Too Much of Anything

"That's not the thing I am expecting nor the one I am going to say to you." Veronika looks at Cassidy, "Knowing you, Miss Cassidy, you are going to do that." The professor smiles, "Don't worry, I am sure Patricia here could handle herself. Let's go outside and let her rest. The two left Patricia alone in the room, confused about what just happened.

"Did Veronika really say that?" She said to herself, "She said far plenty more words this time than the past few days combined." She looks at the door and sighs. She decided to rest and prepare herself for another day of school tomorrow.

Patricia woke up feeling much refreshed and better than yesterday. She rises from the bed in the best mood she ever had. As usual, Veronika was out earlier than her, but it was by no means that she woke up late. It was actually earlier than what she usually woke up, she has plenty more time to do other things before going to school.

She decided to suit up to her uniform anyway after taking her breakfast. On her way, she saw Antonietta going out in the dorm at the same time she did. "Antonietta!" She called as she approaches her, "You are so early, you go to school like this every day?"

Antonietta nods without turning to her, "Yeah." She said briefly. It was not unusual for her to not have a cheery tone as Gabriel has, but her voice this morning is drier and melancholy than what Patricia's used to. "Hey," she called her, "Are you okay?"

The young lady nods, still budging not to turn her way. "Yeah, I just woke up on the wrong side of the bed, don't worry." Patricia walks ahead of her, catching a glimpse of her face that seems wasted. It was a face with traces of rain of tears pouring all night. "You can't lie, your face tells otherwise." Antonietta sighs, "I am fine." She rushes out of Patricia's line of sight without elaborating anything.

Patricia was left in the middle of the gate, looking confused, puzzled about what just happened. She sighs deeply and continued her walk to the school. She decided to stay on the plaza which she waited the whole hour before going to her class in Magical Valiantry. After waiting for so long, she walked to the stadium-like classroom and entered before the professor did.

On her peripherals, she saw Antonietta sitting alone. She can't see any sight of Gabriel around which makes it awkward for herself. She was torn between sitting together with her, accompanying her, or giving her some time alone. She sighs, "There's nothing wrong with asking a question."

She decided to walk up to her, slightly shy to ask how she was. "Hey," she softly called her. Antonietta looks at her, "I am sorry." She briefly said before looking down. Patricia takes the seat beside her, "It's fine. I am sorry for pushing you too hard." Antonietta sighs, "I was just… overwhelmed." She squeezed her skirt and sighs, "It's fine for you to sit beside me. A company wouldn't hurt. Besides, you're one of the only people I trust besides Gabriel—"

"Has anyone said my name?" A voice suddenly popped out. They turned their heads to Gabriel who just arrived out of nowhere. "What's with the gloomy atmosphere? It's early in the morning, don't greet the bright sunshine like that." He sat beside Antonietta, "What's that frown, Anne? A ray of sunshine isn't enough without the bright beam of your smile." Antonietta just shakes her head, still having her melancholy face. Gabriel pokes her cheek, slightly brushing it to make one end of her lip curve.

"Stop joking around, it's not funny." Gabriel wasn't moved by this, instead, he insisted on making her smile. "I am not joking around, honey. It was genuine. I don't like my friends having the worst of their days. You don't look lovely with that pout, especially if it's a heavy one. Come on, do me a favor and curve that lip the other way."

Antonietta was still not buying their techniques. Patricia hugs her Antonietta was surprised. The latter suddenly pokes her side made Antonietta jerk. "Hey!" She called them out as Gabriel laughs. Antonietta was utterly embarrassed by some of the people looking at them. "Fine," she looks at them. With their faces, she can't seem to insist on having a straight face. She suddenly smiles and giggles internally.

"Mission success," Gabriel smirks, "I know you would give up that smile." Patricia looks at him, "I am surprised you caught wind of the situation here." He chuckles, "I can smell the gloomy vibe even miles away. Besides, I really don't want to see someone unhappy, especially my friends. Anne is also the type that doesn't disclose anything to anyone, I respect that."

"You could read minds." Gabriel laughs, "I still don't have that kind of magic, Anne. It's just I have met a lot of people like you, so much so that I feel like the gods above are sending me them to take care of them. I am not complaining, most of you are easy to deal with. It's just that they should pay me, you know? This is not free work, this is a professional one."

They continued to talk until Professor Rohan finally arrived in their class. "Good morning," he smiles charmingly at them. "This morning, I will be teaching you now the real deal. The essence of this subject. If Pristinity has taught you to conjure things, Magical Valiantry teaches you how to use them in the battle." Streams of lava started to appear around him. He made some gestures in his hands that sent the lava to a direction where there was no presence of a student. He sent flying on the air, forming an x as it disintegrates in mid-air.

"Pristine Academy was formerly a training ground for talented soldiers, which is now called Pristines. But we are in modern times now, these lessons are here to teach you to defend yourself, or if it's your calling, defend others." Figures of lava formed showing a human fighting a humanoid figure.

"In this lesson, I require you to stand on your seats and go to the center circle." They stepped down their seats and formed a circle around him. They were spaced out as the professor wanted them to be. "Good, very good." He commended them. Conjuring elements for such matters require a lot of 'calling' as we call it. It's the gestures you do to command your elements on how to execute themselves. Not all people have the power to imagine the attack they have in their heads. Calling aids you to successfully and easily execute your attack without much focus or mental prowess to do so."

He gestures his hand as if he was slicing the air and a slash of lava was sent ahead on the door where no student budged to place themselves there. "Even I said you don't need much focus, you will still need some. For starters, conjure your elements on the palm of your hand." He opens his hand and streams of lava appeared atop it.

Patricia looks at her friends. Antonietta summoned a blob of clear water on her hand meanwhile Gabriel conjured lightning that flickers atop his palm. Patricia opens her palm and successfully conjured a crystal this time. She was happy that she did.

The professor checks if everyone had their elements on their hand. "Very well done." He claps. "Every element will have unique circumstances of their own, thus having different movements to effectively and efficiently use them. Most elements could do a drop-down attack, but air, dust-like elements, fyto-related elements couldn't do as much. You could do it but you will do it in much greater force. Our goal in this subject is to use the very potential of your element while using less mana. Conserving is vital in the battle to conserve mana regeneration potions. You can't also do Pyrinas in the middle of the battle, can you?"

The student shakes their head. "There are three most used technique families that will have different results, cause, and elements that specialized on doing so. They are the plunge family, swirl family, and spurt family."

"The plunge family is comprised of you guessed it, plunged attacks. They are commonly used with elements that are naturally heavy such as mineral and stone-related elements and even in water elements. They are used to inflict damage and even stun enemies." He summons lava again and punches the air as if he was slamming a table, making the lava plunge on the ground.

"The swirl family is quite complicated and complex, there are a thousand techniques that belong in the family. The basic gist of it is attacking through streams of elements, inflicting damage on the enemies in specific spots. It's mostly used in air-related elements, fyto-related elements, some fire-related elements, and even water elements. I supposed you are now observing a pattern that water elements are hybrid and flexible in nature." He moves his fingers making the lava stream swirl around him.

"The third and last one is the spurt family. It's the technique where the element comes from below and attacks the target from its feet. It's the easiest one yet it has many techniques on it as well, since the fyto-element commonly uses this. It's mostly used to send enemies up above or glue them in place." He raises his open hand that a splash of lava that came from the ground.

He looks around and his eyes suddenly wandered to Patricia. "You, the blonde girl beside the girl with glasses come here." The young lady gulps and stands in the middle of the class. "Ah, Miss Prudent. Your element is crystals, am I correct?" Patricia nods. "One of the most beautiful elements. Very well, I am sure that crystals would be able to do these things. Although, of course, there are much superior techniques for your element, I want you to demonstrate the things we have learned today."

Patricia nervously nods and looks at her hand. She takes a deep breath. A lava figure suddenly appeared in front of her. "In front of you is a dummy, I want to see your understanding of the plunge attack, swirl, and spurt ones. You may start as you please." She raises her hand and small crystals formed above. She calms herself down, collecting her wits. She suddenly puts her hand down harshly and quickly in motion, which made the crystals fall on the ground at great speeds, splitting the lava figure into slits.

Professor Rohan clapped, "Very good. It also makes a great show to see." Patricia's confidence was boosted as she successfully did her part. She was thankful for Miss Cassidy to help her connect with her core. "Next up, swirl."

Patricia takes a deep breath once again. She conjured the crystals once more and started twirling them around the place. With her confidence, she even clasped her hand, making the crystals stab the lava figure that was in front of her. The lava figure disintegrates in front of them. Beautiful yet brutal.

The professor was very pleased with her performance. "An extra bit on the end, you'll make a crafty warrior, Miss Prudent." The compliments were boosting her confidence, she was pumped up for the third one she will try and demonstrate. The lava dummy appears once more, "Last, but certainly not the least, a spurt attack."

Patricia nods and looks at the feet of the dummy. She extends her hand and suddenly raises it upward. The lava figure was sent upward, but it wasn't just the one she successfully attacked in the vicinity.

She watches in horror as her professor and a student was propelled upwards. She looks around her, and she summoned too much of what she needed and asked for. "I've done it again!"