Chapter 116 - First Lesson (2) (1/2)
” The second is the ability to control elements...to a certain extent.” Miss Noble said.
” This ability spans across two stages; The heaven and earth stage and the universal harmony stage.” She said.
” It first appears in the later levels of the heaven and earth stage and grows throughout the universal harmony stage.” She explained
” At the heaven and earth stage, you absorb the qi of heaven and earth. At a certain point after passing through the levels, you will be able to control certain elements, like wind, for example.” She said.
” But, splitting mountains or parting rivers would still be impossible at that point.” She said.
” Then why bother...” Someone mumbled.
” Then, let me ask you.” Miss Noble said.
” Y-Yes?” The youth's back straightened.
” How would you feel about being able to change the weather as you please?” She questioned.
” How would it feel to rain lightning down on your worst enemy?”
” Or bury an entire city into the earth?” Miss noble asked in succession.
” But didn't you just say that-” The youth questioned.
” As with everything else, becoming proficient at controlling elements takes practice. Even if you reached the heaven and earth stage, the ability will not be godly as soon as it awakens, you need to practice with it.” Miss Noble explained.
” This is not something the seed of knowledge can influence, either. Don't assume there will be shortcuts in life.” She said.
” I'm not going to say much about the universal harmony stage since it's basically the same as with the heaven and earth stage.” She said.
” Simply, meditation is used to help you harmonize with the world; Plants, animals, people.”
” You become more in-tuned with life itself, enabling you to be able to command difficult elements easier. Understand?” She asked.
”...” The youth nodded silently.
”...This is the last ability I will explain for now.” Miss Noble said.
”...” The class sat silently, some excited students even held their breaths unconsciously.
” Imagine...being able to command any kind of physical object with just a thought.” She said.
”...” The room was still silent, but this silence carried with it a deflated, disappointed air.
” This ability awakens at the Void level and grows stronger as you pass through the levels.”
” While, in some people, it awakens around the later levels of the universal harmony stage. Not like any of you are even close to that level anyway.” She mumbled the last sentence.
”...” Groans of discontent sounded.
' What is with this lineup? What is the point of such...' Ugh' abilities?' Someone thought.
' Even if you try to make these things sound interesting, I can't help it if the ability in question doesn't interest me anymore...' Another youth thought.
” Again, it is a seemingly simple ability, but as you continue to learn here, you will naturally begin to appreciate it's value.” Miss Noble said.
” Imagine being able to control any material down to even the particles it is made up of. Later you will understand this ability's significance.” She said.
'...Again. Another question answered.' Levi thought.
' I'm guessing that ability to control materials is what the old man was talking about when he said to 'break down the material without destroying it'.' He thought.
' That would also explain why he said I wouldn't be able to do it since I'm not at the level at which that ability awakens.' He thought.
' At that time, I probably just scraped off the surface, causing some of the cold Qi inside to escape a little.' He thought.
' At this point, I will probably never awaken that ability...' Levi thought.
” But I wonder...” He mumbled aloud.
' Will I find out anything relating to Primordial cultivation?' His heartbeat quickened at the thought.
” But enough about cultivation for now. You are all part of this Inscription Department now, and while knowing about cultivation is important, you won't really find a use for that knowledge. Aside from a few exceptions.” Miss Noble said slowly.
' Oh, yeah...'
' I was so caught up in the discussion about cultivation abilities that I forgot what I will be learning here!'
' Sigh...Why did I not get into the cultivation department? I mean, I should be glad that they even allowed me into the inscription department with my talent, but... Sigh...'
The youths thought.
”...Now, since we have discussed for this long, I will take you all to the other place where you will spend the most time in, aside from this room.” Miss Noble said.
”Every day for a fixed amount of time, class will be held. I will teach you about inscription and...stuff.” She said.
” But while you can choose not to go to this place when you don't want to, classes are mandatory. If you miss them, you will be punished.” She said.
”...Uhm, punishment...what kind of punishment?” Someone asked.
” Depends on the severity of the offense.” Miss Noble said.
”...Then, missing a day of class?” They asked.
” flogging.” Miss Noble said simply.
” Then what about fighting?” Someone asked.
” You will be strung up by your legs while multiple people lash you with clubs.” Miss Noble said.
” Wha...” The youths were speechless.
” But I thought teachers couldn't hit us...” Someone questioned.
” That is not hitting, it's disciplining. Or if you wanted to interpret it another way, yes, we are hitting you, but for a good, positive reason, which is to discipline.” Miss Noble said.
” Isn't it still just hitting in the end...?” Someone mumbled.
” Furthermore, there is still the loophole of having a non-teacher whoop you.” Miss Noble said.
”...” The youths' jaws dropped in astonishment.
Was this how a sect drunk on respect operated? They all wanted to cry but had no tears.
Puft!
Miss Noble ignited her mental energy.
Multiple lines snaked across the room, on the ground, the walls and the ceiling, forming a large pattern.
The room shook as semi-visible walls of light shined from the glowing lines of the pattern.
” W-W-W-W-W-hat is happening?!” The tiny, timid girl stuttered as she held her head, tucking it down between her shoulders.
” Humph! How noisy.” Sweeping her black hair over her shoulder, the girl's hairpin shined as she said.
”...” Levi sat, silent, but vigilant. He saw that, while the room was panic-stricken, the delicate-looking boy before him sat silently, in his own world.
'...Wait, I can't be this calm!' He thought as he put on a fearful expression.
” I suggest that all of you stand.” Miss Noble said.
” ?!” Light exploded in the room, so much so that it felt fluffy to the touch.
...
In a dark space.
A weird vibrating noise echoed as glowing lines appeared on every surface in the space.
” Oaf!”
Crack!
Puff!
Multiple landing sounds echoed.
” Where are we?!” A girl shouted.
” D-Di-Did we...Did we...DID WE JUST!!” A boy repeated, but couldn't finish his sentence.
” Did we what? And when are you planning to get off of me? How did you even land on top of me? We sit a desk across from each other. Did you plan this? Do you want to die? Ah?” The girl with the hairpin spoke successively.
” You shouldn't sit on girls, they're very delicate.” The youth with washed-out brown hair picked up the boy by the back of his collar.
” Oh! Unless you got permission. Sorry if I interrupted anything?” He let the boy go.
” Ugh! I'm going to kill both of you!” The hairpin girl said as she flicked her wrists.
Two straight, long daggers flew from her sleeves and into her grasp.
Her arm blurred as it snaked towards the youth's neck, but someone was faster.
”... Miss Victoria valentine, even if you must joke, this is simply too much. You will receive your punishment after this explanation.” Miss noble said as the tip of her green pointer stopped the dagger's advance.
”...” The youth now sitting just beside her looked at the dagger pale-faced.
” You came to this sect in an attempt to separate yourself from the 'Valentine' name and the meaning it holds, the fear it strikes in the hearts of people.” Miss noble said.
” For you, I think that jokes about murder would be in bad taste. You have to learn again from the beginning what is considered acceptable and what isn't.” She said.
” Tsk! I get it, ok? Don't you understand what privacy means?” The girl, Victoria, flicked her wrists, sending the daggers back up her sleeves. She stood with an unhappy expression.
The youth shakily stood, all the while staring pale-faced.