unaware, at least for this project of yours, I'll go over the general steps for condensing your mana in such a way as to manifest the second-calling, so to speak, of your abilities.

"This applies to everyone. Some of you may already know how to do it intuitively, but the theory is also important. You all will need to draw mana from the environment, as compared to from within. There is a limit as to how much your bodies can handle, but the convergence of the elemental mana you draw from, as well as your own, will begin to allow you to refine the raw mana power of the external with the control of the internal.

"Alone, your bodies already shift mana into a useable form. However, as we are imperfect beings, the way in which it is housed is quite chaotic. The mana you'll be drawing from, in large part, are the elemental fractions that exist within each particle. You'll be unable to use a vast portion of the external force, but by concentrating on merging the two forces, you'll be able to use your own power to control it more effectively than splitting the task between power generation as well as control.

"The study behind it, while progressing for centuries, is still only at the level of introduction to the concept. I'll briefly go over Hofste's Theorem, Manover's Framework, and the works of Gengis for advancing relevant discoveries of the introductory level."

Mr. Shields began a new lecture. As this material was not in the textbook, Mathias and Fara listened with rapt attention - finally jotting down detailed notes that did not briefly run over the topics covered. The class, too, was busily dividing their attention between their notebooks and listening with undivided attention.

Firstly, it was more interesting than the previous lectures. Secondly, it was relevant to their upcoming project. And thirdly, the speaker, Mr. Shields, was actually, uncharacteristically, breaking out of his monotone sermons, if only every few sentences at a time. It was a topic he was interested in and studied intensively.

The basics applied to all attributes, but the earth element was the area with the greatest degree of practical application. It was due to the formative basis of manifesting earth, converting existing physical elements, and subtlely expanding an individual's repertoire.

Mr. Shields demonstrated his own advancement in three different ways. "You may recall what I produced earlier." A perfectly spherical white stone appeared, unmarred by any imperfection. "However, this is not the extent of this theory's application. For example, see this."

Another white stone appeared beside the original. However, this one shone with multi-coloured lights, appearing purple, red, blue, and yellow at different angles as it slowly rotated in the light of the sun.

"This is an opal. A relatively cheap gemstone that can be produced by the confluence of mana, earthen elements, and a bit of structural modification. It is also naturally generated through other means. It has a few practical uses in engineering artifacts and magical items, but it largely is used, as you may note, in aesthetic designs. It is a branched variant of the earth manifestation, one that is relatively common. The white stone is an example of the precursor to it, a proto-manifestation if you will, but one that is still within the second-level, so to speak. It can be deemed a manifestation in its own right. But the degrees of further levels are unnecessary for you to know at this point."

"... I-it's so pretty..." Wendi murmured. Mr. Shields sent the sphere to her desk. "...?!"

Afraid she was being penalized for speaking in class, Wendi froze, but Mr. Shields' shrugged off the unspoken accusation and said, "look at it. You have the same element so you ought to be able to scan it effectively. Pass it around afterwards."

He continued with the lecture. "This is another one. An atypical manifestation that I first accidentally came across when I was your age."

Since he seemed perhaps ten years older than them, the comment seemed somewhat out of place, but Mr. Shields firmly alluded to his seniority.

A quartz sphere shimmered in the mana-fueled light, radiating multi-coloured lights from its core. It was nearly transparent and iridescent glow attracted all eyes. Even the third-year Robert, standing at his side, gawked at the orb.

"I have since become mimicking other gemstones, using the same steps I have described to you. This one is simple quartz, but its use is rather extensive in low-tiered artifact creation. There are many levels within which earthen elements may be generally described. However, as each have their own benefits and demerits, it is up to the user to make effective use of them. Of course, their general manifestation is, at least temporarily, as resilient as the other three basic elements. Light and darkness are superior in more specific areas, but as they are rare, and no student here currently possesses the direct affinity, it is not of significant import. Miss Aliel."

Being distracted by the quartz, Wendi had not scanned it. However, Mr. Shields' eye essentially forced her to part with it early.

However, seeing the more attractive quartz, her eyes shone as she took Mr. Shields momentary silence as an opportunity to look at it deeply.

He was just discussing a question Robert posed to him quietly. Whether he deemed it unnecessary for the class to hear clearly or the was planning the rest of the practical aspect of the second-half with the two, no one knew.

They did know that the quartz did not get passed around. Wendi spent five whole minutes of undivided attention before Mr. Shields turned his sight on her. She begrudgingly passed it back.

A few of the earth users, like Jack, Jill, James, and Eldrich genuinely appreciated the two stones, but it was something of an enigma to the others. They could sense the mana internalized in it being slightly different than what they've come to expect in their own works.

Jill and James even formed their own orbs of sediment and peddles to see some of the white stones inside. They plucked them out. Jack, however, brought out a silt and red clay ball, somewhat at a loss at the pebbles that once were in his spells disappeared.

Others saw the display and were experimenting with their own elements. Only Jennifer was too anxious to form a water ball.

After some ten minutes of self-study, Mr. Shields looked at the class and said. "The first three rows will go with Miss Quinal and the last two will go with Mr. Frae. I will be checking on you all. We'll begin the exercise that we started last class."

Jennifer looked at Lisanna in terror when she heard they were separated. Lisanna wore a wry smile and mouthed her encouragement.

Mathias was still playing around with the ice he created, but he looked to Fara who was deep in thought.

She was in the back row too. Walking to her, he asked, "do you think that's why?"

"I think so. Perhaps the wood is allowing its permanence, or perhaps the ice is able to last otherwise."

"I thought so," he mumbled. "Can you do it now?"

She nodded. She soundless formed a transparent icy sphere. From a glance, it was impossible to determine it was anything except pure ice, but Mathias could sense it. As for the other, further extension, he did not see it yet. At least not the one that could repel Jennifer's full-throttle attack that mimicked any reinforcement spell due to the sheer quantity of mana.

Having a baseline to work with, Mathias took the offered orb and condensed it into a disc. Neither paid any attention to Robert who was gathering the students in the back corner by the rear door.

Neither originally modified the internal structure significantly, but he added a sheet of transparent ice and tried to merge the two sources of mana.

It condensed into its original shape and the frigid atmosphere it radiated surprised him. He passed it back.

"..."

Fara did the same. And the cold intensified. However, the disc, which transformed into a flat diamond, grew a size larger. They were slowly refining their own object as Robert gave up on trying to talk to the two.

"Well, so be it." He said walking away from the two who pointedly ignored him. "I learned something interesting today, so I'll permit it. We'll be working in a team-setting this time around. Since it may be easier to just learn the initial steps by working with other's mana, you'll all be reinforcing or modifying the objects that come your way. It'll be a simple exercise, where if you must do one or the other. Be sure to use the unattributed "Float" spell if you're not used to handling foreign mana normally."

Robert cast it as he finished his speech. There was a simple, earthen sphere formed of loose sediment formed at first, then a white stone. He asked others to form the basic element orbs of water, ice, fire, and wind.

"Okay, I'll start."

He turned both orbs he created into narrow bars. Then he accepted a water orb beside him and reinforced it. It quivered at the semi-unfamiliar mana source, but did not burst. He even kept it afloat as he passed it over to the next person in line.

As they needed to work on controlling the force of other elements, chaotic as it was, many could not handle the unlike forces. However, after they continued, the eruptions became less pronounced, the forms less wobbly, and people practised how to at least handle disparate elements.

On the other side, Jennifer was working directly with Mr. Shields.

"... Now, again."

The first three times, due to her anxiety, she failed to properly control her output. Afterwards, once the fist-sized orb appeared, it exploded. Then dissipated. And when the compression started, it began spiralling around, casting water all around.

Mr. Shields had long since set up a barrier and the water only struck the walls before collecting into a basin he formed below.

When she finally reached her pinnacle, the formation of a stationary disc, he nodded and went to view the rest of the class. It took a half-hour.

"How many rounds?" He asked Elise.

"Two full and three with one mistake."

"Good. Break into groups of two."

"Yes, sir."

"Mr. Frae, how many rounds?"

"Three full, one with one mistake, and a few with just two, but we had fewer people."

"Okay. Break into groups."

Both larger groups split into partners. They had struggled intensely in the beginning, but they managed to at least not destroy the objects as they passed by. Whether or not the others actually reinforced anything was of little consequence. Their use of a spell to keep it intact meant that they were at least interacting with another element - a feat they could not do before. And a skill that was necessary to overcome the hurdle of conscious interaction with ambient mana.

"You two. I trust you've done something productive in your time apart?"

Fara and Mathias were so deep in practice that it took them a moment before they could respond. And recall they essentially dismissed Mr. Shields' unspoken order.

"... Does this count?" Mathias asked, passing an icy spear.

"Do you think I can touch that?"

There was snow condensing in the air immediately around the spear.

"Oh. Sorry."

"No matter. Reinforce this."

He passed two quartz orbs he quickly created. He specifically chose that one on account of its difficulty. If there was a single mistake, it would show immediately. And while it was hard on account of the form and structure, as well as the mana content, it could be liable to fragment easily from internal failures. Quartz, however, was extremely wide-spread in its use of making artifacts on account of its ability to accept mana signatures and freely be modified.

"... Hmm... do you mind if I do it differently?"

Mr. Shields quirked his brow. "Explain."

"Rather than just input mana, it seems better to use is as a core and slowly convert it."

"..."

The teacher did not saying anything so Mathias did as he was practising before. First, he encased the orb with ice, strengthened it, and then guided tendrils of mana from the transparent exterior to the internal core. As they were not physical manifestations, he was able to bypass the inherent physical formations Mr. Shields' made carefully, and several tiny azure veins appeared in its center.

The ice on the exterior disappeared as the veins grew.

It took a lot out of him. He even pressed the cold spear against his forehead before he passed it to Fara.

"..."

She was silent as she did the same. Unlike the veins he created, hers was more akin to a cyan colour. They swapped again.

As the quartz's external shape was unchanged, the interior was only just starting to bloom in more detail. The azure veins connected, curled, and flowed gracefully; the cyan veins drew sharp edges, cutting towards the azure, before radiating outwards to the very edge.

Mr. Shields watched for twenty minutes as he saw the quartz orb he created completely transformed. It was still transparent, but the darker hues was akin to silhouettes of thunder clouds and lightning dancing across a sea.

"... I see. An interesting method, if time-consuming." He took the quartz orb and split in half and the exposed cyan- and azure-veins radiated an intense chill. "You may keep these. You should note that you both are already getting more proficient in creating the basic level I was speaking of, and it seems your general attributes are showing more clearly.

"Split the spear in two and try to, as you say, use the quartz as a core for any given shape you desire. If you are interested, you may also go back and grab the weapons you use from the dorms. While it can technically be anything, for future practicality, it should a staff, a wand, or a weapon of some sort. You are to work for five-minute stretches with one and then give it to the other to condense. It will only get harder to modify the external structure so I suggest you two decide on a shape beforehand."

"Understood," Fara said seriously. Mr. Shields left. "Mathias, I'm planning on a sword. How about yourself?"

"..."

He did not want one, honestly. If it was a matter of novelty, sure; however, he was becoming more cognizant that he disliked using a blade.

"I'll just do a half-stave like the ones I carry."

Since the sphere was simply cut in half, and despite the attribute-enchantment, it was by no means easy to work with. At most, they might be able to burrow a hole through it. For that reason, it was more of an objected to be added and have something designed around it.

Fara started walking away.

It seemed she was going to be using her own sword. Mathias sighed and followed her.

The class watched in horror as the two walked out of Mr. Shields' class, apparently unexcused, but their mouths were clenched as he did not react to their leaving.

They had devised a rather primitive way of accomplishing the task he expected of them so Mr. Shields did not particularly care. They would have to change their methodology if they wanted it to be useful in practical instances, but it was sufficient for this level. Furthermore, if they discovered that, it wouldn't be hard for them to refine it later once the process became more instinctual.

Lisanna and Synthy were looking at each other before they both shook their heads. It was not worth bringing up, but they redoubled their efforts. Synthy and Lisanna both had accomplished the basic 'molten' appearance of the flames with clear boundaries and borders before; yet, the act of merging the heat was extraordinarily difficult.

When they attempted to alter the other's plasma, it would scatter and spit out - the only saving grace is that the rest of the room was in disorder. And the desks had no trace of damage.

As expected of Majin Academy.

This task was usually designed for second-years, which is why Robert, a third-year, was interested in seeing more complex variations that were to be taught to him soon. It was at that point, everyone would be ready for it. The bulk of the theory would be taught in the first-year and refinements were to be done in the second- and third-years. Provided they accepted the Academy's standards, academically and pragmatically, it was a worthy investment.

It is also why the teachers, like Mr. Shields, were actually incentivized to push them early on so that they may be able to offer higher returns on investment from the ones in scholarship programs and the Academy's prestige itself.

Of course, even Mathias and Fara's level would only be considered a novitiate to any graduate of a magic academy. Just being quick did not mean they were skilled relative to those members of society.

Lisanna and Synthy's difficulties were actually beneficial to the rest of the class. If they succeeded, they would probably be sent into the hall to continue. However, being in a state of flux, the mana signatures they produced were clearly seen by all fire mages. Solid scarlet dots started to appear in almost all the fire students' orbs.

And since there were countless cheers at the success, others were motivated to continue. James, Jill, Jack, and Eldrich succeeded in producing their own variants before, but the quantity began to increase rapidly. Respectively, the variants were white-stones, red clay, and obsidian glass. And with those four targets, other earth uses began to quickly start their own progress.

"Wah! Yes! Yes! Yes!" Wendi abandoned the prism and started dancing when the first crystal was born.

Wendi, holding onto the quartz orb that made its way back to her, managed to produce a small, fragile crystal even after her partner shifted part of the soil and sediment to tiny, smooth white stones.

"Hey! Stop making it so unstable!"

"No, you're the one that's messing it up!"

Ayla shouted, half-throwing the wind disc at Erik's face. He caught it, and it changed shape, turning a shade darker as if smoke formed inside. It violently clashed with churning air that brilliantly released light. They, too, were on their way.

Due to the temperature differential, fire and ice were across from one another (to combat the heat and cold they released), water beside ice, earth beside fire, and air at the opposite corner, being more sensitive to the currents of air forming from the clashing forces. In practical effect, the ice corner was essentially an abandoned spear that was so cold that the water vapour released from any failures from the water side froze into snow that hung around the room.

Frost was growing on the stone wall, ash appearing all around Lisanna and Synthy, discarded sediment was all around, and pools of water were already forming around them all.

Mr. Shields watched impassively at the scene, but he reminisced internally about the years he was forced by his classmates' success to keep up, getting him a position that was normally only suited for people ten, twenty years his senior. It was tiresome but he sympathized with some of the students who seemed 'behind' compared to their peers.

Yet, invariably, they would be dragged up or forced out.

It was this reason they kept the same classes for all three years. In rare events, the teachers may change, but the class formation stayed the same unless circumstances demanded individual alterations.

He still fulfilled his obligation as a teacher. His instructions were swift, he helped those that were struggling and sent the two assistants to work personally with some pairs that struggled.

"Mr. Vandiese, Miss Yhir. Come here."

He said as he saw the two come in.

The class froze.

"What is it?"

"You two are to work with Miss Ghast and Miss Kanata. You will be working on your weapon modifications at the same time and I expect to see them sufficient useable."

"..."

"... Fine."

The two sighed and went to their spot in the corner of the room. Since Jennifer and Hana were there, they fractured the six-foot long spear, and each took a part.

Once they walked towards the two, Hana shouted, "w-what the hell?! It's so cold!"

"... Huh? It's a little I guess," Mathias said tiredly. They ran the entire way, knowing that they were in a somewhat precarious position. "Anyways, I'm guessing that you're struggling with forming the element, right?"

"Hah?! I'm not that bad. I can modify it just fine. See? Shift."

The water orb Hana snatched from Jennifer's palm was shifting rapidly, snaking around, settling, and then moved deftly. It did not seem particular strong.

Since Hana had opted to extravagantly add long streams, Fara just cut through the water disinterestedly.

The water collapsed.

"Hey! What was that for?!"

"It's weak. Water is more difficult reinforce, but it should be done. Just adding mana will go a long way."

"Hmph. I have been, but Jennifer can't handle any more than this. See? Form! Shift!"

The water that was once scattered reformed and the stream stood out tauntingly towards Fara - who cut it again.

"... This blade is normal, you know? Do it again."

Hana fumed as Fara was sitting down at a desk, and starting to coat the short-sword in the ice they formed. She cut off a section of the guard that was curved so she could directly fit the perfectly flat half-sphere against it.

"Try this!"

"..." Fara used her hand the break the offered stream.

"Jennifer, you too," Mathias said as he sat down on top of a desk and rested his feet on its seat.

He, too, was concentrating on the task. He started with the quartz stone, however.

"Uh... o-okay... I'm s-sorry if, if it's not right..."

"Just do it."

"Y-yes...!"

Seeing that the difficulty for them was the first step, reinforcing the water, it was easy enough for Mathias to wave his ice-covered baton through the stream. This, of course, was because it was the limit of mana Jennifer could reasonably control. And even then, it just pressed up-and-down, keeping a circular shape, be in sphere or disc form.

"... Try to copy this," Mathias said, allowing the water that circled his body consistently to wrap around Jennifer's wrist.

"This... why does it feel strange?"

"Is it bad?"

"No, just soothing..."

Jennifer looked down, half-confused and half-embarrassed at the attention she was attracting. Furthermore, the water was removing the fatigue she did not realize she collected from holding her arms straight up for the past hour-and-a-half for the previous exercise and lesson with Mr. Shields.

However, unlike its fluid appearance, it seemed strong.

It was a by-product of being more efficient at unconsciously control of water.

"Uhm... like this?" She asked, looking at the stream before forming an orb.

The mana inside gradually increased. It was easier when she could feel the example so clearly on her skin.

Mathias was distracted by trying to hew a hole in the ridiculously hard crystal. However, he managed to mutter, "... again..." and continued his work.

Fara was still working with the easier task of coating the sword with the hard-to-handle, refined ice the two created. She saw it as a stepping stone to get better before progressing to the more challenging part.

"Now I bet you can't cut through this!"

Fara did.

"Keep the tension higher, internally and externally."

"Hmm... how about this!"

The sword slowed for a moment - and then cut through. "Better. Again."

"...! Ugh! Fine! One more time! Here I come!"

Hana loathed working with Fara. Fara had answered the questions better than her, she seemed stronger on the battlefield, she did not care one whit about Synthy, she was gorgeous, and she had a name so similar to her own. It was vexing. However, since she could not outright dismiss Mr. Shields' order - as that would be suicide, she thought - she had to at least beat the girl's test.

Hana motivation sky-rocketed - fueled by envy and competition.

Not stereotypical traits for water-mages, but there were all kinds of people.

"Now!" The lashed dangerous close to Fara's face, snapping like a whip.

"Ice Bullet."

A disc of ice spun dangerously close to Fara's cheek, remaining stationary as it displaced all the water that neared her.

Everyone within five feet of them were soaked. However, it joined dust, ice, snow, ash, dirt, and sparks assailed them before - and they, themselves, guilty of such transgressions, did not have many thought much of it.

"... Again. You'll be able to control it better with practice. Start with the core," Mathias said more than usual since he finally managed to alter the azure veins inside to form a passage. It was only a sliver, but he was stumped by how to shift Fara's.

"Mathias."

"Oh. Right."

They were forced to work on the other's task.

She had no issue with working with the frozen baton, but seeing as he passed over the quartz and not the spear, she was perplexed. She tried to work with it for a minute.

Mathias, likewise, was struggling with the ice. The time was short, but they caught a glimpse of the other's struggles as they tried to look as busy as possible to avoiding helping the two.

It was difficult.

"Mathi-"

"Woah?! What's that?!" Hana shouted as more heat than usually assaulted their backs. "Th-that's... what?!"

Blue-speckled flames were born in the plasma as flakes of gold seemed to hiss violently. Mr. Shields was standing at their side and he unhesitantly lifted his hand up. They expanded from the size of a three-inches in diameter, to ten, before pressing into a two-foot long ethereal prison, as blue and gold streams tried to devour one-another as scarlet plasma churned, simple flames spit out, and two stood frozen.

"Good job." Mr. Shields said simply. "Please refine that individually."

"Y-yes...!" Lisanna said timidly, not knowing what else to say.

"Miss Mina Kakarot, Miss Lina Kakarot, you two may also do so."

Elise was holding up her hands as winds raged around a prison of air. It was difficult to see, but white-flames were dancing in another barrier. One seemed to just attack with full-force, reaching violently towards another that simply danced and slowly subsumed the other force - before the violent flames would become bolstered, and the battle continued.

"Miss Argentine, you need not shout. Same with you, Mr. Huntis . You both pass. Practise individually."

"Yay!" Ayla shouted again in glee. "I beat you again!"

"Hmph! The last time didn't count!"

"Yeah, yeah! I win~ I win~"

Erik huffed but few were able to see inside the mass of white-stone that acted their barrier. The wind-mages could and were watching excitedly - or sensing excitedly; yet, another exclamation happened.

"Yeah! I got it!"

"... It's easier this time."

Jill and Jack were looking at the orb of clay and white-stone. It did not violently reject each other like the other elements.

In fact, even James and Eldrich were looking at the strange blend of white stone and obsidian glass that formed from sediment.

"... We got it."

"... Finally... I'm beat..."

Wendi was long since practising on their own. There was a fair portion of students who failed to materialize the later stages, but it was more rare to have this many people succeed.

As such, Mr. Shields preemptively said, "we'll be continuing this tomorrow. I'm pleased with you successes thus far. Provided no one is late, you may all compete together for the training section."

"...!?"

Mathias looked to see Jennifer was tearing up - tears of joy. As an experiment, he swatted the orb she let down on the desk - it held. Even her improvement was rapid.

Fara, likewise, hit the stream of water that stalled. She used the cutting disc of ice - reinforced with magic - and struggled to cleave through it.

Hana looked at her gloatingly. "Hah! I told you I could!"

"...?"

Fara reinforced the ice and it cut straight through. There was a difference between form and function of the two spells, after all.

"It's a lot better. Good job," she said honestly - attracting no goodwill since the bulk of her concentration was still on the task at hand.

"It is 11:45. I expect this classroom to be spotless. You are dismissed."

Mr. Shields walked out of the room, Elise and Robert said their farewells, and the class converged into excitement.

"I-I can't believe I did that..."

Lisanna said as she walked to Jennifer and Mathias.

"I saw! It was amazing! I-I wish I could do something like that... but, but now...!"

She looked to see the water snaking around her arm, the orb in her hand, "I-I won't give up... i-is it okay if I lean on you two for a bit longer, though?"

"Yeah, I can help. I still need to practise myself, so it'll be good to have company." Lisanna nodded eagerly.

"Thanks! Mathias, will you?"

"Huh?" He was looking at their area, wondering how to split up the task with Fara as they were the only ones using ice. "As long as you don't wake me up. Again."

"S-sorry... but I'll be counting on you both then!"

Jennifer was relieved that she at least had enough improvement to not have to do the dreaded gauntlet with a small group. Teamwork really helped.

"You can count on me!" Lisanna said with a smile, before seeing Wendi come and grin from ear-to-ear.

"Look! I'm so, so, so - so! - happy! Look! Look!" She was holding a collection of loose quartz crystals in one hand and the sphere Mr. Shields sent around in the other. Once he left she immediately claimed it as her own. "There'll be so much I can do with this for the gallery!

"And Lisanna! I saw the fire - it was blue! That's really, really cool! I can only imagine what you'll choose with for a theme - there are so many options now!

"Jennifer! You've really done well! Now you mastered this, you'll be able to do so much more for your sculpture! Say, say! What themes have you two picked?! I wanna hear, I wanna hear!"

"... That, uh...-"

Jennifer laughed weakly, helping Lisanna when she clearly didn't have an answer. "I'll just do what I can... there isn't to go on until I manage something more, right?"

Wendi sighed and nodded. "Right, you'll have to see what you're capable of before you can really pick a suitable theme. An artist has to know their limits, even if they seek to push them. But how about you, Lisanna?"

"That, uh, I decided on a p-person... but... I don't know..."

"A person?! There will be so, so, so many ways you can take that one! You're just waiting for proper inspiration, right?! Kya! I'm so glad I'm not the only one! Ali! Ali'll be my model and, and, and-"

Wendi excitedly described her vision as the others were talking about their accomplishments in today's class. It was important to have an intuitive understanding of the concepts they were learning, but there was a limit to what they could reasonably progress with the theoretical groundwork with which they were learning, primarily in this week, but for the bulk of the first-year. Specialized knowledge came after that.

Even Mathias and Fara were discussing how to deal with the refined ice, the veins within the quartz, and the method of application for their weapon.

Fara only managed to get a third of the ice from the spear to condense onto the surface of the blade. It was only a little larger, but it still fit that scabbard she brought.

Mathias' gem had an inch deep hole, formed from displacing and expanding the quartz core, centred in the middle. It would take quite a bit more work and concentration to actually have either ready for practical use.

"Everyone! More importantly than the fact I beat Erik again, we should clean this place up! After all that, I'm starving!"

"Ignoring Ayla's unnecessary comments, we should clean up! There will be time at lunch to talk, but I don't want to see him angry if we leave this place a mess!"

The students agreed with at least one of Ayla and Erik's sentiments and they quickly got to work cleaning up the mess. Dirt, dust, and water could easily be thrown out the window - with the ice that was being melted - however, the earth mages found that it was beyond their capability to scatter the red clay, white stones, obsidian, and quartz.

"I guess we get souvenirs for the time being," Jack said with a smile, grabbing the lump of red clay he formed. It was pliable in his hands, but to another, it may as well have been a steel ball.

"Easier said than done for you," Eldrich grumbled, grabbing the shards of obsidian glass he created. That is the way they were formed and were very, very difficult to combine if broken.

And they were very sharp. Less-so for him, but to others? He didn't want to make a habit of leaving primitive caltrops whenever he used magic.

"Wrap it up in something," Hunter suggested. "You should be able to do that now, right?"

"Yeah, I guess."

Of course, many were already planning on it. Even Mathias and Fara both had received something they would need to take back.

Lisanna, Ayla, and Erik had no physical substance to take with them, but they were busily trying to help the others clean up. Since they had the benefit of magic, it only took ten minutes to get the place sparkling.

No one allowed any other to do a subpar job.

"Okay! Now... let's eat!" Ayla shouted, patting the slight bulge on her belly from the night prior's cake-meeting.