A Lesson in Magic

After falling through our shadows we were transported to a throbbing quiet, cold realm that was starkly different from anything I imagined. Firstly, we were floating in some type of fluid that felt both like extremely cold water and air. My father all but dragged me by the arm as he swam; or flew, through the inverted landscape behind Grandpa.

By appearance, it seemed as if we never left the room. Yet everywhere that was normally touching light was covered in a pitch-black hue while all the shadows in the entire estate shone a bright white. Besides that, the building that I grew up in was dilapidated and overgrown. The waterfall that constantly ran under the estate still fell. Only slowly. Dripped like a vat of tar spilling over, spreading toxic fumes onto the rocks far below.

As I was pulled I could even see my mother walking through the halls in the jarring color scheme. Her form was ethereal and ghostly as she opened doors and maneuvered around walls that simply didn't exist in this realm.

"What do you think?" Grandpa called from ahead with pride and nostalgia in his voice. "This realm is ours. In all my years, I've never met another human who feels safe in this place. They always come out terrified. Wahahaha!"

'Yeah. I bet.' I snorted internally before distractedly replying. "It's incredible." I paused to see the hints of visible breath trailing from my lips, yet I felt not a hint of cold. A benefit of the affinity I assumed before asking."Do we all share the same shadows?"

"Yes and no," Father replied. "The realms that we use for storage are based on our personal shadows; the ones cast by our bodies. You can venture inside it, but it's more of a private realm. Like a moon around the world, you see here that you alone have access to. And, as I'm sure you've noticed, it's cold. Which makes it unwise to store things you'd rather keep hot within your shadow. As for the proper Shadowfell, we will always be able to see one another roaming about in the same area."

"The distance that you can travel through this realm and the speed at which you move depends on how much mana you have and are willing to spend." Grandpa Lich explained from his place even further up ahead. Where he was currently doing flips and barrel rolls through the space while he waited for us to catch up. He was definitely a strange man. While he was old; centuries-old by the account of him and my parents, he seemed as joyfully exuberant as a twenty-year-old; and sometimes even as a child. Like now, as he flipped in place and made poses above the circular platform of cracked volcanic glass in the center of the run-down exterior courtyard.

"Navigating it is another matter entirely, however." He continued. "As you can see, what appears in physical reality is reduced to a dilapidated state. Making navigation difficult."

Probably at much dismay to him, I gazed upwards in awe at the black void above. Not a star or moon in sight. Yet the dead soil, leafless trees, and everything else were as clear as it could be in the endless shades of gray of this realm.

With no regard for my awe, my father pulled me towards one of the cloudy white shadows casts from the trees and assimilated through the quickly thickening fog. After a sudden moment of vertigo, I felt the return of gravity pull my feet onto the solid stone surface and the cool night air lapping gently against my skin. Bringing about an immense calm to wash over me as I settled into place across from my progenitors.

"Sorry to have kept you waiting, dear," Father said as he moved towards my mother, but only after making sure I had my composure. "Amun's first time should not be rushed."

"All that matters is his satisfaction with the experience." Mother so elegantly replied while keeping her eyes trained on me. "Amun's joy is my joy."

"It was incredible," I repeated to her my same words as before. Prompting a warm smile to spread over her face.

"Amun." My father suddenly knelt beside me. "Remember what I told you, months ago."

"Yes." I nodded. "That many things will change. I will learn magic and how to behave as a Grand Duke."

"Precisely." Father grinned wide and patted my head. "Tonight marks the start of your magical training. I know it is still your birthday, but you are a Royal. A Grand Duke. Great things are expected of you."

"It's fine, Dad." I nod resolutely. After all, I stopped celebrating birthdays ages ago. "I'm ready to learn."

"Very well." He smiled, returning to his feet and gesturing behind him. "Your mother will talk to you first about both mana, and your nature as a half-human."

<<As you know, Amun. You are half drow>> Mother approached, speaking in Elvish. <<But the world will not see of you that way. In the eyes of most humans, we are nothing more than a race of evil elves that inhabit the underground realms of some worlds. While the mores of our society could be seen as cruel or heartless to those on the surface. They are not without reason. As a people, we are no more evil than any other elf or human. But only a few of them understand.>> She flicked her eyes towards my father and grandfather for just an instant. <<The rest will talk down on you or treat you horribly for simply being born as you are. Never let them.>>

<<You have my assurance that I won't.>> I nodded to her.

<<I know.>> She smiled back. <<I'm certain you'll be spared from most of the hate due to your dark hair, but it's best to keep that in your mind and stay prepared for the worst.>>

<<Yes, Mother.>> I nodded again.

She smiled again; if only briefly, before straightening up and assuming a more professional aura. <<Now, for the merits of being a half-drow. As I'm sure you noticed, we are a species that enjoys the darkness. Far and wide, we live underground. But those of us who dwell on the surface are primarily a nocturnal species. As such, we possess superior dark vision.>>

<<The shades of gray.>> I nodded. <<Does that imply the existence of a synergy between my magic and the natural abilities of a half-drow?>> For some reason, I've never felt the need to hide my higher speech skills or intellect from my mother, despite the complexities of the language. I suppose it's because she'd always speak to me in the same way. Though even if I were to attempt to hide my intellect, I had the strong inclination that I'd never fool her, no matter how hard I tried.

<<I cannot say for certain." She regally shook her head. "Half-elves are a rarity in themselves, you see. But it is certainly possible."

<<I see.>> I nodded. <<And I've noticed I don't sleep either. Is that normal?>>

<<It is, my son.>> She nodded. <<Elves have no need for sleep. You, as a halfling, will still need rest if you exert yourself too much; albeit far less than a human would need to. Your senses will grow sharper as you age as well. Putting you on par with the sense of an animal. Most notable of all, however, are three traits. The first is our lifespan. You, Amun, will live for around two to three centuries. Double that, or more if you happen to become a powerful Sorcerer. Second. In exchange for a lacking physicality, all elves are beloved by mana. We're much more agile and magically gifted than humans, but physically weaker. We can cast spells made of pure mana, and some of us can even see the energy around us. We are in tune with the energy in a way humans can only dream of understanding.>> She gestured to my paternal ancestors beside her, eliciting confused or awkward looks to be exchanged between themselves before she continued. <<Most importantly, we can do this.>>

At her words, she stepped back and focused on her hand. Within the next few seconds, the mana began to violently swirl in her hand before rapidly condensing into the form of a longsword made of what appeared to be solid mana of a cyan-white. Radiating arcs of something that appeared to be electricity, but definitively wasn't.

Looking at it invoked feelings of destruction and instability within me that made me take an unconscious step backward.

Despite my shock, she proudly raised the weapon overhead for a few seconds before releasing her focus and allowing the blade to dissipate into the cloud of ambient mana around her

<<What was that?>> I asked in amazement.

<<That was something that separates elves from all others.>> Mother so proudly explained. <<Like humans have the ability to manipulate the four elements, we have the ability to manipulate raw, unstable mana, and forge it into a solid weapon. An art we call, Mana Forging. You too will be able to do this after you mature into an adult elf at fifty years old. And not a moment sooner.>> She pointed a stern finger at me before stepping back to my father's side. <<Now, listen to your Grandfather's lessons and do your best to become a great Sorcerer.>>

'Oh, Lady. I will.' I grinned internally before politely bowing. <<Yes, Mother.>>

"I'll explain the basics, so listen close." Grandpa started after taking the cue from my mother. "There are many things we need to cover so pay attention. Besides mana, there are two magical practices that you need to grow to understand. Elemental Manipulation, and Affinities.

"Like elves and their Mana Forging, all humans have the natural ability to use mana to manipulate the four elements- earth, water, air, and fire. As its name suggests, manipulating the elements requires the elements to be present. One cannot manipulate water in the desert, for instance. Only through what we call, Affinity Cores, are we able to use higher forms of magic such as ours. Yet, approximately half of the population is born without them.

"For those that are born with one, they often spend their entire lives with their sole core. One passed down from family member to family member with a few mutations found here or there.

"Mutations?" I asked with genuine confusion.

"Changes to the status quo," Grandpa grunted. "I'm an example of such. A being in possession of an elevated or mutated form of Shadow Magic. As are you, I'm sure."

"Are you sure you're not going too fast?" Father suddenly interjected.

"Have you not been seeing the brilliance of your own son before you?" Great Grandpa Lich quickly spat, turning to his grandson. "I see intellect and understanding hidden in those eyes. He may be fooling you, Son. But I have yet to witness a moment of confusion or misconception since I arrived. He's understood everything that's been explained to him thus far. For example." He turned quickly back to me with a wicked grin spread across his face. "Amun, can you tell me what it is you felt when we first met?"

I stayed silent for a moment before answering, not to make it appear as if I were trying to appear puzzled; that ship had long since sailed, but because I struggled to find the right words. "Our mana had the same type of energy. Death Magic."

"Case in point." Grandpa grinned. Just before mother stepped forth.

Grandpa Lich resumed his lesson without pause. "Now, Amun. If I'm to teach you, you have to remain candid with me at all times. You may lie to others about your abilities- To the Emperor or even your Father, I don't care. But never to me. Understand?"

His words caught a sharp glare from my father and an amusing chuckle from my mother. Truthfully, I didn't really feel the need to not tell them; nor did I feel the need to ever disclose it for shits and giggles. The chances of them even understanding the concepts of my dormant affinities were hilariously slim, after all, so the question never even crossed my mind. Regardless, I nodded my affirmations so that he could continue.

"Good." He smiled with a resolute nod. "Now, as I was saying. Our Sorcery comes in many lesser forms, ranging from poison to ink. In the higher forms, on the other hand, there are three tiers to our power. The lowest is the darkness, which is what your father has. I am in possession of its evolved form- Death Magic. But from what I feel within you, you have something far greater than each of those affinities combined. Something far more ominous than even death. I see within you, Amun, a core as dark as the abyss itself. So tell me what it is."

"It is Void Magic," I replied simply.

"Void magic?" My father recoiled in shock.

Grandpa instead quickly stood tall and looked to the sky with his hand on his chin while muttering to himself. "If death magic kills whatever it touches, void magic reduces it to nothingness. Erases it completely from existence. Even the spirit. Amazing!" He let out an amazed; or despairing chuckle before looking back to me with newfound vigor. "I will teach you everything I know about shadow magic; and everything I'm currently able to about death magic. And in time, I'll attempt to train you in this void magic."

'Yeah, right!' I laughed internally. 'How, if this is the first time you've ever seen it? You probably just want to study my magic, old man.'

"You can read of the specifics later." He continued. "I'll give you a basic explanation of everything beforehand, and then we'll begin our hands-on lessons." He then said, moving away from my parents to the other side of the platform. "Mana manipulation, and Elemental magic. I'm sure you can feel it all around you. The dense energy, much like water or ice, swirling among us? Close your eyes and feel for it."

"I feel it." I quickly replied, invoking another sly grin from my mother and a shocked glanced from my father.

"That is what we call mana." Grandpa continued without pause. "There are three things you must know regarding mana and how it interacts with your body. Mana Wells. Mana Pores. And Mana Tolerance.

"That glowing 'heart' within yourself is known as your Mana Well. A spiritual organ that automatically stockpiles and condenses mana inside your body. This size of your well is determined at birth and can only be expanded via various items or more… drastic measures.

"Mana Pores on the other hand." He continued after a short but awkward pause. "Are analogous to the rate at which mana seeps into your Well. Your rate of mana recovery, in other words. And lastly, Mana Tolerance is representative of the intensity of ambient mana you're able to dwell in comfortably. Here in the Deapou Empire, the ambient levels are moderately high; as the Gates lie just beyond the Calgera Sea to the west.

"These three things are at the center of magic for us humans." Grandpa declared. "They are what allows us to manipulate mana and the elements. And through understanding those fundamentals, oneself and the nature of their affinities; one can become a great mage. With weapons, armor, potions, and enchantments one could gain an edge over their peers. But only with determination, courage, and sacrifice can you rise to the top. Understand?"

"Yes!" I resolutely nodded. "I understand."

"Good." He grunted. "Now, as I've said. All humans possess the ability to use mana to manipulate the elements. But the aptitude an individual has for any particular element varies. Many who are smarter than I believe it's dependent on your personality. That said, I think air or water would be a good fit for you, Amun. Try using the surrounding mana to do what I do."

At his words, he held out the palm of his hand and after a moment, mana began to be pulled from around him and into his hand, seemingly dragging the air into a small vortex along with it.

"Reach out with your mind and grab hold of the mana like it were an extension of your limbs." He somewhat loudly instructed over the softly whistling wind. "Visualize the effect you wish to make and use the mana to bend and twist the elements to your desired form."

Following his directions, I focused on first the ambient energy swarming around the environment before dragging it to my palm with my mind. Spinning it clockwise as it came into my hand. At that point, the mana subtly surged towards the center of my palm, dragging a small portion of air along with it that sent a small breeze through my fingers.

"Not bad for a first try." Father nodded slowly as if he were impressed.

Grandpa on the other hand, only grunted as if he were disappointed before walking off. "Keep practicing until you get it right." He waved behind his back. "I'll check on you come sundown."

With that, my father gave me a reassuring smile and told me good job before trotting off behind him. Leaving my mother and I to stand under the peaceful silence of the light of the moon.

<<We are elves, Amun.>> She said slowly after a few moments. A wise gleam shining in her eyes as she looked skyward. <<Our connection is with mana, not nature. You will get your breakthrough in time. Be patient.>>

Ah.

<<Yes, Mother.>> I nodded. <<Thank you.>>