Magic Lessons with Grrel
PRP with Grrel :: Word Count: 1047
Grrel napped on the ledge outside her mother’s cave, keeping one eye open on the lookout. She’d been home for a month now and was helping her clan fight off the thieves and watch her mother’s egg clutch. Soon she’d have more brothers and sisters to cherish and defend. She heard steps and lifted her head to see who was approaching. She saw the familiar profile of her friend Brassarril.
“Shaman Toki wants to talk to you Grrel, so your mother pestered me into taking you place guarding her eggs.” He had a put upon expression as he sauntered up and lay down next to Grrel. She snorted, as if Brassarril didn’t love guarding nests; since it gave him an excuse to take a nap... but then that’s why she liked nest guarding too…
“Save it for someone who doesn’t know you Brassarril! You love napping on ledges as much as I do!” She stood and shook herself to stretch her muscles.
“Do you know what the shaman wanted to talk to me about?”“Nah, he didn’t say.” Brassarril grinned up at her and flicked his tail at her,
“Go on! Leave me to my nap! Oh, and don’t tell the short menace where I am! She’s been really annoying lately…” He shifted about until it looked like he was fast asleep... though Grrel knew that he was only pretending, Brassarril never truly slept while guarding, since that would be inviting a thief in. She smirked and sauntered on down to the shaman’s cave. Don’t tell the short menace? As if I’d talk to that irritating Drrilian!
As Grrel entered the cave of the Shaman, she was once again struck by how majestic he was Shaman Toki, though much older than her and blind, still carried himself with confidence and grace. His frills were also impressive and Grrel was jealous of them. She wished she could have such lovely things, but she’d ben born to a different line of blood in the clan than him so she had no chance at them.
“Shaman, you asked for me to come?” She asked respectfully. Toki’s head had reared once she’d entered, and his pale sightless eyes had wandered over in her direction.
“Hrm, yes I did. I’ve been thinking ever since the raid about you and your training. You’ve been of clan territory for many moons and tend to come back only sporadically.” He paused, how to say this in a way to make her understand and not get prissy and block his words…. Grrel was such a troublesome child. Curious and free, she tended to be quite lazy as well.
“
Thinking what Shaman?” Grrel’s tail lashed in anticipation. Was she going to learn more magic? Perhaps something to help her win against those annoying dragons?
Toki sighed.
“Thinking that perhaps you need more training and that I am unable to give you it since you won’t stay here and learn. So instead, I will ram as much information into your thick skull before you leave so that hopefully you’ll remember something and be able to teach yourself more later.” He growled.
“Since you won't stay where I can make sure you practice and learn, I’ll just have to hope you take something away from this session and don’t die before you come back to learn more.”Grrel lashed her tail angrily and snorted.
“I practice plenty! And I train against dragons too!” Toki sighed,
“Fighting dragons is not practicing. It’s fighting. You must first practice so that in combat you can concentrate and cast your magic without thinking. Do it instinctively. As you are now, you have to pause and think before you cast. And that is why you keep losing. Your small pauses are where they will strike and since you are in the middle of casting a spell you haven't practiced enough, they'll hit and hurt you. ” He stood up and rattled his frills.
“Come Grrel. I’ll show you several spells, then you will practice them till you fall asleep. Then tomorrow you will do the same. I may not be able to keep you practicing out there, but while you are here you will practice!” Grrel sulkily followed him as Toki stalked from his cave to the casting area. A large sand filled ravine filled with many fallen rocks upon which to practice. She was happy to learn more, but why did Toki always make her feel inadequate and childish?
The rest of the day Grrel found herself relentlessly drilled over and over again in spells she barely knew and sometimes Toki would switch it up and make her practice the spells he’d already taught her earlier.
When she faltered and became tired and depleted of magic, Toki would then show her how to do it, casually casting the spells she struggled with as he moved like lightning about the fallen rocks. His blindness seemed to not slow him down at all, and he always hit his target. Then, while she ate to replenish her strength and magic, Toki came over and demonstrated how to do each one, in what situations she should do what, and what spells to use against what opponents. He was determined that Grrel would be taught enough so that if she only took one thing away from this lesson, it would lead her to all the others as she practiced and experimented on her own. Each of the spells had something in common with the other, and while her mind may not remember, in a tight spot, he was sure her body would and she’d be able to react on instinct to escape of win.
Next time, Toki thought, I’ll talk to her about her hated towards the bondeds. They are not all stolen, but some are saved and other eggs are given freely. She needs to learn more than just magic to survive, she needs to learn to accept others, their differences, and open her mind a bit. As it is, I don’t think she’ll do well when confronted with bondeds that love their Magescian. I just hope she doesn’t try to attack hem all, though knowing her, she probably already has. Toki sighed as he sensed Grrel stagger off into the cool night. She had the ability to be a shaman, but not the mind nor heart of one. Where was he to find his apprentice so that he could pass on his knowledge and duties?
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