A new spell

Bradin woke up slowly and lazily looked around the empty room. Ivan had already left the room to get breakfast. he stretched and reached into his magic pouch for some clean clothes.

once he was dressed he headed down to the main room of the tavern. Ivan was waiting there for him. their breakfast arrived just after Bradin got the the table. They made small talk as they enjoyed their meal.

"well we have one more day until my freind arrives what do you want to do today?" Ivan asked

"could you teach me more magic?" Bradin asked

"i suppose it wouldn't hurt your training if you where to learn a few spells before hand." Ivan said more to himself than to Bradin.

"ok i will tech you a spell even i can' t use... after breakfast."

Bradin hurried and finished his food. he sat there looking at Ivan as he slowly finished his meal. Ivan could sense Bradin's excitement, but he wanted to see how patient Bradin could be now that he was free, and didn't have the slave collar keeping him down.

Ivan was pleased when Bradin asked for a cup of tea and tipped the bar maid. after selling the horses and buying Bradin his new clothing, Ivan had given the rest of the money to Bradin to use as he needed or saw fit.

Bradin sipped his tea as Ivan finished his food. Ivan was impressed. even when he was excited to learn new magic, Bradin didn't try and speed up his teacher he waited for the time when his teacher was ready. it was a great quality in a student.

after Ivan finished his meal they headed up to their room so as not to frighten the other people that where in the tavern.

"alright." Ivan said as the door closed behind him.

"this spell is one of the beginner fire spells. i can't use it as my magic is the complete opposite of fire. however i have a feeling that you might be able to use it. so i can not show you what the spell looks like. i will tell you the words, and you will have to do it your self."

Bradin nodded nervously. Ivan then told him the magic words

"now what you want to do is concentrate on the thing you want to light on fire. either a candle or a log in a fire place. next you gather your magic and then you release it toward the object you want to light."

"remember if you get distracted you could light yourself or even other people or their things on fire. this is a good spell to see how focused you are. when you are ready cast your spell."

Bradin focused on the log of the fire place in their room. he then gathered his magic until he felt the tingle in his body, and then he said the spell. nothing happened. he said it again. once more nothing happened.

"why won't it work?" Bradin asked frustrated

"remember." Ivan prompted "you have to send your magic to the thing you want to light on fire."

Bradin tried again. this time when he said the words he raised his hand. once his hand was raised he felt his magic shoot out and hit the log. the log started to smoke, but then when Bradin put his hand down it stopped, and his magic stopped going to the log.

Bradin raised his hand and said the spell again. the log started to smoke again. Bradin pushed more of his magic towards the log and slowly a tiny spark of flame could be seen.

just as the flame started to actually burn the log Bradin's vision went dark and he passed out. Ivan sighed and picked him up setting him on his bed. Then he turned to the now burning log with a look of satisfaction.

Ivan was pleased that Bradin had been able to cast the spell. He still had no idea what element was Bradin's strong point, but he had a guess that it wasn't ice.

after a few minuets Bradin came back to the world.

"what happened?" he asked rubbing his forehead.

"you passed out after you did the spell." Ivan told him

"i did?" Bradin asked embarrassed

"don't worry about it all beginner mages pass out the first few times they cast spells. especially spells that use more energy."

"why did the fire spell use more energy then the earth spell?" Bradin asked confused

"because fire is made up of energy. the fire spell creates fire using the energy of your magic and your body. basically both spells do the same thing. changing one type of thing into another type of the same thing."

"the difference is the earth spell uses some energy to go from one substance to the other. wail the fire spell needs that energy as well as the energy that it is going to change into fire."

"so for the fire spell i have to supply the substance to be changed as well as the energy to change it." Bradin surmised

"exactly." Ivan said "if you have a crystal with energy in it you would only have to supply the energy needed to change the crystal's energy to fire. lucky for us i have a crystal you can use to practice."

after Ivan handed a white crystal the size of a chicken egg, to Bradin, he found it easier to do the fire spell. all he had to do was hold the crystal in his hand. when he reached out with his magic to light the log, the magic would take the energy from the crystal instead of him.

Bradin practiced his new spell all day wanting to get better at it. he also used a stone he had found outside of the tavern, to practice the only other spell he knew. when it was time for bed Bradin could hardly sleep. he was excited to get to the Earthmother's temple and learn all the magic he could.