Second Year at the Magic Academy: Ideals
DESPITE holding on to a measure of bewilderment at having returned to the spring of her fifteenth year, Emma enjoyed the second round of her first year at the Magic Academy. The year flew by in a blur, and she was now in her second year. Unlike all the foundational classes that made up the first-year curriculum, the second year at the Academy was when students would take classes geared toward their future professional goals. For example, they would learn applied life magic in earnest this year with practical lessons to enhance their education.
“I…think I might not do so well in applied life magic,” Emma said. “Still, I’ll do my best!”
“Anyone can use life magic, but controlling it gets more difficult as you learn how to use elemental magic. I don’t have an affinity with so many attributes like you, Emma, but I understand how you feel.”
“Oh, wow, Rashida, you’re struggling with the class, too? Are you having trouble with the magical language portion like I am?”
Emma thumped her textbook down on her desk and sighed gustily. The two were hard at work, absorbing the information noted in their textbook for their afternoon advanced life magic practical lesson. Today, they would focus on how to use life magic to reheat and maintain the right temperature of tea that had cooled.
Life magic was a convenient magic anyone in this world could use with a flick of a finger. However, applied life magic was another beast entirely. Just like elemental magic, it required spellcraft that employed magical language. Due to this, one’s elemental affinities often interfered with the execution of applied life magic, resulting in poor results for the user.
Though she hadn’t disclosed the fact to the school at large about her affinities with all the elements, her unique disposition made using applied life magic all the more difficult.
Glen taught me last year that what’s important isn’t the spell but the image one has in their mind… The trick works with elemental magic, but not so much with applied life magic. I need to practice more.
“Wait, Rashida, I just realized something. No lady’s maid would ever serve reheated tea. Don’t you think doing so would disqualify one from even being a maid? Isn’t it the norm to brew a new pot instead for the young lady to enjoy?”
“I agree wholeheartedly with you, Emma. Eugene never, ever did something so base…”
“Sunny was the same.”
In their seats at the front of the wide lecture hall, the two complained for the sake of complaining. Then the door opened with a rattle. Professor Katie entered the room along with one other individual. The class erupted in excitement upon seeing the stranger who accompanied their teacher.
“Hello, everyone. It’s nice to meet you. My name is Morris Pat Winwood, and I’m here as part of my training at the Department of Magic. Starting today, I’ll instruct the second-years, for two weeks, in practical lessons of applied life magic. I look forward to getting to know you.”
He had dark brown hair and sky-blue eyes covered by black-rimmed glasses. He could have passed for a third-year student were it not for his formal dress shirt, necktie, and slacks.
“Listen up, everyone. Professor Morris is an alumnus who graduated from the Academy three years ago. Right now, he’s studying at the Department of Magic to become an accredited teacher at this school. He was outstanding at his practical lessons during his time here, so make sure you learn all the tips and tricks you can from him!”
Professor Katie’s introduction riled up the class even more. Most students taking this applied life magic class were girls, and Professor Morris’s symmetrical, clean-cut features pierced right through their hearts. Despite his short tenure here, their excitement at having him on the grounds was palpable.
“Hm… Don’t you think Lord Glen is more manly?”
“G-Go ask someone else, please.”
Emma’s face twitched in response to Rashida’s smirk and sly question.
“Friendly reminder that today’s practical lesson will focus on reheating black tea magically, without using a teapot warmer. Those with an affinity for fire must be extra vigilant! Make sure you have proper control of your magic before you deploy it!”
Professor Katie’s warning reminded Emma of the disaster she’d nearly created on the day her affinities were determined. Oh, right… I burned my fringe in front of her, didn’t I? At the Academy, Emma’s “official” magics were water, wind, and time. The only ones who knew the truth were Professor Katie, Ian, and Glen. When she’s telling fire-magic users to be careful… She means me as well, doesn’t she? I wonder if the level of control I use with water and wind magic will be enough.
She wanted to ask Professor Katie for advice since she knew of Emma’s circumstances, but her teacher was busy helping another student. A line had already formed at the head of the class by the lectern. Emma predicted it would be some time before her turn came. Then why don’t I try it first and see how it goes?
Based on what she had read in the textbook, though this spell stimulated the fire element, at its core it was a life magic that didn’t harm people. As long as she utilized the correct tools and spells, there shouldn’t be any problems. Taking a deep, calming breath, she read aloud the magical language written in the textbook.
“Tea once cold, warm again to your mistress’s liking.”
At that moment, Professor Katie gave them another reminder, her voice echoing throughout the lecture hall. “Personality affects this particular magic, so make sure you’re in a calm state of mind!”
“Huh?”
By the time Emma heard her, it was too late. She had only wanted to warm the contents of the transparent glass teapot in front of her. Instead, the liquid boiled violently as the temperature exceeded what she intended. Except it didn’t stop there. The water evaporated, turning into steam. Just when she thought the pot would shatter, a large hand appeared, covering the teapot. A hissing sound came from the teapot as the heat shaking it violently dissipated. When she looked closely, a section of it had been frozen.
“Are you all right?”
“Y-Yes, I am. Thank you very much, Professor Morris.”
He had stopped the pot from exploding. His next words were frosty.
“You. Do you have an affinity for fire?”
“No, I don’t. I can just be too frank and impulsive sometimes.”
The more elemental affinities a person possessed, the harder it became to control magic. In a desperate attempt to make sure no one other than Professor Katie knew of her omni-affinity, Emma gave him a plausible-sounding excuse. But he wasn’t fooled.
“A frank and impulsive personality? So, even knowing that about yourself, you still intend to study applied life magic?”
The words expelled from Professor Morris’s well-defined lips stabbed through Emma. She remained mute, unable to form any reply to his sudden attack. He added another remark to his excoriation for good measure.
“Then we should all be grateful you don’t possess an affinity for fire.” Though his tone was measured and polite, his sky-blue eyes glittered coldly behind his glasses.
“Um… Are fire users really so incompatible with applied life magic?” she asked.
“It isn’t their fire affinity so much as their rash personalities that create the issue. The fact that you’re enrolled in this class tells me you’re aiming to be a lady’s maid. Do you know what the most important thing is for any maid who works in this country?”
“…Devoting herself wholeheartedly to the care and protection of the lady to whom she is assigned.”
“Correct. It means always prioritizing your mistress over yourself. So do you think there’s any need for a maid who could hurt her charge by the simple act of reheating tea?”
His argument was extremely logical. He only spoke the truth. But Emma’s heart grew heavy like it was suddenly weighed down by lead.