So, you want to learn wind blades, huh? I was wondering when someone would finally come ask me for tips,” Ellard said, chuckling from his desk with his legs propped up.
“I just need a few spells to help in combat situations, Professor,” Lance replied, feeling a little uncomfortable under Ellard’s casual gaze.
Ellard waved a hand dismissively. “Yes, yes. The usual—protecting yourself. That’s what combat spells are for. If you like, I can lend you a few books you might find useful.”
“Yes, Professor, I’d like that.”
With a swish of his hand, a gust of wind shot off into the depths of the office, weaving between shelves to find what Ellard had summoned. A stack of books soon floated into Lance’s arms, the weight catching him off guard as he struggled to steady himself.
“Good exercise—that’s what the youth need these days,” Ellard said with mock disappointment, shaking his head.
Lance gave a strained grunt as he adjusted the books. “Thanks, Professor.”
“Don’t mention it,” Ellard said with a grin. “Oh, and try not to blow yourself up. Wind magic can be... tricky.”
----------------------------------------
It had only been a few days since the quest, but it had given them all plenty to think about. Kade had been busy sharpening his combat skills, while Felix and Bella were off doing... whatever nobles did on the weekends. The rest of their group was nowhere to be found.
As for Lance, his own concerns weighed on him: finishing the Force Magic assignment and completing wind blades.Ellard had been a great help but wind baldes needed a lot of control that he didnt have yet .
With Ellard’s books scattered around him, Lance sat on his bed, eyes drooping as he flipped through yet another page.
“What even was the assignment again?” he muttered aloud. “Flotation spell or something, right?”
“It was demonstrating a lesser levitation spell,” William replied dryly in his head. “I’d say you could skip it, but it’s good practice.”
“Spoken like a true mage. Guess you’re finally rubbing off on me,” Lance muttered, rolling his eyes.
“Focus, Lance,” William quipped. “Wind blades can wait. This is due in a few days, and as much as I enjoy watching you flail, you won’t learn to make even a feather float without putting in some effort.”
“Don’t you already know a spell for this?” Lance asked, sighing.
“Of course I do,” William said smugly. “But where’s the fun in just giving it to you? You need the ‘experience.’”
“William—”
“Off to the library with you,” William interrupted, ignoring Lance’s protests. “You’ll find what you need there. Shoo!”
With a groan, Lance closed the book in his lap and dragged himself up. “You really get a kick out of this, don’t you?”
“Absolutely,” William replied cheerfully. “Now, go. The feather’s not going to float itself.”
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Lance trudged down the quiet hallway, carrying a notebook and one of Ellard’s lighter books under his arm. The university library wasn’t far, but with each step, he felt the weight of unfinished assignments and unread pages pressing down on him.
As he reached the library’s grand doors, he paused, staring at the intricate carvings of enchanted runes that glowed faintly in the moonlight filtering through the windows. He pushed them open and stepped inside.
The familiar scent of old paper and ink greeted him, mingled with a faint hum of magical energy from the enchanted chandeliers. A handful of students were scattered around, some hunched over their work, others flipping through tomes with tired but determined expressions.
Lance found a secluded table near the shelves and slumped into a chair, pulling out his notebook. The assignment was straightforward—levitate an object. But that simplicity came with its own frustration.
“Levitation, huh? Not like you’ve got a whole lot of magic to pick from.” William’s voice echoed smugly in his head.
Lance sighed, resting his chin in his hand. “I know, okay? That’s why I’m here. I need to figure out the best way to do it.”
“Best way? Magic is magic. Just slap some lifestream onto that feather and call it a day.”
“It’s not that simple,” Lance snapped, lowering his voice when a few nearby students glanced his way. “There’s vibration magic, wind magic... heck, I could try smoke magic, but I don’t even know if that’s practical.”
William let out a laugh. “Well , atleast your learning.Though please dont try smoke magic your going to choke yourself to death”
Lance pinched the bridge of his nose, trying to keep his patience. “Wind magic seems obvious, but precision is going to be an issue. Vibration could work if I use fine control... but I’ve never really tested it for something like this.”
William hummed thoughtfully. “Vibration could give you an edge. Keep the feather stable by controlling the frequency. Sounds good in theory, though I doubt you’ll pull it off without a few disasters.”
Lance frowned, staring at his notebook. “Maybe... but wind magic feels like the safer bet. I probably could generate a steady stream underneath the feather using galeburst .”
“Safe? Oh, how boring. You know I’m all about chaos.”
Lance cleared a small area on the table, setting a quill in the center. He straightened his posture and stretched out his hand, focusing on his lifestream and letting it flow through him.
"Wind first," he whispered under his breath, crafting a simple Galeburst spell. This version would push a controlled burst of air beneath the quill, lifting it gently. At least, that was the plan.
The first attempt sent the quill spinning off the table. Lance caught it with an awkward dive and quickly sat back down, cheeks flushing.
"Steady, steady," he muttered to himself, adjusting the flow of the spell. The next try was more controlled, lifting the quill just an inch before losing balance and toppling it.
William's amused voice piped up. "Not bad. For a toddler learning to walk."
Lance ignored him, muttering the incantation again. This time, the air flow carried the quill upwards, and it hovered for a moment—until the wind spell expanded out of control. A nearby stack of books wobbled, and with a dramatic thud, half of them tumbled to the floor.
Several students turned to glare at Lance, who froze, hand still outstretched in concentration.
"Relax, just... a minor incident," he said weakly, hastily gathering the fallen books. He adjusted his technique again, determined not to make the same mistake.
But his next attempt launched a fresh gust of wind that sent papers fluttering across the table. A thick, ancient-looking tome teetered precariously on a high shelf before crashing to the floor with a heavy bang.
This time, a nearby librarian shot him a sharp look. "Keep your magic under control, student!"
Lance swallowed hard, offering a nervous smile. "Sorry about that!" He scrambled to pick up the scattered papers and returned to his seat, shoulders sagging.
He glanced at the quill, still stubbornly resting on the table. "This isn’t working," he admitted under his breath, running a hand through his hair.
William snickered. "And here I thought you were the ‘master strategist.’ This is turning into quite the comedy show."