She placed the massive encyclopedia she was holding onto her desk.
"My name is Selkis. Your Health class will be with me. There is no one left among you who doesn't know me anyway. As you know, I also run the school infirmary. If you have any health problems, let me know and we'll see what we can do. Today's topic is 'Introduction to Healing Herbs.'"
Selkis opened the book she had just placed on the table. She flipped through the pages and stopped at a page with flower illustrations. As she ran her hands over the page, she murmured these words:
"Liceat mihi uti incantatione sanationis ex Libro Selkis."
Following the words, the book emitted a green glow. Five different plants rose out of the book. Selkis explained what each plant did one by one.
Yarrow: A plant that usually looks yellow when mature and like a daisy when young. It is used to stop bleeding wounds. It helps blood clot. It is generally used in spells that seal open wounds.
Peony: A pink plant, mostly identified with the beauty of women. It soothes the pain of wounds. It acts as a painkiller. It is mixed with Yarrow to heal deep cuts. Rumor has it that it can even heal the wounds of a god.
Hellebore - Christmas Rose: Also known as the black snowdrop. The leaves and roots are poisonous in their pure form. If used incorrectly, it can cause the patient's death. It is used to treat mental illnesses and the effects of hypnosis. Especially during war, if there is a hypnotic factor involved, it is considered foolish to enter battle without using this plant.
St. John's Wort: A yellow plant with five petals. It is used to neutralize the effects of poisons. It is effective even for very strong venoms, but it must be used in conjunction with magic.
Horsetail: A plant shaped like pine needles. It is used to heal bone fractures. The most effective way to use it is to mix it with Peony and use a powerful healing spell.
After introducing the herbs, she handed the Horsetail to Sol. Sol took the herb and began to examine it.
"This is the plant I used yesterday while healing your broken bones."
"How strong do we need to be to use the spell you used on my bones?"
"Ah, you're mistaken, Sol. You don't need to be strong to use healing spells. Enough practice and a little bit of aptitude will be sufficient."
"Does that mean you will be teaching us healing spells?"
"Yes. You will start in the second semester. In the first semester, you will learn the materials and catalysts used in these spells."
Selkis demonstrated some example spells. She inflicted minor wounds on everyone in the class and then healed them. She visited every student one by one. After class, Magni and Urania went down to the front of the school together. Urania asked,
"Are you taking the shuttle?"
"No, I want to feel the sky again."
"Like how you arrived this morning?"
"Yes, and... um..."
"?"
"Would you like to come too?"
"What do you mean, you're taking me with you?"
"If you want, of course."
"Why not?"
"Okay, how should we do this? Will you get on my back, or..."
"Hmm, I can get on your back."
"Hop on then."
Magni crouched down. Urania wrapped her arms around Magni's neck and rested her chin on his shoulder. Magni asked,
"Are you ready?"
"I don't know..."
"Should I drop you off at your house?"
"Yes. Thanks."
Magni started running and picking up speed. Urania looked around with a mix of panic and excitement. The buildings beside them were passing by in a flash. Magni said,
"Hold on tight, we're taking off."
"WHAT!"
With Urania's scream, Magni jumped. But this time, her scream wasn't from pain. This time, it was out of joy. They found themselves gliding through the vast, blue sky. Urania gasped,
"T-this is breathtaking. Was the sky always this beautiful?"
"I just learned it myself. You won't find a view like this anywhere else."
"Why, will you never drop me home again?"
"Ah, no—I, well..."
"Haha, I'm joking! I know what you meant."
Magni was a little frightened. He hadn't felt anything like this even while fighting Sol. This feeling was the fear of breaking Urania's heart. Hadn't they only just met? What was the reason for this fear? What would he lose? Before he had time to think further, they began to descend. Urania started screaming again. She squeezed Magni's neck harder with her arms. Magni choked out,
"U-Urania, you're strangling me..."
"Ah! I'm so sorry, it happened instinctively."
Magni took a deep breath and asked, "Which way is your house?"
"That way!"
Magni turned in the direction she pointed. After landing and jumping a few more times, they reached her home. The person who opened the door was Urania's mother. Urania introduced the two.
"Mom, this is Magni. My classmate."
Her mother, with a cheerful attitude just like her daughter, said,
"Nice to meet you! I'm Dione, Urania's mother."
"Nice to meet you too, Mrs. Dione."
Urania added, "Magni brought me home today."
Dione said, "I was just about to ask why you were home so early."
Magni replied, "Ah, I guess I'm a bit fast."
Dione asked, "You're an Heir too, aren't you Magni?"
Magni said, "Yes. Although we don't know for sure yet, most teachers say I'm the Heir of Thor."
Dione mused, "Hmm, so it's not fully clear yet? Well, it doesn't matter. As long as you can control your Cosmyth, that's enough!"
Magni nodded, "I suppose so."
Urania interjected, "Come on Mom, let's not keep Magni any longer. He must have things to do."
Magni said, "Actually, yes. I have to pick up my sister from her school."
Dione said, "Alright then, Magni. It was a pleasure meeting you. You're welcome here whenever you want. Just, if you happen to take my daughter out, let me know."
Magni became completely flustered. He wasn't expecting such a response. Both his and Urania's faces turned bright red. Both of them stammered something, but it was unintelligible. Finally, Magni said,
"I-I will of course let you know. But, there is n-no such situation between Urania and me for now."
Dione teased, "For now, huh? Do you have plans for the future with my daughter then?"
"Mom, no! It's not like that. We're just friends. Magni! Say something."
"Urania is right, Mrs. Dione, we're just friends! I used the wrong word, I'm sorry!"
"Hm, hm. Don't worry kids, I was just teasing you!"
"Ah, it's late, I have to go. See you at school tomorrow, Urania."
"See you..."
Magni quickly left the scene. At that moment, he wanted to vanish into the ground out of embarrassment. He was sure Urania felt the same way. He set his course for his sister's school. When he arrived, he saw four people standing over Thrud, heckling her. What they were doing was blatant harassment. Although Thrud tried to push them away, there wasn't much she could do against four guys. Magni shouted,
"Hey! Leave my sister alone, you bastards!"
Two of the larger ones in the group walked up to Magni. They had disgusting smiles on their faces. They were enjoying what they were doing to the defenseless Thrud.
"Your sister? Hahaha, so? What are you gonna do? Come on, get out of here. When we're done having fun with her, we'll send her home. Right, boys?"
The rest of them laughed wickedly. Thrud looked at Magni. There was a tearful expression on the girl's face. Magni said,
"Now, either you get the fuck out of here, or I will shove your heads into each other's... well, you know where, and you won't forget it for the rest of your lives."
The largest one among them got right in Magni's face.
"There are four of us, and you're alone. You might look strong, but we're not going to fight with our fists," he said and pulled a knife from his pocket.
"That won't work on me, but if you try, I'll have to go with the second option. Last chance."
With a foul grin, he swung the knife at Magni's stomach. The knife hit Magni and bent.
"What the hell is this!"
"I warned you."
Magni looked terrifying in their eyes. With the power of his Cosmyth, the sky darkened, thunder rolled, and lightning stretching from his right eye to his arm illuminated the area. He clenched his fist and struck the large man standing in front of him. The man flew into the tree behind him. Blood sprayed from his mouth. Some of his bones protruded out. Magni grabbed the man next to him, who was trying to run, by the throat and threw him onto the other two. They crashed into each other and were knocked unconscious. He grabbed the last remaining man by the throat and lifted him up. The man was struggling. Magni's sense of pity had vanished for a moment. He didn't feel even a shred of sympathy for foul creatures like them. Though Thrud told him to stop, he didn't listen. He pulled the man close to his face.
"If I ever see you bothering anyone again, including Thrud, I won't stop at what I did today. I will kill you, and I guarantee that death won't be painless."
He slammed the man to the ground. Blood came from his mouth and nose. After dealing with all of them, he turned to his sister.
"Are you okay? Did they do anything to you?"
"No... I just want to go home. Please let's not talk about this. I don't want to talk. But..."
"?"
"Thank you, Magni. You are a very good brother."
"Thanks, you too. It's okay, as long as you're fine."
The siblings hugged each other tightly. Thrud's eyes welled up. The two had never been this close before; there had always been a distance between them. Magni took Thrud on his back, and they went home. On the way, neither of them said a single word. Both knew that if someone spoke, they would cry. For so long, they had known each other as siblings. Even after learning they weren't biological siblings, Magni continued to protect Thrud. It had always been this way. Magni had helped and watched over her many times before, without Thrud even knowing. After all, Thrud was his sister. Big brothers protected their sisters. Magni took Thrud home. He took the bag his mother had prepared for him. As he was about to leave, Demeter asked,
"Where to?"
"I'm going back to school. I talked to Aidoneus. I'll be staying at the school for a while."
"I'm glad to hear that. At least learn to control yourself; that's enough."
"I'll try, Mom. Don't worry about me, I love you guys."
"Of course I'll worry! No matter how old you are, you'll always be my little boy."
Magni turned around. He looked into his mother's eyes with a peaceful smile. She was the most precious thing he had in this life. Likewise, Magni was the same for his mother. A mother might regret many decisions in her life. But her child? Never. What children value most might change—it might be a dream, it might be a person. But for a mother or a father, their most precious possession will always be their child. And those children, when they grow up and become parents, their children will permanently become their most precious treasures.
Magni reached the school by running and jumping. It was 7:00 PM. He walked through the large school gate. He saw Han in front of the dormitory building. Han was surprised to see him there.
"Captain, what are you doing here? Did you forget something at school?"
"No, Han. I'll be staying in the dorm for a while."
"Ha, I see. Why?"
"I lose control in my sleep. I got permission from Aidoneus to stay in the dorm so the people at home don't get hurt."
"I stay in the dorm too."
"I know. Aidoneus told me."
"I can show you around the dorm if you want."
"Sure, but let me leave my bag in my room first."
After Magni put his backpack in his assigned room, he toured the dorm with Han. The rooms were spacious, airy, and private. Each had its own balcony. The laundry room was communal. For meals, they used the school cafeteria. Even though Magni wouldn't be using these facilities much, at least he saw them. It was easy for him to go back and forth to his house anyway. After they finished touring the dorm, they sat in the garden.
"Han?"
"Yes?"
"Is this place near the coast?"
"It should be, why?"
"How about we have a chat over a beer at the beach?"
"Sounds good. Let's get ready and head out if you want."
"Okay then. The beach will be cold now. Let's dress warmly."
"Agreed."
Both went to their rooms to change. Magni wore dark jeans, a black shirt, and a brown leather jacket. He put on the white ring with gold inscriptions that he always wore when going out. He tied his long hair into a messy bun and put his silver hoop earring in his left ear. He sprayed some of his pleasant, woody-scented perfume and went to Han's room.
Han was ready too. A maroon sweater, black sweatpants, and a grey scarf. He left his hair messy. He also wore a necklace with a wolf symbol. This style suited him.
Once the two were ready, they started walking towards the beach.