Lance sat on his bed, staring at the course list he’d just submitted. A sense of accomplishment washed over him, knowing he’d finally made decisions about his future at Arcane University. His course selections were in, and he could now communicate with William without needing to stumble over his thoughts.

But now that he had his courses set and his companion talking to him… What was next?

“You’re thinking too much again,” William’s voice echoed in his mind, dripping with sarcasm. “You know you could start learning some magic, right? We could get started. You have me, after all.”

Lance’s heart skipped a beat. William was right. Companions weren’t just there for show—they were supposed to guide their mages, teach them. His excitement surged, and he jumped up from the bed, pacing in front of the small room.

“What’s the first spell I should learn?” Lance asked eagerly, fists clenched in anticipation.

William laughed, his voice echoing in Lance's mind, full of amusement. “Calm down, would you? You’re not going to be throwing wind blades around just yet. There’s a lot to understand before you start casting spells. It’s not like waving your hands and hoping for the best.”

Lance paused, feeling a little deflated but still eager to learn. “Alright. So what do I need to know?”

“First, you need to be able to sense the Lifestream,” William instructed.

Lance blinked, tilting his head. “Sense the Lifestream? But I thought that was something you either had or didn’t.”

“You’re not completely wrong,” William said. “The Lifestream is everywhere, but most mortals can’t feel it until they’re guided by a companion. Lucky for you, I’m here to help with that. If you can’t sense it, you can’t control it, and if you can’t control it, no spells.”

“Okay, okay.” Lance took a deep breath and sat back down on the bed. “So, how do I do that?”

“Close your eyes,” William instructed. “Focus. You need to quiet your mind and reach out with your senses. I’ll help at first.”

Lance closed his eyes, breathing slowly. The room faded away, replaced by a dull emptiness in his mind. Then, William’s presence seemed to grow stronger, wrapping around Lance like a protective shield. Lance could feel something stirring, a faint warmth just out of reach.

“I’m going to condense some Lifestream around you,” William said. “This is what it feels like. Pay attention to it.”

The sensation grew, becoming more distinct. Lance felt a gentle tingling, like warmth spreading through his limbs. It was strange, almost like the air itself was vibrating around him, pulsing with life. His heart raced—this was it. This was the Lifestream.

“Do you feel that?” William’s voice was quieter now, almost a whisper.

Lance nodded, his eyes still closed. “Yeah… It’s like… warmth. Like energy in the air.”

“Good,” William said, sounding pleased. “Now try to do what I did—reach out and gather it around yourself.”

Lance hesitated. Could he really do that? He took a deep breath and focused, willing the Lifestream to come to him. He imagined the warmth surrounding him growing stronger, pulling it closer.

But nothing happened.

“Come on, Lance,” William chuckled, amusement bubbling in his voice. “It’s not as easy as those experienced mages like your mom make it look. You have to actually concentrate.”

Lance frowned, feeling a little embarrassed. “I am concentrating!”

“Alright, try again,” William urged. “This time, don’t just will it to happen. Let it come to you naturally.”

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Lance relaxed, letting go of the tension in his body. Slowly, the warmth returned, and this time it responded to his will. It was faint, but the Lifestream was there, pulsing gently around him. He could feel it now—not just because William had brought it to him, but because he was finally reaching out to it.

“I… I can feel it,” Lance whispered, his voice filled with awe.

“Good,” William said, his tone shifting back to guidance. “But don’t lose focus. When you get excited, it can slip away.”

Just then, exhilaration bubbled over within Lance, and the warmth began to fade. He gasped, opening his eyes. “Wait! No!”

“See? Told you,” William said, his voice teasing yet patient. “For most people, it’s easier than this. You have a very small connection to the Lifestream, and you’re lucky to have your call answered by any companion—even me.”

Lance slumped back against the bed, a mix of frustration and determination washing over him. “Then how do I fix it? I want to learn!”

William's tone softened. “You just need to practice. The more you connect with it, the easier it’ll be to control. Soon, you won’t need me to help you with this part.”

With newfound determination, Lance closed his eyes again, focusing intently. This time, he kept the warmth in his mind, allowing it to flow around him, a comforting embrace. He repeated the process, slowly and steadily, letting the energy envelop him without losing his focus.

With each passing moment, Lance grew more comfortable sensing the Lifestream. The initial struggle faded as he began to establish a connection, and he felt a swell of pride at his progress.

“Not bad for a beginner,” William said, his tone filled with encouragement. “You’re a quick study.”

“Thanks!” Lance beamed, excitement bubbling within him. “So what’s next?”

“Now we’ll focus on bringing that sensation to your palm,” William instructed. “That’s the easiest place to work with it. It’s also where you’ll be doing most of your spellcasting. You can do it elsewhere too, but your hands are your primary tools inalmost everything.”

“Alright,” Lance replied, settling back into the rhythm of concentration. “How do I do that?”

“First, remember the warmth you felt earlier. Picture it swirling around you, and then direct it to your palm. Visualize the energy flowing into your hand,” William explained. “Take your time.”

Lance closed his eyes again, blocking out distractions. He focused on the warmth that had become familiar, imagining it gathering at the center of his body before channeling it down to his hand. As he envisioned the energy moving, he felt a gentle tug, a pull toward his palm.

“Come on, just like that,” William encouraged, his presence soothing. “Feel it flow.”

Lance concentrated harder, envisioning the Lifestream swirling like a vibrant light, wrapping around his fingers. But as he attempted to focus all that energy into one spot, the warmth flickered and faded. Frustration crept in again, and he clenched his jaw.

“Focus, Lance. You’re getting ahead of yourself,” William said gently. “Take a deep breath. You can do this.”

Lance inhaled deeply, letting the air fill his lungs and dispel the frustration. He reopened his mind to the sensation, letting the warmth wash over him again. This time, he concentrated on directing it, allowing the energy to gather slowly.

He imagined the Lifestream coiling around his fingers, flowing through the very fibers of his being. With each passing second, he felt more in tune, more capable.

“Good! Now, direct it into your palm. Keep the energy steady,” William instructed.

Lance focused intently, willing the warmth to concentrate at the center of his palm. He pictured it as a glowing orb, pulsing with life.

It took time, but slowly, the warmth began to gather, and Lance gasped as he felt a soft tingling sensation blooming in his hand. It wasn’t much, but it was enough to spark a surge of exhilaration.

“I feel it! I really do!” he exclaimed, eyes flying open to look at his palm.

“Great! But don’t get too excited; keep it steady. You need to practice controlling it,” William cautioned, his voice steady.

Lance nodded, determination filling him again. He concentrated, allowing the warmth to expand in his palm, feeling the energy shift and pulse with each breath.

But as he continued to focus, a sudden wave of excitement washed over him, and the sensation flickered out. He sighed, frustration gnawing at him again.

“Hey, don’t be too hard on yourself. It’s all part of the process,” William reassured him. “Every mage struggles with control at first. Just keep practicing.”

Lance took a moment to center himself, shaking off the frustration. He closed his eyes again, breathing steadily, refocusing his thoughts on the warmth that had become so familiar.

As the tingling began to return, he pictured it swirling and settling in his palm. Time passed, and with each attempt, he felt more confident. The energy began to grow more tangible, and he could sense it pulsing gently against his skin.

He spent the rest of the chapter honing this newfound skill, channeling the Lifestream into his palm and striving for mastery.