THE APPLE OF SNAKES

xiii. left-handed

"Physical magick is a magick that - as its name suggests - manifests itself in correspondence to the magickian's movements," Taayir said, moving her hand and moving flames with it. "Many people perform physical magick without even knowing they're doing it, however, it's usually shamed as it's seen as a waste of movement and focus. Physical magick is also called training wheel magick. Cheatsheet magick." She rolled her eyes. "These sayings, simply put, are false."

Nerluce frowned slightly, before returning to what he was meant to be doing. Moving. And listening. At the same time. It was easier than sitting still and listening but still not necessarily easy. What Taayir was saying was pretty complicated stuff and Nerluce didn't want to get lost.

Moving was meant to stimulate them. Taayir had said to just do whatever felt the most natural to them, and it had been a bit silly and awkward at first but now they were all finding their rhythm. Nerluce's mind still seemed determined to wander but while moving he was always able to return it to Taayir and her lecture about the nuances of physical and mental magicks. The overarching theme of which was that one was not superior to the other.

"Think of physical magick as the equivalent to being left-handed," Taayir said. "It's no less natural than being right-handed, it's just fewer people are left-handed and so in some cultures, it's punished and children are forced to use their right hands, usually with poor results." Taayir rolled her eyes. "But everyone can still learn to use their left hand as well as their right. Some people are ambidextrous like Aristide."

Aristide - who was less of an assistant teacher and more of the one taking the brunt of Taayir's snark - let out a breath that might've been a very quiet scoff.

"That doesn't make him better or worse than anyone," Taayir said. "He's just more versatile." She crossed her arms. "However, physical magick is much less studied and considered a younger style - just like left-handedness. We are able to tell, however, that it packs more of a punch than mental magick. This is at the expense of control. Mental magick is highly controlled and therefore much more precise. So there are certain circumstances in which you'd want to use one over the other. Aristide, quiz them."

"Single target," Aristide said.

For a moment no one responded before someone's hand shot up. Aristide didn't call on them, he didn't even acknowledge them. Finally, the person grew fed up and exclaimed, "Mental!"

"Multiple targets," Aristide said.

Physical?

"Physical!" another person shouted.

Nerluce smiled, silently pleased he had gotten a question right. Aristide continued on in the manner, quizzing them and letting them shout answers until he heard the correct one and proceeded to the next question.

"Ranged attack," Aristide said.

This caused everyone a moment of pause before someone finally guessed, "Mental?"

"Why?" Taayir asked, cutting in.

Nerluce didn't know. He felt whatever confidence he felt before from getting two questions silently correct began to shrivel. He felt like there were dead, black vines puncturing his gut. Were those two answers flukes? Lucky guesses? He had no idea. He didn't know much of anything. Not about any of the many forms of magicks.

"Because... um because it's further you'd want to be more accurate and not accidentally hit the wrong target?" the person who'd spoken said.

Nerluce didn't envy them.

However, their answer was deemed acceptable by Taayir as she nodded and turned her head. "Exactly," she said. "This was a bit of a trick question, though. Physical magick would be acceptable so long as your target was a large group where accuracy was less important. In fact, then physical would be more effective." Taayir turned to glare at Aristide. "Don't ask such nonspecific questions."