Hapa Note: Hey all. As Shimizu pushes this story forward with the mechanics of magic being changed, I thought that an in-depth magic lesson would solidify how the casting of magic really works in Sly's world.
A thing to bear in mind: Latin is the barbarized spoken language of the gods while Hieroglyphs are its written word. However, from what I gleamed in talking with Shin, Hieroglyphs is written in a manner similar to what I know of Japanese. It has romanji (latin) for Kione/Genkai learners to understand pronunciation, hiragana for words native to the language of the gods, katakana for words taken from other languages of Genkai, and Kanji to represent concepts in a single Hieroglyph such as Fire God/Spirit. Naturally, context matters for the meaning of each Hieroglyph much like Kanji. The Rune for Fire God/Spirit could be translated as Ifrit or even Kagutsuchi depending on the accompanying other runes. Enjoy!
Author's Note: Upload day, will change to Monday from now on. Also, the chapter is less than 7k for once, as I was sick and barely managed to flesh out the existing scenes.
Another thing I decided was that this chapter is the start of the Third Act. The spirit battle was the finale of the second act, and now we are officially in the third. The third will also be the temporary ending of the story, so I hope all of you will enjoy what we have in store for you in this last act.
Disclaimer: I do not own Danmachi or anything created by the author Fujino Omori; all rights go to him. I only own my original characters Sleipnir, Ikuchi, Sylphie, and all the others.
Speech: "Oh, look we're finally putting this out. " Happa comments, clearly amused.
Why do you have 5 almost-finished chapters in reserve?" Happa asks.
Thoughts: Shimizu thinks back. 'Yes, it has only been like…! 4 Months!'
Screaming/Demonic Voice: Sly looks at the chapter number incredulously. "Wasn't the original plan for it to be chapter 22!"
Magic: Hapa chants. "Oh, kami this was delayed too much! - Time Dilation!"
Runes: 'Still glad you took the time to write the first draft for these scenes. Thank you. - Fuin!"
Writing: 'Written text should also have been introduced in this chapter originally.'
Chapter 27 Magic Lesson's Return
7 AM, day before the public lessons - The School District, Academic Layer – Myles POV
'Fortunately, Acatl didn't take her prank on the Loki Familia not going through poorly. Seems like she's of the mind that Orario needs to get stronger so that overrode her desire to prank Loki maliciously. To think the apprentice she wanted me to teach would find me during my break. At least I acquired the materials I'll need for the magic item.' Myles yawns and rubs his eyes a bit. 'Calling me here so early… I guess they're gonna just throw me into a morning class after we talk.'
How long had it been since he was here last…? Myles blinked as he walked through the same hallowed stone halls that supported him in his time of crisis. 'That's right, it's been around 12 years. Back then, Orario was gathering resources for Hera and Zeus to support their familias to finish the last Grand Quest.' Myles could only sigh at that time.
It was the last time he had seen Meteria; she was the very reason that Myles got to talk to Alfia and take his first steps beyond the School District's education. None of the professors knew what his affinities were and despite the School District's vast amount of knowledge of many things, they couldn't help him take a step to progress once he reached his ceiling. As a peak level 1 mage, he had no falna spell at the time.
Sure, he had his cantrips that he learned, but none of them fit his affinities. That made casting them mana intensive and at the level of a Beginner Rune Mage he was still paying 5 times the normal cost at a flat rate for Rune Magic. That wasn't sustainable as a level 1 mage and forced him to rely on his father's training, hand-to-hand combat.
That wasn't the worst thing in Genkai, but it didn't help him towards his own goals. The very reason he began to study magic was for power; a power to fight what stole his home and family: Magic.
An endless column of flames pierces the sky, clouds run from its presence. On the ground crops burned and the screams of-
Myles shakes his head at the memory and continues walking with a sigh. At the moment, he is dressed in the uniform of the school's male professors. A formal, white dress shirt with a tie bearing the signet of the school; the general shape of the School District itself with the emblems of the four deities' familias that run the school. Baldr, Idunn, Bragi, and Var are those deities and Myles had been a part of the Idunn familia back then. Over his heart the symbol of the Acatl familia stands proudly; a depiction of infinity, Ouroboros the endless serpent eating its own tail. The professors also wear black dress pants, dress shoes, and white gloves.
'And here I am again…. Walking into a classroom for the sake of academia. I left here because it couldn't help me further and Acatl filled that void…' He groans loudly and continues forward and stops in front of the headmaster's office, Baldr's.
He sighs again. "Well, here we go again…" Myles opens the door and walks into the lavish office with four beings before him. A tall handsome man with wavy blond hair, another tall man with a beard, moustache, hair of brown, a woman of middling height with blond, golden braided hair, and another woman of modest shorter stature adorned with glasses and black, long hair. These were Baldr, Bragi, Idunn, and Var in order.
Baldr smiles brightly to Myles. "Welcome back Myles-kun. I see that the years have treated you decently."
Myles could only sigh. "Yeah, yeah, yeah… Just give me my class and I'll be on my way."
Var's eyebrows twitched and she walked up to Myles before chopping him on his shoulder. "Stop being so rude! You'll be doing us a great service by serving as a substitute and we are thankful for that!"
Myles looks to his shoulder and then smirks looking down at Var. "Did you want to get me on my head? Would you like me to kneel?"
Var scowls some and then chops him on the shoulder again. "Shut up! Gods! Your mouth hasn't changed at all has it?!"
Myles laughs a bit, "Well, yeah. I am who I am ain't I?"
Idunn could only smile at this interaction. 'And yet… you are nothing like you used to be when we first found you Myles… You've grown into a decent man…'
Bragi could only laugh heartily at this interaction. "I would hope so! It's great to see you again son!"
Myles slightly winces at Bragi's words. "Gehk! Still referring to familia members current and former that way Old Man?"
Bragi frowns and raises a fist. "HEY! I'll have you know that I am still spry and active!" Bragi places a hand on one bicep while holding up his fist with the other arm.
Myles deadpans at him. "That's just the thing Old Man. Spry is a word only used for the elderly…."
Bragi flinches. "Gehk!"
"PFFT!" Idunn could only laugh at her husband and her former familia member to the protests of "Dear please!" to have her stop.
Baldr could only shake his head with a smile at this scene between his peers and an old student. "Be it as it may, you want the assignment we're giving you right Myles?"
Myles turns his attention to Baldr and nods. "Yeah, please. I just wanna get this over with if I am totally honest!"
…
A pregnant silence filled the office at those words as all four deities, who could detect lies, looked at Myles. Baldr frowns. "So why are you doing this Myles?"
Myles blinks at them. "Acatl didn't tell you?"
Baldr shakes his head. "No, not at all."
…
Myles could only hum. "Mmmm….. It's a secret!" He could only stick out his tongue while putting a hand on the back of his head. Though, internally, he thought of the trouble he'd have to deal with.
All four deities could only sigh at the reaction before Var walked right up to Myles and looked up at him. "Myles. I want you to swear something. I want you to promise me that you will teach our children and students to the best of your ability."
Myles could only look down at the black-haired goddess silently and then sigh. "Always so serious Var-sama…. You need to get laid or something!"
Var just frowns with a slack-jawed horrified expression. "JUST PROMISE ME!"
Myles takes a couple of steps back with his hands up. "Yeesh! Fine, fine. I promise to teach the children and students of the School District to the best of my abilities while in my temporary tenure as a substitute teacher until which time that the School District leaves Melen or you find a replacement for professor Aegnor!"
Immediately an aura of power flares about both Var and Myles with a bright yellow colour; wind whips about the office making some of the papers on Baldr's desk fly away. Baldr could only sigh at this. "Now I have to pick all the paperwork up…."
Var looks at Myles and just smiles now. "Good! Now, if you would Baldr?"
Baldr grumbles, "Pardon me while I find the right paper…." He starts to rummage through all the papers that scattered around the office. A subtle smirk starts to grow across the faces of the other deities as they don't help. After a couple minutes Baldr takes a paper and smiles some. "Ah, here we are!" He then walks up to Myles and hands him the paper.
Myles takes the paper and looks over it with a frown. Multiple classes and their many textbooks are on the paper. He looks to the deities with an annoyed expression. "The hell? Multiple classes!? Why are you giving me so many of them? This will take like 5-6 hours! And the elf was doing hand-to-hand classes?!"
Idunn could only snicker while Var had the widest grin on her face. "Indeed Myles-kun. If we have you as an educational asset, we're going to get our pound of flesh." Var could only burst out laughing then. "And you made a promise to do your best! Oh, and your first class today is meeting a whole block early for unknown reasons."
Myles's eyes widened and he could only look at them all slack-jawed. "WHAT THE HELL!? Then that means that the class has already started!"
Bragi could only smirk widely at him. "That's right son! Here, these should be the right materials but who knows…" Bragi immediately hands him a tall stack of books with a single folder on top.
Myles grabs the books with a twitch of his eyebrows. "You… You fucks! Acatl told you to do this didn't she?!"
Baldr could only hum with a finger to his chin, "Mmm…maybe?"
With a click of his tongue, Myles held the books in one hand and looked at the paper in his other. Immediately, a magic circle formed below him, and he begins weaving runes using his feet followed by a short chant, 'With my right hand, I lay the foundation that connects the world, with my left hand, I wield a blade to sever and bind reality. The silver-haired shepherd gathers the flow of mass. Spatium Canalis!' "Fuin!"
The deities could only blink at his performance as he spun about writing runes with his feet before a loud buzzing and horrible ripping noise filled the office with dense mana pressure. An oval tear in reality appears before Myles opposite the deities in the room. Myles turns to the tear and then looks back over his shoulder to the deities with a crazy, manic grin. "You're gonna pay for this!"
The half dark elf walks through the tear before a resounding Boom echoes in the office.
….
"Ah… Did we maybe go too far….?" Var could only murmur.
Baldr could only heavily sigh. "And I was against doing that… Now I'll suffer for all your mischief!" The four deities could only shiver slightly at the thought of Myles's retribution.
7:00 AM, The School District – A Classroom – Lefiya POV
An orange-haired elf of 15 years of age sits at the front of a classroom containing several desks that two students could comfortably sit at with plenty of room. The desks are organized in a 4x3 fashion by rows and columns with her sitting in the middle desk at the front with her silver-haired, purple-eyed, and older friend Airmid Teasanare. Both of them had been in the room since 6:30 and been slightly antsy since they had yet to see their new professor.
Their old professor, Aegnor, had been a competent professor who had helped many in this class understand magic in that mind is drained by the casting of spells and the power of your spells was determined by the mind that you possessed. Under his tutelage a great many of the students present in this class, 24 to be exact, had learned how to cast at least one of the various cantrips they had access to, and he had even helped them with their falna spells!
Over the past two years she had under Aegnor she had learned so much! She is now able to cast Illuminare, Ventus Falcem, Aqua Spharea, Inpulsa Sagitta, and even Attractio Fortis under his instruction while most of her peers could only cast one of the "basic" cantrips as well as their Falna spells.
Though to be totally honest, this orange-haired elf really wondered how much was from her own efforts and how much was from her skill Elf Ring. This unique skill allowed her to use any magic used by an Elf so long as she knew the chant and effects of the spell. Naturally, this had to be tempered with the practice of casting the spell, but she was very diligent and had yet to face failure. Then again, she had a very special attribute, Neutral.
This attribute means that the caster has no primary inclination towards one attribute, but over time she could learn to master all magics. This said, she didn't benefit from having an affinity to reduce mana cost, but she didn't suffer a detriment learning lightning magic with a water affinity. To be frank, she was a cheat. If she had an elven mentor to push her forward with a plethora of spells, she would become an unstoppable force.
It was this last thought that brought down her mood. She had a great elven mentor, but he suddenly left the School District because of "family issues." She could understand; family is important, but he left in the middle of their fall semester for the year and for the past two weeks the classes she had for magic did not have a consistent mentor. Worse yet for her, they were not elven. She had begun noticing the crutch that her skill gave her.
It was harder to absorb information on spells or magic itself now without an elven mentor. This was discouraging, but she wasn't just defined just by her status you know! She would give all of these classes her full effort! And yet….
A heavy sigh leaves her lips now. "Maybe the school didn't find a proper substitute… We have been waiting for almost a half hour!"
Airmid smiles weakly to her. "Maybe… But it is odd that we were specifically told by our gods to definitely come for an early lesson and then have a no show. Maybe something odd happened?"
The orange-haired elf could only grumble. "So why haven't we been informed what's going on now? Surely someone would've told us we have no teacher for this block!"
…
Airmid could only sigh. "Maybe…"
At that, suddenly a loud buzzing erupted in the classroom followed by a tearing noise and accompanied by an intense mana pressure that even pushed on her level 2 senses! Everyone in the classroom flinched, but then everyone could see the space next to the desk for the professor literally rip open. Our elf had never seen that before and it caused her eyes to widen.
'What is that spell? The very space before me has been torn open!'
At that thought the tearing stopped, and the oval-looking black void stood there for a few seconds before an individual wielding a tall stack of books in one hand and a piece of paper in the other walked through. The Elf could only blink. 'A half dark-elf? That's…really, really rare. And he looks so young!'
The half dark-elf sighs as he appears in the classroom, the rift behind him suddenly slams shut with a loud Boom, making everyone else in the classroom flinch. "Yo! Sorry to make you wait, but the oh so wonderful deities running this fine institution decided to play a prank on me at the behest of my goddess. Gonna have to pay em back for that!"
The entire class was silent, and everyone could only blink at that introduction.
"So, my name is Myles. My family name won't mean anything to ya all. The clowns running this place have considered me an "expert" to teach…" Myles then looks at the paper in his hand. "Runic Magic, which is this class, Chanting, Magic Development, Hieroglyph Studies, and Hand-to-Hand combat. Huh, that's not a bad assessment at all actually…"
He then looks up to them with his silver hair and blue eyes with a grin, the light barely catching on the serpent insignia of his breast robe. "Var-sama decided to enforce an oath on me before I got started, so have faith in that." He finally turns to the desk and deposits his large stack of books on it before turning them and then bowing. "I must apologise for the circumstances, but I was just handed your class without context for your current curriculum or acumen. I need to use what little time I have with this current class to get a hold on what they thrusted me into."
The orange-haired elf's ears drooped at that. 'Then… this guy may or may not be best for us…'
The silver-haired half dark-elf then responded, "However, I can at least teach you this for Runic Magic." He turns and looks at the chalkboard and seems to just look at the bottom where chalk pieces would be. "…Okay. Yeah. Intense-level pranks are merited here. Where in the name of Spirits is the chalk?"
The elf could only blink in response as she looked to the holders at the bottom of the boards with a frown. 'Wait…he's right! Why is there no chalk!? I didn't notice that earlier!'
A heavy sigh emanates from the new professor at these circumstances. "Fine, fuck em! Here's your first lesson in Runic Magic. If there is an attribute or sub-attribute for it, spells can be made for it." The professor turned to the board, took off his right white glove, and tossed it behind him on the desk. He then bit his right index finger and began to…. Write on the board with his own blood!?
The reaction of the class was audible, gasps and winces. However, their new professor ignored them and continued to write runes that none of them recognised. He then sucked on his finger and turned back to them. "These are the Auxilary Runes, Core Rune, and Cantrip Name for a cantrip of the Space sub-attribute. You can record it if you want, but it is somewhat dangerous to practice without lessons."
The class blinks at this. This was information presented to them in an advanced form. Something that normally wasn't done for this type of class! "Excuse me!" Our orange-haired elf exclaims with her hand up. "But this isn't the form we are normally taught in!"
Myles levels a stare on this elf and then sighs. "I see…So you are not even at Beginner level…. Let's revise this then." He turns around and again runs his right index finger on his teeth to make it bleed again. He then writes out in Kione, 'I require a space of convenience. Foramen. Space.' "This here is the Chant, Spell Name, and then Core Rune, in order, for the space cantrip I made.
The Elf could only gap at him, and likely the rest of her class had the same reaction. 'He made this cantrip?!'
"This cantrip creates a small pocket dimension that can store small objects less than a meter in any dimension. Capacity of this dimension is approximately 5 cubic meters and a mass not exceeding 125 pounds. When the chant is spoken, access to this dimension is granted to the caster at the cost of mana in addition to a drain on mana for the duration of this immediate access. The Rune Key cuts off the access, but the contents of the pocket dimension are maintained."
The class is writing away while looking between their notes and the board before them. Then their professor turns to the board and nods. "Well, since you have the lower description…." There is a brief flare of mana pressure in the room as he puts his hand on the board near the first few lines and suddenly all of the Auxilary Runes, Core Rune, and Cantrip Name glow bright red-white before fading away. Next to him, the students see a red rune appear before a rippling area of space next to him.
'What… Is that casting style? He uses his own blood as a catalyst for Rune Magic!?' The orange elf could only question as she observed his movements. 'Could I copy that?'
Myles then pushes his hand into the rippling space and then pulls it out; his hand has a small bundle of chalk in his hand and the Elf could only blink at this. 'He had that in his personal dimension?'
Myles looks to them and nods. "This Rune Key is Celare. It means 'to conceal.' I am assuming that I will see all of you in the Hieroglyphs Studies class since, if you are learning Runic Magic, you need a really, really solid base in hieroglyph knowledge. Here, let me make it larger…" Myles then holds up his hand and a large black, transparent magic circle forms showing an enlarged rune for Celare as he draws it.
Quickly, the students wrote these details down while their professor turned back to the board, while the magic circle with the rune remained before them, and started to write on a different board using the chalk he had produced.
As Myles continues to write he says, "In the view of the Quetzalcoatl familia, this is this the reality of Runic Magic and its various levels." The elf's eyes could only widen even further! Their current professor knows or learned from the Quetzalcoatl familia?! This professor could easily rank among the top teachers we could ever hope for!
'Core Rune = Without one or a Falna Spell, magic does not work. The ancient way of performing magic. Core Runes equal the attribute of the spell in hieroglyphs but have a multitude of translations.
Auxilary Runes = Runes replacing the chant, supporting the core rune(s) to define its meaning.
Spell / Cantrip Name = The name of the chant. "Attractio Fortis!"
Spell / Cantrip Rune = The same as above. Replaces Core Rune from Adept onwards, but represents the same.
Fuin Chant = Replaces Spell / Cantrip Names from Adept onwards.
Chant = Does not include the Spell / Chant Name. Already specific enough.
Chantless = At most requires the Fuin Chant for the spell to work. No "Chant" section anymore instead the Auxilary Runes are used.
Rune Key = Spell Key for Falna Magic. The only added thing is that 1 rune remains until the Rune Key is invoked. (Rune Floats alongside or sticks to the caster.)
Rune Magic Levels for Cantrips:
Novice: Chant + Cantrip Name + Core Rune
- 10x Mana Cost
- usually on paper
"The omnipotent force calls you! (Chant) Attractio Fortis (Cantrip Name)" – Gravity (Core Rune)
Beginner: 3 Auxilary Runes + Core Rune + Cantrip Name
- 5x Mana Cost
- Can be done on Magic Circle for 2x Mana Cost
The omnipotent force calls you! (Auxilary Runes) "Attractio Fortis (Cantrip Name)" – Gravity (Core Rune)
Adept: Chantless; 3 Auxilary Runes + Cantrip Rune + Fuin Chant
- 1x Mana Cost (Baseline for any Rune Magic from this level onwards)
- Must be done on Magic Circle
- Unlocks Rune Magic
- Needs Mage or Magic Student Development Ability
The omnipotent force calls you! (Auxilary Rune) Attractio Fortis!(Cantrip Rune) - "Fuin (Fuin Chant)"
Advanced: Chantless; 3+ Auxilary Runes + Cantrip Rune + Fuin Chant
- Can be done while moving (Concurrent Chanting)
- Effect can be changed depending on Rune Combination
The omnipotent force calls you! (Auxilary Rune) Attractio Fortis!(Cantrip Rune) - "Fuin (Fuin Chant)"'
At the end of writing, he looks back to the class and asks, "Hey, you all got the Rune Key for Celare yeah?"
"Yes, professor. Yes, thank you!" Choruses out from the students present.
Myles nods and the magic circle disperses. "So, that is your first lesson. A new space cantrip that isn't in your curriculum and an idea of tiers for Rune Magic. I'm going to sit here and read what I have gotten myself into, but you all can come to me for some questions if you need some help. Ah, don't try the cantrip without proper supervision! Enjoy kids!"
He immediately sits at the desk in the front of the classroom and starts to try and sort through the folder with his class syllabi and the textbooks he has. Myles could only sigh as the lesson he just gave cut into most of the rest of the class time.
No one else approached for help, perhaps for the reason that he presented them with a totally unknown cantrip and casually told them the tiers of runic magic. However, the Elf was sure. This guy wouldn't be a detriment to her education.
On the other hand, her new professor was fuming at his desk and could only be really, really annoyed. '"I want you to promise me that you will teach our children and students to the best of your ability." Fuck off Var!'
Eventually, the class time came to an end with a loud bell ringing throughout campus. With this, the class filed out of the classroom and Myles was left with his tall stacks of textbooks and an idea of the Runic Magic Syllabus. 'These clowns! Fine, time to uproot their base learning next class! I don't even want to consider what I have to deal with in Chanting and Magic Development, but oh well. This Runic Magic class is the one I'll give more of a damn about. So stupid…'
Myles could only sigh before he exited the classroom with his materials in hand. Not forgetting that he also had to make a magic item in the evening. This would be a long day.
1 day before the School District arrives - Martial Dojo - Sleipnir POV
"Come on Akiri, I just got you to accept another contract with me. We set the condition that you need my permission to control my magic to prevent the previous debacle. Why won't you at least try to take control of my illusion?"
'Why? Because I am not crazy! Almost a third of my mana is still corrupted! What do you think will happen if I take control of your illusion!?' Akiri all but screamed at Sly with his telepathy.
Sly could only roll his eyes; he knew his spell, thank you very much! "Nothing! I asked you to control it, and there is no corrupted mana involved, so the illusion should remain stable around me. Continue to use my mana, but you'll be the one in control."
'Fine, I'll do it Shin. But why is it needed?' A moment later the illusion around Sly turns sharper and the garden is visually enhanced to more closely resemble the aesthetics of the Second Layer.
Sly nods as the mana remains stable and there is not a touch of corrupted mana. "Perfect. And I have two reasons. First, I don't want you to be completely defenceless without using your own spells. So, I needed the terms for you to get access to my illusions. Secondly, it's a precaution should I lose control over my illusion."
The 1m high messenger grumbles but does not leave Sly's side in the First Layer. 'So, what now? Takemikazuchi-sama informed your familia about your status and the battle against the kappa. They all know your secret, but I'm surprised they aren't flocking around you anymore.'
Sly coughs in embarrassment. "The first day Asuka wouldn't leave my side, she kept trying to get some of my fur. She said, 'She finally knew why it improved her potions!' Mikoto looked at me like I'd gone on a pranking spree. Really, Ouka-san was the notable. He actually said 'Sleipnir-san' this morning! I hadn't realised he actually cared about spirits so much! But it's not all that surprising in retrospect; he has followed Take for decades!"
Akiri hums. 'Yes, you tend to assume the worst. But your familia sticks together. If only you also told them about the Xenos you could stop worrying.'
Their discussion is interrupted by Chigusa.
"Sly-ni, Akiri-san come in! Ouka, made dinner. It's his specialty mountain wheat spaghetti!"
7 PM, The School District – Life Layer – Var POV
Var could only sigh as she walked through the halls of the staff dorm towards her own room. The day hadn't been particularly difficult, but the influx of individuals from Orario for supplies, repairs, and curiosity always made the first three days back in Melen… annoying. Especially when they were gods! Njord coming into the administration branch just to flirt with her particularly bothered her, but it had become a tradition that happened every three years.
A small smile curled on her lips thinking of him giving her flowers and complimenting her looks. 'I guess it isn't that annoying. But when Apollo comes to scour our new students for "prospects" things get… tense.' The goddess immediately sighs heavily at the finish of that sentence. 'I really would've thought that Ganesha would've curbed that attitude of his. What's it going to take for him to stop almost "hunting" for his familia?'
Reaching the door to her own room, Var fumbles with her keys before opening the door and stepping in. Promptly, her jaw drops and all the books and files she was carrying scatter to the floor. Before her, in her bed, was a nearly naked Baldr clad only in his boxers and tied to the four posts of her bed with a gag in his mouth. About the lavish room with a closet, desk, dresser, bed, and window she could see rose petals spread about the room and bed with incense burning on the desk.
Baldr himself has wide eyes and seemed to be making muffled grunts, his words lost due to the gag in him. A bright red bow is tied across his chest and a note is innocently lying between his legs. Var immediately spins and closes the door before hurrying to the bed and untying the Headmaster of the School District. Once the first rope on his left arm is freed, Baldr pulls out the gag in his mouth. "It was Myles! He restrained me with darkness magic, brought me here, and set this up! I swear I didn't want this Var!"
Var remains quiet, blushing, and continues to untie Baldr from the bed. Upon totally freeing Baldr Var spins away from Baldr looking down. "I know Baldr!" In the commotion of him getting up, the innocent note flies off the bed and lands before Var for her to see. Written in Kione is:
'Heya Var-sama! I know that both you and Baldr-sama work really hard and almost never take time to yourselves and I thought, "You know what? I think I'll do something nice for them!" So, I set up a nice romantic scene for you both to have some fun and relax! Please, enjoy, but don't keep the rest of the staff up with your activities!
Love, Myles
P.S
I'll always have you both in mind and keep thinking of great ways to repay you both for your services in my tenure as a substitute professor!'
Baldr walks over, reads the note, and he pales while Var's face is bright red. "Oh no…" Var mutters. "What else is he going to do...?"
9 PM, The School District – Life Layer– Idunn POV
She could only smile as she walked into her shared room with her husband. The day had gone very well! While she got some minor complaints about Myles being "unprepared" for each class that wasn't his fault but rather a prank she and her fellow gods played on the half dark-elf. In addition, many of the repairs that they were worried about were well on their way to the path of mending. The diverse Goibniu Familia and their deity are experts of construction despite also being a smithing familia; they were the reason for this progress.
This expediency had led to Idunn and her husband having the opportunity to go out to Orario on a nice date and it had just been perfect! The food of the best restaurants in Labyrinth City was always decadent and the many sights of its various districts could let one take a tour of the many cultures of Genkai! It had been just lovely and made her heart soar as she spent this special night with her husband.
This had set the mood for her, and she looked to her husband giving him a particularly naughty look as she laid a hand on the handle for the bathroom door before slipping into the room. Bragi could only smirk in response and quickly followed his wife into the shower for a wonderful end to the night.
Unfortunately, this was not to be. Idunn's piercing scream broke the mood of a "steamy" shower as the hot water enhancing the moment instantly turned ice cold. It would only be the next day that they discovered that their shampoo and soaps had glitter or hair dyes of various colors to create quite the spectacle.
These events, however, do not make them even in Myles's eyes. There will be more retribution in the future.
Night - One of Ikuchi's lairs - Ikuchi POV
Ikuchi had a strange week. Without noticing it, he'd already grown used to the presence of spirits and people to talk to. He only really noticed it when Sly came a day early this week, it took Ikuchi a lot of focus to keep his tail from showing his happiness. At least until Sly told him about the battle he had, against a bad spirit.
Which was when Ikuchi saw how Sly hadn't recovered his mana again. He was barely using it to hide himself, even without his mana vision he saw some flaws and Akiri was nowhere in sight. It astonished Ikuchi, he'd never seen Sly so weak before.
They used a few hours for Sly to help him with his hydrokinesis and made good progress. He could now control a small bubble and form multiple water tentacles from the water his breath attack left behind! Soon Sly left early to recover. However, that didn't stop Ikuchi from practising his water magic more.
The second meeting was a slow exploration of the Middle Floors, with a battle against a minotaur and another ligerfang. He had grown tougher from the magic stones and managed to block most of the ligerfangs attacks, but he still couldn't catch it without tricks like his tentacles. It also helped that Sly had grown faster again.
Ikuchi also learnt of the imminent arrival of the School District, and how Sly would likely visit for shorter periods as he had to wake up early for the lessons. He was a little sad at this, but he would take his hunting more seriously and outperform Sly.
Today was the third meeting this week. As Sly entered with a spring to his steps, Ikuchi was happy to see Sylphie and Akiri following him, though Akiri's mana seemed strange.
Curiosity getting the better of him, Ikuchi asked what happened the last few days. Due to Sly's good mood, he told him all about his discussion with Barachiel and Myles and even showed him two new exercises.
"Ikuchi, this exercise is a more difficult water exercise. I can't do it myself, but Myles explained the theory to me. Please create some water." Ikuchi followed the idea, as Sly changed his illusion.
"Now that you have water, the first step is to make yourself hydrophobic and hydrophilic." Ikuchi looked at him blankly, to which Sly rephrased. "Make the water pass around you or attracted to you."
The illusion changed and it looked vaguely as if Sly was walking on water, then he jumped up and while falling down the water did not slow his fall until he was in it down to his waist. Lastly Sly lifted his arm and the water formed a layer over it.
Ikuchi was already thinking how such abilities could be used to finally beat Sly. 'I only need enough water and then with an armour of it I can effectively ignore his fireballs without my scales breaking! And if the water no longer has any resistance there will be nothing that can catch me in water. I'll show those stupid fish in the Water City!'
Excited, he asked, "How can I learn that Sly!?"
Sly grinned at him with swaying tails. "With more magic control of course!" Which disgruntled Ikuchi, he'd already spent a few hours every day improving his control. His annoyance must have shown as Sly laughed pointedly, as he drew a long face.
"Now, now Ikuchi it's not that bad. Once you've gotten used to it your hydrokinesis might even rival my pyrokinesis. Now then the first step to get used to controlling more water would be to walk on water, as you'll have to condense the water below your feet at 4 points at once."
A shudder passed from his tail-tip to his head. 'Argh, it's already hard enough to only control one small point, and now he wants me to control 4 points and attract more water there!? Please let the other exercise be easier!'
"Sly, what other exercises are there?" Ikuchi asked with faked boredom.
Sly's tails swayed in amusement. "Nothing difficult. You'll only need to create a spark that dances between two of your claws. The smaller the better."
Ikuchi's eyes widened, and his second eyelids opened on accident. "No, way! I'll just shock myself again. I can't even summon lightning without my breath attack! There is no way I'll use that on my poor paw! You are too mean!"
"I thought the same, which is why I asked Myles for a simpler one. The easiest way to learn how to summon lightning with mana is with this." From one of countless pouches Sly took out a small metallic thing. "What's that?"
"This is a magic stone lamp, a rather strong one at that. Look." With one of his tails Sly took out a magic stone of a hellhound and inserted it, which immediately blinded them. Blinking rapidly Ikuchi exclaimed, "Too bright! What do I have to do with it?"
With the magic stone removed Sly gave him the lamp. "You'll have to focus your mana on the lamp and light it. At first, you'll have trouble as the mana needs to be lightning-attributed, but if you imagine sparks when pushing your mana to the lamp, you should slowly manage to light it. Once you do try and make it brighter with less mana, and you'll get a feeling for how your lightning mana feels. It should feel completely different from the mana attributed mana you use for your hydrokinesis."
'Well, I wanted something easier. At least I won't zap myself. But why did Sly, tell me that he specifically asked for an easier exercise?'