The next two days were a whirlwind of practice and experimentation for Lance. The exhilaration of successfully casting his first spell had filled him with a newfound determination. Every spare moment he had, he spent refining his ability to control the Lifestream and experimenting with the Lesser Illusory Image spell.

Each day, Lance returned to the stadium, often meeting up with Darian, who was more than happy to provide tips and encouragement. They practiced side by side, each focused on their own magical studies—Darian honing his fire and earth spells, while Lance worked tirelessly on perfecting his illusions.

At first, Lance focused on creating the simple glowing orb that he had initially visualized. He worked on making the edges sharper, the light more consistent, and the image more stable. The more he practiced, the more confident he became in his ability to shape the Lifestream to his will.

Soon, he began experimenting with different images. He created a small bird, its wings frozen mid-flight; a flower with petals that seemed to shimmer in the sunlight; and even a miniature version of Ember, his loyal hellhound. Though the images were still basic and lacked the detail and complexity of more advanced illusions, Lance could see the progress he was making.

The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.

Darian, impressed by Lance's dedication, often paused his own practice to offer suggestions. "Try focusing on the texture of the image," he advised one afternoon. "It’s not just about the shape—think about how it would feel if it were real. That helps make the illusion more convincing."

Lance took his advice to heart, and soon his illusions began to take on a more lifelike quality. The bird’s feathers looked softer, the flower’s petals more delicate. The challenge was exhilarating, pushing Lance to explore the limits of his newfound abilities.

By the end of the second day, Lance felt a sense of accomplishment that he hadn’t experienced before. He had come a long way from the confused student who didn’t know how to make the Lifestream flow. Now, he could create simple illusions with relative ease, and he knew this was just the beginning of his journey.