Thomas moved with deliberate precision toward the center of the clearing, his young face set in concentration as he positioned himself roughly ten meters from one of the practice dummies. The target was a sturdy construction of burlap and straw wrapped around a wooden frame, designed to absorb the impact of various magical attacks without immediately disintegrating.
The afternoon sun filtered through the oak canopy above, casting dappled shadows across the packed earth of the training ground. A light breeze stirred the leaves, carrying the scents of wood smoke from the village and the rich loam of the surrounding forest. The other students formed a respectful semicircle behind Thomas, their own magical energies temporarily suppressed as they focused on observing their classmate's demonstration.
Even they're treating this as something special, Aeon noted, watching how the other children maintained careful distances and attentive silence. Lightning magic commands respect even among peers.
Thomas took a deep breath and began his preparation sequence, his movements flowing with the practiced grace of someone who had performed this ritual countless times under Master Kellor's guidance. He placed his feet shoulder-width apart, his left foot slightly forward in a stance that suggested both stability and readiness to move. His knees bent just enough to lower his center of gravity while maintaining the ability to shift his weight fluidly.
His arms rose slowly, the right hand extending forward with fingers spread wide while the left hand drew back near his ribs, palm facing upward. The positioning reminded Aeon of archery stances from his previous life—one hand aiming while the other drew power from some internal source.
Ritualized movement to focus magical energy, Aeon observed with growing fascination. Physical positioning to facilitate mental discipline.
Small sparks began to dance across Thomas's extended right hand, tiny electrical discharges that grew brighter and more frequent as his concentration deepened. The air around him took on the distinctive charge that preceded thunderstorms, making the hair on Aeon's arms stand up despite the distance between them.
Thomas's breathing became deeper and more controlled, each inhalation seeming to draw electrical potential from the very atmosphere while each exhalation released it in carefully measured amounts. His dark eyes focused with laser intensity on the practice dummy, and the sparks around his right hand began to coalesce into something more substantial.
Building charge, Aeon realized. Like a natural storm system accumulating electrical potential before discharge.
The change, when it came, was almost too fast to follow.
Thomas's left hand snapped forward in a sharp, pushing motion while his right hand contracted into a pointing gesture aimed directly at the target. The electrical energy that had been dancing around his fingers suddenly condensed into a brilliant white-blue bolt that crossed the distance to the dummy in what seemed like an instant.
Aeon's enhanced reflexes and infinity-sharpened perception allowed him to catch glimpses of the lightning's path—a jagged line of pure electrical force that carved through the air with devastating precision. But even his improved awareness could barely track the bolt's movement; it was simply too fast for normal human observation.
The impact was spectacular.
The lightning struck the practice dummy dead center with a sound like breaking thunder, though confined to a much smaller space. Brilliant light flashed across the training ground, followed immediately by the sharp smell of ozone and burning straw. When Aeon's vision cleared from the sudden brightness, he saw the results of Thomas's demonstration.
A hole roughly the size of his fist had been burned completely through the dummy, the edges charred and still smoking. Straw smoldered around the impact site, and the wooden support frame showed scorch marks where the electrical discharge had spread beyond its primary path.
Clean penetration, Aeon noted with professional appreciation. Focused energy delivery with minimal collateral damage. Impressive control for someone so young.
The other students murmured appreciatively, clearly accustomed to such displays but still impressed by their classmate's precision. Thomas lowered his hands and stepped back from his firing position, his face showing the slight fatigue that came from channeling significant magical energy.
"Excellent demonstration, Thomas," Master Kellor said with obvious approval. "Your stance consistency has improved considerably since our last session."
Thomas nodded respectfully but didn't speak, apparently needing to conserve his energy after the lightning strike.
Master Kellor turned to address the entire group, his gray eyes sweeping across the assembled students with the attention of someone ensuring his lesson was properly understood.
"What you just witnessed demonstrates several important principles," he began, his voice carrying the authority of extensive experience. "First, that different elemental attributes require different physical stances to facilitate proper energy channeling. The stance Thomas used—what we call the Storm Position—is specifically designed for offensive lightning magic."
Kellor moved into position beside Thomas, mimicking the boy's earlier posture with obvious familiarity. "Left foot forward for stability and power transfer, right hand extended for targeting and energy direction, left hand drawn back to serve as an accumulation point for electrical charge."
Biomechanical optimization, Aeon thought with growing understanding. Using physical positioning to enhance magical efficiency.
"The breathing pattern you observed is equally important," Kellor continued. "Lightning magic requires precise timing between energy accumulation and release. The stance helps maintain that timing by creating muscle memory that supports the mental discipline required for effective spellcasting."
He demonstrated the hand positions again, his movements slower and more deliberate than Thomas's had been. "Fire magic uses different stances focused on circular motions and upward gestures. Water magic emphasizes flowing movements and lateral positioning. Earth magic requires grounding stances with connections to the soil itself."
Each element has its own optimal physical expression, Aeon realized. Magic isn't just mental—it's a complete integration of mind, body, and soul.
"Wind magic," Kellor added with a glance toward the two students who had been practicing together earlier, "uses stances that emphasize balance and rotational movement, allowing the caster to work with air currents rather than against them."
The instructor stepped back from his demonstration position and surveyed the group with professional assessment. "Since most of you are still relatively new to formal training, today's exercise will focus on discovering the current extent of your individual abilities. I want everyone to spread out across the training ground and practice with your respective elements."
Students began moving toward different areas of the clearing, claiming spaces where they could work without interfering with each other's exercises.
"I'll be circulating among you to provide individual guidance and correction," Kellor announced. "Don't attempt anything beyond your current skill level, but do push yourselves to understand your limits. Growth comes from working at the edge of your capabilities, not from repeating what you already know."
Finally, Aeon thought with anticipation. A chance to experiment with my own abilities under controlled conditions.
"Aeon," Kellor said, approaching him as the other students began their individual practice sessions. "Since your attribute is... unique, we'll need to develop a training approach specifically suited to your needs. Why don't you find a clear area and attempt some basic energy manipulation? I'll observe and offer suggestions based on what we discover."
As Aeon nodded and moved toward an unoccupied section of the training ground, he felt a familiar surge of excitement at the prospect of finally exploring his infinity attribute under the guidance of someone who understood magical development.
Time to see what this power can really do.