Magical workings

I'm a bit confused. The image I had in my mind was that of a ball of fire. Spinning particles of sand and debris shouldn't have any part in that. Or did the spell try to create fire by creating that friction?

Surely not. Why create fire through friction when you can just convert magic into fire. Surely the direct conversion is more energy-efficient than some makeshift conversion using the laws of physics. I mean my mp was nearly drained from that one spell and I know a fireball doesn't need that much.

A false conversion?

So if I want to use fireball at my level I need to learn fire magic?

Natural attunement? That's the first time I've heard of it.

Do goblins have any natural attunements?

Then I'll just have to diligently keep practicing to get fire magic. But it's not all bad. In the process of failing to form a fireball, I've discovered something useful.

I reimmerse myself into the pattern within me and picture the image of the sandball from before. Under my spell, the sand and other tiny particles are lifted from the ground and formed into a ball. Using this sand ball to create a fireball through friction is inefficient but using it to blind the enemies' vision is a great strategy.

With just one thought of mine, the sandball is launched forward and as it hits a rock it explodes into a whole cloud of sand. That will definitely get into someone's eye.

Satisfied with my newly discovered spell I turn back to the skeleton mages wanting to see the progress they have made. But instead of practicing as instructed, they are staring at me. Did my failed fireball perhaps catch their attention?

Still, even if watching me is more interesting these guys need to focus on training the meteorite technique I have envisioned. Watching me will do them no good!

Oh, shut up Navi. Only through diligent training will they improve.

Ignoring Navi I advise the skeleton mages.

"Don't slack off! You are the bosses of this floor so you need to have the strength to back it up. If you manage to incorporate that rock into your fireball you will be one step closer to that state. Don't you want to be a true boss monster that defends the dungeon against hundreds of intruders every day?!!"

My words seem to have reinvigorated their spirit and they resume their chanting while each holding a small rock to be integrated into the fireball.

This time I don't look away or do something else but continue to observe the skeleton mages as they are silently casting their spells. It's a little boring to just watch them stand there clutching their canes but I manage.

Finally, they finish their chants and fireballs begin to appear in midair. I frown seeing them still holding the rocks but stop myself from intervening this early. They need to try some things themselves.

Only when the fireballs are completely formed do they throw the rocks into the flames. The rocks pass clean through and fall onto the ground. The fireballs grow unstable and the skeleton mages hurriedly fire them into the distant stone wall to avoid harming themselves.

After failing miserably they turn to me as if to say that my idea wasn't working. I only laugh at their short indulgence of my idea and begin to explain.

"You will have to try more than once. Maybe ten times or maybe a hundred. New spells aren't born from single attempts. For example, try tossing the rock earlier and letting the fireball form with the rock as the core. Throwing it in after the fireball is fully formed won't do much good."

They nod in understanding and take a moment to think. Seeing their empty eye sockets deep in thought feels weird. After all, I am observing something I can't see.

I give them time to think while I create seventy rock needles with my magic. Before I'm finished they begin another attempt which also ends in failure. They still seem discouraged by the failure but take it better than the first time.

After their third failed attempt I stop them and hand each of them ten rock needles. They accept them but clearly have no idea what to do with them.

"Take these and once you have mastered using rocks as the cores of your fireballs try using these rock needles. It will certainly create new difficulties and for now, you each only have ten tries but I am sure you will grow with the challenges that present themselves to you."

And with that, it's time to move on to the next boss room. Sword grounds, here I come.