A Serpent's Tale
Chapter 275: Progressing (1/2)

Chapter 275: Progressing (1/2)

When I woke up later on in the morning, I had completely forgotten about yesterdays encounter and just went to go do my daily routine until I had to go and get my [Astromancy] lessons from Eric.

Those lessons where a lot more useful and more engaging as well since instead of measuring my capacity, Eric actually had me refine my usage of spells.

From getting used to the effects of [Spatial Shift] to how to properly use and put up [Spatial Barriers], since there was actually a method to doing so.

By the end of this lesson, I had increased the levels of both skills by one.

The remaining time over the weekend until school started again was spent with my friends. And on one of those days, we all decided to have a day out together and go to the city park.

Lily came along as well and was still in her goat form, which was more of a satyr now that I think about it with how her legs were completely fluffy.

Regardless, we spent the day hanging out, eating food and eventually drop Lily back off at the red-light district before we all headed back to the orphanage to go to bed ourselves. We’d already eaten dinner and it was way too late for us to have anything else.

But when the second school week started, I didn’t attend the mandatory morning class and just headed in before first period started.

And I was lucky I did too, as I caught the headmaster on her way back to her office. She told me to meet my culture teacher in the library in the history section.

I thanked her and went on my way to find my new teacher. I quickly found her lying on a chaise whilst reading a book.

As I approached, I could see that this book was about dragon culture. Seems she’s just a culture maniac. Not that I’m complaining of course, since she must know a great deal about our own.

She saw me approach her and put her book down as she asked, "Traytora, right?"

I sat down on a chaise opposite her as I looked at the small pile of books on the table between us as I answered, "Yes, that would be me."

"I hear you wish to learn more about Serpentine culture, yes?" She inquired with her brows raised as she observed me.

"That’s correct. Why do you ask?" I threw the curiosity back at her.

"I hear that you’re an orphan that only recently arrived here in this city. And that you only just enrolled into the Institute last month for the first time ever. On top of that, you got the overall highest score by any individual at this specific branch ever and have been declared a Genius, something far more respected that a mere Prodigy."

She explained calmly as she put her book down and sat up properly.

"All this combined means that you haven’t ever truly lived in one place long enough to get a grasp of Serpentine culture. That tells me that you never stayed in one place for long and were taught and learnt how to get as strong as you are."

She was able to deduce quite a bit from my past with information that I have no idea how exactly she obtained. And it was rather unsettling if I’m honest.

But she didn’t stop there. "Alongside all of this, you were recently admitted as a Platinum rank adventurer after defeating a Superior Succubus. That’s not something just anyone can do. You have some kind of resistance to a Succubus’s natural charm."

"Please stop." I asked bluntly as this was really unsettling for me.

She didn’t listen to me though and just kept on talking.

"Then there’s your test results. Highest Mana capacity in ages on top of extremely potent magic, highest physical scores also, yet inexperienced in physical combat, only relying on strength. This means that your growth could’ve been only bee done by one thing and one thing only."

Before she could talk more I got up and left without warning, even as she tried to coax me back, I just slithered away faster.

After that I went to the headmaster’s office to file a complaint about my tutor before heading to my Economics class for the day.

I learned a fair bit more about how trade worked and some examples were done with actual merchants attending the class to help demonstrate such a thing.

My school day was not quite done though, as after lunch, at fourth period, I had my first combat classes.

And those were actually quite fun and got my mind off of my tutor being extremely creepy.

Mental state aside, I got some personal experience from a real Platinum rank adventurer who was apparently of the Monk class, which meant that they were a purely physical fighter.

That wasn’t to say they couldn’t cast magic, but they mainly focused on their body skills.

What I actually managed to learn from that was how to properly move my body to utilise my strength best for both offence and defence.

It was a good day minus the first period.

The next day, I arrived at the academy at lunch, for some lunch since I didn’t want to go out for some.

Also the cafeteria was closed for lunch that day back at the orphanage. Sad, I know. But not a lot I can do about it.

So, when time came for my Etiquette lessons, I was able to get there a little early like everyone else.

One thing to note was that the Duchess’ brat of a nephew was not their either. Apparently, he’d been grounded for some reason.

I think I know what that reason is.

Regardless, we were taught that day about several different social cues and mannerisms for talking to friends informally and talking to nobility formally in a party setting.

The reason the teacher used a noble party setting, and would continue using it, was because it was the best and easiest method for testing out and learning our formal social skills. According to her that is. There might be a better way but this was how she was taught and how she would teach us.

Once that class was done, I had nothing else to do for the academic week since I had no more classes, so I decided to peruse the magic courses for anything that I might find interesting or useful.

Unfortunately I couldn’t find anything that would help me since my [Fire] magic is already naturally amazing simply because of my affinity.

I couldn’t exactly learn anything for my other affinities either. I already had Eric for [Space]. [Hell] I’m not exactly sure I can learn anything about from anyone besides Lily.

Actually, I could ask father for something in that regard, like a book or something to teach me Hell magic. Then again, I don’t have anywhere to practice, so maybe I should hold off on that for now.

As for my other affinities, I still have a hidden one and the only other affinity that I can really utilise is [Poison], but I don’t really care all that much for [Poison] if I’m honest.

I don’t actually use it that much, nor do I have a reason to learn it. Then again, I don’t have a reason to learn [Hell] also, I just want to. So, I suppose I just won’t learn Poison because I don’t want nor need to.

My remaining affinities aren’t worth learning for since I don’t actually need to learn them.

By the time I was done deliberating all this and wandering the halls, it was nearly time for school to end, so I just waited for school to end and picked Asty up and went home with her.

The next couple of days were spent in the orphanage’s library reading some stories to pass the time. And by the time the weekend came, I realised that I had almost read nearly half of the stories there.

I didn’t think much of it and waited for the next day to come along so I could learn more from Eric about [Space] magic.

That day and the next passed and I learned a bit more about [Space] magic.

Like how to properly visualise [Spatial Shift] by imagining the a bubble around me, and that that bubble was my world and that I could go anywhere within it.

Unfortunately I couldn’t quite see where I was going, but using both my [Mana Vision] and [Divine Eyes] I could get a general look of what the scenery of the place I wanted to go looked like.

And that actually unlocked a new skill for me.

[Ding!]

[You have learned the Skill [Spatial Vision: LvL. 1]!]

This basically just allowed me to see space a lot easier and also a lot more differently at the same time.

Unfortunately, I couldn’t learn more since it was getting late and our scheduled time was practically up.

I asked if we could do this again tomorrow but Eric had something to do in the depths of the Dungeon.

Despite being sad, I remained in high spirits since I would learn more next weekend.