Fools Paradise

Wittorf perks up at the mention of his name from such a harsh sounding teacher. He wonders if this is how the man normally talks. If so he did not like it. He runs up to the front of the classroom and spins around to stand at attention.

The students begin to whisper back and forth to each other as Steel Swiftly slams his fist on the desk leaving a little dust in the air as he does it. The room gets silent as Steel turns to Wittorf. His expression not changing since he entered the room. Wittorf could feel the nerves as all the students watched what his next move was going to be.

"My name is Steel, I am your teacher from this point forward. You will now introduce yourself."

"Hello everyone my name is Wittorf and I will be joining your class starting today."

The students all raise their hands eagerly as they wait to be called on. Steel nods to Wittorf and allows him to answer any questions they might have about him.

Diel starts. "Why aren't you a girl?"

Flustered Wittorf quickly said the first thing that came to mind"Genetics?"

Caiman retorts "Why are you still here?" Wittorf ignore him. The last thing he needed was to start a fight with someone on his first day of school.

Loat asks. "What made you want to be a mage?"

Wittorf replies with excitement in his eyes. He had known this answer his entire life "Ever since I could remember I've wanted to be a mage and seek out the forgotten land of the Fool's Paradise. Only those brave enough to risk it all can make it."

Caiman chimes in "Or stupid enough."

Loat smiles "You want to find the Fool's Paradise?"

Wittorf nods quickly and begins gushing "You can have your wish granted, or learn all about the strongest of magic's, or meet the creator of magic themselves. I want to find it and see what it really is!"

Steel slams the desk in front of him and everyone jumps a little. A vein is pulsing from his head he looks serious "Enough story time, let's begin today's lesson. He pulls out a piece of paper. "Today we will be practicing meditation, the first step towards becoming mages."

Caiman complains "Why am I subjected to learning something so basic?"

Steel looks at Caiman with a serious expression. The room grows still as Steel explains himself "The foundations are important for a mage, noble or not."

Steel walks to the door leading out of the classroom. "We will be doing this in the courtyard today. He leaves and the rest of the students look confused. Were they to follow him now? A few moments pass and he returns to the door gripping it so tightly that it breaks a little. "I said follow me!"

The students jump to attention and glance at each other. In unison they respond. "But he didn't…" They all leave the room and meet him in the courtyard.

***

The students are all sitting in a half circle around their teacher. Steel closes his eyes and takes a deep breath in. Waiting for a bit he continues to breathe in and then out. After about 15 seconds Steel opens his eyes scanning the students who are waiting patiently and without movement aside from Wittorf who is shaking his leg almost violently. It was a nervous tick at this point and he just couldn't control it.

Steel frowns before continuing "In order to meditate you need to stay still and let your mind focus on your center. He takes another deep breathe in. "Your center is where you gather all the mana needed for casting." Steel Exhales "Repeat after me."

The students all copy him, In then out. In then out Wittorf cannot contain his excitement as his whole body shakes. This was it he was finally going to be casting spells like a real mage.

A bolt of energy forms from Steels index finder and pings straight into Wittorf's forehead

"Quit shaking."

"Yes sir!"

Steel stands up. "Everyone practice meditating for the rest of this class period."

He creates a ball of energy that arks around the students slowly increasing and decreasing in size as

it floats towards the center of the students hovering at head height. "If you aren't focusing hard enough, this will give you a little encouragement."

Wittorf can't help it he tries everything he can to contain himself but he begins to shake a little and the ball of energy shoots out a bolt of electricity towards him hitting him in the chest. He lets out a puff of smoke from his mouth. This was not going to be a fun class.

"What was that for?"

"I told you to stop shaking in my class!"

The class laughs at him aside from Caiman who is focused on breathing and the ball of energy begins to glow again menacingly before zapping all but Caiman.

Steel laughs a little to himself. "I told you to focus on meditation."

They all sit still and continue meditating. Wittorf closes his eyes and focuses on his center. "Just stay still Wittorf, you've got this. In and out, In and out. His mind goes blank and all he sees is a black and white space with a silhouette of his person. What was this feeling, it was like something had awakened inside of him at his very center he could see a small white glow. The white space slowly began to take shape. Moving into a puddle like form. His center begins to drip a white glowing substance. Is this the mana his teacher was talking about? Why had he not felt this before. Wittorf opens his eyes in surprise. Steel looks over at him and nods approvingly. He knew exactly what Wittorf had felt. It was the beginning steps towards mage hood.

"Teacher, I felt it!"

"Very good Wittorf, continue practicing in silence while I am gone." Steel wanders away from the courtyard and the students continue their practice in silence. The orb floating around them.