Basic Thaumaturgy for the Emotionally Incompetent

“We’re learning emotional sustainment today,” Ganvar Ciemnosc folded her sleeves like she was about to perform a dissection. “Today, you’ll ignite and sustain your spark for more than a minute.”

Fabrisse sat on the grass and held the quartz Ganvar had given him between his palms like a consecrated scroll. “For more than how much time?”

Ganvar gave him a look that could have curdled warm milk. “A minute. You are supposed to be capable of feeling emotions for more than one minute, aren’t you?”

He cleared his throat. “Right.” This update ıs available on NoveIＦire.net

Ganvar gave him a glance like she was already exhausted. “You are to select one valid emotional state, preferably something you're actually capable of feeling, and hold that resonance through the quartz for at least fifteen seconds first.” She glanced to the left. “You’re late.”

“I’m not!” Liene appeared from behind one of the courtyard trellises, stuffing the last of a toasted rye roll into her mouth. “I was here. Just . . . in the shadow of that suspiciously large hedge.” She pointed to the hedge. It was not suspiciously large.

Ganvar sighed.

Liene plopped onto the grass beside Fabrisse, leaning back on her palms like she was at a picnic rather than a training session. “Okay, okay, okay, teach. What are we learning today?”

“You would’ve known had you been here a minute earlier,” Ganvar said.

Fabrisse didn’t dare tease her. He knew he wouldn’t win the ‘punctual’ argument with someone who had physically dragged him out of bed for a morning lecture.

“We’re learning emotional sustainment,” he whispered instead, eyes still on the Silvian quartz in his hands.

Liene leaned closer and peeked at his quartz. “Do resolve. You’re good at being annoyingly stubborn when you want to be.”

Ganvar gave her a look. “Do not suggest emotions to other students. That is not encouragement. That is psychic interference.”

“I’m helping!”

“You are not.”

Fabrisse took a deep breath. “Okay. Resolve. I’ll try.”

He closed his eyes, curled both hands around the quartz, and thought about every single thing he had failed at. Which was, unfortunately, a very effective list. Then he added Liene’s voice saying ‘I paid for the both of us’ to it for good measure.

The quartz warmed.

Atop the quartz appeared sparks, first pale, then richer, until it curled into a steady, muted amber.

Liene, peering at the quartz beside him, tilted her head. “Fabri. That’s shame, not resolve.”

Fabrisse didn’t answer. He kept his eyes on the quartz, letting the shame hum against his skin.

Ganvar stepped closer, watching the resonance curl up toward his wrist like pale smoke. “Let it run for fifteen seconds.”

The shame held, faint but sustained.