Fools Paradise

Wittorf and Loat are sitting in Wittorf's room with two lanterns lying on the bed next to them. They both want to start but are to eager to begin right away. Loat finally breaks the silence.

"Alright, so what's the plan?"

"This was your plan to begin with I have no clue!"

"Well I guess we should give it a shot and see where it goes."

Wittorf grabs a lantern and begins to try channeling energy into it. He squints hard and imagines the lantern lighting up. Moments pass and nothing happens. He struggles a little harder, focusing intently on the lantern He finally stops and tosses it back onto the bed.

"Nothing."

"Let me give it a shot."

Loat squeeze the lantern hard and even tries rubbing it a little. Wittorf looked amused by the whole thing. After a few minutes pass with no success Loat tosses the lantern next to the other one and sighs. "I wonder what the trick it?"

Wittorf has a moment of eureka. "Perhaps we need to meditate and hold the objects. The dripping feeling should come to us easier that way and then we can try channeling it into the lantern."

Loat smiles and nods. They both grab the lanterns and get in their normal meditative stances. Wittorf is sitting cross legged and Loat is holding his sword in front of him tip pointed up. Taking deep breaths and exhaling at the same time the dripping feeling begins to form. Taking that feeling Wittorf and Loat focus on the lantern trying to guide the dripping feeling towards it. Success! The liquid drops shoot up their arms and into the lantern before fading away but for a moment the lantern glows. Wittorf winces and opens his eyes to see Loat grinning.

"I felt it!"

The day slowly fades to night as the two continue to meditate. Wittorf is in a trance, the energy flowing from his center up his arm and into his palm. Flowing like water out of his hand. Loat has his sword in his hands pointing towards the ceiling still as can be, energy flowing through it running up and down the blade.

Wittorf opens his eyes slowly and wipes the sweat off his forehead. "It's like working out, you have to keep at it and it will get easier."

Loat smiles and puts his sword down. "We have this in the bag, Caiman won't know what hit him." He stands up and stretches. "It's about time I head back to my room, we have a long day ahead of us." Loat opens the door and stops. "If it is like exercise you shouldn't over do it."

Wittorf nods "Just a little longer and then I will head to bed."

Loat waves as he leaves the room. Wittorf looks at his hands and squeezes them into a fist. He has a flashback of his interaction with Caiman. "A sewer rat will never beat noble blood" Wittorf grits his teeth "I will beat you Caiman, just you wait." The young orphan closes his eyes and continues to meditate. What seems like moments pass and he opens his eyes again due to the harsh rays seeping through his eyelids.

Loat knocks on the door and enters, seeing Wittorf in his meditative position.

"You didn't meditate all night did you?"

"It would seem so."

"Are you going to be alright?"

"I'll be fine I just wanted to show Caiman up that's all."

Loat laughs. "Alright well, let's see how we do after one day of practice." He grabs a lantern and hands it to Wittorf. The young mage takes a deep breath in and concentrates. Eyes closed he draws the energy from his center to his arm like he has been all night. With ease he feels it flow.

Loat exhales loudly with excitement. "It worked!"

Wittorf opens his eyes to see a dim light form in the lantern. He smiles and it goes out. "Well it's a start at least."

Days go by as Wittorf and Loat are meditating together. Each day that passes Wittorf looks more and more worn out. The lantern is glowing brighter with each attempt. The nights go by and Wittorf is actively not getting any sleep, instead focusing on improving his power. The day arrives when he must be tested in front of the class and the young orphan looks ragged tired. "I can beat him." Wittorf whispers to himself. He stands up to prepare for the day and stumbles forward as his vision fades in and out. Wittorf gathers his composure and Loat comes barging in excited as can be.

"Wittorf, today we are going to show that noble just who's boss!"

"We got this."

****************

Wittorf and the rest of the students are sitting in their assigned seats. Caiman smirks and looks at Wittorf with his head tilted to the side. "Looks like we finally get to see just how weak you really are." Wittorf, tired beyond belief ignores Caiman. He is focused on one thing, passing this test.

Steel enters the classroom and stands at the front. "Today is the day kids, you better not have been slacking off this entire week."The teacher pulls a lantern out from under the desk and begins to channel energy into it. Slowly it begins to glow until it is as bright as a light bulb. "I want everyone to be able to at least do this much to pass."

Steel passes the lantern around starting with Caiman who easily gets the lantern to glow to the required brightness. It continues to be passed around and reaches Loat who struggles a little but manages to pass. Finally it is given to Wittorf. Everyone is watching him closely anticipating his action.

"I can do this." Wittorf thinks to himself. "I've been practicing all week."

He grabs the lantern and takes a deep breath. A tinge of pain can be felt as he closes his eyes. "Fight through the pain Wittorf." He exhales and the dripping begins to flow up his arm. With it more pain. "Almost there, just a little more." Wittorf squints through the pain as the lantern begins to glow. Dimly at first but growing with intensity until it is twice as bright as required. Gasps can be heard in the classroom as Loat cheers. Suddenly everything goes black as Wittorf wobbles a little before hitting the ground.

"Wittorf!" Steel yells but its drowned out by the pain that is coursing through the young mages body.