~Wolfy_McJones
"Get up Alysior! You're hopeless!"
I push myself to a sitting position against the soft grass, the carnage of my defeat emblazoned on the earth around me. "I-I'm sorry professor, I will try harder next time."
"Must that be your response every time you are defeated? Never in all my years have I taught a student at your level."
"Professor! Please, you cannot be so hard on him, we are still kids!" An older boy runs onto the makeshift battlefield next to me. He grips my outstretched hand and hauls me upright with a strong arm.
"I suppose you are right, Uklorn. My apologies, I have been too strict in my words." His unhappy demeanor relaxes to a more neutral look as he turns after speaking and walks towards the edge of the ring.
"You ok?" Uklorn says to me.
"I guess. Just a bit sore." I look away from him, my face red with embarrassment at not being able to defend myself.
"Alysior, your elemental control was sloppy. You will practice that with Uklorn after you two finish dinner clearing duties tonight. It is your turn."
"Yes professor," I echo Uklorn tiredly.
"Hey Alysior, while we're clearing the table here, I may as well start helping you study."
The all too familiar clatter of dinnerware fills the room as I set down a large stack in our pile next to the river. "Yea I suppose so. The professor mentioned elements, right?"
"That's right, I suppose I'll ask you some questions?"
"Go right ahead." I shrug as I stand up and follow him through the dark to the main hall.
"Ok, you remember the famous elementist who held back the Icekin's advance?"
"Ahhh. His name was..." I snap my fingers in frustration and grip my head with my other hand. "Euvyxius!" I exclaim triumphantly.
"That's right, how and why did he prevail?"
"Well, uhh... The Icekin and their queen were on a campaign through human territory for quite some time, and they had pushed so far in that they ended up at the gates of our capital. Now this was before the time of the Scriptwriter's Library, so our magical protection was basically limited to a few of the old order of wizards. Euvyxius being one of them, he met the bulk of the advancing army all alone, and in an incredible display of magic he combined all four elements in a giant tornado and unleashed it upon the enemy. To great effect! It allowed for the rest of the human forces to rout the surviving foes."
"Very good summary, but that still does not answer my question. Why? Why was he able to muster the power needed to create a spell of that size?"
"Oh I don't know. Because he was lucky?"
"No of course not, one can't just be 'lucky' enough to do that." He begins to gather up another stack of plates and mugs as he responds to me. "At the base of it, Euvyxius understood the magic behind Elemental Control. He spent years upon years grasping at what was the bare essence of Earth, Fire, Water, and Air. Elemental Magic isn't just flinging rocks about and spewing fire, it is about becoming the Element itself, training your mind and body to orient yourself towards that part of life."
"Since when did you memorize all that?"
"Since I chose it to be my specialization back when I was in your tier, I told you right?"
