Realizing time was actually on his side, he pulled himself out of the normal timestream into a faster mode again. This was he could slip between people who were essentially statues while seeking Archmage Alendoria. Finally, he found her and returned time around him to match the rest of the amphitheater. He watched from a short distance away as she was discretely aiding several other young children, not much, if at all, older than himself as they attempted to toss a ball back and forth with only their budding mastery of spatial magic.
He watched as the thin, almost insubstantial, tendrils of choromantic essence steadied the small spheres being moved around. The children, whose magical sight was not developed enough to discern her assistance felt proud of themselves for their success in moving the balls toward their partners and then catching them on their return. Each time they succeeded "on their own," they would smile and sometimes raise their fists in triumph. When this occurred, the lounging archmage's eyes would lift in the corners while the corners of her mouth failed to hide the hints of her pleasure filled smile.
Von watched this display for several minutes before he felt a small portal opening in front of him and a force pushing him forward. He attempted to resist, but his own abilities were not up to the task. He passed through the cold oval before discovering himself lying on the ground beside the archmage. "Since you know what I'm doing, now it's your turn. There are twenty-four novices currently working on their control. I want you to take the closest five and push their strands of essence to keep the balls from touching the ground without letting them see you are doing so.
Having watched the silver-haired elven woman for the last ten minutes, Von felt it was easily within his capabilities. He meticulously gathers the strands of spatial magic essence and started weaving it toward the small orbs. Unlike those of Archmage Alendoria, his weavings weren't thin threads, but heavy awkward ropes. While the children didn't notice, the elf did, and she eyed him with a one raised eyebrow. Even worse, not only were his weavings not subtle, but trying to concentrate on controlling five of them was stretching the limits of his concentration. To maneuver all five balls, he could only provide them with obvious taps which sent them souring and obviously not looking as though they were being controlled by the other youths.
Despite the cool weather, Von felt sweat dripping from his face as he struggled to maintain control over the strands of spatial magic. The archmage's raised eyebrow intensified, and she crossed her arms, a smirk playing on her lips. The children, unaware of Von's intervention, continued their game, blissfully celebrating each successful exchange.
Despite his initial confidence, Von realized trying to manipulate the magical essence was far more challenging than he anticipated. The heavy, awkward ropes of magic he wove around the balls lacked finesse, making the controlled movements look clumsy and unnatural. He could sense the archmage's amusement growing as she observed his less-than-elegant efforts.
As Von desperately tried to salvage the situation, one of the novices, a young girl with a keen magical sense, turned toward him with a puzzled expression. She squinted as if trying to discern the source of the magical interference. Panic welled up in Von as he tried to redirect her attention, but his clumsy control only made the situation more conspicuous.
Archmage Alendoria, now openly grinning, gestured for Von to approach. Reluctantly, he shuffled closer, feeling a mix of embarrassment and frustration. The archmage leaned in and whispered, "Precision, young one. It's not about brute force but finesse. Feel the magic, guide it delicately."
Before he continued, he sent his aura through the hourglass embedded in his body and hastily erected a distortion around the entire amphitheater, then taking Alendoria's advice to heart, Von adjusted his approach. Instead of forcing the magic, he redoubled his concentration in order to weave finer, more subtle threads around the moving orbs. It took nearly an hour, but eventually the movements or the globes became smoother and more natural. Whether due to luck or actual skill, the children continued to revel in their success, oblivious to the adjustment.
Archmage Alendoria nodded approvingly, and Von felt a surge of relief. He continued to refine his control and concentration, gradually mastering the delicate art of manipulating the magical essence without drawing attention. As the novices continued their practice, Von couldn't help but appreciate the lesson in finesse and the importance of subtle mastery in the magical arts.
As his skill increased, he discovered when his weavings encountered those of the novices, sometimes, the energies tried to join together. He pondered what would happen if he allowed them to fuse together what the effect might be.
Intrigued by the possibility of allowing the magical energies to join together, Von decided to experiment cautiously. As he continued to guide the strands of spatial magic around the balls, he deliberately allowed his weavings to intersect with those of the novices. The moment the energies connected, he felt a subtle surge, as if a harmonious resonance was forming between them.
Curious, he observed the reactions of the novices and the magical essence. As the merged strands intertwined, the balls seemed to move with newfound coordination and grace. The children, though unaware of the magical collaboration, reveled in the enhanced fluidity of their game. The archmage, who had been watching attentively, raised an eyebrow in acknowledgment of Von's unconventional approach.
The fusion of magical energies created a synergy surpassing Von's initial expectation creating several positive side effects. This marriage of weavings not only required less concentration, it simplified his efforts to control more of the small spheres, causing the movements of the orbs to become more synchronized, responding not only to the novices' intentions but also to the subtle guidance of the intertwined magical threads. It was as if a collective magical dance emerged, enhancing the overall magical atmosphere of the amphitheater.
With his newfound ease of assisting the other children, Von used his own tendrils to shove the archmage's strands aside allowing him to aid all twenty-four novices at once. He had to admit to himself, it wasn't easy, but it was a lot easier than when he initially started and despite helping twelve pairs of students, he was using less concentration than when he assisted only five pair of the other trainees.
Archmage Alendoria, recognizing the unique development, nodded approvingly at Von. It was evident this lesson yielded unexpected, yet positive results. The young novices, still unaware of the magical collaboration taking place, continued to celebrate their successful exchanges, unaware of the subtle influence shaping their experience.
Deciding she may have underestimated Von's ingenuity, Archmage Alendoria stood and walked to the current instructor of the class, leaned down and whispered in the woman's ear. A moment later, the two women grinned. Stepping forward, the instructor told the children, "Without stopping, on my count of three, those in line on this side will receive the ball from the group to their left then pass it on to their partner on the far side from me. Their partner will then move the ball to the next person in this line. Daniel, when you receive the ball from Nova, you will send it to David on the far end of the line who will aid you in receiving it into the circle in front of him and then the balls will continue to work their way down the chain to the other side. If you don't have any questions, raise your hands."
After a brief pause, forty-eight hands were raised, and the instructor counted. "One, two, three. Now!"
The children, filled with excitement, immediately sprang into action as the instructor's count reached "now." The air buzzed with the energy of their collective efforts as the balls began to move in a coordinated sequence. After an initial moment of confusion, Von determined the new pattern of the "game" and seamlessly re-integrated his weave into the magical collaboration, focusing on his task with newfound finesse.
The archmage observed with a satisfied smile as the magical essence wove together seamlessly, enhancing the fluidity of the ball's movement. The novices, unaware of the additional magical influence, marveled at the surprisingly smooth transitions occurring within their game.
As the balls traveled down the chain of novices, each pair seamlessly passing the magical orbs to the next, the intricate dance of spatial magic continued. The instructor, pleased with the success of the exercise, exchanged a knowing glance with Archmage Alendoria. It was evident that Von's unique approach had added an unexpected layer of magic to the lesson.
The archmage, content with the outcome, returned to her lounging position, observing the magical collaboration unfold with a sense of pride. The novices, caught up in the joy of their successful teamwork, continued to pass the balls with enthusiasm, unknowingly participating in a magical trial orchestrated by both their instructor and the silver-haired elven woman.
For the next hour, the instructor switched up the secondary sender and receivers throughout the line causing a bit of chaos initially, but in each case, Von adapted within two exchanges to each new curve thrown by the instructor. Shortly, he could acclimate himself to the new pattern the moment it started with no delay.
Once Von confident he couldn't make a mistake, a ball nearly dropped. Looking closely at the weaves of the students, he discovered a ball not affected by his weave had entered the mix and swiftly remedied the situation. 'Did I drop one of my weaves somewhere?' He thought anxiously. Less than a minute later, he ascertained not one, but six balls had been introduced to the dance, so instead of twelve, there were now eighteen in the group with more appearing.
Von's eyes widened as he realized the unexpected twist in the exercise. The sudden increase in the number of magical balls added a layer of complexity to the already intricate dance. Despite his initial anxiety, he focused on adapting to the new challenge.
The novices, initially thrown off balance by the influx of additional magical orbs, struggled to maintain the smooth flow of their collaborative efforts. Von, however, remained vigilant, carefully monitoring the weaves of magical essence and swiftly adjusting his own contributions to accommodate the growing number of balls.
As he observed the magical currents, Von discerned the additional balls were not a result of his own weavings. Instead, someone else manifested them in order to introduce an element of unpredictability to this magical dance. The novices, caught in the midst of the magical chaos, exchanged uncertain glances as they grappled with the evolving situation.
Archmage Alendoria, watch to see how Von handled the unforeseen challenge with a mixture of amusement and curiosity. The instructor, too, seemed intrigued by her novices' attempts to navigate the escalating magical complexity as more and more orbs were added to the mix by the head of the school.
Von, knowing he was being tested, was determined to maintain the harmony of the magical display, thus he concentrated on his weavings, ensuring each ball received the necessary guidance to send it to its next destination. With practiced precision one might expect from someone with decades of experience, he adapted to the changing dynamics, seamlessly incorporating the additional magical orbs into the ongoing dance. Sweat once again started to fall from his brow, but he maintained his concentration undeterred by the fact a total of forty-eight spheres were currently being passed among the other students.
Seeing the strain on the novices, Alendoria removed the additional balls teleporting them back to a storage bag on the ground. She flashed a mocking grin at the lounging Von on the ground. "I think you are finally ready to learn something. I shall see you on the eastern platform." With these words, she promptly disappeared.
Von's swiftly turned his head about seeking the platform mentioned by the elven archmage. Dozens of them were scattered around the amphitheater at varying heights and locations. His gaze flew between each of them seeking the silver-haired elf, but there were several women with light hair. Trying to distinguish between four likely candidates, he spied a glint of the tower of light reflect off the arms of one of the beings. Remembering the bright silver or her wrists, he knew exactly which one had to be her. To his dismay, it was the one farthest from the ground over the center stage. Worse, he had no way of teleporting to the location.
Von felt a mixture of excitement and trepidation as he realized the challenge set before him by Archmage Alendoria. Determined to prove himself and continue his magical education, he quickly assessed the situation. The various platforms scattered around the amphitheater presented a daunting task, but he focused on the glint of light reflecting off the archmage's wrists to identify the correct platform.
With a sense of urgency, Von shifted time distorting the flow around himself leaving everything else at a near standstill then made his way through the bustling novices, weaving through the magical currents still lingering in the air. The platform over the center stage, where Archmage Alendoria awaited, seemed impossibly distant. His lack of teleportation abilities added an extra layer of difficulty to the task.
As he moved through the amphitheater, Von considered alternative methods of reaching the elevated platform. A flight spell, perhaps, or some form of levitation? Knowing the use of chronomancy would make it appear to most like he had teleported, anything he chose would likely work. However, the urgency of the situation made experimentation with the elemental magics risky especially since he yet to practice such a weaving.
Nearing the center stage, he realized climbing the platforms and leaping from one to another was the only feasible option. He glanced upward, assessing the height and distance. Without hesitation, he started to ascend the nearest platform, navigating the stairs and ramps with a determination fueled by the desire to prove himself to the elven archmage.
With each step, each leap, Von felt the strain of the climb, but his determination remained unwavering. Von's decision to use the illusion of teleportation through chronomancy proved effective as he reached the summit of the center platform. Striking a pose, he seamlessly returned to the local flow of time, giving the appearance that he had effortlessly teleported to the desired location. The novices, still engaged in their magical exercises, looked on in awe at his seemingly instantaneous arrival.
The archmage, acknowledging his arrival, gestured for him to join her. However, her narrowed eyes indicated she saw through the illusion. Von, undeterred, met her gaze with a mix of determination and anticipation. He was ready to face whatever challenges awaited him on the center stage. The center stage, bathed in magical light, became the arena for his next lessons, and Von was prepared to prove himself worthy of the elven archmage's guidance. Little did he know, the challenges had only begun.