Amelia Thornheart

Chapter Fifty-One: Firemint Tea

In the academy’s central throughway, Amelia found herself lost in thought as she idly perused the display cabinets lining the walls. Contained within were martial weapons of all types, to which Amelia paid little attention. Her mind was occupied with recent events, and the passing student gossip barely registered.

She was filled with a mixture of excitement and doubt. One of the students, a second circle mage named Hinako, enthusiastically requested Amelia’s tutorage. The request was delivered with such solemn determination that Amelia was once again reminded that the magical capabilities she took for granted were of life-changing importance for many of the academy’s students.

Amelia had agreed, caught up in the excitement of the prospect of developing her own group of disciples. That wasn’t anything unusual; the teaching documents she’d gone over made it clear that instructors could - and were encouraged to - take on students as direct disciples if it wouldn’t interfere with their other teaching obligations. Instructors competed with each other vicariously through their disciples at the end-of-year tournament. Given the opportunity to join the fun, Amelia surprised herself by how quickly she jumped at it.

Now that the dueling class was over, Amelia had some time before her next obligation. Instead of returning to her room or hunting down Serena - an easy task requiring her to only follow the aether pouring out from her - Amelia instead took solitude in exploring the academy. Strangely, as the minutes ticked away and her mind started to go in circles, she found the previous excitement at being Hinako’s tutor slowly replaced with a gnawing doubt.

Now she had time to reflect, Amelia realised she very much wasn’t a good teacher. She might become one in the future, but for now she could honestly self-evaluate herself as clueless. She might be a powerful mage, but her capabilities, which she controlled with a supernatural level of instinct and intuition, had been somehow created from her time playing a game. Doing magic came easy to her but teaching it was a whole other story. 

Her time in Kenhoro, where Serena and Grandpa Gu taught her, made her realise how different the teaching skill set was from simply learning the taught skill. Serena was an excellent swordswoman and a good teacher, but Grandpa Gu was exceptional in both. The ability he had to spot Amelia’s mistakes with her sword before she even had a chance to accidentally ingrain them into her muscle memory was phenomenal. He guided her down a learning path customised for her effortlessly. It was a skill backed by his own experiences of training hundreds, if not thousands, of students over decades.

Amelia hadn’t trained hundreds or thousands of mages. She hadn’t even trained one. She didn’t know the common pitfalls students faced when trying to cycle their aether and form the simple formations of ordinary first circle magic. What would she be able to do? Other than saying, ‘It’s easy, just do it like this!’ it wasn’t like she actually knew how structured magical learning went.

“Assistant Instructor Thornheart, you have a disconcerting look about you,” a smooth feminine voice intoned, dripping with alluring charisma. Amelia turned to see Sarafina Nakajima, the Head Instructor for the Department of Intelligence and Security. Serena told her that Instructor Nakajima had previously worked in Centralis Intelligence before recently becoming an instructor.

“Instructor Nakajima,” Amelia replied. She opened her mouth to say that everything was fine but stopped herself. Perhaps the instructor could give her some advice. Amelia threw up a sound-blocking ward around them. Instructor Nakajima raised an eyebrow but otherwise didn’t comment on it. Sound-blocking wards were a common act of privacy in a world where so many had enhanced senses.

“A student recently requested to become my disciple,” Amelia began, recounting the events that transpired an hour ago. “I accepted, as I was happy to see a demon willing to learn from me, a human. Only…” Amelia took a breath. “Now I realise I don’t have any teaching experience and am concerned I might delay or otherwise negatively affect the student's development.”

Instructor Nakajima simply blinked at her, and Amelia blinked back. Eventually, the Head Instructor opened her ruby lips. “This happened in your first class?” she asked, slightly tilting her head. Seeing Amelia nod, a small smile appeared on the instructor’s face. “My my… one class, and you already have students requesting your tutorage. What in the seven hells did you do to them?”

“I, uh, dueled them under Lunaria’s instructions.”

“Lunaria, I see. Seems like something she would do. After the pair of you caused so much damage this morning I can see how she’d be inclined to take out her despair on the students.” Instructor Nakajima raised a hand to cover her mouth, quietly giggling. “I wasn’t there to see it, but many of us sensed your Taranis invocation. Your power must satisfy the rumours, for the Writing on those walls makes for a comprehensive cloak. I would know.”

Amelia couldn’t help but ask, “What rumours?”. She’d overheard all kinds of nonsense spouted by the students but wondered what a former Intelligence Officer thought.

“Well…”  Instructor Nakajima leaned in slightly, lowering her voice. “I’ve retained all manner of contacts, and one of them told me that the aetherscope installation that monitors the Nai inlet recently picked up an unusually powerful invocation of Asclepius. An invocation that occurred around the same time a cutter went down while on its way to Shimashina. A cutter that Instructor Halen was reportedly travelling on. You see…” Instructor Nakajima leant in even further, now with a sly smile. “Normally, such an event would be a catastrophe. Even with a talented Speaker like Instructor Halen to protect the survivors from the wildlife - the collision would cause many casualties. However, in this case, there was barely a scratch on any passengers or staff. Almost as if someone did an awful lot of healing.”

The demon leaned back, stifling a yawn. “You’re a known Speaker of Aseco, Assistant Instructor Thornheart. Doesn’t take a genius to put the two horns together.”

Amelia responded with an anxious smile. By now, she’d come to understand her being a Second Word Speaker would become well known. When she’d first come to this world, she’d hesitated to use too much magic, concerned about what detection spells there might be. Never would she have thought there were enormous aetherscopes that could detect her Speaking from thousands of miles away! 

Not that she couldn’t potentially hide the fact in the future. Speaking the First Word silently was something she’d got a good grip on. Would she be able to do the same with the Second Word? Perhaps she could be dropped off somewhere remote, in the center of the great desert in the Southern Terra Firma, or maybe on a remote island outside the range of any aetherscopes or slumbering animal gods. She could then practice Speaking not just Asclepius but also the range of more powerful demonic Second Words she knew.

“How many, uh, people do you think have been able to put those two horns together?” Amelia asked.

“Anyone with a few brain cells, although many will still reject after hearing your supposed age, which for the record, I am rather suspicious about. Not to worry,” Instructor Nakajima nodded her head solemnly. “A woman’s age is a sacred thing, so I won’t ask.”

“But you’ll rely on your contacts to find out instead, right?” Amelia said, feeling amused as the topic of her suspicious age once again came to light. No matter how many times she told the truth that she was twenty-five, people didn’t fully believe her. If her memory was correct, Amelia had answered that question when Serena interrogated her when they first met. The axiom crystal should have recorded her telling the truth, but apparently, they weren’t as reliable as a genuine divinely blessed truth-teller like Polina.

She also noted Instructor Nakajima’s usage of the term brain cell. She hadn’t explored this world's knowledge of biology much, but that term alone told her quite a lot about where they were. When Amelia woke in the Vengeance’s captain’s quarters and was greeted by its sword-wielding, nose-poking captain, she’d initially thought she was actually in the medieval game world she was so familiar with. Only after she’d seen the firearms and metal behemoth that was the Vengeance proper did she realise this world’s military technology and ship design more closely resembled the warships she’d seen in documentaries recounting humanity’s hundred-year recovery after the Sixty-Second War in the twenty-seventh century.

“Oh dear, my natural inclination to ramble has taken us off-course,” Instructor Nakajima intoned softly. “You don’t have any obligations until after lunch, correct? I believe you requested Lunaria to sit in on the crystal-craft sessions?”

“You seem to know my schedule well,” Amelia said, crossing her arms while failing to sound annoyed. Something about Instructor Nakajima resonated with her. The smooth-talking ex-Intelligence Officer reminded her of her friend Aiden Adachi.

Well, that is, if Aiden wasn’t an incompetent drunk that was definitely going to be encased in stone the next time Amelia saw him. Instructor Nakajima did, however, share his amenable and easy-going attitude. Besides, Amelia’s instincts viewed the demon in a good light.

“It’s my nature, after all,” came the reply. “Would you like some tea in my office? I have a collection of tea leaves that are the envy of even the most snobbish Fengra merchant. I’d like to discuss your concerns with this newly found disciple of yours further, as well as to get to know you better.” The demon's eye twinkled.

“Mmm! Sure!” Amelia exclaimed, feeling some of her worries melt away. Looking back on the years she spent in the hospital made her realise how much time she’d wasted ruminating on her situation instead of working to improve it or otherwise change her mindset. For this new life, she promised herself she would be far more proactive and engaged with everything and everyone! 

They travelled through the academy towards the instructor’s office. Amelia tried to emulate the woman’s posture and presence. On a personal level, she preferred the way Serena strutted around with an air of command. Still, for the sake of Amelia’s role as an Assistant Instructor and now personal tutor, she figured she needed to come across as authentic as she could.

She felt she was getting pretty close to imitating it when the sight of an auburn-haired demon passing the hallway in front of them unconsciously caused Amelia to pause for half a step. It was barely a moment, and Amelia wasn’t sure the purple-eyed demon was even aware they were there. Still, something in Amelia’s body language must have given Instructor Nakajima a clue that her guard was up.

“She’s unusual, isn’t she?” the instructor said softly once the demon in question was long out of earshot. “Have you two met?”

“Not properly. She burst into the room after Lunaria and I finished our duel. I think the amount of aether we were cycling caused concern.” Amelia gave Instructor Nakajima a side glance. “What do you make of her?”

“A valuable talent. She’s done much for the Empire.” the demon replied plainly. “The war has caused many of the northern demons to… change. Many of them carry a subtle anger. Be wary of it. Especially as you’re human.”

“Right…” Amelia looked back momentarily at the space Katalin of Driss disappeared through. She’d already decided not to tell Serena about her suspicions while they were at the academy. At least, not unless it was needed. Likewise, if Katalin of Driss somehow ended up part of Serena’s elite group of soldiers, then she would have to speak up.

When they arrived at Instructor Nakajima’s office, Amelia was surprised to find it warm, with a cosy fire burning in a small wood burner. She noted that it also contained a few cabinets of ancient-looking weapons displayed in a museum-like fashion, much like the cabinets she’d been idly pursuing earlier. When she asked about it, she was told, “We are samino; we have always revered the weapons of our warriors. The city administration has the original spear wielded by Sango in its lobby. Check it out if you’re passing by. The old runes inscribed upon its blade still glow in the dark.” Instructor Nakajima looked at the shattered pieces of metal lying upon black cloth. “That there is one of the Empress’s blades.”

“R-really?” Amelia stuttered, giving the artefact another look over. “Wouldn’t something like this be more important? Displayed elsewhere?” It seemed unusual that a historical weapon once wielded by the Empress would be lying around in Instructor Nakajima’s office.

“Not really,” came the pointed reply. “It’s one of the Thousand Blades. When the Empress defeated the Eastern Titanlord - a terrible General of the Enemy that ruled over the defeated kingdoms - she shattered a thousand blades upon the creature’s almost impenetrable hide before finally breaking through. Most of them are recovered. The academy alone has over fifty. They’re dotted all around the place. Ones like this one,” she said, gesturing towards the shattered metal. “Are less valuable. The more complete one is, the higher it’s worth.”

“A thousand blades? She went through that many?”

“She sure did,” Instructor Nakajima said, the twinkle in her eye returning.

“Didn’t she think after the first hundred didn’t work, then perhaps…” Amelia raised her palms flat, shrugging, “...That she should try something else?”

“Pfft!” the instructor blurted out and then broke into an uncontrolled laughter that was so unlike her normal demeanour. “Haha! Yes…” She wiped a tear. “Perhaps she should have. You should tell her that should you two ever meet. I would love to see the face she would make!”

Amelia giggled. “Maybe I will! I’m told there’s a good chance she’ll want to speak to me at my oath ceremony in the capital.”

“Now there’s a thought,” the demon said with a smile. “Here, sit.” Amelia took a seat on the couch while Instructor Nakajima placed a teacup before her. The instructor set about brewing some tea and it wasn’t long before an unusual fragrance filled the room. As if predicting the coming question, the demon explained, “It’s firemint from the North. It’s strong, and it crackles on your tongue and down your throat. A strange but pleasant feeling. It’s a staple of the Northern Army’s rations.” A cup was poured, and the pungent mint smell filled Amelia’s nostrils. “It’s also fed to children to warm them up.” Nakajima was the first to take a delicate sip. “Ah, mint tea keeps me going.”

Amelia followed suit, and as she tasted and swallowed the liquid, an intense crackling sensation erupted down her throat. It reminded her of the popping candy she had as a child, but with a far more potent effect. She coughed, prompting a laugh from the instructor. Taking a smaller sip, she savoured the sensation. “It’s good! Is it expensive?”

“Here? Yes,” the demon answered. “In the North, not so much. It grows wild on the mountainsides. I believe the crackling is a defensive mechanism against predators, but we are far too large to be harmed and can instead enjoy the sensation.” She took another delicate sip. “I dug this out from my stores for Katalin, but I haven’t found the opportunity to socialise with her yet. We only really see her during the training sessions.” The instructor sighed with a forlorn expression. “She’s a wondrous demon…”

“You’re not bad yourself,” Amelia pointed out. “Your cloaks are some of the best I’ve ever seen. Kanaxai, right?” The demon god of trickery was an obvious choice for a former Intelligence Officer. Amelia reckoned that most mages and warriors wouldn’t be able to identify the almost imperceptible yellow aura wrapped around the instructor.

“Oh?” Instructor Nakajima raised an eyebrow after Amelia pointed out she could see the subtle aura. “Very good, Assistant Instructor Thornheart. Excellent perception. Most would need to Speak to see through my cloaks. Cloaking has always been my talent. I wanted to be an ice mage growing up, but fate had a different plan.”

“What kind of stuff did you get up to?” With the demon's skill, Amelia could imagine her pulling off all kinds of disguises to conduct espionage and assassinations. “During your time in Intelligence, I mean. Bet you did all kinds of secret missions with those skills.”

“Perhaps,” Nakajima smiled, then hid her mouth with the teacup, the rising steam blurring her face. “If I did, I couldn’t possibly tell you about them. What I can tell you is I spent many years in a diplomatic role. I was an advisor to the Cascadian ambassador to Ulm.”

Amelia blinked, remembering the maps she’d committed to memory. Ulm was a prosperous city-state bordering the northwest of the Republic along the western coast of the human continent. “What was it like?” she asked. “To be a demon in human territory?”

“Hmm…” Instructor Nakajima raised a finger to her chin. “Things were bad when our group arrived and,” Her eyes widened as if exasperated. “Terrible when we left. The war set back relations fifty, perhaps a hundred years. I fear they will get a lot worse before they get better.” Her eyes narrowed. “When it started, we saw the war as a conflict between ideologies. Then, the humans started to see it as a racial conflict fueled by their silly interpretation of Christ. And now…” the instructor sighed. “Now it seems demonkind has followed down the same path. Honestly, I don’t know if it’s a good or a bad thing that you’re here. The only thing easing my doubts is the Eastern Overlord sanctioned your presence. Here at the academy, all of us hope you live up to whatever expectations he has for his new Lord-Prospect.”

“Any advice on living up to the expectations my disciple is going to have?” Amelia asked, turning the conversation back to the original topic.

“Ah, yes.” The demon placed her cup down, crossing her legs and placing her hands on her knee. “You said you have no teaching experience?”

“Correct.” Amelia gave a quick recount of the event that caused Hinako to request Amelia’s guidance so earnestly. The demon didn’t seem surprised that Amelia took on an entire second-year class while limiting herself only to the first circle. Nakajima knew she Spoke a Second Word, so her victory against the students wouldn’t be unusual.

And to think, I can do so much more, Amelia thought.

“Then your best bet is to be honest. If you trounced poor Hinako in a duel, then she’ll be able to excuse any lack of teaching skill from you due to your tremendous talent. She will think, ‘Of course, this human doesn’t know the first thing about teaching; they must have spent their entire life cycling aether!’ You just need to be upfront about that and let her know you’ll be learning as much from her as she will from you. Our students aren’t idiots. She can tell you what she thinks she needs to help her grow.

“And even if that turns out to be inefficient. Hinako Aikawa is known to have her eyes set on the arena. Just by dueling her repeatedly, she’ll be sure to develop and discover insights independently. You don’t need to hold her hand. You’re not much older than she is, after all.”

Amelia nodded, feeling a sense of relief. The demon's words were enough to make Amelia cast away any inclination she had to try to present herself as a stringent, formal instructor. She would take a more friendly approach to the whole situation, one which aligned closer with her honest and open personality. After all, she’d learned a lot about control by dueling the class one by one. More duels would help Amelia understand herself and her titanic powers even more.

The two chatted further while enjoying the crackling firemint tea. In the end, the demon insisted Amelia call her by her first name, Sarafina, in the future. “But not around the students,” Sarafina pointed out. “Keep it Instructor Nakajima, lest we be accused of not providing a professional learning environment by the local nobility.”

“Mmm, mmm!” Amelia nodded happily. Soon, the bell rang, and Amelia had to rush to her appointment. Giving Sarafina her thanks, she clambered up and headed to the magic tower where a session on crafting aetherlights and other equipment from moon crystals was about to start.

With Amelia Thornheart gone, Sarafina refilled her mint tea before relaxing into her chair. Her mind raced over all the little bits of information she’d gleaned from the human. Someone like her didn’t need to ask probing questions to fill in the gaps in her knowledge. The subtle changes of the human’s pulse, how she breathed before she spoke, where her eyes lingered and for how long. All these small signs told Sarafina everything she wanted to know.

“A pleasant, amenable personality,” Sarafina muttered, finalizing her judgement of the human. She paused before adding the one statement she knew she would need to for her mind to be satisfied that it fully understood Amelia Thornheart.

“And definitely a monster.”

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