The Fox, Red

012 - First Lesson, First Success

The beginning of what I feel is going to be a long week is upon me. The sun rises as my alarm clock tells me to get ready for the day. I wake up stretching and popping as I normally do turning the corner expecting Madam Odette to be there. She's nowhere to be seen and neither is Madam Delula. I look around and there is no one here for me this morning. Going off of what I was told by Madam Odette, Madam Delula is my caretaker right now, and according to Madam Delula, I am in charge of showing up.

The walk to the cabin feels like it did when I was going to take down trees. I have to remind myself that I'm not going to physically work. I'm going to learn. It's not a short walk but it seems shorter than it used to be. I knock on the door but there's no answer. I slowly open the door and it was left unlocked. I sneak in to find Madam Delula is still tucked into bed. She seems to not be a morning person like I am. I feel like I should wake her up but I see that there are papers scattered on the desk with three books laid out. I look over the papers quickly and they seem to be her lesson plan for today and a few days out. One of the book names matches the one that I can see for today so I pick it up.

The very first page is the introduction that lays out what the book is about and the goal it was written to accomplish. I skim through it and it seems that it's an elementary school-level magic textbook. I open the first page and it is designed for a small child. There are large diagrams with simple wording that have the very basics of basic elements, spells, and some seals. They're designed to be harmless even if they fail but looking through the book I begin to lose myself in the reading. The systematic idea of focal points controlling elements that are pulled from the environment around you and used to create something new before dissipating back into the area.

I turn page after page quickly devouring the information going on and on about simple tasks, ideas, and theories. Even though it's such low-level stuff I am fascinated by the idea of something completely new. I read and I read until there is a page that has a giant stop sign on it. "With the assistance of your teacher try to apply a simple water spell." I look at the diagram it has, the combination that it has, and the description of the spell is to create small raindrops above the paw that accumulate and drop onto the caster's paw. It's recommended to have a towel nearby because it is water.

I look over my shoulder and Madam Delula is still sleeping soundly. I think about it for a second and conclude that if it was designed for a small child I should be able to do it... right? I focus on the palm of my paw, bringing my focus to the soft spot between my pointer and thumb on my right paw. I concentrate on that while bringing focus from my forearm. Water focal points seem to be focused on the stomach and flesh so I imagine a small pin in my skin pointing to a spot and then focusing on that point. With my mind calm and on those two points I bring the energy to the point in my paw slowly releasing it but containing it to a small area. My eyes focus only on the space above my paw until I see it. I see a small distortion that becomes clearer and begins turning into liquid. It collects and one small drop falls onto my paw. It shakes me enough that I lose my focus and the spell disperses but there it is, the drop of water on my paw and wet to the touch.

I play with it until my skin absorbs it. I refocus and do it again. In my excitement, I'm able to do it faster getting another drop. I repeat it until I cannot lose my focus and it continues to sprinkle small droplets of water onto my paw. I give it more energy and the droplets become bigger and more often. My paw is soaked and started to overflow onto the floor but I keep going adding more and more where it rains faster and faster until I snap myself back realizing that it is no longer just on my paw but spread to where there is a small puddle on the wooden floor. "Oh shit!" I keep my voice down to a yelling whisper. I have to find something to clean up the mess. I find a small towel on the counter in the kitchen that I could use. It's pretty soaked from all the water but should dry out. I laugh a little that I can use magic. Even such basic-level stuff is just new to me.