Cherry’s body felt light after resting the whole day. Miraculously, she didn’t feel so refreshed even after her regular day off from classes. But today of all days, she just felt normal once more. She couldn’t pinpoint what was different. She fainted a few times during the class, but only felt more exhausted afterwards, never the opposite. The only difference she could pinpoint, although a bit reluctantly, was the presence of a certain Duke.

Shaking her head of the thought, she resolved to just enjoy the normalcy. There would be no thoughts of His Grace. Not when she finally could keep her back straight and her mind clear.

Or so she thought.

And she would have made it possible, if only the Lord was not the one new constant in the classes. How was she not think of him, if he was right in front of her! For hours at that!

Luckily for Cherry, there was no practical part of the Lord’s lessons as of yet. He went over basics, in his calm and soothing voice - at least as far as Cherry was concerned, her classmates not so much. It was explained with less words but somehow that much more clearer than the instructor’s lengthy monologues.

It wasn’t long before the class felt more comfortable meeting the Duke every day. They felt more daring by hour, the desire to show off and graduate was immense. That was why they were there after all. And what better chance to level up than to show the Duke himself while he was substituting the instructor.

“What about practical? The theory is fine and useful, but it’s of no use if we cannot apply it,” Pete, the most confident of the bunch called out.

The Lord gave him a freezing stare, after all, Pete did talk without being called upon. But after short second, which made Pete’s face contort in palpable pain, he gave a nod of ascent.

“Very well.” The Lord said at last and followed by words everyone expected the least, “Cherry come up for demonstration.”

Cherry’s face paled as much as Pete’s at that moment. Demonstration, her of all people?! Of all students! The voice sounded anything but soothing out of nowhere, as he beckoned her over once more.

“We don’t have all day.”

She made her way with heavy feet. The dread swelling up inside her, filling every nook and cranny of her being. She stood in the middle of the class, breathed in and breathed out. A low chuckle wanted to erupt behind her but died before it could. But she paid it no mind, she learned to not listen. She held her palms up, readying the image of small steady flame, just the size of closed fist. Steady and warm.

“No. That won’t do.”

The interruption baffled her, she hadn’t even started yet.

“Magic is a thought expressed. What is in your mind?”

The answer came after a hesitant moment, “A-a flame?”

“And?”

“Small flame,” she added. The look on his face didn’t change one bit, prompting her to go on, “Small flame …the size of closed fist.” Still no reaction. “S-steady and warm.” She finished her mantra. The one she repeated every time.

Seeing there was nothing more to add, the Duke continued, “And what does it feel like when you use that thought?”

Her eyes blinked slowly, taking in the question. What did it feel like? Pain. Dread. Like a fight. A war. “Bad,” she answered in a whisper.

She saw corner of his mouth twitch, something between smile and grimace. 

“Be more exact.”

“It… it feels like I’m fighting… I mean … with it… I think.”

“Right,” the Duke nodded, “Don’t do that.”

She blinked her eyes, once more, very slowly. Confusion written on her face.

“Don’t fight it. Magic shouldn’t feel like a fight, if done right. Leave out the nit-picky control for now. For a novice like you, it’s unnecessary afterthought. Guide it into the shape you want, without using force.  Let it do what it wants for now. Just get the feel of it first.”

Cherry gave a hesitant nod, before returning her attention to her palms and her image. She took a deep breath in-

“Maybe move a bit to the window.”

She looked over, puzzled. After a short silence, she wordlessly made her way to one of the windows, one that always shone light on her desk on far edge of the classroom.

“A bit to the side,” the Duke gestured until she was pretty much at the farthest side of the room, the window behind her back, she faced the whole room like so. “Good. Go on.”

A buzz erupted among the class, discussing whether the location had some magical properties and whatnot, but once Cherry moved her attention to her image, all was quiet. She didn’t look up to see the freezing glance the Lord gave the class. She looked at her empty upturned palms, imagining the flame. The small and steady flame - that was all she wanted. All she wanted the mana to do. The flame flickered into life, just as before, and just as before she strained to hold it in place - it was like trying to pull an ox which has decided to stop mid-track. 

“Don’t fight it,” the Lord reminded.

It was easier said than done. Not fighting wasn’t something she knew how to do. She barely understood that what she was doing, was a fight in the first place. The flame flickered mockingly at her, a bead of sweat making it down the side of her face. It was very distracting to see it laugh at her so, not abide to her will. Cherry closed her eyes to escape, maybe having less sense of what was happening would allow her to just let the mana do it’s thing.

It helped, rapidly so. The switch was almost instantaneous. Her breath, which she forgot she was holding, came and left freely. The cram in her fingers eased. Even the Sun shone brightly in her face, showering her in a warm glow.

No. That was not right. The window was behind her, there was no way to feel sun rays on her face. Puzzled, she cracked open one eye.

A classroom of ravaging blaze greeted her. The flames licking everything like a happy dog. It was warm but not burning, despite the fiery sight engulfing her. 

“Good,” came voice from amid the flames. Only then did Cherry notice that the people present were exempt from fire by a thin layer of crispy air, giving them eerie blue glow. The voice of the Lord went on, “Concentrate on what you’re feeling right now. That is how magic should feel like. Remember that… Now cut the flow off.”

Cut it off? How? She questioned with her eyes.

“Imagine it. It not something that’s difficult once you give it a try. You never actively terminated your magic with our own will, so it might feel strange. Simply feel the mana, its flow, and then imagine-good, yes.”

The flames went out just as fast as they came - leaving the room in a stuffy quiet.

“What… how?” someone asked at last. “She has little to no mana! What was that!”

“Where did you get that idea?” the Lord questioned. When he heard the instructor’s name being uttered, he grimaced, “And where is he now? That should be plenty of answer for your question.” He gave a nod towards the stupefied Cherry and she made her way back to her seat, one surprised step after another, “Quiz time. What did Cherry just demonstrate?”

“A fluke!” someone grunted.

“Someone with a reserves as big as Cherry would have no problem keeping that flame up for a week straight.” The Lord scoffed, “The point was,” he didn’t bother waiting for their insight, “Fighting your mana is not advised and has adverse effects for the Mage. Never go against the flow using with brute force of your will. Although admirable, it’s unhealthy in long term. There are techniques meant for that. Our job is not to mold and shape mana, it’s to guide it to a shape. Mana is a natural phenomenon larger than any of us, it cannot be forced. Only gently nudged in a desired direction.”