Felix enters the combat training grounds, his eyes scanning the area. He sees weapons racks, training dummies, and a large open space for sparring. There are a few other students already here, warming up and practicing their techniques. He feels a little nervous, he's not the best at hand-to-hand combat, but he knows it's an important skill for adventurers.
A tall, muscular half orc walks up to him, his bare chest glistening with sweat and his bear pelt cloak draped over his shoulders. "Hey, you must be Felix. I'm Grog. The professor told me to pair up with you for sparring." He grins, showing off his sharp teeth, "Ready to get your ass kicked?"
Felix raises an eyebrow, not intimidated by Grog's cocky attitude. "We'll see about that. I'm not going down without a fight." Grog laughs and claps him on the shoulder, "Good! Then lets get started." He leads Felix to the sparring area and takes a fighting stance. "Let's see what you got."
Felix takes a deep breath and focuses, trying to remember everything he's learned about combat. He knows he's not as strong as Grog, but he's not helpless either. He has his magic and his wits. He decides to start with a simple attack, throwing a punch at Grog's face. Grog easily dodges it and counters with a punch of his own, which Felix barely manages to block. Grog chuckles, "Not bad, but you're going to have to do better than that."
Felix grits his teeth and tries again, this time feinting a punch before going for a kick. Grog anticipates the move and grabs his leg, throwing him off balance. Felix hits the ground hard, the wind knocked out of him. Grog offers him a hand up, "You okay? That was a good try. You're quick, I'll give you that." Felix takes his hand and stands up, dusting himself off. "Thanks. I'm fine. Just need to catch my breath."
They continue sparring, Grog teaching Felix some basic techniques and giving him tips on how to improve. Felix hasn't had to think about it before, but he tries using physical enhancement magic. He shapes the mana with his psionic intent and courses it through his body. The first time it's not really focused or refined, but it definitely works. He feels stronger and faster, and he's able to land a few hits on Grog. Grog stumbles a bit, but then bounces excitedly with glee, "Now we're talking!" He gets more serious and shows off a wilder ability, extending wilder energy claws from his knuckles. He's clearly having fun now, "Let's see how you handle this!"
Felix's eyes widen, remembering hearing about a guy named Grog having wilder abilities, but not quite knowing what that meant. He quickly summons a shield with a little bit more effort than he usually uses, blocking Grog's claws. At least at first, but Grog slashes through the barrier before coming at Felix. He expects the energy claws to be able to slash him apart, but as Grog move to attack Felix directly, he notices a change in the density and sharpness of the claws as they come at him. Grog is deliberately making them less sharp and dangerous when he moves to hit Felix with them.
Felix decides to test it and blocks with his arm, taking the hit. It stings a little, but doesn't break the skin. Grog grins, "You're not afraid of a little pain, I like that. Most people would be crying by now." Felix smirks back, "I'm not most people. I've been through worse."
Grog laughs and continues the sparring, their movements becoming more fluid and synchronized. Grog is definitely stronger and more experienced in close quarters combat, but Felix isn't decisively losing. In fact, he's holding his own pretty well. They trade blows and blocks, each one trying to gain the upper hand. In the end, Grog manages to get Felix in a headlock, "I win this round. Though you did good, you're a fun opponent." He releases Felix and pats him on the back, "We should spar again sometime."
Felix nods, "Yeah, that sounds good. It was fun." He's not used to having fun while sparring, but Grog's enthusiasm is infectious. He feels like he learned a lot and can't wait to practice more. He's actually starting to enjoy combat training, something he never thought would happen.
The instructor closes out the class as he asks if each sparring partner wants to stick with their current partner next class. Grog is quick to respond with simple enthusiasm, "Yeah, he's my buddy now!" Felix can't help but smile at that. He's made his first friend at the academy, and it feels good.
Felix is walking to his next class, his mind still buzzing from the combat training with Grog. He can't stop thinking about how much fun he had and how much he learned. He's also thinking about his magic class and his conversation with Professor Nya. He's curious about what she thinks of his spellcasting and if she has any advice for him, especially with his new physical enhancement technique he used. He looks around, hoping to catch a glimpse of her. He knows she said they'd talk later, but he's impatient and wants to talk to her now.
He closes his eyes for a moment, reaching out with his psionic senses. He's not sure if it'll work, but he tries to focus on Nya's presence, on the feel of her energy. He's surprised when he actually senses something, a faint mental impression that feels like her. It's not a clear image, more like a vague sense of direction and distance. He opens his eyes and starts walking, following the mental trail.
He doesn't know where he's going, but he trusts his instincts. He winds through the campus, his mind focused on the mental beacon that's leading him. He feels like he's getting closer, the sense of her presence growing stronger. He finally arrives at a building he's never been in before, a large stone structure with ivy growing up the sides. He can sense Nya's presence inside, somewhere on the second floor.
He enters the building and looks around finding a spot where she feels close and looks in the direction he's sensing her from. Straight up, through the ceiling, great. Now where are the stairs? He wanders the hallways more blindly because his beacon won't tell him this. He doesn't see any students, just a few staff members going about their business. They give him curious looks, but he doesn't pay them any mind. He finally finds the stairs and heads up to the second floor.
Though now he has a new problem. He's on the same floor as her, but his ability to go straight to her isn't much better. He keeps running into Nya being straight through a wall, or running into dead ends. At one point he was at an intersection off hallways where neither path available to him seemed to go the right way. So he ended up pacing back and forth around the intersection as he tried to decide which way to go. Though eventually he finds the room he's sure she's in and feels vindicated that the search was worth it, and the door is ajar.
He peeks inside and sees Nya sitting at a desk, having a side profile of her as she addresses, plushies? She must be in the middle of some kind of work and is talking to them. The plushies are sitting on desks like they're her students, and it's a bit surreal. They're different sizes, colors, and have different levels of wear. Some of them have bald spots, stitches, and some are lopsided. It's actually really cute, and he can't help but smile. This is certainly not what he expected, but it's endearing. He places his hand over the inner pocket of his robe as he thinks about it.
Nya, completely oblivious to Felix's presence, continues her practice. "O-okay, class. T-today we're going to learn about the different types of magic and how they interact with each other." She clears her throat and takes a deep breath, trying to project her voice. "A-arcane magic can be d-divided into several different schools of magic. There's... Evocation, Illusion, Conjuration, Transmutation, Abjuration, Divination, Necromancy, and Enchantment. Each school has its own strengths and weaknesses, and can be used in different ways. Let's start with... Evocation." She turns to a small blue plushie, "Can you tell me about evocation?"
She asks seemingly rhetorically before also speaking as the student, "Evocation is the art of summoning energy and creating effects from raw magic. It's used for spells like fireballs, lightning bolts, and other forms of magical attack." She turns to the blue plushie, "Good answer. Now, who can tell me about the other schools?" Felix realizes she's practicing her teaching skills, and he can't help but be impressed. She's really dedicated to her job, even if she's not the most confident. It makes him want to help her, to be a good student for her.
He thinks he should probably go and not interrupt her, but as he turns to leave she notices him. She freezes and her ears flatten, her cheeks turning red. "F-Felix? W-what are you doing here? How did you find me?"
Felix steps into the room and smiles, "Sorry, I didn't mean to disturb you. I was just... looking for you. I wanted to talk to you about my spellcasting, and also I used a new magic physical enhancement technique in my combat class. I thought you might be interested in that too." He gestures to the plushies, "I didn't mean to intrude on your... practice. It's actually really cute, and I think it's great that you're working so hard to be a good teacher."
Nya's blush deepens and she looks down at her desk, her hands fidgeting with the hem of her robe. "Th-thank you. I'm just trying to do my best. I'm not very good at talking to people, so I... practice with my plushies." She looks up at Felix, her eyes still a bit shy, "W-what kind of physical enhancement magic did you use? I'd like to hear about it."
Felix walks over to her and sits down at one of the desks, next to a yellow plushie. "I focused my mana with psionic intent and circulated it through my body. It made me stronger and faster, but it was hard to control at first. It's the first time I've ever tried something like that. I think it has potential, though."
Nya nods, her eyes lighting up with interest. "Th-that's fascinating. I've never heard of using psionics to shape mana in that way. Also a general bodily enhancement is quite different from how magic physical enhancement normally works. Normally it's done with a structured spell and only enhances one physical aspect at a time, like only endurance or only agility." She pauses, her expression thoughtful, "You're a very unique case, Felix. I'm not sure how to best guide you, but I'm willing to try. I think we can learn a lot from each other. Also, although you don't use chants or gestures yourself, still learning them could help you read what enemies who use magic are doing and anticipate their moves." She gives him a small smile, "I'm glad you came to see me. It's nice to have a student who's as passionate about magic as I am."
Though she presses him further, "Though you didn't quite tell me how you found me..." She looks at him curiously, her head tilted to the side.
Felix rubs the back of his neck, looking a bit sheepish. "Well... I sort of... used psionics to find you. I focused on your presence and followed it here. I know it's a bit weird, but I just wanted to talk to you and I couldn't wait." He looks at her with hopeful eyes, hoping she's not mad at him.
Nya's eyes widen in surprise, "You can do that? That's... impressive. So you knew exactly how to find me?" She pauses, then giggles, "I guess I should be flattered. No one has ever used psionics to find me before." Felix clarifies while feeling embarrassed about it, "Well not really... I basically had to do trial and error to find a way to you. I had a general direction and distance from you, but that was about it. I didn't get any help finding the stairs when I knew you were on the second floor, and I got lost sometimes running into dead ends and I got stuck at an intersection when there didn't seem to be an option that led the right way for a bit..." Nya continues giggling, covering her mouth with her hand, "Oh, I see. Well, I'm glad you didn't give up. It's... sweet, in a way. Though how long have you been using this ability?"
Felix replies sheepishly, "Since when I decided to look for you..." Nya giggles more before she suddenly stops with a revelation, "Y-you just spontaneously made an ability like that?!" Felix shrugs, "Yeah, I guess so. It just felt like something I could do, so I tried it and it worked."
Nya is still processing that information when she remembers Felix is still there and has been waiting for a while now, "Oh! I'm sorry, Felix, I don't mean to keep you. You should probably get to your next class." She stands up and straightens her robe, trying to compose herself. "I'm glad you came to see me, though. I'll think about what you've told me and we can talk more later. I'll be looking forward to it." She smiles at him, her shyness momentarily forgotten in her excitement about his unique abilities.
Felix stands up as well, returning her smile. "I'm glad I came too. I'll see you in class tomorrow, Professor." He waves goodbye and heads out the door, his heart feeling lighter. Though as he's leaving one, last question pops into his head.
Felix pauses at the doorway, turning back to look at Nya. "Hey, Professor, can I ask you something?" Nya looks up at him, her expression curious. "Of course, Felix. What is it?"
Felix hesitates for a moment, not sure how to phrase his question. "I noticed earlier that you seemed to struggle with carrying your books and speaking loudly in class. Is there something... I don't know, bothering you?" He feels a bit awkward asking, but he's genuinely concerned.
Nya's ears droop and she looks down at her hands, fidgeting with her robe again. "Oh, that... I have a weak constitution. It's always been hard for me to do physical tasks and project my voice. It's... embarrassing, to be honest. I try not to let it show, but..." She trails off, her cheeks flushed with embarrassment.
Felix feels a pang of sympathy for her. He can't imagine how hard it must be for her to deal with that, especially as a teacher. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to make you uncomfortable. I was just... worried, I guess. If you're okay with it, I could maybe help with carrying things if you have trouble with it." He offers, wanting to be supportive.
Nya looks up at him, her eyes wide with surprise and gratitude. "You... you would do that? I mean, you don't have to, but... thank you, Felix. That's very kind of you." She gives him a small smile, her ears perking up a bit. "I might take you up on that offer, if you're sure you don't mind."
Felix smiles back, feeling happy to have helped. "Of course, I don't mind at all. Just let me know if you need anything. I'll be happy to help." He waves again and leaves the room, his thoughts now on how he can make things easier for his professor. He's glad he spoke up and offered his help. It feels good to be able to do something for someone else, especially someone who's been so nice to him.
Felix rushes to his general education class, his mind still on his conversation with Nya. He's not sure how long he was with her, but he knows he's late for his next class. He can only hope the instructor won't be too mad at him. He finally reaches the classroom and slips inside, trying to be as quiet as possible.
The instructor, an older human man with a stern expression, doesn't even glance his way as he continues his lecture. Felix breathes a sigh of relief and quickly tries to find an empty seat. He looks around and sees that most of the seats are taken, but there's one next to a wood elf girl with long blonde hair. He sits down next to her and pulls out his notebook, trying to catch up on what he's missed.
The girl notices him and gives him a friendly smile. "Hi, I'm Luna. I think I remember you from the admissions test and entrance ceremony, Felix, right?" She whispers, not wanting to disturb the class. "Don't worry, you didn't miss too much. The instructor is just talking about basic history stuff. You can borrow my notes if you want." She slides her notebook over to him, her handwriting neat and organized.
Felix smiles back, grateful for her help. "Thanks, Luna. I appreciate it. I got a bit sidetracked earlier. Also history is one of my worst subjects, so this is a great help." He quickly scans her notes, trying to absorb the information as fast as he can. He's impressed by how detailed they are, and how she's managed to condense the instructor's lecture into concise points. "You're really good at taking notes."
Luna shrugs modestly, "It's just practice, really. I find it helps me remember things better if I write them down. Plus, I like being organized." She glances at him, her eyes curious. "So, what were you doing that made you late? If you don't mind me asking."
He decides to be vague, "Just... talking to a professor about some magic stuff. It took longer than I thought it would." He doesn't want to get too into it, with details like Nya's slime plushies feeling like something private she wouldn't want him to talk about casually.
Luna nods, seeming satisfied with his answer. "I see. Well, I'm glad you made it. It's always more fun to have someone to talk to during class." She grins, her eyes sparkling with mischief. "Especially when the instructor is as boring as this one."
Felix can't help but laugh at her comment, feeling a bit more relaxed. "Yeah, he's not exactly the most exciting guy. I'm already struggling to stay awake." He stifles a yawn, covering his mouth with his hand. "I hope the other classes are more engaging."
Luna giggles, "Don't worry, they will be. The general education classes are always a bit dry, but the specialized ones are way more interesting. What are you looking forward to the most?" She asks, genuinely curious.
Felix thinks for a moment, his mind going over his schedule. "I'm really excited about the magic classes, obviously. Though also my psionics class is next after this, and last for the day. I don't have any formal training in psionics, so that's going to be a very new experience." He looks at Luna, "What about you? What's your focus?"
Luna's expression lights up, her enthusiasm clear. "I'm an alchemist! I want to be a good healer who can help people who are sick or injured. I hope I can be able to even cure major sicknesses and heal major injuries some day." She sighs wistfully, her eyes far away. "It's a lot of work, but I love it. There's always something new to learn and discover."
Felix is impressed by her passion, even if he doesn't feel the same way about healing. "That's amazing. I don't think I have the patience for that kind of thing. My mom runs a potion shop, though. She's a great alchemist too, you might know her. Melina?"
Luna's eyes widen in recognition, "You're Melina's son? She's like a role model to me! I've heard a lot about how many people she's helped or even saved. I always wanted to meet her." She looks at Felix with new respect, "You must be really proud of her. She's an amazing woman."
Felix nods, feeling a swell of pride in his chest. "Yeah, she's the best. Though if you want to meet her, why not just go to her shop?" He suggests, not seeing the problem. Though Luna seems to deflate a bit at the suggestion, her elf ears droop.
"I... I don't know if I'm ready for that. I'm still just a student, and she's so accomplished. I don't want to bother her or anything." She looks down at her hands, her voice a bit quiet. "I'm sure she's very busy, anyway."
Felix is a bit surprised by her reaction. He knows his mom is very friendly and would be happy to meet someone who admires her work. "I don't think she'd mind. She's always happy to talk about alchemy with anyone who's interested. I think she's a lot more approachable than you're picturing, and she won't be mean about it if your skill in alchemy still needs a lot of refinement." He says, trying to encourage her. "You should come by sometime, I'm sure she'd love to meet you."
Luna looks up at him, her expression a mix of hope and doubt. "You... you really think so? I mean, I'd love to, but... what if I say something stupid or make a fool of myself?" She worries with lips trembling, and her ears twitching nervously.
Felix smiles reassuringly, placing a hand on her arm. "You'll be fine. Just be yourself, I swear, she's not scary at all. Though of course I won't force you if you're really that nervous about it." He adds, not wanting to pressure her.
Luna takes a deep breath, her resolve seeming to strengthen. "Okay... okay, I'll do it. I'll visit her shop sometime and introduce myself. Maybe not soon, but I'll try to steel my nerves and do it. Thank you, Felix, for being so nice about it." She gives him a grateful look, her ears perking up a bit. "Really, thank you, it's a serious confidence boost."
Felix feels a warm feeling in his chest at her words. He's not used to people being so open and friendly with him, especially after being bullied by clan beastkin for so long. "It's really no trouble, and I mean it. I'm sure my mom will be happy to talk with you when you work up the courage." He smiles at her. His time at the academy is going great.
The rest of the class passes by uneventfully, with Felix and Luna whispering to each other occasionally and sharing notes. When the bell rings, signaling the end of the period, Luna turns to Felix with a bright smile. "I suppose this is where we part ways for now. It was nice meeting you, and I hope to see you again soon." She stands up and gathers her things, her movements graceful and efficient.
Felix stands up as well, slinging his bag over his shoulder. "Yeah, it was nice meeting you too. I'll see you around, I'm sure. Have a good day." He waves goodbye and heads out of the classroom, feeling a bit more positive about his time at the academy. It's like he's suddenly gaining a social life all of a sudden. It's new territory, and he's unsure how big of a social circle he can handle.