That's not how you use a witch!

Chapter 71 Mechanic Academy

The morning light shone on the bricks and tiles of the Thorn Ridge School, reflecting a faint golden hue.

The shouts of the militia's training march echoed in the distance, signaling the start of the day; the militiamen on duty at the school came to open the door with their keys, only to find that someone was already waiting at the entrance.

"Mr. Ellison! You're here so early again?"

"Hehe, since I'm just killing time anyway, why don't I come and sit down?"

"Sigh—I've heard everything. You're the top student in the mechanic training program, and your future after graduation is very bright! Just like the lord said, those with ambition will surely succeed. Keep it up, and I look forward to the day you graduate!"

"Okay, thank you for your blessings!"

With a sense of感慨 (gǎnkǎi, mixed feelings), Ellison limped into the classroom and, as usual, took the first seat near the door—the view was excellent, allowing him to clearly see the words and pictures on the blackboard, and the teacher's voice was also very clear.

No one had arrived yet, so Ellison picked up the teaching aids on the podium to review the previous lesson—they were several metal parts, including gears, bearings, levers, and some other things he couldn't name yet.

Ellison imagined how they would connect in some way and then run smoothly, and once the whole model was built in his mind, he felt a sense of great satisfaction.

Learning is such an interesting thing, and mechanics is such a wonderful thing!

Ellison couldn't help but recall the morning the lord had visited.

He had never imagined that such an important person would actually care about his family's trivial matters, just as he had never imagined that he would enjoy the feeling of learning.

Ellison initially came with the mindset of just going through the motions, because, under Ronan's arrangement, studying was a mandatory condition for receiving the stipend.

But when he mastered all the content of the "compulsory education class" and came in first place in that exam, and received a special commendation from the head teacher, Howard, a sense of satisfaction welled up in Ellison's heart.

It was a hundred times more satisfying than when he returned from a hunt with a full load of prey, even though he had both legs intact.

He now understood why Ronan was so insistent on making them read and learn—putting aside the benefits it could bring, the act itself was so captivating and alluring.

Because he clearly felt that he was gradually shedding his ignorance and learning many new things in the process, like a half-old tree sprouting new buds. After unfortunately losing a leg, he had always considered himself half-dead, but learning made him feel alive again.

More importantly, Ellison found that he hadn't argued with his wife and children recently. The family would exchange what they had learned, review and share together, and their relationship had become much more harmonious.

His neighbors no longer mocked him for his limp, but admired his academic excellence and even regarded him as a role model for their children.

All of this is thanks to reading.

Therefore, when he saw the notice announcing the upcoming establishment of a mechanic training course, Allison signed up without hesitation.

Unlike free compulsory education classes, the mechanic training course requires tuition: 3 work points or equivalent iron ingots per week. According to the notice, this is because the knowledge required for mechanics is highly complex, and the training costs are also higher. Of course, the rewards after completing the course are unparalleled by any other job currently available.

This is why the tuition fee deterred some people, but there are still quite a few applicants.

On the one hand, the living standards in Thorn Territory are constantly improving, and the tuition fee of 3 work points per week is within the reach of most residents; on the other hand, those who have received compulsory education have a vague premonition that Thorn Territory will undergo earth-shattering changes in the future.

Ellison was one of them.

Unlike others, as a registered member of a low-income family, he is eligible for interest-free student loans, meaning he can complete his studies first and then pay tuition later.

Therefore, he was the most motivated, and during the learning process, he quickly discovered that he had an innate interest in machinery—perhaps because he had been thinking about various hunting traps since he became lame, and the two had many similarities.

After visiting the steam engine and industrial machine tool made by the lord, he became even more captivated by these novel creations.

Sooner or later, he will build his own machine!

The teachers' commotion brought Ellison back to reality; he realized that everyone was almost there.

Two minutes later, under the students' watchful eyes, the mechanic training course instructor—the chief witch of the Thorn Territory, Madel—silently walked onto the podium.

"Attend class."

"Stand up!" "Good morning, teacher!"

"Hello students. We will continue learning about the operation of machines..."

As an introverted girl, Meidel speaks softly, which is why Ellison insists on sitting in the front row.

However, the students were already used to this, and everyone would remain silent when Madale spoke.

Compared to compulsory education classes, Madonna's classes are much more interesting because she can use her magical powers to assist in teaching: metal parts used as teaching aids are suspended in mid-air under her control and float past each person in turn; she also demonstrates how machines work by controlling their combination and movement, which is much more intuitive and vivid than simple explanations.

Maidal also arranges interactive activities where students can personally arrange and assemble the metal parts. If assembled correctly, the gear at the end can turn.

This unconventional teaching method initially startled the students, but they quickly came to enjoy it.

"That concludes today's lesson. Now, here are some parts. Which student can use what they've learned today to assemble them?"

With a gesture, the parts on the podium floated into the air.

"I'll do it!"

Ellison pondered for a moment and then raised his right hand.

With his smooth assembly, the pile of floating parts transformed into a simple machine in less than five minutes. When Madale activated one gear with her magical energy, the other gear also began to turn smoothly—indicating that the assembly was correct!

A round of enthusiastic applause erupted in the classroom, and Ellison couldn't help but smile.

He then paused for a moment, realizing that there were still quite a few parts in mid-air that hadn't been used.

"Wait, why are there still so many left?"

Ellison scratched his head.

Meidel stared at them for a while, her eyes becoming increasingly fascinating.

"They should all have been used, but you achieved the same effect with fewer parts. That's even more remarkable."

The young female teacher smiled and said, "Mr. Ellison, your talent in mechanics is quite outstanding."

Ellison blushed. "Thank you, teacher!"

Amid even louder applause and cheers, Ellison limped back to his seat, his excitement still lingering.

He also seemed to be pondering: fewer parts meant a simpler structure, and a simpler structure often meant reliability and efficiency—the same principle applied to the traps he hunted. Given this, could he follow this line of thought and build a simpler steam engine or industrial machine tool?

As Ellison pondered this, Maddie was dismissed from get out of class.

Before leaving the classroom, she informed the students that the militia would be testing a new weapon later, and that a loud noise would be normal, so there was no need to panic.

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