“Exactly so,” Evaristesaid.
Yeah, I don’t have that at all. My magic is as subtle as a sledgehammer.
“Control lets you do delicate work on spells. It helps you gather the necessary amount of magic for the task you want to complete, and it means channeling your magic so it alters the very purpose of your powers into something entirelydifferent.”
“Entirely different?” Angeliqueasked.
“Yes—I’ll demonstrate with an illusion since that’s what your first magic will be.” Evariste flexed his knuckles, and blue magic glittered at his fingertips. “This is my core magic in its raw form. But if I spin it and twist it, it powers an illusion and essentially becomes illusionmagic.”
The blue magic swirled in a little funnel, faded, and was replaced with a miniature dragon the size of Angelique’s hand. The dragon circled Angelique and spat little puffs of fire. When Angelique poked the image, her finger passed straight throughit.
“Some disciplines of magic require words or phrases—it varies greatly depending on the strength of the spell and the mage casting it.” Evariste held out his hand, and the dragon seemed to land on top of it. “Being a good enchantress or enchanter isn’t merely a test of power, but a testament to your mind. It takes a lot to not only remember all the different spells, charms, and powers you can funnel, but to also be able to react and adapt your magic, changing it as youwish.”
“But you’re really changing it?” Angelique asked, digging into the most important part—to her anyway. “It’s not your magicanymore?”
“No, it is still mine—or I wouldn’t be able to control this illusion as I do,” Evariste said. “But it changes the magic and shapes it into something new, so though it is powered by your abilities, it lets you transform it into somethingdifferent.”
Angelique could have laughed; her relief hit her so hard, she was almostdizzy.
So my terrible magic—my devastating powers—can be changed if I cast something outside my war magic. It’s no longerharmful.
She almost sagged back in her chair.I’ll stay on the straight and narrow. I won’t hurt a single soul with my powers, and when I use magic, it won’tbewarmagic.
“How do I make an illusion?” she askedeagerly.
Evariste smiled and held out his hand. “Come join me, and we’ll getstarted.”
* * *
If Enchanter Evaristefound it suspicious that his apprentice—who was previously labeled willful for refusing to do her homework—was a dedicated student at illusion magic, he said nothing about thematter.
Lured in by the promise of transforming her magic, Angelique threw herself into studyingillusions.
After two weeks of careful book work and another week of painful practices, Angelique spun her first illusion: a whitecat.
“Well done, Apprentice!” Evariste studied the feline with his arms folded across hischest.
The illusion-cat licked its paw and scrubbed at its face, ignoring Angelique, who was studying it with narrowedeyes.
“She’s not like your illusions.” Angelique circled the cat with a wrinkled brow. “Your little dragon lookedreal. My cat is…transparent.” Angelique squinted and was able to see the stack of books piled behind the cat through the hazy image of itsfur.
“My illusions look solid because of practice,” Evariste said. “Yours will improve as you continue to learn more and grow more familiar with twisting and channeling yourmagic.”
“Hm,” Angelique said, still not quitesatisfied.
Evariste set a warm hand on her shoulder, breaking her close scrutiny. “You should be proud, Angelique,” he said. “Your first illusion was of an animal—they are far harder to create than something stationary and without life—like a book or even a litcandle.”
The furrows in Angelique’s brow shifted from critical to puzzled. “Why would someone want to make an illusion of a book or acandle?”
Evariste grinned. “You’d be surprised. If you do the unexpected, you’ll often be able to get the better of youropponent.”
Angelique stiffened and felt her spine tingle.I don’t know that I like the sound of that.“Having an opponent impliesfighting.”
“It works well in fighting but also in things like conversation, meetings with royals, and so on. Our lives will be spent helping and aiding others. But as part of that, we must sometimes test people,” Evaristeexplained.
Angelique slowly nodded. “I see.”Maybe.It still sounds likefighting.
As if he could sense her thoughts, Enchanter Evariste chuckled. “You’ll see what I mean when we starttraveling.”
