Aklu, Teacher from Shezum

Only a few days later, a simple carriage with engraved leaf designs common to Shezum arrived at the castle. Out stepped a middle-aged woman with light brown hair and a girl around twelve years of age who looked like a younger version of the woman. The girl sat in a chair with wheels on it.

Inside the throne room, Zentik and Lonek sat as the pair walked inside and bowed.

"Stand," Lonek said. The pair did so. "Are you Aklu?"

"Yes, Your Majesty," the woman - Aklu - said.

"Who is the young one?"

"My daughter. Steri. She is here because there is nobody to care for her at home while I am gone."

Lonek nodded.

"Prince Veiris recommended you to me, and a healer in this castle said you are good at your job. When can you begin?"

"Anytime, Your Majesty."

"Good." Lonek turned to Zentik. "Tomorrow morning?"

"Sure," Zentik said, shrugging.

Lonek faced Aklu and Steri.

"You begin tomorrow morning. Three days a week. A servant will show you to your rooms."

----

The next morning, Zentik and Aklu met in the guard training room. The entire guard had been instructed to practice in the courtyard on days Zentik was learning, so it was empty besides the two of them and Lonek (who was there to assess Aklu's skills). Steri was being watched by the castle nannies, who were excited to not have to care for the nobles' spoiled children for once.

"You want to learn how to use magic as the hand you can't use," Aklu began.

"How am I supposed to do that if I don't know what magic I have? And what if I don't have enough magic?"

"Magic is really just achi. It is a universal energy. If you harness it correctly, magic will become second nature."

"And how am I supposed to harness it correctly if I can't even bend my fingers?"

"You become one with your magic. So, the first lesson is simple. We're gonna find out your magic."

Aklu began by showing Zentik some basic Shezen magic movements.

"The branch-hand is very common, but you can't use it. How far can you bend your fingers?"

Zentik's fingers barely bent.

"That's okay, Your Highness. Bend them as far as you can, and it should be fine."

Zentik nodded.

"Now, close your eyes and wait while holding out your hands. You'll feel something bubble in your stomach area. That's not hunger - you just ate. When that happens, imagine the same feeling travelling from your stomach, through your heart, and to your hands."

Zentik waited.

And waited.

And waited.

Then he felt the bubble. It was different from a hungry growl or a stomachache. It felt like someone was blowing through a straw into a drink, but the drink was his stomach. The bubble was cold like a winter night.

He remembered all he knew about achi. Achi is like blood and flows through the body.

He imagined the bubble of achi flowing up through his heart the same way blood did. He then imagined the bubble splitting in two and going to his shoulders, then his upper arms, then his elbows, then his lower arms, then his hands.

Ice shot in front of him, landing in two spikes in the ground.

The same magic Princess Zoneen described.

Zentik looked at Lonek, eyes wide. Lonek - knowing what Zentik was thinking - nodded, arms still crossed and face still emotionless.

But the nod told Zentik all he needed to know. Lonek knew the magic Klal used was Bhin's.

"Ice magic," Aklu said, breaking the short silence. She ran a hand along an ice spike. "Sharp like a blade, but can be melted to soften."

Aklu smiled at Zentik.

"I know which move you must learn first."

She demonstrated holding the hand to the side and flicking the wrist.

"Imagine you're holding a sword," she said when Zentik failed to get the right movement.

Zentik did so, and a band of ice wrapped around his wrist. Two bar-like bits of ice extended from it and swirled around Zentik's hand. They met just past his fingertips and created an ice spike.

In the corner of Zentik's eye, Lonek had a small smile. He was proud of Zentik.

"It's very basic, but this is your first time," Aklu said. "Your hands will make it more difficult, but as long as you flick the wrist just right, it should be fine."

After a few more tries, Zentik could create the sword without imagining every step the zhachi took to reach his fingertips.

"Practice this as much as you can. Even if you forget the more complicated moves, this one will always be one you can trust."

Lonek stepped forward.

"Should you train three days in a row, or train every other day for three days?" he asked.

"I'll do every day while I get the basics down," Zentik said.

"Okay. Consider day one of training over, then. Aklu, you are dismissed."

Aklu bowed and left the room.

"She's good with the basics of magic, but she doesn't have fighting experience. It's smart to focus on the basics with a beginner, but any magic user still needs to find someone to spar with."

Zentik nodded.

"I mean you need to start sparring right now."

"That'd be smart."

"Zentik."

"Wha- Oh."

Lonek was pointing to one of the sparring areas. A square floor made of soft wood from Shezon, surrounded by a fence holding flexible cords made of thin strands of the same wood.

"You can only control snow though," Zentik said, following Lonek to the other side of the training room.

A snowball that came out of nowhere hit Zentik in the face. He shook his head to clear his eyes, but a mustache and thick eyebrows made of snow were left behind.

"Your ice will basically be a sword," Lonek said when Zentik met him by the largest sparring square.

"I'm not half as talented as you."

Lonek brushed the rest of the snow from Zentik's face.

"You'll be fine."

Lonek opened the gate, and the pair entered the square.

Zentik created an ice-sword.

"Remember sword training? Follow those moves," Lonek advised as he went to the sword wall.

As was tradition in Shezul, all royal and noble boys had to be trained with swords from a young age. When they turned fifteen, they were allowed to choose if they would continue or not.

Lonek turned fifteen two years before Zentik, and he had chosen to continue. He soon became one of the best swordsmen in Shezen history. Zentik could never live up to those standards, so when he turned fifteen, he chose to study the art of leading wars to aid his brother in the future. He hoped to never use a sword again in his life.

Well, the blizzard made that wish somewhat true.

Lonek had finished switching his regular sword for a wooden one, and jumped back into the square.

"Ready?" he asked.

Zentik nodded.

Lonek began, lunging forward in a sideways cut. Zentik stepped back while holding up his ice-sword to block. While Lonek was off-balance, Zentik used his ice-sword to cut at Lonek's hand in an attempt to disarm him.

Lonek predicted this.

Moving his hand away while simultaneously stabbing forwards to Zentik. Zentik was hit on his right shoulder, and the ice-sword melted in his hand.

Zentik took quick steps back and fell on his butt as he attempted to create another ice-sword. Lonek didn't pause. Right as he brought down his sword, Zentik lifted his left arm. An ice-sword formed around Lonek's sword.

Using this new advantage, Zentik threw his hand to the side, causing Lonek to fall and lose grip on his sword.

"Yield?" Zentik asked.

"Yeah, sure," Lonek said, standing. He grabbed Zentik's outstretched arm and helped him stand.

Zentik let his ice-sword melt. Lonek picked up the wooden sword and spoke as he spun it in his hand to shake the water off:

"I'd practice that ice-sword capture trick. It catches people off guard and can pretty quickly disarm them. You could even apply it to everyday things. Use it to open a door."

Zentik nodded as Lonek patted his shoulder.

"You could've been a great swordsman if you didn't quit."

"I'd rather plan the fights than go into them."

"I get that." Lonek shrugged. "Do what you feel is best for yourself. I'll only stop you if I feel like you're being dumb."

"That's good."