Master Amorlens walked the four apprentices through the Focusing exercise again, ensuring that each could maintain their concentration as the magic coursed through them. Galethoran still couldn’t sense more than pride, apprehension, and guilt in the magic, though only one of the other apprentices could sense anything other than pride – anxiety.

She was also the daughter of a mage, and while she had been the last to master Focusing, she readily began to sense other emotions in the magic. She had fine, black hair and the fair skin typical of the Lythrain; Galethoran would have called her beautiful if she hadn’t been competition. She was Aludren Starsong.

Galethoran railed that Aludren was succeeding where he was failing; and feared that with her progress she would surpass him and take his place as head of the class. He was determined not to let that happen.

The other apprentices were Talithor Wolfheart, a half-Kin boy known to have a love for adventure; and Leirian Nightleaf, a mischievous son of a weapon crafter.

“We’re going to try something new today,” Master Amorlens announced, “A small defensive cantrip, useful against a variety of minor Conjurations.

“As described in Ainion’s Concepts, the emotions you sense within magic can be woven together into spells. The combination of the emotions used and the pattern of how you weave them together determines the effect of the spell. Focus now and twist pride around itself, this will create a small shield in the shape you form the weave into.”

Galethoran’s excitement grew as Master Amorlens explained the exercise, and eagerly wove pride into the shield as explained. He then released the shield and repeated the exercise several times while waiting for the other apprentices. After the exercise became repetitive, Galethoran began working to change the shape of the shield.

This exercise continued for three days before the other three apprentices were successfully able to cast the shield. It was ironic to Galethoran that Aludren was the last to successfully cast the spell; she was far from the top of the class.

“You can sense anxiety,” Master Amorlens had explained to her, “that means you’ll feel it as well. You will be anxious when you’re Focusing, which is a dangerous emotion to lose control of – it interferes with your concentration and makes casting difficult.”

The desks were removed the next morning and Master Amorlens stood in the center of the room.

“Stand apart from each other,” Master Amorlens instructed, “And prepare to defend yourselves.”

Master Amorlens Focused through a gemstone in a ring he was wearing and conjured a ball of light over his upturned palm.

“It’s a harmless ball,” Master Amorlens explained, “But it will shock if it hits you; your job is to defend yourselves.

“You will not Focus until I throw the ball at you; you will then Focus and conjure the shield we learned before the ball hits you. Fail, and the ball will shock you.”

With no other explanation, the balls came flying.

Galethoran and Aludren Focused at the same time, but Galethoran’s shield appeared before Aludren’s. Master Amorlens’s attack, however, struck at Talithor. Feeling Galethoran and Aludren Focus, Talithor lost his concentration; the ball struck him square in the chest.

“AHHH!” Talithor cried, screaming at the shock of pain that spread through his torso.

Aludren gasped and Leirian burst with laughter; distracted, neither of them saw the next attacks coming. In quick succession, Master Amorlens threw two balls at Aludren; the first struck against the shield that she had not yet released – destroying it. Aludren had no defense against the second, but she shifted with a dancer’s grace to evade it; instead of hitting her square in the chest as it had to Talithor, it grazed her arm – causing her to grunt with the shock.

Leirian was the next victim. His laughter was cut short as he realized that Master Amorlens was not going to slow the exercise as people took hits, but as the ball flew toward him he was not able to conjure his shield quickly enough. He tried to dodge as Aludren had at the last second, though without her grace he was still struck on the shoulder.

Galethoran was ready. He had released his first shield and his Focus when he saw the first attack thrown at Talithor; they were a panicked reaction and a violation of the rules that Master Amorlens had given. Master Amorlens attacked, and Galethoran Focused and snapped a shield up to block the attack. Two more came in quick succession, as they had at Aludren – Galethoran conjured shields for both. Master Amorlens turned with the next attack firing it back across the room at Talithor again.

Talithor Focused and blocked the attack as Galethoran released his Focus and breathed a sigh of relief at having blocked the attacks. He was punished for his complacency however, as Master Amorlens sent a ball behind him at Galethoran with no more movement than a flick of his wrist. The unexpected attack slid along the ground as Galethoran Focused and snapped up a shield. He was too slow moving the shield however, and the ball struck his ankle; his leg convulsed with pain and Galethoran fell to the floor.

At the sound of Galethoran falling to the floor, Master Amorlens suddenly stopped his barrage and spoke loudly and clearly to his students saying “Hold and release your Foci. There is a lesson to be taught. Galethoran Roseblood, why are you currently on the floor?”

“Because my defenses were not in place fast enough, Master,” Galethoran said, somewhat bitterly.

“Incorrect,” Master Amorlens said while wagging his finger back and forth to his students. “Your shield was up, therefore the attack should have been blocked. Think, boy. Why did your shield miss my attack?”

“Because…” Galethoran paused as he realized his mistake. “Because I didn’t move it down to where the attack was coming from, Master.”

“That is both correct and incorrect. You conjured a shield that was plenty strong enough to rebuff my attack, but it missed the block due to being in the wrong location. Let this be the lesson you should all learn,” Master Amorlens said, turning his attention to the entire class. “Spells have no pre-determined location; there is no need to conjure a shield at the same level as your chest. That is a major mistake made by many novice Lythrain and many masters among the Kin. It is far simpler to summon your shield where it is needed than to move a shield into the path of an oncoming attack. That is the key to using magic wisely: knowing not only which spell to cast, but where to cast it to get the most out of the spell itself. Now, let us return to the exercise while keeping this in mind.”

The attacks came slower, after the initial barrage; though Master Amorlens no longer shifted as he threw the balls. Instead, he remained completely still in the center of the circle, giving no physical indication who he intended to attack next. Each apprentice followed the rules precisely – releasing their Focus in between attacks and only renewing it when an attack was directed at them – and still found they were able to block the majority of the attacks directed at them.

Galethoran was still limping when he returned home that night. Salectra and Lidoria were sparring in the yard in padded leathers.

“Hold Salectra!” Lidoria called as Galethoran approached the yard.

Salectra lowered her staff and shield and gaped and Galethoran’s slow limp.

“GALE!?” Salectra exclaimed, “What happened to you?”

“We practiced Protection shields today,” Galethoran explained, “I missed a few…”

“Oh, Gale,” Lidoria replied, “Come here, let me Heal you.”

“No, it’s alright,” Galethoran said, “I haven’t been hit since morning, it hardly hurts anymore. Besides, Aludren took twice as many hits as I did!”

“Aludren Starsong?” Lidoria asked, “Why is it good that such a sweet young girl got hit more than you?”

“She’s becoming quite the little rival of our Gale, mother,” Salectra explained, “She’s been able to feel anxiety and he has not, so it has been bothering him for several nights.”

“I see…” Lidoria replied, “So he’s developing his father’s competitive nature.”

“Developing?” Salectra said, “You’ve been on too many night patrols, mother.”

Salectra chuckled at her own joke as she retrieved her staff and shield.

Despite his denial of the offer, Lidoria Focused and cast a spell to wash away Galethoran’s pain before returning to her training blades.