Shady Oak

I shiver as a chilling breeze blows through the outside hall. Why does the wind have to be so cold and ruin a nice spring day? As if to lift up my mood I hear a familiar bark.

“Is that?” I ask looking out towards the courtyard. A familiar black shape runs into my vision. “Pit pupper!” I exclaim stepping into the courtyard.

The hound runs up to me. Once they reach me they raise their front paws onto my shoulders and begin to lick my face. I did not like the roughness of the tongue, but I love these puppers so I cannot be upset.

“You’re such a happy boy!” I cheer rubbing the hound’s face with my hands. “Yes you are!” I say. The animal lowers itself back on all fours and begins to run in a circle in front of me. “Someone has the zoomies!” I cheerily respond before I pet the hound’s head between the ears. I put my free hand into my pocket searching for something to throw. There! I pull out the wand instructors think I should use and toss it into the grass. “Fetch boy!” I yell to the hound.

The pit hound sprints towards the wand almost looking like a cheetah running down a gazelle. The happy animal quickly returns to me with the wand in mouth and drops it at my feet clearly wanting me to throw it again. All too happy to oblige!

I pick up the wand and toss it once more. The hound runs to retrieve it and returns it to me. We continue this a few more times.

“It is truly surprising how much these pit hounds like you.” Jezel’s stoic voice says from behind me.

“Oh hello again Jezel.” I say turning around. I almost do not catch that the hound has returned and dropped the wand once again. “What brings you here with a hound?” I inquire the servant.

“Yes, hello Applicant Yamakuma.” The stoic woman greets me with a slight bow. She stands back up straight. “I am here simply to check in on the young master.” She answers my question. “Now Fontaine.” The woman says looking at the hound next to me. “We are here to see the young master, not this girl.” She orders the dog. The hound barks in confirmation and walks to the woman’s side. So his name is Fontaine, good to know. “Now if you will excuse us Applicant Yamakuma.” Jezel finishes with a slight bow before turning around.

The servant and pit hound walk off towards the building I had just left leaving me alone in the courtyard. The wind blows reminding me it is still cold out here.

“Ahhhhh!” I yell surprised by the cold. I shiver myself to warm up walking back to the pathway to where I was originally going.

-- -- --

“You know,” I muse looking over at my roommate. “I never asked you what elemental affinities you have and how much potential you have with them.” I continue watching her begin to work out on her bed.

“We’ve been roommates for almost three years and you never thought to ask?” She inquires while doing her crunches.

“That’s why I’m asking now!” I reply in defense.

“Water and wood.” She answers. “Moderate potential in both.” She adds.

“You could’ve joined the mage division with potential like that.” I say surprise slipping into my voice. Birta stops her work out and lays on her bed for a moment. She turns her head to look at me.

“Yeah, but I prefer the simple physical answer to problems.” The teen says with a sigh. “Besides how many ogres join other divisions besides the fighters?” She inquires trying to deflect. Before I can say anything she begins her workout once more.

“There’s Cornall in the trappers for one.” I reply to her deflection. “Then there’s Hildra and Frent in the tracker division of course.” I continue.

“I get your point.” The ogre replies annoyed that I actually answered her question.

“If you want, I can teach you some magic.” I say with a smile.

She stops her crunches once more before she speaks.

“What makes you think you can even teach me anything?” Birta asks me. I am unsure if it is insecurity or annoyance why she is asking me that.

“I think I might be uniquely qualified to teach you actually.” I answer. “I can understand the way water and wood interact with each other and other elements better than anyone else.” I explain standing up to my feet.

A silence fills the room until finally after what feels like an hour, Birta replies and stops her workout again.

“Fiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiine.” Birta says defeated. “You can teach me a few things.” She adds.

“What kind of things do you want to learn?” I inquire the teen while I step over to my desk in the room.

“Water and wood spells.” She replies shrugging.

“Well obviously, but there’s a lot of things I could teach you.” I respond looking around my desk.

“Simple ones?” The teen says uncertain of an answer. A sigh escapes my lips both because of the lack of ideas from her and because I do not actually have anything to write with or on.

“Okay, we’ll go with something I think that could help you.” I say walking away from my desk. “Now I want you to close your eyes.” I instruct while I stop and stand in between our beds. The teen does as instructed. “Take a deep breath in and then a deep breath out.” I continue.

“Isn’t that just meditation?” Birta asks with annoyance.

“It’s to help you center and focus yourself.” I explain before sitting on my bed once more. “Now deep breath in.” I instruct taking in a deep breath myself. The teen takes a breath in. “Good, now deep breath out.” I continue taking a deep breath out. The teen does so as well.

We continue to do this for a short time.

“Now what is the first thing to come to mind when I say wood?” I inquire my new student.

“A door.” She says. I am surprised she just understood to say the first thing to come to mind instead of questioning me.

“Okay, not what I expected to be honest but I can work with that.” I respond trying to hide my surprise. “Alright, focus on the door.” I say collecting myself. “What type of material is the door?” I ask.

“I don’t know.” She replies as a distressed expression crosses her face.

“Don’t worry about it.” I say trying to comfort her. “It would make this easier but you can still learn.” I explain. “Do you know what oak is like?” I inquire. I really should have asked this before we started, but oh well.

“Yeah. Plenty of them in Seruna.” The ogre says still keeping her eyes shut.

“Good.” I sigh in relief. I quickly compose myself once more. “Now I want you to focus on your hands.” I order her.

“Why?” Birta huffs showing her annoyance.

“It’ll make sense.” I reply. “I want you to focus on your hands while thinking about oak.” I explain to the ogre.

Birta takes a deep breath in. And then a deep breath out. I watch in silence until I notice her hands.

“Open your eyes Birta.” I instruct with a smile. She opens her eyes to see her own hands are covered in oak wood. “Congratulations Birta! You’ve cast your first spell!” I cheer while clapping for her success.