Dark Magic

Ranav stepped into Nanima's courtyard, his footsteps crunching softly on the gravel path. The sun bathed the space in warm light, highlighting the rows of neatly tended herbs in the garden. Nanima, crouched near a patch of tulsi plants, was carefully inspecting the leaves for any signs of damage. The air was fragrant with the earthy scent of freshly tilled soil and the sharp tang of medicinal plants.

"You're late," Nanima said, as she glanced over her shoulder.

"Sorry, I caught up with some work at home," Ranav replied, stepping closer. "I suddenly met Ganesh Deolalikar, who came to repair the village chief's house. Since we're planning to build a new house, I grasped the opportunity and took him to finalize our new house."

Nanima straightened, brushing her hands off on her apron. "Okay. I was planning to teach you dark magic today. Did you read any books on dark magic?"

"I read spell books and healing books where I found the darkness element. And dark spells," Ranav answered, a flicker of nervousness crossed his face.

"That's good. Now listen carefully," she said, her gaze locking onto his. "In my opinion, light magic doesn't make one a healer. A true healer is the one who can cast dark magic perfectly in the human body."

She cleared her throat, her expression growing serious. "Dark magic is often misunderstood, shunned for its association with destruction or curses. However, its true essence lies in balance. Where light heals by nurturing and renewing, dark magic does so by purging, sealing, and redirecting the forces within. It is a tool to extract poisons, mend grievous wounds swiftly, and bind fractured energy flows."

Nanima paused, letting her words sink in.

"Imagine a wound infected with a venom that light magic cannot touch," she continued, her voice calm but firm. "It nourishes the body, but the venom festers. Dark magic, with its affinity for the destructive, can target and neutralize that corruption, leaving the body free to heal."

Ranav listened intently, nodding slowly as the implications became clear.

"Dark magic is neither good nor evil. It is a force, and its morality lies in the wielder's intent. Use it wisely, for while it can save lives, misuse can wreak devastation," Nanima added.

She stepped back and raised her hand, dark tendrils swirling from her palm like living shadows. "Now, I'll teach you the first and most important dark spell: Annihilation. A powerful and dangerous spell. Its essence lies in the purest form of dark magic, annihilation. To eliminate an object entirely is to understand its structure, unravel its essence, and render it void. Mastery of this spell requires precision, control, and intent, for the consequences of a mistake could be catastrophic."

She stepped closer, "Annihilation seems a force of destruction with no place in healing. But think deeper. What of a festering infection, a malignant growth, or a parasitic entity feeding on the host? These are enemies of the body, intrusions that must be erased for healing to take root. Annihilation allows you to target these threats with surgical precision, eliminating only the harmful and leaving the rest untouched."

Nanima paused, her tone growing more serious. "Remember, annihilation is not destruction for the sake of it. It is the art of precise removal, ensuring the purity and safety of the whole. The incantation for this spell is 'Kumnyama qeda'. Chant the incantation and cast the spell with me."

Ranav watched as she performed the spell. Ethereal black tendrils began to swirl on her palm, their fluid motion mesmerizing. "Observe my hand and magic," she instructed.

She lightly touched a satvika leaf, and the tendrils flowed over the leaf like a snake, eliminating specks of mud and white spots. As the spell concluded, the leaf gleamed, vibrant and unmarred, standing out from the others.

Picking another leaf, she placed it on the ground. "I don't want you to destroy my plant," she said with a faint smile. "Now, it's your turn to clean this leaf. Do not send dark magic inside the leaf. Clean only the outside."

Ranav took a deep breath, nodding. He chanted the incantation, his voice steady despite the nervous flutter in his chest. As the dark tendrils emerged from his palm, he touched the leaf gently. For a moment, it seemed to work, but then the tendrils surged forward, and the leaf vanished into thin air.

Ranav stared at his hand in disbelief. "I... I destroyed it," he said, his voice tinged with frustration.

Nanima said in a reassuring tone, "Don't be disheartened. It's normal for every mage. After destroying thousands of leaves, pebbles, clothes, and trees, I finally mastered control over my dark magic. You may also have to go through the same process. If your control is lacking, you might cause harm to anyone rather than healing. But as you consumed the voidvine flower, I hope your control over dark magic will be stronger than others."

She stepped back, her tone growing firm again. "Avoid emotional instability. Fear, anger, or haste will taint your intent and lead to mistakes. Remain calm and focused. Excessive energy can lead to collateral damage. Annihilation must be precise, not overwhelming. Until mastered, using 'Kumnyama qeda' on living beings is prohibited. Keep that in mind."

Ranav nodded, determination flickering in his eyes. "Okay. I understand."

"Then begin your training on dark magic control. When you can control annihilation perfectly, we will progress to your next training," she said.

She dusted her hands off and added, "I will go to the shop now. You may go and practice on your own. If you face any problems or have doubts, come to me anytime."

"Okay, Master." Ranav bowed deeply before turning to leave.

As he reached his home, he found his mother busy in the kitchen. "Mom, where are the others?"

"Vivita went to school. Your dad also brought Camilla to the school to discuss her admission with the headmaster," she replied, wiping her hands on a cloth.

"Mom, I'm going to practice some magic and take a bath. If you need me, I'll be near the pond," Ranav said, grabbing fresh clothes and heading out.

The pond was serene, its waters glimmering under the midday sun. Ranav sat on the wooden bench by the stairs, the soft rustle of leaves overhead soothing his mind.

"Jessica," he said through their mind link, "did you see how Master controlled her dark spell?"

"Yes. It's the same as how you control your healing spell," Jessica replied. "You have to practice the dark spell in the same way. Don't follow your master's advice blindly. Everyone has their own path to success. Since you're already familiar with controlling healing spells, dark spells should be easier for you."

Ranav nodded and began focusing. As he chanted the incantation, ethereal darkness appeared on his palm. He tried to shape it into a needle, but the tendrils wavered and vanished.

Groaning in annoyance, he muttered, "It seems I need to do this little by little, just like healing magic. Is there any shortcut?"

Jessica's voice was patient. "Don't be disheartened. Darkness will come faster than healing to you. It's your stronger element, remember?"

"Okay, okay. Don't start now. I know I've eaten voidvine... blah blah blah," he replied, his frustration evident.

Jessica chuckled. "Magic requires patience. You're already progressing faster than those geniuses. If others heard you complaining, they'd beat you for being ungrateful."

Her tone shifted playfully. "Forget magic for a moment. I think we should enlarge this pond and replace the wooden stairs with stone. What do you think?"

Ranav smirked, leaning back. "Good point. If we make this pond bigger, it could provide enough water for daily use. But what about winter? How do we stop the water from freezing in the pipes?"

Jessica sighed. "That's the problem with this world. The forgemasters don't care about the common people. Once you learn forgemastery, we'll figure out a way to help your parents."

Ranav's eyes brightened with the spark of an idea. "We could start a business. There are so many inventions from Earth that don't exist here. If we focus on non-mages, who outnumber mages widely, even the smallest profits could add up to an enormous amount."

Jessica added, "But we have to be cautious. Discuss this with your Master or the Countess before trusting any merchant."