Star Eater

Chapter 129:

Arthur's Point of View

Over the Middle Ocean

A few days had passed since I told Lucia I would train her. There were a few other matters she needed to attend to, and getting the ship ready was more important. Once we had some free time, she approached me once again.

"Do you think Alwin could join us?" Lucia asked me with a hopeful smile.

"If he wants to learn." I replied. "I'll go ask the Captain where you two can train that's out of the way of everyone else."

Lucia went to retrieve her boy toy, Aydan's decedent, and I asked Adam where we could train. There was an area behind the helm at the Stern with a platform to launch spells from. It was perfect. Lucia, Alwin, Ziah, Typhon, and Austin were all at the back of the airship with me. Most of them looked excited except for one.

Alwin crossed his arms as he waited. "This should be good."

Hearing that, I looked at the General. "Lucia informed me you've been teaching her."

"I have." The Elf answered.

"What does she struggle with?" He seemed surprised at the question. "If you've been training her, surely you know what her weaknesses are and what she needs to work on."

"Lady Lucia lacks proper focus when casting spells and is easily distracted." Alwin reluctantly answered.

Turning to Lucia, I asked her, "Do you think he's right?"

She lightly shrugged in an unsure manner. "I cannot say for certain. Training never lasts very long."

I nodded at that. "The most powerful Elf I ever knew always told each of his students that visualization was the most important part to casting spells." Lucia hung on my every word as I continued. "If the magic inside you is like a river, lake, or ocean, whatever you want to refer to it as, how powerful of a spell can you cast with just a drop of it?"

"Any spell takes a certain amount of magic to cast, Sir." Alwin informed me almost mockingly.

"Not true." Was my quick response. "Some spells are like that, teleportation is a perfect example, but many others are not." Gesturing to Lucia, I asked, "Do you know how to cast the Fireball spell?"

"Most Elves do, Sir." Alwin once again cut in.

Rolling my eyes, I looked at him. "How about you shut the fuck up for two seconds or leave?" I suggested, then I saw Austin and Typhon cringe. "Don't tell anyone I said that in front of either of you."

They nodded, and Alwin shut up with a small glare as I looked back to Lucia. "I can cast the spell."

Pointing off the back of the ship, I nodded. "Do it for me really quick."

Lucia moved just in front of the railing and cast the spell. The standard fireball shot out and exploded a little ways behind the ship. Very mundane for a High Elf, all things considered. However, she seemed to realize that as she looked down at her hands in annoyance. She had used a rather large amount of magic for a measly spell, so it made sense.

"Alright. Now, what did you visualize while you cast the spell?" I inquired.

She looked at me, confused. "The spell?" Lucia replied in an unsure tone.

I sighed. "It would seem many do the same." Shaking my head, I gestured to her. "There is a difference in quantity over quality. If someone casts that same spell thousands of times and uses the same amount of magic as a beginner, do you think the results will be the same?"

Lucia looked to Alwin and then back to me. "Yes?"

"Wrong. Experience tells us that people grow, even subconsciously. Potency and concentration of magic are critical when casting spells." I explained. "The Elf I knew was able to hone even the smallest amount of magic to cast powerful spells." He also cheated with original magic, but that wasn't the point of this lesson. "Cast the spell again."

She frowned. "I doubt there will be-"

Cutting her off, I spoke over her. "If you keep that mindset, there won't be any difference. However, this time when you cast the spell, I want you to use the same amount of magic as last time." Alwin scoffed, but I ignored him this time. "What I want you to do this time is visualize the size of the fireball and make it as big as possible in your mind. There is obviously a limit but finding that limit is what is important."

Lucia listened to me and once again focused on the spell. However, this time she closed her eyes. Magic gathered to her right hand, which was out over the railing. Fire began to form in her hand, but this time, it was far more concentrated. When she opened her eyes, the spell launched and was far larger overall. When it exploded in the distance, you could even feel a small shockwave.

The look of surprise Lucia gave me when she whipped her head towards me made me smirk. "Atta girl."