Hello there, dear reader. I know I said next chapter would be on friday, but I managed to be faster. Therefore, here it is. Wish me luck during my exams, please.

Today, teacher Kalani was teaching numbers. I felt really disappointed, as I realised it would probably take them two years or more to catch up to me, so I could finally learn something new. But at the same time, it also gave me more time to learn new spells. I once again took out [Wind Blade] spellbook and started reading.

Class time passed pretty fast and I did not progress much, since spell was so complicated. I was still not even close to being able to cast spell successfully. After class ended, teacher Kalani came to my seat. "I was thinking about your problem with learning that spell from your previous teacher. I borrowed book Introduction to Spellcrafting, that could help you get some understanding on spell." she said.

She would normally never advise such book to child of mere six years old, as it was too complex for such early age, usually taught at about fourteen or fifteen years old, but seeing I was not really ordinary child, she gave it to me.

"Also, there are these two books, Magic Theory 1 and Magic Theory 2." she added two more books. If I did not understand these, I would probably be confused about what was inside of book she brought for me.

"Teacher Kalani, thank you, but you can return Magic Theory 1 back to library. I have read this book at least fifteen times already. But for remaining two books, you have my thanks." I answered.

Magic Theory 1 was one of books my uncle had. I had read it first time as four years old, and whenever I did not understand something I asked uncle. He would patiently explain everything to me, so I was now pretty sure I did not need to read this book again.

"You have already read Magic Theory 1 many times. Why does it surprise me?" said teacher Kalani before leaving. She was once again shocked. After all, it was book meant for fifth years, and usually, they would need to study it for whole year together with teacher. However, to her own surprise, she was getting used to these shocks.

My uncle had never read Introduction to Spellcrafting, rather, he had six pages written by senior who simplified theory of spellcrafting for him, but he never let me see those. Since information in that extract was of low quality, it was impossible for him to properly finish his tier seven hybrid spells. However, he was obviously talented, because even with such thrash manual, his hybrid spell were not bad, as he managed to figure out many spellcrafting procedures by himself. These spells were still however were far from perfect.

Whenever he was working on his spells, I would have to be silent and just read some book, but he would rarely do that, especially after my spirit capacity and soul power was measured. Ever since that, he would focus on teaching me completely.

I started reading Introduction to Spellcrafting, but soon I closed the book again and instead started reading Magic Theory 2, since teacher Kalani was right about me not being able to understand everything.

Compared to spellbooks with mere tens of pages, Magic Theory 1 that I used to read at uncle's home had hundred and ten pages, and Magic Theory 2 had hundred and twenty two. However Introduction to Spellcrafting with its two hundred and forty pages could put both of these books to shame.

After fast dinner, we once more went to park behind dormitory and started training there, this time however, it was supposed to be soul power training. Teacher started explaining basics of [Soul Meditation], basic soul sharpening technique. Once again, about third of class started practicing immediately, as they had been already taught by their families.

I instead have been sitting and reading the Magic Theory 2, while using [Spirit Capacity Meditation] at the same time. While I realised this method was tens of times weaker [Mystical Spirit Expanding Technique], unlike it, I could practice this technique even while doing something else, so I was using this technique from the time I wake up until evening, and in evening I would switch to teacher Alaric's technique.

As I was siting, suddenly, I was interrupted by someone.

"Aiken, could you help me again?" asked girl's voice.

It was of course Saffron, who was once again clueless about how to train. I have to say I was starting to get angry with her mother, lady Mia Sable, because in my opinion, it was her failure that her daughter was so ignorant of magic training.

"I am sorry, I am not of much help. I am not any good when it comes to soul training. After all, look at this." I said, as I touched storage ring, getting azure crystal out. I focused, expanding and then contracting my spirit, until it started to contract and expand in rhythm. Then I opened my hand, revealing the number on crystal.

"Fourteen soul power, you see? Rather pitiful, isn't it."

Teacher Kalani was observing and when she heard what I said, she understood why headmaster had such low opinion of me. When headmaster said my soulpower was low, she expected hundred or at least fifty, but this was really way too low. But she still believed that headmaster was wrong.

Even with so low soul power, fact was that tier of magic I could use was higher than my age, I could easily reach tier thirteen or fourteen in next twelve years, and then, I would be easily able to match most tier eleven practitioners. And if I did not reach tier thirteen by the time I finished school, I would still be able to reach it eventually. Headmaster must be shortsighted because of his low opinion of other branches than branch of honor, was what teacher Kalani was thinking.

As she has seen that I would not be able to help her, Saffron became sad and had even tears in corner of her eyes. As I saw her pitiful appearance I sighed.

"Alright, I will help you. I lied about being bad at soul practicing, it just has almost no effect on me. So no tears, please." I said, giving up completely.

I then tried to remember everything that uncle Jannon told me about Soul Sharpening. He taught me different method, [Iron Path Of Soul Sharpening], method of branch of commons, however, it was method that was learned during fifth year to replace worse but easier one from first year. Compared to it, [Soul Meditation] was about same. However, uncle Jannon was not person who would not try to experiment, and somehow, he managed to improve original soul sharpening method efficiency by more than half. It was not because of his talent as magician, but rather because of his talent to explore magic and modifications he did to his training techniques, that he was now strongest magic practitioner in our village.

So I started explaining everything to Saffron, who payed attention completely, listened to my explanations and tried to do her best to remember everything. Teacher was also focused on listening, and when she heard technique I described, she immediately recognized it as she was also taught this technique while in branch of common.

However, she noticed that few things were changed about this technique and did her best to memorize these changes. She herself sat down and tried this modified technique herself. As she started, she could tell that this technique was on par with training method that was taught in branch of generous at eight grade. It was bit inferior to training method they were taught during final year, but it was still really impressive technique. One who came up with it must have been genius, she thought.

If my uncle knew what teacher Kalani was thinking about his changes and that was called genius, he would probably blush like tomato. He was certainly not recognized as genius by school, because he only started trying out his modifications by the time he had already left the school. Was he given more time in school, maybe he could have become tier ten or tier eleven practitioner easily.

While technique explained by teacher was only explained to whole class once, when I was teaching Saffron, she could ask me questions, and I would answer them with ease. After all, I was doing this training for almost two years, so I knew everything about it, even though it did not work on me at all. Therefore, within two hours, she managed to learn it and started practicing, but class was already almost over.

"That technique is pretty powerful, I have to say." said teacher Kalani, as she walked to me, as afternoon classes ended. "Yet you still only have fourteen soulpower?"

I was surprised, as I did not notice that she was listening at all.

"Yes. Sadly I have no talent when it comes to soulpower. I was training using this technique for two years, yet there was almost no improvement." I said.

Teacher Kalani gulped. Fact that I was practicing for two years meant, that I learned this method when I was at most four years old. This method was not easy to use, so it should be impossible for mere four years old child to learn it. If uncle had more common sense, he would probably make me learn something more simple, but to me, learning this was not hard as long as I could have all my questions answered, and uncle would answer anything I asked.

At that moment, another delusion appeared at teacher's Kalani mind. Maybe I was not children of some wealthy merchant family. Maybe she was wrong to suspect that my hidden origins were due to family wishing to protect their child from enemy families. After all, this training technique of mine was really not from branch of generous. That's right, now it makes sense, she thought. Mysterious background, solved. My insane knowledge, solved. My genius of teacher, solved.

It was simple. I was child of some practitioner family, but due to lack of my soul power, they decided to send me to school incognito, without revealing my connection to them. If I did not learn magic to their satisfaction, they would disinherit me and cut all their ties to me. They had some genius who managed to become practitioner even though he was commoner accepted to branch family and made him teach me magic before I enter magic school. Yeah, that must be it. Suddenly, all jealousy she felt disappeared. Even though I was, in her mind, of practitioner family, my pitiful soul power made my family look down on me and ashamed of me so much, that they would hide their connection of me. And I had worked so hard, read all books possible to the point I was now ahead of my peers just to have them acknowledge me. She had to resist urge to hug me and tell me everything would be alright. What a pitiful child, she thought.

I had no idea about her wild delusions. Instead, I was having delusions of my own. As she now looked at me with gaze full of pity and sympathy, I believed that maybe she was starting to feel same way about me I was feeling about her. Damn, I really used to be naive.

"Listen, Aiken, I originally needed those two books back next month, but I will somehow find way for you to have them as long as you need. Just tell me if you need anything else, alright? Your teacher is here for you, so stay strong!" she said encouragingly.

Aiken, you can't just give up. You have to prove your family they were wrong! I will do anything to help this child become stronger, she thought.

"Thank you, teacher Kalani." I said, lights in my eyes. She treated me completely different than before. Did I finally succeed?

Yeah. It really is embarrassing to tell you about line of thinking six years old me had. That afternoon, it was extremely hard to focus on anything, as my heart was beating wildly and my mind was full of what I thought to be loving expression of teacher Kalani.

Only in the evening had I managed to get myself together and return to reading Magic Theory 2. I realised it would be better to start reading it again and make notes, in order to remember it faster. I discovered that storage ring from teacher had much more than spellbooks in it, paper for making notes and ten feathers with few bottles of ink were there as well. I only managed to finish twenty pages, before it was too late. I closed book, and started practicing [Mystical Spirit Expanding Technique] for one hour, before I went to sleep.

Over next two days, Friday and Saturday, I have spent some of my time playing with and talking to Brant and Saffron. I was also helping Saffron with all problems she encountered during her training. In rest of time, I managed to finish Magic Theory 2 with enough understanding of it to start reading Introduction to Spellcrafting. This book was however obviously going to be much harder nut to crack. I decided I would use Sunday to rest from learning theory, and focus on training my spirit capacity. My plans were however crushed as I entered my room in dormitory on Saturday’s afternoon.

"Young master Aiken, my lady, Mia Sable, is asking you to join her and her family for tonight's dinner and for your free day." said the young maid of about eighteen years age, as she bowed down to little me. It was really uncomfortable feeling, to have someone bow down to me like this, since I was not used to it at all. I honestly wanted to reject invitation, but I knew I actually had no choice in matter, so I took everything I could need and went together with maid.