Chapter Thirteen #2
“Give or take,” Leo answers as he rolls one of his shoulders. “Karl, this is Victor, the empath warlock you’ve been hearing about.”
Karl shakes Victor’s hand much too firmly for Victor’s tastes. “Ah, yes!” Karl responds. “You’re the one Akisha and Jeanie keep talking about.”
Victor tries to hold his composure as he feels the metacarpals in his hand breaking. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Landring. Or should I say wizard?”
Karl laughs gleefully. “Karl is fine. There’s no need to worry about formalities here, especially in the presence of an empath.”
Karl releases Victor’s hand, and Victor tries his best not to see if his hand is broken. Victor gives Leo a confused look and mouths, “What does he mean by that?”
Leo notices and answers, “What Karl means is that Empaths are highly honored by those who don’t fear them. Sometimes, they are introduced as Empaths, just as you were introduced a moment ago.”
“Seems a bit overkill, doesn’t it?” Victor responds.
“We’re a bit traditional,” Karl smiles widely. Using his Air Magic, he reaches for a chair, sliding it beside Victor. “Here, take a seat and watch for a moment. I’m going to show you your first spellcasting.”
Victor gives Leo a baffled expression. Leo just smiles and shrugs, as if he were saying, “Just go with it.” Victor takes his seat at the edge of the light. Leo moves to another edge of the light, directly across from Karl.
Karl takes his spot in the center and places his hands on his hips. “Tonight, my young empath, I will show you how to use Air to counter a Fire attack. Now, I know what you’re thinking, ‘Doesn’t Fire need Air to survive?’ The answer is yes. But what if you can take the Air out of the Fire?”
“Doesn’t that seem a little advanced for him?” Leo queries. “This is his first magic lesson.”
Karl shows off his pearly whites and replies, “He’s an empath. He’ll be able to pick up faster than you can say, ‘Bitch better have my money.’” Leo rolls his eyes at Karl’s “impressive” dance moves.
Karl rolls his shoulders and cracks his neck. He looks over at Leo and gives a nod. Leo places his hands to his side and stands up tall. Leo keeps a blank expression as he focuses on creating a fireball. With a few hand and arm movements, Leo hurls a basketball-sized yellow fireball at Karl.
Karl raises his arms and spreads his fingers apart in front of him.
Karl positions his hands with one palm facing upward and the other facing the fireball.
As soon as the fireball is inches away, he flicks his hands above his head and spreads them shoulder-width apart, freezing the fireball inside a faded, cloudlike bubble.
Karl slowly lowers his hands, twisting his wrists. The bubble fills with smoke, engulfing the fireball. He brings his hands together, causing the bubble to pop and the smoke to evaporate as it’s released.
Leo throws two more fireballs at Karl. Using the same hand and arm gestures, Karl adds a little twirl, as if he were dancing, to combine the two fireballs into one bubble. Then he pops the bubble. Leo takes a new stance and uses a flame-throwing spell at Karl.
Karl turns his body sideways and leans back, avoiding the flame flying by him.
He opens his arms wide, along the length of the flame, and then twists his wrists and hands upward as if he’s trying to lift a log.
He creates the same faded cloud bubble that stretches the entire length of the flame, cutting it off at Leo’s palms.
Karl twirls as he jumps and tosses the flame above his head.
As the flame spins around in the air, Karl drops his arms and makes fists with his hands, acting like he’s pulling down on a couple of ropes.
The flame pops like a balloon. Karl turns to look at Victor and takes a bow.
The woman and two men standing off to the side start applauding.
Leo lightly shakes his head and places a hand on his hip. “Show off.”
Karl ignores Leo’s comment and focuses on Victor.
”These spells might seem simple, but it will take some time to perfect.
Come, stand next to me.” Victor walks over and stands next to Karl.
“First, I want you to raise your hands as high as your shoulders and as wide, palms facing each other.” Victor complies.
“Now, I want you to focus on the air between your hands. I want you to see the molecules drifting by. Focus on it swirling around.” Victor focuses as Karl starts to move behind him. Leo takes a seat as he watches.
Karl leans down and softly talks in Victor’s ear.
“Now, feel the air between your hands. As you feel the air, focus on pressing it together into a ball.” Victor starts moving his hands closer together.
Karl stops him and spreads his hands apart.
“No, no. Instinct wants you to put your hands together as if you’re making a ball with your hands.
Don’t do that. Use your energy to create the ball without moving your hands. ”
Victor nods as he clears his throat. He takes a deep breath and refocuses on the task.
Leo perks up when he sees something appear between Victor’s hands.
Victor keeps concentration as Karl smiles.
“Good, keep your focus,” Karl mentions. “Imagine a ball in your mind and manipulate the air into becoming that ball.” Victor’s hands start to shake.
“Remain focused,” Karl says in Victor’s ear.
A moment later, Victor drops his hands and exhales heavily.
Karl pats Victor’s shoulder, “It’s okay. I could see that you were about to create a ball. Could you feel how much energy you were using?”
Victor nods, “Yeah, it almost felt like my body was getting cold inside. Like it brought in the air through my pores, especially around my arms and hands. You know the feeling when a limb starts to fall asleep? But without the tingling.”
“That’s exactly what you’re supposed to be feeling,” Karl explains.
“Every time you cast Air Magic, the part of your body you’re focusing the magic on will have that feeling.
” Karl lifts his index finger. A tiny tornado begins to swirl around his finger.
As it does, Karl’s skin starts turning red from the chill.
“You can also use Air Magic in your feet to jump higher or to kick a burst of air at your opponent. It’s safer on your body than kicking and breaking a foot or leg. ”
Karl does a roundhouse kick and lets off a burst of air from his foot that knocks over a stack of boxes about 30 feet away. “See? But that lesson will come later. Do you think you are ready to try again?”
Victor nods and starts over, trying to create a ball of air between his hands.
As Leo looks on, his phone begins to vibrate in his jacket. He becomes annoyed when he sees who’s calling and walks away to take the call.