Chapter 16: Deficiency
Breathe... Visualize the spell model... Chant slowly... Yes... He could feel it building up... It was coming... He opened his eyes. "Release!" he yelled, thrusting his fist out.
...
Failed again.
"Pant... pant..." Zephyr wiped the sweat trickling down his brow. He’d been at this for hours now. It was already evening, and he was one of the last few who still hadn’t seen any real success in casting the spell.
The only other two were a chubby kid, who looked like he couldn’t care less about anything, and a timid-looking guy that kept fumbling the spell as some people occasionally watched them.
Everyone else had managed to cast the spell at least once. Although their casting speed was slow and the spell power itself was pitiful they didn’t care. They were laughing, goofing off, and showing off to one another.
"Don’t drain your mana core, you fools!" Mr. Wilson barked again for what must have been the tenth time today. He couldn’t really blame them though. He also remembered the feeling of casting a spell for the first time, seeing the natural laws bend to your will... it gave you a kind of thrill... an addictive feeling.
He turned to the last three struggling students. He could tell only one of them was still really trying, while the other two were just biding their time, here to get things over with.
The air shimmered faintly as Zephyr clenched his fist again, building up air pressure, then he stepped forward and punched out.
Whoosh—
Pop!