Chapter 18: The Beginning of Every Great Mage
1021 Words
The forest was unusually lively that morning.
Golden rays of sunlight danced through the leaves as birds filled the air with cheerful songs.
A cool breeze drifted across Dorothy's garden, carrying the comforting scent of herbs and freshly baked bread.
Echo slowly opened the cottage door.
He stretched lazily.
"...This is dangerous."
Mira looked up from watering the herbs.
"Dangerous?"
Echo nodded seriously.
"If mornings keep feeling this peaceful..."
"...I might actually become a morning person."
Mira giggled softly.
"...Would that really be so bad?"
Echo pretended to think.
"...Actually..."
"...Yes."
"I've worked very hard to enjoy sleeping."
Before Mira could answer...
A loud thump echoed behind them.
Both immediately turned.
Kodie had somehow rolled out of the tree beside the cottage...
Still asleep.
He landed safely on a pile of hay.
"..."
Echo stared.
"...Should we check if he's alive?"
Dorothy walked past them carrying a basket of vegetables.
"He's fine."
Almost on cue...
Kodie slowly sat up.
"...Good morning."
Echo blinked.
"...You fell out of a tree."
"...I know."
"...And?"
"...The ground was soft."
Echo looked toward Dorothy.
"...Ma'am..."
"...Is this normal?"
She smiled gently.
"I stopped questioning Kodie a long time ago."
---
Breakfast was as lively as ever.
Echo happily reached for another piece of bread.
Only to find...
It had disappeared.
He slowly turned.
Kodie was already eating it.
Echo pointed dramatically.
"...That's mine."
Kodie calmly swallowed.
"...It was."
"...You thief."
"...You looked full."
"I was emotionally attached to that bread."
Mira covered her mouth, trying not to laugh.
Dorothy quietly placed another piece onto Echo's plate.
"There."
"Justice has been served."
Echo proudly nodded.
"...Thank you."
Kodie simply shrugged.
"...Worth trying."
---
After breakfast...
Dorothy led the three students toward the familiar clearing behind the cottage.
The grass still shimmered with morning dew.
Wooden practice dummies stood quietly beneath the towering trees.
A rack filled with practice weapons rested nearby.
Echo's eyes sparkled.
"...Today's definitely combat training."
Dorothy smiled.
"Partly."
She placed three wooden swords onto the rack.
Then...
Three smooth crystal spheres beside them.
One glowed pale blue.
One green.
One silver.
Echo tilted his head.
"...What are those?"
"They're training crystals."
"They react to mana."
Mira carefully picked one up.
"It's beautiful..."
The crystal gently glowed in response.
Dorothy nodded.
"It recognizes calm mana."
Echo immediately grabbed another.
"...Let's see mine."
The crystal flashed brightly—
Then suddenly began vibrating wildly.
Echo nearly dropped it.
"W-Whoa!"
Dorothy chuckled.
"...Just like its owner."
Kodie picked up the final crystal.
Nothing happened.
"...Broken?"
Dorothy smiled.
"No."
"It simply hasn't decided whether you're awake."
Even Kodie smiled slightly.
"...Fair enough."
---
Dorothy stood before them.
Her voice remained gentle.
Yet every word carried quiet confidence.
"Today..."
"...You will learn something every mage must understand."
She slowly drew a simple circle into the soil with her staff.
"What do you believe makes a great mage?"
Echo answered immediately.
"Power."
Mira thought carefully.
"...Knowledge."
Kodie quietly spoke.
"...Experience."
Dorothy smiled.
"All three answers are correct."
"...And all three are incomplete."
The students exchanged curious glances.
Dorothy gently tapped the circle she'd drawn.
"A mage who has only power..."
"...May become reckless."
She drew another line.
"A mage with only knowledge..."
"...May hesitate forever."
Another line.
"A mage with only experience..."
"...May stop learning."
She looked at each of them.
"The greatest mages..."
"...Never stop being students."
Silence settled over the clearing.
Even the forest seemed to listen.
---
Dorothy picked up one of the wooden swords.
Then...
She rested her free hand upon its blade.
A faint silver light slowly spread across the wood.
Not bright.
Not flashy.
Simply...
Steady.
"This..."
"...Is reinforcement magic."
Echo leaned forward.
"...So you're making it stronger?"
She nodded.
"Not stronger."
"More complete."
Before Echo could ask another question...
Dorothy gently swung the sword against a thick tree trunk.
Thock!
The blade remained untouched.
The tree didn't even have a scratch.
Echo blinked.
"...You held back."
Dorothy smiled.
"Exactly."
"A true mage knows..."
"...How much strength is necessary."
"...Not how much they possess."
Echo quietly repeated those words in his mind.
---
"Now..."
"Your turn."
The three students each picked up a wooden sword.
Echo inhaled deeply.
Mana slowly gathered around his hands.
Blue light flickered across the blade.
It shimmered...
Faded...
Returned again.
Finally...
The glow settled.
Small.
Uneven.
But stable.
Echo's eyes widened.
"...I did it."
Before he could celebrate...
The mana vanished.
"...Never mind."
Dorothy laughed softly.
"You maintained it for five seconds."
"...Yesterday..."
"...You couldn't even manage one."
Echo blinked.
"...Really?"
She nodded.
"Progress isn't measured by perfection."
"It's measured by improvement."
For some reason...
Those words made Echo smile.
---
Beside him...
Mira's reinforcement spread smoothly along her sword.
Like water flowing through a quiet stream.
Steady.
Elegant.
Dorothy nodded proudly.
"Excellent control."
Mira lowered her head politely.
"...Thank you."
Echo looked at his own sword.
Then at Mira's.
"...Could you maybe..."
"...Teach me later?"
Mira smiled warmly.
"...Only if you teach me how to stay optimistic."
Echo scratched his head.
"...Deal."
The two laughed together.
Watching them...
Dorothy quietly smiled to herself.
---
A sudden clang interrupted the peaceful atmosphere.
Everyone turned.
Kodie stood frozen.
His sword had slipped from his hand.
"..."
Echo sighed.
"...Don't tell me you fell asleep while holding it."
Kodie looked genuinely thoughtful.
"...Maybe."
"...That's somehow more impressive than embarrassing."
Even Dorothy couldn't hide a quiet laugh.
---
As the afternoon drew to a close...
Dorothy gathered the three students beneath the great oak once more.
"You've learned how to strengthen your weapon."
"You've learned how to steady your mana."
She paused.
Then...
Her eyes carried the slightest hint of anticipation.
"But tomorrow..."
"...You'll discover whether you can trust yourselves."
Echo immediately understood.
His grin stretched from ear to ear.
"...We're finally sparring."
Dorothy simply smiled.
"...Perhaps."
Echo laughed excitedly.
Mira tightened her grip on the practice sword.
Kodie quietly looked toward the setting sun.
The forest swayed gently in the evening breeze.
Tomorrow...
Their training would truly begin.
---
End of Chapter 18
«Magic can strengthen a sword...
Training can strengthen the body...
But only experience can strengthen the heart.»
- Writer
