Aetheric Chronicles: Reborn As An Extra

Chapter 65: Learning Spells And Combat Class News

Three days passed since the first event and a new week started.

The first class was Elemental Manipulation. We, no, the others learned a one-star elemental spell and practiced its casting under the guidance of the instructor. Meanwhile I, the only affinityless person also learned a spell but a non-elemental one called "Aether control enhancement".

This spell would temporarily increase my ability to manipulate Aether, allowing me to have more free and easy control.

As the class progressed, the instructor explained the rankings for elemental spells, ranging from one to six stars. One-star spells were the weakest and simplest to cast, while six-star spells were the most powerful and complex, requiring considerable skill, power, and control to master.

The instructor also mentioned that there were rumors of seven-star spells, but they were considered legendary, and in this era, nobody had ever learned such a spell.

Well, from what I know in the novel, Aurelius would be the first one to discover a seven-star spell and conditions to master it. He would eventually master that devastating spell, being the first one in this era. Well, in this world only he can do it since it requires one to have an affinity with all the seven elements.

But, all those would shatter when THAT arc starts but again, there are still many years for it to start.

Surprisingly I managed to get the gist of how to cast the spell. Maybe I was a genius, haha.

But, my smugness vanished when I saw the others already casting and a few of them already succeeding.

Urgh, damn lucky main characters.

I consoled myself before focusing once again.

I closed my eyes, activating my inner vision, and focused on my Aether Core, trying to feel the flow of Aether within me. With each breath, I visualized the energy gathering and coalescing, forming a shimmering pool of light at the center of my being.

Then, following the instructions the instructor gave me, I extended my consciousness outward, reaching for the threads of Aether that surrounded me. It felt like trying to grasp onto something intangible, like catching the wind with my bare hands.

But with patience and concentration, I began to sense the subtle currents of Aether, weaving through the air around me. I focused on gathering them, drawing them closer until they merged with the pool of Aether within me.

Once I felt the energy swirling inside me, I channeled it into the spell, shaping it according to the instructor's guidance. It was like molding clay, shaping and sculpting the energy until it formed the desired pattern.

With a mental command, I released the spell, and to my surprise, a faint shimmer of Aether appeared before me, hovering in the air for a moment before dissipating.

I blinked in disbelief, hardly daring to believe that I had actually succeeded. It might not have been as impressive as the others' displays, but it was a start.

I also sensed my control improving slightly, though it wasn't big, it was still an improvement.

Just like this, I continued practicing until the end of the class.

The next class, Aetheric Theory also passed relatively peacefully, though the instructor gave us tons of assignments to do, earning many students' internal curses, including mine.

Finally, the third class for today, the Combat Training has started.

Instructor Valeria gathered us in the Combat Training Hall at the start of the lesson.

"Listen, students." She started speaking. "Three weeks later, there will be a joint class with the second years to assess your progress and improvement. It will be a mock battle where you'll face off against each other in teams. This will give you a chance to apply what you've learned so far in real combat situations."

Excitement buzzed through the room as the students exchanged eager glances. Mock battles were always a highlight of the semester, providing an opportunity to test their skills and strategies against their peers.

"In preparation for the mock battle," Instructor Valeria continued, "we'll be focusing on honing your combat techniques and teamwork abilities over the next few weeks. Today, we'll start with some basic drills to assess your current level."

She divided us into pairs and instructed us to practice basic combat maneuvers, such as blocking, dodging, and attacking, while emphasizing the importance of communication and coordination with our partners.

And the results were...

"Terrible! Your team fight skills are terrible." Instructor Valeria massaged her temples as she spoke. "Though your own individual combat skills improved, albeit slightly, you clearly have no experience in team fight. Some of you either forget your teammates and rush to the enemy, while others want to use your teammates as meat shields and take cover.

Thankfully, there are still a few groups who seem to have a good understanding of teamwork and coordination, but overall, there's a lot of room for improvement."

She looked around at the disappointed faces of the students, her expression firm. "But don't worry, I will make it so you will learn how to fight as a team. Starting now, we'll be focusing heavily on team-based drills and exercises. You'll learn to anticipate each other's moves, cover each other's weaknesses, and work together seamlessly in battle."

"And, every Saturday we will hold a mock battle here in the Combat Training Hall." She continued. "Ah, right. You will be randomly assigned to a team of five each week and will fight in the mock battle. Those who perform well can decide to keep the team while those who are dissatisfied with their team or have no improvement will be randomly assigned in the next week once again."

Before students could swallow everything, she dropped another bombshell.

"Also, the results of these mock battles will contribute to your final assessment for this semester. So, make sure to give it your all and work hard to improve your teamwork skills."

The room erupted into a mixture of excitement and anxiety at the news. Mock battles were one thing, but knowing that their performance would affect their grades added an extra layer of pressure.

After the initial shock wore off, Instructor Valeria started the topic for today's lesson. "Today we will learn positioning, maybe the most important aspect of team-based combat. It's crucial to understand how to position yourselves effectively in the battle to maximize your strengths and minimize your weaknesses."