“Wrong.” The disappointment stings. Teacher expects, demands nothing less than the best. “Cast again. From the start.”
Mage looks up as the last of the magic disperses into the air. They’ve been at this for hours and Mage is exhausted, knees trembling as they resume their original posture. “If I could just h-have a moment to rest. Some water.”
Teacher scoffs. “You entrusted yourself to me to develop your power, did you not?”
“Y-yes.”
“And you agreed, did you not, to obey my orders?”
“I did… I did, Teacher…” Mage blinks once. Is their vision getting fuzzy?
“Then we continue, until you’ve mastered this. Now, cast again from the beginning.”
“Yes, Teacher.”
Mage summons energy and willpower, magic dancing between their fingers. Light appears. Exhaustion drags at Mage’s very soul. They do not have the strength to finish the spell.
Without warning Mage’s knees give, and they collapse to the ground, unconscious.
Teacher steps over the prone body, gathering up the stray energies for themselves, to store for later. It’s good that Mage made the choice to trust them. Mage will be Teacher’s personal power source for years to come.
