Everyone in the room seemed to find our teacher at the same time and a collective hush fell upon the training ground. Now that I wasn't significantly distracted and nervous like the first css I could count eleven Acolytes in total with between three and five guards each. This made for a rather rge css even though there weren't that many of us.

  "Well it's good to see no one is being tardy today!" Vanaress called out. "Now everyone make sure you have a aisle cimed for spell casting, we won't be doing anything too special today but that doesn't mean you can sck off. You may not be guards but that won't stop me from giving you push ups to do. That goes double for you Vattares, I can find an equally interesting workout for you."

  Tayatt defted slightly now that she had to move away. Penatra was taking the aisle right beside me so she'd need to cim the one after.

  "Meet for dinner." I asked as a way of mediation.

  The lion woman gave me a thumbs up as she made her way over to the free aisle.

  "Ladies I will be giving you a free pass to practice any spell you can comfortably cast without draining all of your Mana while I give out resident male a catch up. That being said if anyone leaves here with their entire Mana battery empty yesterdays punishment will look like a vacation in comparison."

  A few of the other Acolytes shivered slightly at the threat.

  "Now begin!"

  There was a chorus of shouting as each Acolyte began to throw different coloured projectiles at their targets, none seeming to want to catch Vanaress attention. Our wearwolf teacher gave a p around just to make sure everyone was practicing before making her way over to my little group. Two of her guards followed almost in sync behind her while her other two stood by the door. It was interesting to note my teacher was half a head taller then each of them.

  When she finally made her way over instead of coming up to me like I thought she would she walked calmly up to Aria. My angel flinched but stood tall against the wearwolf woman.

  Sapphire pulled me closer to herself but made sure she wasn't directly blocking Vanaress from coming up to us.

  "An angel. Interesting choice for a second guard." Vanaress mused. The two women stood almost the same height and seemed to dwarf everyone else. "But I expect you to be armed at all times when protecting your Acolyte, and I don't see any weapons on either of you."

  Aria didn't respond verbally but summoned her bastion shield in one hand and her quintuple barrel in the other. Vanaress's guards all flinched and went for their own weapons but didn't draw them. Their mage on the other hand didn't seem to move a hair.

  "Interesting. A storage mutation."

  Seems it's a well known one. Although now that I think about it no one mentioned each mutation too unique so I'm guessing there are a lot of double ups.

  "But you can't be expecting to carry your other guards weapons at all times." Vanaress said aiming it at Sapphire who currently looked unarmed.

  In response my mia summoned her own sniper rifle then let it vanish.

  "You pick guards with the same mutation?" Vanaress asked me with a slight bit of disappointment.

  "No ma'am. I somehow have the ability to let my guards share their mutations with each other."

  That finally got a reaction out of the wearwolf. "Oh. That is interesting." Her fangs were revealed as she smiled down at me. I did my best not to fidget under it but struggled slightly.

  Vanaress let out a low ugh. "Liliana said you would be different. Although I wasn't expecting that if I'm honest. Your guards will still be required to have their sidearms visible on their hips as a deterrent more than anything. Would rather not have to deal with some horny creature thinking you were just 'pying Acolyte' and making a fuss."

  That made a bit of sense, every other guard in the room had their own guns either in their hands or slung across their backs. Made us look a little bare in comparison.

  "Forgive us Mage Vanaress. We simply wanted to travel light and use our mutations. We didn't want to cause any problems." Sapphire apologized with a slight bow.

  Vanaress just waved her off. "It will be you that has to deal with more especially with only two of you. You will have enough to deal with already with a male Acolyte so I would advise minimizing the risks."

  Sapphire bowed again and the wearwolf moved to the side of the aisle. "Now shall we begin?"

  "Ah yes instructor."

  "Good. Now first things first. What has Liliana taught you already? I would rather not waste time saying things you already know." Vanaress asked or more correctly ordered.

  Sapphire moved a step away leaving the two of us.

  "Not a lot. She taught me how to keep my shield active and how to monitor my Mana battery during our trip here. Her focus was on making sure I was defensive but also mentioned something about switching strategies if my Mana reached half."

  Vanaress let out a snort. "That sounds like her. I disagree with her assumption though. Your guards should be able to remove any problem regardless of your Mana capacity. Do not endanger yourself just because you have low Mana. If they can't I would suggest retreating."

  I nodded to show I'd heard her.

  "So let's start with the basic attack spell. No matter your specialization everyone can cast this." Vanaress followed this up by throwing a colourful orb into my shield. It fshed and she gave a satisfied nod. "Think of something like a bullet or try copying what I just did. Your Mana should bring it into existence, if not try using words to help. It's not needed but can get you started."

  Basic spell. Okay. I can do this.

  Think bullet? No that didn't quite feel right to me. My shield was a copy of Earth fantasy so maybe I could do something simir for this?

  I thought back to all the games I've pyed trying to best pick one that I could accurately envision. Lots came to mind but one stuck out so much more than the rest.

  Holding my hand forward like I was holding a tennis ball I brought up everything I knew about this spell and with a hope and a prayer I shouted.

  "Magic missile!"

  Three red balls shot out in quick succession each hitting the target in the same spot even though they seemed to move in different ways to get there.

  I did it. I just cast my first spell.

  I let out a cheer as I did it again just to make sure it wasn't a fluke. Again the three balls of red light seemed to materialize in my hand and fly off towards the target, each spinning in wild directions but hitting the exact same spot each time.

  All that time pying dungeons and dragons was paying off.

  I was definitely feeling a rush right now and it only made me want to try more. Without asking my teacher I brought my other hand around and yelled out another spell that came to mind.

  "Eldritch bst!"

  Instantly a purple light fshed in a straight line down the aisle, missing the target and hitting the far wall.

  Crap. Forgot magic missile hits regardless and Eldritch bst has to be aimed. My Mana really was bringing my fantasies into being.

  "Impressive. Liliana was right about you being a fast learner, but tell me where did you see those spells being cast? I've never heard them before." Vanaress asked seeming to actually be impressed.

  "Ah well it's an Earth game I use to py that they come from. Easy to envision because I always use to wish I could do them for real." I answered while embarrassed.

  Vanaress just gave me a smile the showed off her teeth. "You should not be embarrassed with something that gives you an advantage. Remember this. Mana will do what you tell it to do long as you are very clear. Any hesitation could screw up a spell with explosive results. You however seem to adapt quickly and already have two spells that most Acolytes take weeks to learn by watching others."

  I'd rather not blow up. Again.

  "But even with a clear mind remember everything has a cost. You might have a specialization in casting but it will still drain you. Never let it run out!"

  "Is there a way to determine what my specialization is?" I asked out of curiosity.

  "There are ways to eliminate what's not your specialization but that will be our next lesson in the cssroom. For now keep practicing your spells but remember..."

  "Never let my Mana run out." I finished when I realized she was waiting for me to say it.

  "Good. Now can I borrow your mia for a second?"

  "Ummm sure?" I said kind of surprised.

  Vanaress looked at Sapphire. "Five aisles down can you shoot their target."

  It wasn't a question more of a taunt.

  Sapphire took the challenge bringing her sniper out and putting a round through the range and hitting the specified target all in less than three seconds. A shriek came from the Acolyte in the aisle before they started casting more spells. Evidently they'd stopped, not that I noticed so how the hell had Vanaress?

  "Now I think that concludes you private lesson, send one of your guards if you have a question but for now keep practicing without draining your Mana."

  "Thank you." I offered her a clumsy salute somewhere between what Earth does and their one where you bring it over your heart. Going to have to learn that faster.

  My teacher just hummed, amused by my dispy and left to make sure everyone else was still practicing.

  "That woman is terrifying." Aria whispered when she thought Vanaress was far enough away.

  "You're scared?" Sapphire directed. "You're the same size as her. Imagine how we feel."

  "I think she's just trying to get the best out of us." I added throwing another round of magic missiles at the target. It wasn't looking the best right now. "I've had teachers that have cared less. Plus it ultimately looks good for her if everyone in her css successfully graduates."

  "I guess that's correct." Sapphire gave in as she pressed a button beside us that brought the target closer. It had definitely served its purpose and was not holding together well. My mia quickly repced it with another then pressed the button again and the target returned to its previous location.

  "Fear is a wonderful motivator." I said offhandedly, more to myself than anyone else.

  With a fresh target I took stock of my Mana battery and could feel it around two thirds full. Plenty to keep going with. I briefly thought of casting fireball just to test it out but thought better of it. Would rather not have to expin to Vanaress why my Mana was almost empty, better to stick with these two for now.

  "Eldritch bst!"

  The purple light fshed again this time grazing the target. Better but not good enough.

  "You mentioned that this spell was from a game you pyed on Earth?" Aria asked as I sent another down the range.

  "Yeah dungeons and dragons. It's kind of like a board game I guess if you have those out here?" I said back this time sending my magic missile spell trying to target different locations on the target with each orb.

  "And a board game gives you the crity of mind to cast a spell on your first try?" Aria sounded very doubtful.

  "It does if you've also pyed a video game of the board game and dedicated a night each week to py it for the st two years." If you don't count the amount of times someone had to cancel. "It's why I didn't really fight when Liliana came to get me. I wanted nothing more than to be able to actual wizard. Not that you guys call us that."

  "Doesn't sound that much different to every species out here then." Sapphire ughed. "Everyone wants to be a mage for one reason or another. Most make do with being a guard just for their own mutation."

  Aria nodded in agreement, rolling her shoulders at the same time to stop them getting stiff.

  "Plus the benefits are very nice." I said with a wink to Sapphire.

  My blue mia stuttered over her next words, a blush clear against her skin. Aria chuckled at her expense.

  "Shouldn't you be practicing?" She choked out to try and change the subject.

  I joined Aria with my own ugh but did as requested.

  Penatra watching us out of the corner of her eye, a smile forming on her lips as she cast her own spell. Hers was a dark yellow that didn't seem to go all the way to the target visually yet still left a dark smudge as it hit. She also wasn't using an incantation. Could I do the same?

  One way to find out.

  This time without talking I focused oth the target envisioning the three red balls from magic missile hitting its head. The effects were not what I had expected.

  Instead of three like I was casting a level one magic missile a torrent of fifteen unched out one by one without stop, each making contract but hitting very different spots until I forced my hand closed. That seemed to be mental que to stop the spell. A little slow on my part.

  Neither of my guards showed any worry at my dispy, probably because my Mana was still above half but I definitely felt the slight strain in my chest. Having the Mana still doesn't mean I can cast until it's out. At least for now.

  "Try hand movements." Penatra called out. "Easier that yelling out to your opponents what you're about to do but same as speaking it's just to help you focus. It's not actually needed."

  She followed this up with another one of her own attacks with a flick of her wrist. "Takes time to get use to but do them both at the same time and you will just naturally use that spell when you do the hand movements."

  Simple in practice.

  Trying again I opened my hand like I was holding a ball and called out my spell. Like before three red orbs flew to the target. So I've got that down pretty well.

  Switching it up I opened my hand and thought the spell. Again the torrent of magic missiles flew out only stopping when I closed my hand.

  Not bad, could definitely use some work.

  "Watch your Mana John." Sapphire mentioned.

  That was probably for the best as I'd burnt through almost half already just with what I'd already done. Not going to lie I was really happy with my progress. I mean it wasn't like I was about to teleport anyone out of a pnets atmosphere like a certain dryad but it was a far cry more than I could do a few days ago.

  Smiling to myself I refocused. I could burn through another quarter of my Mana for practice and that would leave my st little bit to keep my shield up so I wouldn't get in trouble. Oh if only my old DnD buddies could see me right now.