Fools Paradise

It is midnight now as the two kids make it to the entrance to the orphanage. The entire time walking through the town they were getting weird looks from anyone who was still out and about.

They did not care they were victorious over a beast of the forest and they were going to show Lana. As they are about to walk up the stairs Lana opens the door and notices them.

Worry first then confusion then horror as she realizes that they have a giant boar behind them being dragged by both of them. She gasps and covers her mouth before looking over Wittorf whose clothes is a little dirty and slightly blood soaked.

"What happened to you two and why is there a giant boar behind you?"

"I found Ersa and we fought a giant boar."

"How could you two be so reckless?"

Grabbing the back of his head and rubbing it Wittorf couldn't help but feel a little embarrassed by the scolding they were getting but at the same time he was ecstatic by the victory and close call they had that night.

Lana cleaned up Wittorfs wounds and they killed the boar and turned it into quality chunks for stew for the next few days. She was worried out of her mind but was just happy the two kids were back and safe in her home.

Wittorf and Ersa were still up that night talking in the living room. Lana wanted to tell them to get to bed but she had never seen Ersa talk so much since she arrived and thought it better for her to make a friend.

Ersa and Wittorf were sitting at the table Ersa was looking at the bandages on Wittorfs chest and side and looked guilty.

"I'm sorry you got so banged up because of me."

"It's no big deal it's a mages job to protect others."

"Thank you."

"More importantly what was that spell you casted?"

Holding her hand out she created a ball of energy. It began to split into three balls before being connected by a string of light. They then formed into a triangle. She was proud of this spell. It was the only real one she knew.

"My dad said I would need to learn entangle spells to help keep me safe."

"Entangle spells huh?"

"I learned it about a month ago when I was traveling with him."

"Where is he now?"

She tightens up and goes silent for a moment. The memories flood back into her mind of that day. Wittorf could see her change in attitude right away and had an idea of what might of happened.

"He left one day after teaching me this spell. I don't know where he is now."

"Do you know why he left?"

"He said there was a new threat out there and that he needed to stop it before it got any bigger."

"Why would he leave you behind like that?"

"He brought me to Lana's thinking I would be safe here."

She tears up a little and Wittorf wipes the tears away. She looks up at him with puppy dog eyes. He could tell she was hurt by this conversation so he decided to switch it up.

"Could you maybe teach me that spell?"

"It's a difficult one to learn but we can try."

Her mood cheered up a little and she raised her hand again.

"First create the ball of magic in your hand."

Raising his hand he focused his mana into the palm of his hand and easily created a ball of energy.

"Next imagine it splitting into three."

Shrugging he looked at the ball and imagined what it would look like as it split into three parts. He struggled a bit as the ball wobbled back and forth before vibrating and splitting half way into two balls and then fading away.

"It harder than I thought it would be."

"That's alright try again."

Taking a deep breath Wittorf created the ball of energy in his palm once more.

"Good now do the same thing you just did but imagine multiple balls."

Exhaling slowly he looked at his hand and imagined creating more balls this time instead of splitting them. Another ball began to warp into view slowly before fading away the first ball also dissipated.

"I don't think I have enough mana right now to do that."

"Let's try the other step."

She creates a ball and pokes it with her finger. When she raises it a string of light comes out of the ball and she releases it to float to the bottom. She grabs the string and swings the ball around a little.

"Try imagining a thread attached to the ball. It does not have to be a large thread just something thin to get you started."

"Alright sounds like a plan."

Taking another deep breath in and out Wittorf creates the ball of energy, the easy part. Now he imagines a thread coming out of his hand to touch the ball. Deep breath in, deep breath out.

"Take your time and focus."

The mana flowing out of his palm began to stand on end very slowly creating a pin point. He focused on that pin point and imagined it stretching to meet the ball. Little by little it inched its way up and up until it connected with the ball.

Shocked at the outcome Wittorf looks at Ersa who is smiling now. She was happy to see him progress so quickly even if it was just a thread.

"What did you imagine?"

"I wanted it to stretch to reach the ball."

"Stretching? I want you to try something."

She grabs his hand that has the ball in it and slowly turns the palm to face the floor. As she does this the ball attached to his hand begins to descend to the floor before promptly bouncing back up into his hand.

"I knew it!"

"What just happened?"

"You created your first spell."

Looking at the ball bouncing up and down like a yoyo he could not help but make a yelp of excitement. He had cast his first spell. It was exhilarating he didn't even realize he was doing it. He thought it was just a step towards a different spell. But how did he do it what was there to it that counted it as a spell?

"I don't get it how is this considered a spell?"

"Easy, you took two ideas and combined them into one using a connection word."

"What's a connection word?"

"It's something my dad taught me. If you imagine a descriptive word when making a spell it will take on that shape. For you it was stretching."

"Does any descriptive word work?"

"Usually but the closer the word is to your being the easier it will be to cast."

"Closer to my being?"

"It means words that describe you. You must be a flexible mage if stretching was easy for you."

"There is so much new information coming at me I don't know what to do with it."

She backed away; shy with how much talking she just did so suddenly. She was not used to talking to someone so freely before. She began to get flustered and turn away. Wittorf was looking at the ball in his hand and wondered what other magic he could cast with this new information.

"I-I think I need to go to bed now!" Ersa yelps as she quickly runs out of the living room and up the stairs.

Staring at her with excitement and confusion Wittorf continues to bounce the ball on the string. It felt so amazing to have his own spell.

Breaking his concentration Lana comes out of her room and looks at Wittorf. She smiled but he could tell there was something wrong. She always gave away her emotions with her eyes. It was something Wittorf accidentally picked up from her.

He let the ball and string dissipate and walked over to greet his foster mother. She embraced him and began to rub his hair. He smiled and retuned the hug.

"Your finally a mage now aren't you my little spell caster?"

"That's right Lana, my first dream came true."

"You're on your way to great things I can tell already."

She pulled away from Wittorf who was smiling from ear to ear. Even if she was feeling down he was going to do everything in his power to cheer her up. That was his job after all.

Lana opened her door and invited Wittorf inside. She knew it was time to give him something. She did not want it to happen yet but she made a promise long ago and had to keep it.

"Wittorf, I have something for you. It's from your parents."