Niklaus barely had time to recover from the fire magic class before he found himself being herded with the others toward the next lecture hall. His legs felt restless, bouncing with each step as his fingers drummed a sporadic rhythm against his thigh. Even walking in a straight line felt like a challenge, his attention darting between the shifting light through the windows and the faint buzzing of voices echoing off the stone walls. The excitement of the fire magic still hummed under his skin, but now a new anticipation brewed—the thrill of learning how to control the very air around him.
As they entered the classroom, Niklaus's eyes immediately flicked to every corner, absorbing the unfamiliar space with a curious energy that refused to settle. The walls were adorned with intricate diagrams of weather patterns, swirling vortexes, and bolts of lightning etched in delicate silver. Large windows let in beams of sunlight, casting shifting patterns across the floor that Niklaus found oddly distracting. He fidgeted with the strap of his satchel, twisting it between his fingers, before letting it snap back against his side with a soft thud.
Professor Zephyr Stormcroft burst into the room like a storm given human form. His wild, unkempt hair stood on end as if he'd just survived a lightning strike, and his eyes gleamed with an intensity that bordered on manic. His robes, a patchwork of blues and grays, fluttered as though caught in an invisible breeze, and his every movement seemed to stir the very air around him.
"Ah, my young storm-chasers!" he bellowed, his voice a booming echo that rattled the windows. "Welcome to the most electrifying subject you'll ever encounter—the art of air and lightning magic! If you're not buzzing with excitement by the end of this class, you're doing it wrong!"
Niklaus's foot tapped faster, his eyes wide as he watched the professor pace the front of the room like a caged tempest. The man's energy was contagious, a whirlwind of enthusiasm that made it impossible to look away. But it also made focusing on the actual lesson a Herculean task.
"To harness the power of the air," the professor began, his hands slicing through the air with dramatic flair, "you must first understand its nature. Air is not just the breath in your lungs—it is the very mana you draw into your body. But simply breathing it in will not grant you power. You must guide it, mold it, and bend it to your will. Much like taming a wild beast—or, in my case, my hair!"
Laughter rippled through the room, and even Niklaus couldn't suppress a grin. But his hands continued their restless dance, tapping, twisting, and drumming against the desk.
"Think of lightning," the professor continued, his eyes gleaming like twin bolts. "It is the result of a difference in potential—an imbalance seeking resolution. To create it, you must manipulate the mana within you, moving it through your body with intent. Draw it in with each breath, guide it to where you wish to release it, and focus your mind to alter the natural laws. You're not creating lightning from nothing; you're bending reality to your will."
He gestured to a set of battered tomes stacked haphazardly on a nearby table. "For those of you who enjoy not being fried to a crisp, I recommend reading Master Aerion Gale's 'Principles of Atmospheric Mana' and Professor Vindra Stormweaver's 'Safe Conduits of Electrical Currents.' I assure you, both are shocking reads!"
The professor suddenly fumbled with his robe, as if remembering something important, only to pause mid-motion. "Did I lock my office this morning?" he muttered to himself, then shook his head. "No, no… I don't even have an office. Wait do I have an office?"
He stared off into space, his gaze fixed on a distant, invisible point as if contemplating the mysteries of the universe—or perhaps just wondering what he had for breakfast.
Niklaus's eyes flicked to Kai, who was practically vibrating with excitement. Throrin looked skeptical, as if debating whether magic or brute force was the better option, while Amir sat in his usual composed manner, absorbing every word. Across the room, Lysara listened with serene focus, and Isolde jotted down notes with meticulous precision. Victor, lounging in his seat, wore his trademark smirk, as if he'd already mastered the art of lightning itself.
"Ah, where was I?" the professor muttered suddenly, glancing at the chalkboard as if it had betrayed him by not keeping notes. "Right, right… the thrilling part!"
"Did I ever tell you about the time I tried to summon a storm indoors?" he suddenly veered off, eyes gleaming with manic delight. "Ah, what a disaster that was! The furniture was flying, the roof nearly took off—I think old Professor Windmere is still finding chalk dust in his hair." He paused, chuckling to himself. "But the silver lining? Best ventilation that old classroom ever had! Though, to be fair, the school cat was less impressed… poor thing floated for days. Thought it had ascended to some feline heaven."
The students exchanged bewildered glances, some stifling snickers while others just gawked. Niklaus raised an eyebrow, glancing at Kai with a smirk that clearly said, "Wait, this dude is me."
Professor Stormcroft blinked rapidly as if just realizing where he was, then clapped his hands together. "But I digress… back to the important stuff!"
Niklaus took a deep breath, feeling the mana—the air—rush into his lungs. He tried to visualize it moving through him, down his arms, pooling in his fingertips. But his mind flitted from one distraction to another—the way the sunlight caught on Lysara's hair, the flicker of amusement in Isolde's eyes, the insufferable smugness radiating from Victor.
"Focus, Wolf-heart," Cindershard's voice echoed in his mind, dripping with sarcasm. "Or you'll end up as a crispy critter. And while that'd be a sight, I do prefer you in one piece."
Niklaus bit back a laugh, straightening in his seat. He forced himself to breathe deeply again, imagining the mana as a current, a stream he needed to guide. This time, he felt it—a faint tingle in his fingertips, a whisper of power waiting to be unleashed.
"To successfully channel lightning," the professor added, "you must achieve a balance between the mana that you breathe in—which is your internal mana—and the atmospheric mana. Picture the ions aligning, like in a storm cloud before a strike. You're not just pushing mana; you're creating a pathway for it to follow."
With a dramatic flourish, the professor clapped his hands, sending a sharp crack of static through the room. "Now, let's see what you've learned! Pair up and attempt to generate a controlled gust of wind. Precision over power, my stormchasers!"
Niklaus found himself paired with Amir. They stood facing each other, and Niklaus couldn't help but bounce slightly on the balls of his feet, his fingers flexing and curling in anticipation.
"Try to focus, Niklaus," Amir said gently, a small smile tugging at his lips. "You can do this."
"Oh, I'll focus," Niklaus replied with a grin. "Just don't blame me if you get swept off your feet… literally."
Drawing in another deep breath, Niklaus felt the mana swirl within him. He guided it deliberately this time, channeling it through his arm, envisioning the air bending to his will. With a sharp exhale, he thrust his hand forward—and a strong gust of wind shot out, nearly knocking Amir off balance.
Amir chuckled, steadying himself. "Not bad, Wolf-heart. But let's see if you can control it next time."
Nearby, Victor raised an eyebrow, his voice dripping with condescension. "Impressive, for someone who can't seem to sit still long enough to learn theory."
Niklaus shot him a grin, his eyes glinting with mischief. "Oh, Victor, I'd love to explain it all to you, but I'm afraid translating competence into arrogance isn't my specialty. You seem to have that covered."
The air between them crackled with more than just mana, and Lysara's amused glance flicked between the two. "Careful, boys," she murmured, her tone light but edged with meaning. "Wouldn't want to burn out before the real challenges begin."
Isolde smirked, her emerald eyes flashing with that distinct mix of intellect and mischief. "Or maybe they're just afraid of finding out who the real prodigy is," she quipped, her voice cool and effortless.
The group dissolved into a mix of laughter and pointed glances, the tension easing into a familiar rhythm of camaraderie and rivalry. As the lesson continued, Niklaus found himself more focused, more in tune with the flow of mana within him. The initial restlessness hadn't disappeared—his fingers still tapped, his mind still wandered—but there was a growing sense of control, a balance between chaos and calm.
By the end of the class, Niklaus felt a new confidence stirring within him. Magic wasn't just about power; it was about understanding, about bending the rules of reality with respect and precision. And for the first time, he felt like he was beginning to grasp the delicate dance between the two.
Leaving the classroom, he turned to his friends, his eyes bright with excitement. "Well, that was electrifying," he quipped, earning groans and laughter in equal measure.
"Come on, Wolf-heart," Kai said, clapping him on the back. "Let's see if you can keep up the spark in the next class."
And with that, they moved on, ready to face the next class...