"Headmaster, if you have a moment, Mr. Walker is here to see you," announced Mrs. Honoka.
"Oh! This is unexpected. Please show him in."
Mrs. Honoka ushered Thomas into the Headmaster's office.
"What can I do for you today, Mr. Walker?"
"I was hoping you could help me find a Shamans' Hearth Stone. Ms. Nightfrost has shown todays class a mage created one, so I want to compare that with a Shaman created one. The library does not contain samples of magic items."
"I see. Well, you are in luck. I happen to have one right here," The Headmaster removed his hearth stone from his pouch. The stone was approximately the size of Thomas's palm, and had the runes that Ms. Nightfrost had drawn on the blackboard inscribed on its face. While the runes were the same, on the Shaman stone, they looked to be drawn in silver pressed into the stone's face.
"Do you know how the Shamans were able to draw the runes like this, Headmaster?"
"No one but the Shamans have ever been able to. I suspect it has to do with controlling two elements at the same time. That was one skill exclusive to Shamans."
"I see. Thank you for showing me, Headmaster. I'll leave you to your work."
As Thomas turned to leave, the Headmaster called him back. "Wait, Mr. Walker. I've been meaning to have a talk with you. How have your studies been progressing since you changed classes?"
"My studies have been going pretty well, Headmaster. The materials and course plans left by Shaman Grant have been really helpful. I've been able to make some totems, and with them I've been able to expand my options. I've been able to do some basic healing as well."
"Really? I copied those lesson plans. You weren't supposed to start practicing spirit magic until next year."
"I'm not, really. The Healing magic is fairly weak, but it is enough to keep me on my feet when I'm out hunting ores. I also found instructions for a healing totem in one of the basic books on totem crafting."
"How are your weapon classes going?"
"Fairly well. I'm able to hold my own with most of the class. Alex and I have been practicing in open matches. And we've been facing more dangerous creatures when we go to mine ore."
"I didn't realize the two of you had been working together. I'm glad to hear it, though. There have been a lot of wolf attacks recently."
"I agree, Headmaster. And they are more aggressive. When Alex and I fought one pack, they didn't quit until there were only six wounded survivors out of twenty-three wolves at the start."
"I see," said the headmaster. "I'll set up some sessions with Sister Johanna, the head Priest trainer. She should be able to answer any of your spirit magic questions," returning the discussion to Thomas's academic progress.
"Ms. Nightfrost has already introduced me to the Sister. Her insights into spirit magic have also helped me with my elemental magic. I seem to control them both in similar ways."
"I see. Well, that is good. We seem to have a handle on your education. Though, I have heard that you have been having some difficulty with the other students. I understand that the stigma of being the last shaman can be a lot for them to accept."
"I think it has less to do with my class, than with what I've been able to accomplish with it. Lenard didn't like me before I hit him with a lightning bolt. And since I changed classes, he's taken my advancement as a personal insult. And Cecilia didn't like it much when I proved more adept with shock spells. Between the two of them, they can influence most of the first-year class. Their pride and ego are preventing them from thinking about me in a constructive way. The rest of the year is just following their lead."
"You seem to be handling it well. If it gets too bad, the instructors are always available to help." The Headmaster took a moment to study the young man before him. He knew that Thomas was understating the difficulties he had encountered during the last few months. That he had accomplished so much was astounding. Yet the Headmaster could not help but feel that Thomas' growth was reaching the end of what he could learn from books. After the first half a year, the students began to learn more by watching the instructors than by reading the texts. Having so many skilled instructors willing to pass on their experience was what made the Green Key School so capable at training students.
Starting in the second term, classes began working to explore portions of the dungeon labyrinth beneath the school, both individually and as teams. Much of this dungeon had been sectioned off into smaller areas. Each area was focused and equipped to train a specific set of skills. The earliest areas were designed to teach and test Individual combat skills and problem solving. The second tier of sections was focused on small teams of students working together to solve challenges and defeat more dangerous opponents.
For opponents the school maintained several types of Golems, Gargoyles, and small, fast reproducing monsters. For certain exams, dangerous creatures are placed into certain sections to act as final bosses that students need to defeat or escape – depending on the exam – in order to pass to the next level.
"Thomas, it seems we will need to adjust your schedule. Joining a guild requires experience rather than academic knowledge. Under normal circumstances your advisor would be taking you into the school's labyrinth to practice and learn how to function as a member of an adventuring team…