“How was it?”

“It was strange. The world was black and white; the only things that were coloured were people’s magic channels that were red. I could see them clearly. The level of detail was abnormally high; I could almost see you normally.”

It’s a pity that I can’t move while I use Vision. In a want to activate it I have to stand still, any kind of movement will interrupt the spell.

“I see. I didn’t expect you to use a watch as a catalyst.”

“It’s a pity though. I have to stand still to use it.”

“It feels different than the technique I use.”

“That’s because I send out multiple magic pulses instead of a wave. It’s a little costly but I know it works and speaking of working, what was different?”

“The feeling was different. I kept hearing a noise; it sounded like it was coming from inside me. It was…unsettling.”

So her internal ear was somehow affected. There was the vestibule system and cochlea so it means that her hearing and balance are affected somehow. If Maria’s ears mistook the magic pulses for sound waves. Let’s see if I’m right!

“Did you have trouble hearing or maintaining your balance while I was using [Vision]?”

“Vision?”

“The spell lets me see a person’s magic channels instead of just telling me his location, and quite clearly I might add. Since I changed its effects a little I decided to call it [Vision].”

“You could say that you invented a new magic spell but I think you created it because you are special. Now for your question; I lost my balance for a moment, however I believe that your spell will fool other dark magic users. There are magicians

that mastered an element and there are magicians that mastered magic.”

So what am I supposed to understand from that? Oh well, I’d better ask her what she meant.

“So, what was I supposed to understand?”

*chuckles*

“Just because there is someone capable of answering your question it doesn’t mean that you should be hasty; think about things a little more.”

That is a valid point however I’m not that patient, if somebody can answer my question I will not think about it, I mean why would I?

“You are here to answer, that’s your job as a teacher.”

“It looks like you still joke around. Regarding what I said before; an individual who introduces himself as a master of magic is usually a close-minded one, he will reject anything out of the ordinary.”

Oh, I get it. So basically a person with an ego bigger than him will not try to analyze my spells or try to counter them; that’s cool.

“So I can just use magic as I see fit.”

“Yes, but before talking about using it in battle you first need control it.”

“I’m already in control, there’s nothing I can do about it.”

“I told you before and I’m going to tell you again; if you want to get better keep Black Blood and Shadow Step active at all times.”

“Fine, I will do it; it’s not like I have anything better to do.”

“Good boy. Now that I’m done here I have other things I have to take care of.”

“Got it, then I will make my way to the library and study until midnight.”

“I’m afraid that I will not train with you, I’m tired so I will go to sleep early, and you should do the same.”

To be honest she really looks tired; I’ve already bothered her more than I should, I think that she deserves some rest. Well, maybe I will actually go to the library and continue studying.

“Well then, if you need anything be sure to tell me, OK?”

“Yes, I will. Good night Alex.”

“Yeah, see you later.”

So, after three days of staying outside I will go back to my room, I wonder what face Jaden will make when he sees me coming back.

When I entered the room I saw Jaden in his bed fast asleep. It was about 8, not that late and certainly too early to go to sleep. I just wanted to visit Jaden but now that I’m here I don’t feel like going to the library anymore, maybe I will go to sleep.

Out of boredom I started fiddling with my watch. I still can’t believe that it actually worked. Using a watch as a catalyst for a spell…Not many people would believe that. Now that I think about it [Vision] only works within my field of

view so I can’t get a 360 degree vision, I will have to find a way to compensate for this. But how far can it really go? I guess it’s time for a little experiment.

I got out of the bed and went up on the rooftop. It’s been a while since I’ve been here. I opened the watch’s case and after gathering enough magic I used Vision.

This feels really weird; I don’t think I will get used to this black and white world. Looking down I was able to look through the walls and ceiling. It looks like the reddish color of the magic channels is more intense for the ones who practice

magic more than physical techniques. When I looked at my hand I noticed that my magic channels were black. That’s strange, is it because of my Black Blood? Let’s see if I can see Astrid from over here.

This amount of magic isn’t enough to reach the school building, maybe if I use more magic. I increased the magic output and tried to increase the range. Just before reaching the school building the pulses stopped. In the next moment I heard a tingling

noise in my ears then lost my balance. If I fall from here I will have to endure a few bumps until I finally hit the ground…or not?

When I was about to fall somebody caught me by the collar and pulled me back. Since I didn’t feel anybody near me it means that Mir is finally here.

“Are you all right?” asked Mir with a concerned look on her face.

“Yeah, just some feedback from a spell, I will be fine.”

When you don’t use a spell as it should this happens. Apparently Vision is somehow linked to my eyes instead of being used in a circular area like Maria’s. When I tried increasing its size it backfired on me. I don’t have the magic necessary to try it today.

“Thanks for saving me; I really don’t want to experience falling from here.”

“I see, be more careful from now on.”

Not asking anything else, that’s just like her. Oh well, I have a feeling that she already knows enough without having to ask me.

“Looking forward to the new school year?” asked Mir with a smile.

“This school year was interesting but I don’t really have any expectations for the next one.”

“Believe what you want. You said that you wanted to improve the school a little this summer, are you still going to do it?”

…What? I stiffened up for a moment there. That topic was something I discussed with Liliana and Maria…He he, just how much does she really know?

“I will get to it tomorrow.”

“Then you’d better get some rest.”

“I feel a little sleepy now, let’s go back.”

Confusion aside I should really try making a blackboard, at least as a way to pass the time.

The next morning I talked to Liliana and Maria about making that blackboard. I have the slate, wood and chalk, now I only need to put them together.

In my previous world I once worked with my grandfather in a workshop when I made a doghouse, if I use some common sense this just might work.

The piece of slate is about one meter in height, one meter in width and about five centimeters thick. Fortunately the slate was already smoothed, now I just need to make a wooden frame.

There was some pine wood lying around, perfect for me to use. Now I just have to smooth, cut, and them put all of it together.

For this experiment I need an open space to work so I will use the courtyard.

“Are you sure about this?”

I told Liliana about the steps I will take and what I require. The only things I don’t have are glue and nails. The finished project will be a blackboard in a pine wood frame. I want to put the slate inside the frame.

“Do you have any strong adhesive?”

“I do, I will bring it to you.”

The glue Liliana brought back was a magic adhesive in a glass flask. If I remember correctly this type of glue is made from the rubber of an Elder Tree, a tree that grows by absorbing magic. Well, it is said that the glue is potent so I can manage with a flask.

On a whim I decided that it might be fun to use a Blade Empowered knife to cut the wood instead of the proper tools. Surprisingly enough the cuts were cleaner than I expected.

After I took the measurements I took four pieces of wood and started cutting them. The most important thing to keep in mind is to measure thoroughly so that I won’t make any mistakes.

After two days of hard work I finished cutting and polishing the pieces of wood, this resulted in 4 pieces of hollow wood where I will fit the slate.

“That’s some fine woodwork you have here.”

Oh, it looks like Liliana brought all teachers along with her for the visit. Two days ago when I started all this all of them told me that I’m wasting my time. I guess it’s pretty hard for them to find me still working. Well, I just need to put these pieces of wood on the slate and frame will be done.

“I guess. I’m pretty sure it will look like shit but it will work, that I guarantee. So, what’s with all of you here?”

“We were called to the capital; we will be back in a few days. Since you are busy I’m certain that you won’t miss us very much.”

“Ah…OK.”

I don’t remember Liliana saying anything about this. If the mail delivery is as slow as I believe then she might have gotten it sometime when I wasn’t around. Since Maria is with her it means that there isn’t going to be any teacher on the premises

for a few days…Meh, it doesn’t really matter.

“Have a nice trip.”

“Well, keep an eye on the place for me.”

Out of all the people here Liliana was the only one to speak, I expected Maria to say something but it’s not likely to happen.

I saw them off then went back to the blackboard. I still have some work to do. This is where the hard work starts. I have to be careful when I apply the adhesive and nail the rest of the frame.

It looks like it took quite a while to finish, it’s almost midnight. As expected, it looked like shit, a green piece of slate on a pine wood frame. Now I just have to wait until morning for the glue to do its job.

“It looks like it’s done.”

Oh look, Mir is here. I like how everybody has the habit of appearing behind me, I’m getting tired of having to turn around all the time. Can’t somebody appear in front of me for once?

“Now I just need to wait for a while.”

“I see.”

After a few moments Mir turned to leave but she abruptly stopped. She looked like she remembered something.

“Do you know the reason all the teachers left the school?”

So she is asking me if I want to know the reason why they left. I am interested; after all it’s something I haven’t heard about.

“I will bite, what’s that about?”

“The school is renowned for being as good as the Imperial Academy but it’s relatively remote location makes the school better for other things beside teaching, like the vampire they keep trapped.”

“Yeah, I got it, but what does it have to do with their trip?”

“I heard that, and this is something you will definitely like, there will be a new student coming here. It is said that the student is not human. Personally I think we will see a beastperson but I’m not too sure about it.”

Hmm…Very interesting. I know that another special student will arrive but I don’t think it’s worth all this fuss. Wait and see I guess.

“We will see.”

To stay or not to stay, that’s the question. Neah, fuck it. It’s not like there is anyone dumb enough to steal a blackboard.

The next morning the glue finally went into place and the blackboard was ready. After checking to see if the nails on the back are in still in place I took the blackboard and put it in the storage room. Since I can’t boast to Liliana about my creation I think it’s best to continue studying.

It seems that my woodworking skills were more advanced than I thought. Now I confirmed that I can do precision working with ease, maybe I will give crafting a shot too.

After four days the teachers returned and showed them the final product. The blackboard was in an empty classroom, after all so many people wouldn’t fit in a storage room. Apparently Liliana met the headmaster of the Imperial Academy

and he told her about a project similar to mine. Out there is a rich kid who can’t do simple addition so his parents decided to make him a writing slate and apparently nobody managed to make one. So yeah, I did something more impressive than I thought.

“There is a problem; it will take a while until we can use it in school.”

“How long?”

“About four years at best.”

What the actual fuck? It only needs a nail in a wall so why?

“But why?”

“In a few years we will renovate all the classrooms. I intend to make use of it then and the staff is not prepared to use it either.”

That’s stupid…No, I’m the stupid one. I always think like the previous world’s humans instead of thinking like the current ones. I don’t really have any means of teaching them any more than they already know.

“It looks like you will have to put your plans on hold. You built something that even the people in the capital couldn’t, you should be proud of yourself.”

Maria tries to cheer me up. A noble act but really uncalled for. What really I wanted to do was to test my skills. Everything was executed as I imagined which is more than I expected when I started. This blackboard is the proof that I am capable of crafting even if it's low level.

“It’s all right, I completed my objective.”

With a smile on her face Maria left the classroom. That face she was making…Am I that easy to read or did she already realize what my true objectives were?