Chapter 14
"We will start with teaching you how to sense your magic," Revos said as they sat in their tent that evening. "Once you can feel the hum within yourself you can begin to draw upon it and channel it to make spells. We'll also be able to see which types of mana you have access to."
"Okay," Mitchell said. "Sounds easy enough."
Lethelin and Allora were scouting the area around the camp looking for something fresh for dinner and it was just Mitchell and Revos alone with the already slumbering clorvol.
"What is mana, anyway?"
"A simple question without an easy answer, I'm afraid." Revos's voice shifted into something a little more scholarly.
"Some believe it is energy left over from the formation of the universe. Others say it is the energy of life itself and, without it, we could not exist at all, that all of creation would be a barren void. One scholar postulated it was sexual energy exuded from the constant fornicating of all the creatures throughout all space and time. But, the short answer is we really don't know. I don't need to know where it comes from to utilize it, however.
"Fair enough, I guess. I don't really understand how electricity works but I could use a light switch without any problems."
Revos's face looked puzzled for a moment as he tried to sort out the meaning of the words coming through the translation spell and apparently decided it was unimportant and didn't comment. The spell was amazing but it wasn't perfect.
"Close your eyes. Focus your attention inward. Most people find that they feel their mana most quickly when they focus on their chest, so we will begin there."
Mitchell did as instructed and closed his eyes, then took a few deep breaths trying to center himself. He tried to block out the sounds of the wind moving across the dunes and focus on his breathing. His ex-girlfriend had been into yoga and meditation he still remembered the basics but he hadn't meditated since they broke up. As ideas entered his consciousness, he noticed his mind wandering, filling with random thoughts. He noted them before pushing them aside, focusing back on his breath and feeling where it originated in his chest.
After five or ten minutes he felt his mind go, if not quiet, then at least distant. He could still discern the thoughts in the background but it was almost as if they belonged to someone else. He felt the rise and fall of his chest, deep and even, and his body begin to relax. In the silence between the hot gusts of wind blowing over the parched landscape, he imagined he could hear his heart beating in his ears.
Then suddenly he felt it. There was a vibration somewhere in his chest. Between breaths, between the beating of his heart, and in the stillness of the desert, he felt it. Something inside him that he had never experienced before. It was... alive! It startled him so much that it completely broke him out of his meditation.
"Oh shit!" Mitchell exclaimed as his eyes shot open. "I felt it! I have magic!"
Mitchell had seen evidence of his magical abilities before when Allora had applied the mage catchers. He'd believed her but he hadn't actually felt it! It was like this living pool of something dynamic and new and vibrant residing inside his own body.
He looked up at Revos who looked mildly surprised.
"That was quick. Normally it takes students an hour or more of focus before they can feel their mana pool."
"I used to meditate back home. Not for a couple of years, but I have a little bit of practice."
"I'm not sure why thinking on it would be beneficial, but either way, this will speed things up nicely."
"No, it's... Never mind. So, what do I do?" He was dying to get started.
"Find your mana pool again. It needs to become automatic. You have to be able to reach for your mana pool and manipulate it without hesitation. In this moment, you were not distracted. No one was attacking you or trying to run you through with a blade. You need to be able to seize your mana without fail every time. Now start again."
Mitchell settled in and started over. He found the mana a little quicker this time. He was able to get a better sense of it with a little bit of practice. It was in his chest but he couldn't pinpoint exactly where it might be. He couldn't feel his lungs or his liver but he could feel this presence somewhere inside him.
Revos seemed to be able to sense when he'd found it and every time they would begin again. This went on for a good half an hour and then Revos changed up the routine. Just as Mitchell was about to locate that vibration inside of himself Revos would poke him with a sharp stick, or flick him on the forehead. He'd pinch his arm or leg and he had claws! As the lesson progressed Revos left him with welts and scratches, some of which drew blood. By the end of the hour, Mitchell could no longer control his temper.
"That hurt, you big red son of a bitch!" Mitchell yelled as he held up the collar of his shirt to his ear where Revos had driven the tip of a claw almost clear through his earlobe. There was a decent amount of blood. "Fuck!"
Mitchell got up, fuming, and went over to the barrel they'd repurposed for washing. He cleaned the blood off his neck and ear, ignoring the sting. Revos joined him.
"And what if it wasn't the tip of my claw but a knife in your leg or a sword through your stomach? Could you call on your mana then? Could you channel the spell that could save your life or that of your companions? Because that might determine if you live or die."
"Is this how you teach people in this world? Stab them until they figure it out?"
"Eventually," Revos explained, not at all sympathetic to the series of scratches and welts that were visible on Mitchell's arms, legs, neck, and face. "Most children who can channel are identified early on and they have a few years of training to prepare. The first few months are usually devoted just to learning to sense your mana. First, through questing as you have already done, then while doing daily tasks of ever-increasing complexity. Walking around, eating, and exercising, for example. Then, mental challenges are brought in. Only when they've mastered all of that is pain introduced into the training. Not all continue past that point. You don't have that luxury. You need to learn faster if you are to survive."
Mitchell wanted to argue but knew that the demonic bastard was right.
"Fine," Mitchell said, grudgingly. "But can you heal this so the blood stops dripping down my neck?"
Revos leaned down and examined the small wound more closely then said, "No. Not until the session is complete. The distraction will be useful."
When Allora and Lethelin finally returned they found Mitchell nursing a black eye and Revos with a busted lip and they were glaring at each other from opposite sides of the tent.
Allora immediately went to Mitchell to check on him and Lethelin just grinned.
