"Are you still with me?"
The teacher tapped his ruler stick onto his palm as he looked around the room at his students, he may have come across as very strict, though in reality, he was very passionate about teaching students mathematics. The man found enjoyment in witnessing the various different ways that the human mind worked to calculate different equations and formulas, though he always felt that there was something missing in his pursuits. He truly did enjoy his job, though he found it boring himself at times, calculating numbers everyday, he knew deep down that there was a chance mathematical calculations wouldn't ever amount to anything practically applicable in the sense of the effort that one has to put their mind through to even understand the principles, let alone remain passionate enough to calculate the same equations every day in the same attempts to find... something... this man was named Ling, and he believed he may have wasted his talent on something pointless. Shaking off the nihilistic thoughts, Ling returned his attention to where he derived meaning from life, his students.
"Ling, sir! I think I got it, the vortex math is based upon the principle of the three body problem!"
"Exactly, Muraco, the rapid spinning of energy created by three perfectly adjusted balls of energy rotating and pulling itself into itself which is referred to as an energy vortex, ripping apart the fabric of reality, this is the fundamental principle behind your magic, for any future artificers, I reccomend studying this principle closely, it is also the root behind energy cannons and energy guns, some of the best artificers crafting such legendary guns, it is said that none have the energy to wield them.
Ling could see that some of the class was astonished by the complexity and detail of the explanation of how their magic worked, though the obvious talents of the class maintained their usual nonchalant attitude towards the lesson. This bugged Ling as bit deep down, but he learned not to show it as the students were quick witted and often made sly remarks in response to any comments he made regarding his desire for them to pay attention in class. The bell rang and the students left for their next class, Ling went on his lunch break and ate a grilled chicken breast from the local quick stop resturaunt, delighted with the seasoning and taste, checking his watch on the way out the see that it was 1:17 pm, he walked back to Rolswil academy to finish his day.
-------------------------------------------------------------
Zol had no plans for his day today as he changed out of his pajamas only just now at 1:17 pm, buttoning up his suit and tying the knot on his tie, he had Rodney fetch him the driver as ate a quick snack of delicious berries before heading out to board the carriage, just in time to see his driver walking up as well. Boarding together, Zol made his way downtown, he had decided once again to let fate lead him and follow and inner urge. Although nothing like his previous urge to fight that wasn't quite clear at the time as to what the painful urge was, this urge intuitively felt like a good opportunity, he had felt a bit on edge lately, though all he could do was put his mind at ease, he had nothing to worry about he thought as he reminded himself he can only do what he can do as the person he is in any given situation. Enjoying the ride, though a few more bumps than usual, perhaps the carriage driver wasn't quite on point today, Zol arrived where he had requested the driver take him, town square. With no particular plans in mind, Zol figured he start in town square and to for a little walk and see where that took him. Exiting the carriage and dismissing his driver to return home without him, Zol began his walk through the town.
-------------------------------------------------------------
"Dang it why won't they just pay attention!?"
Ling mumbled quietly as he sat down in his chair, having just finished his last class. Another batch of talented students had gotten in his nerves by not paying attention, especially when he thought it was a particularly interesting subject, the detail and extent of your abilities being directly linked to the tricks you can play with your own mind, mathematically transcribed of course, by examining the neuro pathways of the brain, scientists were able to quantify exactly how much energy was necessary to twist, shape, shift, transpose or mediate as well as conceal or override another's, with a famous mathematician's formula, named Prozigus, he developed the equation before the neuro pathways of the brain had been fully examined by scientists, proving his immense talent and intelligence. Ling looked up to this mathematician for his large mind, it still be unfathomable to Ling with all his expertise in the field, how Prozigus could have possibly came up with this formula.
Accepting the situation, Ling got up from his desk and began walking home. Still wrapped up in negative emotions regarding his students, Ling was lost in thought, looking down at the ground as he walked, he continued walking home on autopilot following his instincts in having walked this walk hundreds of times to guide him. Though this time, turning a corner, he misjudged the distance of a building from his body as he turned and walking into a wall instead of turning the corner properly. Being knocked down to his butt, a bit painfully, Ling finally looked up from the ground, to see a hand reaching out trom where the wall just was help him up.
Taking the strangers hand and looking him in the eye's to see who he was meeting, Ling realized he hadn't bumped into a wall, he had bumped into this person who seemed to be very sturdy, even as he shook his hand and apologized for knocking him down, Ling felt no weakness from this man.
"Sorry about that, I should have been more aware of my surroundings"
Zol said that, though he was extremely aware of his surroundings, what was strange was that he could not sense this man coming, he had not been surprised, as the man turned the corner as a slow sleep, ending up walking right into him, Zol of course could have avoided this, but he was curious to see what type of person who couldn't sense, and had a hunch that he might be the answer to his mysterious urge to walk the town.
"What's got you so caught up in your mind?"
Zol asked, though an introspective person himself, it could be called important to be aware or where you're going and your surrounding as you do so.
"Math, and uh, well, my students, some are eager to learn but some bug me with how little they care about the lesson."
Zol understood what he meant, although he had no particular reason to care about a strangers problems, he always tried to help where he could, and figured the stranger might find it useful to tell someone to help get it off his mind.
"I understand that, it can be frustrating to see others not give credit to those who actually have something to say, though those students are likely simple creatures, caring more about appearing as if they don't care for the sake of it than actually ignoring the lesson, if you pay attention closely, I bet you might notice that some of your students who you think are not paying attention are actually afraid to show that they are a bit fascinated by what you have to say.
A pragmatic person himself, Ling couldn't disagree with the possibility of this being the case, though he may not have normally so easily accepted this, as he had a feeling already deep down, but seemingly kept up the belief in his mind to have something to get mad at to maintain his demeanor of a stern teacher, as he found that if he did not he would come across as akward, and he preferred stern over akward. The tension unraveled in Lings mind as he saw Zol continuing to stare into his eyes, with a subtle smile as if he knew exactly the thoughts he was having at that very moment. Not allowing Ling to question this further, Zol said:
"Tell me more about this math of yours"
Back at Zol's beautiful and comfortable abode, Rodney poured two glasses of finely aged whiskey for Zol and his guest, overhearing the conversation, Rodney was eager to stay within earshot, the information being exchanged was truly interesting, though he found it a struggle to keep up, with terms he had never heard before being used, the man who Zol brought as a guest seemed to be an esteemed scholar judging by the subject of conversation being mathematics and it's various unsolved mysteries. Zol sat and listened closely to every word, though he wasn't versed in the field of mathematics, he was no slouch, and knew a thing or two, Ling picked up on this quickly through out their conversations heading back to Zol's house and chatting as they ate and drank. Through out their talks, Zol said little about himself, allowing Ling to inform Zol well enough that he was now at a level of understanding in mathematics equal to Ling in that short of time, Ling was astonished as he watched this happen in real time, not believing it at first as he tested Zol with equations and eventually ended up at the point late in the night where Ling supposed to Zol what he had been teaching his class earlier, the formula created by Prozigus, the math prodigy, involving the fundamentals of how humans use magic. The words entering Zol's ears and into his mind shocked his intuition briefly before the sting of what he had just intuitively expected to hear as he came to the same conclusion mentally as the words Ling had just finished speaking pertaining to Prozigul's formula, something shifted in Zol's mind, and he briefly considered magic in it's entirety in a new light, realizing intuitively as well, that he should be careful to consider this in the right state of mind, saving the potential for growth from this information for later when he had a more clear state of mind, perhaps the drinks, the many mental calculations he he done today, or the feeling that the words of the new book he hadn't yet finished would help him to realize the truth of this realization, but Zol felt it would be best to consider this later. Entertaining his guest a while longer, then sending him on his way, having his driver take him home, Zol prepared to do exactly that, sit down and consider all he had just learned. It could be another secret to more power, and although Zol didn't seek power for the sake of it, believing he'd become however strong that was necessary through the fights that he fought with his rate of growth, he had a instinct as well that he should use every opportunity to grow, as one doesn't know for sure if they might get another chance to do so, and one also doesn't know for sure if they might need the strength they might hesitate to acquire. Even having recently obtained a new technique, the blackhole technique, one of that many masters worked lifetimes to percieve a glimpse of the understanding, and all failed. Despite this, and due to the previous reasons, Zol had no further obstacles in the way. Except his stomach, which was hungry for a sandwhich. Or maybe it was his taste buds that wanted to taste the sandwhich, although he was still hungry, having eaten only appetizers with Ling, and felt food would be appreciated by his organs, he also considered the possibility that rather than his stomach or taste buds, it was his brain that caused him to feel the desire to taste a sandwhich and fill his stomach, was his brain him he wondered? Or was "he" something else? Magician's with a deep understanding in their magic had came up with the theory of the soul, though Zol hadn't looked too deep into this theory, it came to mind as he told his instincts to eat to settle down, sat down in his chair with his book, and began to ponder the equation Ling had told as the words he read matched to his thoughts perfectly from exactly where he left off, after a few minutes, Zol fell asleep.