“We will start small," Risna said, smiling reassuringly.
Elizabeth glanced between them. She wondered how two people with such different dispositions were related.
“We don’t have much time to teach you everything. We are going to cram years of study into a few short weeks. I will be giving you work to take home and practice, and we will meet every few days.” Risna paused. “Be aware, it may be difficult for you to learn magic. Most witches begin early in life, as young as ten, and dedicate their lives to the craft. At least five years of study are typically required to do anything noteworthy. Do not get your hopes up. We will be lucky to teach you basic spells, and only if you have a middling ability in magic.”
Risna paced in front of her, pursing her lips. “We will have to skip healing and herblore—things that may be of actual use to a human—and jump straight into shielding and mastering basic defensive spells. Again, do not be alarmed if nothing happens. This is advanced, and human mages are usually not particularly skilled at these sorts of magic.”
“We will begin now,” Nasera cut in, depositing several stones and crystals on the table. She lit a candle and placed it in the center. “Lift one of the crystals.”
Elizabeth selected a violet, rough-cut gemstone.
Saying the words, she summoned the green fire in her chest and used it to lift the crystal into the air. Pleased with her success, she held it aloft until Risna lifted her hand.
“Good. That’s a good start. Lift the crystal up and down, like so.”
She struggled, and the crystal dropped to the table multiple times with a clatter.
Soon, after a few attempts, she could bounce the crystal in the air. Elizabeth chuckled, imagining a demon trying to attack her, and she would amuse it by levitating a rock. A useful survival tactic.
The stone dropped on the table as she lost track of the spell.
Risna snapped her gaze to her. “Try again.”
She exhaled, trying to mask her exasperation. She thought they would be learning protection spells. This seemed of little use. “Why are we doing this? How will this help me learn to protect myself?”
“We are spring cleaning up here.” Risna tapped her forehead. “You need to build your precision and control before you build your strength with magic.”
The smile wiped off her face, and she nodded and made several more attempts. After a few tries, the crystal circled and bounced in the air. Grinning, Elizabeth flung her palms towards the crystal, and it flew around the room.
Nasera came forward, scowling, and set a piece of rope in front of her. “This is the first defensive spell a young witch learns, in case unfriendly faces catch you and you need to escape.”
Elizabeth let the woman tie her hands together.
“I want you to break free. Say the wordRuiva.It means to break.”
“Ruiva,” Elizabeth enunciated the best she could. Nothing happened.
She tried again. Still nothing. Sweat beaded her forehead and gathered at the small of her back. The effort was strenuous. She felt like she had run a mile, trying to break the damn rope, yet the rope’s threads didn’t so much as quiver.
“Let go of the spell, child. It will burn you out.”
Elizabeth retreated inwards and struggled to let go of the thread of magic.
A headache was forming between her eyebrows, and she was starting to feel rather cross.
Risna looked undeterred as she asked her to try a few more times.
She failed every time.
After what felt like forever, Nasera leaned over and sneered, “That is one of the easiest spells we can teach you. Just cut a line of your power through the rope.”
Elizabeth forced a smile. “My apologies. I’ll try again.”
Removing the rope, Risna placed it upon a shelf and grabbed an empty bowl. “No matter, some people learn certain spells quicker than others.” Risna placed the bowl in front of her on the table and said kindly, “Try to manifest water. SayAquor,and imagine a flow of water coming out of your fingertips to fill this bowl. Like so.” She took a deep theatrical breath in, brought her fingers over the bowl, and spoke loudly and clearly.“Aquor.”
Elizabeth watched in fascination as water streamed from the witch’s fingertips.
She made two efforts, but to no avail.
