It was after the discussion with Decorus, or rather, whomever was on the other side of that marble, that Jim returned to the dorms. Once there he was finally ambushed and caught by the frothing-at-the-mouth healer and dragged back to the infirmary ward and chained to the bed.
Jim didn’t really mind, as he’d had a big day and needed his rest.
The potions he was forced to consume were disgusting, but helpful, and he woke up with a mostly clear head the next morning.
Some of his decisions and things he’d said yesterday were a bit odd and blurry in hindsight, but if there was anyone that he trusted with representing his interests, it was himself.
“You can go now, next time don’t sneak out,” the stubbled healer muttered as he released Jim from the infirmary.
“I’m not in a position to miss classes,” Jim grumbled hatefully, still thinking about the vow.
The healer obviously mistook his answer for something else and smiled bitterly. “Look kid, you got a bright future, but when you’re hurt, you heal, then you throw yourself back in the fray. Take it from someone who’s seen too many young people burn out as candles before they became bonfires.”
Jim nodded absent-mindedly and spun around, making his cloak swirl in the air dramatically. “To excel, to go beyond, to become… more. Sometimes, one is not given a choice,” he whispered soulfully before leaving the infirmary and one middle-aged healer with a far-away look in his eyes.
“He’ll go far, that one,” Randovich muttered to himself before returning to his office to fill out some paperwork. “If he doesn’t turn himself into a smear on the pavement with his lack of critical thinking.”
-/-
There was not much time to lose even after the infirmary dismissal, and Jim only barely managed to return to the dorms, clean himself and change his clothes, before it was already time for Combat Magic 2.
He passed Katniss on the way to Combat Magic 1, but she avoided his gaze and went out of his way as was proper. It was better not to associate with people like her openly, he had a reputation to maintain.
It was at the large square black building of Combat Magic 2, he didn’t feel like taking a break so he’d simply ignored Kyros’ order to rest, that he met the incredulous glances of the second years gathered there waiting for professor Quatzel.
“It’s too early for class advancements, no?” a tall dark-skinned boy asked him as he joined the group and crossed his arms to wait.
“Alas, such is the burden of massive talent,” Jim answered succinctly, getting a few snickers in return from the older students.
He didn’t really know what was so funny about that, but went along with it.
“You have no idea what you’re in for,” one of them taunted, a tall burly boy that looked like he belonged with the knights, learning how to punch trees or something, at least that’s what Jim thought they were learning at that other academy.
Jim could only roll his eyes. “He wags his fingers and comes to kill you, big whoop, if that’s what makes you so scared maybe you should be in kindergarten, not the academy.”
“Say that to my face,” the burly boy suddenly said with a darkening mien as he stepped forward.
Jim looked at him as if looking at an idiot, which he was.
“He just did, you moron,” the dark-skinned boy from before said before stepping forward and extending a hand towards Jim. “You did your research, that’s good, although whoever blabbed will be getting punished for spilling. I’m Chone, by the way.”
Jim looked down at the hand to make sure it was at least somewhat clean, before taking it and exchanging a handshake. “Jimothy Savant,” he introduced himself. “You’ve heard of me.”
“Haven’t had the pleasure,” Chone replied sarcastically for some reason, before continuing. “So, since you know what’s coming at you, got any plans?” Chone asked curiously.
“I’ll be relying on you to serve as my meatshields,” Jim told Chone and by association, the rest of the second years gathered around. “I will do a running retreat to try and extend the time before each completion so as to assure us a higher grade. Thank you for your support.”
Chone looked at him with a deadpan look, before throwing his head back and laughing.
The laughter died fairly quickly as a new voice interrupted the student gathering.
A cheerful voice, a raspy one. “Well if it isn’t my dear students socialising and getting to know each other. It truly does warm my heart to see such a scene, if I had one that is, hahaha,” professor Quatzel exclaimed as he appeared in front of the classroom.
The students clammed up immediately after that and promptly went to enter the illusionary classroom, throwing the professor wary looks, some refusing to even look at him.
The lich clapped Jim on the shoulder. “That’ll be detention for disrespecting an upper classman,” he said casually. “I heard you attended class with professor Cinci, he called you an absolute buffoon so I’m sure you have many deficiencies we could work on during our upcoming time together. Come after lunch so you have a bit of energy,” he finished, before also entering the classroom, Jim following closely behind.
What followed was the usual fare for Combat Magic 2, there were a lot of explosions, a bit of crying and not a single grade above absolutely terrible except for Jim’s absolutely terrific.
Some of the students had managed to escape a bit longer by sinking into the ground, a spell that Jim decided he was going to learn. If just to spite the professor who had to drag out the hiding students like radishes, a task that clearly frustrated him going by the occasional cursing.
-/-
Combat Magic 2, a class that was quickly improving his external mana awareness due to the sheer necessity of even a seconds more warning, eventually concluded. This was the cue for Jim to go get lunch at the cafeteria, having forgotten to eat the whole day.
He paused in front of the food selection, deciding that if his body was going to reset every run anyway, he might as well indulge in some food. Thus, he stacked his plate twice as high as he usually did, focusing mostly on the pasta and cheese, the food of champions.
It was as he was eating at his table that he was unceremonously assaulted by more unwelcome conversation that he could have done without.
“I’m not telling you anything about Combat Magic 2, Waterflower,” Jim grumbled as he ate when a person sat down across from him.
“Do I look that much like a girl?” Evergreen asked in a deadpan voice while his eternal follower, Herus, remained silent.
Jim looked up, identified what had previously been only a shadow and shook his head. “Sorry, she’s been bothering me lately. Can’t handle being second place, or, well, sixth place.” He snickered meanly.
“She has a lot of expectations on her shoulder,” the brown-haired boy said with a shrug.
“We all do,” Jim countered.
Evergreen paused, his green eyes flickering to his silent friend. “I guess that’s true,” he eventually muttered. “Anyway, I wanted to ask you about Combat Magic 2. I heard you went today and nobody else is fessing up.”
“What do I get out of it?” Jim grunted.
“A favourable impression, for one,” Evergreen said with a sniff. “You need as much of that as you can get.”
Favourable impressions wouldn’t travel back in time, was what Jim wanted to say, but couldn’t. Instead he fell back on. “I’m not interested in your attitude. Give me something tangible or buzz off, I’m not in a good mood.”
“What happened?” Herus suddenly piped up.
Jim gave the boy a mean look, before sighing. “I have detention with Quatzel after this meal. Something about disrespecting upperclassmen, whatever.”
“I see you’re already ruining relations before we even get the chance to arrive,” Evergreen deadpanned.
“I’ll ruin whatever relationships I want to,” Jim said. “Now cough up something useful or begone.”
“Fine,” Evergreen eventually said with a roll of his eyes. “I saw that you managed three mana missiles at the exams, but didn’t show off concurrent casting. There’s a lot of books in the library about becoming a third circle mage, but here’s a method we use in military circles which isn’t that spread out for some reason.” He blushed, looked around to make sure no one was paying attention to them. “It looks dumb so I’m only doing it once,” he muttered darkly. “So pay close attention.”
Jim stared at the boy with a confused look as Evergreen brought a hand to his head and a hand to his stomach. The boy then started tapping his head while rubbing circles on his stomach. Then he stopped and gave Jim a meaningful look.
“Are you fucking stupid?” Jim blurted out, causing the other boy to blush.
“You have to get your brain used to doing two separate actions at the same time. Using your body as a bridge is the easiest way. Just do different actions with your two hands. It helps, I swear,” the boy promised.
“I didn’t see you casting two spells at once,” Jim prompted.
“He’s almost there to be fair,” Herus said, interrupting once again.
“Fine,” Jim eventually decided. “I’ll give your method a try, if not just to get you out of my hair. As for Combat Magic 2, it happens in a large building that is enchanted to turn into different environments. It can be a forest, a mountain, a lake, you get the idea. The environment is decided by the lich using finger arithmetics. The other factors are the type of magic used, the quality of magic used, and the time given to students to prepare before combat. Then he basically just comes at you and kills you, but you don’t actually die, it’s all an illusion. Repeat that 100 times and there’s your lesson.”
Evergreen listened and furrowed his brows, while the blonde next to him exclaimed in wonder.
“I’ve seen that building, that’s a huge illusion field!?” he said
“No spells taught?” Evergreen asked.
Jim shook his head. “He just goes after you. The job is to survive, the point is to learn the spells which you think will help you do that on your own time. A popular one seems to be hiding in the ground. It frustrates Quatzel at least, which can be funny.”
“Thanks,” Evergreen muttered, before standing up and turning around. “I’ll see you next week,” he said over his shoulder, before absconding with his dog.
Jim looked at them go. In the past he maybe would have done everything for Evergreen’s approval. A powerful military family like that could have meant the world in the Savant’s rise to aristocracy.
Now? He just wanted this detention done with.
-/-
It was as Jim was waiting outside of the lich’s shack that he thought back to the motion that Evergreen had shown him.
He frowned.
It must have been a joke. Right?
He slowly put a hand up to his head and started tapping it on a rhythm.
Then he put a hand to his stomach and tried drawing a circle, but inadvertently just started tapping his stomach as well.
His brows furrowed as he realised that it wasn’t as easy as it seemed.
Minutes passed as he rapidly improved, managing a sort of circle tap on his stomach, which is how the lich found him.
He just stared at Jim with those empty eye-sockets and a tilted head.
“Are you fucking stupid?” he eventually asked.
Jim blushed and stopped the stupid motion. “Shut up!” he exclaimed, "you're stupid!”