I was rather exhausted after the long series of sparring sessions though on the brighter side, Mr. Kharisma would be working with me on my aura control, and working to find my actual semblance tomorrow so it wouldn't be as intensive the next day.
Once class was over I went directly back to my suite and went to get myself cleaned up and it was only as I was in the shower that I realized how Nora was still being a little gremlin. "Heya boss-man! Was wondering if I could wash your back ya know?"
My lips twitched seeing Nora with a towel wrapped around her chest and I wondered if New Jersey and Prinz deliberately let Nora in... Before I shrugged and said. "Alright, I... Go ahead, I am not going to stop you."
If Nora was deadset on playing with fire, I wasn't going to play the gentleman now that I knew Ren was all but chemically neutered through overusing his semblance for the majority of his life.
I turned my back to Nora as I got back to washing my hair as I sat down on the small chair that was in the shower as even for the 'commoner' side of things. It was clear the school expected retainers to be involved with the other students.
So rather than forcing people into tight-as-hell showers, they might as well just shove two large high-pressure shower heads together so multiple people could shower at once to get clean.
I felt Nora's hand which was filled with a soap bar begin rushing down my back after a soft thump rang out, I realized that Nora had abandoned her towel to jump in the shower with me.
"Soooo." Nora whispered softly as her other hand which was covered in a washcloth began scrubbing at my back. "You alright after the day? I mean you popped your cherry after all. In cold blood at that."
I exhaled and said honestly. "Truthfully... I am internalizing it pretty easily. Probably easier then I should be, with the thought process of them being slavers and traitors to humanity making it easy to stomach."
There was a pause before Nora spoke slowly. "Jake, I... Ren and I went through a lot moving from Mistral to Vale over the years. We had to kill... A lot of people that wanted to enslave us, Ren is... Was very handsome and had a great talent for martial arts so sects would buy him as a disciple. And myself? I could be turned into some kind of electricity generator with how I so obviously have such a high lightning attribute."
"Being around Pyrrha, Jake... To those ideals of killing that slaver as evil, you have to realize that even to me and Ren who were gutter rats. We knew of the Nikos estate which was infamous for making magical wine and being the major breadbasket of Mistral in producing insane amounts of food."
Nora was quiet for a moment as I digested that and she said softly. "Such a massive estate can't be run even by one family or clan... The Nikos clan is infamous for their volcanic and metal-affecting semblances, and magic. Which is matched with their volatile explosive tempers and cruelty to their slaves."
An exhale escaped me as I swallowed back my instinctive. 'Pyrrha isn't like that.' Because Ruby herself was a far different person having lived a life of much more responsibility and being raised by Summer Rose.
Was Ruby just a bitch or even just straight-up evil? I had no clue as the only interaction I had, had with her. Was her in the act of pursuing a blood vendetta she had probably been raised with.
So that swung back to Pyrrha in this world... She was raised part of a clan with her mother who was a Sage being their leader, and was involved in brutal back-breaking slavery work as Mistral didn't like using undead for menial civilian work for some odd reason.
Do I push Pyrrha away or just avoid her like Weiss was surprised with my disregard of her clan's actions?
And finally, I came to my own mental decision as I already said previously. "Mistral's issues is Mistral's issues... Vale isn't perfect for sure with their obsession with nobility, but so long as Pyrrha isn't going around enslaving people, I won't alienate her for her clan's actions."
Nora was silent for a moment before I froze feeling her large 'Happy Bumpers' push onto my back as Nora gave me a firm hug with her arms wrapping around my waist.
"Thank you Jake... I am happy you also don't think less of Ren and me for being street rat orphans!" Nora cried out emotionally making my lips twitch as she gave me titty filled bear hug and made me stand up lest she knock me off the small stool I was sitting on.
And in standing up and turning so I didn't get pushed into the wall by Nora's typical emotional hugs of doom... We got turned around so she was hugging me around the front.
Nora pausing in her full-body hug as she felt something picking her waist, with my manhood being the obvious answer.
"Hehe... Jake got excited didn't he?" Nora teased with her sticking her tongue out at me making me in turn roll my eyes.
And Nora's eye widened as a loud 'Plap!' rang out as I spanked one of her ample ass cheeks. With my hand landing back on the ass cheek I slapped and said with wonder. "God damn Nora. All those pancakes are making stacks back here."
The woman paused for a moment before she snorted and I felt her push her ass into my hand slightly as she looked up to and snarked. "Are you calling my ass fat? Or worse... Doughy?"
To which I nodded and said with complete honesty. "Nora, you got a thick ass that is a delight to squeeze... Thank you for the honor."
And Nora just giggled as one hand of hers went to my length and another got wrapped up in soap before also going to my length. "Well fine then. Go ahead and play with my dumpy while I make sure you can walk fine to meet with your magic teacher without scarring her for life haha."
It was actually comforting to hear Nora joking about this even if her ample breasts showed more of her own arousal as her light pink nipples stood at proud attention in our shared shower.
"Now come on Jake... Don't make me put it in my mouth, I just got it all soaped up after all." Nora teased as her hands aggressively milked my lubed-up length.
I exhaled and just relaxed against Nora a bit while my free hand that wasn't on her ass went to play with a titty and after a couple more minutes of Nora whispering joking lewd things I reached my peak with Nora letting go with one hand to hold me around the waist so I didn't slip in the bath while her other hand remained devoted to milking my dick.
"And there ya go Jake! Nora Valkyrie strikes again muahah and now I have stolen your cummies haha!" Nora cackled like a mad fucking witch as she literally skipped out of the shower and licked the white streaks of my semen off her hand as I watched the chaotic force of nature go.
And what a wonder sight it was to behold as her thick ass bounced with her skipping away with her prize.
'Well... That was fucking something.' I thought as my lips twitched when I realized I still hadn't gotten a chance to wash my hair yet.
-
After finishing up getting clean, and then dressed for a meeting with my master. And Cinder who would be the one doing my lessons with how Lux was supposed to be busy.
"You girls be good. I am heading out for my lessons." I called out with Velvet and Alice bidding me goodbye as Prinz and New Jersey were busy drinking their oil and only deigned to wave me goodbye... The ingrates!
Either way with a pep in my step after the wonderful shower, I made my way through Beacon's massive campus, passing by hundreds of people, students, and huntsmen alike who were here doing their own thing until I reached the wards of Lux's tower where I was supposed to meet with Cinder.
[Cinder I am here at the tower, where should I meet you?] I messaged her.
And within but a couple of minutes I got a message back. [Meet me at the fourth floor. Its the ritual room and will serve well in getting you in touch with mana.]
So the fourth floor I went.
'Well this is a rather big room.' I thought as I took in the massive room where dozens of glowing gylphs were contained within ritual circles and sitting at a large table was Cinder whose glowing eyes stared at my form before she nodded at me and waved me over.
After I walked over Cinder got up with a mild sigh making me raise an eyebrow that turned into a scowl as Cinder said coldly. "Jake, do not move... You have a magical glyph on you."
I stood perfectly still as Cinder walked up to me and after a moment, her hand pinched my shirt and pulled it up out of my pants where I scowled seeing a lightly glowing blue glyph of sorts on my side.
"The mana in the room is so thick that all glyphs, runes, and other things are forced to manifest... So Jake, strip down completely." Cinder ordered frankly.
I paused for a minute before I exhaled and I knew if I was going to put my life in Cinder's hands to teach me magic. Getting naked was nothing.
And after stripping down to my underwear, I quickly checked inside my underwear while Cinder checked around my body. "You only have the one magical glyph... A simple one that stores auditory data, and then when the caster touches you again, they can transfer all that data to their own glyp to listen to its contents at will."
I scowled hearing that and I had... A fairly fucking good idea of who did this as only one mage really touched me today that wasn't Glynda Goodwitch with her magic. And she wouldn't have done this at all.
Weiss Fucking Schnee put the glyph on me almost certainly. "Thankfully... There is an easy solution to this. And you can find out who did this." Cinder spoke as she took out a small grey razor blade and I shivered realizing that was Aurablight in her hands.
"I am going to do a blood ward over the Glyph... And once the caster goes to collect the data, it will naturally go back to them... Very painfully and violently as the Glyph will attack them with their own internal mana." Cinder said calmly as she cut open her finger with the Aurablight razor.
"Will this hurt or mess with in anyway?" I asked calmly.
And Cinder looked at me with those glowing amber orbs and she said bluntly. "Oh its going to hurt like a hot iron over your skin... Why ask?"
I took a breath and without hesitation I put a thumb to my chest and asked. "Can you give me a rune, a glyph, or ward. That will help block such casual attacks?"
There was a pause before Cinder said frankly. "What you are asking is a body-locked curse that will protect you from other people's non-concentrated foolish things correct?"
To which I nodded and she continued calmly. "That would require me to magically engrave the wards onto your very bones... So that your entire body would be protected from foot to head."
"If you got the time and patience Cinder... I would appreciate this boon." I said firmly with Cinder raising an eyebrow as she seemingly re-evaluated me completely.
"Very well Jake, a fellow disciple who is willing to go so far. Will only bring Lux and myself honor. So I will preform the ritual on you... After I cover this glyph anyway. I doubt you will be able to focus on my magical lessons before we do the ritual in anycase."
Cinder led me over to a chair and then after a moment of thought she handed me a small silk pad with her saying. "Bite onto the silk... Magically fixing teeth is also rather painful and this is will likely be more pain then you are used to."
I nodded and put the silk pad in my mouth before my front agaisnt the chair as Cinder took another chair and came over to my side. "This is going to hurt." Cinder reminded me firmly and I just grunted to tell her to get on with it as I held the sides of the wooden chair.
And in the side of my vision I saw the finger she cut open with the Aurablight lit up in dark crimson flames and I just closed my eyes as the finger came in... The moment the flaming finger touched me however, I growled into the silk pad.
As it felt like Cinder was drawing over my skin with a burning hot metal poker or something.
It was only the fact I was holding onto the chair so firmly that kept me from leaping up from the chair as I kept my aura down as well.
Finally a full minute later of what felt Cinder drawing on me with a red hot iron poker, the agony abruptly stopped and I felt blissful cold air hitting my inflamed skin. "There, the glyph is done... You ready for the runic protection?"
I nodded as I relaxed my face into my arms with Cinder standing up behind me and I stiffened feeling her hands trace over my back and then she began counting as she drew her hand over my ribs and spine. "One, three, seven, nine, eleven... Now to seal all evils."
And I hissed as I felt Cinder's nails digging into my skin with her softly whispering. "Let me in Jake... Keep your aura down."
I held in the instinctive desire to summon a fucking grenade to blow Cinder away as she cooed softly as her fingernails acted as four blades basically and I felt the hand push through my muscles and then her fingertips gently curled around a rib of mine.
And then I screamed into the gag as what felt like liquid fire combined with a fucking demented dentist's tooth drill filled my body as a loud grinding noise rang out as Cinder used her magic to engrave runes across my bodies bones."
"The worst is over Jake... I am already doing it. Just close your eyes and think of slowly eating your favorite meal, each bite taking at least five seconds with you savoring each bite." Cinder coaxed me gently as I shivered and shuddered at the agony filling my form.
Soft crunching noises were Cinder's answer as I cracked the old wood of the no-doubt antique chair's thinner spokes that acted as the back of the chair.
But I held firm.... As no doubt myself trying to leap up from the chair could do some terrible shit to me if Cinder's hand hooked into my rib decided to clench and break my rib from the inside.
And not at all soon enough. The agony came to a close. Cinder pulled her bloodied hand from my back and covered my wound with a square of silk to soak up the blood as she said. "Let me go get a healing potion and tincture. Don't move."
I waited with my breath coming out rather ragged from all the pain I just been through and Cinder came in front of me with her holding out a glowing red potion. "Here, don't move your arms as it will stress the back wound. I will pour it slowly."
And so Cinder carefully gave me the healing potion to drink before she popped another vial that she poured over the wound after removing the silk making me hiss as the liquid burned as it entered the wound. "You will be all healed up within the next half-hour, rather than needing a solid week of your back muscles being weak, so just relax."
Cinder spoke as she pulled a couple of marker boards in front of my face as and then she popped her neck before saying. "Should I begin the magic lesson now? Or are you in too much pain to pay attention?"
She wasn't being sarcastic or cruel, she was honestly asking if I was in too much pain to be paying attention. So I took a breath and said honestly. "In a bit of pain... So stick to the easier topics for a few minutes I guess."
Cinder nodded with a small smile before she coughed and then her fingernail tapped on the board before she spoke. "So Jake, where does magic come from?"
I tilted my head to the side as I considered the question... Before I answered unsurely. "Uhh... The mana core inside of ourselves?"
To which Cinder firmly shook her head and said calmly. "No Jake, although you are correct in terms of when mages already having formed their magical core and then use their internal magic to perform spells far more easily. But no, in all cases magical energy must... MUST come from outside the human body which is how the magical core is opened."
Cinder made a circle on the board with her writing 'magical core' inside it. "Now Jake, a magical core no matter who opens or creates it... Is always, always different for each and every user. With their personal magical core all having pro's and cons to their formations."
I watched Cinder but a hand between her ample breasts and she continued. "My magical core is a building thats on flames... I won't bore you with the symbolism but I have a very strong talent for fire magic and I am able to feed magical energy thats can typically feed a house fire if found in their natural types to the flames to fuel them."
"In more simple words... I am a hard counter to people who use undead, wood, and other fire magic along with some other niche things. In either case, I will be helping you open your magical core if you are ready?"
Nodding, I saw Cinder pull up another chair next to me and she spoke. "Good, so while we wait for you to be in a more relaxed state with the wound being healed. Do you have any questions for me as your senior?"
"What's the big deal about the Class Trial? Ruby Rose the heiress of the Rose, Duke house caused a big scene and got into trouble with her chances at doing the best at the trial being lessened. Making her extremely angry." I asked curiously as I steadfastly kept still even if I wanted to squirm at my back healing at high speed and itching something fierce.
Cinder paused at hearing my question before she exhaled and said. "Ah yes, the class trial... Well, I assume you wish to take part in it correct?" At my unsure nod, she hummed again before saying frankly.
"It has its pro's and con's Jake... Doing very well will obviously bring you great prestige along with bringing honor to Lux. But should you gain the God of Light Church's gaze, that can complicate your life greatly especially if you take their blessing for winning."
"What does the blessing do? I heard Weiss mention it but thats it."
"The Church through the ritual sacrifice of pure evil in a captured Abomination will gain the brief attention of the God of Light. And while thats done you will be in a pool of holy oil while virgin nuns who have been raised within the Church with their eyes plucked out to see no evil in their lives along with their hearing ruined to also prevent them from hearing evil."
Cinder had to audibly take a breath before she continued. "The teams of nuns will wash you and your teammates in their own seperate pools to purge you of filth and sin... Then the God of Light's grace will fill the pools and you will be blessed with a hint of his 'Divine' Light which will make all your Magic, and Martial Arts have a hint of his grace which is beyond toxic to Grimm."
With that Cinder let me absorb that information before for a long minute before she continued. "You already have a sizable group, did you plan on taking on any other people?"
I nodded and said with a bit of a frown. "Yes, Weiss Schnee approached me in hopes of myself and my people helping her, and her retainer be the most successful team. With Pyrrha Nikos of Mistral also joining the team after she asked me to be the leader after refusing to entertain Weiss being the leader."
"Weiss Schnee... She is a bit of a black sheep of sorts. She refused to uphold Schnee traditions in either marrying a General of Atlas or becoming one herself like her sister Winter did." Cinder mused idly before her face hardened as she said more firmly.
"Pyrrha... Is a bit of a sensitive topic, especially with our headmaster being someone who has gone out of their way to steal all of the wine from the Niko's estate on several occasions... Stealing all the slaves and then dropping them off here in Vale, showing up when Pandora Nikos was fighting high-end Grimm, only for him to kill the Grimm and steal the materials before leaving with his time stopping before she could do anything."
"Why does it sound like Ozpin has an obsession for bullying Pyrrha's mom?" I asked with some amusement.
And Cinder looked at me with a wry smile crossing her face as she continued with amusement. "Oh no... Pandora Nikos isn't that special. Ozpin just loves driving the Mistral Sages up the wall as he grew up fighting Mistral Slavers most of his life. At least before he became a Grandmaster and then began looking at the bigger world picture."
Cinder shook her head as she sighed. "It's hard to look at Ozpin as such a terrifying demi-god of a warrior when he regularly does things like sealing a thousand farts into the Sage King of Mistral's cologne... Or spending literal days worth of time hand plucking every single grape in the Nikos's vineyard to prevent them from having a harvest."
"Gods... Thats just so fucking petty haha." I chuckled with disbelief and I made a mental note to check in with Pyrrha about this.
As this was honestly just some Reverse Flash level of pettiness.
But with that Cinder coughed and spoke. "Hmm, if Weiss was actually the person who put the glyph on you. I suggest using the weakness she will show by proving to be caught in doing so to show dominance over her."
I raised an eyebrow and said unsurely. "You sure messing around with a Royal even if she is from Atlas is a good idea?"
To which Cinder nodded and said calmly. "You as a student of Luxanna who is the heiress of the Crownsguard family had spying glyphs laid on himself. Putting a foreign royal in her place will only help the Valian royal's opinion of you."
I tilted my head to the side as I asked curiously. "Thought Garen her older brother would be the heir of the family honestly."
But my words made Cinder grimace as she then spoke carefully. "Jake... Do not mention Garen so casually. He is a sore topic with the Crownsguard family about how he joined the First Princes' Peerage. Which with the how First Prince serves as an expedition leader. And taking on Apocalypse and the lesser but still highly dangerous Transcendent Grimm, he could very easily just die should the First Prince fall during one of those expeditions."
'So the Crownsguard's family head was removed from being the heir due to the first prince running around in dangerous situations that could lead to Garen just dropping dead.' I mused.
Before I shook my head and said. "So, in your own opinion. Is it worth myself, pushing to do the best in the Class Trial?"
Cinder was silent for a moment before she spoke slowly. "It depends on how much you want to be under the church's radar. With a hint of the God of Lights essence, they will push you to breed with their nuns to birth people with lesser Silver Eyes, along with having inborn Holy and Light magic attributes."
With Cinder adding on. "In which case, you will have the church's aid in many things, but several forces including the Royal Family will distance themselves from you... Which also includes Ferid, and her ilk of necromancers."
My lips twitched as I said dryly. "Cinder... Literally, everything you are saying is a plus in my book."
With my elder disciple snorted in amusement before she said with a shaking head. "So yes I would advise you if you can, to do the best you can during the Class Trial."
From there Cinder shifted on her seat as she asked. "Any other questions?"
I blinked and nodded asking. "Yes, uhhh... Do you have any dealings with Morgan Arc, Miss Goodwitch's disciple?"
Cinder gave me a raised eyebrow of confusion as she spoke slowly. "I indeed do... We are rather close as our pyromancy focus does lead to us comparing notes to say nothing of our shared disciple lineage of Lux being one of Miss Goodwitchs best disciples."
I nodded and then said. "I got a message from her, that wanted me to meet with her, and her sisters to discuss my life at Beacon and answer any questions I might have."
I shrugged and added on. "I haven't even properly started my magical lessons... What kind of questions could I have?"
To which Cinder nodded slowly and she asked. "If you don't mind, can I see the message?"
With a slight wince at my sore back stinging as I moved my arms, I pulled my scroll out of my pocket and after pulling up the message... After seeing a wonderful message of Nora sending me a pic of her tits. I brought up her message.
[Morgan Arc- Hello Jake, I hope this message finds you well after your first day of lessons. And the blooding you went through,
If it's not inconvenient, I along with my sisters here in Beacon would like to meet my fellow lineage disciple after your lessons with Lady Crownsguard around 7 perhaps? I can have dinner delivered by my Master's servants and we can discuss how Beacon and other topics.]
Cinder read through the message a couple of times before saying with a hum. "Yes this is definitely Morgan, I can but all hear Lux complaining about how formal she has to be in writing a message to Miss Goodwitch. Who will not suffer a single emoji without making the disciple do a thousand pushups."
"Though... Hmm, perhaps Morgan's sisters are also wanting to have a little get-together here in Beacon and just wanted to meet you at the same time?"
I shrugged and said. "I already agreed to the meeting as you can tell. Anything I should know about Morgan from your point of view?"
There was a pause before Cinder nodded and said calmly. "Morgan is a very... Very proud woman, she is taking on a lot of responsibility as Miss Goodwitchs primary disciple and is trying to push to become a Master Pyromancer by the end of the school year so she can be named a noble even if she isn't spending as much time on the battlefield."
"Beyond Morgan's very hardworking and studious nature, she is also... Very fiercely protective of her family, and due to a recent death in the family she has been rather withdrawn as of late.
After a bit to accept all that information, I nodded in acceptance before I smiled wryly and asked. "So what kind of gift should I bring to this little get-together?"
A laugh escaped Cinder as she chuckled and said more easily while she passed my scroll back to me. "A simple gift of food to be shared amongst the party would service. Or if you wish to be more proactive and helpful to Morgan, any Fire, Burn, or Magma, Dust would make her happy."
I held out a hand in which I manifested a large military-grade Dust missile that manifested onto the ground... And I felt the manifestation actually take a good deal less aura from me and then I realized the fuck load of ambient mana must have supplemented the cost to some extent.
'Huh, I wonder how much faster I could create a Wisdom Cube when I have my magical core/pool to also push magical energies into making the Wisdom Cube?' I thought as Cinder gave the missile a dry look.
"And what is the meaning of manifesting a large missile?" She asked flatly.
I smiled wryly and said. "I can manifest naval weapons with the more... Strictly Naval themed they are, the less aura or magical energy it takes. That missile has a five-pound Grade Eight Magma Dust core inside of it."
Did you know that Dust also has Nuclear Fission-like properties when you smash certain elements together? I wasn't sure if my naval ability was reaching into some weird fucking RWBY worlds but I could manifest a missile that used Top Grade Gravity Dust, along with cores of synthetic Darkness and Magnetic Dust to create a shortlived black hole when it exploded.
Such a missile was my plan for whenever I inevitably fucked around too much and I got the attention of a Transcendent or Apocalypse Grimm... If I could catch them anyway before they jumped me.
"I see... Hmm, and you have some sort of ingrained knowledge of the use of these weapons, and in this case, disassemble them?" Cinder asked curiously and I nodded.
Either way we left the missile alone as Cinder spoke. "Well Jake, please stand up and stretch. Let us see how your back is."
I stood up, and after stretching for a good bit I was feeling just fine even if my back was a bit tight which Cinder told me would rectify itself soon enough especially after I began moving about.
"Now! Let's begin your magical lesson in earnest." Cinder spoke firmly as she retook her seat in front of me as I spun my chair around so I could face her properly with my back to the back of the seat and we were facing one another.
"So to start off, all magical comes in elemental typing. Even for more... Niche forms of magic such as enchantment, alteration, rituals, or even summoning. Many of such schools of magic simply are using the element of Ether, or the pure element of simple magical energy." Cinder began making me nod.
"Hence for you who will be studying basic Hydromancy to begin with, you will of course start with the manipulation of outside Ether that is in the air, which will then be incorporated into your body that will thus become your mana and then you will channel it into hydromancy attributed spells."
I slowly nodded as I understood that my mana pool/magical core would be dealing with that with Cinder continuing. "Now, typically new disciples would spend weeks... If not months using outside mana and a catalyst like the Beach in Bottle you got previously to properly get a taste of the mana and its manipulation before creating a mana core. But that is the mark of mediocrity."
I raised an eyebrow and asked flatly. "Isn't that unsafe?"
To which Cinder snorted and said coldly. "Yes it is unsafe, but I formed my core under extreme duress at the direction of Miss Goodwitch and I am currently one of Beacon's strongest Pyromancers even though I am only a Master in the field... Besides the Headmaster anyway." She admitted with a snort as the Headmaster was bullshit as was expected.
"But yes, forming your core without a great deal of practice will allow you to use your catalyst without your core already being tainted from your body being so tainted from your catalyst's attributes." She explained patiently.
'That checks out with the info, I got previously of wanting my element to taint my magical core more than anything so I could turn it into my catalyst later on and then into my Sage Tool.' I thought.
"Alright so how do I get started?" I asked with Cinder actually pausing in thought before she continued.
"There are many... Many options and methods can have pros and con's in the creation of a person's magical core. Especially with other people involved, but I will be teaching you the manual way and should you desire to awaken the magical pools in your allies through more rigorous and blunt methods then you can research how to do so."
I blinked before I smiled wryly as I understood she meant things like Tantric rituals, or something of the like.
But regardless Cinder began explaining the method of 'Magical Meditation.' Which was both the slowest and safest way of creating a magical core without taking any shortcuts.
"Some shortcuts can be useful if not downright helpful without any consequences but you will need to research which methods you will deign to use... I am unable to help you in any such way, as my magical core should we connect in such a way would kill you as it would consider you fuel to burn."
'Kinda reminds me of a cultivation method frankly.' I thought that a person's natural and almost certainly unique magical core or mana pool would have its own abilities besides simply acting to hold a person's mana.
Just like how a person's Aura didn't act as just a bit of physical reinforcement and a force field. It also came with a Semblance that every single person could one day find.
"Now this ritual room will have all the mana you will need... And with how thick the mana is, it's not like you will struggle to feel it in the air. You just need to begin meditating and use your concentration to pull in the mana that touches your body."
I settled down just leaning into the chair with my eyes closing and with how utterly flooded the ritual room was, it wasn't like I had to struggle to feel the mana in the air even slightly.
It had its own cloying weight to it, that was separate from the air. And within a couple of minutes I shivered as I felt some mana enter my body finally as I pulled at the misty mana surrounding myself with my mind.
"Good... Now in feeling that mana, begin pulling more mana into your body. When you accumulate enough mana, your core will naturally form." Cinder spoke softly so as not to distract me as much.
And I kept doing what I was doing. Slowly pulling in more mana where I realized it was a bit like a black hole effect really. It was hard to get that first wisp of mana inside myself, and then with mana inside myself. More mana came in without as much prompting to join in with the first tiny wisp of mana.
With that process continuing for a long while. I had no idea how long it took honestly as the process of absorbing the mana into myself was mentally taxing to say the least. Giving me no time to consider other thoughts.
But after a while, it finally happened. I shivered and shuddered as all the loose mana in my body thickened as they came together and my mental eye could see it. While Cinder knew intrinsically that her magical core or mana pool was a house or building on fire.
I could 'see' my mana pool was... A puddle of water.
But I wasn't disappointed, as I could feel that the puddle would grow with the more mana I had. From a puddle to a pond, and then from a pond to a lake, and then from a lake it would become a sea one day.
My eyes slowly opened and I saw Cinder was looking at me with her nodding with a small smile as she spoke. "Your water attribute is indeed extremely strong Jake. Your eyes have a slight blue glow to them now."
I blinked and I pulled out my scroll and although I didn't turn on the screen, I could indeed see a bit of reflecting light from the screen with Cinder clapping her hands.
"I assumed you would need at least six hours here in the ritual room to open your magic pool, and even prepared to take the hit to cancel your meeting with Morgan. But you only took three hours actually."
I smiled wryly and then after checking my phone I saw that I still had half an hour before I needed to go meet with Morgan Arc.
"So... Now what? Am I a wizard yet?" I asked with a smile making Cinder snort with amusement.
"Oh dear heavens no. You haven't read any spell books and have to pick up a couple of spell matrices to form within your mana pool. You also haven't made a staff or integrated the catalyst the Beach in a Bottle into said staff or your enchanted sword there... To say nothing of learning how to use Dust to enhance your magic as well haha!"
Cinder was actually giggling as she looked at me with amusement before she shook her head and said. "In either case. I am done lecturing you for now, Lux can teach you more intricate pieces of magic tomorrow... Lest I complain to Miss Goodwitch and our master will get into trouble hmph."
I bowed my head to Cinder and said. "Thank you for the help Cinder, I appreciate you taking the time to help me so much... With everything."
Meaning also the runes she put on my body to help defend me from passive weak bullshit like Weiss trying to put that spying rune on myself.
"Now if you will excuse me, I will be going back to my own research Jake... Try not to get into trouble today." Cinder spoke as she stood up. And I also stood up with myself idly noticing that my back was fully healed and fine now as I followed behind her.
'The ritual room certainly helped a fuck load.' I thought as I was well aware that my chances of unlocking my mana pool outside of such a mana-rich environment were slim to none. And for me who had a special body after reincarnating.
That inherent difficulty was proof of the power of noble families as no commoner no matter how skilled would be able to manifest their mana pool without help in a special environment or a special catalyst that could emit the mana needed for them to make a mana pool.
With that all said however, I took the magma missile I made with a grunt of effort and went down to the workshop and got to work using the obviously neglected tools that Lux used to become a Master of using metal magic or whatever... I had no idea why she had such a huge expansive workshop down here but I could use the massive cavern to manifest some larger vehicles and such.
"Hmm... Maybe I should have Velvet, and Alice put in charge of getting a group of Faunus's together to dismantle my munitions for Dust." I mused to myself as that could be a good way for me to start making some good money.
And hell... If I really wanted to be a fucking asshole, I could then sell the dismantled bombs and such to the Valian military for them to load up with their own Dust and use.
If I didn't just sell the munitions straight to the Valian military. Either way with a heavy as fuck American football-shaped crystal of glowing orange held in a carrying case that weighed a good seventy pounds altogether. I left Lux's tower and began heading over to Miss Goodwitch's personal tower which was a good ways away.
Beacon Academy was fucking massive... It was a massive sprawl that was built onto a large singular mountain that intersected a large number of leylines that was only matched by the leylines under the Imperial Palace within the main city of Vale.
So in the map of Beacon that all students got... There were quite literally more than fifteen hundred different mage towers spread about Beacon's campus with each being owned by a Master mage at the least and were often passed down to the Master's disciples if they were also at the Master tier of mages.
[Jake Bariss- I am on my way to Lady Goodwitch's tower. Could you please have someone allow me in?] I messaged Morgan as I was well aware that Miss Goodwitch would likely have potent defenses around her own magical tower.
All the magical towers also had a major attribute as well in something many didn't consider. Each and every magical tower was synched into the leylines and had powerful spells encoded into them. So should a true tide of Grimm come towards Beacon that the Huntsmen and Mages coudn't deal with.
Well... There was basically 1500 Grandmaster level full powered spells ready to remove the landscape of wherever they were aimed with the magical towers being able to fully recharge over the course of a week.
Once I got to Miss Goodwitch's tower I was greeted by a... Faunus maid/secretary. In a woman who was wearing a maid headpiece while wearing a businesswoman's suit that clung to her voluptuous form.
And I idly noticed she had three faunus traits in her eyes being slitted, she had a large reptilian tail behind her. And lastly, she had a curved horn atop her head. "Welcome to Mistress Goodwitch's tower, Master Jake Bariss. My name is Elma, and I am Mistress's head maid and caretaker."
I nodded my head in respect to the woman's bow to me as she stood back up straight and I smiled as I said. "Thank you for the warm welcome Miss Elma, could you please direct me to Morgan... My gift for her is rather heavy." I said with a wry smile as I moved the large carrying case I was carrying.
Elma giggled and then tilted her head in acknowledgment as she said kindly. "Very well, I will skip the tea ceremony to welcome you into my Mistress's home."
With that Elma turned around elegantly and led me up the stone steps leading toward Miss Goodwitch's personal mage tower and the closer I got to it, the more I could feel the difference in mana pressure around the tower.
'So this is the difference between a Grandmaster and a Sage.' I thought as the wards around Miss Goodwitch's tower weren't a joke. And I could feel them scanning me before relenting as they seemingly picked up on something. Probably that I was Lux's disciple if I had to bet on anything.
"Come inside Master Jake, I will lead you to the meeting room Lady Morgan has taken on the third floor." Elma said kindly.
"So how come I didn't have to tag myself in, to the wards if you don't mind me asking... Also, why are you calling me Master?"
Elma gave a slight hum as we passed through a beautiful front entrance and we headed towards an elevator. "Both questions can be answered with the same answer... Mistress Goodwitch is a woman who loves to micromanage things. And that includes being a mother hen for her disciples and acting almost like a surrogate master for her disciples, disciples should they meet her own standards."
The faunus woman put a key into the elevator's panel and the buttons came alight with power with her continuing. "You, have already met her expectations in being an ideal Huntsman even if you aren't a proper mage yet. So when you bled upon the wards at Lux's tower, you yourself were added to the wards here." Elma finished calmly.
This reminded me of the time when Ozpin singled me and Weiss out after the initiation. Where he promptly reminded everyone that an 'ideal huntsman' acted as a Beacon to the Grimm, and would drag them all in for a controlled and merciless slaughter rather than being an inefficient murderhobo like Pyrrha and Ruby were during the initiation.
"Well, thats good to know... I just need to Lux have some free time after she gets her chores for this term sorted out so she can point me in the direction I need to learn in magic." I spoke with a small smile.
But instead, Elma tilted her head to the side and looked behind herself at me with her saying in confusion. "What do you mean? Didn't she just help you with building your mana pool? I can tell it's brand new after seeing you in the initiation and not having one at all?"
I blinked and said matching confusion. "What no? Lux's other disciple Cinder helped me form my mana pool through meditation in the Ritual Rooms just a few minutes ago in a similar manner Miss Goodwitch helped Cinder form her own mana pool apparently. Lux said she was going to be busy for the first few days with the school term starting though."
There was a moment of silence as Elma turned around and fully stared at me for a long moment before she groaned slightly and said. "My oh my... Mistress is going to be quite irritated to hear that Lux failed to help another student form their mana pool. Not to mention Lux obviously failed to spend the last two weeks productively before the new term in doing other things."
I nervously giggled and said helplessly. "Don't snitch on me, please... I don't want to start my apprenticeship with myself being labeled a snitch that got her in trouble."
And thankfully Elma nodded in understanding she smiled and said. "Oh, it will be quite alright Master Jake. The fact I was able to tell so easily will be easily figured out as Lux is currently spending time with the First Princess... So the fact that you have your mana core is proof enough that she had nothing to do with it."
With that, the elevator made a soft dinging noise and Elma bowed her head and said softly. "Here you are Jake, I wish you to have a productive meeting with Mistress Morgan. And after the meeting, I respectfully advise you not to wander the tower, some rooms are protected quite... Thoroughly due to having sensitive materials and I wouldn't wish harm upon you."
"I understand Elma, thank you for your guidance," I said respectfully with her giving another bow and I idly realized Elma was wearing a tight leather choker around her neck rather than just the loose collars that most other Faunus wore.
But I didn't ogle the Faunus anymore than a simple glance as I made my way into the main room to go meet with Morgan Arc.
The fourth floor was apparently a meeting and entertainment floor of sorts... At least the entertainment room according to Miss Goodwitch's standards was a radio room, library, snack hall filled with candy, and a cinema room.
With the Cinema being where I was supposed to meet with Morgan and her sisters. And I could hear their voices as the cinema room's door was wide open invitingly as I approached.
I walked into the Cinema and after a moment I looked in... And saw a fuck load of blondes! And like two girls with more silvery blond hair. But too many damned blonds!
"Hello?" I called out unsurely before I recalled that Jaune's had some seven sisters and these must have been the sisters... While I also wondered where Jaune was supposed to be.
But either way, the seven girls turned toward me and I smiled wryly at Morgan who had the lightest of silver hair that I recognized from the picture she sent me of herself.
Morgan herself was a full-figured woman with long silver hair that came down past her waist, with sharp ice blue eyes that she gazed upon me with interest and something else in her gaze.
"Ah, hello Jake Bariss." Morgan spoke as she left her gaggle of sisters and then she hummed and then said more firmly. "Sisters... Please come over here so I can properly introduce you all."
And the seven sisters moved closer and surprisingly into a uniform line which... Kinda made sense if they had to introduce themselves over the years all at the same time.
"Now let me introduce them according to their ages." Morgan began and then moved down the line.
The youngest was Mordred Arc who had the most petite of frame... And being the most scantily clad as she wore tight fitting gym wear that exposed her stomach and her pants clung to her frame like a second skin.
Jeanne who had seemingly stolen the sisters gentics as she was the most stacked while having a sunny disposition and she was actually wearing a nun outfit out of all things.
Nero was next with her wearing a rather revealing dress that clung to her still curveacous form.
Okita was wearing a more mistral style robe and... She was bare feet? Or at least half bare feet with only a sock like thing covering the middle of her foot leaving her sole and toes exposed. Oh and she was the shortest of the girls.
Jean was wearing a tight fitting goth choker over her neck and a tight fitting minimal black dress that clung to her voluptous frame that almost matched Jeanne's curveasous form while having lighter blond hair like Morgan's.
Saphron had a country girl feel to her with golden blond hair done up simply and she was wearing a simple blouse and a pair of blue jeans while she also felt... Soft, she just screamed civilian to me.
"These are my six sisters, and with myself we are the seven daughters of our mother Artoria Arc." Morgan said proudly with herself clearly being the eldest, and seemingly in her mid early twenties.
As apparently 'Artoria Arc' was a fan of triplets and twins to cut down time in mass production of productive children.
"Its a pleasure to meet all of you. My name is Jake Bariss and I am the disciple of Miss Crownsguard so we can be distantly called family at this point." I said respectfully as I gave the sisters a slight bow of the head.
And then I hummed and then said. "Actually, I do have a gift for you Morgan, if you don't mind me using your first name."
Morgan shook her head with a slight hum as she said calmly. "I am not a Master yet, so speaking to me casually is for the best."
I nodded and then I brought the carrying case containing the large Magma Dust crystal onto a nearby table with a soft clatter. "I was advised by my fellow disciple Cinder that with you studying pyromancy the same as her even if you have differing focuses. A Dust Crystal could serve as a good gift so I hope this Magma Dust crystal will help in your research or to be used to enhance your magic."
Opening up the case the girls whistled as they took in the large missile core that weighed around seventy five pounds with Morgan herself humming and saying with a small smile. "Well well, that is a princely gift indeed. I appreciate the gift as no matter what I can easily trade it for another resource or as you rightly put it, I can use it as fuel for several very powerful spells."
She walked over and after inspecting it, I could feel her mana synch up with it with her raising an eyebrow. "A Top-Grade Magma Crystal? Was... Did Lux give you this crystal?" Morgan asked in confusion.
I shook my head and said frankly. "Nope, my situation is a bit weird as you may have realized with having a bloodline power similar to the Vacuo's Abizar's manifestation semblance. But in exhange for my stuff being capable of bearing elemental and magical power. I am limited rather strictly to naval themed manifestations."
Pointing at the crystal I said calmly. "That crystal came from a missile, I dismantled that I manifested actually."
Morgan raised an eyebrow at my explanation as even I was well aware Top-Grade Dust was very much a controlled substance that someone couldn't just buy. It was hoarded by the nobles for their own magical uses, hoarded by the military, or just generally hoarded by the nobles who mined it up outside of Vale's walls.
After a moment of thought Morgan gently closed the carrying case and bowed her head towards me and said. "Still, in either case, I thank you for the gift. Now, the retainers have some pizza over there. Please help yourself if you are hungry."
And I was actually hungry as after Cinder's lesson I didn't get anything to eat and it was well past when I typically got dinner.
Saphron led me to the pizza with her saying. "So how is your time going at Beacon? I am just visiting so I don't really get the full picture of life here." She said clearly trying to engage in conversation.
I hummed as I picked up a couple of slices of pizza and put them on a paper plate before I responded with a slight sigh. "Its been... Certainly eventful to say the least. So, what do you do outside of Beacon unless you work here?"
She waved her hands in denial as she said with a chuckle. "Oh, dear heavens no. I do logistical work outside of Beacon with my wife... I don't have the temperament for a huntsman or the patience to be a mage researcher haha."
I shrugged as that was more than fair enough... As Beacon's initiation proved, the school only took the talented, the driven, and those willing to put their entire souls into fighting the Grimm.
And if they failed during the initiation... That was what the Class Trial was for apparently, to pull in all the Grimm that feasted on a bunch of souls, And then cull them before they could get smarter and more dangerous.
With that, our conversation petered out as I came back into the larger sister gathering with my dinner and I was pulled into the conversation between the sisters as Mordred spoke bombastically. "Heh, Jake aren't you also taking warrior/hunter classes even if you have that manifestation semblance and studying magic?"
Raising an eyebrow at the tone in her voice I responded bluntly. "That is very much correct. I can already manifest missiles, machine guns and such. With myself being able to remotely control dozens of such things at once. But I also want to make sure I am able to defend myself should my manifestations not match the threats of what I face."
Morded nodded fiercely with her whirling on Morgan and pointing at her and saying. "So yeah Morgan! You need to get back into training with your sword and staff to make sure you keep up your forms and don't get out of shape with how you are always sitting around meditating and reading!"
Morgan herself rolled her eyes and said flatly. "I am but on the cusp of becoming a Master mage, I do not wish to waste my time training my swordplay when I can become a Master mage... Which will solve a great many numbers of troubles as you are well aware Mordred."
For a moment Mordred looked pissed before she snorted and with a cough, Okita cut in with a more friendly tone. "So Jake, I see you have a thinner more agility-based sword. Would you care to spar sometime as I have a similar fighting style!"
I nodded and said. "Yeah, Okita that could be nice. I am going to be looking into picking up a style of swordplay to truly focus on. So having a partner I can train in swordsmanship would be great."
Then Jean, stepped closer to me and my senses sharpened as she bowed her head slightly and said contritely. "I apologize for my own mistress actions. She was... Overzealous in her attempt to recruit you Jake."
Looking at Jean, I paused before I realized. "Ah, you are Lady Calia's disciple?"
To which Jean nodded firmly with her smiling wryly as she said. "Yes, I am, though its not nearly as prestigious as Morgan's apprenticeship to Lady Goodwitch. Mistress Calia has several dozen apprentices that also double as her workers for when she is working on a large necromancy project that spans several of the lesser necromancy schools."
'Hmm.. So one of them is part of the dark magic side of things, well Morgan also has a bit of a toe in the dark side as well with her study of soul-eating flames.' I thought before Jeanne took a chance to talk after speaking with Saphron.
"So Jake if you don't mind me asking. You are planning on taking the Class Trial correct?" She asked with a... Measured voice. And I realized she distinctly wanted something as I slowly nodded.
"Yes I indeed am. I already got a full team for it as well." I said calmly.
And I saw Jeanne flinch before she smiled wryly and said. "I see, then forgive me. I was hoping I could join your team as a holy and light-wielding mage."
I raised an eyebrow as such a mage was indeed very powerful and after a moment of thought, I said slowly. "Well. I say, I have a full team. But several slots are taken up by a few of my retainers. A holy and light mage would be welcome on any team I am sure."
I distinctly knew that Velvet and Alice weren't that religious and both of the girls were deeply invested in their chance at learning from Grandmaster smiths and enchanters here in Beacon so theyprobably do not even want to go honestly.
So I shrugged and said. "Could I get your scroll I.D? I will ask my retainers if they would prefer to stay here in Beacon anyway, as they aren't much for fighting anyway."
Nero cackled with her patting the side of my arm as she said teasingly. "Wow! Just met my sister and within five minutes you are already asking for her scroll ID haha!"
"Do you have a crush on her? Is it her holy aura that makes you want to gherk!" Nero choked as Mordred slung an arm around her neck and began choking her with a wide grin as Jeanne smiled gently and offered me her scroll with it lightning up as it prepared to pair to my scroll.
I held out my own scroll to hers and with a soft clinging noise, I got her info and I smiled before Morgan spoke up. "So have you seen Ferid since that... Awkward meeting Jake?"
I paused and I shook my head before I said with a hint of exasperation. "No, I haven't seen her... Though who knows if she is like hiding under within the shadow of a cabinet or under my dresser."
Nero and Mordred both snorted at my words with Morgan frowning and saying more firmly. "That... Could in fact be an issue with how you are still in the commoner dorms with your entourage correct?"
At my nod she continued. "Then in that case, you should consider having your group move directly into Lux's tower as the tower will be well protected should Ferid or another decide to play some juvenile prank or otherwise attempt to harm you."
"Like the Rose heiress attempting to murder her half-sister in broad daylight," I said flatly and then at seeing their expressions of disbelief I explained the incident and Morgan nodded as she blinked and said.
"Oh yes, Summer Rose is quite... The spitfire and still holds a torch for Taiyang Xiao-Long despite his philandering ways. It is not surprising her daughter Ruby Rose also has some... Unresolved emotions due to how her supposed father figure was 'stuck' raising Yang instead of being her own father."
Mordred summed it up perfectly as she stated with a chuckle. "Daddy issues combined with superpowers always leaves a nasty mess haha."
And damn wasn't she right honestly.
With that, I nodded and said. "Alright yeah, it would probably be a good idea to get my group moved into Lux's tower. I will do that tonight in fact before we get too set into our ways at the dorm."
The girls gave me a couple of minutes to get back into eating my pizza and then after I finished a slice Jean dragged me back into the conversation as she asked curiously. 'So Jake I hope this doesn't offend you. But could you tell me abit about New Jersey and Prinz Eugen? They are ship personifications with a soul built on the ship they were made after, but they are... Truly alive in their own way."
I had to take a breath at that and then I said frankly. "Its... Grossly complicated to say the least. But to put simply, a ship is alive you know. Each groan is her stretching, she cares for her sailors, and the sailors in turn care for her. What I do is take all those amalgamated emotions, and combine then with the ship's history and life forming their ego. And with my own aura acting as kindling their ego forms the basis of their own soul."
Jean blinked before she smiled and said. "I see. And then with your manifestation ability, you form their human body due to how they 'ARE' a ship more than anything else."
Which... Minus the whole Wisdom Cube thing she was rather spot on, so I nodded with Jeanne speaking softly. "I am glad you are giving those ships life of their own... No, as you said, giving them a body so their experiences can be shared with us land walkers ufufu."
I honestly thought she would be more critical of them with how they were technically classed within the class of Necromancy due to them being soul incarnations. But was obviously glad she was so chill.
And so we continued to share small talk with myself getting to know the seven sisters better. Though it was clear that with eight people here, it was going to be hard to truly get the cores of people's personalities and what they were like.
But we spent a good hour just talking after Morgan turned on some movie to run in the background as we all sat together on a couple of couches with the movie muted with just subtitles as we continued talking.
And both Nero, Mordred, and Okita shit-talked the heroine of the movie who used some super flowy sword style that was just pretty to look at as she was trying to hunt down a powerful Grimm that had infiltrated Vale.
'Hmm, a movie that helps promote looking out for Abomination's. People who got turned into half Grimm basically after making a deal with the highest ranked Grimm.' I thought before refocusing as Morgan got my attention.
"So Jake, I am curious. How is your living situation though? Do you have a retainer who can take care of your clothes, and to prepare you any food you need outside of the cafeteria?"
I smiled wryly and responded honestly. "No, I do not... That is something I will likely need to prepare for though. Lux only has a couple of servants whose jobs are to clean up the many floors and rooms of her magical tower."
Morgan nodded firmly before she hummed and said slowly. "Seeing how you plan to become a noble yourself. Might I make a suggestion and request?"
I nodded with her continuing. "You see, my mother and my sister Saphron here has been having some difficulties due to her landlord being a Baron who is fond of throwing their weight around upon people who aren't noble."
'That tracks with how commoners aren't allowed to legally own land in the city of Vale.' I thought before I spoke calmly. "You want me to take your mother... And even Saphron as my servant or retainer? I mean I have no problem offering my umbrella of protection due to our shared master lineage, but no offense, couldn't you do that?"
Morgan was almost a Master in her field of Pyromancy, and that wasn't a simple thing. That was a power that people respected. But instead, Morgan scowled and said with some amount of anger in her voice.
"I myself am still only registered as a researcher mage having not gone through initiation. Until I become a Master and then prove myself on the battlefield of which, such a thing will be very dangerous as I have all of zero experience in fieldwork. I am still but a commoner and Lady Goodwitch has said she will not interfere with this situation."
I frowned upon hearing that... Miss Goodwitch was the equivalent of a fucking Duke, as an S-ranked Huntress. If some jumped-up fat bastard of a baron was doing stupid shit, she literally had the right to take his life if he wasn't also an accomplished hunter, and even then she would be let off with literally less than a slap on the wrist.
Something fucky was going on, and I didn't like it... Then I had a thought. 'What if another Duke-ranked house or force was keeping Miss Goodwitch from directly interfering? Or more simply, what if Goodwitch just wanted to Morgan to become a Master sooner or likewise deal with the Baron on her own?'
I gave Morgan a look before I asked slowly. "Who is supporting the Baron? What backing does he have that prevents you from just stomping him down?"
Morgan grimaced and it clearly galled her as she took a breath and said coldly. "No force is directly supporting him. Besides the fact that he himself is a landed noble in good standing due to his father being an above-average huntsman when he was alive."
'Which meant that the next generation would lose their nobility status if they didn't show promise.' I thought knowing how noble families worked here in Vale and knowing that for all their power and privilege, it was born with a controlled amount of nepotism and abuse being allowed.
There weren't any people rising up to become Nobles without providing or inventing some wonderous things. No, to rise above your lot in life, you needed to take to the field in slaying Grimm in some way or another.
So with that I asked Morgan simply. "I understand then, but I have one final question... Why haven't you smacked him down with how you are already an Expert tier mage when he is a useless lout?"
And Morgan grimaced before Jeanne spoke softly. "For all that he is a useless lout who is only a baron. He does have connections and is also a priest of the God of Light Church who uses the funds from his services in using healing magic to buy up property."
'Ah fucking lovely... The dude is an ugly bastard priest as well, though it makes sense now why Morgan doesn't want to strike directly at the landlord that's acting pushy.' I thought as I realized all too quickly that Miss Goodwitch also didn't want to fuck about with the church.
As zealots with superpowers were something to fear... I had already heard some stories about the church's Inquisition that hunts down Abominations that serve the Grimm, and they were apparently batshit crazy and had the same outlook of the fucking Inquisitors from Warhammer 40k.
So after a moment... I exhaled and said. "Alright, I will take your mother Artoria under my umbrella, Morgan. But if something happens that brings the church on my head, I will have to involve my master."
There was a pause before Morgan nodded in understanding at getting what I meant.
But either way, I coughed and said. "Besides this... Dour topic to say the least. So Jean, you been working on anything interesting? As I do have a thought that could be interesting for a large project."
See I had an interesting thought process. I could make ships being my primary focus, magical-based stuff and highly advanced technology also being a major drain upon my aura.
Jean shook her head and I smiled as I said. "So I had an idea, what if I manifested a ghost ship? And then from there if you could help, you could crew the ghost ship with ghosts and revenants so that the entire construct would be immune to lesser Grimm that didn't have magical attacks!?"
"That's a fantastic idea actually!" Jean spoke excitedly and then we began speaking about it in turn as apparently making ghost constructs of structures... Was just not really a thing unless necromancers used stupid amounts of material to just make the entire structure out of the bones and biomass of their victims.
Myself on the other hand? So long as it was a ship itself, I could create a ghost ship that would be able to fly over land, its keel crashing on the winds themselves and from my mind I realized the ghost ship would only be able to manifest during the night as the sunlight would banish it.
And soon enough Jean and I were locked into conversation hard as the big titty goth girl got close and we were sitting but a few inches across from one another as we began making notes... A literal list of materials and reagents Jean would need to bind spirits and revenants to a spectral construct like my ship.
"Hmm, the question is whether the spirits need to be sailors themselves though... Well in the worst case, I can still pilot the ship a bit in the back of my mind, the spirits just need to know how to use the cannons that will on the ship." I spoke with Jean nodding and saying.
"That is true, spirits can only do what they knew in their previous life. So although sailor souls are going to be a bit hard to call upon as sailors just... Aren't that common due to how dangerous aquatic Grimm are. But soldier souls are aplenty and using a cannon isn't too difficult."
Jean finished with her dropping her pen to the paper she was writing on and Okita called out. "Heeyyy! Is nerd talk over yet?"
I shrugged and then after a moment of thought I asked. "I have a question if we could build this quickly enough. Could my team use this for the Class Trail?"
And everyone in the room paused. As they had seen that the ship Jean and I had planned wasn't a small thing. It was a massive four-mast frigate that had three dozen cannons on each side that would in truth be shooting magical cannonballs due to the cannons being ghostly as well.
Jean was quiet for a moment and then she smiled as she leaned over and grabbed my hand that had poked the diagram. "Jake, let me join the Class Trial as well. I can't use the blessing of the Light God, but the prestige of coming in first place will help me so much in getting more of Lady Callia's attention and resources."
I raised an eyebrow and honestly, that was still fine. With Velvet and Alice both out of the Class Trial that left spaces for Jean, and Jeanne just fine.
So I nodded and said firmly. "Yes, I agree to this. But will you be able to get the souls and revenants to bind to the ship?"
And Jean took a deep breath and said with a wry smile. "Oh, it will make me bleed... But yes, I can take out the resources I am allotted for the next couple of months, but yes I can do it. And here is my contact details as well so we can begin work tomorrow if we want to make the deadline."
With that Mordred hummed and then asked curiously. "Wait, so I get the whole ship thing. But Jake can you make stuff like crab monsters or something?"
My lips pursed but I shook my head as I said firmly. "Although such a thing does fall into a category of water. I can only make 'naval' themed stuff. Something you could expect to see on a naval ship, be stored upon one, or otherwise used by people that will be leaving the vessel to do a deployment."
I shook my head and continued. "Well in either case... I appreciate the dinner and the company. Thank you Morgan for the invitation, and send me your mother's contact details if she does want to go ahead and be my group... Den mother? I am not sure, do our cooking and cleaning I guess is what she would be doing."
Nora and New Jersey were both scatter-brained to say the least and didn't pick up after themselves so having someone to pick up the slack would be good.
With that Jean carefully folded the information we wrote down and I saw a flash of her pale expansive cleavage as she hid the folded piece of paper in her titty pocket dimension and then Morgan spoke with gratitude clear in her voice.
"I thank you for standing up for my mother Jake. If you need anything, please ask me for aid."
I got up from the seat I was on and I just smiled and said. "Ahh it's alright. Gotta stick up for our shared master lineage. Anywho, I got moving to do before I get some sleep, so you girls have a good night."
Then I was off, I left the sisters behind as I made my way through the hallway of Miss Goodwitch's magical tower and I quickly made my way out of Miss Goodwitch's tower with myself only pausing as I left the boundaries of the wards to send a group text that said.
[Get all our belongings together, we are all moving into Lux's Tower.]
And from there I moved directly towards Lux's tower knowing Prinz and Ren with their more calm disposition could get Nora and New Jersey to follow along. While I imagine Velvet and Alice were going to need a bit of help moving their tools.
Either way its not like we had too much personal belongings so its not like they were going to have to cart over a bunch of stuff.
-
With Lux's tower having like a dozen floors in it that were still unclaimed, I choose the floor underneath the floor Cinder lived on and with each floor having a dozen rooms that gave us plenty of room to quickly put our stuff away with all of them getting my retainer seals.
And likewise my meeting with Alice and Velvet about the Class Trial went very well. As they didn't particularly desire being part of a punitive expedition to kill massive amounts of Grimm. When they weren't aligned for straight combat either.
Sure they could defend themselves... But they couldn't stand up to dozens of Grimm coming for them at the same time.
After everyone got their stuff put away, I took Velvet and Alice down to the fucking massive workshop underneath the tower with its equally large tunnel that would lead out the mountain Beacon was built upon.
"Wow... Alice, we can make a bunch of weapons and fit more rugged enchantment ritual area's down here!" Velvet spoke excitedly.
I smiled and said happily. "My master said this cavern heads down to the base of the mountain and has an exit out there. So make sure to stay away from the end of the cavern as it is protected by some hostile wards that will attack anyone besides myself."
With that said I refocused as I took a deep breath. "Now, you girls mark out area's for where you want to put your own facilities, I have my own project to work on."
Both of the rabbit-eared girls nodded and took out some chalk so they could begin marking off the space they needed for the servants to begin moving in supplies and more tools while I went down a bit myself to get some free space as I was going to be building something big.
'A ghost ship...' I thought as I embraced the Admiral Essence and I could feel my small pool of magical energy, and my larger pool of aura draining as glowing green misty formed in front of myself.
Sure although higher-ranked Grimm probably had their own malformed aura, and magical bullshit they could pull to touch the Ghost Ship I was making. But that didn't matter, such Grimm weren't going to be anywhere within a hundred miles of Beacon.
A ship made out of pure spiritual energy couldn't be harmed by mere physical blows, though there was a caveat that the ship could only properly manifest during the night, and each shot of the cannons would take some amount of energy from the ship itself.
First came a glass bottle inside my hands and I could feel my aura draining a good deal just from the creation of the bottle. As it was the core of my idea, an idea that could change a great deal actually.
As the bottle was filled with a great deal of water that even when the bottle was at rest, the water within seemed to be constantly in motion like it, itself was a lively sea.
'A Ship in a Bottle.' That was my plan... Basically a pokeball but an enchanted glass bottle that could seal away a ship, and when I uncorked it, the ship would teleport out of the bottle's false sea.
And more importantly, the Ship in a Bottle had the ability to refuel the magical stores of the ships within it. Along with fixing some minor damage thats done to the ship.
So in essence right now I was just making the framework of the ship as although a ghost ship could itself be useful. Having the ship instead possess a necromantic ship structure would amplify its resonance in the world.
Because... As cool as a ghost ship would be. If I tried to board the ghost ship without it having a frame to possess, then I would literally just phase through it.
Halfway through making the ghost ship itself, I had to stop as I was running out of aura and my tiny pool of magical energy was already long gone. So I decided to call it there as I was already tired.
'Time to take a nice bath after a long day.' I thought as although I already had a shower earlier... Where Nora joined in. I still wanted a nice long soak as tomorrow was likely going to be hard day as I would be working with Jean to make the ghost ship properly.
But just as I was relaxing in my bath with my scroll in hand I almost dropped my fucking scroll into the bath when a message popped up from someone I didn't expect.
[Ferid Bathory- Oh! I heard such wonderful news. You plan to make another ship... But this time a spectral one in which a horde of ghosts and revenants could properly control! What a wonderful idea in fact.]
I gave my scroll a dark look before I typed in. [,,,How did you get my contact info?]
[Ferid Bathory- I just checked the student records with Callia's identification, don't tell on me pls!? Anywho! I must say I look forward to seeing the ship in action though I am obviously incapable of taking part in the Class Trial. Oh, and by the way I was curious actually.]
I was silent for a long minute after reading the message... As I was obviously worried about what the hell she would want to trade with me. And if she asked for one of my shipgirls I would have to ask Lux to smite her.
As I didn't have any way of killing a fucking lich at least for now.
So after a moment, I typed back simply. [I will not be giving one of my shipgirls before you even ask.]
There was a slight pause before Ferid answered again swiftly.
[Ferid Bathory- Hahaha! No, I perfectly understand Jake, I felt... Such anger when I let other people get so close to my Flesh Automatons and doing things with them... So I can't let them play as much anymore as I just get so jealous! So I perfectly understand the love an artist has for their personal masterworks. Actually, I was hoping that when the Class Trial is over you could help make me my own ghost ship?]
I had to digest that...
As outright refusing her was spitting in the face of Calia and whatever connection she had with the Litch Lord the necromancer Sage that served as the head of the Royal Families guard.
But saying yes was also... Eh because both Cinder and Lux had issues with Ferid in particular.
So I first screenshotted all the messages and sent them to Lux and Cinder with questions as to whether I should agree as I didn't want to go behind their backs. And then I messaged Ferid back.
[I will consider it. I am obviously busy with my own projects and after the Class Trial, who knows if I will even be able to do that when the God of Lights blessing runs through myself.]
[Ferid Bathory- That's perfectly fine Jake. I can wait for you to finish the project with Jean.]
i sagged in place in the bath before my scroll blooped again but this time it was a phone call from Lux.
"Hello." I spoke in greeting and Lux's cool voice hit my ears.
"Jake, if it is at all possible I recommend you to just do what Ferid asks. She will overwise be insufferable and will likely seek to enact some plot to inconvenience or embarrass you should you refuse for no good reason."
I gave my scroll a dull look before I exhaled and said. "Alright Lux, I will do so. Assuming I survive the Class Trial in anycase." I said dryly with Lux snorting and saying flatly.
"Oh, it will be dangerous alright. But you are already a part of Beacon, we will be making sure nothing too outrageous comes after you. You have already gone through initiation and proven yourself."
The call went silent before Lux broke the silence with a bit more of her peppy cheer entering her voice as she asked. "Sooo, how did it go with Morgan?"
I chuckled in turn and said with amusement. "Well enough, I met Morgan's sisters as well. And then were all good to me with Morgan herself being a very good host... They had good taste in pizza as well haha." I finished jokingly with Lux sniffing.
"Hmph, while I am working myself to the bone, my disciples are out getting imported coffee, and having a pizza party! I have been betrayed and abandoned by my heartless disciples!" Lux bemoaned loudly.
I actually had to pull my face away from the screen at how loud she was and after a moment I called out flatly. "Yeah and whose fault is it that you are still stuck with work you should have finished during the break after the last term?"
There was a moment of tense silence before Lux's exploded. "Haha what? I didn't catch that, we must be breaking up because of distance or something." She rambled.
And with my voice as dry as a fucking desert I stated flatly. "Lux... We are literally in the same building you goober. Have a good night, I am heading to sleep."
Lux's hurried denial were silenced with a loud click as I hung up on the blond and I tossed my scroll onto a towel I had next to my bath where I just sighed and said tiredly. "Blondes... First was Yang and her issues with Ruby, I got Morgan and her family, and now my magical teacher is a weirdo."