Inhibition

Chapter 15

In combat class, they had started working on using magic to defeat an opponent. They still physically kicked each other’s butts once a weak so they wouldn’t get rusty, but they had moved on to magic fights.

Today they were learning about wind. Coach Will demonstrated how to create a wind strong enough, but controlled enough, to work to one’s advantage in a fight.

First, they had to get a basic understanding of what wind was, and its causes. Since wind was merely the result of differences in pressures, which could be manipulated by magic by changing the temperature. All they had to do was heat or chill the surrounding air on one side to create different pressures, and in effect, wind.

It was in the practice that they created winds that could snake through the air and could blow people in certain directions. It was all about placing hot and cold spots strategically.

The bad part? They were each tested on how well they could create and manipulate wind.

Individually, the students all had to complete an obstacle course, where different objects were set aside. The cones painted white had to be avoided, and the cones in black had to be hit.

This probably wouldn’t have been too bad, if it wasn’t for the fact that they had just learned how to do this, literally a few minutes ago.

The first couple of kids did okay. On average, two or three cones were missed when they were supposed to be hit, and three or four cones were hit when they were supposed to be missed. All in all, not bad scores seeing that there had to be fifty total cones all placed at uneven intervals in the mirror room.

Of course, there were always the really bad ones. Some people couldn’t hit any cones at all, while others his a little bit more than what was absolutely necessary. It could’ve been much worse than it was, though this didn’t do much to reassure Cat.

Finley stepped up on her turn and did almost perfectly, able to direct the flow without hitting a single one she wasn’t supposed to, though she didn’t manage to hit one cone that she actually was supposed to.

Next, it was Aidan’s turn.

And of course he did perfectly. The little protégé probably even broke a record with how fast he was able to complete the course. He probably could have done it with one hand tied behind his back (which really wouldn’t have made a difference. Magic is in the mind, not in the hand waving. Though it did help).

“Show off.” Cat mumbled under her breath.

“Excuse me?” Aidan asked, with amusement in his eyes.

“Oh, nothing. Just . . . Great job!” Cat gave a nervous laugh, her hand scratching the back of her neck absently. Aidan just gave her a knowing smirk and walked off.

Next, it was Cat’s turn. She walked up there, drew a deep, fortifying breath, and closed her eyes on the exhale. She could do this. She knew she could. One more deep breath and she went hunting in her head for her place of power.

Almost immediately, before she even saw a lake, or ocean, or purple goo, she was flooded with power. It practically radiated from her before being expelled into the surrounding area.

Instantly, a charge came into the air. The pressure started to fluctuate wildly in the room, along with the temperature. Wind started to roil around, gaining speed and strength. It bounced off the walls like a caged beast.

People yelled out as they were almost felled by its powerful force. It knocked one kid flat on his butt. Others held on to the walls and desks for support. Papers flew everywhere; paper Cat hadn’t even known was in the room to begin with.

Cat covered her face with her arms as the wind grew even stronger. She heard glass shatter, and a girl screamed. It just kept getting worse and worse, so bad that Cat didn’t know what to do. She had released a monster.

Suddenly, it stopped.

The wind was gone, vanishing as abruptly as it had come. The pieces of broken glass flew up and over to the window, falling back into place and melding back together. Papers flew around, and desks and chairs scraped across the floor as they were put in their rightful places. Soon, the entire room was put to right, except for the cones.

Every single cone was down except one small little white one. It tottered around, close to falling and then almost straightening, before trying to fall again. Cat prayed for this one to stay up, if only for the sake of her grade.

It didn’t. It toppled right before her eyes. She slumped back down into her sitting position on the floor, her knees folded up and her back to the front wall.

“Well,” A male voice intoned from the open doorway. “That was disappointing.”