I got up at 6:30 a.m immediately went on to do my workout with great excitement. I couldn’t wait to finally learn how to use my Grimoire. After my workout, I went to the dining hall to get breakfast. I was a little late so I had to hurry a bit. Afterwards, I directly headed for the classroom. I was the last to arrive there but I still made it in time. At exactly 8 a.m the Professor entered the classroom.

He brought with him a tool that is used to demonstrate how to spell design works. It looked like a little bigger page of a Grimoire strapped to a frame. He used a special silver pen to write on this board the way we would write in our Grimoire. The lesson itself was somewhat boring. It turns out, designing a spell was largely mathematical and involved many drawings. It was like creating a blueprint for a machine.

The Professor gave each of us a few books, which explained in detail how the components of spell design worked. After that, he taught us the basic rules and guidelines for drawing a blueprint and some basic equations, numbers, and phrases we would need. During that part, I almost fell asleep. I love drawing and designing but the mathematical part is so boring.

After he taught us those things, he said it was time for supper and reminded us that the lesson would resume at 2 p.m. After he left the classroom we all left and went to the dining hall. After lunch we returned to the class and I was ready for the second part of today's lesson, hoping it would be something more interesting.

After the Professor returned, he took us to the library of the academia. It was an enormous place. I had never seen so many books in my whole life. The Professor gave us a tour through the library and then showed us an area with separated desks. He told us that this was the studying area of the library. He said: “This library not only contains many books collecting knowledge in sciences, philosophy, and history, it also contains many books about the arcane arts and specifically spell design. One can use the books in this library and the study area here to help design and learn new spells. An important rule to remember is to always inform the librarian that you would like to use a book and ask for permission.”

We went back to the classroom and upon our arrival there the Professor said: “Over the next few months you will learn more about spell design and some useful spells. Additionally, to the spell training, you will also receive training in arcane martial arts. Your training for this will start tomorrow. As always, the lesson starts here at 8 a.m. However, you will have a different instructor for this. I will only be present at spell casting lessons.”

With that statement, he concluded today’s lesson and sent us off for dinner, which was absolutely delicious, as always. I was eating quite fast though, as I wanted to resume my talk with Jonathan. After he finally finished his meal, we started talking.

As promised he told me about his homeland. He started to explain: “Drancast is comprised of highlands and forests. The climate is mild and humid, it’s often rainy and misty. The mountains of Drancast are rich in ores, making Drancast wealthy as a metal producing region. The people of the realm are hardworking and tough. The capital city of Drancast is Lorham, a big industrial city...”

I was imagining this interesting realm and got quite excited about the idea of visiting this land. We talked a little more about his homeland but then I asked him about his family. At the mention of this, he got more serious.

“You probably already know that I am a bastard. My father is the late Lord Dracailis and my mother was a prostitute who died a few months after conceiving me. My father often went to her brothel after his wife died giving birth to my half brother, Jack. My father was kind enough to take me in and raise me, despite me being an illegitimate bastard.”

I could sense that he was not comfortable telling this story. And I could understand why. Being the son of a whore and constantly being reminded that you’re the son of a bastard must be taking its toll on one’s confidence and security.

I quickly changed the topic and we talked a bit about basic things like the weather and food. We talked until it was quite late again and we had to head to our chambers.