5 Ch 5- Lanterns?

Wittorf is sitting up in his bed, legs crossed and eyes closed meditating. Deep breaths in and exhales out as he focuses on his center. Drip, drip, drip. Wittorf is suddenly made aware of his surroundings as a knock is heard from his door. He turns his head to see who it is and Loat pops his head in.

"Hey Wittorf, I was wondering if you wanted to practice together?"

"Sure I was just meditating."

Loat pulls out his sword and Wittorf looks at it confused. He had never seen a mage with a sword before. He figured it was about time to get to the bottom of it. The curiosity was killing him.

"What's with the sword?"

"I want to be a spell-sword one day."

"Spell-sword?"

Loat raises his sword in triumph "A person who can use magic and a sword gracefully." He swings the sword. "I want to stand out when I apply for the elite mage society."

Wittorf has a light bulb moment. "Oh, you're trying to get into the military mage division."

Loat smiles and rubs the back of his head. "My brother is the captain and I figured I would join him when my day comes."

"Sounds like a plan."

Both the boys begin to meditate. Wittorf was glad that he was not doing this alone anymore. While he was not having any trouble meditating it was always nice to have a friend nearby to motivate each other. Wittorf returns to his cross legged position and Loat holds his sword out in front of him as squints at the blade focusing on the center of it.

"Let's spend this week practicing together." Wittorf nod and smiles before opening an eye to look at Loat, Loat looks back and they laugh together. Wittorf closes his eye and takes a deep breath in. his center returns and the dripping begins moments later he feels a sharp jolt of pain and opens his eyes to find he is shaking his leg. What was that? Was the movement interrupting his flow? He needed to get that under control or he could seriously hurt himself. Or worse, fall behind!

The students are in class in their normal assigned seats Kai and Sai are in the back row. Diel and Sedian in front of them and Caiman by himself in the third row and in the front row is Loat and Wittorf. Steel is standing at the front of the class scanning the room. His eyes bore into each student as if he were looking straight through them. "Yesterday we learned about meditation, today we will be studying mana manipulation." Wittorf begins to shake in his chair as he gets excited hearing the news. A zapping sound could be heard coming from Steels finger. He knew what this meant but he could not dodge it in time. He was about to taste the ball of electricity from Steel again.

Steel has his hand pointed like a gun directly towards Wittorfs head a little smoke coming off the tip. What did I say Wittorf!"

Wittorf rubs his head. "Sorry teacher."

Steel pulls out an unlit lantern and begins to focus energy into it as it lights up. Wittorf looks surprised and can't wait to try it out himself. Day two and he will be casting spells! "This is the first step. Light a magic lantern. Start small and work your way up to something bright."

Loat raises his hand. He was confused at the vague command "Any tips aside from just imagination?"

Steel looks at him and puts his hand towards his stomach and slowly raises it to his arm until he is touching the lantern again. "Take that dripping feeling in your center and guide it to your hand."

Loat nods his head that was great advice simple and clean. Steel begins to head for the door. He scans the room before exiting "I will return with more lanterns."

Caiman laughs. As only an annoying stuck up nobleman's son could. "If none of you can do a simple task like light a lantern then you are pathetic."

Kai retorts back. She was starting to get tired of Caimans comments "Just because you're royalty and get training earlier than us doesn't make you better."

Caiman smirks. He knew better, as far as he was concerned he was the only important person in this room the only person who could compare to him was perhaps Sedian but even then he was a minor noble nothing to write home about. "It does and I can prove it." He points to Wittorf. "I doubt that orphan can muster anything close to passing before the end of the week." With a matter of a fact look he continues. "A sewer rat cannot compare to noble blood."

Loat boots in. He had finally had it and was ready to voice his opinion "I bet he'll master it and create a light brighter than yours in a week easily."

Wittorf tries to stop Loat but Caiman butts in. This was getting dangerous and Wittorf wished he could of said something sooner.

"Very well Wittorf, bring it on, if you really have what it takes I will gladly accept your challenge." A ball of energy floats in front of Wittorf and he looks at it confused. This was never a good sign and he figured he knew what was coming next. The ball begins to ark lightning before hitting everyone in the classroom. Wittorf lets out a cough as smoke comes out of it.

Steel laughs as he enters the room again holding lanterns. His laugh was a little sinister as he made his way to the front. Lanterns pouring out of his arms and onto the desk. "I'm glad you're all taking this serious but class hasn't ended yet." He slams his fist on the desk. "So everyone shut up!" The class all run to their seats and sits in them quietly. Caiman smirks as he leans back in his seat.