Chapter 18.

PART 1.

It has been a month since Hatori and Zeko have settled down at Zeko’s house. The child has adapted nicely to his new environment, in Zeko’s opinion, partly due to the radar spell. The fact that he is demonstrating movement across his large property, while just a month or two ago, he was afraid of running also delighted Zeko.

Training him in magic is one thing. But he wishes to bring him out of his comfort zone, so he can expand his mind.

His training proceeds smoothly, since it was the main purpose why he brought him here in the first place from the castle. Now that the boy has gotten used to living here, (and all those attacks as well), it is time to move his magical training up a notch.

PART 2.

Hatori has been living in this dangerous house for a month now. During this time, he has learned to sleep with his ears open, since he gets attacked day and night randomly. The attacks last until he’s unconscious, or he has sufficiently damaged the object which is attacking him, or has lasted long enough. He still has no idea just how much damage is sufficient, or how much time he is required to last against a particular object, since everything can attack him in this house.

Despite that, he is not showing any signs of sleep deprivation. Although he would like to brag about how he has not been knocked out for once, he has been left unconscious two or three times a week. Though he does not feel anything wrong with his body when he wakes up. Instead, he feels as if his body has recovered fully, much better than a full night's sleep.

Just like every day, Zeko is teaching him in the garden after breakfast. “Today, it is time for you to learn another basic spell, different than the ones you have learned already.” Said Zeko. “This is a basic push spell; when it connects with a human, it feels like getting punched. The name of the spell is Knockback.” Explained Zeko.

“To perform this spell, think of forcefully pushing away the object on which you’re performing this spell in your head, and yell “Knock!” while putting your hand out, with your palm open.” Zeko did the movement.

“I also need to tell you that this spell is useless.” Said Zeko.

“Then why are you teaching me this spell?” asked Hatori.

“For the simple reason that spells like this allow you to get a level of control over your magic. Right now, when you’ll perform this spell, sometimes it’ll come out like a weak touch, or sometimes like a very powerful punch. But when you gain control over your magic with repeated use, you will be able to adjust the force of your spell at will.” Explained Zeko.

“The reason why this is useless is because it can only do one thing, push something forcefully away from you. Not to mention, if you use this spell in a real fight, it’ll be easily knocked aside.” Said Zeko. Seeing the boy grin, Zeko flicked his chin with his finger. “Less joking, more practicing! Complete your morning practice, then you’ve got homework to do.” Zeko walked to his chair, watching Hatori perform the spell, offering corrections whenever necessary.

After a few hours of practicing the spell, broken by his usual physical morning drills, Hatori is having lunch with Zeko in the afternoon. “You should start using that spell whenever you get attacked.” Said Zeko. “I believe you’ll improve quite fast.”

Hatori gritted his teeth. After watching his face, Zeko roared with laughter.

In the evening, Hatori meditates. Each time he sits down dutifully crossed-legged at the same time, (with a few adjustments here and there), he hears Zeko’s smug voice at the back of his mind. He just knows that the old man is going to taunt him for this for the rest of his adult life.

The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.

Once more he reached for the light. He has consistently managed to reach for the light, or at least feel for the traveling light, and see how it feels. But he has not been able to do anything meaningful with it.

Though he does get to observe how sunlight gets affected by the clouds, as clouds have been roiling in the sky all day long. Apparently, they have enough of roiling, and after a loud crackle of thunder, the rain starts to fall. He does not care to meditate in bad weather, because Hatori is not trying to achieve the status of a sage.

Abandoning his meditation, Hatori tries to run inside. The door was open when he arrived at the porch, but suddenly it closed right on his face. If it weren’t for his constantly running radar spell, he would have run to the door face first.

‘Must be the air.’ He thought, and tried to open the door.

The door refused to budge. Hatori tried harder, but a sudden jolt of electricity caused him to yelp, and get away. Trembling from what just happened, and shivering in the air, he tries to understand. ‘I’m not wet, aside from a few drops in my hair.’ He knows that the combination of water and electricity is dangerous. ‘But how did the door get electrified?’

He tries to open the door once more, getting close in the process. But before he could come in the touching distance, the door electrocuted him again. “Baaaa!” He yelped away once more.

“That doesn’t make any sense!” He yelled out loud. “I wasn’t even touching the door.”

Though he did get wet in the process, he brought a rock from the garden. “Let’s just hope it’ll be enough damage.” He throws the rock at the door, and nothing happens.

He shook his head, splashing the water everywhere. “Didn’t expected that to work anyway.” He brings the chair of Zeko from the porch, and tries to open the door by pushing that chair at the door.

Still, the door refuses to budge. At least, he didn’t get electrocuted this time. Getting angry, Hatori throws the Knock spell against the door, putting all the power he could in it. “Knock!”

With a loud crash, the door is opened, and Hatori rushes inside before it could close.

PART 3: ZEKO’S LECTURES ON MAGIC: WHAT IS MAGIC?

“Listen boy, you’ve been here long enough that you should get your basic theory clear. And we should start at the beginning!” declared Zeko.

“O…kay?” said Hatori, not understanding the excitement of Zeko.

“First thing’s first. What is magic?” He asked. “The answer could be very simple, or very hard.”

“Which is it?” asked Hatori.

“For now, let’s work with the simple answer. As you grow up, you’ll learn a lot of things about how things work on this planet, among the stars, or within the universe. The universe has some set rules, and through these rules, we understand how the world works.”

“Are you talking about physics?” asked Hatori.

“Yes. I’m surprised that you know about it. Most kids at your age are really not interested in this stuff.” Said Zeko. “Anyway, magic allows us to manipulate the rules of physics. We can either manipulate them into the set bounds, though apparently, magic allows us to violate those rules if we have to.” Said Zeko.

“How does that happen?” asked Hatori.

“That, is a lesson for the other day. For now, remember this. Magic lets us manipulate the rules of the universe, and it has the potential of breaking those rules as well.”

“I think a lot of people would find your explanation lackluster.” Said Hatori.

“When did you learn that word brat?” asked Zeko.

(End.)