Like back in Morgäven, when I slowed the magic around the sword. I never used a spell. Granted I only had to tap into my magic for a few seconds, but I did it nonetheless.
“I don’t know if that’s because I started learning magic later than the average mage,” I added.
“I can help her with the exercises,” Arielle stated. “I’m sure with more practice and focus we could understand and unlock more of her powers, but afraid time magic isn’t one of my specialties.”
My heart lifted when Magdalena’s face brightened with excitement—the corners of her eyes crinkling ever so slightly and that careful composure cracked just enough to let warmth through. Though she’d smiled before, I could tell excitement was an emotion she rarely showed.
“That is where I come in. I can definitely help.” She focused on me. “And I don’t believe it will take long to get to grips with your powers. You’ve already begun the process. It also won’t matter that you’re learning these core principles now. At the academy time magic manifests with age.”
My interest piqued. “Really?”
“Indeed. That’s why we teach mages who want to specialize in it during their final years. To learn time magic, all mages must be at least eighteen years of age.”
“So, can any mage learn how to wield it?”
“Yes and no.” She rested her hands on the table and leaned forward, a pensive look in her eyes. “We all refer to our magic aselemental. We use the term so frequently we call everything elemental. Even time. But time is not elemental. It is primordial.”
“I never thought of it like that,” Arielle mused, looking slightly thrown. “Gods, I feel so silly. I’m supposed to be so advanced and I didn’t pick up on that.”
“Oh my dear girl, you did nothing wrong.” Magdalena’s face became animated as she spoke. “We all refer to time as an element for ease of discussion. Especially here at the academy because we don’t often teach any other primordial magic. Clarity only becomes an issue when you’re actually dealing with a time mage. Like we are now.”
Arielle sighed with relief. “That makes me feel better.”
I gave her a reassuring smile.
“Now back to your question.” Magdalena's gaze settled back on me. “There are those, like you, who are born with the power to wield time. And there are those, likeme, who areselected. In any case, the power is only given to those who respects its rules. And that does not matter if you are good or evil. Good seeks balance through the Fray. That’s why the ability is only available to a select few.”
“How is the selection made?” Something tugged on my insides. Like I already knew the answer.
“Bloodlines. Mages with certain bloodlines, particularly ancient bloodlines tend to either be born with the ability or have another elemental ability that attracts it. We notice the latter in mages who have the base element of fire. Like myself.”
And Mother.Mother’s natural element was fire. At least that was before she gave up her powers.
It made sense. I’d seen details about bloodlines in my journal. It was the reason I could speak to the dragons and hear their song. Bloodlines was the reason I could do all the other things no one could explain. So, it fits that bloodlines would explain my magic too. And apparently the ring knew all of this.
"Your base element is air." Magdalena gestured toward me with one elegant hand. "It's what flows through you most naturally, what answers your call without thought. Eventually all elements will answer to you. But time magic—that's somethingelse entirely. You have the ability to wield it as naturally as air. There is no limit for you."
I was just beginning to realize the extent of what she was saying. “So I can I could do… anything?”
“You could doanything, but remember time is endless. It goes on and one for eternities and when you look back there’s never one single point. There’s always something that came before it. So, that’s why we call it limitless.”
I drew in a deep breath and looked at Arielle. She had the same dazed expression as me.
“I need to understand how it works. All of it.” My gaze swept back to Magdalena who was already nodding.
“And I shall show you how. Right now, you can control the temporal flow of time. The rate—fast and slow. What you need to understand is how you are doing it. That begins withweaving. Weaving is the ability to perceive the strands of time and shift your place within them.” She pauses. “When you think you are speeding time, you are moving forward along a strand. When you slow it, you resist its forward pull and hold the moment in place. When you look backward, you trace that strand in reverse.”
She studies me carefully. “But time is not a single strand. At certain moments, it divides. There are paths that were taken, and paths that were not. A skilled weaver can sense those divisions and choose which strand to anchor.”
“So there can be other paths?” I narrowed my eyes.
“Exactly, and every path has a thread. Past. Present. Future. And the unchosen threads that branch away when a choice is made.”
I was deeply intrigued. “I had no idea there was so much involved.”
“And so much more. Ready to learn how to weave?” Magdalena grinned.
“Absolutely.”
