Chapter 96: Learning Magic
The second magic theory class took place in a different room, one that made Renard immediately uncomfortable. Unlike the previous classroom with its stone benches and wall charts, this chamber felt alive with magical energy. The air itself seemed to hum with barely contained power, and strange symbols carved into the floor glowed with soft blue light.
Elder Darius stood at the center of the room, his unremarkable appearance somehow more unsettling in this magical environment. When his brown eyes swept across the assembled students, Renard felt that same chill he’d experienced during their first meeting.
"Today we begin practical instruction," Darius announced, his voice carrying clearly through the chamber despite its normal conversational volume. "Yesterday, Elder Miriam taught you theory. Today, you learn application."
Twenty students sat cross-legged on the glowing floor symbols, each positioned precisely within their own small circle of carved runes. Renard had noticed that the positioning wasn’t random - each student’s circle pulsed with different colored light, apparently responding to their individual essence signatures.
"The First Circle," Darius continued, "is the foundation upon which all magical practice rests. Without it, you remain forever limited to your body’s natural essence flow. With it, you gain access to forces that can reshape reality itself."
He began walking around the room, stopping occasionally to examine individual students. When he passed behind Renard, the boy felt magical energy probe at his defenses - not aggressively, but with the practiced skill of someone conducting a thorough evaluation.
Renard kept his breathing steady and tried to appear a bit confident.
"The process of creating your First Circle involves three distinct stages," Darius explained, moving to a large diagram carved into the front wall. "Preparation, formation, and stabilization. Each stage carries its own risks and requirements."
The diagram showed a human heart surrounded by intricate geometric patterns. Layers of symbols spiraled outward from the organ’s center, each layer marked with different colors and notations.
"Preparation requires achieving perfect essence control within your natural meridian system. You must be able to direct your internal energy with absolute precision before attempting to create artificial pathways around your heart."
A student raised her hand. "How long does preparation usually take?"
"For most students, four to eight weeks of intensive training. Some require longer. A few exceptionally talented individuals might be ready sooner." Darius’s gaze flickered toward Renard for just a moment. "Rushing the preparation stage is the most common cause of failure."