Chronicles of a Mage, Book One

Chapter 29: Professor Sorace

"Ugh I don't get it!" The 11 year old I was tutoring, Tadier tossed his hands and sat down in defeat. Right now I'm trying to teach him my flame shot spell. I tried teaching him some basic magic theory earlier but it didn't go well. Now I'm trying to teach him a spell through practice, but it seems even someone with magic blood can't pick it up so easy.

"I don't expect you to grasp it straight away. It took me years of practice even perform this spell, let alone cast it silently." My horse sustained injuries due to being ambushed by a bandit and so he needs 3 days to be able to ride again. Currently the stable master is taking care of both mine and Mathra's horses "Besides, I've learning magic since I could walk and my teacher was amazing. But you're stuck learning from me." Tutoring Tadier brought back nostalgic memories of my childhood. A simpler time, when I spent most of my time trying to perform this very spell, just like Tadier was trying to do right now. I've been surrounded by magic users my whole life. My uncle and aunt, and even my parents are all skilled casters in their own right. Tadier had none of these and it was clear that trying to get the contents of my lessons into the boy's head will get me nowhere. "Look it's getting a  dark. Why don't you head back home? I'll meet you here again tomorrow." The sun was setting, leaving a golden glow in the sky.

"Ok. See ya later mister. I hope I can get the hang of this tomorrow" Tadier got walked up and walked away. He wasn't interested in learning magic at first but after I demonstrated a couple spells he became enthralled, most likely because it looked cool. That's what most children think when they see magic anyway. I  can't disagree with them, but being thrust in the middle of battle so many times has left me desensitized to the beauty of magic. How can I? Magic is a thing most often used for war. To kill people. But as long as it keeps me safe, it's enough for me.

"Aren't you going to see him to his house? It can't be a good idea to leave children to their own devices..." Eeuna remarked

"He'll be alright. These streets are safe so he'll be fine. I on the other hand could use a bath" 

"That hits the spot..." I was the only occupant in Syransellon's one and only bathhouse. The moonlit night sky beaming through the high windows gave the room a lonely feel as the moonlight reflected of the water and floors. This feeling of being all alone in the world is what made me fall in love with baths ever since I had that bath in Thele city. Back home we either bathed in the sea, a pond or in a wooden tub. I never really thought much about bathing (doing it in the sea can be rather salty though) but there's something comforting about a bath house that really makes me fall in love with it.

"You've gotten really obsessed with baths haven't you?" Of course this lonely feeling only remained when the girl in my head kept silent, which she often did not.

"Aren't you the one who told me I should've taken one because I stank?"

"Well that was only because you were running around in those sewers for weeks on end. But all you talked about since you had the bath the other day was how about how refreshed it made you feel."

"But it is refreshing! And besides look at Mathra, all he's been doing since we got to this town is talking to Tadier's grandfather about tea, I hardly see how I'm the weird one." I paused for a moment and  continued. "In any case I think I know how we can teach Tadier."

 "Oh? What is it?" Eeuna asked.

"Do you remember the 4 sources of magic? Arcane, divine, occult and sanguine? Specifically do you remember what sanguine magic is?"

" Yeah It's when a person's blood has magic in it. You seem to be talking about sanguine magic a lot lately."

"Well I remember quite a few volumes on the subject. I also remember that sanguinors, require use magic by essentially projecting their emotions or personality. Foolish of me to forget that. Arcane magic is essentially the opposite. The clearer your head is, the better you'll be at the arcane. At least that's what uncle said. Anyway, our goal here is not to teach Tadier magic, but to teach him how to control it."

"Ah, so you're going to teach him how to deal with his emotions?"

"Pretty much. Uncle taught me the same things to make me better at arcane magic, but I bet it'll work fine for our purposes here."

"That's our Professor Sorace. Always got a solution at hand." Ah yes, that's a nickname Eeuna calls me whenever I go on some rant. I thought it silly at first but it's kind of grown on me. Maybe I should become a teacher one day?