The sun was slowly dipping below the horizon, casting a warm golden glow over the dense forest. Jack led Clover and Grady on their trusty Hava lizards through the winding paths, their lizard's feet thudding softly on the foliage-covered ground. Clover was taking in the beauty of the forest, inhaling the crisp scent of pine needles and the damp earth beneath their feet.

As they rode on in silence, Clover's curiosity began to bubble up inside her. She turned to Jack, breaking the peaceful quiet. "Jack, can you tell me more about magic?" she asked, her eyes sparkling with wonder.

Jack looked at her and grinned. "Of course, Clover. What would you like to know?"

"Well, what is magic exactly?" Clover asked, eager to learn about something that had always fascinated her.

Jack's eyes glinted as he began his explanation. "Magic is an ability that we inherited from our ancestors. Back in ancient times, it was known as The Gift. Nowadays, the knowledge about it has been replaced with rumors and superstitions. But, theoretically, everyone can use it in some way."

Clover listened intently as Jack continued. "Today, magic has been reduced to a military weapon used by royals and mages. We train and learn to use our Gift for various purposes, especially in battle. One of the ways we use it is to fortify our bodies. By infusing our bodies with magic, we can make our hides tougher and more resilient, and our muscles stronger. This helps us withstand attacks from our opponents."

"Another way we use magic is to increase our reflexes," Jack continued. "By channeling magic through our bodies, we can move faster and react more quickly to our opponent's attacks. This gives us an advantage in battle, as we can dodge or block attacks that would otherwise hit us."

"Lastly, we use magic to decrease fatigue," Jack concluded. "Battling can be physically exhausting, and magic can help us sustain our energy for longer periods. By infusing our bodies with magic, we can push past our limits and fight for longer periods, which can give us an edge in battle."

Clover's eyes widened with amazement as she listened to Jack's explanation. "That's incredible! What kind of magic can I harness?"

Jack looked at her closely and sensed an unusual affinity. "Gifts vary from person to person," he continued. "Some people can control the elements, like fire and water. Others can talk to animals, and some can even read minds. But you, Clover, have a natural affinity for Light and Earth magic."

"Really?" Clover exclaimed, surprised. "What can I do with those?"

"With Light magic, you can create illusions, blind your enemies, and even heal wounds," Jack explained. "And with Earth magic, you can manipulate the ground, rocks, and soil to create barriers, summon earthquakes, or even make plants grow faster, and that's just the beginning."

"What do you mean?" Clover asked.

With a swift gesture of his hand, Jack wove together earth and light magic, into a long shimmering blade made of pure crystal. The blade glowed with both light and earth magic, and it was as hard as steel.

"Our ancestors called this, the Crystalline blade. It will be hard at first, but I do believe one day, you can learn how to make it as well."

Clover's eyes widened with wonder. She had never imagined that she could have such incredible abilities. "That sounds amazing! Can you teach me how to use them?"

Jack nodded, "Of course, but it's not easy. It takes a lot of practice and discipline to master the gift. And you must be careful not to overuse your powers, or you'll suffer the consequences."

"What kind of consequences?" Clover asked, curious.

Jack's expression turned serious. "The gift is not without its drawbacks. The more you use it in quick succession, the more it drains your energy and leaves you exhausted. And if you push yourself too hard, you may even pass out, get sick, or even worse..."

Clover listened intently, taking in every word. She knew that magic was not something to be taken lightly, but she was determined to learn and become a skilled magic user. "I understand, Jack. I'm ready to learn whatever it takes."

"Good attitude, Clover," Jack said with a smile. "I can teach you a few simple spells for now."

Excitement bubbled up in Clover's chest as they continued riding through the forest. She couldn't wait to see what kind of incredible things she could do with her gift.

Clover, Jack, and Grady traveled deep into the forest, leaving the town behind. The further they rode, the more magnificent the trees and forest became. The trees grew tall and straight, reaching up to the sky, and their leaves shone like precious gems in the light.

As they rode, Clover and Grady chatted excitedly about their newfound gifts, eager to explore the limits of their abilities. Jack listened quietly, occasionally chiming in with advice and tips on how to harness their magic.

Suddenly, Jack dismounted his rare lizard and whispered a few words under his breath. In an instant, the creature vanished, leaving the two students in stunned silence.

He explained to Clover and Grady that he had mastered advanced summoning magic, which allowed him to call forth creatures from other realms to aid him in battle.

"Can we learn that?" Clover asked, her eyes wide with wonder.

Jack grinned, "Advanced summoning is one of the hardest gifts to master, it takes years of intense training and a sharp mind. But luckily for you, I have years of experience and I have just the right spell for you. I shall add that technique to your training as well."

Clover and Grady were amazed, and they couldn't wait to learn more about summoning magic and get their own personal lizards.

Jack with a quick gesture, summoned a large lizard, this time the lizard was a rich deep green and it had two majestic rows of sparkling feathers around its head.

"This is a glider lizard," Jack explained. "It can glide through the air like a feather, and it's perfect for traveling long distances quickly."

"I recommend we ride this creature to our destination. And fear not, we should still be close enough to Greywood that your Hava lizards will be able to find their way back home."

Clover and Grady agreed and were thrilled, and they couldn't wait to ride the glider lizard through the forest.

They mounted the creature and soared through the air, reveling in the exhilaration of the wind rushing through their hair and the breathtaking views of the forest.

As they flew higher and higher with each jump, Clover and Grady gazed in awe at the beautiful sights below them. They saw towering trees with leaves that shimmered like diamonds, rivers that flowed with sparking blue water, and mountains that glowed with an otherworldly light.

Clover had never seen the forest quite like this before, her daily routine never allowed for much exploration. "Jack, how big is the world?" Clover asked, her voice filled with wonder.

Jack grinned, "That I don't know, our world is full of incredible and beautiful sights, and there's always something new to discover."

As they continued their journey, they encountered a group of tiny, winged creatures with iridescent wings and slender insect bodies. Jack explained that these were fairy ants, and that they were known for their mischievous nature.

"Be careful around them," Jack warned. "They can be unpredictable and often play pranks on unsuspecting travelers."

Clover and Grady watched in awe as the fairies flitted about, leaving trails of glittering dust in their wake. They longed to interact with the creatures and even considered trying to catch one to make it their pet.

But as they continued on their journey, they realized that there was so much more to see and discover in this world. They were glad they had taken this step in their journey.

Jack landed the gliding lizard on a small clearing, and as they dismounted, he gestured towards a nearby tree.

"Look over there. That's a forest drake," he said, pointing towards the massive reptilian creature that was basking in the sun atop a large branch. "Let's see what you two can do against it."

Clover and Grady exchanged nervous glances, they remembered their last encounter with the drake. Nevertheless, they nodded in agreement, steeling themselves for the upcoming battle.

The forest drake was a magnificent sight to behold, with shimmering emerald scales that glinted in the sunlight, and a pair of sharp, gleaming horns that protruded from its head. It stretched its long neck and let out a hissing roar, warning the intruders to stay away.

Clover took a deep breath, closed her eyes, and focused on channeling the earth aura under her feet. As she began to tap into the magic within her, she felt the raw power of the earth coursing through her veins. But as she tried to shape the magic into a spell, she found it difficult to control. The magic fought against her, as if it had a will of its own. Clover struggled to keep it under control, but the more she tried to shape it, the more it resisted. She felt her grip slipping, and the magic threatened to overwhelm her. Just as she was about to give up, Clover dug deep and summoned all of her willpower. With a fierce determination, she focused all of her energy on the spell, and suddenly, the magic obeyed her commands. She opened her eyes and raised her arm forward, summoning a wave of rocks and boulders towards the drake. The creature dodged some of them, but others hit its body with a loud thud.

Grady charged in with his sword, slashing at the drake's hind legs. He remembered their last battle and was now focusing on softer spots, this time he was prepared to defend Clover. The drake tried to swat him away with its tail, but Grady was quick on his feet, dodging the attack and slicing again.

As the drake's agitation increased, Clover saw a chance to turn the tide of the battle. With a quick flick of her wrist, she conjured a bright flash of light that temporarily blinded the creature. Grady took advantage of the situation and struck the drake's head with his sword, making it roar in pain.

The battle was intense, with the drake fighting fiercely and Clover and Grady using all their skills to stay alive. Jack watched from a safe distance, impressed by their determination and bravery. He knew they still had a long way to go in their training, but he was confident they had the potential to become great wizards.

Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, the drake let out one last roar and collapsed on the ground, defeated. Clover and Grady panted heavily, their bodies bruised and scratched, but their spirits soaring with pride.

"We did it!" Clover exclaimed, a huge grin on her face.

Grady was trying to catch his breath while sheathing his sword. "I can't belive it, we actually did it."

Jack walked over to them, clapping his hands. "Very impressive, both of you. You worked well together and used your skills wisely. I think we have a lot to celebrate tonight."

Clover and Grady high-fived each other, their hearts full of joy and accomplishment. They knew they still had much to learn, but this victory had given them the confidence to face any challenge that lay ahead.

End of Chapter.