With Jack having to learn the basics of magic from a children's book. He asks Niora a quite obvious question and one he feel he should have asked before reading twelve of them "Niora, how exactly does reading The Boy from the Town that Won't Frown help in doing magic?" "Reading helps you visualize things in your mind better, the clearer the vision the better the magic"
"I thought magic came from the soul?" "Who told you that? For years magic has been about visualization in the mind. It would take a rough few decades to come up with magic from the soul!" "So it still can be done?" "Well yes but it's hard, it's better to just imagine what you want and focus your energy there, elite mages do it all the time" Jack thought back to what the old man said and it seems there was more than one way to do magic "I think I've read enough, teach me how to do magic" "You're impatient, you haven't even read my favorite book yet!" "Niora please, I think you'll be suprised by how fast I learn" Niora scoffed as she approaches Jack "Ok, close your eyes and put your hands out" "Ok?" "Good now imagine making a ball of light. Not fire ok? Light"
Jack concentrates on what light looks like, what it feels like "It's bright..." "Yes~" "It's round and you can't grab it" "Keep going" Jack thinks harder as he tries to envision light "You're being too literal Jack, you know what light is but what do you see?" "What do I see?" Jack delves deep into his memories looking for it "Its warm, and yellow I guess. Its bright and can blind you. In the night- it's beautiful"
"Jack! Jack open your eyes!"
Jack slowly opens his eyes to bright shining sphere of light floating atop his hand "I did it! Look Niora I did it! It's light!" "Yes! That's great! Now time for the real deal" with no time to react Niora puts out Jack's light "Hey! What was that for?" Niora then looks back and starts to drag Jack out of the kids section and up the stairs again "Where are we going?" "The 4th floor, where you will have some real fun" Jack was terrified at Niora's wide grin but ready soon he starts to walk on his own up the stairs and when they reached the 4th floor they are greeted by a big wooden door "Not gonna lie you surprised me indeed back there, so as a reward I will show you the place where every kid in town goes to study magic." Niora gets out what looks to be a wand and waves it at the door as she chants "Mystical Door a student of Magic has arrived open Gates of Wonder"
Jack steps back as the huge door opens to a hallway just as grand as the entrance. With a luminous chandelier on the roof and two winding staircases surrounding a stage with an old man standing with a staff "Welcome one and all to Cecils School Of Mages! Let us bring pride and honor to our home town!" Within one moment Jack instantly recognized that voice so he call out to him "Old Man! It's me!" The old man taking notice he vanishes from the stage to reappear infront of Jack directly, Jack trips back surprised by the old man's sudden appearance. "Woah! haha cool-" as Jack looks up at the old man he looks closer and he found a tall lanky silhouette that stood over him. Jack nearly frozen in fear could barely stand, the man's eyes were not as he saw before. These eyes were cold and unnerving. What seemed like a minute was but a moment as a voice from behind him suddenly rises
"Thats enough! I will not have this brother!" Jack looks behind him to see the same old man in his cloak, confused he starts to ask the man behind him "Who is this guy!?" "Forgive me my boy this is my brother a little stern and scary but he means well, his name is Loon Halbert" "I'm sorry my child, I didn't mean to scare you" Jack looks up at the big scary man and is met with a chilling smile, meant to be endearing. He thinks twice about what he wants to say but he could feel that the man was not a threat, although he was terrifying
"It's alright sir, I know you didn't mean to" Loon helps up the young boy as he introduces his brother "Well since you know me, I must introduce my brother. This is Ulrich Halbert the Sage of The Town of Cecil and one of the Oldest living Greats since the 4th generation" Jack never knew the person he walked with was so important but his impression of the man didn't change. To Jack he was still the same sweet old man who helped him. "It's an honor-" "Please raise your head, I don't want the young boy I helped to bow his head to an old fool like me. Its ridiculous" Jack chuckled as he raised his head "You! Loon! What did I say of using that flash indoors without practice brother?" "Yes yes, but we have more pressing matters. Like the opening ceremony?" Ulrich looks at the hundreds of students and pouts "Using students as an excuse doesn't suit your age brother" "Yeah well, it's true" With the situation getting confusing Ulrich finishes the opening ceremony and goes to Jack "My boy, come. Walk with me" "Ok, sure"
As Ulrich and Jack roam the hallways, he asks "So, what are you doing here?" "Well I'm here to learn, basically" Ulrich frowned a little as he was hoping for more of an answer "Well whatever you're here to learn, as long as you work hard you will achieve your goals easily" Ulrich and Jack stop at the door to his classroom "I guess this is where we part for now, good luck Jack just head in there and let the teacher take care of the rest" Ulrich then vanishes behind Jack "Hey wait, I don't think I told you my nam- ???" and by the time he turned around he was gone without a trace.
Jack grabs the doors handle and steps into class with a single thought in mind "If there is a way home I'll find it, no matter how much time I spend I will make it back. I hope..."