The Nature of Magic

"Well then, let us begin..." said the dwarf before a group of children and their instructors. "Lets start by simple things! What you think Magic is? No need to hold back." said Bhurk to his new human students.

"Would it be the ability to make supernatural things?" (Sophy)

"No, you can make natural and supernatural things with magic, I dont remember fire being a supernatural thing, all you need is the right tools and it can be produced, the same is true to magic. Anyone else?" (Bhurk)

"Would it be being able to use mana which is the 'tool' for magic?" (Alex)

"Partially true, but the true nature of magic is not the capability of wielding a tool, even trees can affect the natural mana around them, it is something deeper, which not all being have but all those who have share the same key to understanding magic. Anyone else?" (Bhurke)

"If I had to guess, would it be the 'hands' which wield the 'tool' that is mana? After all even gravity itself can fell a tree, but it takes a hand to wield the axe to cut it down when you desire." (Joseph)

"As expected of the teacher, it is that which i believe to be the Root and Origin of magic, the 'hands' which you train and perfect to be able to drive the power of the world, be it Mana or Spirit or the very laws of the universe, the Soul. It is something that has often been neglected or simply not discovered, but I Bhurke Avingad am the only one among my peers to discover such, it took many years of being unable to interact with the physical world but it showed me the power hidden inside all sentient life." said Bhurke with a prideful and passionate gaze.

"That what you all have been training with until now was how to wield the 'tool' of mana, what I am about to teach you is how to strenghten your 'hands' and how to use them to impact the world around you, not just mana... but beware, not taking due care can make you suffer horrible consequences, losing part of yourself if not all of you." (Bhurke)

After hearing such claims from the dwarven mage everyone of them became focused and expectant, if even without even knowing they had hands they were able to wield and have such results, what could they do after training with it in mind?

"Have a sit." after all being sited in the lotus position, he once again began to teach them "Make a ilusory image of yourself, draw it slowly, I will help you see such image clearly on this first time, but it usually takes a bit for it to grow clearer and stronger." Right after such they felt a external hand and light adorn their every mental brush and line drawn with a faint and clear light, and so they came to draw themselves from head to feet.

"Very good, now imagine yourself moving one arm and holding your palm towards me" he said while in the middle of the circle with now every hand directed towards the dwarf. "Now imagine that you send a slow and steady wave, tranquil but firm, imagine it coming out of yourself and flowing out of your hand towards me." as he said so, many waves came to his already prepared shield, absorving and measuring the strenght behind everyone of his students. "Very good, now start to draw your surroundings, with your eyes closed start to imagine the world around you, trust your instincts on this, make that which you feel more confortable with."

After many more exercises where he could first measure the talent and level of his students on power, detail, output, speed and sensibility he could start to make plans on how to help each one grow their strong points and how to avoid getting stuck on the development of their magical abilities.

"Very good, you all got a glimpse at Magic casted directly by the soul and I got to know eachone of you better, now all I will need is to learn your elemental and natural disposition of magic, there are many and diverse natures which you hold more compatibility with, we need to understand ourselves and who we are before the universe, usually your nature makes you close to a certain aspect of nature." (Bhurke)

"I will now have to prepare a chamber to test you all, it usually can be quite costly and troublesome to make such a chamber, fortunatelly for all of you I came upon a simpler method, it is less reliable but it can at the very least exclude some options, some spend quite a while to understand their own natural affinity, so never be discouraged and keep goinf after your own path." said him while departing to prepare the old and reliable elemental chamber, now with the addition of small elemental spirits that can draw out the potential of individuals with their nature.

+++++

"Big bro, what you think my element is?" (Brian)

"No clue... maybe air, because of your airheaded moments, or earth because of your denseness, but no matter what Lil Bro, I will be cheering you on." (Ralph)

"Thats so mean... why you got to make fun of Lil Brian so much? He, unlike you and Noah, is innocent and kind, even when you prank him so much he just acts like nothing happened and looks to do his best." (Laura)

"Yea, leave Lil Brian alone you lazy prankster!" (Anna)

Seeing this scene the two white haired kids started to talk with each other about their current especulations.

"Hmmm, I guess girls prefer the innocent and kind guys then?" said a amused Noah

"No, Big Brother is the type that girls like, always so reliable and secure" said Sophy in a whisper to his brother while glancing at Anna, something that did not go unnoticed by Noa, startling him for a bit.

"You always says such things, but I think you are overthinking it sis...." said Noah with a wry smile.

"Sure... you can believe whatever you want, just dont say I did not tell you latter" she said while giving a fake pout while showing her tongue in a cutelly manner.

"Hmmm I wonder what kind of natural affinity each one will get, I bet that Anna will be something like fiery thing, always hot headed, competitive and honest... while that Ralph guy i would say water, he always goes with the flow of things and knows how to be flexible, but I am most curious about you Big Brother, what would be your guess for yourself?" (Sophy)

"I've gotten no clue... I just hope it is useful and powerful, even if I dont like it I am sure I can use it... But there are some I dont know no matter how much I think about it, such as you sis and Laura, she is kinda vindictive so I hope nothing too dangerous I guess?" (Noah)

"Natural Affinities are something that can be changed overtime according to Master Bhurk, it depends on your perception of the world and of yourself... but thankfully the affinities you come to master do not lose themselves after since you have already achieved some understanding on them, but it would mean you have to always be aware how you are and reasses yourself so that you dont stagnate..." (Sophy)

"About that... I feel really weird latelly, no matter how much I stop and try and think what is wrong I can't wrap my head around what it is..." (Noah)

"Yes... I also started to have dreams at night... about the shelter and the Crazy Uncle... he seemed different and a bit evil in them, also I dont get how we were so calm after everything... Its very unsettling and weirds me out everytime I try and think deeply about it..." (Sophy)

"You know lil sis... Sometimes I wonder if you really are only 9 years old... Are you really not a old woman in a kids body?" said Noah with a mischievious smile.

"Maybe I am, but you still are my Big Brother! You have to protect and cherish me ok?!" said the little girl with a even more mischievious smile

"Sure, sure... Always Soph, always." (Noah)

And so this time of introspection started between the base's inhabitants trying to figure out their Natural Affinities and what they want to focus on with their magic.