Daily Write- Balance on Windmill Hills - Part 3

Ariya sat on the grassy hill, watching the windmills spin. The gentle breeze blew her powder colored hair across her fair skinned face. Pulling the strands out of her eyes, Ariya watched some of the older students off in the distance, practicing air techniques. They had more power behind their techniques and while most spells  relied on hand motions, others were done with just a subtle head turn or a single large breath. Ariya envied them. She had gotten better, but she wasn't as good as the students she was watching. Yes, they had been at the Collegium longer than her, but Ariya really didn’t care. She was never satisfied with where she was. She always wanted to be better, further along, stronger somehow. And she wasn't going to be satisfied until she was the best.

It would be some time before Professor Cohen showed up, so Ariya pulled out her book and started reading again. She had become very intrigued by this Jonathan S. Milstein and she wanted to learn as much about him as she possibly could. Born during the Wars, Milstein was like many others who served in the military as a battle wizard. He had been decorated numerous times for his abilities in strategy. It was quite obvious that he was a very powerful and very knowledgeable element wielder, even during his start in the military. But he was very soon set apart from his peers.

The Van-Lyse water wizards are more dangerous than stories give them credit. Using water for destructive magics was something that had been foreign to me until a couple of years ago. Yet the Northlanders have mastered it quite well. The Crimson Hawk met up with the rest of the Varro fleet at our rendezvous point. My group was split so that there were three of us per ship. The formations of the ships were gone over with each captain to ensure the positions of my wizards. Placement is crucial if this is to work. I am counting on the over confidence of the Van-Lyse captains to work in my favor.

Each group knows what they are to do. They have been practicing for weeks. I can only hope to the elements that my plan actually works and we will win our next encounter with the Northlanders. I do not underestimate their strength. I just don’t believe it will be strong enough to endure what they are about to face.

Ariya looked up as she felt the winds shift. Professor Cohen looked down at Ariya, a wide grin playing across her round, ruddy face.

“I see that you found the book on Milstein. I was hoping that was the one you would read first. So have you figured out what a Tempest is yet?”

Ariya shook her head, her white hair swinging gently against her shoulders, “No, not yet, but I’m guessing that Milstein was the first one.”

“Well technically he wasn't the first, but he was the first who was ever seen in a documented battle. And because of that, he will probably always be considered the best. He was known as the Varro Mastermind. A man who  became legend.”

Ariya stared up at Professor Cohen and gave her a confused look,“I don’t understand how this has anything to do with me and balance. You are telling me that Tempests are war heroes. The wars were over before my grandparents were alive. I like the information and all, but I don’t see the connection.”

Professor Cohen let a small grin play across her face and looked out at the sea.

“Once you have read more, you will understand. Unfortunately, these are one of those things that you have to figure out for yourself in order for it to mean anything.”

Ariya grimaced and groaned inwardly. That was one of the things that she hated about magic. Just about everything you had to figure out on your own. No one could just tell you and that be end of it. Professor Cohen’s grinned spread even wider as she looked at her white haired student. She could tell that this assignment had intrigued Ariya and there weren't many things that Ariya showed interest in. It was quite promising. She only hoped that her idea would work and that Ariya would finally grasp what it was that the other professors were trying to teach her.

“Well,” Professor Cohen replied, placing her walking staff on the ground, “There is no need to waste a perfectly good day on Windmill Hills. Let’s get some practice in. I heard from the two Tobias brothers that you have become quite the elementalist these past few weeks.”

Ariya stood and pulled the long strands of her hair back into a ponytail, smiling at Professor Cohen, “Those two go easy on me and then say I’m doing a good job. I’m surprised they even mention our little practice sessions at all. They are nothing really. Just something to keep us creative, keep us thinking.”

Ariya took her place next to Professor Cohen, facing towards the billowing waves of the sea. Ariya took her stance and waited for the Professor. Ariya’s technique started out with more movement and breathing, seeing how she was not yet capable of moving air with her mind. So she moved it physically and let the magic do the rest. As she got better, Ariya would be able to move air just by envisioning the movement.

“I have been told that you have become quite good with controlling one “whip” of air with each of your hands, Ariya.  Today we are going to practice how you can control  up to eight. And then once you have the hang of that, you will be able to split them into sixteen. Very good offensively and quite strong, defensively.”

Ariya turned and stared at her professor, “Sixteen whips at one time? How is that even possible?”

Professor Cohen grinned, “Take your stance and I will show you. Instead of focusing on your hands, you are going to focus the air around your feet. Think of yourself as being the center of a compass and your whips of air pointing out the directions. This takes a lot of concentration, because you not only controlling just the air that you see in front of you, but the air you can’t see behind you as well. You have to see it with your mind’s eye and feel it within yourself. For today, we will see if you can get up to four.”