Practice

I sat down, and formed another water bubble. Maintaining it as Savannah tried to distract me in various ways.

New skill. Mana control level 1.

It got easier to maintain the bubble all of a sudden. The way the system learned things with me sped up my ability to learn new skills. We practiced another few hours. Me trying to maintain a perfect ball of water. Savannah trying to break my concentration.

"How long until I can hide my mana?" I asked Savannah.

"Well right now you've got just the beginning glimpses of control," Savannah patted my back, "You should stop having as many random bursts of magic. As you get a better feel for your mana you'll be able to separate your emotional reactions from your mana's reactions. That's the goal right now."

"That's a start," I stood up, "I don't know about you, but I'm starving."

I left the dorm. Ethan emerged from his room to follow me. Savannah followed along as well. I didn't really care if she came anymore. The only two things I wanted was sleep, and food.

I needed to eat before sleeping. I grabbed as much meaty food as they would let me, and sat down at an empty table. Ethan, and Savannah sat down at the table with me. Ethan tensely, and quietly ate his food while staring down at it. Savannah watched me carefully as if she wanted to ask a question.

I ignored them both as I stuffed down all of my food.

"You eat a lot for a guy your size," Savannah looked at me funny as she picked delicately at her salad.

"Can't help that I'm hungry," I yawned slowly.

I didn't have much left on my plate so I would be headed to bed soon.

Mana absorption level up. Mana absorption now level 4.

"I'm going to bed after this," I could feel the weight of my exhaustion was getting to me.

"It's only six thirty," Savannah sounded upset, "We should really be practicing some more."

"I can't," I finished off the last few bites, "I won't be able to stay awake much longer. Even if I tried."

"Your control needs a lot of work before rift city," Savannah clearly didn't like that I was choosing to go to bed, "After today we only have four more days to get you ready, and with how your control is now you'll be found out on day one."

"I'll be ready," I tossed my fork on my empty plate as I stood up, "I'm a fast learner."

5 xp awarded. 10/800 xp until level 8.

"You won't be ready," Savannah frowned at me, "Not in four days."

I picked up my plate, and walked around the table slowly. Leaning down to whisper in her ear.

"I've had magic a little over a month," I whispered, "I wasn't compatible with any abilities, but this I have a real knack for."

I left it at that, and crossed the room quickly. Dropping my tray in the bin to be washed as I turned to go back to the dorm room. My system made it really easy for me to learn things even though the system itself didn't know everything it was supposed to. I was going to be practicing mana control every chance I got when I wasn't half asleep. Since I was forcing myself to stay awake until dinner I had time.

I walked straight to the dorm, and into my room. Only stopping to close the doors. Off the clothes came, and back into my true form I went. Stretching my wings slowly as I arched my back before curling up on the bed, and going to sleep. It didn't matter if Savannah wanted to talk to me some more.

It didn't matter if Savannah wanted me to practice more. I couldn't stay awake that long because I was a hatchling. As frustrating as that was I didn't have a choice in the matter. It was what my body required. Once I ranked up that would hopefully change at least a little, but for now I couldn't do much about it.

My anger was getting more manageable. I could hold it in way better than the level before. I still got angry way to easily, but I didn't punch Savannah when she was distracting me so I was getting somewhere. I woke with a start growling as the alarm went off. I jumped out of bed, and stretched leisurely.

I switched forms quickly, and grabbed my dirty clothes. Throwing them into the bin for cleaning as I pulled out the fresh ones. I dressed quickly, and rushed out of my door into the common area. I had a feeling Savannah was an early riser. If I was right then she would be at the door already.

"How long were you planning on sleeping?" Savannah was leaned up against the wall right outside the dorm room, "I had time to take a shower, get dressed and run three laps."

"And I had time to sleep for an extra hour," I stepped back.

Letting her into the room. I went to the desk, and pulled out the chair to sit down. Savannah closed the door as she walked into the room.

"Start where we left off yesterday," Savannah crossed her arms.

I did as I was told. I was able to maintain the water bubble pretty easily now.

"Alright," Savannah stopped trying to distract me for a minute, "Try to make an X."

I did as I was told. Savannah put more effort into distracting me. Pushing, and bumping me into loosing enough concentration for the X to burst. Forcing me to start from the beginning again, but I was starting to grasp the feeling of my mana leaving my body.

Mana control level up. Mana control now level 2.

I almost smiled, but that would be breaking my normally blank expression. I couldn't do that for her. Breaking my normally blank expression wasn't something I was willing to do for her.

"We've got to get to class," I stopped practicing, and stood up.