Harnessing & Refining

The two began making their way through the bustling corridors of the college, navigating the chatter and movement of other acolytes. Despite the crowd, an unspoken understanding settled between them – an unlikely partnership forged out of necessity.

 The benefits of their partnership were already evident. As they walked past Urael's group, the menacing bunch glared with disdain, their hostility barely concealed. But with Riniock by his side, Niann knew they wouldn't dare act out like before.

 'It's already working,' Niann whispered, relief in his voice.

 Riniock smirked. 'Of course it is. Now, what's our next class?'

 'Magick and Mechanics, I believe,' Niann replied, glancing ahead. He gestured towards a stern-looking senior maegi standing near the classroom entrance, his sharp eyes surveying the gathering acolytes.

 'Looks like this where we should head to,' Riniock remarked, squaring his shoulders as they approached.

 This classroom bore little resemblance to the previous one. Gone were the rows of wooden seats and rigid structure. Instead, hexagonal rugs spread across the floor, each adorned with plush, inviting pillows for the acolytes to sit on. The usual layout of a teacher's desk at the front was abandoned in favour of a circular design, with the stage placed directly at the centre of the room.

 The walls curved around them, lined with shelves overflowing with ancient tomes, delicate scrolls, and curious trinkets – all radiating the aura of accumulated knowledge. The air was infused with a faint scent of old parchment and polished wood, a tangible reminder of the secrets waiting to be uncovered.

 Once the acolytes found their seats, the teacher arrived from the very door they entered from. He walked in, in quite a hurry, snapping his arm in the air as books slipped from the shelves and hovered in front of every attendee.

 'Turn to page 14 in your manuals,' the professor instructed, his voice curt and direct, foregoing any introduction or pleasantries. 'Today, we begin with harnessing and refining odh energy lesson.'

 Most acolytes obeyed without hesitation, their fingers rustling through the provided manuals. However, a few hesitated, their curiosity outweighing their compliance.

 One brave voice spoke up. 'Excuse me, professor. We don't even know your name, or what this class is about.'

 The professor's gaze swept over the class, his eyes narrowing slightly at the interruption. For a moment, a tense silence hung in the air.

 He straightened, his expression impassive. 'My name is of little consequence to you,' he stated flatly. 'But since it appears decorum demands it, I am Professor Rhetrick.' His voice was clipped, with an edge of impatience. 'As for what this subject entails, it concerns Magick and Mechanics – the intricate art of harnessing, refining, and applying odh energy in practical and mechanical forms.'

 He tapped the manual hovering before him, the sound sharp and definitive. 'Knowledge is earned here, not spoon-fed. If you're curious, then follow instructions, and you'll find your answers.'

 A few acolytes shuffled uncomfortably, whilst others hurriedly turned to page 14, no longer eager to press their luck. Riniock opened his manual calmly, his eyes glinting with interest. The prospect of refining odh energy intrigued him deeply, and he wasn't about to miss this opportunity to learn.

 'Now,' Rhetrick continued, his tone softening just a touch, 'shall we proceed?'

 The acolytes mostly nodded, though it mattered little to Rhetrick. Without hesitation, he produced a chunk of odh stone, letting it hover in the air for everyone to see.

 'The most common way for maegi to harness odh – whether for enhancing their abilities or replenishing their reserves – is by passively drawing it from the atmosphere. This method, however, is slow and inefficient.' He gestured to the floating stone. 'A more effective approach is extracting odh from items like this.' He tapped the chunk, which spun gently in response.

 'Can't we just use odh nodes?' a student blurted out.

 Rhetrick's glare was sharp enough to cut glass. 'If odh nodes were that abundant, do you think anyone would waste time with mere stones?'

 The acolyte's confidence evaporated, and he swallowed hard.

 'Next time, raise your hand before interrupting with such a foolish remark,' Rhetrick snapped.

 'Y-yes…I'm sorry, Professor.'

 'Now, can anyone explain to Mr. Wise Guy why his suggestion is impractical?'

 Several eyes rolled as Niann raised his hand, a déja-vu from Gieller's lesson.

 'Odh nodes take an extremely long time to form naturally in the world,' he explained. 'Their rarity makes them far less accessible than odh stones.'

 'Good. And what exactly are odh stones?' the professor pressed.

 Niann answered smoothly, 'They're naturally formed as well. When concentrated energies in the outside world collide densely, they create veins of odh stones.'

 'Now that we've settled that,' Rhetrick continued, his gaze sweeping the room, 'I want all of you to open your manuals and follow the instructions on harnessing energy from the stone. You'll be drawing on the odh preserved deep within it.' He paused, letting the weight of his words sink in. 'This will take time, patience, and plenty of trial and error. But if you have any hope of advancing in your magickal studies, you will make it work.'

 Riniock wasn't sure if the professor's words were a threat, a warning, or a form of encouragement. Regardless, he was determined to succeed.

 The manual detailed the intricate steps required for harnessing odh energy.

 First, they needed to sit cross-legged on a comfortable surface, given that the process could be time-consuming. Second, the odh stone had to be positioned directly in front of them, perfectly aligned with their body's centre. With eyes closed and breathing steady, they had to visualize the stone – its shape, its presence, and its location.

 The third step was the most challenging: detecting the faint traces of odh trapped within the stone and using their body's inner energy to draw it in. This required pulling the odh steadily through the nose, mouth, and even the pores of the skin.

 Finally came the refinement process, which was comparatively simple. The maegi only needed to allow their body to stabilize the newly absorbed energy, transforming it into a form they could utilise for magick.

 Riniock worked diligently, his exterior composed and patient, whilst an intense struggle brewed within. In the depths of his mind, he groped through darkness, searching for the faint trace of odh within the stone before him.

 Detecting it was one challenge; drawing it in was another. Despite his controlled breathing, the delicate wisp of odh stubbornly hovered in place or veered off in unintended directions. Each failure gnawed at his resolve.

 Only after several attempts did he finally manage to guide the elusive energy towards him. Relief settled within him as the odh flowed in, subtle but tangible.

 'Very good,' Rhetrick remarked, his voice flat and devoid of enthusiasm. 'It seems a few of you have grasped the concept. The rest, keep at it. If you can't succeed now, practice in your own time. If you're still unsuccessful, don't bother attending the next lesson.'