Great Journey: Whims of Fate

Class began shortly after with a quick refresher on basic magic theory.

Mana is considered the lifeblood of the world. It constitutes everything, from plants and animals to the soil beneath one's feet.

Mana compresses based on Rank, which enhances its effects. As an individual rises in Rank, the mana within their body not only increases in quantity but also improves in quality. This allows basic spells to achieve more with less mana.

However, this does not mean an Apprentice Rank Fire Bolt can match the power of a Rank 1 Magic Missile. Rather, it means that a Rank 1 individual can cast a Apprentice Rank Fire Bolt using significantly less mana. If a higher-ranked person were to pour the same amount of mana into a low-rank spell as a lower-ranked individual, the spell model would overload and cause backlash to the caster.

Spell models are recurring patterns observed in nature since ancient times and are still being discovered today. These patterns serve as blueprints for desired magical phenomena. When mana is shaped according to these models, it takes on natural forms consistent with the world's design.

Wizards use their mental energy, or spirit, to manipulate and shape mana into specific effects. Once a wizard forms a mental image of the spell model, they envision it at the desired location and channel mana into it to trigger the effect.

Spell models are not the only method for manifesting magic. 

Runes, which follow similar patterns, offer greater flexibility and serve the same purpose. There are also inscriptions shaped around these patterns. Additionally, directing mana through the body in specific ways can produce magical effects, though this method is more dangerous and thus less commonly used. Magic circles, which follow the same fundamental principles, are another method of channeling mana.

In summary, there are many ways to transform mana into magic.

Talent is required to manipulate mana at Apprentice Rank. Upon reaching Rank 1, individuals naturally develop the ability to handle mana, which also enhances their physical limits.

Affinity is a trait that determines how easily a person can convert mana into specific elements. It can be improved through training, rank progression, potions, or blessings from gods and spirits.

A person born with a natural affinity can improve it more efficiently than one without. Though not listed on a status sheet, affinity can be detected during infancy.

Bastion, for instance, has a natural affinity for Earth and Light. While it is possible for him to develop affinities for all six basic elements, training Earth and Light comes far more easily. At higher ranks, improving his non-natural affinities could take centuries or even millennia, whereas increasing his natural ones might take only a fraction of that time.

The six basic elements are Fire, Wind, Water, Earth, Light, and Dark. Each one has advanced forms and can also combine with others to create new elements. For example, Nature is a combination of Water, Earth, and Light, while Magma comes from Fire and Earth. Additionally, abstract concepts can be drawn from them, such as Life from Light and, to some extent, Death from Dark.

These elements also correspond to the six states of matter: plasma, gas, liquid, solid, radiation, and void. 

Bastion was skeptical about this piece of information but chose to set it aside. Whether it was right or wrong didn't seem important. After all, this world had magic, unlike Earth. Perhaps the science here followed different rules altogether.

The lesson continued with pattern recognition and analysis of spell models, occupying the rest of the class. This would form the foundation of the knowledge Bastion needed, not just to cast spells, but to eventually create his own spell models.

His other classes, meanwhile, would focus on magic circles, magic circuits, runes, inscriptions, and enchantments. These disciplines would be especially useful for constructing magical equivalents of computers. Unfortunately, he would have to set that goal aside for now in favor of dungeon exploration and smithing, particularly to produce his own firearms.

'Why don't I just draw up schematics and order them in parts?' Bastion suddenly thought.

He could request the components with enchantments already applied and assemble the weapon himself. That way, he'd have a functional firearm ready for emergencies, freeing him to stick to his schedule and focus on long-term goals, knowing he had a backup weapon on hand.

As for the type of weapon, Bastion estimated the amount of power associated with each Rank based on stories he had read as a child. 

Apprentice Rank is up to ten times the strength of an average human, roughly equivalent to the power of a sniper rifle.

Rank 1 is up to one hundred times the strength of an average human, roughly equivalent to a 20mm autocannon. 

Rank 2 is up to one thousand times the strength of an average human, roughly equivalent to an anti-tank missile or light tank cannon.

Rank 3 is up to ten thousand times the strength of an average human, roughly equivalent to a 120mm tank main gun or an artillery shell. 

Finally, Rank 4 is up to one hundred thousand times the strength of an average human, roughly equivalent to a heavy naval gun or a cruise missile.

This was based solely on human punching power, which is relatively low compared to their actual capabilities. This means the weapon listed is the bare minimum required to injure an individual of the equivalent Rank. If the person had armor or special defenses, the amount of power necessary would increase.

For the actual weapon, he most definitely cannot hold a Rank 4 weapon and fire it. He would die from the blow back alone. This means it has to be in the size and shape of a cannon. Using Apprentice Rank materials, he could already reach Rank 2 in punching power.

If he upgraded the materials to Rank 1, he could reach the punching power of a Rank 3. Using Rank 2 materials would allow him to hit at Rank 4, but a Rank 2 cannon was expensive, requiring magic crystals, something he didn't have.

Realistically, the best he could afford was a Rank 1 cannon capable of delivering Rank 3 damage. However, by increasing the barrel thickness, using fire-resistant materials, adding proper rifling, loading it with Rank 2 explosives, and designing it as a single-use weapon, he might just manage to damage a Rank 4 entity.

For now, he set his sights on a Rank 1 cannon to handle Rank 3 enemies and a Rank 1 20mm autocannon to deal with Rank 2 threats. Once both weapons were complete, he would be well-prepared.

The rest, he decided, would be up to Seraphina who clearly had a plan of her own.

Meanwhile, Bastion would continue with his lessons as scheduled, aside from Dungeon Exploration, which was set for next semester.

Once class ended, Bastion invited Lilia for late lunch at the cafeteria to discuss her research on spell model affinities. 

"So, Lilia, I know you're planning to focus on elemental spells, but which element exactly are you specializing in? Wait, let me guess. Water and Ice?" Bastion asked during a break in their discussion.

"Wow! How did you know?" Lilia replied, surprised.

"I mean… your hair is blue."

"Oh. Then by that logic, your affinity should be Light because of your hair?"

"It's also crystalline."

"Earth and Light, then?"

"Yup."

"Is there actually a correlation between hair color and affinity?"

"No. This is because of my Class. It could have been anything. My original hair color was blond."

"Then I must be a Water Mage?"

"That was my guess."

They shared a laugh before Elyra sat beside Bastion with her lunch to Lilia's surprise.

"Lilia, this is my maid, Elyra." he introduced before turning to Elyra. "And this is my classmate, Lilia."

"Hello," Elyra greeted.

"Um… hi," she greeted shyly as Elyra began eating.

"So? How many people do I have to kill?" Bastion asked, turning to Elyra.

"Broke three hands and showed the crest twice. No one overstepped," she replied.

Elyra was undeniably beautiful, and most of her classes revolved around close combat, environments filled with testosterone fueled men who preferred fighting over talking. Bastion had vowed to destroy anyone who dared to touch his Eli beyond what was necessary.

He instructed her to break any hand that tried to touch her and to display the Diamondhart crest when social standing came into play. If those measures failed and she was ever overpowered, he would have the offenders assassinated, just as nobles often dealt with their enemies.

"That's fine then."

"Um… Bastion… are you a wealthy noble?" Lilia asked.

"I suppose I am. Yes. Why bring that up?"

"Most noble children don't actually have the money to study everything they need. They are usually in the same situation as us commoners, working just to afford continuing their studies," she said before continuing. "Wealthy nobles like you don't have that problem and even pay for your attendants to take any classes they want."

"What's your point?" Bastion asked.

"Wealthy nobles are seen as a path to a stable future. If a commoner or poor noble earns your support, they can secure a free education and a high paying job afterward," she explained, fidgeting slightly.

"And?" Bastion dragged the word out, his tone in a teasing manner.

"I was hoping I could earn your support..." she murmured, barely above a whisper.

"What do you have to offer in return?" Bastion asked, his interest piqued.

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