Forbidden Magic

Chapter 13

Three weeks went by. Prudence was a prisoner in her room. Yonnie delivered her meals and arranged for her baths to be set up. The two would talk while Yonnie was going about her chores. Though Prudence did not want to admit it because it would break her heart when she had to leave, she and Yonnie had become friends.

Prudence poured over the books and tasks set for her by Myam. He came in at least once a day, sometimes twice, collecting books and leaving her with new ones to read. He would also look over her assignments, and most of the time he demanded she redo them. Pointing out parts he thought she missed, or the handwriting was too sloppy, or some other little part that annoyed him. She was beginning to get discouraged that she would never be taught anything that could not be learned from reading manuscripts. One day, shortly after breakfast, Myam knocked on the door and entered in his usual manner.

“Gather yourself, and follow me,” he demanded, and waited by the open door as she left the dishes for Yonnie piled neatly, and grabbed the books she was finished with. Once she seemed ready, Myam started making his way down the hall. She had learned over the last few weeks not to ask questions. However, it took a lot of effort to keep from asking them.

It was not long before they were in the courtyard, the very one that she could see from her window where the guards would train. But today the space was void of the usual commotion, there was not a soldier in sight. She glanced around curiously.

“I requested to use this space today for your training. The guards have been asked to vacate until your lesson is over, in case there are any further…. mishaps.” Myam informed her, seeming to read her expression, and gave her a hard look at the last word.

“Firstly, we need to get in touch with the magic within you. Just a small introduction, not a full-blown party. You need to learn how to feel it and ask it to come forward in small increments.” Myam continued and motioned for her to stand in the center of the courtyard. Prudence quickly placed her books down on a bench and staged herself where he requested.

“We are going to start with grounding. This means that you need to be able to quiet your mind. It will also be something I want you to do outside of training. You want to be able to center and calm yourself. To think clearly and purposefully. Now, let’s see what you can manage. Close your eyes and take deep breaths.”

Prudence gave a nod and did as instructed. Her nerves had her heart in a frenzy, she could hear and feel it thumping in her ears. She could hear Myam as he seemed to pace a large circle around her slowly.

“Calm yourself. I can practically hear your heart racing from here.” Myam spoke calmly.

“I’m trying sir.”

“Take deeper breaths if you have to. Magic works off of your energy. If you’re expelling too much of it over thinking things, then it won’t work… Deep breath in, and slow breath out.” he tried to make his voice as soothing as possible. It was a harsh difference from the snappy attitude she normally got from him. “Feel the breeze in the air, listen to it swirl through the stonework.”

Prudence inhaled, expanding her lungs as much as she was able before slowly releasing the air. It took a lot of breaths before she felt her heart begin to slow down. She focused on her breathing. Deep breath in, slow breath out. Soon she did not even notice Myam’s footsteps.

“Good,” Myam spoke, but he seemed far away from her. “Now I want you to look past the here and now, look past your physical being into where your energy and spirit lie. It should feel like a stream flowing through you, and to access it you simply reach your hand into it.”

Prudence tried to dig deeper, but all she could feel was the calm blackness behind her eyes. She squared her shoulders, took another deep breath, and pushed further. ‘Come on’ she thought to herself, ‘it's got to be here’.

“Let go of the here and now Prudence,” Myam’s voice was nothing more than a whisper to her at this point. “If you cannot locate it this time, we can try again tomorrow.”

Prudence squeezed her eyes tightly together. She was hoping to find something. She was close to giving up when in her mind’s eye she saw a small thread of gold light dancing along through the blackness, like a creek winding its way down a mountainside.

“I found it!” She said in an excited whisper and smiled. But she kept her eyes shut and focused on the golden energy. It was not as solid as she had expected it to be. It broke and moved and danced with small orbs that reminded her of when the light was reflected off of the water. Like it was made of air and light.

“Good, don’t lose it. Hold it there. What do you see? Describe it to me.” her mentor asked. He hoped this would help her focus on it more.

“Like light made of gold.”

“Good, now reach for it. When you're ready, I want you to think about pulling one of the books to you.”

Once again in her mind, she could see herself reaching towards the energy swaying along. Her fingers turned warm and began to tingle. She never made contact with anything solid, but she knew it was there. Then she focused on the bench that she had set the books on and narrowed in on the top of the stack. In reality, she held her hand out towards the tome, then mentally asked the power within to bring the book to her. Prudence opened her eyes and stared at the novel she wanted. The book began to twitch and shiver. Prudence was so surprised at the action that she gasped and jumped back.

Myam let out a sigh, “That’s a good start. But you cannot lose concentration. At least not while you’re still learning.”

“May I practice some more, sir?” Prudence asked, eager to try again.

“We have the yard for the next few hours but do not be underwhelmed if the results don’t change drastically. You are just beginning.”

“May I ask something, sir?’ She questioned.

Myam gave her a puzzled, “Ask away.”

“The energy, or magic, I saw. It was very thin. Is that normal?”

“It can be for those just starting to practice. It will grow in time, it is like a muscle. The more you use it and train it, the bigger it will grow.” Myam tried to ease her concern, then gestured towards the books, “Now if you’re ready, let's try again.”