Me, My Spirit, And I [Book 1 Complete]

Every year, the Academy started things off with a general assembly. Here, various announcements would be made, which included new staff appointments. Lusha sat on stage surrounded by the other teaching staff of the Academy. They were by far and away the youngest person on stage and were getting quite a few stares from other staff and students alike.

The faculty of the Academy wore color coded uniforms with rainbow capes that wrapped around their shoulders; each tower had different colors that represented them. The primary color for Martials was red, Muses yellow, Mentalists blue, Mystics purple, and Mages violet.

The students in the audience all wore grey uniforms with various accent colors. The accents denoted whether or not a student was new and Pathless or had found their Path and joined a specific Tower. Those with formal apprenticeships had additional silver or gold thread on their uniforms depending on the standing of their masters.

Lusha's school uniform had to be custom made. It was grey with rainbow accents and golden thread. This denoted them as a student of all Towers and an apprentice to an Archmage. The muted rainbow cape they wore symbolized their status as a teaching assistant.

The gentle roar of the assembled students quieted immediately when Headmaster Finastra stood before the podium at the front of the stage with the Academy's teaching staff arranged behind him. "Welcome, one and all, to another wonderful new year at our fine Academy. As many of you know, I am [Archmagus] Finastras, Headmaster of the Academy. It is my honor to make the following announcements…" The rest of Finastra's speech was fairly mundane until he got to the part where he was introducing new faculty. "As many of you know, Master Kenesia has retired from their position as Professor of Magical Languages to pursue their own advancement along the Five Fold Path. I was lucky enough to find a more than adequate replacement, who comes to us at the recommendation of none other than former Headmaster, [Archmagus] Alexzandrous Aseraelis!" This caused a stir among students and teachers alike. "I dare say that the new professor's knowledge of Magical Languages not only exceeds my own, but is likely greater than anyone I have met; but I will let their teaching assistant, and my personal apprentice, introduce one of our most unique teachers." Headmaster Finastra motioned for Lusha stand.

While Headmaster Finastra stood back, Lusha stood before the podium and did their best to look over the crowd confidently. "Thank you, Headmaster Finastra." Lusha said with a nod towards him. "Allow me to introduce myself. I am Lucanarius Intarius Aseraelis, 3rd Princess of Gloddus, [Baron] of Shadow Grove, owner of the Shadow Company of Westlin, Apprentice to [Archmagus] Finastra, and finally, Teaching Assistant to the newly appointed Professor of Magical Languages, my Bonded Spirit, Shada Aseraelis!"

Luca stepped back as Shada manifested behind the podium, much to the confusion of everyone present. Before people could do more than murmur, Shada's magically enhanced voice filled the hall. "Well met, one and all. As my Bonded partner has mentioned, I am Shada Aseraelis: a Spirit, and newly appointed Professor of Magical Languages. I am sure many of you are wondering what qualifies me to teach, especially those who can sense my current rank, but I will let my words speak for me." With that, Shada began to chant the most complex spell anyone in the room had ever heard before. It was mainly in the Lingua Arcana, but those with acute hearing could pick up a sprinkling of other magical languages as well.

As Shada spoke, the light in the assembly hall began to warp and shift. The Ambient Essence seemed to shiver as it responded to the arcane words. The shadows lengthened and seemed to crawl with minds of their own. The light of the hall dimmed before the shadows seemed to swallow everything and everyone, but as quickly as the light disappeared it reappeared in the form of small pinpoints of light. The pinpoints of light multiplied and filled the former darkness with light. Gasps of fear, awe, and delight were the only sounds as the audience was surrounded by the vision of stars, nebulae, and galaxies. It was as if they all floated in the vastness of space for several moments as Shada's words crafted an illusion of such complexity that few could match it. The illusion mimicked Shada's first view of Sierrallas and the starscape where he met Asonia.

The illusion wasn't something Shada could cast on his own. In fact Luca was feeding him power channeled directly from Headmaster Finastra, but the skill and the words were all Shada, and anyone who knew anything about spells knew how much knowledge it would require to create something like this. There were no known spells that could do what Shada had just done. Especially not ones that could create such clear, realistic, and complex illusions, because the vision of the heavens above Sierrallas wasn't static. It moved; clouds could be seen drifting across the planet, and the stars were so clear as to be breathtaking.

After Shada's words ended, the spell lingered for several minutes before fading away like a dream. "If anyone has any doubts about my teaching qualifications and expertise in Magical Languages, please do let me know. My office hours will be posted on the third floor of the Tower of Mages." With those words, Shada vanished as the last of the illusion faded.

Lusha slumped into the chair Headmaster Finastras helped them to while the voices of the crowd filled the room. They smiled, tilted their head back, and closed their eyes throughout the rest of the assembly.

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—

Shada looked around the classroom as students filed into the first session of Magical Languages 101. It was the first class that he would be teaching, and one that he was somewhat excited to explore. The students that were chatting away were oblivious to his presence, as he remained unmanifest to observers.

Luca sat at the front of the class, at a table next to the teacher's desk. A series of large chalkboards were behind him and tiers of seated students were in front of him. He was already studying for one of his own classes, so he ignored the other students and their curious looks.

When his Guide showed him that it was time for class to begin, Shada made the classroom door slam shut with an invisible tendril of psychokinetic force conjuring. The loud and rambunctious students stopped talking and looked around, startled by the noise.

Slowly and dramatically, Shada manifested at the front of the classroom while chalk floated up and began drawing on the board. "Welcome to Magical Languages 101. I am Professor Aseraelis. The purpose of this class is to help you better understand the languages used in enchanting, spellcrafting, spell casting, and even prayers. While we will be focusing on the Lingua Arcana, also known as the Arcane Tongue, we will touch on a variety of magical languages, including Celestial, Infernal, and even Systemic." Several hands went into the air as Shada began their class, but he quickly shut down questions. "There is a lot to get through today, and I would prefer if you wait until the end of class to ask questions. Please keep all questions on topic."

Shada took a completely unnecessary fake breath. "In your desks you will find a sheet of paper with the symbol for Fire in the Lingua along with the phonetic spelling in Imperial. Next to it should be a candle and striker. Please clear your desks and place these items on top." The sound of opening and closing desks and the ruffling of paper filled the air as the curious students did ask Shada instructed.

A piece of chalk levitated from the blackboard behind Shada. He copied the symbol for Fire onto the board along with a triangle made of arrows showing the three components of fire. "Regular non-magical fire needs three things: fuel, air, and heat. The symbol behind me will Conjure all three at once to create a tiny spark of fire sufficient to light the candles in front of you." Shada glared at a student and quickly moved to stop them from trying to use the word for Fire. "It is not time for testing." He said while looming over the student ominously. "Do not attempt to cast until instructed to." The student visibly gulped and stopped channeling Essence while Shada returned to the front of the class.

Shada placed a candle in front of himself. "There is a saying that there is more than one way to skin a dragon, and there are multiple ways to use the word for Fire, pronounced Ignis, to light a candle. If your Will is strong enough, your Intent clear enough, and your Focus sharp enough you can use Ignis to light a candle with only your thoughts." He focused on the candle for merely a moment before there was a small flash, which left behind a lit candle, causing many students to start muttering about how rare and difficult silent spellcasting was.

With a smile Shada gestured at the candle. "While that may have seemed easy, it is exceedingly difficult to pull off. You need to say Ignis in your mind while visualizing the symbol on the board and focusing on the meaning of fire itself. Even then, nothing will happen unless you intentionally channel Essence into those thoughts." Shada waved his hand and the candle went out with a puff of smoke.

"Remember that fire has three components: fuel, air, and heat. Use your strikers to light your candles. The wick is the fuel, air is all around us, and the striker will produce the heat." He floated around patiently as students fumbled with their strikers. Once everyone had a lit candle, he began speaking again. "It may seem strange, but in order to use Ignis you will need to study fire. You must get a good feel for it and understand it. Focus on the heat, how the flame flickers with the slightest breath, and reach out with your Essence sensing Skills to get a feel for the fire."

After five minutes of students studying the candle flames, Shada spoke. "Use the snuffer on the end of the striker to smother the flames. This robs the fire of one of the key components needed to sustain itself: air." Students snuffed out candles, and thin trails of smoke snaked into the air. "Everyone should try copying the symbol for fire on a blank sheet of paper while quietly pronouncing the word Ignis. Do not channel Essence while doing this exercise!" The sounds of quills, and a few rarer pens, scratching on paper filled the room while students diligently practiced saying Ignis over and over.

Shada's voice took on a strange hypnotic quality. It was a trick used by muses to help people focus. "You have felt the flame, you have seen it, you have even smelled it…focus on your candle and the symbol for fire…use your Skills to channel Essence into your vocal cords and voice…now say it…Ignis!" As if compelled by Shada's voice, the students chanted Ignis as one. The flash of dozens of candles lighting up filled the room and briefly drowned out the morning light coming from the tall windows.

"Please check your Essence pool. You should notice a not insignificant drop in your Essence. The exact amount will vary depending on individual talent, affinity, knowledge, Skill, and many other factors, but should be less than 10 Essence." Dozens of faces went blank while looking inward. "With enough practice, Ignis will cost less than 1 Essence. That will be part of your homework for our next class. Practice until you get the cost down. The keys to success are: Focus, Will, and Intent."

A stack of books began levitating from behind Shada's own desk. Each flew with precision to land on each student's desk without making a single sound. "This is a Primer on the Lingua Arcana. It will give you other examples to work on, such as the symbol for Light or Lux and similar exercises to today's demonstration. Reading this book is the other half of your homework. Questions?"