Combat Magic Class

The afternoon sun filtered through the high windows of the training hall, casting long streaks of light across the worn wooden floor. The room was large, filled with the soft murmur of students preparing for their next class. The air was thick with anticipation, as today was the day they would discover what kind of magic they could wield with weapons—an integral part of their training as future combatants.

Eogan, Lorcan, and Lirien stood near the back of the group, each eyeing the tall, intimidating professor beside a peculiar device at the front of the room. The device was a long, slender metal rod embedded with glowing gemstones. It stood on a small raised platform connected to a series of runic circles on the floor. The professor—Professor Saevin—was a tall, grizzled man whose sharp eyes seemed to pierce through anyone who met his gaze. His long black coat billowed as he gestured for the class to gather around.

"Today," Professor Saevin's low and commanding voice echoed across the hall, "we will determine your potential to harness magic through a weapon. Every one of you has some potential for magic, but not all of you will be able to wield it in the same way. This device"—he waved a hand toward the strange contraption—"will measure your affinity for magic when combined with a weapon."

Eogan's stomach twisted slightly. He had been carefully listening to Professor Saevin's instructions since the beginning of the class, determined not to make the same mistake he had in the elemental control class. His last attempt to channel magic had been disastrous, and he had no intention of repeating that humiliation.

Lorcan, standing beside him, shot him a concerned glance. "You're still worried about the last class, right?"

Eogan forced a smile, trying to mask his nervousness. "I just want to make sure I follow the instructions properly this time."

Lirien, who stood beside them, remained silent, his steady gaze speaking volumes. He seemed unfazed by any challenge, and this class was no different.

The professor stepped forward, his expression unreadable. "I'll call each of you up one by one. When it's your turn, step forward and let the device measure your magical potential. You won't need your weapon just yet. Once we know your affinity, I'll have you select the weapon you'll use." He paused, eyeing the students. "There is no shame in failing. Magic is unpredictable. But you must learn to control it for your safety and the safety of others."

With that, he motioned for the first student to step forward. A nervous-looking young man hesitated for a moment before approaching the device. He stood before it and closed his eyes, silently preparing himself.

The device hummed softly, the gemstones lighting up in a pulsating rhythm as the student concentrated. He exhaled, attempting to connect with any magic inside him, but the device quickly faded to a dull glow. The machine emitted a soft, disappointed beep.

The professor sighed. "Your potential is minimal. You may try again later. Next."

The student retreated, looking dejected, and another stepped forward. The pattern continued for several more students, some closing their eyes and focusing, others muttering under their breath, but none of them seemed to have any significant magical potential when combined with their weapons.

Finally, Professor Saevin looked to Eogan, then to Lorcan, and finally to Lirien. "Eogan, you're up."

Eogan's heart skipped a beat. It was his turn. He stepped forward cautiously, trying to suppress the shaking in his hands. He couldn't help but feel the weight of the moment. The device would read his magical potential, but he wasn't sure what it would reveal. His confidence in wielding magic wasn't exactly high.

"Focus," the professor instructed, his voice calm. "Let the device measure your potential. No weapon is needed yet."

Eogan nodded and took a deep breath. He stood still before the device and focused inward, blocking out the fear and the pressure of everyone watching. The elemental control class had been a disaster, but he couldn't let that haunt him. This time, he would keep calm.

The air around him felt still, almost too still, as if the entire room held its breath. He concentrated on the feeling in his chest—the flutter of wind beneath his ribs, the cool air that had always been with him. Wind magic. He could feel it there, urging to be released. Wind magic was gentle, fluid, and yet capable of overwhelming force.

He exhaled slowly, reaching deep within himself. He coaxed the wind to move, letting it flow through his body, his senses attuned to its subtle rhythm. The device began to hum, its gemstones flickering in response. The lights pulsed brightly for a moment before settling into a steady, brilliant glow.

Professor Saevin raised an eyebrow, clearly impressed. "Interesting. Your potential for wind magic is high, Eogan. And it appears your affinity for it with a sword is quite strong."

Eogan blinked, his mind processing the unexpected revelation. The professor stepped back and motioned for the weapons to be brought forward.

"Lorcan, you're next," the professor said, his tone abrupt.

Eogan exhaled in relief, a small smile tugging at his lips. But before he could fully let his guard down, Lorcan broke into a loud, uncontrollable laugh.

"You... you have high potential with a sword?" Lorcan gasped between chuckles. "Oh, this is rich!"

Eogan's face flushed a deep red as Lorcan's laughter echoed through the hall. "What's so funny?" Eogan asked, his discomfort growing.

Lorcan barely contained himself, his shoulders shaking with laughter. "I've seen you with a sword, Eogan," he said through bursts of laughter. "You were—well, you were atrocious! I saw you training with your father once, remember? That was a lesson in frustration!"

Eogan grimaced, feeling the sting of Lorcan's teasing. "Shut up, Lorcan."

The class turned toward them, a mix of curiosity and amusement in their eyes. Professor Saevin raised an eyebrow but didn't comment, choosing to observe the exchange. Lorcan continued to chuckle but managed to regain his composure.

"I'm sorry, man," Lorcan said, trying to wipe away his tears of laughter. "I just didn't expect the device to say that. It's... it's good news, really, but I've just seen you flail with a sword before."

Eogan crossed his arms and glared at his friend. "It's not that bad," he muttered. "My father's just... demanding."

Lorcan gave him an apologetic look, though the grin still lingered on his face. "Right, well, I'll believe it when I see it. Let's just say I have low expectations, alright?"

The professor cleared his throat, bringing their banter to a halt. "Enough, Lorcan. Step forward."

Lorcan finally composed himself and stepped toward the device, his face grave as he readied himself. He didn't make a joke as he had with Eogan. Instead, he stood still, focused, letting the device scan him for his magical potential.

A soft hum filled the room as Lorcan's potential was measured. When the device lit up, it flared brightly with a deep, fiery glow. The room seemed to grow warmer as the fire magic surged.

"Interesting," Professor Saevin remarked, eyeing the device. "It seems you have a natural affinity for fire magic. And a strong connection to it with a bow. Let's see how you wield it."

Lorcan nodded, grinning. "I knew I had it."

The professor motioned for the weapons to be brought forward, and Lorcan selected his bow from the rack. He nocked an arrow, aimed at the target, and released it. Instantly, the arrow blazed with fire, leaving a trail of flames as it flew. The arrow hit the target with a force that caused the target to splinter and catch fire.

Professor Saevin nodded with approval. "Good. You have great potential for fire magic with your bow. Control is key, though—fire is volatile."

Lorcan smiled proudly, but his grin softened as he turned back to Eogan. "See? I told you magic was more my speed than swords."

The professor shifted his gaze to Lirien, who had been quietly watching the others. Lirien's serene expression didn't change as he stepped forward, his slender form graceful and poised. He stepped up to the device, waiting for the scan.

The device hummed once more, and for a long moment, there was nothing. Then, a soft golden light radiated from Lirien's body, and the device flared to life with an almost ethereal glow.

Professor Saevin's eyes widened. "Regenerative magic," he murmured, more to himself than anyone else. "Self-regeneration with any weapon…"

Lirien didn't respond, but his expression was calm as always. With fluid motion, he selected the spear from the weapon rack and held it out before him. As he did, the golden light seemed to flow through the weapon, and he made a swift thrust toward the target.

The spear hit its mark with remarkable speed, the force almost too much to comprehend. But what was more incredible was how Lirien's body seemed to repair itself as the golden light pulsed and healed a small cut he had inadvertently caused on his arm.

The room fell silent, everyone stunned by the magnitude of Lirien's ability.

Professor Saevin finally regained his composure. "A rare and potent gift. Self-regeneration combined with any weapon. Very powerful."

Lirien nodded slightly, still calm. "It's just what I can do."

Eogan and Lorcan exchanged a look of awe. Lirien's magic was unlike anything they had seen before.

The professor took a step

back, giving the students a moment to reflect on what had just happened. "Very well, everyone," he said, his voice stern once more. "You've shown potential. Now, choose your weapons and begin practicing. We will see how you control what you've discovered."

The class broke into activities, with each student moving to select the weapon they felt most attuned to, their magical potential now clear. Eogan stood still for a moment, thinking about what had just happened. He might have been mocked by Lorcan, but at least for once, something had gone right.