The Lessons

It had been about a month since Aklu showed up, and Zentik was learning his magic quickly.

At the moment, Zentik was learning how to control a horse using his magic.

"Use the trick!" Steri said from where she and Lonek sat on the sidelines.

"What if it hurts the horse?" Zentik asked.

"Imagine a dull end when you grasp the reins," Aklu saud. "But first, imagine the ice going to your feet rather than your hands. Create a platform below yourself and rise up to climb on the horse."

Zentik nodded and closed his eyes.

At this point, ice coming from his hands felt like second nature. He had never really used his feet for magic.

The platform appeared, but when Zentik tried to rise it from the ground, it just encased his feet in ice.

"Oh, that's not good," Aklu said.

Zentik melted the ice away, then tried again. Again, he failed.

"Don't imagine your feet as on the ground. When you go to raise the platform, imagine your feet floating just above it."

Zentik nodded and took Aklu's advice.

The platform lifted him in the air. It carried Zentik to a place where he could step off of it and drop onto the horse.

"Now, create a dull pillar of ice to grasp the reins," Aklu said, mounting her own horse.

Zentik did so. The ice wrapped around the reins almost like a hand.

"This is weird," he said. He had to hold his arms farther back than normal for riding a horse, and moving the reins took much more strength.

"Perhaps we can try to improve this when you get better at control," Aklu said, bringing her horse to stand by Zentik's. "But for now, we'll try to do different versions of the same trick."

Zentik nodded.

"Now, try to control the horse."

After a few attempts, the horse grew used to the ice and quickly walked in whatever direction Zentik chose.

"Hey, Zentik!"

On a horse, Lonek rode to stand by Zentik.

"Race you around the castle."

"What?"

Lonek took off on his horse, speeding towards the far end of the paddock.

"There's a fence and a wall!" Zentik shouted.

Lonek's horse jumped, easily clearing the fence.

Zentik had his horse run to the closed paddock gate, which was lower than the rest of the fence. After jumping over it, he circled the perimeter of the paddock and caught up with Lonek.

"How are you getting over the wall?" Zentik asked.

"Watch."

Lonek's horse jumped towards the wall. Zentik froze.

The horse's hooves caught on small platforms barely visible on the wall and began to run along them, taking a curved path to the roof.

"I can't do that," Zentik said to himself.

Then...

"Okay, don't freak out," he said to the horse.

Zentik closed his eyes and imagined a platform of ice raising him and the horse up the wall. A pillar formed beneath them, bringing them to the top of the wall.

Zentik extended the platform to cross over the path on the wall where the guards walked. He then created a downward slope to carry him and the horse to the ground.

As he passed Lonek - who was using small platforms on the outside wall to get back to the ground - his brother held up his hand in a thumbs-up.

Zentik beat Lonek to the ground and sped forward, circling the perimeter of the castle.

Lonek soon caught up.

Zentik's horse had gotten some rest using the platform, but Lonek's horse was quickly tiring.

When Zentik turned the corner of the cold stone wall, he slowed for a moment.

Then Lonek caught up, and Zentik sped up again.

Zentik beat Lonek back to the front of the castle.

He created another platform to take him over the wall, then hurried back to the paddock.

"Good job, Starada," Zentik said to his horse.

Not too long after, Lonek jumped the fence into the paddock.

"I win," Zentik said as he melted the ice reins in his hand.

"I can tell," Lonek grumbled, dismounting his horse.

"Catch me."

Zentik leaned over the side of the horse and dropped to the ground. Lonek barely caught him in time.

"Why would you do that?"

"I didn't feel like making another platform. Thanks."

Lonek rolled his eyes and dropped Zentik.

Aklu had taught Zentik how to catch himself, but it wasn't a reflex yet, so Zentik fell on his butt.

"Tang has your outfit ideas for the wedding, by the way," Lonek said, leading his horse to where Tuki took the horse into the stables.

"Why do I have to be fancy, too?"

"Because you're my brother. Hey, maybe you'll impress someone there. Finally get you a partner."

"I'll let you get married first."

Lonek rolled his eyes and walked away, waving.

Zentik didn't miss the way his brother's shoulders dropped for barely a moment at any mention of the wedding in two months.

He couldn't help but wonder how this wedding was accepted, when the bride ran away during the "proposal" and the groom was in near tears every night over the situation - Zentik noticed the pain in Lonek's very stance.