“Is it hurt?” Lyra asked as they started to walk over to the still animal.
“No,” smiled LifeTender. “You have put it to sleep as surely as if you struck it over the head with a club, but you caused no pain to it. It sleeps peacefully.”
Lyra knelt and ran her hand gently along the wooly creature. She smiled as she felt it breathing. “You are a wonderful teacher,” she declared. “I could never have accomplished this from just reading.”
“Don’t be too sure of that,” LifeTender replied. “You have such power, the likes of which I have never seen. I think you just need to unlearn some things. You are filled with blocks, some your father instilled in you and some you have created on your own. Just about every spell you have shown me that you know has some offensive use in addition to the uses taught by Master Malafar.”
“But how do I learn the offensive uses for them?” quizzed Lyra.
“You have lived your life in a sheltered environment,” cautioned LifeTender. “You are a Sakovan now and you need to start thinking like one. Danger is always present for us. At any moment, we may be attacked or threatened. You must learn to live with a small fear always residing within you. When you have instilled that fear, you will look at each spell in a new light. You will realize that there are no passive spells. Every spell is a potential weapon. In the meantime, I will instruct you on new uses for the spells you already possess and teach you new ones as well.”
Lyra nodded and thought about how she had subdued the clova. There were wolves in her life now, she conceded, and some of them would undoubtedly appear in clova’s clothing. LifeTender was right. Lyra needed a different mindset now that she had found her home with the Sakovans.
“Do you have time for another session after the evening meal?” Lyra asked. “I do not want to take up all of your time, but I am anxious to learn as quickly as I can.”
“Certainly,” smiled LifeTender. “I am just as anxious as you are. I think your powers are extraordinary and I cannot wait to see what you are capable of. We will continue right after the evening meal.”
Lyra smiled and headed back to her room. She ran the entire way, exhilaration coursing through her, which she had never experienced with Master Malafar’s lessons. As she reached the top of the stairs, she saw Antello, Syman and a new person.
“Here’s Lyra now,” announced Antello. “Lyra, this is Mekin. He is just in from the capital, Okata. His father was a Sakovan spy.”
Lyra panted from her exertions, but took his offered hand with her own. “Welcome, Mekin,” she managed to get out.
“Greetings, Lyra,” Mekin smiled. “Sakova is starting to look better already. Syman and Antello have been showing me around. I just arrived this morning.”
“Well, you will certainly find it different from life in the city,” Lyra responded after catching her breath. “Does your father work for StarWind?”
“His father just died,” Syman interjected. “He was captured by the Imperial Guard.”
“I am sorry,” sympathized Lyra. “I didn’t know.”
“I prefer not to talk about it,” offered Mekin. “Antello says you are a mage. I have never met one up close before. Is it hard to learn?”
“It is difficult,” Lyra answered, “but I enjoy it. I am afraid that I do not know much yet, but I am hoping to learn.”
“I understand that this place is filled with magic,” Mekin said. “How does that magic portal work getting in here anyway?”
Lyra frowned at his question. Mekin wore the ring as she did. Even if he was not a mage, he should know an illusion when he saw one and not confuse it with some magic portal. “I don’t know,” she finally responded. “I want to get changed before the evening meal. Why don’t the three of you go on ahead and I will join you down there?”
“Not a bad idea,” Antello remarked. “I’m famished.”
“You are always hungry,” she heard Syman retort as they started down the stairs.
Lyra entered her room and bathed before changing her clothes. By the time she reached the dining hall, it was packed. Antello waved her over and Mekin slid along the bench to make room for her.
“That tunic looks good on you,” complimented Mekin as she sat down next to him. “Would you care to show me around the city after the meal?”
“Thank you,” Lyra responded. “I am afraid that I cannot tonight. I have to return to my magic lessons right after the meal.”
“That sounds exciting,” offered Mekin. “Perhaps I could come and watch you learn?”
“They do not allow spectators in the training area,” Lyra smiled. “Thanks for the offer though. Perhaps if you had some magical talent, you would be allowed to come. Have you ever been tested?”
“No,” Mekin replied. “I mean yes.” Smiling broadly he tried to explain. “I meant that I have been tested, but I have no capability. I guess I will just have to wait until you return from your lesson. Maybe we can go for a walk afterwards?”
“If it is not too late,” agreed Lyra. “This is my first evening lesson so I am not sure how long it will last.”
“So you really are just starting out?” quizzed Mekin. “Antello said you were already an accomplished mage.”
“Hardly,” Lyra laughed. “Antello does not know magic, so anyone who can recite the words of a spell is a Master to him. If anything, I am learning how little I know.”
Lyra finished the last of her food and stood. “I am sorry, but I must run. I will see you later.”
Lyra dashed out of the dining room to the mage practice area. LifeTender was off to one side fastening a large block of wood in a stone groove. Lyra helped her with the supports that braced the wood upright.
“You ate quickly,” noted LifeTender. “Tonight we are going to teach you the Force Bolt spell. It is similar to the fireball in some respects, but without the attention-grabbing flames. The force bolt is merely a column of pressure. You direct it more than throw it, but the principle is the same. You are familiar with the Move Object spell, correct?”
“Yes,” Lyra replied eagerly. “It is used to move small objects without touching them.”
“Right,” stated LifeTender. “The force bolt spell is a derivative of it, but with many times the power. You must gather the power within you, as you do with the fireball. Let it build, but instead of it building within your fingertips, let the power accumulate in your forearm. Let’s move back from the wood for this. The wood is your target.”
LifeTender led Lyra quite a ways back from the wood and took hold of her arm. She forced Lyra’s fingers to tighten into a fist and held her arm perpendicular to her body.
“You must remove the ring for this spell, Lyra,” she instructed. “The force bolt will definitely be affected by the magic of the ring.”
“The ring stays,” argued Lyra. “I must learn control with it on.”
“Lyra,” reasoned LifeTender, “the force bolt can dislocate your shoulder, or worse, if the ring interferes. It is a tremendous amount of power and if it is not all directed properly, the power feeds backward into your body. I do not wish to harm you during your training. Perhaps we should try a different spell.”
“No,” Lyra said quickly. “What if I use my other hand?”
“Your other hand?” queried LifeTender. “I have never seen a mage use either hand to cast a spell.”
“Well, why not?” asked Lyra. “We have two hands. I don’t see any reason why it should matter.”
“Perhaps it shouldn’t,” LifeTender responded with a puzzled look. “I would think that your concentration would not permit it though. I mean, it is like writing. I cannot write with my left hand. Those I know who can write left-handed, cannot write with their right hand. Why not put the ring on your left hand?”
“I can write with either hand,” Lyra assured her teacher. “Certainly not as well as with my right hand, but it should be good enough to learn the spell.”