After a quick breakfast of fresh fruit, bread, and cheese, Lance felt ready to take on the day. The school provided basic groceries for its students, but to Lance, they were anything but basic. He had never seen so many kinds of fruits and vegetables before—vibrant oranges, plump grapes, and leafy greens that looked like they had just been picked that morning. Compared to the simple fare back in his village, this was a feast.

Feeling energized, Lance decided it was time to take his first step into the world of magic. He had awakened his core, and now he was eager to cast his first spell. But the question lingered: where to start?

With excitement bubbling within him, Lance made his way to the library. The grand building, with its carved entrance and endless rows of books, was quickly becoming one of his favorite places on campus. He walked with purpose, determined to find a spell that would be both manageable and instructive.

Once inside, Lance headed straight to the section on beginner spellcasting. The shelves were lined with countless books on various types of magic, each one promising to unlock a different aspect of the Lifestream. Lance began pulling out books, eager to explore the possibilities.

The first book he picked up was a guide to casting fireballs, Basic Pyromancy: Igniting Your First Flame. He skimmed through the pages, reading about how to channel the Lifestream into a concentrated point of heat and then release it in a burst of flame. The idea was thrilling, but Lance hesitated. The warnings about control and the potential for burns made him reconsider. "Maybe I should start with something less… destructive," he muttered, placing the book back on the shelf.

Next, he found a guide on body enhancement spells, Augmenting the Self: A Beginner’s Guide to Physical Enhancements. This book described how to use magic to temporarily increase strength, speed, or endurance. The spells seemed practical, especially for someone interested in Force magic, but the techniques were complex and required a deep understanding of how the body interacted with the Lifestream. Lance wasn’t sure he was ready for that level of intricacy just yet. "I’ll save this for later," he thought, setting the book aside.

After browsing through a few more spell guides, each more complex or intimidating than the last, Lance’s eyes landed on a much thinner volume with a simple title: Lesser Illusory Image: A Beginner’s Guide to Basic Illusions. The cover was plain, but as Lance flipped through the pages, he found the content both approachable and intriguing.

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Lesser Illusory Image is one of the simplest spells in the illusionist’s repertoire, often used for entertainment, parties, and parlor tricks. It allows the caster to create a small, basic image that can be seen by others. The image lacks substance and cannot interact with the environment, but it is perfect for practicing the fundamentals of illusion magic.

To cast this spell, begin by visualizing the image you wish to create. It can be anything simple: a glowing orb, a small animal, or even a piece of fruit. Focus on the details, but remember to keep it basic. The spell draws on the Lifestream to shape this image in the air before you. With concentration and willpower, you can maintain the image for as long as your focus allows.

While this spell is often dismissed as a mere party trick, its value lies in teaching beginners how to manipulate the Lifestream in subtle ways. Mastering this spell lays the foundation for more complex illusions in the future.

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Lance read the description carefully, nodding to himself. This spell seemed like the perfect starting point—simple, straightforward, and a good way to practice his control over the Lifestream. The fact that it was often used for entertainment didn’t bother him; he was more interested in learning the basics than impressing anyone.

This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.

With the decision made, Lance tucked the book under his arm and made his way to the stadium. The open-air arena, designed for students to safely practice their spells, was the perfect place to try out his first bit of magic. The wards and barriers surrounding each practice area would ensure that any mistakes he made wouldn’t cause any real damage.

The stadium was quieter than usual, with only a few students practicing in the various arenas. Lance found an empty spot and set the spell guide down beside him. He took a deep breath, centering himself as he had done during his core awakening exercises. The warmth of his core was a comforting presence, ready to channel the Lifestream into whatever form he desired.

But as he tried to channel the Lifestream into the spell, he hit a wall. The energy was there, pulsing just beneath the surface, but he had no idea how to direct it. The instructions in the book had made it sound simple, but now that he was actually trying to do it, Lance found himself completely confused.

He spent the next few minutes just standing there, eyes closed, trying to figure out what he was doing wrong. The Lifestream was so close, but it was like trying to grasp water with his hands—no matter how hard he concentrated, it kept slipping away.

"First time casting a spell?"

Lance opened his eyes to see a young man watching him from a nearby arena. He had short, dark hair, a muscular build, and an easygoing smile.

"Yeah," Lance admitted, a bit sheepishly. "I can feel the Lifestream, but I have no idea how to actually use it."

The young man walked over, extending a hand. "I’m Darian. Mind if I take a look at what you’re working on?"

"Lance," he replied, shaking Darian’s hand. "I’m trying to cast a basic illusion spell. I thought I had it figured out, but…"

Darian chuckled. "Don’t worry, it happens to everyone. Illusions can be tricky because it’s all about subtlety. What’s the spell?"

Lance showed him the book. "It’s supposed to create a simple image, like a glowing orb."

Darian nodded, flipping through the pages. "Ah, this one. I’ve done something similar, though I specialize in earth and fire-based spells."

"You’re good with basic spells?" Lance asked, hopeful that Darian might have some advice.

"Yeah, I’ve been practicing for a while now. Let me see…" Darian turned the book around to show Lance a diagram. "This is the spell flow diagram. Did you see this part?"

Lance blinked, realizing he had skimmed right past it. "No, I must have missed it."

Darian laughed. "No worries. Spell flow is crucial. It’s like a blueprint for how the Lifestream needs to move through your core to create the spell. You can’t just will it into existence—you have to guide the Lifestream along the right path."

"So, I need to focus on making the Lifestream follow this diagram?" Lance asked, studying the diagram closely. It depicted a series of loops and channels, all leading to the point where the spell would manifest.

"Exactly," Darian said. "You use your willpower to make the Lifestream flow in a certain way, following this path. Once you’ve got that down, the rest of the spell becomes a lot easier."

Lance nodded, understanding now where he had gone wrong. "Thanks, Darian. I’ll give it a try."

The two of them spent the next hour in the library, with Darian helping Lance practice making the Lifestream flow according to the spell flow diagram. It was slow going at first, but with Darian’s guidance, Lance began to get the hang of it. He could feel the Lifestream responding to his will, flowing along the path he was mentally tracing.

By the end of their practice session, Lance felt much more confident. He still hadn’t managed to cast the spell, but he could tell he was getting closer. The key was in the flow, and he was starting to understand how to control it.

The next day, Lance met up with Darian at the stadium. This time, they were both ready to practice. Lance felt a sense of anticipation as he stepped into the arena, determined to finally succeed.

"Alright," Darian said, clapping Lance on the back. "You’ve got the flow down. Now, let’s see if you can bring that image to life."

Lance took a deep breath, closing his eyes as he centered himself. He focused on the spell flow, guiding the Lifestream through his core along the path outlined in the diagram. He could feel the energy moving, responding to his will.

Once the flow was established, Lance began to visualize the glowing orb once again. He could see it clearly in his mind’s eye, every detail vivid and sharp. The Lifestream pulsed, ready to be shaped.

With a final push of willpower, Lance directed the Lifestream into the image he had visualized. For a moment, nothing happened. Then, something shifted inside him—a subtle, almost imperceptible change, but one that made him feel like a door had just been opened.

When Lance opened his eyes, there it was—a small, glowing orb, hovering in the air before him.