"What is an explosion but not sudden burst of energy outward. The inverse of an explosion is an implosion, a sudden draw of energy inward. Really simple, can all of you see?
The invention of the first explosive is a funny incident where a Noble mixed trinitrotoluene with decaying wood mush and he decided to sell that in red cylinders with the abbreviation of the explosive chemical, 'TNT' etched on the case. The first intended use of this TNT is for mining operation but I am discussing the commercial use of explosives.
If you look more into the past, the military side has been using explosive for a long time with the most prominent form being steam explosion. Basically, a hollow-out container is filled with water and a fire spell is ignited inside to turn everything into high-pressure steam! The reason this explosive was not seen on the battlefield was because of the timing issue. Each person has a different mana output so as soon as TNT comes out, something that is easier on the control side, the steam bomb is removed.
I did not mention the spells along of the line of "Fireball" or "Explosion" despite the very clear match to the definition of an explosion is because it is in the realm of spell-crafting and I am a magical engineering senior so I have no experience with that side of mana technique."
With her bob cut swaying back and forth following the barrage of words, the senior gives a long monologue. She then draws two concentric circle with a little line going out from the center.
"This is the most basic components making up a bomb. A shell to contain everything, an explosive mechanism ready to blow up, and a control mechanism waiting for the perfect moment to ignite the explosive mechanism.
Every explosives follows this basic construction form with more complex components being added later on for additional effect such as elemental effect, explosion shape or even explosion color.
The techniques of making an explosion is something you will be learning today with the material I have requested from my friend. I am more of a research type tinkering around and only dabble a little into mass manufacturing. My friend, ah, please help me bring it in, Alice."
"...Do not need to say my name out loud."
A figure standing over 2 meters kicks the door open before sliding the load on her back across the floor, the friction rings out in sharp shrieks. Now Simon can see the person very well, a brown-haired woman with muscles earned through labor whose clothing is stained in funky oil but has been hastily wiped off. Her eyes walk around the classroom seeing the juniors members of Magical Engineering 101.
She stops to turn her back around and walks away in the dismay of the shorter senior.
"Alice! You are leaving me alone here? Just come in and help me!"
"No do. I am busy with the design from you. Beside, this type of simple tinkering fits your style more than me. But I can let you borrow this thing of mine."
From her apron pocket, the tall senior throws out a palm-sized ball.
"Eh! Really. I will buy you lunch."
"Get on with your class. You are taking this offer because of the scholarship so focus on it."
"Okay everyone. My dear friend has contributed to the class a perfect example of modern explosives. Here, a grenade with explosion runes etched into the surface in three layers. Just pull this pin out and throw, the delay is 6 seconds before an explosion occurred. The radius is something ... like 20 meters so caution is required when handling such thing.
"So everyone comes up here and take a look. We are going to make a simpler version of this grenade. Then we are testing the use of spells to add more firepower."
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"So... this senior of yours take the whole class to throw grenades at one another because. as I quote from what you told me, 'everyone needs to have a feel for how powerful this explosion is'. And your spell class is teaching combined footwork."
"You two are lucky that you are used to fighting. I'm not."
"Eh, it will be something you pick up along the way."
Eleanor put her hand around Simon's shoulder. The tapping of his foot stops.
"Why so impatient? It take me something like 2 years to get the basics down and for the blondie ..."
"3. At the end of the days, if the academy is changing the course this late into the school year, the final test will be easier than usual. So that is an opportunity in disguise."
"Most students getting into this place are already on the education program so you are only now studying for high score if you want more opportunities post-graduate or networking or scholarship or..."
"...It is an awful lot."
Emilia is shocked at how many benefits there are.
'Maybe that bastard really cares for his face.'
"Surprised? I have already fast-track myself onto a scholarship and the same is true for Emilia. And Simon, you are already doing pretty fine by our standard. This has only been a second week and you are already moving well like this."
Janus sweeps his foot aiming at Simon's ankle. The latter raises it as if the motion has been ingrained for years. The two have been giving Simon a basic course of dodging and running away. Now he can reliably roll around and not have his muscles cramp from all the burst of strength needed.
"If I'm not using aura, catching you will be difficult."
Says her after she has hurled herself trying to tackle Simon down but he dropped down and made her fall over.
"Slippery. Good for someone focusing on spells. But not enough if Aura is used."
Janus speeds up and puts Simon into a chokehold. He then releases Simon and helps his friend gets up. The three sit down on a bench after bringing some drinks.
"So what is it with your magic class? Let's continue on with that. Our classes simply involves more team-building exercises and harsher training. Nothing to brag about. So what is it?"
Eager to extract something fun, Emilia pushes on Simon from the side with her shoulders.
"Well..."
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"Fireball! Fireball! Fireball!"
With the impact of his sole on the ground, the magic teacher raises earth walls to control the flow of students. The area is convert into The class is borrowing a training/testing field and the teacher is throwing them practical exercise.
"Go easy on us!"
"I'm sorry for having to resort to such method. My teacher used to teach me by throwing spells at me and then hosting a self-study session. I want each of you to be able to dissect the spells I am not shouting while I'm attacking your position with a distracting vocal chants. Don't worry. I have casted Fireproof on your clothing and body so the only thing you are going to feel is the impact."
A barrage of spells fired from the center, the training ground is soon covered with any form of protection and evasion spell.
"Earth Wall."
"Boring... Dome."
"Hole!"
"Water Shield!"
"INVISIBLE!"
"Analyze the spells!"
Simon decides to do something most people would not do. He has just been reminded that someone's security is guaranteed in this Elemental Magic Beginner class.
\[Get In One Piece, Get Out One Piece
Mission: Survive until class ends.
Deadline: Class end time.
Reward: Perfect Spell Dissection (Level 1)
Failure: Injury worsening
Hint: "Find an umbrella."]
'Umbrella. So an object or a person. Someone who is facing the attacks but are guaranteed to be safe..'
Simon scans the surrounding and spots the Durolinth princess behind layers of barriers she has raised herself. The retainers surrounding her adds to the protection by continuously raising earth barriers or water dome to protect against the hit.
Simon takes his chance while the direction of the barrages turns away from his position. He makes a beeline to the spot that can use the princess's block as a hiding spot. On the way, rocks and mud puddles form around where he will be putting feet on but he dodges that with the aid of Sylph levitating him a small gap above ground.
As if not letting someone utilizing other's work for their benefits, the fireballs return to the princess's defense then curve around to hit where Simon is. The solution to his problem is quite simple: he is not behind enough.
Taking a breath in and out, Simon fires a Fireball himself to hit one coming to him and then asks Chron to repeat the spell at him. The heat evaporates the water from the puddles but he only let the impact pushes him to knee the back of the princess.
"Sorry."
Says Simon as he analyzes the panic on the retainers who are fast enough to notice him crashing the party before getting away. He is here for the Stories tab in this System of his. After eyeing the the tab lighting up once before returning to normal. Simon's quickly make an escape from the countered spell he foresees just now.
'Chron, again.'
Simon's current mana reservoir is not large enough to maintain both levitate for a long time and fireball firing so he drops the former and amps up the latter with the additional free mana. He is sent flying like a cannonball, dodging the air curtain spinning around the princess ready to rip metals into pieces.
"Princess!"
"Who?! There he i-urgh!"
The spells barrage continues, uncaring for a jewel who is clutching her back.
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"Wow... It's a mess on your side. I have never thought of using and disrupting the third princess's side. But how are you so sure that she won't be coming for your ass?"
Emilia turns her head to check for any coming threat before returning to the conversation.
"The puddles. You have already covered your entire face and body with mud haven't you?"
"Heh heh."
"Good lord. Is that the reason the princess has been grumpy for the entire day? There has been gossip of someone kicking her in the back and then running away. People also say that she cannot find the perpetrator so she is more pissed off."
"To be precise, it is an accident."
"An accident where you can get kicked out of this academy because maybe she can bring in someone who can analyze the mana and pinpoint it to you?"
"It is not my doing... it's rather my spirits..."
Simon whispers that sentence while facing his face away from the two.
"Oh, so that's why you aren't flaunting your 2 spirits to us for this entire afternoon?"
"Yes."
His ears still red at the tip, Simon answers without changing his face.
"Janus, are you thinking the same way as I am?"
Janus has been rubbing his forehead after getting the facts straight. He simply nods at the suggestion question from Emilia before lifting Simon up by the neck.
"Extra training is due. We are giving you a crash-course in hiding and sneaking around."
"W-wait wait! How comes you two have experiences in that?"
"That ginger has broken out of her house countless time. And I used to work alongside adventurers so sneaking around is a requirement. But the main point here is that if you are being hunted, you need to be able to run and hide. Don't worry. We are not using aura and you are not using mana."
"It's time for an early dinner. I heard there is fruit lasagna for dessert. I'm not joking with dessert."
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"You are filing a complaint to the academy HR department because of an assault on you during Elemental Magic Beginner class taking place this afternoon, is it correct, Durolinth Aresil III?"
"Yes."
"May I inquire some more about information provided in the written form?"
"Yes."
"You and people near you claimed that the perpetrator had ill-intention and seek to assassinate you. You have detailed the circumstances but I fail to see any connection between this accident and an attempt at your life. As you have written here, the perpetrator immediately run away not looking back and you are still here. Is it correct?"
"Yes."
"So what is the foundation for your suspicion? Is it the activation of the protection relic you are wearing, a weapon striking at your body, or is it a spell aiming at you?"
"..."
"If so, this request is unfounded. Furthermore, after checking with the professor responsible for the class, protection enchantments have been casted on all of the students to prevent anything less than a 4th Circle normal output to break through. Therefore, there is no risk of an assassination and the activation of the protection relic is purely due to the residue force."
"..."
" That's all for now. And keep your retainers in check. They have been hounding around the academy to find this person-of-interest of yours and their action is starting to grate on your reputation. But I will still file this complaint under your name. You can go now. Have a good afternoon."
"Thank you."
"And give my thanks to your brother."
When the princess joins her allies, her mouth corner does not stop twitching.