Chatoyant College Book 8: From the Earth

Chapter 40: Sand

Monday, November 17

Corrie was actually relieved when it was Monday. Not that she hadn't enjoyed the weekend, and all the snow, but she'd felt off-kilter since Friday. Maybe it had been the way she'd absorbed all the air magic for Professor Lal, but she didn't think so. Actually, when she thought about it (walking to class with Dawn), she decided that she'd really felt off-kilter since Wednesday, since she'd talked to her dad.

She still hadn't asked her mother about the magic, though they had talked about Corrie's visit with her father. The topic had come up, she just hadn't asked any specific questions, and her mom hadn't volunteered any information. She was sure she would have to, unless she got her answer soon, but somehow she wanted to make sure she was competent with every element first.

That was where her mind was when Professor Lal walked into the class and started speaking, and Corrie had to snap herself to attention. "Earth magic is often seen as very complicated," the professor was explaining. "This is because it can be used in ways that seem diverse, at least in human experience. For example." She held up her two hands, palm up, and something flashed into existence in each palm. She walked around the classroom, holding them out. In her left hand was a glittering crystal; in her right was a bean.

As she walked back to the front of the class, they vanished. "Plants, dirt, crystal, even metals; these are all within the realm of earth magic. Yes, Dale?"

"What about animals? They're living things, just like plants."

Professor Lal nodded. "You are correct, but animals are on a different level where magic is concerned. They cannot simply be created. At times, as you have seen, science and magic map closely, but at times such as this one, they have nothing to do with each other. The two are in fact entirely different disciplines, though a good knowledge of one can often strengthen understanding of the other."

She held her hand up, and the crystal appeared in it again. It was appearing and disappearing quickly enough that Corrie had to wonder if Professor Lal was using some kind of sleight-of-hand instead of actual earth magic to do it. She wouldn't put it past the professor to have every ability that could be called magic. "Crystals and stones, while seen as precious and rare to most of our culture, are in fact usually the simplest to create, due to their extremely regular structure. That does not mean that you can simply create a diamond ring. For one thing, clarity and flawlessness are prized in gems, but those aspects are difficult to achieve in a magically-created stone. For another, the size and shape of metal is quite difficult to control magically. But do not be discouraged." She smiled. "If you are skilled with earth magic, you may one day be able to create the jewelry of your dreams." Most of the class, including Corrie, giggled. She did like the idea of magically creating her own jewelry...

"Now, your assignment for today is to create something using earth magic. The simplest thing to focus on, of course, is crystalline structure. I expect most of you to end up with a few grains of sand by the end of the class period. Fear not; this is not a failure. However, if you are able to extend your powers beyond that, as I know a few of you should be, I would like you to try to create a larger crystal or stone. If you wish for a greater challenge, soil or a plant of some sort is certainly acceptable. However, do not aim for a greater challenge to the detriment of creating anything. You should all be able to create at least a grain of sand, and I will be holding you to that. You may begin."

Corrie was confident. She wasn't trying to do trance again. She was doing elemental magic, and she knew she had skill with that. She breathed deeply, looked inside herself, and there it was: her magic, still warm, still pulsing. Though it wasn't physically visible, it did seem to have a color associated with it; today the color seemed to be darker, less orange. Well, that was probably just because it was earth magic.

She reached for it, and she focused on the idea of a grain of sand, right in the center of her desk, where there was a whorl in the fake wood.

It blinked into existence. A tiny, whitish grain. Not shiny or anything. But it made her feel good. She grinned and tried again, then again, then again. She made it a different color. Clearer, then darker. Soon there was a tiny pile, like an anthill, on the desk in front of her.

"Very good," said Professor Lal from behind her. "Now push yourself."