The first thing that Xavier noted was the tone of the writer of this book. It was a precise clipped thing. Accurate in the extreme. It detailed how the only way to get the spacial stars to move was to be perfectly precise. You had to hit the star in exactly the right spot at exactly the right angle with exactly the right force to move it. And it had to be done in one go. You had to move the star into position in one shot or it would simply bounce back.
Xavier read through all the notes this person had about constructing a star path. At last, he was ready to try again. He sank back into his spiritual world and ran his figurative hands all over the star searching for the right spot. Finally, he found a spot that felt different. Taking a deep breath, he calculated the angle he'd have to try from to move it to its position.
Gathering his strength, he gave it a shove. The star shot forward towards its position slowing as it got closer. Soon the star lost all its momentum just a little short of being in place. Xavier sighed. At least it wasn't all bad, it hadn't shot back like the book said. Maybe it was just that guy's experience. No sooner had he finished this thought than the star came rocketing back. It slammed into his spiritual conscience and jolted him out of meditation.
Xavier came to in front of his parents and began to cough rigorously. He put his hand up to cover his mouth and when he took it away, he found several flecks of blood on his hand.
Xavier's father was shocked. "That's a hell of a recoil. The stars of other elements usually aren't so unforgiving."
Xavier shook his head to the water his mother offered him. "Precision seems to be pretty big in spacial magic. Seems like if you can't do it perfectly it'll rebound on you. I'll keep working on it now."
Xavier was ready to close his eyes again when his father interrupted. "Are you sure you don't want to rest first? You don't have to be in such a rush."
Xavier shook his head. "Magic is the thing I want most in this world. If I let it defeat me now, I'll never have great attainments in it." He closed his eyes and once more fell into his spiritual world.
He began to try to place the first star. Again and again, he tried. Finally, during the fourth time he was able to put the star in place. Xavier was elated. Before he lost focus, he began to work on the second star.
He was successful all the way until the fourth star. Just as he was about to line it up the other three stars began to slide out of position. Xavier was shaken out of his spiritual world and once more coughed up blood. This time there was a small puddle of it filling his hand.
He looked up to find that the sky was completely dark. His parents were both gone. Xavier turned to the house and saw a light on in the foyer. Straightening his stiff legs, he got up and went inside.
He found his mother and father in foyer reading. They looked up as soon as Xavier walked in. His father spoke, "We decided it was best not to disturb you. How did it go? Were you able to line up any of the stars?"
Xavier nodded. "I got to the fourth star but then the others began to move out of position. Do you know why that is?"
His mother nodded. "You took too long. Putting the stars in place is kind of like sitting grasshoppers on hot concrete. They may stay there awhile to warm up but eventually they'll feel uncomfortable and jump away. If you want to complete the spell you'll have to place all your stars in place before they begin to move."
Xavier sighed with exasperation. His father had been right. Magic really wasn't as easy as he thought it would be. His father smirked at him, "Go to bed now Xavier. Start again tomorrow after you've rested."
Xavier nodded and went upstairs to his bedroom. He lay awake staring at the ceiling as he considered the challenges being presented by his magic. The first three stars were mastered. Now he just had to get the last four. Unable to sleep Xavier stayed up late into the night meditating. It was only after three a.m. that he was finally able to fall asleep.
---
That next day Xavier groggily got up. He was excited that last night he had gotten all seven stars into place. He was able to move his nightstand from its original position to the end of his bed and back. He had been so exhilarated that he had done it nearly a hundred times until he had depleted his spacial element's energy.
Xavier rushed down into the dinning room to meet his parents who were finishing breakfast. They looked up as he came in. his mother arched her eyebrow at him, "You are late. Clearly you didn't want breakfast. You can go without it this morning."
Xavier found his enthusiasm deflating. This wasn't the reaction he was looking forward to this morning. Hoping to turn the situation around he decided he would tell them about his success last night. "I was unable to wake up early this morning because I was tired from staying up and practicing."
His father looked up and frowned. "You shouldn't push yourself so much. Your already well ahead by awakening so early. It's not worth potentially injuring yourself just to get a little farther ahead. Making one more star take place isn't that much of an advancement anyway."
Xavier smiled mischievously. "I think completing the star path is a little more than a small advancement."
His father started and stared at Xavier. "You're kidding? You actually completed the star path?"
Xavier nodded happily. "Yes, I did. Then I practiced until I ran out of energy."
His mother frowned. "That's too much Xavier. You shouldn't practice to the point of exhaustion. It's not good for you."
His father sighed. "Your mother is right. I'm proud of you for what you've accomplished Xavier but you should slow down a bit."
Xavier was stunned. It seemed his plan to get out of trouble hadn't worked at all.