Supreme Magus novel Chapter 71

- "Before going to the cafeteria, can we please go to the Library? I need to copy the whole book to be able to follow properly the next lessons." Solus asked.

"How do you plan on doing that? My Forgemaster schedule is full of theory, I doubt we will cross the Alchemists again."

"That’s why I stole a schedule from an airheaded kid. We just need to make time so that you can give me a ride back and forth. Now I’m strong enough, surviving two hours by myself is easy as pie." –

In a corner of his mind, where Solus couldn’t read unless she willingly searched for it, Lith added:

- "Wish I could say the same." –

On the road to the library, they shared their memories of the respective lessons, yet Lith omitted all the parts where he suffered from loneliness and isolation. In his mind it was a sign of weakness, something to be ashamed of.

- "By my maker! Another hot teacher? Even the male Professor from the Alchemist class was quite a sight for sore eyes, the girls wouldn’t stop staring at his a*s every time he turned around to write on the chalkboard.

Do you think that it depends on their mana cores, or is it just a marketing move on the Headmaster part?"

"Both are possible, but I believe the latter to be more likely. Young minds are easily swayed around, especially if their hormones are properly channelled.

Back on Earth, my medium school music teacher was so hot that all the boys in the class learned how to play at least an instrument properly. Some even started listening classical music, just to impress her." –

When they reached their destination, and opened its double doors, the academy’s Library turned out to be exactly as Lith had imagined the Prize Hall to be, except with books instead of magical items.

The bookshelves were full to the brim, forming corridors between themselves. The room was so big that Lith suspected they had made it with dimensional magic. At the entrance, a clerk in his mid-twenties asked if he needed help.

Luckily, the library had been organized well, and with the clerk’s directions Lith was soon back with the Master Alchemist textbook and all the tier four magic books he managed to carry with him.

On every shelf there was a tag, stating that the use of dimensional items was prohibited, and Lith would never risk getting banned by such gold mine.

"I’ll borrow these books, please." He said.

The clerk was shocked by the amount, it was more than the average person would borrow in a whole year.

"Sorry sir, the max allowed is three books at a time."

Lith clicked his tongue, picking the book for Solus and a tier four spellbook each for the War Mage and Battle Mage specialization. He was eager to find out what spells of mass destruction looked like and how to improve his battle spells.

Cross checking Lith’s profile with the books of his choosing, the clerk inwardly smiled.

- "Sigh, so young and naïve. He is clearly biting more than he can chew, but at his age, everyone dreams of being a genius." –

Back in their room, they spent all the time before dinner copying the books. They had long prepared for the mammoth task, bringing with them enough empty books and ink in the pocket dimension to put the Encyclopaedia Britannica to shame.

Solus’ task was the longest one, she needed to copy every single page, while Lith would just make an abridged version of each spell, copying only hand signs, accents and a short description alongside its name.

That would make possible for him to recognize those spells on sight, so when facing another mage, he would have the opportunity to take the necessary countermeasures. It would also allow him to reproduce them with true magic without being discovered.

At dinner, he sat once again with his fellow healers. As much his heart cringed at the thought of their company, he wouldn’t be at the academy forever.

Lith needed reliable connections in the outside world too. Besides, he had just discovered how lonely he really felt without Solus.

He needed to get back in touch with his human side.

The mood at the table, though, was gloomy. Friya kept stirring the food in her plate, just nibbling from time to time. Quylla wolfed down her food, again, but there was no joy in it. She kept avoiding their gazes, like she expected to be scolded any second.

Lith was gripped by his inner conflict. He would have much preferred being alone with Solus, yet he needed to get a hold of his emotions, like the adult he was.

Now that he had a cool head again, he had realized that even Professor Wanemyre had called him "mean eyes" at their first meet. Solus had proven to be right all along, he couldn’t keep glaring all his life.

He had to make peace with his inner self, or at least learn again how to control the emotions that showed on his face. To achieve any of that, he needed to be around people, either learning to appreciate their company or at least to fake it.

Yurial had the impression that someone had died, and he was the only one kept in the dark.

"Friya, how was your day?" He said trying to break the ice.

"Terrible. It’s just the second day and I needed help to succeed in Nalear’s class and in my Mage Knight specialization. Don’t get me started about Trasque.

I don’t know if it felt worse scoring so few wins, or his smug grim every time I lost to a commoner.

Why that stupid tutor of mine didn’t focus more on chore magic? I feel so stupid and insignificant. I have always considered myself as someone talented, special.

Yet now I am just another noble that everyone makes fun of, either because of my looks or my lack of skill. I am so tempted to give up, but I’m the first person in my family to get accepted in one of the six great academies.

I cannot waste this opportunity."

"It’s perfectly normal to feel that way." Yurial replied. "I didn’t fare any better today, and my father is an archmage. But from Nalear’s class, I learned that it’s better to swallow my pride.

I didn’t hesitate to ask for hints during my Warden specialization, since time is part of the grade.

What about you Lith? Why are you feeling so down? I heard you aced your forgemastering class, gaining quite some points. You should be walking on air, don’t let yesterday’s bad memories ruin your day."

But thanks to being able of making small talk with strangers again and mostly to Solus’ words, he managed to actually relax his expression for the first time since in the academy. _{freeweɓnovel.cøm}