Before we dive into the wonders of magic, let me share a fascinating technique with you: magic infection!
"Magic infection," explained Ms. Amisha with a smile, "is an essential skill for witches, allowing us to imbue ordinary materials with magical properties. Among all third-level and lower energies, witch magic is the only one that has infection properties. This is how we witches create our exclusive magical items."
She paused for a moment, letting the words sink in.
"Now, magic infection itself is quite simple in theory: you cover an object with your magic power, allowing the object to become infused with magical properties. However, there's a catch. Neither magic power nor magical energy is visible to the naked eye; at least not before it produces some obvious magical effect. This makes it tricky to know whether your infection is working. Many other races rely on perception or detection magic to sense the presence of magical power in a non-combat state. But we witches? We have our own special method."
Ms. Amisha leaned forward, eyes twinkling. "We infect our own eyes with magic to grant ourselves energy vision. This means that, after enough practice, we can see traces of magic and energy around us without any special spells."
The young witches gasped in surprise.
"Now, don't get too excited. Infecting your eyeballs is risky. The process takes time, and rushing it can be dangerous. But once you get used to it, energy vision will be one of your most powerful tools. Remember, energy vision can only detect energies at or below the level of your own magic power, including things like elemental power and mental energy."
Just as she finished explaining, a fluttering sound filled the room. Ms. Amisha's wand, with a slight flick, sent papers and leather blankets soaring through the air, gently landing in front of each student. They looked like ordinary sheets, but there was more to them.
"These," she continued, "are called developing papers. Any force, be it magic or otherwise, will leave a mark on them. This will be your first training tool to control your magic infection."
She held up her own sheet and placed her hand in the center. A faint green glow spread from her palm, expanding evenly across the entire paper. The green hue was soft, consistent, and covered every inch of the sheet.
"This," she declared, "is what success looks like."
With another wave of her hand, the color shifted. The once even green turned into blotches of yellow and red.
"See this? Uneven coloring means unstable magic output. Light yellow? That means you're using too little magic power, not enough to properly infect the object. Red? Too much magic power, which could damage the object."
The witches leaned forward, eager to see the changes. Ms. Amisha smiled at their enthusiasm but added a word of caution.
"When you attempt magic infection, you need to carefully control the amount of magic you use. Magic power isn't like mana, which flows easily. It's tied to your blood, an intrinsic part of your body. Strong emotions, stray thoughts, or even your instincts can cause your magic to surge. For stable and controlled infection, you must focus. Clear your mind, let your magic flow slowly, and spread it evenly across the developing paper."
The young witches nodded, ready to give it a try. Some were more confident than others. Vasida and Sylph, in particular, seemed eager, but as soon as their fingers touched the developing paper, the color flashed bright red, almost turning black.
Ms. Amisha shook her head with a knowing smile. "Slow down, both of you! You're witches; your magic is much stronger than mana. If one unit of mana is enough to infect an object, magic power only needs a thousandth, or even a ten-thousandth, of that amount! You must be precise."
The room fell silent as each witch began to practice, the developing papers glowing in various colors, each reflecting the unique struggle of its wielder. Magic infection was not just about learning to control power; it was about understanding one's own magical potential and mastering it with patience and care.
"Once the paper is fully colored, stop channeling your magic. Give it a moment, and when it returns to its original color, you'll be ready to practice again," Ms. Amisha explained with a warm smile.
Lyra listened intently, her eyes wide with excitement. Lilith had just explained how to properly channel magic power, and Lyra was practically buzzing with anticipation. But this time, she was determined to stay calm. She had learned from her previous mistakes; rushing would only lead to more problems. Instead of diving in headfirst, she took a deep breath and silently replayed Ms. Amisha's instructions in her mind.
Around her, the twenty-seven first-year witches were already at work, their developing papers flickering with faint shades of green, yellow, and red as they practiced. But in front of Lyra, her paper remained stubbornly milky white, not a single hint of color forming yet.
The other witches were starting to wait for their papers to reset, their initial attempts flashing back to white, but Ms. Amisha noticed Lyra's focused stillness and approached her.
"Good, Lyra. Remember, it's not about how quickly you can do it, but how well you control your power. You're on the right track!" Amisha's voice was full of encouragement.
Lyra gave a small smile. She had already experienced firsthand how dangerous it was to let emotions and instincts guide her magic. This time, she was ready. Her magic reserves were still low from her previous blunder, so she had to be careful. She cracked open her magical channels just a little, thinking a tiny bit of magic would be more than enough to color the paper.
But as soon as the magic touched the developing paper, a red blotch appeared. Not as dark or intense as Vasida and Sylph's disastrous attempts earlier, but still red; a sign of too much power. Panicked, Lyra cut off her magic supply immediately, and most of the paper remained unchanged, still its original white.
She bit her lip and tried again, this time being even stingier with her magic. The paper began to shift in uneven shades of red, but no matter how hard she tried, she couldn't get a single hint of green to appear. Her frustration grew, but she stayed patient, watching the paper stubbornly refuse to behave.
Meanwhile, the three witches in the front row; Lyra, Vasida, and Sylph, stood out like beacons of red among the mix of yellow, light green, and white on the other witches' papers.
After thirty seconds, the developing papers of all the witches reset to their milky white state. The classroom filled with soft murmurs as they prepared to try again.
Some witches muttered, "A bit more, just a little more; mine's not green enough yet!"
But Lyra, Vasida, and Sylph were having the opposite problem, whispering to themselves, "Less! It's still too much, reduce it more!"
Despite their struggle, all three were beginning to realize just how fine-tuned witch magic needed to be. Even the smallest excess could push the paper from green into red territory. While other witches started to master the art of balancing magic, their papers turning gentle shades of green, the trio lagged behind.
For them, it was slow going. They took several more tries before they managed to get their papers to turn a dark green, each step forward coming with the lesson of more control. The colors shifted less drastically now with each attempt, the differences in shade becoming more subtle.
By the time the class was halfway over, many of the witches had used up a significant portion of their magic reserves. The room was filled with soft rustling as they reached for the baskets of breadfruit Ms. Amisha had so kindly prepared. Breadfruit was known to recover mana much faster than magic power, so as their papers reset, the witches chewed on the fruit to keep their energy up.
Lyra, too, reached for a piece of breadfruit, savoring the sweet taste as it restored her strength. But eating while practicing magic was no easy feat. Her stomach churned with every bite, and her tongue felt slightly numb, but she pressed on. There was no other way to keep up with the demands of the lesson.
Ms. Amisha had thought of everything. The basket of breadfruit sat nearby, always within reach, so that none of the witches would fall behind. As the young witches continued their practice, their determination only grew stronger, and the soft hues of magic power glimmered on the developing papers scattered across the classroom.