Adept

Alright, as I said in the last one, this is a reload and slightly adapted. IF you'd like me to do another one of these with the focus on Sparhawk and Kaltan, just give me a comment suggesting the like and I'll start working on it…. But truth be told I am a shameless Martel addict. And it's not like he gets much attention anyway. pats him then snatches hand away as he tries to bite

This one didn't need much adapting at all, just a few corrections and tweaks here and there.

Sephrenia looked at the array of new little boys she was about to train. New lessons were always painful ordeals. Only later when the sessions became one on one did it become more pleasing. Unfortunately as a group, little boys had short attention spans and loud mouths.

"Calm, calm!" She ordered them wearily, waiting for the talking and the messing about to stop. It never did, and she was old and experienced enough to wait for the natural lull in conversation rather then expect them to eventually grow quiet

However, after a few impatient minutes waiting, her deep blue eyes scanning faces, waiting patiently for that little dip in sound, she began to grow impatient. She pursed her lips irritably. It was one of THOSE groups. A mischievous grin tugged the corner of her mouth.

With a mischievous grin she quietly cast a spell her fingers long practiced with this one…

The novices suddenly all fell silent. She's muted them.
"Now that you're all silent, we can begin.' She said with a half smile, watching the boys fidget, holding their throats, mouths moving silently.

"What's happened to you, you ask?" She grinned at their intense worried gazes. A few nodded. "A simple spell" She explained with mock depreciation, clasping her hands demurely in front of her, watching them with sharp, blue eyes. "I can reverse it… but I want you to listen. I can put it back on just as quickly, so don't even think of chatting as soon as it's lifted"

The boys looked at each other then six sets of wide eyes met hers

"You want it gone?" She pressed. The all nodded feverantly. She smiled and muttered the counter spell

"HOW did you do that?" A dark eyed red head blurted, before cowing back as his five classmates glared at him silently.

She laughed musically "Questions ARE allowed, although I'd prefer you raised your hands." She said to the now thoroughly abashed boy. He nodded meekly.

"That was a simple spell, as I mentioned. I'll go deeper into what a spell is after I've collected your names. But first, I shall teach you the proper greeting. Young Sparhawk…" She pointed to the youth she'd instantly pinned as the next Sparhawk. It was like a repetition of history, many, many times over. She'd trained four Sparhawks in her time. "Here." She directed him to just in front of her.

"Now, a Styric greeting is very simple. Sparhawk, take my hands…" He took her little white hands in his a little nervously. "Turn them palm upward and kiss the palms…"

As usual, there was sniggering. Sparhawk went an endearing shade of red and awkwardly kissed her palms. She smiled, and touched his face, finishing the blessing. He beamed at her, looking a little startled.

"Sparhawk, you can go back to you seats. Thankyou for being brave…"
A large blonde boy elbowed young Sparhawk, murmuring, no doubt, teasing comments to him.

"You all have to do it, so I wouldn't laugh." She pointed a tiny finger at them. The laughing stopped abruptly. "I want you to each come up, greet me in the proper manner and tell me your names." It seemed authoritarian, but her blessings usually always made the mood lighter. She sat neatly on her chair and waited, wondering who would be the first to come up.

She wasn't surprised when the little red haired boy stood up and came out. He knelt in front of her and opened her palms kissing them.

"Martel, ma'am." He greeted. She blessed him. Something had screamed a very quiet warning in her head when his lips met her palm. A premonition, dark- a city on fire, a mousy man, many miles, a flash of blue and a familiar, hideous face, white hair, a glowing apparition… She pushed the images away for now and smiled a façade.

Next were Olvan, a large, heavyset boy, yet so quiet she had him repeat his name, then Jarris then Kaltan, then Kirrid. She gave them vague blessings, mid still following the revelation the first boy had brought on.

However, her thoughts were silenced as she saw him speaking quietly to Sparhawk… Anakha… of course.

"Now- My name is Sephrenia, but the knights here call me "Little mother" I quite like that name, so do feel free to use it." She smiled at them winsomely "Now. What is magic, does anyone know?" Sparhawk put his hand up timidly; she smiled and nodded at him. He stood up.

"Um- magic is… is the power of the Styric gods they let us borrow to do things." He explained, making her wince. Coarse, but at least he sort of knew. She nodded and he sat back down with relief.

"The power of the Gods and Goddess' of Styicum. You ask them, which is the words and the gesture and they respond. Only in very, very rare cases will they refuse.
The problem is, young men, you have to learn Styric. It's a difficult language with many complexities. However, today, to give you a little feel of the magic, a small taste" There was a murmur of excitement. Her students of the past had taught her that classes worked much better if the novices had tried and failed before she went on to formal instruction. "I shall teach you a very simple spell. I want you to create a daisy on the table in front of you."

The groan. She laughed. Mighty novices thinking themselves above creating a daisy. This was the painful time for her, but at the same time, sort of smug. Not one would be able to do it. They never could- it was a good lesson in humility. She pushed on bravely

"The word is 'thaleck' relatively simple- you don't need to specify white, which is 'Remudi Olagess' or size or anything. We're starting off with a daisy because of the simplicity of the word and the creation. Rose, for example is "Limanisdrakeden" much more complicated. Now, repeat word after me…. 'thaleck' "

This continued for a few painful minutes until they all managed to pronounce it correctly enough.

"Now, gestures- please follow after me. I'll do them slowly at first." She moved her hands in the pattern, going through a few times until she was satisfied. It wasn't all that hard, but Kaltan seemed determined to mess up. She sighed.

"Now, all of you try the spell. THINK the word in relation to the picture in your mind of a daisy. Try not to let Elenic get in the way. I'll be with Kaltan if you have problems"

She turned her back as they started a chorus of voices, mostly mispronounced. However, as soon as she opened her mouth to help the lost looking novice, she felt the prickle of magic. She swung back, looking along the line of boys, shocked; she drew a breath and lay a careful hand on Kaltan's desk, murmuring an empty reassurance before casually walking in front of the desks, feigning a tutorial interest.
At last she found herself in front of young Martel, who was critically examining his daisy.
'Have you had lessons before this?" She asked him casually, leaning down

'No… I just did what you said and…" He shrugged, holding it out to her. She took it. Amazed

"Oh- well... well done" she congratualated tightly. She suddenly became aware of everyone was watching her with slightly apprehensive eyes. "Keeps going boys…" She finished lamely. It was impossible, no one had ever done that... not in her time… No, she corrected, one of the Sparhawks, living up to their ultimate grandfather's ability.
She sat back down, twirling the daisy thoughtfully. The tingle of magic tugged her senses again, as he created another, black eyes strangely intent.

Impossible! She looked blankly at the flower. This meant much… a novice picking magic up this quick. He was going to either be very, very good, or very, very dangerous…

A light tap on her shoulder brought her back. Martel stared at her with very black eyes. He held out a white rose to her.
"For you little mother." He said, something kindled in his eyes- something intense. She took the flower.
"You remembered those words?"

"My parents had me schooled. I have a retentive memory for- lessons I like." He said, his voice strangely steely. "Magic fascinates me."

She beamed at him, pushing all those preliminary hunches out of her mind. Anakha… he had a commanding presence. The flashes of the future of the people around him were clouding her thoughts.
She took the white rose and breathed in the scent.

The visions had carried the taint of villainy, but looking at him, she could see no evil in Martel.

But then again, she had been known to be wrong.