"These are separated into three primary categories and from there have six sections." Goetia pointed out to the class as he wrote on the board "Anti-unit, Anti-army and Anti-fortress. Their effectiveness is rendered into the following grading system: E, D, C, B, A and EX, each letter represents a factor of ten. E represents ten times more powerful than an original attack. A Noble Phantasm of Rank C would be equal to an A ranked magic attack of the same purpose….Yes, Mercedes?"
"What does the EX rank mean?" The fluffy haired girl asked.
"That refers to an attack which falls outside of the ranking system, or cannot be quantified along side." Goetia placed his chalk down "Such things usually fall into their own separate category. However, the most common EX rank category would be ranked as 'Anti-world' not necessarily because of damage but because of area of effect."
The class nodded "Our lesson will be the development of our own Noble Phantasms."
"You seriously expect me to suddenly whip out an Anti-world attack?" Felix scoffed "Are you delusional?"
"Hardly." Goetia scoffed "I suspect the best any of you could manage would be E rank anti-unit…" he then looked around "Except you." he pointed at Mercedes "You could likely manage a D rank anti-unit…"
"What?" Felix raised an eyebrow "How?"
Goetia turned and looked at him, then slowly raised his hand and pointed his index finger at Sylvain. For a few seconds nothing happened, then a black projectile shot from his finger and struck the red haired boy in the centre of his chest and knocked him to the floor.
"Heal him." Goetia stated, the red haired boy spasaming on the floor as the Gandr took effect. Mercedes looked panicked for a few moments before she began to use light magic to combat the effects of the curse.
Sylvain was spasaming for a few more seconds before he stopped, letting out several coughs as he lay on the floor.
"As I was saying." Goetia brought the attention of the shocked students back to him "D rank, that was a mild Gandr shot, given Mercedes ability to cure it that makes her a rather potent mage...although she appears to be limited to recovery magic."
"Was it necessary to shoot me!?" Sylvain shouted from the floor inbetween several coughs. Goetia spared him barely a glance.
"In the interest of practical study? Yes." Goetia looked thoughtful for a moment "I have also heard that physical pain is amusing to witness."
"I hope you got your kicks out of it." Sylvain scowled, the was immediately sent back the ground with a second Gandr.
"Yes...I have."
"On a more...on topic question." Annette raised her hand "Have you ever seen an EX ranked attack?"
Goetia stared at her for a few moments then turned to the rest of the class "Please follow me."
_____
"I want you to explain this to me...very slowly so that I may understand what transpired." Seteth spoke with growing irritation as he looked at Goetia.
"The students asked me to demonstrate magic." He replied, as if he had done no wrong.
Seteth looked at him, then looked at the crater in the ground.
The large crater.
The very large crater.
"I see...And this spell was?" Seteth's remained blank faced, however the tightening of his knuckles spoke volumes to the amount of anger he was feeling.
"Not as powerful as it once was." Goetia scowled "I should have been able to incinerate a small island."
Seteth gripped his head in his hand.