There were looks of confusion everywhere when Wolfe arrived at the University, where the seminars would be held, but accompanied by dozens of Nobles.
The training ran all day from late morning until dinner every day for two weeks, so seeing anyone arrive in a large group implied that they had been together for business or other reasons early that morning.
If it had been Wolfe plus the Ladies and Countess Dewinter, it would be understandable, as he had been staying with the Countess. But he arrived with a large group of other Nobles as well.
Saint Petros was there to greet them, and Wolfe handed him a small bag as a greeting, leaving the man confused.
"It's a gift. I made one extra this morning while everyone was making their requests, so I thought it was only right that I give it to you." He explained.
Petros opened the bag to see what was inside, then laughed.
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇt"You wouldn't dare."
Beside him, Cassie chuckled. "He already did, and they've been distributed. Nobody knows what the others got, though."
"You know, a hundred years from now, when everyone has forgotten where this cfrom, they're going to think that I was the most vain person in the world." Petros whispered, as he realized that most of the surrounding Nobles didn't know that they had all gotten statues of him to defend their houses.
"But until then, they'll never put it together. Everyone has something similar in their houses already." Wolfe agreed.
"In any case, welcto the seminars. I have been informed by the boy, Peter, that you wanted to see the Arcanist and Artificer type training courses. Is that where you would like to send your young beastkin servants as well? I can arrange for them to attend another course if you prefer." Petros replied.
"They're both learning the ways of the mages from the other world, though Lula only started last night, and I'm not certain if she's successfully used magic yet. I will get around to fixing that state of affairs in the next few days. I have a particular skill for enhancing the mana systems of beastkin. But for now, it would be better for all of us to brush up on the Arcanist and Artificer skills."
A few of the Nobles stopped when they heard that. Everyone was aware of the attempts to teach the magic of the other world to the commoners, and the limited success that it had achieved, which was primarily among the beastkin, who couldn't becNobles through magic without also having smeasure of direct human lineage.
"You are teaching that adorable bunny to use magic? Are you sure that's wise, they're not well suited to combat." One of the Nobles standing nearby asked.
Petros looked only mildly annoyed at the interruption, so the man must hold a fairly high rank, Wolfe thought.
"Indeed. Molly, the feline beastkin travelling with me, is already quite accomplished with the technique, and we have instructed them to work together. But magic is good for more than fighting, especially that world's magic. The group attacks aren't all that it can do, and the mana can be shaped in all sorts of ways.
Simple things like keeping the floor clean, washing dishes, harvesting the garden. All of that can be done with magic, which makes the lives of your staff easier, and improves everyone's quality of life." Wolfe explained.
The man didn't seem to be following his logic, so Wolfe elaborated. "How many times have you been annoyed by dust on your chandeliers, or in difficult to reach places? Even collecting on the books in your library? All of that can be easily removed with magic, without damaging sensitive documents. They won't even need to touch them to clean, so the chances of anything being placed back out of order or damaged are eliminated."
That got his attention.
"I should have paid to enrol sof my staff in the basic magic course. It sounds like it is very much worthwhile. I will have to pick sbeastkin for the next courses." The Noble replied, looking enlightened.
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏmOf course, it would be beastkin, who wouldn't be counted as Nobles if their magic reached Rank Two. The man didn't want to lose any of his staff, after all. But if everyone was teaching the pacifist bunnies cleaning and gardening magic, then the chances of anyone mistreating them would plummet.
Not just because they could defend themselves, but because they would have a much higher value to the estates they worked for. Losing an abused maid was no big deal, you could replace them. Losing an abused maid who could use magic was like giving a gift to another Noble in town, whoever took them in.
Petros cleared his throat. "The first course of the day is military essentials, as that is the primary reason we're all gathered here. Once that is over, they will start teaching the course you were after. I am teaching advanced combat magic a few classrooms over, but I would invite you to joinfor lunch. We have much to discuss."
"Of course, Saint Petros. I will join you for lunch, and my companions will surely be busy discussing the morning's lectures."
Petros nodded. They certainly would, and the other Nobles would be happy to fill them in on anything that they didn't understand. For a bunch of people from another world, Wolfe and his friends were surprisingly good at blending in and making friends.
The doors to the classrooms opened, and Wolfe led his witches in to sit at the back of the room, where they could observe everyone, and where they could be close enough to Molly and Lula to talk. Bringing servants to sit in the front row, the premium spots where you could most easily ask the professor for clarifications, would just be considered rude by the ranking Nobles.
"Welceveryone, first, we will cover the basics, and then we will get right to work. Who can tellthe three basic spells for military service?" The elderly professor asked.
One of the young men in the front raised his hand. "That would be the defensive ward, flbarrage and empowerment group spells."
"Superb. Now, I will draw them on the board, and we will individually activate them, then I will answer questions and provide guidance to those whose spell quality doesn't match their strength."