Chapter 3

Catching Up with an Old Friend

 

The library of Xerkes Sorcerer Academy, usually a bastion of silence and study, was abruptly disturbed by a loud exclamation. "You did what?!" Sam's voice echoed through the rows of ancient books, drawing startled glances from every corner.

Realizing his outburst, Sam clapped a hand over his mouth, but it was too late. The words hung in the air like a rogue spell, irretrievable. Mrs. Pottleclod, the goblin librarian known for her strict enforcement of silence, turned her sharp gaze toward them. Her eyes, cold as the deepest winter, bore into Sam and Adom, conveying a silent but stern warning.

Sam shrank under her scrutiny, his face flushing with embarrassment. "I-I'm sorry, Mrs. Pottleclod," he stammered, his voice barely above a whisper. Adom, sitting across from him, suppressed a chuckle. It wasn't often that Sam, always the composed one, lost his composure like this.

Mrs. Pottleclod lingered for a moment longer, her gaze piercing and unyielding. Then, with a curt nod, she turned and walked away, her footsteps a soft patter against the stone floor. "Only because you're regulars," she muttered as she disappeared among the shelves.

Once the librarian was out of earshot, Adom leaned back in his chair, a grin spreading across his face. "Didn't expect that kind of reaction from you, Sam," he teased, his eyes twinkling with amusement.

Sam exhaled, still looking somewhat mortified. "Sorry, it just... it came out. I can't believe you stood up to Damus like that." He shook his head, disbelief and admiration in his eyes. "And you lost your eyeglasses? You're usually so careful about them."

Adom’s eyes twinkled with mischief and a hint of something unspoken. "Yeah, well, maybe it's time for a change, huh? Also, somehow, I don't even need my glasses now." he said, his voice laced with an amusement that seemed deeper than the situation warranted.

As they talked, Sam noticed a change in Adom – a sense of amusement and extreme nostalgia, as if they hadn't seen each other in ages. It was odd, considering they had been in the same classes just hours ago. Adom seemed different, still himself, but... not the Adom he knew.

"Hey, you okay, man? You seem... different," Sam asked, a note of concern in his voice.

Adom looked away for a moment, his gaze distant. "Yeah, I'm fine. Just feeling a bit nostalgic, I guess. I missed you a lot." His voice had a faraway quality to it, as if his mind was somewhere else.

Sam raised an eyebrow, puzzled. "Nostalgic and you missed me? We just had history class this morning."

Adom laughed, a sound that seemed to carry both joy and a hint of sorrow. "Not that kind of nostalgia, Sam. More like... reminiscing about old times, you know?"

Sam was about to press further, but Adom's expression stopped him. There was an apology in his eyes, a silent plea for understanding. "I'm sorry, Sam," Adom said suddenly, his voice sincere. "For everything."

"Dude, what are you on about?" Sam asked, genuinely confused.

Adom shook his head, a wistful smile on his lips. "Never mind. It's nothing. Just... old memories."

Sam knew better than to push. He could sense that Adom was wrestling with something profound, something he wasn't ready to share. Instead, he decided to switch gears. "So, about that homework assignment..."

Adom welcomed the change of topic, diving into a discussion about their class project with an enthusiasm that was new to Sam. As they talked, Sam couldn't help but feel that Adom was savoring every moment, every word exchanged. It was as if Adom was living a dream, a very vivid and joyful one.

As the conversation shifted towards the upcoming exam in Magic Physics, Sam listened in awe as Adom spoke. Gone was the frail, hesitant classmate he knew. In his place was someone who spoke with the authority of a seasoned scholar, delving into complex theories with ease.

Adom began explaining the principles of Quantum Thaumaturgy, a topic that was notoriously difficult. "You see, Sam, it's all about understanding the interplay between magical energy and subatomic particles. Just like in traditional physics, where quantum mechanics explores probabilities and uncertainty, Quantum Thaumaturgy deals with the probabilities of magical outcomes."

Sam's eyes widened. "Quantum Thaumaturgy? But that's a graduate-level topic!"

Adom nodded, his eyes gleaming with enthusiasm. "Exactly! But think about it – if magic is energy, and energy influences matter at a quantum level, then mastering Quantum Thaumaturgy could allow us to manipulate reality at its most fundamental level. For instance, consider the Senheiberg Uncertainty Principle. In our context, it's not just about the position and velocity of a particle, but also about its magical potential. The act of observation could alter its magical properties."

He then delved into the theory of Magical Entanglement, drawing parallels with Quantum Entanglement. "Imagine if we could entangle two magical elements, like fire and water. Traditionally, they're opposites, right? But if they're entangled, changing the properties of one could instantly affect the other, regardless of the distance. This could revolutionize long-distance magical interactions."

Sam, completely engrossed, asked, "But how would you even begin to entangle two such disparate elements?"

Adom smiled. "Ah, that's where it gets interesting. We'd need to create a state of superposition with both elements, probably through a ritual that balances their energies perfectly. Then, using a catalyst – let's say, a rare crystal that resonates with both fire and water – we could initiate entanglement. It's all theoretical, of course, but the possibilities are endless."

Sam shook his head in disbelief. "Adom, I know you're smart, but this is beyond anything I've heard from our professors. When did you learn this?"

Adom laughed, a sound that seemed to carry years of wisdom. "I've had some time lately, so I studied a lot. A lot."

"But this is... are you sure you're not pulling my leg here?" Sam asked, half-joking but also half-skeptical. The Adom he knew was intelligent, yes, but this level of expertise was something else entirely.

Adom just chuckled, his eyes twinkling with a hint of mystery. "No pranks, Sam. Just a lot of reading and thinking. Maybe a bit too much thinking."

Sam looked at him, still unsure what to make of this transformation. It was like Adom had lived multiple lifetimes of learning in just a few days. But then, he shrugged, deciding to just go with it. "Well, if you're not kidding, then I'm glad you're on my study team. You might just make a sorcerer out of me yet."

Adom's smile broadened. "That's the plan, Sam. That's the plan."

In the comfortable ambiance of the library, Adom turned the conversation towards Sam, showing genuine interest in his friend's life. "So, how have you been, Sam? What's new with you?" he inquired, his tone warm and inviting.

Sam, still somewhat puzzled by Adom's transformation, replied but couldn't shake off his concern. "I'm okay, but more importantly, are you sure you're alright, Adom? Should we visit the infirmary? That hit from Damus was no joke, and with your condition..."

Adom stood up, stretching leisurely. "Honestly, Sam, I feel great. Better than I've felt in ages," he said, his voice carrying a note of reassurance. There was a newfound vitality in his movements, a stark contrast to the frailty that once defined him.

Sam watched, bewildered yet relieved, as Adom started walking out of the library. "Where are you off to now?" he asked, following him.

Adom, with a relaxed smile, replied, "I'm just heading to the cafeteria. I've got a craving for their tomato soup. I've missed it."

Sam's eyebrows shot up in surprise. "Missed it? That slop? Weren't you complaining about it just yesterday? Said you couldn't even finish it?"

Adom laughed, a sound that seemed to echo the lightness in his heart. "Yeah, I know, but today is different. I just want to savor it, you know? Savor everything." His smile was infectious, and despite his confusion, Sam couldn't help but smile back.

They reached the cafeteria, where Adom grabbed a bowl of the infamous tomato soup. Sam watched in amazement as Adom tasted it, expecting a grimace or complaint. Instead, Adom laughed heartily and said, "It still tastes like shit," but continued to drink it with an enthusiasm that was both baffling and contagious.

Sam watched, a mixture of amusement and confusion etched on his face. "You're really full of surprises today, aren't you?"

Adom set the empty bowl down, his eyes sparkling with joy. "Sometimes the worst things have a way of reminding us of what we used to have, and what we've missed. Even this terrible soup."

Sam shook his head, chuckling. "Only you could find a silver lining in the cafeteria's tomato soup. Besides, your mom's soup is much better, I'd think you would have a better taste in these kind of things,".

Sam's casual mention of Adom's mother's soup had struck a deeper chord in Adom, one that resonated with memories and emotions long buried. He paused, his gaze drifting into the distance, lost in thought. The lively atmosphere of the cafeteria seemed to fade away as Adom was enveloped in a wave of nostalgia and sadness.

The boys were then engrossed in a heated discussion about the potential implications of the recent alchemy discoveries, after sam mentioned the subject. The sun poured through the large windows, casting a warm glow over the students and their midday meals. As Adom elaborated on a particularly complex potion synthesis, his words suddenly trailed off. Sam, following Adom's gaze, turned towards the window just in time to see Algard, a solitary figure on the edge of the school grounds, engaged in a chilling act.

"Oh for God's sake, that weird guy's at it again," Sam muttered, an edge of disgust in his voice. They watched as Algard, with unsettling calmness, seemed to be torturing a small fox, oblivious to the horror of his actions.

Adom felt a shiver run down his spine. In his reality, Algard's story had taken a dark turn after graduation. Known for his psychopathic tendencies, Algard had descended into a spree of heinous crimes, each more gruesome than the last. Adom remembered the news reports vividly; Algard had been arrested after his twelfth victim, a relative of a student from their school, narrowly escaped death and alerted the authorities. The victim, however, succumbed days later to a sinister curse Algard had inflicted upon her, a twisted signature of his.

Adom recalled the community's shock upon learning that Algard's descent into madness was not entirely of his own making. His step-mother had been drugging him since he was a child, warping his mind beyond recognition.

Sam's voice broke through Adom's grim reverie. "Can you believe that? Torturing animals in broad daylight! What's wrong with him?"

Adom's gaze lingered on Algard, pondering the twisted paths fate could weave. "Some people... their darkness comes from places we can't even imagine," he said, more to himself than to Sam.

During his years of prolonged hospital stays due to his illness, Adom found solace and purpose in the study of Essentia, the mystical energy that underpins all magic in his world. Confined to his bed and unable to partake in the physical activities that occupied his peers, Adom devoted himself to mastering the nuances of Essentia manipulation. His condition, rather than being a limitation, became a conduit for deepening his understanding and control over this fundamental force. Essentia manipulation, more commonly called magic, remained unaffected by one's physical condition, evolving instead with the depth of one's understanding and connection to it.

As Sam expressed his intent to confront Algard, Adom's thoughts raced. He pondered the extent of his abilities in this dreamlike existence. Could the principles of Essentia manipulation he had honed during his life apply here? With a subtle focus, Adom reached out to the Essentia flowing invisibly around him, drawing it towards his will.

The spell he chose was elementary yet elegant, a testament to his refined control. He targeted the knife in Algard's grasp, a small object but one charged with malicious intent. With a precise manipulation of Essentia, he willed the knife to slip from Algard's fingers, rendering him momentarily powerless and halting his cruel act.

Algard's reaction was immediate and visceral. He screamed in protest, his eyes darting around in confusion, seeking the unseen force that had thwarted his intentions. Sam, still at a distance and oblivious to the finer details, mistook Algard's outburst for another of his eccentricities, commenting on his apparent self-conversation.

Adom, concealing a chuckle, watched as Algard's confusion turned to fear, prompting him to abandon his twisted 'experiment.' With a few more subtle gestures, unseen by any but the most attuned, Adom severed the ropes binding the fox, setting the frightened animal free.

The fox scampered away, its freedom regained by Adom's discreet use of Essentia. Algard, bewildered and knife-less, retreated, casting wary glances around, unable to localize the force that had thwarted his cruel intentions.

Sam, picking up on the tail end of the commotion, remarked, "Well, that was weird. Maybe someone cast a spell on him, seeing how he ran off like that. At least the fox is free now." He shrugged, his tone casual, the possibility of magic being involved not entirely a joke in their world, yet far from his mind that Adom could be the orchestrator.

Adom merely nodded, a faint smile playing on his lips, choosing not to reveal his involvement. The ease with which he had manipulated Essentia to intervene was a silent testament to the countless hours he had spent mastering the craft during his isolating hospital stays. And he was surprised that even the magic was still the same in this dream.

Then, Sam, noticing the sudden change in Adom's demeanor, leaned forward with a look of concern. "Hey, what's going on with you today, Adom? You've been acting really strange."

After a moment of silence, Adom's voice, tinged with a melancholy he couldn't conceal, broke the quiet. "Say, Sam, my parents... are they here too?" His question was hesitant, almost hopeful, as if he were grasping at the threads of a dream he desperately wanted to be true.

Sam was taken aback by the question. "Seriously? Of course they're not here; we're at the academy, remember? Your parents are in Kati. That's like a day by train, in case you forgot that too." Sam's tone was one of bafflement and worry.

Adom's reaction was immediate. He got up swiftly, a sudden determination in his eyes. Without a word, he started running, leaving a trail of confusion behind him.

Sam, now somewhat accustomed to Adom's erratic behavior but still puzzled, followed suit. "Now what? Where are you going now, Adom?" he called out, half-joking. "By any chance, are you going to confess to Mia?"

Adom's laughter echoed back to Sam. "Ah, right, I used to have a crush on her. Man, this feels so real," he said, the sound of his laughter mingling with the rush of his steps.

"Used to?" Sam was incredulous. "Dude, you couldn’t even talk in her presence just yesterday."

Adom just chuckled in response, his pace unrelenting. Sam, trying to keep up, soon found himself gasping for breath. He had to stop, leaning against a wall, and shouted after the rapidly disappearing figure of Adom, "Hey! Where are you going?!"

Adom, without slowing down or turning back, called out, "To Kati! I'll be back later, see ya!"

Sam stood there, panting and bewildered. "No way..." he muttered to himself. His astonishment wasn't just about Adom's sudden departure to Kati, despite the ongoing semester, but more so about the remarkable stamina Adom was displaying. This was the same person who, until recently, couldn't even run a hundred meters without fainting.