Training as a Slime(71)

 Tears welled up from the corner of Cori's eye. "That's my home... I wonder if everyone is alright," his heart sank into deep thoughts as the image faded. The projection showed how far away he was and despite that, the connection between Earth and him had not severed. Cori pondered whether the bond between him and his home planet was magical, and if so it would be difficult to guess the sort of magic he had affinity with.

Basked in the sea of stars, the rout of slimes marvelled at the display of celestial stars and planets. They felt they had a glimpse of the unknown, and were so close to touching it. Unaware, the insight into Cori's power had brought a small change to the group.

"Settle down everyone. Thanks to our little trainee here, we have uncovered intriguing insights into the realm of magicules. However, before we delve further into this fascinating topic, it is prudent to revisit some foundational principles. For those who did, what do you know about fundamentals of awareness?" asked Kareem.

Spotting the awkward silence of ignorance, the trainer continued, "I understand that the material we are discussing today is quite advanced, and it is not expected that everyone present possesses a comprehensive understanding. Nevertheless, for those who do, your dedication is commendable.

The fundamentals of awareness point to the connections between mind, body, and soul. Once these elemental precepts are internalized, individuals may commence the process of cultivating deeper connections not solely with terrestrial realms but with the overarching cosmos. By heaven, I do not mean the materialised plane of the egregore. Within this framework, heaven encapsulates the entirety of cosmic phenomena—the celestial bodies, cosmic energies, and the sublime harmonies pervading the cosmic tapestry. Establishing such connections necessitates a concerted endeavour in harmonisation, wherein the cognitive, vital, spiritual, and metaphysical dimensions of the individual converge. The phenomenon we observed earlier serves as a tangible manifestation of this harmonisation—a surge of magicules, spiritual energy, qi, and mental fortitude forging a direct conduit with the heavens, illustrating the inherent potential within each of us."

The lecturer paced through the room while the rest of the trainees stared at him blankly. Kareem took a deep breath and turned to look at Cori with a troubled look, "Now, try touching the crystal but instead of connecting with it, pour a bit of your manna into it."

As soon as Cori followed the instructions, the crystal gave off a blinding light- an indication of high compatibility with all forms of elements.

Kareem: "Thank you for the demonstration, please take your seat. As we've observed, a finely tuned alignment with the universe impacts the harmony among the elements. Yet, establishing this connection is facilitated when there's a foundational core compatibility in place. Today, we start with a fundamental non-elemental spell, using your mana to manifest a tangible object. Generally, this object will align with your dominant elemental affinity, so variations in results are anticipated and should not be a cause for concern. Remember, the main aim of this exercise is to foster a connection through the process of materialization."

Kareem took out his wand and said, "Mana o gugenka suru!" A fire encapsulated in an ice crystal orb appeared at the tip of his wand. With a twist of the wrist, the orb fragmented into specks of fire and ice.

Kareem: "You're encouraged to attempt the spell without chanting, although it may prove to be challenging. Please rest assured that I'll be here to offer support as and when needed. You're welcome to leave once you've succeeded."

"I needed a wand for this?" Cori panicked as he looked around the hall, finding the rest of the class attempting the spell with their wands. Hiding in the nook of the backpack, a small unnamed wand decided it was the time to shine. It poked through the gap between the teeth of the bag, innocently hinting to be used. 

"Master! Master! Here's your wand!" whispered Alice excitedly, taking pride in solving her master's predicament.

"Thanks, Alice!" Cori said as he withdrew the 8-inch stick from his backpack. The stick quivered with excitement at the action. It was at this precise moment, that Cori recalled that the wand he was holding was the same wand he had used in the museum, and became hesitant to perform with it. "Please do not squirt, please do not squirt!" he prayed in his heart before chanting the incantation. 

The unnamed wand shivered slightly and shrivelled under the inexperienced slime. Cori attempted a second time, clearing his mind to direct his manna to the wand with a clear intention to materialise his magicules. "Mana o gugenka suru!" Cori commanded. 

The wand immediately became stiff with power and vitality, its varnished tip shone with intense bright light and conjured a futuristic-looking star-shaped gem with a spark of light swimming in a pool of inky matter. "What is this?" Cori wondered. Before he breathed a single word, the dragon-kind grand wizard swiftly walked to him as if he sensed his craving for knowledge.

With a sigh, he telecommunicated to Cori, "Hand me your wand for inspection." As Cori handed his wand to the grand magister, the wand tried its best to dodge his grasp but failed. With a firm grip, the wizard flicked it with his fingers and stroked the wand tightly with his index and thumb. With a quick flip, the wand stood in attention at 9 inches as if mesmerised by its new wielder. "It should be working fine now, just requires a bit of tuning. Try again," Kareem said telepathically.

As Cori re-attempted to pour his manna into the wand, he felt a smooth connection to it like never before. His manna flowed smoothly from his grip to the tip of the wand. Before he uttered the chant, his intention was already harmonised and thus the spell materialised without a word. Simply put, he was vibing with his magic stick.

Cori looked with curiosity at the suspended heart pulsing with every elemental in perfect harmony.

Kareem: "As expected, you may return to your chambers."

"Thank you for your guidance!" Cori bounced with gratitude as he kept his items and left the hall for a quick lunch break.