He suddenly recalled the instructions Instructor Mirabelle had given him a few days earlier: "As my teaching assistant, you need to arrive at the Practice Room fifteen minutes early to help me prepare the teaching materials and inspect the Protection Circle."
He glanced at the magical clock on the wall. Its hands had already crept forward quite a distance.
"Oh, no." He Xi had no time to keep chatting with Lionel. "Something urgent came up. I have to go!"
Before he had even finished speaking, he strode toward the classroom door, leaving a bewildered Lionel behind.
"Huh? Why the rush?" Lionel scratched his head in confusion as he watched He Xi hurry away.
Then, looking thoughtful, he took out his leather notebook, turned to the page containing his notes on He Xi, and added a line of messy little characters beneath them with a charcoal pencil:
"Takes advice, wants to impress his instructor, strong drive to get ahead."
Only then did he close the notebook and follow the crowd toward the other tower.
Inside the Evocation School's Practice Room.
Instructor Mirabelle was already standing in the center of the room.
She had changed into a dark red mage's robe that allowed greater freedom of movement. Her cuffs were cinched tight, and her hair was neatly tied back. She looked much more energetic than she had in her office.
"Instructor." He Xi hurried over and bowed in greeting.
"You're right on time." Mirabelle nodded. Her face betrayed little emotion, but a hint of approval showed in her eyes. "Come with me. I'll teach you how to inspect the Protection Circle."
She led He Xi to the wall and pointed at the intersecting rune lines covering it. "This is the most basic circle for absorbing energy and cushioning impacts. To inspect it,