First of all, I want to say that I will stop using dashes for certain precautions. I hope the change doesn't bother you too much. Without further ado, enjoy....
Chapter 5. Magic Classes
I found myself on the white plain, right next to the frozen stream. Finally, someone was willing to teach me what I had longed for all my life: learning to use magic.
"Well, the first thing you need to know before using magic is to understand what mana is. Mana is the spiritual energy that flows within our bodies, the substance that allows us to use magic," explained Floyd.
"Yeah, yeah, I know what it is, you don't have to remind me," I said, eager to skip explanations as I wasn't interested.
"Really? Well, if you say so, we can move on to the next step directly. So, the next thing you need to do is to be aware of your own mana. What do I mean? You have to know that this mana is yours and yours alone, as if it were another part of your body. Do you understand what I mean?" Floyd asked.
"I think so, more or less," I said, not entirely understanding.
"Hmm, does that mean I didn't explain myself well?" Floyd asked to confirm.
"Sorry, but I didn't understand. I mean, I understood about feeling it as a part of my body, but I didn't understand how to do it."
"Mmm... well, let me see, how can I explain it? You're too young; you wouldn't understand. Even I don't know exactly how to explain it. It usually comes naturally, like breathing, or adding, or reading," said Floyd, scratching his head.
"Just say it; maybe you'll be surprised. I'm sure I'll understand," I encouraged.
"You know, for your age, you act pretty mature. So, let's see... well, the first thing you need to do is imagine a source of energy within your body, and that this energy is always available to you whenever you wish," Floyd said.
"Alright," I concentrated on myself, thinking about any kind of energy inside me. I thought about what kind of energy it could be. Electric? No, energy is the currency of exchange in the universe, so my energy is the quantity I have to use magic. I imagined a blue flame inside me, like in anime.
"I don't know if you know this, but just like blood flows through the bloodstream, mana also has channels through which it flows and can exit the body. Make that energy flow through those channels, pass through your body, and exit your body," I heard Floyd's explanations with my eyes closed.
I imagined that energy flowing like water through my body. I tried to recreate what happens in anime, concentrating my chakra points, making it flow through every corner of my body like in a microwave. I think that's how it goes, right?
With all my strength, I wished to feel something, something different. I had tried this before, but now I had to succeed. I couldn't disappoint Floyd. In anime, they said something about peace and tranquility; maybe that's why the energy wasn't flowing. I relaxed my muscles, my facial expression, and cleared my mind, focusing only on trying to make my mana flow, on nothing else.
My eyes were closed, so I couldn't see Floyd and Kassia. I was about to give up, but then I felt a slight tingling sensation running down my back. It was a cold sensation, as if that part of my body was going numb. I felt an intense tingling sensation running through the limbs of my body until it reached the tips of my fingers. It was a very cold sensation; it really felt like someone had thrown a bucket of cold water over me.
"Ah! I think I got it," I said as I opened my eyes.
"Perfect. Now concentrate on what you want to do. For example, push the wind, make a ball of water, or fire," said Floyd excitedly.
"How am I supposed to make one?" I asked annoyed, as he never explained that to me.
"Oh, right. It's simple. Which element do you feel more affinity towards?" Floyd said, as if he knew.
"I don't know," I replied.
"Haha, because I think first, you had to take a test to find out which element you're more attuned to. And now that I think about it, I guess you should have seen a demonstration," Floyd said thoughtfully.
"You're a terrible teacher, and you want to have your own school," Kassia said angrily.
"Haha, sorry, sorry. It's my first time doing this. My little sister practically did everything on her own; I just instructed her a bit. I'm sorry," Floyd said with a nervous smile.
"And you complain that they don't learn well," I exclaimed annoyed.
"Okay, sorry, stop complaining and watch. Wind magic is the easiest to perform. You just have to mix your mana with the air. That's done simply by expelling it and moving it around you. But the disadvantage is that it's hard to control. Water magic is also quite simple. Being a denser element than air, you can mold it more easily, but it's harder. It's easier to mold but harder to move. Which one do you choose?" Floyd asked.
"Which one are you more attuned to?" I asked.
"I'm more attuned to water. Watch this," Floyd moved his hand towards the frozen lake, placed his palm in front of the ice, and instantly it melted, and a water ball the size of a soccer ball rose.
As he moved his palm, the water ball followed him as if it were attached to him. He moved it in front of him, placing his two hands underneath the ball.
Instantly, it split into two balls of the same amount before spinning around themselves.
He raised his palm in front of him, pointing at one of the dry trees in the area. In an instant, it shot out at incredible speed, crashing into one of the branches.
The impact was so strong that the branch broke, and it wasn't just any branch; it was at least as thick as a dinner plate, and it didn't seem fragile. Despite the tree being dry, the wood seemed to be in good condition, as a loud crack echoed throughout the area. The second water ball was so fast that it went through the central trunk of the tree from one side to the other, like it was nothing.
"So, what do you think? How was that?" Floyd asked.
"That, that can be very dangerous, but it was incredible! The force of the impact was brutal, just to be able to go through the wood. With that, you could kill someone with a single blow!"
"Haha, indeed it can be, but I hadn't thought about how dangerous it is," Floyd said thoughtfully.
"That's nothing. My wind magic is better, hm?" Kassia said, interrupting.
"We'll see about that. Now, it's your turn, Aylin," Floyd said.
"Alright."
"Follow the previous two steps, and I'll guide you on how to control the water," Floyd explained.
"Okay."
I approached the hole Floyd made in the ice and placed my palm in front of it, just as Floyd did. I concentrated, this time focusing on the strange sensation from the first time.
