Chapter 27: A Bloody Lesson

Chapter 27: A Bloody Lesson

Stryg waited in a cold classroom. The room was deep underground below the academy. Long metal tables stretched across half the room, the other half was empty. Several drains lined the black stone floor. Unlike the meditation dome, this room was filled with torches hanging on the etched walls. Small brown magestones decorated the etched symbols. Yet, the room was cold enough to see ones own breath. Stryg looked around at the two dozen other students, most he didnt recognize. So far all his classes had been shared with the same classmates, class 1-C.

One of the students raised a shivering hand. P-professor, why are we down here? Where are the others?

Professor Gette was a human of indiscernible age. His hair was a set of vibrant brown curls that he tied in a ponytail. He had the gait of a young man, but his face told another story. His grey eyes were sunken. Wrinkles decorated his forehead and sallow cheeks. Leather gloves covered his hands. His voice rang clear like glass in the stone chamber, If you are referring to your classmates of your homeroom class, they are attending their own respective color course. All of you standing here tested into black mana, hence the name of this class, Intro to Black Magic, emphasis on the Intro. It is also why I, a master mage of black magic, Gette pointed to the Onyx stone implanted within his silver necklace, am teaching all of you beginners. So, best if you all stay quiet and let me introduce you to finesse of black magic.

The student lowered his hand and nodded with chattering teeth.

Great. Black magic classes have about four times as many students compared to the other color courses. The reason for this is quite simple. The Ebon Realm produces more black mana than any other color mana, resulting in the births of more black mageborn. The same goes for the other Realms. The Scarlet Realm produces more red mana and therefore more red mages. The Azure Realm produces more blue mana, and on and on. You get the idea. Anyway, thats why there are two dozen of you and why the academy requires someone as skilled as I to teach you novices. But, believe me, your group size does make it harder to instruct one-on-one training. So, try to listen well, I wont repeat myself, Gette explained.

The students nodded in understanding, while rubbing their arms for heat. Some of them even tried to huddle together. Stryg stepped a few feet away. Sure, he was cold, but he was used to enduring cold winters in Vulture Woods. But more importantly, he didnt want to huddle with any men. Perhaps if they were all pretty girls, Stryg might have been persuaded.

The chambers double doors creaked open to reveal several steel-masked figures clad in black cloaks. Stryg felt a shiver crawl up his spine as he recalled the creatures from his first night in Hollow Shade. They had attacked several humans who had been chasing him. He had barely escaped their iron chains himself. Why were the sentinels here?

Ah, finally. The sentinels have arrived. Well, come in, hurry up. Gette waved the undead in.

The sentinels dragged in large cloth bags and placed them on the iron tables. They then turned to Gette in silence, waiting for his orders. The students kept their distance from them as the undead worked. Even if they werent hostile, no one wanted to be near Hollow Shades nocturnal guards.Updated from novelbIn.(c)om

That will be all for now, you may leave. Gette shooed them away with his hand.

The sentinels obeyed without a word, closing the door behind them. Gette pulled out a knife from his belt, went over to one of the cloth sacks and tore it open. A scrawny human woman, no older than 35, lay dead on the table. Many of the students backed away in fear. Stryg stood still, watching the body. There were no signs of decay, she had died recently, Stryg noted to himself. He now understood why they were in this frigid chamber.

Now the class can finally begin. Gette said. He proceeded to rip off the clothes from the woman and throw them to the side. Come closer you cowards. You wanted to be magi, yes? Well, this is what it looks like to be a black mage. Best to get used to it quickly. Death will be a constant companion to our kind.

Most of the students shuffled their feet, but didnt actually move any closer, preferring to watch from afar. A few, inched their way forward, little by little. Stryg didnt hesitate to walk up next to the body.

Gette clapped his hands, Good, at least one of you has the stomach to stand unafraid. You will all need that sort of resolve when it comes to magic.

Strygs lips turned slightly upwards in a grin. He was finally beginning to prove himself as a worthy student.

Gette took his knife and stabbed it deep into the dead womans chest. He then began to bring the blade lower, cutting her torso open. As you all should know by now, chromatic energy, also known as mana, has the unique trait of absorbing elemental energy from the environment. Mana will only absorb specific elements based on its color. Each color of mana absorbs two of the ten colors. Black mana absorbs the elements of death and darkness. The combination of death elemental energy and black mana allows us magi to cast necromancy; spells of creating and controlling the undead.

Gette pointed his bloody knife to the door. The sentinels are undead created by the black magi of Hollow Shade. We created the ones who protect you all while you sleep. Black magi are the backbone of this citys defense. If you have the determination and courage, perhaps you may be worthy of joining us.

Casting a spell is all about a focused will and a clear image. Now through enough practice and meditation you can train your will to be as strong as iron. But having a clear image is a little different. Gette grabbed the corpses arm and shook it. You can imagine as much as you want what it would be like for this arm to move on its own but it's not that simple. You have to know what it would take to move the arm. The muscles, ligaments, and bones. You must know how a corpse works if you ever wish to control it. That includes knowing how the body deteriorates and how to prevent the process. Preventing rot is normally done through a combination of potions and your spell casting. Potions can be obtained from red magi, but your spell casting is obtained only through knowledge. You will all need to study your anatomy textbooks extensively in the coming years to gain that comprehension.

Gette began walking around the tables, inspecting each students work. Sweat began to form on Strygs forehead. His hand began to shake from the increasing heat coursing through his arm. The spell had to work. He couldnt keep failing like this.

Stop, youre pushing yourself too hard. Gette said.

But Stryg didnt. He needed the hand to move, even just a finger. Gette would have slapped Stryg, but he didnt wish to break the goblins focus. A mage distracted in the middle of a spell could have dire consequences.

Kid, stop it. Now. Gette ordered.

Stryg let go of the breath he had been holding and fell to his knees. His entire arm burned in pain. He could feel his heart beating loudly in his chest. He gasped for breath.

Youre the most willing of this entire class, but you're reckless and you seem to lack talent with necromancy, Gette sighed.

Stryg grit his teeth in frustration, but held his tongue.

At least you have talent with shadow spells, Gette said.

Huh? Stryg looked up in surprise.

You may have failed to move even a single finger, but you managed to move its shadow at least. Gette pointed to the wriggling shadow of the corpses hand.

Stryg clambered to his feet and took a closer look at the shadow. It moved erratically for a few moments before settling back into its natural state.

Black mana is mixed with two elemental energies. The mixture of death creates necromancy, while the mixture with the element of darkness creates shadow magic, like the one you accidentally casted, Gette said.

So, Ill be able to grab things with shadows like professor Loh? Stryg asked with excitement.

Gette laughed, Of course not. Does it look like shadows can grab things? Shadows are intangible.

But, I saw professor Loh

Loh is a high master manifold mage, she can do things far beyond the norm. Her whole family is incredibly gifted with magic. You shouldnt compare yourself to her.

I see

Gette removed his bloody gloves and massaged his own neck. Dont worry about the corpse failure. Most magi are only proficient in one of the elements within their color. Not me of course, I am quite skilled with both shadow and necromancy spells. Nonetheless, you did good today, kid. Well start shadow magic training next class.

Stryg found himself with a rare genuine smile on his face.