Selkor paced around the chamber, his orange eyes glowing with a mix of intrigue and contemplation. "Unfortunately, we do not have the luxury of time. Normally, you would spend a couple of years figuring out your limits, honing your control over the magic inside you."

He paused briefly, casting a glance toward Kaelem. The boy was leaning against one of the large stone columns that held up the chamber, still recovering from his earlier attempt. The magic that had exploded into dangerous shards was fresh in both their minds, and Selkor could see the hunger for control in Kaelem's eyes. He sighed inwardly. Training an apprentice wasn't something he had planned for, especially not one as unique as Kaelem.

"It's been a long time since I've had an apprentice," Selkor muttered to himself. He had been constantly debating the best approach to teaching the boy that would benefit his uniqueness. Normally, there was a curriculum - a slow, structured path for young mages before they attended formal schooling. But Kaelem's case was different. He had been found later than most, without any formal training or background. Worse yet, he didn't fit into any standard archetype. His magic was raw, untamed - dangerous.

Selkor stopped pacing and turned to face Kaelem fully. "Real strength," Selkor said in his instructive tone, "lies in converting your inner magic, shaping it. And that is where spells come in. A spell is more than just raw power - it's instruction. You give the magic a purpose, a form, and it obeys."

Kaelem looked up, his breathing steady now. So far, his experiences with magic had been chaotic at best, more instinct than skill. His curiosity peaked at Selkor's words. "What's the difference between what we've been doing and casting a spell, then?"

Selkor smiled faintly. "What you've been doing is calling forth your magic without direction. It's like swinging a sword wildly and hoping it hits something. Great for learning the basics, but casting a spell is like wielding that same sword with precision - guiding it along a dedicated path."

He raised his hand, and in the dim light of the cavern, glowing lines began to form in the air before him. They twisted and turned, intricate runes weaving through the air - and eventually forming an elaborate spell circle. It floated in front of him, a perfect geometric pattern glowing with soft blue light.

"This," Selkor continued, "is a spell circle. It's the framework that allows you to command your magic. When you cast a spell, you channel your energy through this circle, guiding it to do exactly what you want. No more chaos. No more explosions."

Kaelem watched in awe as the runes rotated gently around the circle, their glow illuminating the stone walls. "So, it's like giving my magic instructions?"

"Exactly. But rather than relying on thoughts alone, you have a solid foundation in the form of a spell circle." Selkor waved his hand, and the circle dissolved into the air. "And today, you're going to cast your first spell. We'll start with something simple - the Burning Blade spell."

Kaelem's eyes widened. "The Burning Blade?"

Selkor nodded. "You've already shown a fondness for creating weapons with your magic. But this time, we'll shape that power into something controlled - something precise. Picture a blade of fire, something that can burn but also be wielded like a sword."

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Selkor then carved out the runes for the spell into the ground: a layer of runes to channel the element of fire and another layer to compress that fire into a bladed weapon. Kaelem would need to reproduce these runes in his spell circle for the spell to work.

Kaelem stood, shaking off the lingering hesitation from his last attempt to create a blade. He focused on his breathing, clearing his mind of everything but the runes Selkor had drawn on the floor. This time, he felt confident - his magic had always felt like it lacked instruction, but now it all made sense. He extended his hand, feeling the familiar hum of energy building within him.

"Focus on the shape," Selkor instructed. "Picture the spell circle in your mind. You've seen it - now create it. Let your magic form the lines and runes. Guide it to create the circle."

Kaelem closed his eyes and pictured the glowing circle Selkor had shown him. He could feel the magic stirring inside him, but instead of letting it explode outward, he channeled it into the image of the circle. Slowly, lines began to form in the air in front of him - shaky at first, but growing more solid with each breath.

The runes appeared next, ancient symbols glowing softly as they connected into the circle's framework. Kaelem could feel the magic responding to the shape he had given it, flowing through the circle like water down a narrow river.

"Good," Selkor said softly. "Now, give it purpose. Channel your magic through the circle and shape it into the sword."

Kaelem's heart raced, but he kept his focus. He imagined the sword in his mind - a blade wreathed in flames, sharp and deadly, but controlled. As he pushed his magic through the circle, he could feel the energy shift, transforming from raw power into something more tangible.

Before his eyes, the flames began to form. First, a thin line of fire; then it grew, shaping itself into a long, slender blade. The fire burned bright blue, flickering and crackling, but it didn't waver. The sword was solid, the flames controlled. Kaelem stared in awe as the weapon hovered before him, suspended by his will.

"You've done it," Selkor said, his voice filled with quiet pride. "That is your first true spell. A sword of flame, shaped by your magic and your will."

Kaelem reached out and grasped the hilt of the flaming sword. The heat radiated from it, but it didn't burn him; it felt like it was a part of him. The magic pulsed through the blade, a steady rhythm that matched the runes on his bracer. He swung it experimentally, watching as the flames trailed behind the motion, leaving a faint blue glow in the air.

"It's incredible," Kaelem whispered, still in awe of what he had created. The sword felt light in his hand, yet powerful. The flames were truly an extension of himself.

Selkor nodded. "This is what it means to wield magic. You have given it form and structure, shaping reality to your instruction. You've produced it through your will, and because its shape was set in the spell circle, it won't falter as easily."

Kaelem lowered the sword, watching as the flames flickered and died, leaving nothing but a faint trace of heat in the air. He felt a swell of pride in his chest, but also a deep sense of responsibility. He had tasted what it meant to control his magic, but he knew there was so much more to learn.

"Now," Selkor said, his voice growing serious, "we must move quickly. There are many runes to learn, and little time to master them. You've made great progress, Kaelem, but the path ahead is still long. While mages are usually taught according to their affinity, if you can manage, it may be best to give you a broader foundation."

Kaelem nodded, excited at the prospect of learning more spells and the potential combinations he could come up with.

"Let's continue," Selkor said, turning away as he proceeded out of the large chamber and into one of the unexplored corridors. "Keep your wits about you."

Kaelem followed him. For the first time, he truly felt like a wizard. He hadn't realized that spells were the norm for controlling magic, but it made sense, given how prone minds are to wandering. He knew the path ahead was still long, but he was ready to walk it.

As the two of them disappeared into the darkness, Kaelem took a quick look over his shoulder. He felt a sudden sensation that they were being watched - by something other than a goblin...