“I see, that sounds like the algorithmic technique,” Sage Parem said. Elise had just explained Hugo’s method of creating a sphere out of mana with math instead of instinct. The sage continued, “I wouldn’t recommend it myself, but to each his own.”

“Why don’t you recommend it?” Hugo asked.

“It’s a technique with fast gains, but quickly diminishing returns. The method I teach allows you to gradually learn to shape your barriers into increasingly complex constructs. The method Hugo has discovered makes simple shapes very easy, but complex shapes require more and more mental math. It may save you time now, but it will cost you time and headache later.

“Unless you want to spend all school year learning math in ever increasing complexity, you won’t be able to continue the algorithmic technique. Making the switch to the mental technique I advocate will be harder then, because you haven’t had the practice all year,” Sage Parem said.

Elise nodded and patted Hugo on the shoulder. She walked off to go practice the hard way. Sage Parem turned to another student to answer his question. Hugo stood there for a moment to think. He had spent all last year learning the algorithmic technique, he could do this.

It might be a difficult technique for others, but he could quickly create just about anything he wanted, without the weeks of learning each new form would take them. He had already put in the work, he could reap the rewards right away. He couldn’t wait to go back to his paper and finish designing his barrier helmet.

Hugo looked up to see that Daniela was waiting to talk to him. She said, “How come you were experimenting with Elise? Do you know her well or something?”

She phrased the question innocently enough, but Hugo knew what she was really asking. She was wondering why he was talking to a girl that had a crush on him. He said, “It’s not like that. I don’t really like her. And she keeps saying she hates me.”

“Oh really?” Daniela said with a raised eyebrow.

“Yes really. She asked how I created a sphere so fast, and I answered,” Hugo said as he created one to demonstrate. A blue sphere appeared above his hand as he continued, “I was just being polite. If my technique was good, I would have taught you too.”

Daniela smiled, “Alright.” She put her hands behind her back and glanced at the rest of the class, practicing. “I guess I should get back to practice then. Slow and steady for me. When will I see you again?”

“Uh, we have history class together next. So then, I guess?” said Hugo.

She reached out and touched his arm with a laugh, “No, silly. Our next date.”

Hugo smiled. Had she gotten jealous when she saw him with Elise? He had thought she wasn’t that interested with him, Daniela hadn’t talked to him at all since their date yesterday. Was she playing hard to get earlier? Whatever the reason, he was glad to know she was interested.

He said, “I would love to go on another date with you. How about we do a picnic for lunch on eighthday? I know a spot on campus that has a great view.”

She went up on tippy toes to kiss his cheek and said, “It’s a date.” Then she walked back to her friends to continue practicing. The sounds of giggling greeted her return.

After class was over, Hugo got up and started walking to history class. He had decided not to create the helmet yet, he didn’t want to draw too much attention to himself. But he had the math all done, and he was ready to create it as soon as he got back to his dorm room.

A glance to his side showed Daniela walking nearby, so he slowed a bit so she could catch up. She grinned and joined him. They chatted on the walk across campus. The back of her hand bumped into his as they walked. The second time it happened, he realized it wasn’t an accident. He held out his hand, and she slipped hers into it. They walked hand in hand to class.

They arrived a few minutes early to class, and chatted for a bit. There were assigned seats in this class so they wouldn’t be able to chat later.

Lenna walked into class and smiled at the two of them holding hands. He wished that he had been able to be friends with her again during this life. She had never responded to him this time though. They had remained acquaintances and nothing more this time around. She would be leaving the school soon anyway.

Hugo tried to think back. When had her family’s mana cores been stolen? It was right before Oskar got the both of them expelled for selling ravim. He should probably tell her about it before it was too late. He briefly considered doing nothing. She had been a terrible girlfriend and her family hadn’t seemed any better. But he also needed to make sure the city didn’t explode at the end of the year and the mana cores seemed connected to that. Hugo was guessing that they were the power sources for the explosions. He would have to warn Lenna after all.

He just had to warn her without making Daniela needlessly jealous. He didn’t want a possessive girlfriend, but he didn’t need to create situations that would make Daniela uncomfortable. And he had to track down Alexandru. And link up with the hedge mages. And check for explosives on the shimmer veins. Things were going to be busy for the next little while.

...

Oskar was waiting for Hugo when he got back to his dorm room. Hugo wasn’t excited to see him. If things had gone the same way they did last life, his former roommate was selling ravim now. He would get himself kicked out soon, and Hugo was just glad that he wouldn't be going down with him this time around.

He considered going to the dean to report Oskar for selling drugs, but he decided to wait until he was sure before he did anything. He would hate to throw accusations around when it turned out some small change he had made meant that Oskar wasn’t selling drugs this time around.

“Hey Hugo. Long time, no see,” Oskar said.

Hugo nodded. That was by design. They didn’t have any classes together, and Hugo had taken to eating on the opposite side of the cafeteria so he wouldn’t run into his former roommate. “What do you want?” Hugo said.

“Oof. That’s rough. I come here, ready to help you out, and you greet me like that? I thought we were friends.”

“You left our dorm room. I thought you wanted nothing to do with me. How do you want to help me out?”

“I got us a meeting with some hedge mages. Don’t you remember that you asked me to put you in touch with them?” Oskar said.

He had actually forgotten he asked for Oskar’s help with that. Hugo’s demeanor changed. He needed more allies than just Mia, and he was sure that the hedge mages could see the future and would join his side. “Sorry I was rude, Oskar. Actually, I would like to go to that meeting. Thank you for setting it up.”

Oskar seemed mollified and they arranged to meet in front of the dorm building the next night. When the time came, Oskar just nodded at him and started walking south. The two of them were wearing casual clothing, not wanting to advertise that they were students.

Oskar said, “I am going to need you to keep your mouth shut about a few things.”

“I can keep a secret,” Hugo said cautiously.

“Our next school leave isn’t for a while, so we are going to have to leave the academy in an unconventional way. I wasn’t going to show you this, but I figured you are already alright with skirting rules, after you bought explosives from some shady source.”

Hugo didn’t correct him, just glad to be on their way. Last time around the hedge mages had started a riot about the shimmer veins, they must have known something was up. He bet if he told them everything they could join forces. He had checked with Mia yesterday, she was still working on getting a meeting with the right people within the sentinels. Between the two of them, Hugo was a lot more optimistic about saving the city.

A few moments later, they arrived at the middle of the southern wall. A quick check with his mana sight showed that there was a door hidden in the wall, a spot where all the magic protecting the walls wasn’t connected to the rest of the wall.

“Gimme a second, the runes are hidden pretty well,” Oskar said, “I discovered this when I was following a fourth year student, for reasons. Anyway, if we hit the runes in the right order, there is a door here. I just have to find them again.”

“It’s right here,” Hugo said. At Oskar’s confused look, Hugo said, “Mana sight.”

Oskar nodded and walked over to the door and tapped a few hidden runes in a specific sequence. Hugo made sure to memorize it, in case he wanted to use this door in the future.

About twenty minutes later, they found themselves in front of the same building in the merchant district as the one from his previous life. Hugo kicked himself. He had been right here, he should have just waited around longer. A short blindfolded trip later, and they arrived in a small windowless room in the middle of a warehouse. Two guards stood at the door, but didn’t go inside.

There were three chairs in the room surrounding a small round table with a tea set. One of the chairs was occupied. It was a woman Hugo didn’t recognize. She was old, gray hair pulled into a severe bun. She gave them an impassive look and said, “Please take a seat.”

After they sat themselves down, she continued, “I find myself intrigued. I wanted to know what ‘big job’ a pair of academy students have for my coven.”

Hugo nodded, he had thought about what he would say for a while now. “I have a little experience with hedge mages, and I know that you can see the future. I bet you have looked into the future, and noticed that your predictions stop at the end of the year.”

She warily nodded.

“I wanted to talk to you about that. I know exactly what is causing your problem and I was hoping to work with you to fix it.”

“And what exactly do you think is the source of the problem?”

Hugo looked over to Oskar. He didn’t exactly want to bring him into this, Oskar wasn’t known for being trustworthy. “Can we talk in private?” Hugo said.

The old woman nodded and motioned for Oskar to leave. She looked out the room and said to one of the guards, “Escort this young man out. I have a feeling this will take a while.”

“Am I still getting the...” Oskar said.

“Yes, yes. Don’t worry about that,” the old woman said as she dismissed him.

That was interesting. Apparently Oskar had been promised something in return for bringing Hugo here.

Once he was gone, Hugo turned back to her and said, “At the end of the year, directly after the heartbeat, the shimmer vein leading into this city will explode. It will take half the city with it and kill thousands. I want your help in stopping it. I know this sounds fantastical, but I have lived this year before, and trust me, it really happens.

“I imagine you have some ways of checking my story, so go ahead and check. I want to get working on saving the city as soon as possible. I think this is an attack by Deva’s military, but I can’t be sure. I was hoping that you would be able to answer that,” Hugo said.

“That’s quite the claim,” she said, “What evidence do you have to back this up?”

“I don’t have anything physical, I just know what is going to happen because it has happened to me before. I already stopped the walls from being sabotaged. I don’t know if you have heard about that.”

“I have. And you are saying that was you?” she said.

“Yes, that was me. I saved us from one attack, but I need your help to save the city the next time,” Hugo said. He could tell she didn’t quite believe him.

“That sounds fantastical, like you said. But there is an easy way to tell the truth of your words. Give me your hands.”

Hugo put his hands in hers. Her eyes glazed over. She sat motionless for a bit before she dropped his hands. She said, “You are dead.”

“Yeah, that’s what they said the last time. I am going to die at the end of the year. But we are all going to die if we don’t do something,” Hugo said.

“No. My power says that you are dead right now. You have no future, my sight cannot see you at all. There are no actions to predict. You are a blank spot on the tapestry of fate,” she said, shaken.

“It’s probably related to how I time traveled. It’s kind of a long story, I don’t exactly want to go into it right now,” Hugo said. He wanted to focus on one impossibility at a time.

A sudden realization came to her and her eyes widened. She said, “Who else have you talked to about this?”

“Just one of my friends, she was in a similar situation once,” Hugo said.

“Which friend?” she said, very interested.

“Uhh, does it really matter? I just want to save the city. Can you help me or not?” he said.

“Of course I want to help you. I think you are right about what is going on and I want to help the both of you. You can bring your friend to our next meeting if you want,” the old lady said.

“There’s no need for that, she is working a different angle right now,” Hugo said. The old lady was starting to give him a weird vibe.

She stared at him for a moment before turning to the two guards outside the room and said, “Boys? Will you please bring our guest some biscuits to go with the tea? Thank you.”

“Thank you, but I,” Hugo stopped talking as his hands were yanked behind himself. Cuffs were slapped on his wrists. Hugo struggled and tried to throw up shields in their faces. Nothing happened. Another attempt showed that his magic was blocked, probably because of the metal bands restraining him.

She said to them, “One of you go and get Elina. We are going to need her convincing voice. We need to find out who he told about this if we are going to have any hope of containing this. I am going to go tell the coven.”

Hugo stopped struggling. He couldn’t believe what was going on. The magic blocking cuffs, the talk about containing things. The hedge mages were in on this. They didn’t want to help him stop the attack, they wanted to stop him from interfering.

Before she left, she turned back to the remaining guard. “Keep an eye on him and don’t leave the room. Just because his mana recovery is blocked, doesn’t mean that he is harmless. I will return before the next bell.”