Chapter 17: What is Magic?

Chapter 17: What is Magic?

Rime began to pace around the front of the class, his hands behind his back. You all have come here to learn magic. Most of you, dont even know the first inkling of what you are getting yourselves into. So, first and foremost, what is magic? Anyone? No need to raise your hand, just say what you think.

Shooting fireballs? A student said.

Calling down thunder from the sky? Another pitched.

Love potions, a quiet voice peeped from the back.

Rime sighed.

Casting spells?

Rime looked up, Who said that?

I did, professor. A young man raised a pale hand. His shoulder-length black hair framed his sharp features. His face was clean shaven, save for the stubble on his chin. His red eyes didnt shy away, but stared straight at the professor.

Kithina thought he was quite the handsome human. Or vampire, she supposed. She realized she was staring and looked away. Stryg, stared at the man without shame. He had only ever seen one other with red eyes, a woman at the city gates. What is he? Stryg wondered.

Name, Rime commanded.

Callum Veres, the student answered. Veres? Kithina's eyes widened in recognition. A surname denoted that the person came from a named house. Wasnt the leader of house Veres on the city council?

Ah, a Veres. I should have guessed. Your answer is wrong of course, but the closest one to the truth. The drow professor continued, Magic is the act of ethereal energy, turning corporeal. Ethereal energy, also known as mana, is invisible to the naked eye, yet it is very much real. The Realms produce this energy naturally. Some creatures have the innate ability to inherently absorb mana. The beings that can are able to use magic. Many creatures can use magic in one form or another, not just chromatic species, like you and I.

Which brings me to my next point. There are three different kinds of ethereal energy. Rime raised three fingers, First, is elemental energy. Any species who can use this energy are known as elemental species. The majority of magical beings belong to an elemental species. The second type is chromatic energy. Chromatic species are a group of species who can absorb chromatic energy into their bodies, hence the name. The third kind is called void energy, but it is purely theoretical, you wont cover this topic until you are third-years.

Moving on, elemental species all have a magical nature, for example, all sirens have the ability to absorb elemental energy, without exception. This is not the case for chromatic species. The majority of them do not have the ability to absorb chromatic energy. The few that do, we call mageborn, like everyone in this room. You are the ones who have the potential to become chromatic magi.

Now, you may be wondering what exactly are magi? There are two kinds of magic users. The first type are magi. They are people who have been trained to use ethereal energies in a very particular manner to create very specific corporeal results, which is known as casting a spell. The second kind are known as natural magic users. They have the ability to use magic from the moment they are born, like a drake being able to breathe fire. There are no natural chromatic magic users, only elemental ones.

Chromatic energy, like elemental energy, has different types. The types of elemental energy are divided into eleven elements, while mana is divided into ten colors. The elements are listed in common terms, such as fire, water, light, and death. Chromatics follow a similar pattern, blue, red, green, etc. You will find more details of the types in your textbook.

Stryg groaned silently. He had forgotten to get his textbooks from the library. Failure number three of the day, nice, Stryg thought.

Kithina was lucky enough to be partnered with one of the most educated students. They actually might have a chance at winning first place. Plus he was handsome, not that his appearance had any influence on her, she lied to herself. He was also the son of a powerful family. If she made friends with him she could go far. She couldnt be luckier. Her mind went so far as to play with the idea of romance with the vampire, maybe even marriage.

Stryg will be the last member of your group, Rime finished.

Kithina looked around the room, her eyes searching for the final mysterious member. No one seemed to look up in recognition.

Hello. I will be in your care, Callum said as his face was stuck between a smile and a grimace.

Kithina slowly turned her head. It couldnt be.

Hello, I am Stryg, The blue goblin nodded.

No, no, no! This couldnt be happening. Kithina witnessed the moment her future died as the goblin looked at her.

You must be Kithina. Hello, Stryg tried smiling at the pretty dwarf. But he stopped as he watched the abject horror on her freckled face.

Topics for the projects will be assigned next class. Good day, Rime concluded and left the classroom. Students got up and began conversing with their project partners.

Callum stood, I have to get going, but we should meet up at some point to talk about our plans for the project. It was nice meeting you both. He placed his hand above his heart and made a small bow, Good day.

May the moon bless you on your journey, Stryg said.

Callum tilted his head and grinned, Thank you and may the stars light your path.

Stryg smiled at the farewell. After the vampire had left, Stryg turned to his other partner. Kithina's forehead was flat on the desk, her red locks of hair covering her face.

May the moon ble- Stryg began.

Where do you think you are? Kithina muttered without moving.

Before Stryg had a chance to answer she went on, This isnt some back alley game. We arent in the commoner district anymore, this is the magic academy, arguably the most important school in the Realm. And you come in here smelling like shit and alcohol. Late, too. So, I dont care to hear your weird religious greeting. I want you to get your act together, so we can at least have a miniscule chance of not failing this class.

Stryg clenched his jaw but remained quiet. She was right, he hadnt been taking this seriously enough. He must seem like a failure to her, he must seem that way to everyone here, he thought. The weird goblin, a freak amongst the class. He was used to the treatment. The cold familiar feeling of apathy wrapped around him like a snug cloak. He sighed and walked away.