Amy’s slightly sleep deprived eyes strained against the light of the rising sun. Her father hadn’t been joking about starting at dawn. The two were stood in a small clearing in the forest. Not exactly a large area to be practicing magic, but she trusted her father had a reason for picking such a place.

“So, what will you be teaching me exactly?” She asked him.

“Magic.” He answered with a slight smirk. Her eyes narrowed slightly as her cheeks puffed. Obviously, but she knew better than to try and get a straight answer from the man, “To begin, let’s start with how to cast a level one spell.”

“The only one I’ve ever managed is Orb of Light.” She quickly reminded him, “I guess Morgan was right, I only have the Light Magic affinity.” She sighed.

“Morgan is a fool who can’t tell real power from his own ego.” Staff suddenly snapped, more so as an instilled reaction than an actual insult. Amy was caught off guard by her father’s casual disrespect for a mage widely regarded as one of the most powerful of the current era of magic, “You hold no affinity with Light Magic, your magic is simply powerful enough to make him believe such a thing.” He explained, “And your power is the first hurdle that has kept you from achieving anything.”

“How can my own power be holding me back?” She questioned.

“Because those fools at Oak don’t understand how to cast spells.” Staff bluntly answered, “Raise your arm, and cast Fireball.” He ordered.

“I…” Amy began but quickly shut her trap as her father raised an eyebrow. She sighed, raised her arm away from them both, and began to concentrate on her magic.

“Those idiots likely taught you to swell your power.” Staff continued, “But swelling a power as vast as yours is like trying to lift a house to climb a single step.”

“So, what the hell am I supposed to do?” She asked him, “I can’t just say the word Fireball and conjure a spell from thin air.”

“Flow.” Staff answered, “To know how to cast, you must understand what you are casting.” He continued, “Fire Magic draws from the heat of the earth. The boiling magma deep below the rock and dirt under your feet.” He revealed, “Let the power within you flow, from your feet to your arm. Open a channel and the magic will follow.” Amy closed her eyes and focused.

Like the magic within the stone walls of her father’s secret basement, she gently stirred the magical power within her own body. From her feet, up her legs, through her chest and down her arm. She imagined the pathway, from deep underground all the way though her as if she were a lightning rod conducting and directing a bolt of lightning. The power suddenly responded. Before she knew it, the pathway she imagined was in her head no more. She could feel the heat of the depths flowing into her feet, flowing through her body. Her eyes snapped open as for the first time, she felt her power under her own control.

“Fireball.” She chanted as the heat from the depths collided with the palm of her hand. Her magic violently reacted. The magical sensation of heat turned to physical flame. A ball of fire sparked to life within her grasp and flew off towards the other side of the clearing. It slammed into some ferns just shy of the opposite treeline. At a snap of her father’s fingers, the flames vanished as quickly as she’d set them alight.

“Good.” Staff praised as Amy’s face lit up into a massive grin. She began to chuckle, pleased with her own performance. That had been the very first proper spell she’d ever cast, all on her own, “Now for a level two spell.” Amy’s glee quickly vanished.

“Dad… I’m certainly eager, but doesn’t it normally take about a year to even come close to level two?” She asked.

“If your being taught by a moron, sure.” He responded, “Ice Shard is a level two Ice Magic spell. Ice Magic draws power from the groundwater that flows through the soil and porous rock. It’s nowhere near as deep as the heat you used to fuel Fireball, so a lot easier to access and shape, but a lot faster to come to bare and tricky to handle because of its malleability.” He explained, “Now give it a try.” Amy again closed her eyes and focused her magic. As her father described, she pictured the water flowing under her feet, seeping through the ground. Again, she began to stir her magic, causing it to flow from foot to arm as she pictured the passageway throughout her body.

Her eyes shot open as the chilling cold quickly responded. It flowed through her feet, up her leg, through her chest, and down her arm. Far faster than the heat before had done so, yet Amy managed to react in time despite the speed.

“Ice Shard.” She chanted. Her eyes widened as she immediately felt something off. The magical power flowing through her turned chaotic and messy with seemingly no cause. It defected off the inside of her palm and began to painfully recoil down the length of her arm. Staff’s hand was quick to act. He grabbed his daughter’s arm and took in a deep breath. The chaotic magic seemed to vanish in an instant, forced back into order by a dominating magical force.

“Now, why did you fail?” Staff asked as he slowly let go of her. Amy’s eyes narrowed with suspicion. Her father had reacted a little too fast even for an admin. He’d been expecting that outcome.

“I don’t know.” Amy answered him.

“By swelling your magical power, you shape your will onto the magic. You naturally form the correct spell through domination and force.” Staff explained, “Channelling the source of an aspect is enough for a first level spell, the basic expression of that aspect, but more advanced spells require you to shape and manipulate the aspect as well. Something that doesn’t come naturally to those who channel instead of swell.”

“So… Channelling the power of the ground water would have only resulted in the first level Ice spell Cold Breeze?” Amy asked him. Staff nodded, “You set me up for failure.”

“Failure is the greatest teacher.” Staff justified, “Now, to cast Ice Shard, you need to shape the power you flow through your body.” He explained. He placed a finger against her chest, “Shaping magic is done by the heart, guts, and stomach.” He revealed, “The combination of the three, fuelled by the will and imagination of the caster, is powerful enough to twist and shape magical power. However, the more powerful the magic, the more of each is required from you to achieve success.”

“More powerful spells, more powerful magic, requires more effort and strength from myself.” Amy realised, “What happens if I don’t have enough?”

“You die.” Staff bluntly answered, “Magic is not some fun toy to play and experiment with. Pushing the limits of your body and mind will kill you as quickly as any blade.” He continued, “Especially in your case. Your innate power is comparable to my own in terms of raw strength.” He revealed, “That means your magical limits are far greater than most, but your physical and mental limits are not. Fail to balance these, and not even I will be able to prevent your fate. Understood?” Amy gave a slow, chilling nod, “Good, now try again.” He ordered. Amy closed her eyes, focused her magic. As the power began to flow within her again, she swallowed as her father’s words sunk deeper into her mind. The power flowing through her body was dangerous and could potentially kill her. Her heart began to race as fear quickly took over.

Staff’s two hands gently planted themselves on her shoulders. No magic, no tricks. Just his physical hands baring weight on her thin collar bones. Having her father now stood behind her, his presence impossible to ignore despite her internal focus. She found herself suddenly calm. Her father wasn’t going to let her fail so badly here and now. She fully focused on the power as it flowed into her chest. She imagined a pointed shard of ice, and with her wish, the magic within twisted and changed. Before she knew it, it was again flowing down her arm.

“Ice Shard.” She chanted. A cold chill in the palm of her hand quickly collected and formed into a pointed shard of ice. The shard shot off across the clearing and speared itself deep into a thick tree trunk.

“Well done.” Staff calmly praised, “Shaping magic is required for every spell above level one. Remember that, because next comes level three.”

“You’re seriously going to cover all three levels of standard magic in a single lesson?” She asked. Her father shot her a cheeky, fatherly smirk.

“What, don’t think you’re up to it?” He teased. She narrowed her eyes and pouted at him.

“I never said that.” She huffed as she folded her arms.

“For this one, it’s probably better I demonstrate first.” Staff muttered as he straightened himself out. Amy took a cautious step back, but kept her eyes locked on him as he began to gently move his hands through the air like a small, intricate dance. Her eyes widened with curiosity and intrigue as small electrical charges began to nuzzle and flow with his seemingly random movements. Suddenly, his entire body language switched up. His stance became rigid and straight, his arm aimed true, “Lightning Bolt.” He chanted. A deafening echo of thunder and a blinding flash of light announced the successful cast of a powerful, accurate spell that sent shivers down Amy’s back, “Now… what do you think is the difference between level two and level three spells after watching that?” He quizzed her. Amy considered what she’d witnessed for a few seconds.

“That you need to do an interpretive dance?” She jokingly answered him. Staff shot her a raised eyebrow, “I couldn’t tell.” She answered truthfully.

“Level three spells need a second step of shaping and moulding.” He revealed, “In the case of Lightning Bolt, you channel like before to begin with Stunning Touch but then shape the magic into the level two spell Bolt.”

“Then once again into Thunder Bolt?” Amy asked. Staff nodded.

“Lightning Magic is a particularly difficult aspect to master if not born with the affinity.” Staff revealed, “This is because its source comes not from one source, but the difference between two sources.” He explained, “Air is a tricky source to draw upon for a mage. Air by nature does not like the presence of magic, which is why most sources are drawn upon through the ground.” He further explained, “For you to gain its co-operation, you must negotiate.” He added as he again began to slowly move his hands through the air. He then turned to look at her, clearly expecting her to follow suit.

“And this dancing is how you do that?” She asked him as she began to diligently copy his movements. Nothing seemed to change despite her efforts. Staff sighed and stopped, yet as Amy slowed, he gave a light tap on her right arm to keep it moving. He again moved to stand behind her.

“These are not random movements, you must move with the air around you.” He explained as he gently took hold of each of her arms and began moving them in a very particular, very precise series of motions that seemed completely chaotic and arbitrary, but after a few seconds Amy quietly blinked as she noticed that the feeling of the air against her motions vanished completely. Staff gently let go of her arms, and she continued on her own, every time she felt the tiniest bit of resistance from the surrounding air, she gently corrected until the senseless feeling again returned. Electricity gently began to nuzzle her, as if the air itself was purring, pleased at her harmonious existence with it.

“I see.” She quietly muttered as a gleeful, wonder struck smile took hold of her mouth. Her eyes watched the majestic beauty of the calm, nurturing display.

“Channelling air is the first step, but Lightning comes from the difference between the air and the ground itself.” Staff revealed, “When you feel ready, take the power of the air, and crash it into the power of the ground. Shape it into power untold and aim true.” He instructed. Amy closed her eyes and focused. The powerful magic of the air flowed through her arms towards her chest. As it met her stomach, she switched her stance the same way she’d watched her father do. She stood straight, rigid, strong as she channelled the strength of the ground beneath her feet. The two powers collided and became one. A deadly power that now surged a whole new intensity. Like a blade forged by hammer and anvil, but inside her own body. At her will, this new power twisted as quickly as it had formed. Before she knew it, the power was already flowing back down her arm. She focused her will and felt it reshape once more within her arm.

“Lightning Bolt.” She chanted. A blinding flash of white light, the deafening roar of thunder. A lightning bolt surged from her hand and instantly struck the same tree she’d speared with the Ice Shard.

Amy’s breath was rather heavy as she gave a sigh of relief, and a small but proud cheer. The sound of clapping hands quickly caught her attention. She turned to her father, who had a rather proud smile fully on display.

“You feel it, right?” He asked as he finished clapping. Amy at first didn’t quite understand what he was on about, until she noticed her breaths were still long and heavy. Her heart was pounding, her chest tight and weary. She wasn’t tired, but physically exhausted.

“Is magic truly this taxing on the body?” She muttered as she struggled to swallow enough air to satisfy the needs of her body. Again, Staff’s two hands gently planted themselves on her shoulders. This time he was stood in front of her; his nose pressed against hers.

“Deep, spaced out breaths.” He calmly instructed. She took in a deep breath and held it for a few seconds. She released in a big sigh and took in another deep breath, “Your body thinks it’s under a lot of stress, like you’re running at full pace. Dictate the pace, centre yourself, and your body will correct.” He instructed. She continued with the deep breaths for a few seconds more. Her heartbeat slowly lowered, her breaths became lighter and lighter as she felt the need for less and less oxygen with every passing second. Finally, she became calm, and her breathing returned to normal. Staff gave her a small head pat and let go of her, “Your body is used to being saturated with magic, but moving, shaping and combining magic is all completely new to it. The more you cast, the better your body will handle it.” He explained.

“Was that my physical limit?” She asked him.

“The first sign of it, yes. I’d advise not pushing yourself beyond that state unless your desperate.” He advised her, “While there is still some wiggle room, things only go downhill should you choose to push on.”

“Yeah.” She muttered, “Not exactly eager to find out what comes after that.” The air between them drew silent for a few moments as thoughts of her own mortality quickly began to remind her of her father’s own newly revealed vulnerability, “Dad…” She tentatively asked, “Why are the Gods mortal?” Staff paused in silence for a few moments.

“Because we are not perfect beings.” He answered, “If one of us were to lose our way, being unkillable wouldn’t be good now, would it?” He explained.

“Your mortality is in case you turn evil?” She quibbled, “Sounds like a lot of worry over something so unlikely.”

“Is that your belief daughter? That the admins are incapable of evil?” He asked. Amy shook her head.

“No, but you’ve always got the Gameworld’s interests at heart.” She answered, “That’s why you were hesitant to train me.”

“Indeed.” Staff sighed, “But know that there were once five admins that overlooked this world.” He revealed.

“What happened to the fifth?”

“We took advantage of his mortality.” Staff coldly answered her. She quietly swallowed. She wasn’t used to her father openly admitting to unapologetic, ruthless murder, “His death is what has caused all of this trouble. The reason I can’t afford your sisters, your mother, or Jess to be discovered by The Creator. His death threw the balance of power heavily towards The Creator. If you wish to change the world as I do, daughter, you must begin to understand how one wrong move can shape the world for centuries to come.”

“Do you think his death a mistake then?” She asked and watched as Staff’s face filled with silent conflict.

“I wouldn’t know.” He answered her, “I wasn’t there.” He muttered as he turned away from her. He began to walk away, back towards home.