Chapter 81: Nice and Steady
The underground cavern classroom thrummed with ancient energy, its earthen walls studded with glowing crystals casting an emerald sheen across the shifting soil floor. Vine-covered arches stretched overhead, their tendrils twitching faintly, while rune-etched boulders pulsed with a steady hum, the damp, mossy scent of the air grounding the students in geomancy’s enduring power. The eight or nine students, their robes a mix of earthen browns and neutral grays, stood poised, their earlier awe at Professor Torren’s controlled entrance settling into focused anticipation. Kai sat quietly in the back, his shadow mana flickering subtly, his smirk a calm anchor amidst the group’s nervous energy. Darius, near the center, felt the cavern’s pulse underfoot, his heart racing, the promise of earth magic’s stability a new challenge after Sylph’s airy chaos and Valthor’s fiery illusions. Torren, his broad frame towering, earth-embroidered robes hugging his muscular build, stepped forward, his white beard stark against tanned skin, gray eyes sharp like polished stone. His presence commanded the cavern, the crystals flaring as he raised a hand, silencing the faint murmurs.
"Geomancy begins with the earth’s pulse," Torren said, his voice a deep rumble, like a quake rolling through stone, strict but laced with quiet passion. "It’s not just dirt or rock—it’s stability, endurance, the bones of the world. Today, you’ll learn to sense its mana, to feel its rhythm." His tone set a high bar, his eyes sweeping the students, demanding focus. He gestured to the soil floor, its surface shifting slightly. "Close your eyes, reach out with your mana, feel the earth’s heartbeat." The students obeyed, their breaths steadying, hands hovering as they channeled mana. Torren guided them, his voice firm but instructive. "Don’t force it—let it flow, like roots finding water." The cavern responded, its crystals glowing brighter, the vines twitching as if alive. The dwarf, his stone-etched robes catching the light, furrowed his brow, his mana syncing with a faint rumble. The elf, her movements graceful, felt a subtle shift in the soil, her eyes fluttering open in surprise. The human struggled, his mana erratic, the crystals dimming near him. The tiefling, her boldness tempered, managed a faint pulse, her grin fleeting. Darius closed his eyes, his wind-trained instincts seeking the earth’s steady rhythm, feeling a slow, deep throb beneath the soil, like a heartbeat, his mana syncing briefly, the cavern’s hum amplifying his focus.
Torren paced, his boots sinking into the soil, his feedback sharp but constructive. "Good, dwarf—steady, but deeper. Elf, you’re close, don’t rush." To the human, he said, "Focus, lad—stop chasing, let it come." His words cut through the cavern’s hum, the students nodding, adjusting their mana. Darius’s connection wavered, the earth’s pulse slipping, but he tried again, earning a curt nod from Torren. "Better, but ground yourself," he said, his tone emphasizing geomancy’s grounding nature. The crystals flared with each success, the vines swaying, the lesson’s weight sinking in as the students’ mana danced with the earth’s rhythm, their varied responses building a disciplined focus.
Torren stopped at the cavern’s center, his hands moving with precise control, the soil rippling under his touch. "Now, we shape the earth," he said, his voice unwavering. "Start simple—form a stone orb, no bigger than your fist." He demonstrated, raising a hand, the soil coiling into a smooth, round stone that hovered briefly before settling, its surface polished, the crystals glowing in sync. "Feel the mana, guide it like clay, not wind or fire." His tone was strict, urging precision, but a spark of encouragement flickered as he stepped back. The students spread out, their hands weaving mana, the cavern’s energy humming in response. The dwarf, his gruff demeanor focused, shaped a sturdy stone orb, its edges rough but solid, earning a grunt of approval from Torren. The elf, her precision shining, wove vines into her mana, her orb forming slowly, flecked with green, the vines above twitching as if cheering. The human’s attempt shook, his orb crumbling into dust, his face flushed with frustration. The tiefling, her boldness returning, formed a lopsided orb, her laugh breaking the tension as it wobbled. "Close enough!" she said, sparking a chuckle from the elf.
Torren moved among them, his robes shimmering, adjusting techniques with a firm hand. "Dwarf, smooth the edges—control, not force," he said, guiding the student’s mana, the orb refining slightly. To the elf, he nodded, "Good blend, but tighten the mana." He steadied the human’s shaking hands, his voice stern. "Slow down, feel the earth’s weight." His guidance was hands-on, each correction precise, the cavern’s crystals flaring with each adjustment, the soil shifting under their efforts. The students’ attempts varied, their backgrounds shining through—the dwarf’s sturdy pragmatism, the elf’s graceful finesse, the tiefling’s fiery spirit adapting to earth’s calm. Kai watched from the back, his shadow mana flickering, his silence respectful but his eyes bright with interest, the cavern’s energy a backdrop to their collective progress.
Darius focused, his hands hovering over the soil, seeking the earth’s pulse again. His wind instincts urged flow, but earth demanded solidity, a clash that made his first attempt crumble, dust scattering across the floor. He gritted his teeth, Elara’s focus a quiet spark in his mind, her intensity from earlier classes pushing him to adapt. He tried again, slowing his mana, feeling the earth’s steady throb, guiding it like clay as Torren instructed. A small stone orb formed, its surface uneven but solid, hovering briefly before dropping. His heart leapt, confidence surging, the cavern’s crystals glowing brighter, amplifying his success. Torren’s sharp eyes caught it, his nod curt but approving. "Good, Darius—hold that focus," he said, his voice a rare spark of praise. Darius grinned, the orb’s weight grounding him, geomancy’s potential for defensive barriers or seismic tremors exciting him, its stability a perfect balance to his wind magic’s freedom.
The students’ efforts filled the cavern with soft rumbles, their orbs forming and crumbling, the vines swaying, the crystals casting green glints across their robes. Banter broke through, the elf teasing the human, "Your orb’s more sand than stone!" The human laughed, trying again, his next attempt steadier. The dwarf clapped the tiefling’s shoulder, her lopsided orb earning a grin. "Better than mine first try," he said, their collaboration knitting them closer, the cavern’s energy amplifying their spirit. Darius joined in, his voice light. "Think of it like shaping dough, not blowing wind." The elf nodded, her orb smoothing, sparking a cheer. Their diverse attempts—dwarf’s sturdy stones, elf’s vine-flecked orbs—built a collective momentum, the cavern’s hum a steady pulse of encouragement, their progress a testament to Torren’s disciplined guidance.
The underground classroom thrummed with ancient energy, its crystal-lit walls casting emerald glints across the shifting soil floor, vine-covered arches swaying faintly overhead. The damp, mossy scent filled the air, blending with the faint rumble of rune-etched boulders, the mana barrier keeping the cavern’s intensity grounded but vibrant. The students’ robes—earthen browns and neutral grays—swayed as they worked, their hands weaving mana, small stone orbs forming and crumbling in bursts of dust and light. Kai lounged in the back, his shadow mana flickering subtly, his smirk a quiet nod to the group’s efforts, his silent presence a familiar anchor for Darius. The tiefling’s lopsided orb wobbled but held, her grin wide as the human clapped, his own shaky attempt steadier now. The cavern’s crystals flared with each small success, the vines twitching as if alive, the students’ energy a lively hum that matched the earth’s pulse.
Darius stood near the center, his latest orb—a fist-sized stone, uneven but solid—resting in his palm, its weight grounding him. His wind-trained instincts still tugged, urging flow, but he was adapting, feeling the earth’s steady rhythm as Torren had taught. The success, small as it was, sparked a thrill, his confidence growing, the cavern’s glow amplifying his focus. He glanced at the elf, her vine-flecked orb now smooth, her smile triumphant. "Nice one!" he called, his voice light, joining the banter. The dwarf grunted, his sturdy boulder rolling across the soil, sparking a laugh from the tiefling. "Show-off!" she teased, her own orb stabilizing, earning a nod from the human. Their collaboration wove through the cavern, tips shared in quick bursts—"Keep it slow, like kneading clay," the elf suggested; "Feel the weight first," the dwarf added—their diverse backgrounds shining through in their approaches. The tiefling’s bold energy pushed her to try again, the elf’s precision refined her orb’s vines, the human’s nervous effort steadied with each attempt. Their laughter and encouragement filled the space, the cavern’s hum a steady pulse, their unity a warm thread in the earthy air.
Torren paced among them, his earth-embroidered robes shimmering, his broad frame a steady presence, his gray eyes sharp but warming with each student’s progress. "Good, elf—those vines are clever, but bind them tighter," he said, his voice stern but laced with approval, adjusting her mana with a gesture. The vines on her orb tightened, the crystals flaring in response. He turned to the tiefling, nodding. "Bold, but focus—smooth the edges." Her orb steadied, her grin widening. To the human, he said, "You’re getting it, lad—don’t rush." His feedback was precise, his hands guiding mana flows, the cavern’s rumble echoing his words. He paused by Darius, inspecting his orb, his nod curt but meaningful. "Solid start, Darius—hold that weight, let it anchor you." Darius’s chest swelled, the praise fueling his drive, the earth’s pulse underfoot a reminder of geomancy’s strength, its potential for barriers or tremors a new layer to his elemental path.
The students’ efforts sparked soft rumbles, their orbs rolling or crumbling, the vines swaying, the crystals casting green glints across their faces. Banter flowed, the human teasing the dwarf, "Your boulder’s more mountain than orb!" The dwarf chuckled, tossing back, "Better than your dust pile!" The elf laughed, her orb spinning slowly, vines curling elegantly, sparking a cheer from the tiefling. "Now you’re just showing off!" she said, her own orb smoother now. Their failures were met with playful jabs, their successes celebrated with claps, the cavern’s energy amplifying their spirit. Kai watched from the back, his shadow mana flickering, his silence respectful but his eyes bright with amusement, nodding slightly at Darius’s progress. The students shared tips, the elf suggesting, "Feel the earth’s heartbeat, let it guide you," while the human muttered, "It’s like lifting a rock with your mind." Their collaboration deepened, their diverse attempts—dwarf’s sturdy stones, elf’s vine-woven orbs, tiefling’s bold shapes—building a collective momentum, the cavern’s hum a steady pulse of encouragement.
As the lesson neared its end, the students gathered closer, their orbs resting on the soil, some solid, others crumbling, their faces flushed with effort and excitement. Torren stood at the center, his robes catching the crystal light, his voice booming over the cavern’s rumble. "You’ve felt the earth’s pulse, shaped its strength," he said, his tone proud but firm. "This is just the start. Geomancy demands patience, control—keep practicing." The students nodded, their energy high, the cavern’s vines swaying as if in agreement. The tiefling whispered to Darius, "Think he’s got some big spell up his sleeve?" Her eyes gleamed, sparking murmurs. The elf leaned in, her voice curious. "Yeah, like splitting that boulder on his way in." The dwarf grunted, "Bet he can raise a whole wall." Their speculation grew, the cavern’s crystals flaring, suspense building as they wondered about Torren’s full power.
Darius, his orb still in hand, felt his curiosity spike, the earth’s steady pulse underfoot fueling his ambition. He stepped forward, his voice steady but eager. "Professor, could you show us something advanced? Like what you can really do with earth?" The students hushed, their eyes on Torren, Kai’s smirk widening in the back. Torren’s gray eyes met Darius’s, a faint smile breaking his stern facade. "Bold request," he said, his voice a low rumble, the cavern’s hum deepening. "Very well—next class, I’ll show you what earth can truly do." The crystals flared brighter, the vines twitching, suspense hanging thick as the students’ awe grew, Darius’s heart pounding with anticipation for the demonstration, the cavern’s energy a steady promise of what was to come.