I shifted uncomfortably from one foot to the other and withdrew my wand. It didn't feel as alien as it had yesterday, which was something. When I'd gotten back to my room, I'd spent some time holding it to try and get used to the feel. It had paid off. It was a lot more natural than before.
My arm shook as I raised my wand to point at the target. I was far too out of practice. A little well of guilt threaded through me at that. There was no real reason why I'd avoided magic for as long as I had. It was a part of our society and the very way Enchantia ran, it was something I should understand and use in my daily life.
"Stop stalling," I muttered to myself. At this rate, I was never going to get a spell out. I decided on a light spell, just something to improve my aim.
I flicked my wrist and a streak of yellowish light flew from my wand towards the target.
And missed.
My arm dropped to my side. Why had I thought it would be as straight forward as just doing a spell? I needed to try harder,
I sent off a second shot. It missed. As did my next three.
I let out a grunt of frustration. "Why can't I do this?" I half-yelled at myself.
"You're just out of practice, that's all," a voice said from behind me.
I spun around, pointing my wand at the intruder.
"I'd rather you didn't point that at me if you're not sure how to use it," Topher joked.
"Sorry." I dropped my arm to my side. I didn't want to hurt him; I'd just been taken by surprise at his presence.
"Can I ask you something?" He sat down on the same bench Lyss and Rhi had been using earlier. Seeing nothing else for it, I went over to sit by him.
"Sure. But there are some things I can't answer."
A wry smile slipped over his face. "You're not an average princess, are you?" he asked.
I let out a short laugh. "Is that your question?"
"Just an observation."
"Hmm." I waited for him to say what he was really thinking.
"Why is Enchantia's princess so out of the loop about magic?"
"Oh, that." I shrugged. "I guess I was too busy with all the other things I needed to learn to ever practice much. There was always something more important to do."
"But, you want to learn now?"
I nodded. "When I saw you all using magic yesterday, I realized how much I wanted to do it myself. How much I was missing out on by not having learned. Then earlier..." I trailed off. Should I admit that I was watching Jake and Adam through the window? "That's my office," I added, pointing up at the window I'd been watching through earlier.
He nodded, clearly realizing what I was getting at.
"Do you want me to teach you?" he asked after a moment.
"Would you do that?"
"I don't have anywhere to be. You want to learn, and I know a thing or two about spells and magic. Don't tell anyone, but I'm the president of the society of magic at our university."
"Why can't I tell anyone?" I cocked my head to the side. "Surely, they're aware of it?"
"They are." He shrugged again. "But if people are reminded, then their egos get bruised, and I don't want to have to deal with that."
The memory of Jake kicking the planter came to mind. I glanced over at it. No one would have guessed it had been almost ruined a few hours earlier.
Topher chuckled. "Exactly my point. I like my things not broken. Now, magic. Stand up, please."
I did as he instructed, which included the proper way to hold my wand. Thankfully, it wasn't far off what had felt right to me anyway.
"Have you ever done archery, princess?" he asked.
"I thought I asked you to call me Kelis?" I responded.
"You did, but that isn't polite."
"Isn't it less polite to continue talking to me in a formal manner when I've asked you not to?"
He thought about that for a moment before brushing his hair out of his eyes and flashing me a winning smile. Behind the scruff, there was no doubt, he was handsome. The long hair and stubble potentially enhanced that. I pushed that thought aside. I already had one crush to deal with. My brain didn’t have space for any more.
"Point taken, Kelis."
I smiled, enjoying the way he said my name. There was no judgment or expectation in it. Despite the fact he used my title to refer to me, I wasn't just a princess to him. I could appreciate that. No, more than that, I needed that from someone.
"You didn't answer the question," he pointed out. "Have you ever done archery?"
I nodded. "A traveling fair came once, and they had a range." Most people didn't bother with weapons training in Enchantia. There was no need to when we could all use magic. I wasn't sure if it came from the water or something we ate, But I had yet to meet an Echantian who didn't have magic, even if some people were like me and chose not to use it much.
"Do you remember what the proper stance was when shooting?" Topher asked.
I nodded.
"That's what you need when you're shooting at a target with magic. If you're dueling, you need to be more relaxed and able to move, but we'll get onto that another time."
"You're going to teach me more?" I didn't hide the excitement in my voice. Maybe if I'd had a teacher like Topher before, I'd already know some of this.
"If you want to. Yes."
"Thanks." I shuffled myself around, standing the way he'd described. Instantly, I noticed the difference. I could focus on the center of the target in a way I hadn't been able to before.
"Now, lift up your arm so you can look down it," he instructed.
I did that. "This is so much
