“I have two compelling reasons to accept you here, John,” he began. “First, I know Shira well—your protector carries great esteem among us. Second, your magic power is off the charts, unlike anything I have measured in years in such a young child.”
He paused thoughtfully, then asked, “How old are you exactly? And how long until you turn ten? Your progress is remarkable for someone so young.”
John answered confidently, and the principal nodded. “Very well. Come with me. We are going to test your affinity for the elemental magics—a gift rarely well-developed in humans.. Elves are typically unrestricted, but humans usually show strong alignments to one or sometimes two elements. And we want to know where you will excel.”
The two walked through winding halls to a vast chamber where the walls glistened like polished quartz, reflecting soft light in prismatic hues. In the center stood a hexagonal platform, each side emblazoned with a symbol of an element: fire, water, earth, air, light, and shadow.
The principal gestured for John to step forward. “We will begin with Fire,” he announced. From a chamber above, a small orb of flame descended, dancing like a living creature. John was instructed to reach out and weave his magic to control the flame, shaping it gently and coaxing it to glow steadily without extinguishing or flaring wildly. John’s hand glowed faintly, and the fire orb obediently formed into a miniature phoenix silhouette—soaring and then perching on his palm—much to the principal’s visible surprise.
Next, the principal guided John to the Water side. Here, a large crystalline basin filled with swirling liquid stood before him. John was asked to dip his fingers into the water and draw magic through it. As he did, glowing blue currents spiraled upwards, coalescing into a shimmering sphere above the basin. Then, the water swelled into a graceful, twisting wave that lifted and carried small sparkling fish-like lights circling about. This fluid, living display showcased John’s affinity for water, and the principal’s eyes widened. “This… this is beyond impressive. The affinity here is extraordinary—off the charts.”
For Earth, rough stones in geometric patterns rose from the floor. John was asked to sense their strength and guide it gently to rearrange into a protective barrier shaped like a tree’s roots growing upward. The principal nodded, impressed by the speed and grace of John’s control.
At Air, a gentle wind swirled in a light vortex, challenging John to still and then direct it into a soft but persistent breeze, lifting floating petals and leaves in a mesmerizing dance. John’s effortless mastery brought them to rest as he pleased.
For Light, sunbeams focused through crystals ignited a gentle halo above John’s hand. He wove the light into shimmering, radiant bands that softly illuminated the chamber.
Finally, at Shadow, dark mist curled from a stone bowl. John moved his hands calmly, weaving the darkness into swirling shapes that pulsed rhythmically. The principal studied this carefully—the rarest element to master in any significant degree—before nodding slowly.
“John,” he spoke at last, “your poly-affinity—your ability to draw on all the elements—is a marvel unheard of in typical humans. Especially your water affinity, which is elven in its strength and depth. This makes you one of the rarest cases we have ever seen.”
John’s heart swelled with pride and determination. The test was not only validation but a herald of immense potential yet to be fully realized as he trained within the Mage’s Enclave—a place that would now shape the full power of his extraordinary gift.
John reflected for a moment and even though for some of the spells, it was clear, to which element they belonged, he was unsure if “shield” was of the light element. And what about “spark”? He decided to inquire with the principal.
John’s thoughtful question about the elemental alignment of his spells prompted the principal to consider each one carefully.
“Good question, John,” the principal replied, nodding thoughtfully. “Let’s clarify the elemental nature of each spell you’ve learned so far:
- Fire Spark is indeed a Fire element spell, as it creates a small flame and manipulates thermal energy.
- Water Orb is clearly of the Water element, drawing on fluids and their mutable, flowing properties.
- Shield, while it creates a protective barrier glowing with faint light, is primarily considered a Light element spell. The defensive nature and the radiant aura it produces align with the principles of Light magic—often associated with protection, healing, and purity.
- Light spell, naturally, is tied directly to the Light element, used for illumination and minor radiant effects.
- Spark—the electric bolt you mentioned—is a bit more complex. Though it involves energy discharge resembling electricity, it is typically categorized under the Air element. In elemental magic systems, electricity and lightning are qualities of Air, linked to storms, speed, and kinetic energy. But some scholars like to think of lightning as a separate element.
“So,” the principal concluded with a smile, “your spell repertoire already spans multiple elements: Fire, Water, Light, and Air. This reinforces how exceptional your versatility and affinity truly are.”
John nodded, mentally mapping his spells to their elemental roots, feeling both amazement and a renewed drive to master this diverse spectrum of magic.
John ponders on the information he newly acquired and inquiries about the Umbraxis and the spell it used to capture prey as it did not seem to fit the elements he learned about. The principal falls silent for a moment, his expression thoughtful and measured. This pause gives John a chance to scrutinize the man more closely.
The principal is an imposing figure, quite unlike the youthful, brisk types John might have expected. He is an old, corpulent man with a gleaming bald head that reflects the light of the chamber subtly. His round face is framed by a long, flowing beard that cascades down to his chest in soft, silvery waves, streaked here and there with darker shades—an undeniable sign of his age and wisdom. His eyes, sharp and clear beneath bushy white eyebrows, reveal a mind that misses nothing despite his age.
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His attire befits his rank and the grandeur of the Mage’s Enclave. He wears a heavy, floor-length robe of deep midnight blue, embroidered with delicate silver thread that traces arcane runes and celestial motifs across the fabric. Around his neck lies a wide collar of intricately interwoven silver chains and dark crystals, pulsing faintly with enchanted light. His broad sleeves end in wide cuffs decorated with embroidered symbols of the academy, and his leather sandals, finely crafted yet worn at the edges, hint at years of both study and practical ritual work. The ensemble reflects both his lofty standing and the ancient traditions that govern the arcane arts here.
After his measured deliberation, the principal finally speaks with quiet gravity: “There are indeed higher elements—if they can even be called elements—that transcend the traditional categories taught here. These are the forces of Time and Space.” He gestures subtly, as if acknowledging the immensity of these concepts. “Such powers are not taught within these walls, for they sit beyond the reach of human mastery. No human has ever succeeded in casting even the simplest spells of those forces.”
John recalls then, with a flash, the memory of Shira during their first meeting, when she had seemed to conjure clothes out of thin air with an effortless grace. Perhaps, he wonders, she was touching upon those higher, forbidden elements themselves or wielding magic beyond the academy’s customary teachings. But was Shira human? Did she use space magic? Was the Umbraxis also using space magic?
The principal’s eyes meet John’s, measuring his reaction. This revelation hangs heavy in the air—a glimpse of the vast, untamed frontier of magic still beyond even the most accomplished.
John then asks about Shira's power to shift between human and tiger. What element would that be allocated to? Was Shira human? The principal answered but John did not really understand much. Possibly, neither did the principal. This is what John understood:
John’s question about Shira’s remarkable ability to shift between human and tiger forms touches on a profound and complex aspect of magic—one that doesn’t neatly fall into the traditional elemental categories.
The Nature of Shira’s Transformation:
Shira is a weretiger—a being with deep ties both to humanity (or at least humanoid life forms) and to the primal, wild essence of the tiger. Her shapeshifting power is a blend of physical metamorphosis and magical essence, rooted in ancient, rare magic much older and less common than elemental control.
Elemental Classification:
- Not a Simple Elemental Spell:
Morphing one’s body from human to animal and back is typically considered shape-shifting or transformation magic, which often falls outside classical elemental magic schools like Fire, Water, Earth, Air, Light, or Shadow. - Closest Affiliations:
- Spirit/Ethereal Magic: Such transformations can be tied to the Spirit or Essence realm—manipulating life force and the fundamental nature of shape and identity rather than raw elemental energy.
- Nature or Beast Magic (sometimes a separate category): In some systems, transformation magic is linked to nature’s primal forces or animal spirits, distinct from typical elementals.
- Higher or Forbidden Magic?:
Given the description of the Mage’s Enclave teaching only the basic elements and the mention of higher elements like Time and Space being beyond human reach, Shira’s transformation might be considered a special form of ancient, rare magic—possibly involving spiritual or mystical forces unique to her tigress lineage.
Regarding Shira’s Humanity:
- Shira is part humanoid but also part magical beast—weretiger. This hybridity defines her unique status:
- In humanoid form, she possesses near-legendary strength, agility, and magical prowess.
- In tigress form, her physical power and primal instincts dominate.
- This duality is a core part of her identity, blending human intellect and emotion with the rawness of nature.
- She is not a pure humanoid in the conventional sense, but rather a shapeshifter whose existence bridges two worlds. Her status in the Mage’s Enclave and among others reflects this—she is respected and formidable, but her magic and origin place her beyond ordinary human classification.
As a summary, John liked to think of the term ‘Arcane’ which was mentioned a couple of times by the old man.
John changed the topic of his questions and inquired about elemental affinities.
The principal, satisfied by John’s probing curiosity, took a deep breath and moved on to one of the foundational laws of their magical academy: the ranks of elemental affinity.
He motioned for John to sit as he conjured a glowing schematic that flew through the air to his hand, with a spectrum of colors and symbols representing the ladder of magical attunement.
“Every mage,” the principal began, his voice rich and measured, “is born with a natural resonance—an affinity—for one or more elements. We assess students keenly, for this shapes their magical future. The spectrum moves as follows:”
- None – “No visible connection. The element is inert in your hands, unresponsive. This is what happens to elements which are not yours.”
- Low – “A spark of ability exists, but it is faint and difficult to harness. Spells are weak and hard-won. Usually a mage would not be considered attune to that element and should have another with higher affinity”
- Middle – “You command basic spells without trouble—average for most magi, the level of the primary element of common mages. Growth is steady, but power rarely soars.”
- High – “Here is where true competence and flexibility emerge. A high-affinity mage can wield potent spells and master their chosen element in creative, advanced ways.”
- Transcendent (the principal drew a new sigil between High and Legendary, its border shimmering with iridescence) – “This is rare indeed. A transcendent affinity means the element feels almost alive within you. Your control is instinctual. Even complex spells become as natural as breathing. Most master mages strive for this and never reach it.”
- Legendary – “Those ranked Legendary are figures for songs and history books. Their will shapes the element beyond what most would call possible. It is a level reserved for higher beings than humans. Elves are known to reach these heights.”
- Mythical – The final sigil on the scale pulsed with brilliant light. “This is the stuff of legends and prophecy or actually of myths. Only one in countless generations may touch this level. Their presence alone can alter the world’s balance with their element.”
The principal smiled, turning the glowing diagram for John to see. “Your affinity, John, is high in all elements—an extraordinary gift. This sets you above the majority of your peers and places almost every avenue of magic within your grasp.”
He paused, pointing to the sigil between High and Legendary—Transcendent—then to the symbols for those two non plus ultra ranks. “But your bond with water is astonishing. It is no exaggeration to place you between Legendary and Mythical. In all of our records, only a handful—mostly heroes, never humans and let alone so young ones—have ever neared such affinity.”
The light faded, and the principal met John’s gaze with grave respect. “Nurture this gift, and the world’s rivers, storms, and tides may one day answer your call as easily as a whisper.”
John’s heart thudded with awe—he understood not just his rare potential, but the immense responsibility and adventure that would flow with it.
The principal then guided John to a simple room and instructed him about his courses. It was important that he got the basic education before more specialized training.