Mother of Learning:Volume 01 Chapter 002 - Revision history

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2015-06-19T08:42:23Z

Life's Little Problem

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	"I hear fire drakes can get pretty big," Zorian remarked speculatively.		"I hear fire drakes can get pretty big," Zorian remarked speculatively.

	"They do," Brian agreed. "That's why I wasn't allowed to have one till now. In a few years he'll get way too big to follow me into the classroom, but by that time I'll already be finished with my education and back at the ranch."		"They can," Brian agreed. "That's why I wasn't allowed to have one till now. In a few years he'll get way too big to follow me into the classroom, but by that time I'll already be finished with my education and back at the ranch."

	Satisfied the creature won't try to take a bite out of him during class, Zorian let his attention wander elsewhere. He mostly spent his time studying the girls as covertly as possible. He blamed Benisek for this, since he usually wasn't in the habit of ogling his classmates. No matter how cute some of them were…		Satisfied the creature won't try to take a bite out of him during class, Zorian let his attention wander elsewhere. He mostly spent his time studying the girls as covertly as possible. He blamed Benisek for this, since he usually wasn't in the habit of ogling his classmates. No matter how cute some of them were…

Drowzycow at 13:06, 7 October 2014

2014-10-07T13:06:52Z

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	He was starting to hate those two words.		He was starting to hate those two words.

			<noinclude>
	==Author's Notes and References==		==Author's Notes and References==
	<references />		<references />

Starwarscards: Grammar

2014-08-15T07:36:39Z

Grammar

Starwarscards: italicizing

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italicizing

Starwarscards: /* Life's Little Problem */

2014-07-14T07:13:01Z

Life's Little Problem

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Onizuka-gto at 16:11, 11 July 2014

2014-07-11T16:11:20Z

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	He left when Benisek started discussing pros and cons of various girls in their class, not willing to get dragged into such a discussion, and went back to his room get some reading done.		He left when Benisek started discussing pros and cons of various girls in their class, not willing to get dragged into such a discussion, and went back to his room get some reading done.
	Only he hadn't even opened the first book properly when he was interrupted by a knock on the door.		Only he hadn't even opened the first book properly when he was interrupted by a knock on the door.
	Very few people cared to track him down to his room, so he actually had a pretty good idea of who it was before he even opened the door.		Very few people cared to track him down to his room, so he actually had a pretty good idea of who it was before he even opened the door.

	"Hi Roach!"		"Hi Roach!"

Onizuka-gto: /* Life's Little Problem */ formatting

2014-07-11T16:10:29Z

Life's Little Problem: formatting

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Onizuka-gto: /* Life's Little Problem */ formatting

2014-07-11T16:04:34Z

Life's Little Problem: formatting

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Onizuka-gto: /* Life's Little Problem */ Needs Formatting. please do not edit words or grammar/sentence structure.

2014-07-11T03:40:08Z

Life's Little Problem: Needs Formatting. please do not edit words or grammar/sentence structure.

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Onizuka-gto: prep page

2014-07-11T03:33:11Z

prep page

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==Life's Little Problem==

==Author's Notes and References==
<references />

{{MotherofLearningNavbar
|[[Mother of Learning:Volume_01_Chapter_001|Chapter 001]]
|[[Mother of Learning:Volume_01_Chapter_003|Chapter 003]]
}}
</noinclude>

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	===Life's Little Problem===		===Life's Little Problem===

	Although the academy loved saying they are an elite institution thanks to the excellent quality of its teaching staff, the truth is that the main reason for their supremacy came from their library. Through contributions of ~~it's~~ alumni, generous budget allocations by a number of former headmasters, quirks of local criminal law, and sheer historical accident, the academy had built a library without equal. You could find anything you wanted, regardless of whether the topic was magical or not – there was a whole section reserved for steamy romance novels, for instance. The library was so massive it had actually expanded into the tunnels beneath the city. Many of the lower levels were only accessible to guild mages, so it was only now that Zorian was allowed to browse their contents. Fortunately the library was open during the weekend, so the very first thing Zorian did when he woke up was descend into these depths to see what he was missing on these past two years and maybe fill out his spellbook a bit.		Although the academy loved saying they are an elite institution thanks to the excellent quality of its teaching staff, the truth is that the main reason for their supremacy came from their library. Through contributions of its alumni, generous budget allocations by a number of former headmasters, quirks of local criminal law, and sheer historical accident, the academy had built a library without equal. You could find anything you wanted, regardless of whether the topic was magical or not – there was a whole section reserved for steamy romance novels, for instance. The library was so massive it had actually expanded into the tunnels beneath the city. Many of the lower levels were only accessible to guild mages, so it was only now that Zorian was allowed to browse their contents. Fortunately the library was open during the weekend, so the very first thing Zorian did when he woke up was descend into these depths to see what he was missing on these past two years and maybe fill out his spellbook a bit.

	He was pleasantly surprised at the sheer number of spells and training manuals available to a first circle mage. There were more books and spells than he could master in a lifetime. Most of the spells were either highly situational or minor variations of each other, so he didn't feel the need to obsessively learn all of them, but he could already see this place would keep him busy all year round. A lot of them looked surprisingly easy and harmless, and he couldn't help but wonder why they were kept on the restricted level instead of being available to everyone. He could have used these during his second year.		He was pleasantly surprised at the sheer number of spells and training manuals available to a first circle mage. There were more books and spells than he could master in a lifetime. Most of the spells were either highly situational or minor variations of each other, so he didn't feel the need to obsessively learn all of them, but he could already see this place would keep him busy all year round. A lot of them looked surprisingly easy and harmless, and he couldn't help but wonder why they were kept on the restricted level instead of being available to everyone. He could have used these during his second year.

	He was right in the middle of trying to find the rain barrier the academy incorporated into ~~it's~~ ward scheme when he realized he skipped breakfast and was getting awfully hungry, and that it was past noon. Reluctantly, he checked out a couple of books to pore over at depth in the safety of his room and went to get something to eat.		He was right in the middle of trying to find the rain barrier the academy incorporated into its ward scheme when he realized he skipped breakfast and was getting awfully hungry, and that it was past noon. Reluctantly, he checked out a couple of books to pore over at depth in the safety of his room and went to get something to eat.

	There was no kitchen in his room, sadly, but the academy had a pretty good cafeteria available to students – the food they offered was cheap yet surprisingly edible.		There was no kitchen in his room, sadly, but the academy had a pretty good cafeteria available to students – the food they offered was cheap yet surprisingly edible.
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	He was just about to sit down when frantic hissing interrupted him. He glanced to his left, watching his classmate whisper soothingly to the orange-red lizard in his lap.		He was just about to sit down when frantic hissing interrupted him. He glanced to his left, watching his classmate whisper soothingly to the orange-red lizard in his lap.
	The animal was staring at him intently with its bright yellow eyes, nervously tasting the air with ~~it's~~ tongue, but didn't hiss again when Zorian carefully lowered himself into the chair.		The animal was staring at him intently with its bright yellow eyes, nervously tasting the air with its tongue, but didn't hiss again when Zorian carefully lowered himself into the chair.

	"Sorry about that," the boy said apologetically. "He's still a little uneasy around strangers."		"Sorry about that," the boy said apologetically. "He's still a little uneasy around strangers."
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	"Don't worry about it," Zorian said, waving the apology away. He didn't know Briam all that well, but he did know his family bred fire drakes for a living, so it wasn't that unusual for him to have one. "I see your family has given you a fire drake of your own. Familiar?"		"Don't worry about it," Zorian said, waving the apology away. He didn't know Briam all that well, but he did know his family bred fire drakes for a living, so it wasn't that unusual for him to have one. "I see your family has given you a fire drake of your own. Familiar?"

	Briam nodded happily, scratching the lizard's head absent-mindedly and causing the creature to close ~~it's~~ eyes in contentment. "I bonded with him over the summer holidays," he said. "Familiar bond is a little strange at first, but I think I'm getting a hang of it. At least I've managed to talk him out of breathing fire at people without permission, else I would have to put a fire-suppressant collar on him and he hates that thing."		Briam nodded happily, scratching the lizard's head absent-mindedly and causing the creature to close its eyes in contentment. "I bonded with him over the summer holidays," he said. "Familiar bond is a little strange at first, but I think I'm getting a hang of it. At least I've managed to talk him out of breathing fire at people without permission, else I would have to put a fire-suppressant collar on him and he hates that thing."

	"The school won't bother you about bringing it to class?" Zorian asked curiously.		"The school won't bother you about bringing it to class?" Zorian asked curiously.
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	She took out a pen from her pocket and placed it on the table before casting what Zorian recognized as a simple 'torch' spell. The pen erupted in soft light that illuminated the room. Well, at least now he knows why the curtains were closed in the classroom – it's hard to effectively demonstrate light spells in broad daylight. The spell was nothing new to Zorian though, since they were taught how to cast it last year.		She took out a pen from her pocket and placed it on the table before casting what Zorian recognized as a simple 'torch' spell. The pen erupted in soft light that illuminated the room. Well, at least now he knows why the curtains were closed in the classroom – it's hard to effectively demonstrate light spells in broad daylight. The spell was nothing new to Zorian though, since they were taught how to cast it last year.

	"The 'torch' invocation is one of the simplest spells, and one that ~~your~~ should already know by now. It is comparable to the light emitting shaping exercise that you should ''also'' know by now."		"The 'torch' invocation is one of the simplest spells, and one that you should already know by now. It is comparable to the light emitting shaping exercise that you should ''also'' know by now."

	Ilsa then launched into an explanation about the relative advantages and disadvantages of the 'light' spell compared to the shaping exercise, and how it relates to the structured vs. unstructured magic in general. For the most part, it was nothing that Zorian hadn't known from books and lectures already, and Zorian amused himself with drawing various magical creatures on the margins of his notebook while she talked. From the corner of his eye he could see Akoja and a number of other people furiously writing everything down, even though this was just a review session and they almost certainly had all of this already written in their last year's notebooks. He didn't know whether to be impressed with their dedication or disgusted with their single-mindedness. He did notice, however, that some of the students had animated their pens to copy down the entire lecture while they listened. Zorian personally preferred to write notes himself, but he could see how such a spell would be useful, so he quickly jotted down a reminder to find the spell they used to do that.		Ilsa then launched into an explanation about the relative advantages and disadvantages of the 'light' spell compared to the shaping exercise, and how it relates to the structured vs. unstructured magic in general. For the most part, it was nothing that Zorian hadn't known from books and lectures already, and Zorian amused himself with drawing various magical creatures on the margins of his notebook while she talked. From the corner of his eye he could see Akoja and a number of other people furiously writing everything down, even though this was just a review session and they almost certainly had all of this already written in their last year's notebooks. He didn't know whether to be impressed with their dedication or disgusted with their single-mindedness. He did notice, however, that some of the students had animated their pens to copy down the entire lecture while they listened. Zorian personally preferred to write notes himself, but he could see how such a spell would be useful, so he quickly jotted down a reminder to find the spell they used to do that.
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	Zorian raised his eyebrows at this. What would that achieve?		Zorian raised his eyebrows at this. What would that achieve?

	"Go on," Ilsa urged. "Don't tell me you have already ~~forgot~~ how to cast it?"		"Go on," Ilsa urged. "Don't tell me you have already forgotten how to cast it?"

	Zorian quickly made a couple of gestures and whispered the word 'shu' while concentrating on the bowl. The item in question wobbled in the air for a second before finally dropping out of the air like any normal heavier-than-air item. A plethora of clattering sounds informed him that this wasn't an isolated occurrence. He glanced towards Ilsa for an explanation.		Zorian quickly made a couple of gestures and whispered the word 'shu' while concentrating on the bowl. The item in question wobbled in the air for a second before finally dropping out of the air like any normal heavier-than-air item. A plethora of clattering sounds informed him that this wasn't an isolated occurrence. He glanced towards Ilsa for an explanation.
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	"A topic for another time," Ilsa said without missing a beat. "For now, I want you to take notice of what happened when you dispelled the spell on the bowl – it dropped down like a rock, and if it had not been magically strengthened, it would have probably shattered upon impacting the table. This is the main problem inherent in all disruptor spells.		"A topic for another time," Ilsa said without missing a beat. "For now, I want you to take notice of what happened when you dispelled the spell on the bowl – it dropped down like a rock, and if it had not been magically strengthened, it would have probably shattered upon impacting the table. This is the main problem inherent in all disruptor spells.
	Disruptor spells are the simplest form of dispelling, and virtually every spell can be disrupted if you put enough power into the disruptor, but sometimes disrupting the spell can have worse consequences than letting it run ~~it's~~ course. This is especially true for higher-order spells, which almost always react explosively to disruption because of vast amounts of mana that goes into their casting. Not to mention that 'enough power' can be vastly more than any mage can provide. Place your bowls on the table and put a few torn pages out of your notebook into it."		Disruptor spells are the simplest form of dispelling, and virtually every spell can be disrupted if you put enough power into the disruptor, but sometimes disrupting the spell can have worse consequences than letting it run its course. This is especially true for higher-order spells, which almost always react explosively to disruption because of vast amounts of mana that goes into their casting. Not to mention that 'enough power' can be vastly more than any mage can provide. Place your bowls on the table and put a few torn pages out of your notebook into it."

	Zorian was somewhat surprised by Ilsa's sudden request, but did as she said. He always found tearing paper to be somewhat cathartic, so he filled the bowl with a bit more paper than necessary, and then waited for further instruction.		Zorian was somewhat surprised by Ilsa's sudden request, but did as she said. He always found tearing paper to be somewhat cathartic, so he filled the bowl with a bit more paper than necessary, and then waited for further instruction.
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	Zorian sighed. This time he had caught on to what she was doing, and knew the flames would not be dispelled by the de-illuminator, but he did as she said anyway. The flames didn't even flicker, and the fire died out on its own when it ran out of fuel.		Zorian sighed. This time he had caught on to what she was doing, and knew the flames would not be dispelled by the de-illuminator, but he did as she said anyway. The flames didn't even flicker, and the fire died out on its own when it ran out of fuel.

	"I see all of you can do the ignite spell perfectly, " Ilsa said. "I suppose I shouldn't be surprised – heating things is something that is very easy to do with magic. That and explosions. None of you managed to dispel the flames, though. Why do you suppose that is?"		"I see all of you can do the ignite spell perfectly," Ilsa said. "I suppose I shouldn't be surprised – heating things is something that is very easy to do with magic. That and explosions. None of you managed to dispel the flames, though. Why do you suppose that is?"

	Zorian snorted, listening to several other students trying to guess the answer. 'Guess' being the operative word, because they seemed to be throwing random answers around in hopes of making something stick. Normally he never volunteers for anything in class – he disliked the attention – but he was getting tired of the guessing game and Ilsa didn't seem willing to supply the answer herself until someone figures it out.		Zorian snorted, listening to several other students trying to guess the answer. 'Guess' being the operative word, because they seemed to be throwing random answers around in hopes of making something stick. Normally he never volunteers for anything in class – he disliked the attention – but he was getting tired of the guessing game and Ilsa didn't seem willing to supply the answer herself until someone figures it out.
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	Kyron waved his hand in the air and the air behind him shimmered, revealing a transparent phantasm of a minotaur behind him. The creature looked quite angry, but it was clearly an illusion.		Kyron waved his hand in the air and the air behind him shimmered, revealing a transparent phantasm of a minotaur behind him. The creature looked quite angry, but it was clearly an illusion.

	"A lot of old combat spells used by mages of old relied on people being awed by magic, or unfamiliar with ~~it's~~ limitations. Today, every child that went through elementary school knows better than to be scared away by an obvious illusion like this one, much less a professional soldier or a criminal. Most of the spells and tactics you will find in the library are hopelessly obsolete."		"A lot of old combat spells used by mages of old relied on people being awed by magic, or unfamiliar with its limitations. Today, every child that went through elementary school knows better than to be scared away by an obvious illusion like this one, much less a professional soldier or a criminal. Most of the spells and tactics you will find in the library are hopelessly obsolete."

	Kyron stopped and rubbed his chin in thought. "Also, it is somewhat hard to focus on spellcasting when someone is actively trying to kill you," he remarked offhandedly. He shook his head. "As a consequence of all this, nobody casts combat spells as classical invocations anymore. Instead, people use spell formula, like the one imprinted on my staff, and then use these focusing aids to cast specific spells quicker and easier. I won't be even teaching you how to cast combat spells without these items, since teaching you how to use classical invocations effectively in battle would take years. If you're really curious, you can always browse the library for the right chants and gestures and practice on your own."		Kyron stopped and rubbed his chin in thought. "Also, it is somewhat hard to focus on spellcasting when someone is actively trying to kill you," he remarked offhandedly. He shook his head. "As a consequence of all this, nobody casts combat spells as classical invocations anymore. Instead, people use spell formula, like the one imprinted on my staff, and then use these focusing aids to cast specific spells quicker and easier. I won't be even teaching you how to cast combat spells without these items, since teaching you how to use classical invocations effectively in battle would take years. If you're really curious, you can always browse the library for the right chants and gestures and practice on your own."
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	"Show me your basic three," the man ordered, referring the shaping exercises they were taught in their second year.		"Show me your basic three," the man ordered, referring the shaping exercises they were taught in their second year.

	He had heard about this part. No one had ever mastered the basic three enough to impress the man. Sure enough, Zorian ~~hadn't~~ barely ~~began~~ levitating the pen when Xvim interrupted him.		He had heard about this part. No one had ever mastered the basic three enough to impress the man. Sure enough, Zorian had barely begun levitating the pen when Xvim interrupted him.

	"Slow," Xvim pronounced. "It took you a full second of concentration to snap into a proper mindset. You must be faster. Start over."		"Slow," Xvim pronounced. "It took you a full second of concentration to snap into a proper mindset. You must be faster. Start over."

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	"Hm. Can't say my summer was particularly stressful. I spent most of my time reading fiction and avoiding my family," admitted Zorian. "Mother tried to dump my little sister on me this year, but I managed to talk her out of it."		"Hm. Can't say my summer was particularly stressful. I spent most of my time reading fiction and avoiding my family," admitted Zorian. "Mother tried to dump my little sister on me this year, but I managed to talk her out of it."

	"I feel for you," Benisek said with a shudder. "I've got two younger sisters and I think I'd die if they came to live with me here. They're both utter nightmares! Anyway, what did you take for your electives?"		"I feel for you," Benisek said with a shudder. "I've got ''two'' younger sisters and I think I'd die if they came to live with me here. They're both utter nightmares! Anyway, what did you take for your electives?"

	"Engineering, Mineral Alchemy, and Advanced Mathematics."		"Engineering, Mineral Alchemy, and Advanced Mathematics."
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	In the end he spent the entire weekend lazing off, actually somewhat impatient for the classes to start.		In the end he spent the entire weekend lazing off, actually somewhat impatient for the classes to start.

	The first class of the day was essential invocations, and Zorian wasn't quite sure what it was supposed to teach. Most of the other classes on his schedule had a clear subject of study visible from the very name of the subject, but 'invocation' was a general term. Invocations were what most people thought about when someone said 'magic' – a few arcane words and strange gestures and poof! Magic effect. It was actually more involved than that – a lot more involved – but that was the visible part so that's what people focused on. Clearly the academy felt the class was important, because they had a period scheduled for it in every day of the week.		The first class of the day was essential invocations, and Zorian wasn't quite sure what it was supposed to teach. Most of the other classes on his schedule had a clear subject of study visible from the very name of the subject, but 'invocation' was a general term. Invocations were what most people thought about when someone said 'magic' – a few arcane words and strange gestures and poof! Magic effect. It was actually more involved than that – a ''lot'' more involved – but that was the visible part so that's what people focused on. Clearly the academy felt the class was important, because they had a period scheduled for it in every day of the week.

	As he approached the classroom, he noticed a familiar person standing in front of the door with a clipboard in her hands. This, at least, was a familiar sight.		As he approached the classroom, he noticed a familiar person standing in front of the door with a clipboard in her hands. This, at least, was a familiar sight.
	Akoja Stroze had been the class representative for his group since their first year, and she took her position very seriously. She gave him a harsh look when she noticed him and Zorian wondered what he did to annoy her now.		Akoja Stroze had been the class representative for his group since their first year, and she took her position ''very'' seriously. She gave him a harsh look when she noticed him and Zorian wondered what he did to annoy her now.

	"You're late," she stated when he got close enough.		"You're late," she stated when he got close enough.
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	"Combat magic isn't really a category of spells as such," Kyron said in a loud, commanding voice, more like a general talking to recruits than a teacher talking to students.		"Combat magic isn't really a category of spells as such," Kyron said in a loud, commanding voice, more like a general talking to recruits than a teacher talking to students.
	It was probably the quietest class Zorian had ever been in – even chatterboxes like Neolu and Jade were silent. "More like a way of casting magic. To use spells in combat, you need to cast them fast, and you need to overcome your opponent's defenses. This means they inevitably require a lot of power and require that you shape the spell in an instant... which means that classical invocation like you learn them in other classes are useless!" He slammed his staff into the floor for emphases, and his words reverberated throughout the training hall. Zorian could swear the man was empowering his voice with magic somehow. "Chanting a spell takes several seconds, if not longer, and most of your opponents will kill you before you finish. Especially today, in the aftermath of the Splinter Wars, when every fool is armed with a gun and educated in ways to effectively combat mages."		It was probably the quietest class Zorian had ever been in – even chatterboxes like Neolu and Jade were silent. "More like a way of casting magic. To use spells in combat, you need to cast them fast, and you need to overcome your opponent's defenses. This means they inevitably require a lot of power and require that you shape the spell in an instant... which means that classical invocation like you learn them in other classes are ''useless''!" He slammed his staff into the floor for emphases, and his words reverberated throughout the training hall. Zorian could swear the man was empowering his voice with magic somehow. "Chanting a spell takes several seconds, if not longer, and most of your opponents will kill you before you finish. Especially today, in the aftermath of the Splinter Wars, when every fool is armed with a gun and educated in ways to effectively combat mages."

	Kyron waved his hand in the air and the air behind him shimmered, revealing a transparent phantasm of a minotaur behind him. The creature looked quite angry, but it was clearly an illusion.		Kyron waved his hand in the air and the air behind him shimmered, revealing a transparent phantasm of a minotaur behind him. The creature looked quite angry, but it was clearly an illusion.
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	"You threw a marble at me!" protested Zorian, unable to quite accept that Xvim really did something so childish. "What did you expect would happen!?"		"You threw a marble at me!" protested Zorian, unable to quite accept that Xvim really did something so childish. "What did you expect would happen!?"

	"I expected you to maintain focus on the exercise anyway," Xvim said. "Had you truly mastered the exercise, such a minor disturbance would have not impeded you. It seems I have once again been regretfully proven right: the inadequacy of current academy curriculum have stunted the growth of another promising student. It seems we have to start with the very basics of mana shaping. We will go through each of the basic three until you can do them flawlessly."		"I expected you to maintain focus on the exercise ''anyway''," Xvim said. "Had you truly mastered the exercise, such a minor disturbance would have not impeded you. It seems I have once again been regretfully proven right: the inadequacy of current academy curriculum have stunted the growth of another promising student. It seems we have to start with the very basics of mana shaping. We will go through each of the basic three until you can do them flawlessly."

	"Professor, I had those exercises mastered a year ago," Zorian protested. He was not wasting his time with basic three. He already spent too much time refining those in his opinion.		"Professor, I had those exercises mastered a year ago," Zorian protested. He was ''not'' wasting his time with basic three. He already spent too much time refining those in his opinion.

	"You did not," Xvim said, sounding as if he was affronted Zorian would even suggest such a thing. "Being able to perform the exercise reliably is not the same as mastering it. Besides, doing this will teach you patience and how to control your temper, which is clearly something you are having trouble with. Those are important skills for a mage to have."		"You did not," Xvim said, sounding as if he was affronted Zorian would even suggest such a thing. "Being able to perform the exercise reliably is not the same as mastering it. Besides, doing this will teach you patience and how to control your temper, which is ''clearly'' something you are having trouble with. Those are important skills for a mage to have."

	Zorian's lips pressed themselves into a thin line. The man was intentionally pissing him off, Zorian was sure of it. Apparently the rumors were right and these sessions are going to be one giant exercise in frustration.		Zorian's lips pressed themselves into a thin line. The man was intentionally pissing him off, Zorian was sure of it. Apparently the rumors were right and these sessions are going to be one giant exercise in frustration.