Nya continues, "There are many types of defensive magic, each with its own advantages and disadvantages. Some of the most common ones are: conjured barriers, magical shields, mage armor, magical evasion, and wards. Let's go over them one by one, and see how they work." She says, her voice informative and organized.
She starts with conjured barriers, like a stone shield. She explains that they are physical manifestations of magic that can block or deflect attacks. They can be made of various elements. They can also have different shapes, sizes, and properties, depending on the spell and the caster. Conjured barriers are usually very strong and durable, but they also require a lot of mana and concentration to maintain. They can also be slow to create, and may not cover all angles or directions. They are best used for frontal or stationary defense, or for creating cover or obstacles.
She moves on to magical shields, a conventional magic barrier. She explains that they are invisible or semi-transparent fields of magic that can absorb or repel attacks. They can be projected around the caster or a target, forming a protective bubble or dome. They can also have different effects, such as reflecting, neutralizing, or amplifying the incoming attacks. Magical shields are usually more flexible and versatile than conjured barriers, but also less resilient and reliable. They can be drained or overwhelmed by powerful or sustained attacks, and may not block physical or non-magical threats. They are best used for mobile or general defense, or for enhancing other defenses.
She then talks about mage armor, which is magic that enhances the caster's body or clothing, making them more resistant to damage. She says that mage armor can be cast as a spell, or enchanted into items like clothes, jewelry, or weapons. Mage armor can increase the caster's defense against physical, magical, or elemental attacks, depending on the type and level of the armor. Mage armor is usually very convenient and efficient, as it doesn't require constant attention or maintenance. However, it also has limited effects, and may not be enough to stop lethal or severe attacks. It is best used as a supplementary or preventative defense, or for situations where mobility and stealth are important.
She then covers magical evasion, which is magic that alters the caster's movement, perception, or position, making them harder to hit or catch. She says that magical evasion can include spells that increase speed, agility, or reflexes, spells that create illusions, invisibility, or distractions, or spells that teleport, blink, or phase the caster. Magical evasion is often the most active and aggressive form of defense, as it involves avoiding or escaping danger rather than facing it. It can also be very effective and unpredictable, as it can create opportunities for counterattacks or escapes. However, it also requires a lot of skill and timing, and may not work against opponents or attacks that are faster, smarter, or more powerful. It is best used for dynamic or tactical defense, or for situations where offense and defense are intertwined.
She finishes with wards, which are symbols, rituals, or devices that create a protected area or zone. She explains that wards can be placed on doors, walls, floors, ceilings, or any other surface, and can have various functions, such as alerting, blocking, trapping, or harming intruders. Wards can be very useful for securing a base, a camp, a treasure, or a person. However, they also require preparation, resources, and knowledge to create and activate, and they can be detected, disabled, or bypassed by enemies who are familiar with them. They are best used for strategic or long-term defense, or for situations where control and awareness are essential.
Nya concludes, "Of course, these are not the only forms of defensive magic, and they are not mutually exclusive. You can combine them, or use other spells, to create a more effective and personalized defense system. The key is to know your options, your strengths, your weaknesses, and your enemies. You have to be flexible, adaptable, and creative, and find the best way to protect yourself in any scenario." She says, her voice confident and wise.
Felix is impressed by her lecture, and feels like he's learned a lot. He's especially interested in the idea of redirecting attacks, instead of just blocking them. That sounds like a skill that would suit his style, as he likes to be efficient and clever. He wonders if he can learn how to do that, and if Nya can teach him. He raises his hand, and asks, "Excuse me, Nya, can you tell us more about redirecting attacks? How does that work, and what are the benefits and drawbacks?”
Nya smiles, and nods. "Good question, Felix. Redirecting attacks is a technique that involves using your defensive magic to change the direction or angle of an incoming attack, rather than stopping it completely. For example, instead of using a flat shield to block a fireball, you could use a curved or angled shield to deflect it to the side, or even back at the caster. This way, you use less mana, and create an opening for a counterattack." She explains, her voice clear and enthusiastic.
She then demonstrates, by making an angled shield and throwing an apple at it. The apple hits the shield, and bounces off to the side, hitting a wall. The class watches, fascinated.
She continues, "The benefits of redirecting attacks are obvious: you save mana, you avoid damage, and this can allow you to defend against powerful attacks you couldn't stop head on. It can also be used to manipulate the battlefield, by creating hazards, distractions, or opportunities. The drawbacks are that it requires more skill, timing, and precision than simple blocking. You have to anticipate the attack, and adjust your angle accordingly. You also have to be careful not to redirect the attack to yourself, your allies, or innocent bystanders. It's a high-risk, high-reward technique, and it takes a lot of practice to master." She says, her voice cautionary and encouraging.
Felix nods, understanding. He likes the sound of it, and wants to try it. He can see how it would be useful in his duel with Bia, who is likely to use powerful qi attacks. He makes plans to test this during his next spar with Grog, but then reminds himself he won't be as at combat class today. He hopes he can find a different suitable sparring partner to practice redirecting attacks in a fight. He thanks Nya, and says, "That sounds like something I'll definitely want to try out as a tactic, thank you." He says, his voice sincere.
Nya smiles, and says, "You're welcome, Felix." Then returns to her lecture without dwelling on Felix in a way that might look suspicious. She talks about some examples of defensive magic in history and fiction, and how they were used by famous or legendary mages. Felix listens, taking notes, and thinking about how he can improve his own defense. He feels more confident and prepared for his duel, and for his future adventures. He's grateful for Nya's teaching, and her friendship. He can't wait to see her again after class, and talk more with her.
The bell rings, signaling the end of the class. Nya dismisses the students, and Felix approaches her. "That was a great lesson, Nya. I learned a lot. How are you feeling, by the way? Is the treatment working?" He asks, his voice concerned and curious.
"I'm feeling fine, Felix. I haven't noticed any major change yet, but I'm optimistic. Your mom is very knowledgeable and professional, and she explained everything to me. I'm sure it will work out." She says, her voice happy and grateful. He nods, and says, "I'm glad to hear that. If you need anything, just let me know."
Nya then looks at him seriously, and says, "Felix, about your duel... I know you're going to face Bia, and I want to help you. I know his style, his strengths, and his weaknesses. He's the heir of the Silver Claw clan, and he's very proud and arrogant. He relies on his strength and speed to overwhelm his opponents, and he doesn't like to use complex or subtle tactics. He'll try to end the fight quickly, with a decisive strike. You shouldn't try to match him head-on, or block his attacks directly. That's what he expects, and that's what he's highly specialized in. You should use your agility, your wit, and your magic to outsmart him, and to create openings. Try to use his own momentum against him, and make him overcommit. I'm sure with your skill, and your new technique, you can do it. You have to believe in yourself, and your abilities." She says, her voice earnest and passionate.
Felix listens, feeling touched and inspired. "Thank you, Nya. You're the best teacher and friend I could ask for. I'll do my best, I promise." He says, his voice determined and grateful.
She blushes a little, "Thank you, Felix. You're very sweet." She then hesitates, and looks around. The classroom is empty, except for them. She takes a deep breath, and says, "Felix... About last night... I'm still thinking about it. I don't regret doing it, but I don't want to make things awkward between us. I'd like to make sure how you feel about it, and if you wouldn't mind if I... stayed the night again. I'll be seeing your mother for a follow up on my treatment anyway..." She says, her voice shy and hopeful.
He feels his heart beat faster, and his face heat up. He looks into her eyes, and sees the sincerity and affection in them. He smiles, and says, "I don't mind at all, Nya. I liked it too. You can stay with me anytime you want. It's really no trouble at all." He says, his voice honest and warm.
She smiles back, "Thank you, Felix. That means a lot to me. In my apartment... It's embarrassing to admit, but sometimes I feel lonely and vulnerable by myself."
He feels a surge of protectiveness and love for her, and he wants to hug her, but he holds back. He doesn't want to be too forward, or make her uncomfortable. He settles for saying, "You don't have to feel that way anymore, Nya. I'm serious about saying you can stay over any time you want."
She looks touched, "You're the best, Felix. I don't know what I did to deserve you." She says, her voice emotional and fond.
They share a moment of silence, looking at each other. They both feel a connection, a spark, that goes beyond friendship. They both know it, but they're not sure what to do about it. They're both a bit nervous, but also excited. Though Nya regretfully says, "I need to prepare for my next class though, and I'm sure you should head to your next class too."
Felix nods, "Yeah, I'll see you later then." He turns to leave, but then stops. He turns back, and quickly kisses her cheek. She gasps, and touches her cheek, her face flushed. He smiles, and says, "Bye, Nya." He then walks away, feeling bold and happy.
She watches him go, her heart racing. She touches her cheek where he kissed her, and smiles. She whispers, "Bye, Felix." She then gathers her things, and leaves the classroom, feeling giddy and hopeful.
Felix goes to his next class, which is combat class. He's bummed Grog won't be there, but hopes he can find a good sparring partner anyway. He enters the training ground, and sees Arthur, the head prefect, talking to some other students. He looks up, and sees Felix. He waves him over, "Hey, Felix. How's it going?" He asks, his voice friendly and cheerful.
Felix walks to him, "Hey, Arthur. What's up?" He asks, his voice casual and curious.
Arthur smiles, "I heard about your duel with Bia. That's some serious business. Are you ready for it?" He asks, his tone concerned and interested.
Felix shrugs, "I don't think so yet, but I'm working on it. Though speaking of that. Do you think you could spar with me? Grog would normally be my sparring partner, but he took the day off from classes. I'd really appreciate it." He asks, his voice hopeful and eager.
Arthur nods, "Sure, I can do that. Though I should warn you, I'm not going to go easy on you. I want to see how good you are, and how much you've improved. I also want to see your style, and give you some tips if I can." He says, his voice confident and helpful.
Felix agrees, and they move to an empty spot. They stretch and warm up, and then face each other. Arthur draws his sword and shield, "Let's begin. Show me what you got, Felix." He says, his voice challenging and respectful.
Felix channels his physical enhancement technique, and gets into his stance. "Alright, here I come." He says, his voice ready and focused.
Arthur charges with his sword, and Felix tries to deflect with an angled shield. Yet Arthur is too fast and skilled, and he changes his angle at the last second. His sword grazes Felix's arm, leaving a shallow cut. Felix winces, and backs away.
"Nice try, but you need to be more precise and faster. You also need to anticipate my movements, and not just react. Watch me." He says, his voice instructive and calm.
He demonstrates, by blocking Felix's next attack with his shield, and angling it to deflect it to the side. He then follows up with a slash, forcing Felix to dodge."See? You have to use your shield not just as a defense, but as an offense. You have to create openings, and exploit them." He explains, his voice clear and concise.
Felix nods, and tries again. He manages to deflect one of Arthur's strikes, but then gets hit by another. He keeps trying, and improves gradually. He learns to read Arthur's cues, and to adjust his shield accordingly. Starting to gain intuition for angles for deflecting attacks, but it's still very hard to do fast and on the fly. He also learns to counterattack, and to use his own speed and agility to his advantage. He feels like he's getting the hang of it, and he's having fun. Though he knows he's still far from being able to use it consistently, and he's not sure if he'll be able to do it against Bia.
He tries something new, and feints like he's going to punch before stopping short and shooting a fireball with his other hand at an opening after Arthur moves to defend. Arthur sees it coming, but is too slow to stop it completely. The fireball grazes his shoulder, burning his uniform. He jumps back, "Wow, that was a good move. You surprised me there. I didn't expect you to use magic like that, but don't expect that to work twice in a row." He says, his voice impressed and wary.
Felix grins, "Thanks, I'll keep that in mind." He says, his voice proud and happy.
They spar a little more till the end of the combat class. With Felix trying to merge his magic and physical combat skills more smoothly, and Arthur giving him advice and feedback. They end the session with a handshake, and a mutual respect. Arthur says, "You're a good fighter, Felix. You have a lot of potential, and a good style. Though you definitely need more practice. If you'd like to practice with me again, you can usually find me at the prefect building."
"Thanks, Arthur. That means a lot to me. You're a great teacher, and a great opponent. I'll definitely take you up on that offer." He says, his voice grateful and eager.
They part ways, and Felix goes to have lunch in the cafeteria. He sits with Luna, who greets him with a smile before asking, "I didn't see you yesterday. Are you doing okay?" She asks, her voice cheerful and concerned.
"Yeah, I'm fine. Just had a busy and weird day." He says, his voice vague and tired.
She raises an eyebrow, "Weird how? Did something happen?" She asks, her tone curious and supportive.
He sighs, and decides to tell her. He trusts her, and he needs to vent. He tells her about being summoned by Lilith, and his upcoming duel with Bia and Grog having his arm broken trying to help Felix. She listens, her eyes wide and her mouth open. "Wow, Felix. That's... a lot. You've had quite the week, haven't you?" She asks, her voice sympathetic and amazed.
He laughs, "Yeah, you can say that again. At least the week is coming to a close right? Though I'm glad tomorrow is the weekend, I'll have time to prepare for the duel with Bia then." He says, his voice optimistic and appreciative.
This reminds Luna, "Oh, right! Can't forget I planned to come to your place and talk with Melina tomorrow." She says, her voice cheerful and excited. "How about I meet you at the academy entrance early in the day, and then I come back with you?" She asks, her tone suggesting and friendly.
"Sure, that works for me. I'm looking forward to seeing you again, and I'm sure my mom will be happy to see you too." He says, his voice happy and welcoming.
She smiles, "Great! I'll see you then, and don't worry about the duel, you'll do fine. I have faith in you." She says, her voice encouraging and warm.
He smiles back, and thanks her. They finish their lunch, and chat some more. Then head to their shared general education class together. It's mostly a review of what they've learned so far, and a preview of what's to come next week. Felix pays attention, but also thinks about his plans for the weekend. He wants to practice his magic, his psionics, his new defensive technique, and his physical combat. He also wants to talk to Nya, and maybe spend more time with her. He feels like he has a lot to do, but also a lot to look forward to. He's excited, and a little scared, but mostly ready. He knows he can handle whatever comes his way, as long as he tries his best.
At the end of class, Luna hands him a copy of her notes. "I made a study guide of all the material, I thought you might want a copy." She says while handing it to him.
"Thank you, Luna. You're really helping a lot. Especially since this is a weak subject for me. Definitely let me know if you want my help with anything." He says, happy to reciprocate.
They part ways, and Felix goes to his psionics class. He hopes to learn more about thought forms. He's curious about how to improve his thought form and cognitive load. He also wonders if he can use it to help him with his duel, or his studies. He enters the classroom, and sees Eleanor ready to start the class.
"Good afternoon, class. Today we're going to delve into the fascinating world of extrasensory perception. This includes things like clairvoyance, danger sense, psychometry, and precognition or fortune telling. These are some of the most advanced and powerful psychic abilities, and they can give you an edge in many situations. However, they are also very complex and difficult to master. You will need a lot of practice, patience, and discipline to learn them. But don't worry, I'll guide you through it step by step." Eleanor says, her tone calm and confident.
The class listens attentively, intrigued by the topic. Some of them have heard of these abilities, but most of them have never experienced them firsthand. Felix is one of them. He's curious about how they work, and if he can develop them. He has always had a good intuition, and he wonders if that's a sign of psychic potential.
Eleanor continues, "The first thing you need to understand is that extrasensory perception is not just seeing or sensing things that are beyond the normal range of human senses. It's also about processing and interpreting the information you receive. You have to train your mind to filter out the noise, and focus on the relevant signals. You also have to learn how to trust your instincts, and act on them accordingly. It's a skill that requires both mental and emotional balance."
Felix nods, understanding. He knows how important it is to be calm and focused when using psionics. He also knows how hard it can be to trust his gut feelings, especially when they contradict his logic.
Eleanor then explains each type of extrasensory perception in more detail. She tells them that clairvoyance is the ability to perceive distant or hidden objects, people, or events, usually through visions. Danger sense is the ability to sense imminent threats or hazards, usually through a gut feeling or a physical sensation. Psychometry is the ability to read the history or the emotions of an object or a place, usually by touching it. Precognition is the ability to foresee future events or outcomes, usually through dreams or flashes of insight.
She gives them some exercises to try out each ability. She tells them to close their eyes and try to visualize a random location, a friend in trouble, an old object, or a future scenario. She encourages them to be creative and specific, and to write down or draw what they see or feel. She also warns them of the pitfalls and limitations of each ability, such as hallucinations, false alarms, biased impressions, or vague predictions.
Felix decides to try danger sense. He asks Eleanor, "Can you please help me try to do an exercise for danger sense?" Eleanor agrees, and tells him to stand in the middle of the room, facing away from her. "I'm going to throw this ball at you, but I won't tell you when. You have to try to sense it before it hits you, and dodge or catch it. Ready?" She asks, holding a rubber ball in her hand.
Felix nods, and braces himself. He closes his eyes, and tries to clear his mind. He focuses on his surroundings, and listens for any clues. He feels the air currents, the vibrations of the floor, the sounds of the other students. He waits for Eleanor to make her move.
He doesn't have to wait long. He suddenly feels a surge of alarm in his chest, and a tingling in his neck. He instinctively ducks, and feels the ball whiz over his head. He opens his eyes, and sees Eleanor smiling at him.
"Good job, Felix. You sensed it just in time. You have a natural talent for danger sense. It's one of the most useful abilities for a fighter, as you can imagine. You can avoid or counter attacks before they happen. You can also use it to sense traps, ambushes, or other dangers. It's a very valuable skill to have." She says, praising him and explaining the benefits.
Felix feels proud and excited. He thanks her, and asks for more practice. She throws more balls at him, sometimes from different angles or directions. He manages to sense and dodge most of them, but not all. Sometimes he reacts the wrong way because the feeling is too vague and doesn't tell him how the ball is aimed at him. Eleanor tells him that it's normal, and that he'll improve with time and experience. She encourages him to keep practicing on his own, and to trust his feelings.