“I’ve made a terrible mistake.” Erianna cupped her head in her hands as Sam closed off the laptop they had both shared to remotely attend their first lesson in Theoretical Frameworks of Dwarven Designed Patterns and Their Underlying Foundations and Principles.

  “I don’t know.” Sam shrugged. “I thought it was interesting.”

  Erianna’s eyes peeked at him from behind her hands. “Very funny. You don’t need to rub salt in the wounds. I already said I was wrong.”

  “I’m being serious.”

  “And I’m seriously saying that it’s not funny.”

  “What?” Sam laughed. “I’m not joking.”

  “Then why are you laughing?!”

  “Because I find the situation funny.”

  She jabbed a finger at his chest. “So suddenly you’re actually interested in dwarven patterns? You expect me to believe that? I already said I was wrong. I promise I’ll talk to Dan and have him move us to a better elective.”

  “Seriously, Erianna, I’m not lying. I had fun. This was really interesting.”

  Erianna groaned. “Sam… this is starting to be annoying.”

  He flicked her on the forehead. “I’m going to say this one more time: I actually had a good time. I think this was a good choice for an elective.”

  She stared at him through narrowed eyes for a few seconds before relenting with a sigh. “Oh, fuck me… what did I get myself into? This was supposed to be a joke. At the very least, it wasn’t supposed to be hard for me and easy for you.”

  “Hey, I didn’t say it was easy. But it was interesting, you gotta to admit.”

  “What the hell was interesting?”

  “Well, the bit about the intention principle, for start.”

  “Wait, you actually knew what that was? I’ve read the required material for this lesson, there was nothing there about any intention principle.”

  Sam nodded. “Yeah, it was in one of the recommended books. I think it was called—”

  “Since when are you the kind of person who reads the recommended books? Neither of us has enough free time to spend it reading the recommended material.”

  “I kind of did, what with a lot of my study subjects being put on hold until I get better with their practical application. And since I was already in a sort of flow-state studying the theoretical side of patterns, I figured I could further supplement it with the reading. I’m pretty sure all of those books are mandatory reading for some of the advanced electives in pattern theory.”

  Erianna stared at him in silence, her head tilted and a half-snarl on her face. “So let me get this straight: you’ve spent the last month complaining about being forced to join me for this course. Then you decide to read all the material recommended for it—”

  “Not all of it. Just most. And just for the first few lessons.”

  She slowly exhales. “Shut up. And then, you end up actually enjoying the course. Do you see what’s wrong with this picture?”

  Sam laughed. “Come on, 95% of my day is made up of activities that I actively complain about or have done so in the past.”

  “I hate you.”

  Sam smiled. “You don’t mean that.”

  “I do. I managed to spend my entire life proving to myself and everyone else that I really am the best at everything. A fully justified superiority complex. Now you decide to come here and shit all over my parade.” She threw her hair to the side. “I’m ruined. My self-confidence is shattered.”

  “To be fair, you were the one that came here.”

  She laughed and hit him on the arm. “Alright, so what is the intention principle?”

  “It’s this really cool thing that happens when two or more people are concurrently using the same pattern. It turns out that the overall resistance and dissipation of the energy going through the pattern when two people are using it is higher than the combined resistance and dissipation if they both had used the pattern separately.”

  “Oh yeah. I knew about that. Didn’t know it had a name. But I didn’t think that it mattered to anyone since the wastage in even very large formations and arrays isn’t that significant, and it’s incredibly negligible at any scale smaller than that.”

  Sam nodded. “Pretty much, yeah. It’s sort of like this unexplained phenomenon that seems like part of the natural laws of magic that we simply haven’t figured out how they work. But if there really are dwarven patterns that manage to minimize the effect of the intention principle, that’s incredible!”

  “Incredible to whom?”

  “Well it proves that there are some variables that determine how the principle operates. Discovering them could help us better understand how patterns work and how we even interact with magic.”

  “And…?”

  “And what?”

  “How will that help the two of us kill more Epiraks?”

  Sam pursed his lips. “You can’t pre-determine what scientific breakthroughs are also going to result in warfare developments. You can’t have the nuclear bomb without thousands of chemists shut-up in their labs trying to isolate particles that were only imagined by another chemist two years prior.”

  “Sure, that makes sense. But, neither of us are chemists, right? Or nuclear physicists. We’re the guys who fly the bomb, not those who develop it.”

  “Hm…” Sam rubbed his nose. “Yes, that’s true. We can’t really dedicate enough time and energy to mastering the theoretical and scientific aspects of magic. At least not enough to contribute to any such developments. But still, who’s to say that knowing this more esoteric sort of knowledge wouldn’t help us in the long run?”

  “I guess Sarah will be happy to know that she has managed to fully mold you in her image.”

  “Har har. Very funny. You’re just sore cause I knew something that you didn’t.”

  Erianna crossed her hands. “Well it’s ridiculous that you do! You still have less than a year of schooling. How is it fair that you’re better versed in a subject than me?!”

  “You’re lucky I’m such a good person. Otherwise I would share what you just said with our friends. I’m sure Yvessa would be happy to learn that you complained about the fairness of other people being better than you.”

  She blew a raspberry. “You love to complain. I love being hypocritical and painting myself as the plucky underdog. Alright, fine.” She waved her hand. “I guess we’ll stick to it. But just know that this means that you’re going to have to help me with the stuff that I don’t understand.”

  “No problem with me. Especially since it’s obvious that you’re exaggerating and you’re not that lost in the material as you claim to be.”

  “No, but I still think you’re a little more sure-footed than me.”

  “Alright, maybe.”

  “And that you definitely enjoyed learning this stuff more than me.”

  “Hm…” Sam nodded. “Yeah, that’s… probably right.”

  “Probably?” Erianna raised an eyebrow.

  “Well we’re veering into subjective subjectivity area here. You can never be objective about this kind of stuff.”

  Erianna sighed. “I hate you.”

  “That’s more than fair. Ready to go?”

  “Hm…” She pursed her lips in consideration before presenting her hands forward. “Up.”

  Sam rolled his eyes as he stood up. “You’re really milking this, aren’t you?”

  “It was so tough.”

  “It was your own choice.”

  “Doesn’t mean I have to suffer the consequences… Pleaase?” She made puppy eyes.

  Sam relented and grabbed her hands, pulling her upwards. “Ugh! Heavy.”

  “Head made for a crown, baby.”

  “And a jaw that’s not far behind.”

  She punched him on the shoulder. “Was that a joke about inbreeding?”

  “Do you even have to ask?”

  She smacked her lips as she bent down to pick their bags, handing Sam his. “Lets?”

  “After you.” Sam beckoned her.

  Once they were downstairs and on their way to the mess hall, she asked, “So… are you going to talk to your therapist about what we… you know, talked about yesterday?”

  “What, afraid that if I share it with other people it won’t be as special anymore?”

  “Sam.” She frowned.

  “Sorry. Can’t turn this off, you know. Hm… I guess I should, right? I mean, I probably should’ve brought it up already. God knows I’ve talked about it plenty before coming here, in and out of therapy. It was one of my few sources of consolation when I was in the hospital, you know? No reason I wouldn’t be able to live on my own with a cat and dog just because I lost my legs.”

  “So why didn’t you bring it up?”

  If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.

  He sighed. “I really don’t know. It’s not embarrassment. I mean, it could be, but I don’t think it is. Maybe I just didn’t want to… face it? I don’t know.” He swallowed. “I’ll see how I feel during the meeting.”

  Erianna nodded with a reassuring smile. “In any case, you can be sure that I won’t share it with anyone else.”

  “I feel like that was a given. I thought you were going to say that I could always talk to you about this if I need to.”

  “Eh…” She twirled her hand. “That’s going too far. I mean, I like you. But I don’t like you that much.”

  “Well you’re lucky that I don’t like you at all. Otherwise, that would’ve really hurt me.”

  She laughed. “As if I’d buy that. I’m the only person you told about this.” She smiled wickedly. “I hold your heart in a vise. Bump bump.”

  Sam shook his head vigorously. “Don’t be absurd. I only spilled the beans because of the confluence of the different circumstances. I was vulnerable and talkative because of the day; the alcohol I imbibed; and the bloody fake sky. In a sense, you took advantage of my vulnerable state.”

  “Whatever helps you sleep at night. You can keep holding onto your delusion until you’re level 2.”

  “That’s a low blow. You know how much I want that pattern. I always said that I could pick a superpower, it’d be the ability to fall asleep immediately.”

  “No offense. But that’s a shitty superpower. You can just wish to never be tired. Or only need a minute of sleep.”

  “No offense, but that’s obviously not the point, nerd. It’s about conveying just how much stock I put in being able to fall asleep easily.”

  “Tsk.” She shrugged. “Only thing it conveyed is that you’re shit at picking superpowers.”

  “Well what would your superpower be, Miss Know It All?”

  “The ability to manifest my will upon reality.”

  Sam rolled his eyes. “Wow, how original.”

  “About as original as saying two plus two equals four.”

  Sam waved a hand dismissively and turned on his Sight to see whether their friends were already in the mess hall. Erianna patiently waited the minute it took him to find them, and then half a minute more to really confirm it was them and find out exactly where they were seated.

  “Getting better,” she said.

  “I have a good teacher.”

  “Just good?”

  “Yeah, she can be pretty annoying sometimes. Like she tries to care about me and make sure I feel better and shit like that. What a weirdo, right?”

  “Well not everyone can be as disgustingly selfish as you are.”

  “Ain’t that a shame.”

  They worked their way through the lines, choosing their breakfast before making their way to their friends’ table. “Good morning,” Sam said brightly as he and Erianna sat in the joint empty spots opposite Felix and Yvessa.

  “Is it?” Felix blearily moaned from behind his sunglasses.

  “Is this supposed to be a bit? You’ve just come from doing an intensive workout.”

  “Doesn’t mean the light doesn’t do my head in.”

  “Doesn’t it?” Erianna asked.

  “Eh. I was a little off in the morning, so I grabbed them. But now I still have them on for the mood.”

  “And is the mood being the asshole who keeps his sunglasses on inside?” Sam asked.

  Felix sighed and took them off. “There. Happy now?”

  “Only if you promise me that you’re suffering more now.”

  He gave him the finger as Sarah asked. “So how was your first class?”

  “Awful,” Erianna said while at the same time Sam said, “Pretty interesting.”

  Sarah let out a satisfied pip while Yvessa and Felix exchanged looks. Erianna sighed. “Trust me. We’ve already been over this. It doesn’t make sense, and it annoys me way more than it does you guys.”

  “Wait, he’s being serious?” Felix asked.

  “Unfortunately.”

  Yvessa laughed. “Good for you, Sam. So I guess now it’s not just muddling that you’re bad at?” She smiled sweetly and Erianna.

  Erianna frowned and rolled her eyes, her lips forming half a smile. “I’m not bad. Just not as good. There’s a difference. Besides, I dare you two to take that course. The only reason Sam enjoys it is because of his crossed-wires brain, and the only reason he was ‘better’ than me is that he decided to waste his time reading the recommended material.”

  “I’m hearing a lot of excuses,” Felix said. “That’s not going to help your muddling.”

  “Will me kicking your ass ten times out of ten help me more?”

  “Resorting to threats of violence. Typical royalty.”

  “Are you going to let him off talking to me like that?” Erianna asked Sam, who shrugged noncommittally. “He stole your joke!” Sam straightened up exaggeratedly and stared left and right in alarm.

  Sarah laughed. “But seriously, how was the lesson?”

  “It wasn’t as bad as Erianna paints it,” Sam said. “And I did enjoy it more than I expected to.”

  “More than Erianna expected you to, as well.” Yvessa smiled. Erianna threw her a sour face.

  “So I guess we’ll keep going with it.”

  “Hooray…” Erianna moaned.

  “Hoisted by your own petard.” Felix laughed.

  “Laugh it up while you can. Because sooner or later it would be Sam who’s having the time of his life and breezing through a course that you’re having difficulty with. Or do we forget a certain pattern whose design was finished not too long ago?”

  “To be fair, he’d already done that in a bunch of non-magical courses.”

  Sam waved him off. “I’ll say it again. Two extra years of brain development. Four years of developing the study methods and analytical mindset that you’re still working on. It makes a difference.” Felix rolled his eyes as Sam continued, “And, I’m way smarter than you guys.”

  “Well smart or not,” Sarah said, “if you two want me to help you with the course, just say so.”

  “You remember it that well?” Yvessa asked.

  “Ah… well enough, I think? I’m sure that if I had made more active use of that knowledge that more would’ve remained with me.”

  Erianna sighed. “Why did I have to think it would be funny? Why couldn’t I have chosen the elective about the Empty Plains?”

  “Because that’s somehow even more useless than a course about dwarven patterns?” Felix asked.

  “Stop grumbling,” Sam told Erianna. “I’m sure it’ll end up being of some use to you. You’ll see.”

  “And look at it this way: even if it doesn’t, but it does for Sam. That’s on you. If Sam manages to become super strong or something because of those dwarven patterns lessons, you can take credit for that.”

  “Good, cause that’s what I want in life,” Erianna said. “To take credit for Sam’s achievements.”

  “Isn’t that what everyone wants?” Sam asked.

  “Just eat your salad, wonder-boy. At least it will take him a very long time to catch up to me in the fitness department.”

  Yvessa nodded. “Then maybe you should reconsider waking up two hours earlier on Sundays in order to work out.”

  Sam sighed. “God that was awful. I don’t know how you managed to do it,” he told Sarah.

  “The same way you did today and apparently will for the rest of the trimester?” she said.

  “And the most annoying thing is that he keeps complaining about doing this stuff,” Erianna said. “But he doesn’t stop doing them, and he keeps getting better.”

  “You’re right,” Yvessa drawled. “That is sooo unfair.”

  “Can we please stop talking about how amazing and wonderful I am?” Sam said. “There’ll be enough time for that in the rest of the day. Let’s talk about how good Felix’s sunglasses look on him instead.”

  Felix smiled widely, picking up the glasses and whipping them onto his face with a flourish of both neck and hair. “I know, right?”

  “I’m guessing they’re new?” Yvessa asked.

  “Yep. Bought them with the money I didn’t have to spend on getting Sam a real birthday gift.”

  Sam nodded. “Once again proving the superiority of my worldview on gift giving.”

  “Sure, let’s go with that.”

  Sam tsked. “Just because you lot are not ready to see the truth in my words, does not mean that others won’t. Once I get famous enough to indirectly wield political powers, I’m going to use my influence to make sure that every child will be educated on the correct attitude towards gifts.”

  “That’s what you’re going to spend your political capital on?” Erianna asked.

  “Why, you’ve got a better idea?”

  “Eh… I guess not.”

  Yvessa’s phone chimed, and she gestured to Felix. “We need to head out.”

  Felix nodded. “See you guys later.”

  “Bye.”

  “They have a lesson on the other side of campus,” Sarah explained after they had left.

  “Drill, right?” Sam asked.

  “In a sense. I mean, it’s not really drill, but… Well, I wouldn’t know how to describe it any other way.”

  “A waste of time,” Erianna suggested.

  “Hey now,” Sam said. “I’d be the first to march against outdated and outmoded methods of military training, but drill does serve some purpose when it’s used correctly.”

  “Sure, but they’re going to run through the same thing in Military Training, anyway.”

  “Huh. I did not know that. Then again, I guess there must be some redundancies between the two.”

  “And it’s not like learning how to move and fight in formation is so trivial and unimportant that the extra lessons are a waste,” Sarah said. “I actually enjoyed my lessons last year.”

  “So where does that leave you?” Erianna asked Sam.

  Sam shrugged. “Making up for lost time during Military Training, I guess.”

  “I guess Dan thinks it’s not that important if he decided to leave you out of these lessons.”

  “I won’t argue with that. But I’ve also yet to imprint any practical combat patterns. So technically I wouldn’t actually be able to march in full combat readiness. Kinda the whole point, really.”

  “At the end of the day it’s still just one lesson every two weeks for just the one trimester,” Sarah said. “You’ll be more than fine missing it.”

  “I didn’t say I wouldn’t be.”

  She smiled. “Fine, fine. I’m sure you weren’t worrying. I also need to head out, though. Made plans to go over some of the material with some classmates. See you guys.”

  “Good luck.” Sam and Erianna wished her goodbye.

  “Kind of feel like we’re goofing off,” Erianna said. “Everyone else leaving breakfast early.”

  Sam looked at his watch. “Not that early. I need to leave for therapy in a couple of minutes.” He frowned. “Em… going to therapy doesn’t count as goofing off, right?”

  “What sort of answer besides ‘yes’ do you think it would be appropriate for me to give?”

  “Hell yeah?”

  “Hell yeah, then.”

  Sam gave her a thumbs up. “What do you have for the rest of the day?”

  She wrinkled her nose. “Seriously, Sam? A little rude, don’t you think? I know verbatim where you’re going to be for every hour of today, and you’re only asking about mine just now? I thought you didn’t ask because you already knew.”

  “Heavens no! I don’t care about you. I’m only asking just now to fill the space before I have to leave.”

  She gave him the middle finger. “You’re lucky that I like you. Otherwise, I’d have you brought up on sedition charges for talking to me like this.”

  Sam touched his chest. “You like me? What a moron.” He laughed. “Seriously, what do you have next?”

  She sighed. “Combat practice. Then a lesson about patterns and then a private lesson about swordfighting patterns. Then I have free time until the evening.”

  “I’ll be honest with you, it doesn’t sound like you’re having all that much of a good time here.”

  She rolled her eyes. “When I’m not spending time with you guys, you mean?”

  “I was just thinking of me, being the only funny person in the group, but sure.” He winked. “In all seriousness, though.”

  “Oh, we’re being serious, are we?”

  “You’re right. My bad. I apologize. Serious from now on.”

  She pursed her lips. “Well you don’t have to worry about me. My schedule today isn’t that far off from my schedule last year. In both cases, I’m well ahead of the material and most of my classmates. In both cases, I can just get private tutoring in almost every subject I want. But here I can just walk to my classes, and I don’t need to take a car.”

  “Alright, so you’ve just moved from me being worried about your time here to just your time in general.”

  “Why? It’s not like the way I spend my time is that different from yours. You’d be pretty much just like me if there weren’t subjects in which you were still behind.”

  Sam scratched the back of his head. “I suppose. I mean, I guess you’re right. But I’m also like… not… I don’t know, not normal, I guess.”

  “And I am? Just because you like things a certain way, that doesn’t mean that it’s the wrong kind of way.”

  “Really? That’s exactly the opposite of what I was taught growing up. You learn something new every day, I guess.”

  “I thought you were going to be serious.”

  “I was. But then you convinced me that I don’t have to worry about you.”

  Erianna pouted. “Now who said anything about not worrying about me? I just said that you didn’t need to worry about me vis a vis studying here. There are still plenty of other aspects in which you need to worry about me. Being a good student for one. Entertaining me when I’m bored for another.”

  “Hey, that’s my shtick!”

  “Surely you’d be willing to give it to a lonely and homesick princess?”

  “Pftt. As if.”