Out of Time Chapter 9-- Death by Teacher

Needless to say, I got drenched. Scowling at Sai, I asked, “What was that for? If you want me to take a shower, just ask!”

A flame leapt to life above his palm. “Actually, it was so this does not burn you if you do not correctly block it.”

“What?!”

“Think of a shield. Channel that thought, make it energy, and bring a shield in front of you. If it helps, you can say it out loud.” He threw a ball of fire at my head.

“Shield!” I shrieked, dropping into a defensive position. To my surprise, the fire ball exploded in front of my face and went out. A blue, shimmery wall stood before me. Realizing I was holding my breath, I released it, and the blue wall disappeared.

“Excellent!”

I stood, glaring at Sai. “It is a usual practice to attempt to kill your students?”

He returned his hands to his sleeves. “No. However, in order to draw the magic out of you, so to speak, I have to give you reason to force it out. A mage will often instinctively use magic to protect himself. Once you become acquainted with the sensation of magic, you will be able to focus your energy without fear fueling your motives. “

I did not want Sai to keep freaking me out. So, I resolved to pull magic out of the air. Focusing, I channeled my energy and snapped—just like Tyren had done. To my surprise, something leapt to life above my finger. It was not fire, but light. It was pure light with a slightly blue tint.

Sai stared at me. “How did you do that?”

I looked at the ball of light hovering above my hand. “I honestly have no earthly idea.”

He strode the length of the room to inspect the light. Pulling a pair of goggles over his head, he exclaimed, “Fascinating! It’s pure light!” He stuck his hand in it. “Hm, can you make it hotter?”

“Um, I can try.” I focused on heating the light.

Sai yanked his hand back. “Nicely done. Try expanding it.”

“You mean make it bigger?”

“Correct.”

After a second, it began to grow.

“Now, throw it at that wall over there.”

“Why?”

“I want to see if you can.”

Squinting in concentration and sticking my tongue out, I hurled the light at the wall. It exploded against the wall, leaving a burned mark.

I looked to Sai to see his reaction.

“Wow,” he murmured. “You are a quick learner.” He tilted his head slightly, thinking. “Tell me, when you attacked the accursed ones, was there any light?”

“Yeah, there was a flash.”

He nodded. “That makes sense.”

“Why?”

“Every mage has a specialty. It appears yours is light.”

“But light is just energy. I thought that magic is energy.”

“Yes,” Sai said.

I frowned, confused. “But—“

“It is very difficult for a mage to create pure light. Usually it comes from fire, or some such thing. The fact that you can simply take your energy and make it light is incredible.”

“So, you’re telling me that most magi can’t keep energy in the form of pure light?”

He nodded. “Just as I suspected, you are a very powerful mage, my young friend.”

~~~~~

“No, no, no,” Tyren groaned. “You do not just hack at me. Every stroke of your blade needs to have purpose.”

I might be good at magic, but I was not good at sword fighting. The next day, Tyren had taken some time out of her busy schedule to teach me how to use a weapon. Thus far, I stunk pretty bad.

“You make sword fighting sound like painting.”

She sighed. “Well, it is an art.”

I snorted. “For you maybe. You’re a wicked-fast vampire. I’m just a human! There is no way I could ever even compare to you.”

She shook her head. “Mikhail, you are not ‘just a human.’ You are a mage. You can use your magic to move yourself faster than an average human. And Sai tells me you are very good at magic.”

Time to change the subject. “What is that thing on your left arm?”

Tyren regarded me carefully, as if I had just asked where her secret candy stash was, or something. “What thing?”

I gestured towards it. “That leather and metal thing.”

“Oh.” She relaxed. “It’s a guard. I can use it to block sword strokes.”

“So, it’s kind of like a mini wrist shield?”

She chuckled. “I supposed so.” Returning our practice swords to the rack on the wall, she said, “I do not really think that sword fighting is for you.”

“That means I get him next!”

I hadn’t realized that Tatiana was leaning in the doorway. As usual, the werewolf was armed to the teeth—literally. “Add a few stakes to that belt and you would look like Abraham van Helsing.”

Tatiana frowned. “Abraham van Helsing?”

“Yeah, you know, the vampire slayer.” Then I paused, realizing Bram Stoker hadn’t written his famous book, yet.

“I know who he is. I fail to see how I look like him. He has bright red hair. Besides, he’s a mage, not a werewolf.”

I stared at her. “You mean he’s real?”

“Of course he’s real. Didn’t you cross blades with him, once, Tyren?”

She snorted. “Tch. Last time I ever go to Amsterdam. He’s a blinking idiot.”

“You’re just angry because he’s a better sword fighter than you.”

“He is not. Are you going to teach M.C. to shoot?”

Successfully diverted, the werewolf brightened. “Oh yeah! Come on, M.C.! Let’s go shoot stuff!”

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Hehehe. I love this chapter. So much fun to write. Plus, Character Bonding Time!!

Anyway, sorry this is five days late. It’s been a whirlwind of activity, here. I’m home (YAY!!) and they didn’t let me catch my breath before I got caught up in the goings-on at home. Two busy parents, seven siblings, an Evil Fluff-Puff (my dog, Percy), seventeen chickens, an honorary cat nicknamed “Bell” (super friendly kitten who in living in out garage--we have yet to find her owners), a devious fish who in convinced he is a shark (my beta, Finn McMissile),  and a large farm will do that to you. 

Not to mention I need a job. Yikes! Maybe someone would pay me to sit around all day and write cool stories? One could only dream. 
Oh! Fun fact (since I should start doing this again)-- "M.C." originally stood for "Main Character" as I did not have a name for him. I knew I wanted to make it long and overly-dramatic, and, well, "M.C." sort of stuck. 

Anyway, thanks for sticking it out with me! Hope you all enjoyed.  

Toodles!