Open Sea

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For the next three days, Cosmo and Lysander were drilled from daybreak until dusk on the three basic offensive spells and the single utility spell involving fire and ice. By the end of the first day, the two boys had mastered the two utility spells with relative ease. These spells, however, only produced the warmth required to cook food or the coolness to freeze water. While these spells were easy to cast and seemingly only useful in non-combat situations, Athro justified drilling them by saying "every spell is useful. Each one is a weapon in your arsenal and you can never be sure as to which one will save your life."

On the second day, Cosmo and Lysander began to practice on the three offensive elemental attacks. Athro made no mention of the spell Cosmo had used in the woods against the Amarok, which confused him. When he inquired upon the subject of spells outside of the ones they were learning, Athro answered.

"Magic is very mysterious in the many forms it can take. Each element does contain one utility spell and three offensive spells, but several historians have uncovered documents that use the Ancient Language in ways that nobody truly understands yet. So, to answer your question, as long as you are fluent in the Ancient Language, it is possible that you could cast any spell that does anything. That is why there are so many spellbooks. They are a collection of words people have found that invoke power in the Ancient Language and result in spells of all sorts. This is also why you should respect these books. Several have died in experimentation due to not knowing the spell's mana cost on their body or even its effect in the first place." Athro's expression turned grim. "Back to practicing now, boys. We don't have all day.

By the end of the second day, the two boys had memorized all of the offensive incantations and managed to cast the first two. The last two spells for ice and fire, pronounced Rozić and Nraida respectively, were still "without of their reach" as Athro said. Even with a channeler, the spells with a larger mana cost seemed impossible to cast. Each attempt seemed to work at first, but would fizzle out quickly in their hands, like a wet towel thrown onto fire. On the third day, Athro was awaiting Lysander and Cosmo inside of her cabin, where she once again had prepared her horrible tea.

"Today, boys, you will learn about the other two elements spellcasters should know, light and shadow. The incantations required to cast these spells were uncovered and analyzed long after their fire and ice counterparts. Thus, their incantations are much different." Athro explained, taking a sip of her tea without flinching.

"If the only thing that is different is the incantations, then why were the spells not taught before the first ones we have learned?" Cosmo asked.

"Because the incantations are not all that is different, Cosmo. Those who follow the path of either shadow or light must be devoted to the respective god in order to cast them effectively. Light magic users worship Tatiova, the god of the Clifftop Haven, while shadow magic users are devoted to Sorell, the god of the Hinterland Wastes."

"This means that you must close your mind to spells of other elements." Athro continued. "When a light or shadow user breaks this devotion, their god will sever the mental link between them and they will no longer be able to cast spells of that type anymore." Athro paused and sipped her tea again. "Some people see this as a disadvantage and choose not to devote themselves to one element. However, the spells that one is able to acquire from being devoted to only one god are inherently much stronger." Athro explained. She sighed and looked up at the two boys with a small smile tugging at the edges of her lips. "This is all I have left to teach you about magic, boys. You two have grown much under my training and I am proud of you both. If you would like to spend the rest of the day practicing the spells you already know, I will gladly instruct you on the specifics of each spell. But this is all I can aid you with for now."

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