"Dad, is this good?" I asked, holding up a tree branch I had just grabbed from the forest floor.
Antrodos looked over, his eyes twinkling. "Perfect. Now, instead of imagining it as a sword, I want you to make it longer and even in shape."
I nodded, determination welling inside me as I began to channel my mana into the tree branch. But something was off; the energy wasn't flowing the way I expected. My face must've shown my frustration because my father's comforting hand soon found my shoulder.
"Max," he said gently, "the beauty of Alteration spells is that you don't need to channel emotions or remember what drives you to do so. It's unlike other classes of magic."
I looked up at him, my eyes wide with confusion. "Then how, Dad?"
He smiled, his eyes filled with patience and wisdom. "You only need to imagine the shape, strength, and quality. Here, let me explain."
He held up three fingers. "First, imagine the tree branch becoming longer and even in shape. Second, imagine the strength of how solid it is; envision the spaces between the particles of the object. The tighter they are, the stronger. Lastly, imagine the quality. Is it wooden, or metallic like a sword? A metal would ring true when hit."
His words painted a vivid picture in my mind. I closed my eyes, focusing on the tree branch, envisioning its transformation.
When I opened my eyes, my breath caught in my throat. Before me was a long metallic staff, gleaming under the dappled sunlight filtering through the leaves.
I felt a surge of joy, and I couldn't help but exclaim, "I did it, Dad!"
But Antrodos wasn't done. "Give it a try, Max," he urged, his voice filled with pride.
I swung the metallic staff, feeling its weight and strength as it struck the nearby trees. The sound of metal rang through the forest, and each hit filled me with a sense of accomplishment.
My father's face swelled with pride, his eyes moist with emotion as he praised me. "You've done it, Max! I knew you could!"
I turned to him, my heart overflowing with gratitude. "Thank you, Dad, for teaching me."
He embraced me, his strong arms wrapping around me. "I'm proud of you, Max. Always remember these lessons, for they are more than just magic. They are a part of who you are."
As we stood there in the forest, surrounded by the gentle rustling of leaves and the distant song of birds, I felt a connection to something greater. My father's teachings were not just about wielding magic; they were about understanding myself and the world around me.
With a newfound sense of purpose and confidence, I looked at my father, knowing that this was just the beginning of my magical journey. A journey filled with wonder, growth, and endless possibilities.
I tilted my head, staring at the long metallic staff in my hand, a question forming in my mind. "Dad, why do people always shout the name of their abilities when they use magic?"
Antrodos chuckled softly. "Ah, that's a sign of mastery. It's also a tradition in how we learn magic." He sat down, gesturing for me to join him. "When you're starting out, you'd typically use blank mini-scrolls to cast basic spells. Believe it or not, some mighty wizards still use them, but the spells take a while to manifest. They're basic and depend on the user's writing speed."
"Then, what comes after that?" I asked, genuinely curious.
"The next level is to cast spells using shouts instead of relying on scrolls," Antrodos continued, his eyes shining with a hint of mischief. "Now, I'm beyond that stage, but sometimes I shout just because it makes everything seem... more epic." He struck a dramatic pose, causing me to giggle.
"But shouting gives away what you're about to do, right?"
"Exactly!" Dad pointed at me, impressed. "Which is why the ultimate step is silent casting. But it's tricky; while the enemy can't predict your move, sometimes the spell might be weaker."
"Why's that?"
Antrodos sighed. "Some wizards become too self-assured or lack conviction. It affects the potency of their magic."
I nodded, absorbing this. Glancing at my staff, I had another idea. "What about altering things? Like turning my clothes into armor?"
Dad smiled warmly. "The same steps apply to all Alteration magic."
Encouraged, I began to channel my mana, focusing on my clothes. But the outcome was far from what I'd hoped for. I was encased in stiff, unyielding armor, completely unable to move!
Antrodos burst into laughter. "Max! Always remember the joints when creating armor!"
Feeling slightly embarrassed, I replied, "I'll give it another shot." Closing my eyes, I shouted, "Alteration of Iron Armor: Now with Joints!"
Dad tried to hold back his laughter but failed, "That was one long spell name!"
I couldn't help but join in the laughter. Looking down, I admired the new armor—sturdy and functional, if a bit basic.
Feeling the weight and fit, I couldn't help but smile. "Thanks, Dad. Today was... magical."
Antrodos ruffled my hair. "Just remember, Max, magic is as much about understanding as it is about power. And you, my boy, are off to a great start."
With our staffs in hand, my father, Antrodos, and I continued our journey through the dense forest. The atmosphere was heavy with anticipation, and I felt a tingle of excitement mixed with a hint of nervousness. My father's voice broke through my thoughts, "Stay close, Max, and keep behind me."
The words were no sooner out of his mouth than we stumbled upon signs of destruction. Trees were splintered, and the ground was littered with fruit pieces and seeds, evidence of some creature's feast.
"What happened here?" I asked, my voice betraying a tremor of fear.
Antrodos crouched down, examining the area. His eyes narrowed as they fell on a set of large, reptilian footprints right under my feet. "These belong to a Land Crawler," he said, his tone grave.
"A Land Crawler?" I echoed, not recognizing the name.
"Yes," Antrodos continued, his eyes still on the prints. "They're fast and invasive. They have only a pair of legs, no arms, but they hail from distant lands where they've learned to use magic to conjure body parts and even weapons."
"They can use magic?" I asked, incredulous and more than a little frightened.
My father nodded, standing up and placing a reassuring hand on my shoulder. "It's what happens when creatures are exposed to places dense with mana. The air, water, even their food can cause this. Their conjured arms are especially dangerous. They adapt to their environment at an alarming rate."
I swallowed hard, my heart racing. "Dad, I'm kind of scared now."
Antrodos looked at me, his eyes softening. "It's normal to be scared, Max. In fact, I'd scold you if you were too full of yourself. Being scared means you value your life and the lives of others. It's not a weakness."
I stood there for a moment, taking in his words. A new understanding dawned on me, and I found myself agreeing with him. "I never thought of it that way."
He chuckled, his eyes twinkling with mischief. "Well, looks like our client will have to pay us more. This C-rank quest just turned into an A-rank one!"
With a renewed sense of determination, I followed my father deeper into the forest, knowing that the adventure had only just begun. The knowledge that fear was not a flaw but a sign of understanding gave me the strength to face what lay ahead. And though I was still an inexperienced boy, I felt a growing sense of pride in who I was becoming, all thanks to the guidance of my father, Antrodos.