We got there along with the rest of the first years and sat on the stands while waiting for the teacher to come.
The arena looked like a smaller version of the colosseum, I guess this is where duels between students are held. On the arena grounds there were swords and other weapons locked behind an iron gate.
A disembodied loud voice suddenly shouted "ALRIGHT CAN I HAVE EVERYONE COME DOWN TO THE ARENA AND FORM A STRAIGHT LINE PLEASE?" A buffed guy who looked to be in his early thirties was in the middle of the arena holding a big sword, we did as he asked, after the straight line was formed he began to speak "Hello first years. My name is Edward Stuarts, but you will address me as Mister Stuart. I understand that this is your first mana weapon manipulation class so I don't expect much from you, only follow my instructions and you will do fine." He finished his speech.
He proceeds to unlock a giant iron gate and opens it, he then grabs a sword from a rack and walks back towards us.
"Alright, Pay attention! Because I will not repeat myself." He said in a loud voice as he stood relaxed with the sword acting as a cane to hold himself up.
"All you need to do is to channel your mana into the hilt of the weapon you are holding, the blade of the sword should be glowing and pulsating with mana that you channelled in." He explained, "Understood?" He asked after explaining.
But we just stared at him blankly as if he just said something crazy.
"Guess not! Very well! I will demonstrate. I want all of you to form a circle around me." He said after 30 seconds of awkward silence.
We all encircle him and watch him.
He assumed a battle ready position with the sword in front of him. He begin to focus and after about 6 seconds the blade of the sword began to glow a light orange colour,
He then said "This is how you do it. Any questions?" Again we stared at him silently. After a few seconds he said
"Alright, everyone grab a sword and start practising." The sword he was holding stopped glowing afterwards.
As we went to grab a weapon I can hear him whisper to himself "the first years students are always like this. Why do I always get the greenhorns?"
Everyone around me started to practise what Mr Stuart taught and demonstrated. The faces they made are hilarious to look at, most look like they are having Constipation but nothing was happening, some had the blade of their swords glow faintly. Others gave up about 5 mins in, but for a rare few they got it in a few seconds.
Alfonso was one of those rare few, the moment he got it one of his possies shouted "Wow boss, that's amazing!"
"Hahaha! Of course Shayn, I am a noble by birth after all." He replied with his face full of pride and waving his orange glowing sword around, then he turned in my direction and continued "not like that peasant pretending to be a noble and can't do something so simple." He glared as he finished.
Art and Bill also got it in about 3 to 5 seconds, Art's Sword was glowing in green while Bill's was blue symbolising their element mana.
As for myself I had no such luck, I tried to channel my mana into the hilt of my sword but all it did was manifest the darkness around my hand instead, when Art saw it he came to give me some guidance but I could hardly understand his explanation because all he said was "First you push your mana pass your hand and into the sword hilt and afterwards you will hear a fwoosh sound followed by a soft hum and then the blade will begin to go fwoom and tada! It will glow in the colour of your mana."
Totally clueless I only gave him a blank stare having no idea what he just said, I think he could tell because he was thinking how to phrase it better and that's when Bill stepped in.
"Oh for the love of…. Is that the best way to phrase it Art? We didn't spend so much time of our childhood studying to end up with such a limited vocabulary" Bill scolded Art after pushing him aside.
"I'm more of an action kind of guy. It's not my fault I'm bad at explaining theories." Art complained.
"Alright Si, imagine the sword as an extension of your arm like the sword is a part of your body. And then channel the mana all the way to the blade as it is your arm." Bill's explanation was easier said than done. I tried to do what he explained but only managed to get the blade glowing a little black.
"Well at least it's something, just keep going and you might get it" he encouraged
I continued to focus on the sword but only a small glow of darkness showed.
"Alright that's enough!" Mr Stuart shouted and it broke my concentration.
"It seems most of you still cannot grasp it yet, which is natural. Keep trying and you will get it. As for those who already got it, please assist your fellow classmates during tomorrow's lesson." He finished his speech and dismissed us for our next lesson.
"What's the next lesson?" Art asked as we packed our bags. "History of magic.Honestly Art, did you even look at the timetable?" Bill asked in annoyance
"No, because I have you." He replied smirkingly, as we grabbed our bag Alfonso walked up to us and said "I knew it, what happened on the train was a fluke." He looked at me as he said. "You can't even do something so simple as encasing your weapon in Mana, you're a fraud of a mage and that's all you'll ever be!" He continued to hurl abuses at me as I looked down on the floor not knowing what to say. "AT LEAST HE GAVE HIS ALL TRYING TO LEARN HOW TO BE ONE!!!" a loud booming disembodied voice beside me shouted. When I looked up Bill was looking like he was gonna punch him for what he said.
"WHAT DO YOU KNOW ABOUT HIM HUH? YOU DON'T EVEN KNOW WHAT HE'S BEEN THROUGH!!" Bill continued but this time he was in front of me, Alfonso looked at him and said "So the peasant has bodyguards fighting for him now, what a coward."
We caused quite a commotion because the next thing I heard was "Oh no you don't. Alfonso! William! Headmaster's office now! Mr Stuart dragged the two of them away as the crowd which had formed a circle around us dispersed. Honestly I don't even know when the circle even formed.
Art tapped me on my shoulder and asked "You ok?"
"Yeah!" I replied wiping the tears from my eyes "yeah I'm alright, let's go!"
"Art, the next class is this way." I said when he saw him heading in the wrong direction.
"But the headmaster's office is that way." He responded,giving me a cheeky smile.
"You're going to protest for Bill, aren't you?" I asked, hesitant to go along "Sigh! Alright, fine! Let's go!"
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