Basic Thaumaturgy for the Emotionally Incompetent

Min Hajin wasn’t present in the Wing of Stratal Studies on the day of Fabrisse’s return. Instead, when he walked in, he immediately noticed something strange—firstly, strange enough that Magus Exemplar Konan Kann was in the main chamber at all, seated at her usual place behind the resonant map table. But next to her was . . . another student.

Her puffy, reddened cheeks and a pair of doll-like eyes gave her an expression of perpetual surprise, as if the air itself had startled her moments ago, though he knew she could alter that expression effortlessly like a mask. Her attire only added to the oddness. A structured garment clung to her torso like a corset but was clearly designed for formal wear, ornamented with subtle embroidery that hinted at earth motifs and threadwork familiar to the Wing’s apprentices. She also had the Wing’s hat on her. Fabrisse winced at the mere thought of how constraining it must be.

Of course the other enrolled student in the Wing was Anabeth. But what was more surprising was that . . . she was practicing thaumaturgy.

In front of them rested a small, unassuming soil sample, contained in a shallow ceramic dish. At first glance, it appeared like just a clay-brown fragment of earth. Anabeth’s fingers hovered above the soil, tracing delicate, deliberate patterns in the air as Konan’s precise instructions guided each motion. Soon, the ordinary sample of soil was no longer ordinary. With every sweep and subtle modulation of her hand, the clay-brown surface began to transform, taking on a deeper, more fertile tone. Rich, earthy browns darkened with hints of amber and sienna, flecks of golden mica-like shimmer appearing as if minerals were crystallizing within the soil. The texture seemed denser, more pliant, as if it could cradle roots while supplying them with every essential mineral. A plant’s dream.

Konan’s gaze followed Anabeth’s fingers like a living metronome. “Focus on the subtle interaction,” she murmured. “Not power, but attention. Let the earth speak through your movement.” Fabrisse didn’t even realize Anabeth’s hand was shaky until Konan’s correction got her smoothing her motion.

When she finally lifted her hands, the soil held its perfected state: rich, dense, and radiant with mineral life. Anabeth’s posture remained impeccable.

Konan spoke without lifting her face. “Kestovar,” she said, “I have heard from Hajin that you did not attend for an entire week. Care to explain?”

“I was busy,” He scratched the back of his ear.

Konan shook her head. “This is why I told Hajin to set a strict schedule for each of you.”

“Kestovar,” she said, inclining her head in a courteous gesture. “I don’t believe we’ve met here in the Wing before.” He stepped in closer and saw that her name tag read ‘Anabeth von Silberthal’. Of course, that had to be Anabeth’s surname. The surname alone ensured she came from a family of the upper echelon.

“You’re practicing spells,” Fabrisse murmured in awe. He didn’t even know they got to practice spellcraft.

“Oh, yes,” Anabeth said, her voice crisp and lightly playful. “Before Exemplar Kann let me touch anything remotely exciting, I had to spend hours classifying quartz by sample too. Such is the fate of an Earth Thaumaturgy disciple.”

“What did that spell do?” Fabrisse asked in genuine wonder, stepping closer to examine the soil.

“Exactly what you just observed, Kestovar,” Konan said. “The aether enriched the soil, enhancing its mineral content and improving its capacity to sustain plant life.”

“Quite splendid, isn’t it?” Anabeth said, her tone crisp and refined, a hint of delighted satisfaction in her voice as she contributed nothing to the conversation.

Fabrisse was momentarily rendered speechless. A lady called Anabeth von Silberthal doing . . . agriculture? That was not what he had pictured today.

“Kestovar,” she said, her voice calm but unyielding, “you will need to catch up on what you have missed. After the exam season, we will begin field excursions, and you are expected to be well-versed in basic appraisal by then.”

Fabrisse’s eyes widened almost instantly. Field trips. The idea sparked something electric in him: real, hands-on experience. He imagined the thrill of examining raw quartz in rock formations, feeling its weight and texture, discerning its quality directly in the earth. The nearby cave he usually relied on suddenly seemed inadequate; with Konan leading, he knew they would go where the finest samples could be found, where the magic of the earth itself could be studied in earnest.

That would be the most fascinating thing in the world.

“But now, classifying quartz,” Konan said.

“Oh.”

That seemed to have been the last of their interactions, for Konan was about to retreat downstairs again. However, she paused, her sharp gaze flicking back toward Fabrisse. “Kestovar. Where is your hat?”

“Here, Exemplar!” Fabrisse’s mind raced for half a heartbeat before he reached into his robe and pulled out the hat he had carefully kept for Stratal Studies. He perched it atop his head, but slightly askew, a fact Anabeth immediately noticed.

Her eyes sparkled, and a small, stifled giggle escaped her. “Really, how many pockets do you even have?” she asked.

“More than one,” Fabrisse said, adjusting the hat so it sat straighter.

Konan turned briefly to Anabeth. “Von Silberthal, if you have the time, assist Kestovar with aetherically imprinted classification. Ensure he learns the proper method.”

“Of course, Exemplar,” Anabeth said, inclining her head with impeccable grace, her voice lilting with genuine delight. Fabrisse felt a small thrill at the idea of having the best Stone Thaumaturgy student he knew offer her guidance.

Konan’s robe swished as she finally retreated down the stairs. The moment Konan disappeared from sight, Anabeth glided over to him (gracefully, of course, as anyone with a surname von Silberthal could not possibly do anything spontaneously and excitedly). “Kestovar,” she said, her voice low and eager, a hint of playful urgency threading through the refinement, “I hope you found my book of help to you?”

“Yes—”

She immediately moved on to another topic. “How did you throw a Silico-Dormant Obscura, Grade Theta? You must tell me.”

He couldn’t even get a word in before she continued, “Was it the Eidralith? Yes; yes. It must be the Eidralith’s doing. The artifact has blessed you with the exquisite faculty of animating otherwise inert stones.”

“I—”

“Kestovar. I heard from Assistant Hajin that you borrowed four Trinav quartz the other day. Excellent choice, I must say. Trinav quartz can hold resonance imprints remarkably well for a Common-grade,” Anabeth said, her voice lilting with admiration. “Such is due to their unusually uniform lattice structure and low internal stress. The crystal matrix allows for a stable resonance, meaning that once an imprint is inscribed, it retains both intensity and nuance far more reliably than other ordinary quartz. Fascinating, isn’t it?”

“Well, yes—”

“You must tell me of all the inert rocks you can interact with.” As she spoke, her braids bobbed gently with the sway of her movement. “In return, I will tell you all I know of resonance imprinting within Common-grade rocks, as it appears to be a subject that particularly captivates your interest.”

This girl is impossible. How does she have that talent of making geology sound like high art?

Hold on. How does she know exactly what I need?

He came here with a purpose: to learn which stones would boost his attribute and level up his Stone Resonance Carry in the process. According to Trajectory Insight, this was the method of levelling up which made the most sense:

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