Magic Discovered

Chapter 8

"ARE YOU SERIOUS? How have we not heard about this Lord Alcyrion before? Your Pure Elementalist teacher should have been all over this guy!"

James, Algon, and Lydia were seated outside of the Atherling classroom in the Darkessia, waiting for Delta to finish up. For some reason, he was taking a very long time. Algon had told Lydia about Dragon Scholar Quern and the story he had told in class, and she was obviously very excited. Ever since James had erupted about his lack of magical capabilities, she had been hunting for a way to improve his chances and allow him to participate with them in training and competitions.

"Ow!" James rubbed his head. "You're getting better with the whole volume thing, but I'm still sitting right next to you, you know!"

"This is NOT the time to be concerned about a minor thing like hearing loss!"

Algon snickered.

"THERE COULD BE A REAL, sorry, chance to improve your skills?"

"How Lydia?" James sighed. "Algon and I have been over this. Alcyrion was a God and a powerful one at that. Just because he was probably a Pure Elementalist doesn't mean that I can reach that same level. If you hadn't noticed, I'm only a mortal, not some bigshot with wings and scales."

"Ah phooey! That's just an excuse! Your affinity is super rare; there must be something missing from your training!"

James rolled his eyes. "Guys, as rare as they are, Pure Elementalists have existed for something like, what was it? 12 billion years? In all that time, you really think that someone hadn't tried to figure out why we were so weak?"

"Maybe they were looking at it from the wrong angle?" Algon chimed in. "You know, it wouldn't hurt to try. If you are really so concerned about your lack of magical ability, then you should do something to fix it, not just mope around like an idiot!"

"THAT'S THE SPIRIT!"

"Volume Lydia!"

"Sorry. But Algon's right. Right now, you're just being stupid."

"Really? And, determined ones, what would you have me do? I'm doing all the training I can right now, but I can barely hold a full fireball in my hand!"

"I AM a Weird you know. Solving problems is 90% of the reason I exist. Maybe I could invent something to help you train! Or multiply the strength of your attacks! Of maybe create artificial sigils for you..."

The door to the classroom exploded outwards.

"HELL YEAH!!! I'M SO FLIPPING AWESOME!!!"

"Hey Delta!"

"Oh, um, hi guys. I, uh, didn't see you there."

"We guessed that. What has you so riled up?"

"More so than usual anyway," James mumbled. Algon and Lydia chuckled; Delta, for once, ignored the jab.

"So, you know how I've been getting faster and faster right? And the whole shtick about how I'm progressing at an abnormally fast rate?"

"Yes Delta, you've only shouted it to the skies about a thousand times a day for the past month."

"Well, Master Wehn said that because I'm doing so well, he'd allow me to start training in a weapons style before the Mid-Year Competition!"

Each mage trained in a weapon style as well, to focus their magic and to build up their body. And it included more than just traditional weapons, like swords. Everything under the sun could be used, including things like wands and bracers. It was very important to learn a style; if a mage eventually decided to go into the army to protect the universe, then mastery of a weapon style was essential.