The prior night, after successfully conjuring his first small but mesmerizing tongue of mystical flame during an intensive one-on-one lesson with the venerable Lord Feywood, Eric lay awake in bed for hours far too thrilled and impatient for sleep to arrive.
He simply could not stop envisioning the tiny flickering blaze in lifelike detail - from its graceful, hypnotic dance to the vivid orange light playing across his palms. More than anything, Eric kept replaying that profound moment when he had consciously tapped into the ancient arcane power thrumming within his veins for the very first time, giving tangible form and substance to the normally intangible primordial forces flowing through the fabric of reality itself.
Long after the sprawling moonlit halls of the ancestral palace had sunken into the depths of slumber, Eric remained awake late into the night, his mind racing as he stared at the intricately carved ceiling, contemplating just how swiftly he could expand his elemental mastery enough to deeply impress, or even amaze Lord Feywood next time with evidence of his secret unsupervised practice.
Then, the very instant that the first dim rays of rosy predawn light began filtering through the towering stained glass windows set into the eastern wall of his lavish bedchamber, heralding the steady approach of dawn, Eric sprang from his thoroughly tangled mess of blankets with an irrepressible surge of restless energy.
Driven by impatience, he did not even take the time to change out of yesterday's rumpled clothing before creeping as silently as possible downstairs, cautiously stealing past the shadowy guest quarters housing visiting dignitaries from allied kingdoms.
At this early hour, the cavernous stone hallways and vaulted chambers that comprised the sprawling ancestral palace remained eerily quiet and still, aside from Eric's hurried footfalls occasionally echoing off the polished obsidian floors and ornate tapestries decorating the walls. Not even the humble servant staff would begin their daily rounds lighting oil lamps and preparing morning meals for at least another hour.
Outside, as Eric crossed the extensive manicured garden courtyard located just off the east wing where the introductory magical lessons were held, he could see the very first birds tentatively greeting the cool, misty grey dawn skies with their delicate songs. Aside from the twittering avians, all was tranquil.
Now alone amidst the wispy coils of mist swirling about the elm, oak and cypress trees dotting the courtyard, Eric closed his eyes and took several slow, purifying breaths, feeling a deep sense of power and purpose flowing through his veins. This was it - his opportunity to begin truly mastering his abilities all on his own.
Planting his feet firmly shoulder-width apart in the dewy grass for optimal balance, Eric lifted up his hands, palms splayed open. With utmost care, he focused the full force of his mind inward, consciously gathering shimmering currents of arcane mana from his core, directing them down through his shoulders, along his arms to pool within his awaiting hands.
Okay, focus now...steady...yes! On command I can feel the flames ignite above my palms once more! It's working just like before! Now I just need to sustain my concentration and keep channeling more and more mana into the blaze to make it grow ever bigger and hotter! I know if I just believe in myself, I can completely master this spell independently in no time at all!
Oww...a throbbing headache is starting to build as I repeat the precise spell gestures over and over. No! I refuse to stop now when I'm so tantalizingly close to a true breakthrough! It's nothing I can't push through - I must endure this temporary pain no matter what it takes to perfect my technique!
Stay lit...please, just a little longer now...don't sputter out and fade away just yet! I know I can make these flames hold if I just persist a bit more...I must push my untrained mind and body to the very limits if I wish to unlock my true potential!
Aagh!