Chapter 14: Chapter 14 - Innate Magic!

“Good good, you're getting the hang of it!” Mr. Roc cheerfully yelled at his students sitting on the grassy field behind the Innate Studies building. Balls of white light surrounded the first years, some had more than others, some had balls swirling around them, some had big balls, and some had small balls.

It was nearing the end of the first month of school, and this was their last class in Innate Studies that focused more on what Magical Foundations was supposed to teach. Next week, Mr. Roc would start teaching them about the general information on innate magic, and ways to train and make use of their own innate magic. Besides class lectures, he was also going to do some personal training with each student who had awakened their innate magic. Those that hadn’t awakened would still have personal training, but more so on speeding up the process towards awakening.

Kira was seated in a circle with her friends, concentrating on the massive balls of lights around her head. Her condition, or blessing as some called it, was beginning to trouble her more and more as she began using more magic. Control was something she frequently needed more of, even after practicing for hours after classes and on the weekend. Power though, that came easy to her.

She could tell the amount of mana in her body was rising more than it ever had before, and when she brought it up to Rynus, he had explained that it was natural growth that came as a young wizard started to use their magic. Just in her case, the amount was more akin to a tsunami where others it was a wave. But now that her ‘magic muscles’ were developing, and her body was growing more used to mana, there was practically no chance of an accidental outburst happening like when she was younger. Not that she even had the mana to spare, she was using it up as fast as she could recover it to practise.

Caspian was out and about around her, as a means of comfort. It was something Mr. Roc thought might be able to help her with control. The others didn't want to be left out and summoned their own familiars to join in.

Abby’s familiar was a Kea named Keke, a beautiful bird with mostly brown feathers on his body, but his wings and tail had a majestic gradient of orange, yellows, and blues on it. Capsian and Keke had hit it off immediately, becoming best of friends, just like their wizard creators.

The Trinity’s all had cat familiars of differing colours: a black cat for Helina, an orange cat for Vea, and a gray cat for Yuli. Marcus’ familiar was a wolf he named Lunis, and Resseta had a small red papoka who was as shy as could be and hid in her shirt most of the time. Alexander’s familiar was the largest in the class: a magnificent horse as tall as two Kira’s, with silky white hair that looked like stardust was covering it with how much it shined.

Kira thought having her familiar out was supposed to help with control over her magic, but she kept getting distracted by Keke squawking and running circles around him. Caspian, in turn, was happily chasing after Keke, letting out excited churtles the entire time.

‘Focus… Focus…’ Kira wanted the balls to move around her in a slow circle, but they barely moved at all. The frustration was slowly getting to her, and the damned heat wasn't helping.

I’m gonna catch you! I’m gonna catch you! Caspian’s shouts directed towards Keke played in her own mind.

Kira gritted her teeth and took a deep breath, but when Caspian’s body slammed into her own, she had had enough of his shenanigans.

“Caspian!” She yelled at her familiar. Not something she normally did, but her frustration and the heat was getting the better of her. “Can you please not run around, I’m trying to concentrate.”

Sorry Kira. Caspian wasn’t stupid, he recognized his playfulness was greatly annoying her and stopped running.

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“It’s okay, just… if you wanna go play around, just go somewhere a little further away so you don’t run into anyone, okay?

Okay! Caspian did as she said and ran off into an empty space, but this time Gary, Vea’s orange cat, and Lunis, joined Caspian and Keke in their games.

Peace came back to Kira, allowing her to concentrate. Except for the heat, it was blistering at that point. Sweat poured down her sides and she felt like she had been thrown into a volcano. It kept increasing, and at a certain point, Kira felt something build up inside her body. Her eyes shot open, and she felt a rush of mana and heat burst out from her core. A gold and purple flame roared to life around and on her body. Her friends reacted and jumped away at the sight of flames.

She didn’t want to scare her friends with whatever was happening and went to try and cut off her mana when Mr. Roc yelled, “Don’t stop Kira, let it come!”

Listening to her teacher as a good student should, she let the flames continue to burn around her. The grass was charred at her feet, but her clothes and her body were just fine. It took another half minute or so before the flames petered out and only tiny licks still burned here and there.

“Fantastic! Congratulations Kira, you’ve just awakened your innate magic!” Mr. Roc patted her on the shoulder and helped her up.

“My innate magic?” Kira squeaked, then the realization dawned on her. She had finally awakened her innate magic after three months since she began her magic journey. Her own magic. Only hers, and no one else's.

Looking down at her hands, she felt something different inside of her soul. There were already plenty of things contained in her soul; her connection with Rynus, her bond with Caspian, and the core of her magic. She recognized it was her core that had changed. If a core was like a flower, then it seemed like hers had started to blossom.

“Try to capture that same feeling, we don’t want to waste this opportunity.” Mr. Roc interrupted her thoughts. “Those flames, bring them back if you can.”

Kira nodded and focused.

Like reaching into a cookie jar way high up, it took a bit for her to get her balance, but the result was inevitable. Golden flames roared out of her hand in a great clump of fire. There was a distinct lack of purple flames, Kira noticed. She tried to will the deep purple flames out, and succeeded, but in doing so, caused the golden flames to disperse entirely. The purple flames were not abundant and energetic like the golden flames, and instead it was small and calm, with only a single tail that slowly swirled in place.

“Oh, multi-type magic, very rare.” Mr. Roc commented. “Good good, come see me after class, we shall discuss your magic in more detail and create a plan for how to move forward. Obviously next week we begin personal training and such, but making a plan for practicing your innate outside of class is vital if you want to progress nicely throughout the school year.” He said then left to go help other students.

“I saw it! Congrats Kira!” Abby bounded over to her and tackled her in a hug. “Your own magic! Isn't this what you've been waiting for?”

“Yes, I'm so, so happy right now!” Her face didn't betray her words. A massive grin was spread out on her chin.

“Nice work, roomie.” Helina slapped her on the back. “Flames huh? Can't go wrong with fire based magic.”

“Can I see it again?” Vea asked.

Her friends were crowding around her, congratulating her and asking her questions. They all wanted to see her flames again, so as a good friend, she of course got to work. With lesser effort than the previous attempt, golden flames erupted in her hands, more condensed than before.

“So pretty…” Vea trailed off, her gaze falling into the fire.

“Wow.” Even Marcus exclaimed seeing the beauty of her flames. They sparkled and gleamed, they danced and jiggled, and they felt warm, but not hot.

A hand suddenly shoved itself into the flames, startling Kira.

Resseta pulled her hand out and looked at it. “No damage.” The quiet woman said.

“Wait, your scratches.” Yuli pointed at Resseta’s hand. “You had scratched them up this morning when you were working out, look-look the scabs are gone!”

Everyone's head leaned in to stare at Resseta’s healed wand. Not only were her scabs gone, the back of her hand looked supple and smooth like it belonged to a princess. Resseta hurriedly turned over her hand and breathed a breath of relief as her calluses were still there surprisingly. She didn't want to lose her hard work.

“Healing flames?” Abby looked amazed. “That's so cool! Do me next!”

“Not so fast, young lady!” Mr. Roc had charged back over to them. “As much as you’d all love to experiment with your magic, it's not the right time. Until we figure out the specifics of your magic in a controlled environment, there will be no testing on one another, understood? Resseta, that was a very dangerous thing to do, sticking your hand into unknown magic. I've warned all of you on the dangers of this many times. For not listening to me, you’ve earned yourself detention. Come see me after class as well.”

And he left again.

They were silent, sad that their friend had gotten detention, but Resseta suddenly chuckled and said, “Worth it.” Her words sent the others into a fit of giggles and smiles.