Magic

The two had lingered on those words for quite some time before Sonia decided it was time to return to the lesson. She pointed to a blank piece of parchment that had been laid on the table between them.

"We'll be focusing on the knowledge domain first. This parchment is not blank. It has been written on with invisible ink by one of our priests. Your task will be simple, you're to read what's written on the letter and tell me."

"But how do I do that? You haven't explained anything yet."

"That is because it's remarkably simply. To cast a spell, as long as it falls within the domains of our God, you simply need to will it into being. Put all of your focus on what you want to happen, if it is working you'll feel a tug in your head, as if your thoughts themselves are being siphoned away. If you've reached that point then completing the spell will be easy."

"For now I recommend holding your necklace as you cast, as the conduit for the magic its presence will make it easier at first. Nonetheless, this shouldn't prove too difficult for you as a Knight."

"Alright then, simple as that I guess." Simon grasped his necklace in his right hand, holding it firmly and closing his eyes. He focused on the paper in his mind, imagining it sitting on the table. He tried shifting the image next, starting to imagine text scrawled on it, written in a way that would be easily legible. He maintained the image for a minute, forcing his mind to focus on it at the expense of everything else. After he felt enough time had passed, he opened his eyes, hoping to see text now flagrantly scrawled across the paper.

The paper was still blank.

"Did you feel the tug?"
"No, nothing, I imagined the paper in my mind with writing on it, I focused on the image. Doesn't seem like that was it though."
"Try thinking more abstractly. The parchment with writing on it is the result, but it is not the process of the magic itself. Do not think of it with writing already on it, but instead focus on the act of revealing of revealing the writing instead."
"Imagine the idea of the writing appearing instead. Ok, guess I'll try that then. Should I still close me eyes?"
"If you think it will help then you may, but you will have to learn how to cast it otherwise. Combat will not be so lenient."

Simon closed his eyes again, looking inward and trying to empty his mind completely this time. He thought not of the paper and not of writing or text, but instead focused on the act itself. He started repeating a mantra in his head 'the writing will be revealed' he repeated. He continued the mantra without luck, there was no tug on his mind nor his thoughts.

Noticing his continued struggle, Sonia interrupted "Remember, it is you causing the act to occur, think of what you want to happen, not the result. You are commanding the magic, not hoping for it."

He was the one in control, the one commanding the magic. He couldn't tell it the result and hope it would somehow achieve it, he needed to tell it what exactly to do, what he wanted it to do. He changed the mantra in his head. Make the writing appear  he thought, focused hard on it. The paper wasn't in his mind anymore, just the idea itself. This was it, he knew it, he just needed to repeat the thought and he'd do it.

A minute longer passed, and the tug did not come. Sonia didn't interrupt this time, seemingly certain he could achieve what he needed with time, or perhaps that any further advice would be fruitless. His thoughts had started to scatter again, wondering what he was doing wrong, what he needed to chant instead, but nothing was coming.

Simon opened his eyes in defeat, sighing loudly as he slumped in his chair. He felt exhausted, his mind pushed to a precipice and forcing itself against a wall that simply would not fall. Sonia hadn't reacted to his failure, seemingly completely prepared for the outcome.

"It seems we'll have to wait before we try again. You are clearly exhausted, I could feel faint traces of magic escaping your body so you were close. I will get you some water."
"Hold on, give me one more try. If I'm leaking magic or whatever like you said then I'm close right? Just let me try one more time."
"I really must insist that we take a break, it won't be long, just enough to relax a bit. Achieving your first casting while exhausted is practically impossible, your mind will inevitably wander. Now wait here and relax, enjoy the sun."

Sonia walked away yet again, trying to find the water she had so insisted on brining earlier. Simon regretted denying her now, his throat was parched and his body overly warm.

Barely any time at all had passed before he heard footsteps again. Simon opened his mouth, preparing to ask her what took her so long but realised the footsteps sounded weren't hers.

"She's pushing you far less than I thought she would. I suppose she's quite scared of losing the Knight saviour she'd oh so dreamed of." Gideon had seemingly been watching nearby. If his bemusement was anything to go by he'd seen it all. "Oops, maybe I said too much there. I do have a guess though, Sonia's not the best teacher so she probably didn't pick up on it, but you're thinking of thinking aren't you?"

Simon looked up at him slowly, creasing his brow yet not agreeing or disagreeing, but his quiet seemed to answer the question for him.

"Tut tut, you can't do that Simon. Sonia said it herself, magic's a matter of will and there's no will in just thinking. The will's in the command itself. It's like this!" Gideon snapped his fingers, the medallion around his neck flashing purple then white then red before returning to its normal sheen. A quill was now lying on the table, seemingly transported from somewhere nearby.

"You know what I did to make that appear? I didn't tell the magic what to do, I didn't think of the result, I just knew what would happen and so it did. Didn't actively think a thing. It's oh so counterintuitive isn't it. Just focus on it happening and it will, but don't focus too hard. Oh, I think that's Sonia coming, got to go then, can't be seen interrupting the lesson you know. Be nice and don't tell her what I said hmm? Bye bye."

With that Gideon bowed and made his dramatic exit. He ran lackadaisically off to the side and hid behind a hay bale very easily within hearing distance.

Sonia was carrying a large pitcher of water and two cups as she returned. She placed a cup on the table for him and poured some out before she sat herself.

"Drink. Your throat must be very dry. You've probably rested enough for another go but will need to rest again afterwards. So drink, get yourself ready, and begin when you want."

Simon's thoughts were still on what Gideon had said. He had been 'thinking of thinking'. He needed to think less. Simon closed his eyes and breathed deep, ready to try again. His breath released, he opened his eyes again and looked at the paper. He kept looking at the paper, his eyes unmoving, staring to bore a hole through it.

A minute passed and he kept focused on staring, another minute and his focus didn't waver, another, and another. Minutes came and minutes went and he didn't move his eyes. Sonia had thought to tell him to break on several occasions by now, but not feeling any magic seeping out from him she decided to wait; if he wasn't exhausting himself it was best he took his time.

For a brief moment Simon entered a trance, his mind so focused on its task that he didn't even realise what he was doing anymore. In that moment the paper was the very first thing on his mind, his eyes perceiving but his thoughts not processing. In that moment his subconscious will acted on instinct. His mind tugged, he could feel it! As he began to home in on the feeling the hand that still held his medallion suddenly burned, causing Simon to yelp as he woke from his reverie.

"Ow, what the hell was that?" Simon looked down at his hand, searching for a burn that he was certain had been left behind. Instead, a single word had been written on in glowing blue ink.

"Your medallion flashed Sir Simon. Do you know what is written on the letter?"
"Um, it's not how I wanted the magic to work, but is it 'Congratulations'?"

Sonia smiled for the first time since they had met.
"Congratulations."