Machinist of Mana Chapter 92 New Schedule

All things had to come to an end, and my winter vacation was no different. Before I knew it the time had come to pack my things and return to school, and the stress and time crunch that always seemed to follow me there. I hated that, even if I liked the place, it was just too much, even if I was being excluded from a few things as my years progressed I certainly wasn't getting any more time.

Several of the staff waited as I boarded the carriage that would take me back to what was more accurately becoming my home. All stood at attention, smiling and giving their quiet goodbyes. Among them Kaylee, her little shield charm and wand tucked away in her uniform. I could almost feel them, almost notice the magic I'd made, which was something totally new to me. It was a sense like something was there, but not an answer to what, difficult to accurately describe, but more like a smell, or sensation on the back of my neck. A couple others had them too, but as if by instinct I could tell who didn't have theirs on them.

My little half-sister had tried to refuse my gift, stating it was too much for a master to give to a servant, she'd pouted adorably and held back, but when it became clear all of our magic-capable staff were getting them she relented. She was right of course, it was far too valuable of a gift to pass off to the help but I wasn't going to leave her undefended, even if I had to defend others too.

Cobbles clattered under wheels as slowly I made my way. The sound was oddly calming, rhythmic, and soon I felt myself drifting off to sleep. The journey wasn't too long, as we were just going outside the walls a bit, but it was enough for me to catch a quick nap.

I was unfortunately stirred when we arrived, but that had been expected, so I suppose I could forgive the world for not accommodating my whims. My eyes fluttered as we slowed, body sensing the change in pace and slow stopping almost without effort.

No sooner had we stopped than a younger student ran up to us, he had a letter in hand.

“You can't be serious,” I said flatly.

“You're Percival right?” he asked.

“Yes.”

“This is from the Headmaster to you,” the kid said, holding out the paper.

Had I ever been like him, he looked like just a child. With a sigh I took the letter, flipping it open and reading it before sighing again.

My walk to Headmaster Logan's office was well practiced. I knew where to go, which halls were best or worst to go down, even the proper way to get a good view as I did so. Honestly I really needed to stop coming here, it never ended well.

“Ah, you've finally arrived,” the bear of a man said as I entered. “Sit, join us.”

Joining us, as he often did when I ended up in trouble, was Sir Kendrick, the man assigned by the king to make sure I was properly trained. The knight nodded to a chair nearby where I sat, finding the seat pleasant, comforting, familiar.

“Sir I didn't even make it out of my carriage, that must be some sort of record,” I observed.

“No lip lad, and it isn't. The current recordholder was visited two weeks into his vacation for discipline. Managed to disgrace the school publicly and got the correction he needed immediately.”

“Hate to be him,” I observed.

“No, I think I turned out fairly well once I got my head on straight. I've some hope you will too. Enough chatter though, we're not here for that.”

That was a surprise, and an insight into the Headmaster's life I didn't think I'd ever get. To think he'd been a rulebreaker in his youth, the man who seemed to want nothing more than to beat us into soldier shaped molds. It sent me blinking for a solid five seconds.

“Attention Percival,” Sir Kendrick tossed out, bringing me back to the here and now.

“I've been thinking about your training,” began Headmaster Logan.

Oh shit.

“And the results we've gotten. They're acceptable, but I've considered things and how would you like to take less classes?” He asked.

“I feel like there's something going to be added to that sir,” I pointed out.

The man scoffed under his breath, just enough for me to hear.

“Indeed, you see your grades and work are good enough that we could excuse you from physical participation in a number off subjects, and your professors agree. You'd still need to do the assignments, but you'd do them on your own. Additionally I'd be asking our good knight friend here to oversee some particular training for you personally.”

“With all due respect I'm not sure more combat training would be overly productive, I already do quite a bit,” I pointed out.

“No, not swordsmanship, tactics, or even the guns you seem so far of. I would be training you in magical resistance,” Sir Kendrick added. “Your most recent encounter shows you need such, and it will give you an edge against enemies. Normally we hold off on this until your final year of education, and even then it is not a core subject but one left for future mastery. You would join me in mastering the art as well as you can instead.”

Thinking only took a few seconds. Most of my classes were still something along the lines of high-school level, not particularly difficult with my slightly better memory in this life. I'd already done most of this once, so doing things like math and basic writing was horribly boring. This though would give me something useful, and clear out some of my schedule all at the same time.

My thoughts flicked back to the little goblin wizard and her goggles. She kept blitzing me with magic, magic I didn't know how to fight against, but if I had resistance, well, then we might be able to do something about that. She'd even pointed out that I needed more tricks, so more tricks she would get.

“I think I would like that,” I agreed.

“Good, here is your schedule for the year then,” the Headmaster said, passing me a sheet of paper.

Almost all of my classes, those excluding combat training, were replaced with a mix of personal study time and training schedules with Sir Kendrick. It was an intensive regimen he had planned for me, but he was a knight in service to the monarch, so I had to guess he knew his business. There was also an hour allotted each week to meet with each of the professors to go over my assignments, which I fully planned to do as fast as I could.

“We start tomorrow, make sure to get your rest,” Sir Kendrick said, smiling in a way that sent a chill down my spine.