NOVEL WEB Wind
Lance stepped into his next class, Wind Magic 101, already knowing what to expect—or at least, he thought he did. Professor Ellard, the eccentric and slightly mysterious man he’d encountered during that strange incident a few days ago, was already waiting at the front of the room. His silver-streaked hair seemed even wilder today, tousled as if the wind had personally styled it for him. The professor’s vibrant, unpredictable energy was hard to miss.
The classroom itself matched Ellard’s personality. The wide, open space had no rigid chairs or desks—just soft mats scattered across the floor. Open windows let in the fresh, crisp breeze, giving the room a sense of constant motion. The atmosphere felt charged, as if the very air was alive, waiting to be shaped by the students inside.
Ellard caught Lance’s eye and gave him a knowing grin, as if to say, Ready for the real thing?
“Welcome, welcome!” Ellard’s voice cut through the ambient rustling of the wind. “You’ve all made it to Wind Magic 101. Congrats. But don’t get too comfortable.” He waved his hands around the room. “As you can see, we don’t do desks in here. Why? Because wind doesn’t sit still, and neither will you.”
A few students chuckled nervously, but there was an underlying excitement in the air.
Ellard clapped his hands and began pacing, his every movement fluid, like the air around him. “First things first,” he said. “Let’s talk about the five spells you’ll need to master by the end of this course. These will be the building blocks for everything else you’ll do with wind magic.”
He paused, letting the words sink in before continuing. “The first spell—and probably the one most of you already know—is Lesser Gust. It’s your basic, everyday breeze, good for moving small objects or giving someone a nudge.”
Lance felt a stir in his mind as William’s voice echoed, a smug tone clear in the wisp’s words. “Good, we’re already a step ahead,” William said, a hint of satisfaction in his voice.
Lance held back a chuckle, glad that at least one spell on the list was something he had already mastered.
Ellard, oblivious to the internal banter, moved on. “Next up is Galeburst. This one’s fun. It’s one of the most effective low-tier wind spells you’ll learn—a short, sharp burst of wind that can knock someone off their feet. It’s quick, powerful, and great for disarming opponents.”
With a flick of his wrist, Ellard demonstrated the spell. A gust of wind shot out from his hand, sending a stack of papers flying across the room. “You’ll use this one a lot,” he said, watching the papers scatter with an amused look. “Trust me.”
Lance made a mental note of that. Galeburst sounded like a spell he could see himself using in combat situations—fast, powerful, and effective.
Ellard didn’t slow down. “Your third spell is Wind Blades. Now, this is your first true combat spell in wind magic. You’ll be creating thin, sharp blades of wind to cut through objects—or enemies. It takes some precision, but once you get the hang of it, it’s incredibly useful in a fight.”
He raised his hand, and with a quick, fluid motion, three shimmering blades of wind appeared and sliced cleanly through a nearby piece of cloth. The students watched in awe as the fabric fell to the ground in neat pieces.
“That one’s a bit tricky,” Ellard admitted, “but we’ll get there. Precision is key.”
Lance nodded, already eager to try that spell out. Wind magic had an elegance to it that Force magic didn’t—a balance of power and grace that was starting to appeal to him more and more.
Ellard continued, his voice taking on a slightly more serious tone. “Now, for defense. You’ll be learning Lesser Whirlwind. It’s a protective spell, creating a small vortex of wind around you. It’s not foolproof, but it’s often the first defensive spell most wind mages master. It’ll deflect projectiles and slow down anyone trying to get too close.”
With a swirl of his hand, Ellard demonstrated, and a small whirlwind formed around him, lifting papers and loose items off the ground in a gentle but powerful spiral. “This spell will be your go-to when you need to buy time in battle,” he added. “Don’t underestimate it. It’s not perfect, but it’s enough to keep projectiles at bay. Plus, it looks cool, and that’s half the battle.”
Lance took mental notes, recognizing the importance of defensive magic. Wind might be a bit more subtle compared to something like Force, but it had its own kind of strength—especially when used to shield and protect.
Finally, Ellard’s eyes gleamed with excitement as he introduced the last spell. “And for the grand finale, we have Gale Punch. This one’s a bit more advanced, but it’s a powerful offensive spell. It’s like Galeburst, but concentrated into a focused strike. Imagine a punch backed by a concentrated blast of wind. If done right, it can hit like a battering ram.”
He clenched his fist, and with a sharp movement, a gust of concentrated wind shot forward, slamming into a heavy wooden box across the room, sending it skidding several feet. “This one’s not easy,” Ellard warned, “but once you master it, you’ll have a serious advantage in combat.”
The room buzzed with excitement, and Lance could feel the energy rising. Ellard’s enthusiasm was contagious, and despite the challenge ahead, Lance found himself eager to start practicing these spells. Wind magic felt different from what he’d experienced before—more free, more dynamic. He could already tell it would push him to be more creative with how he used it.
Ellard clapped his hands, bringing the class to attention one last time. “Alright, that’s your roadmap for the year,” he said, a grin still tugging at the corners of his mouth. “If you can master these five spells, you’ll have a solid foundation in wind magic. But remember—wind is unpredictable. It can lift you up or knock you down, depending on how you treat it. You don’t control the wind, you guide it. And it’ll test you every step of the way.”
Ellard clapped his hands together, breaking Lance’s thoughts. “Now, for those of you taking this class as a minor, you’ll only need to master the first two spells to pass. But,” he added with a sly smile, “you’re more than welcome to challenge yourselves. Wind’s got a way of pushing you to do more.”
“As for my Wind majors,” Ellard went on, his eyes scanning the room, “you’ll be expected to have full control over all five by the end of the year. And believe me, the wind’s not going to make it easy for you.” He paused dramatically. “But then again, nothing cool ever is.”
With that, the class was dismissed, and the students began to gather their things. Lance, excited but cautious, glanced out at the open windows, feeling the pull of the wind. This wasn’t going to be easy, but it was definitely going to be interesting.
As Lance left the classroom, he could already hear William’s voice echoing in his head. “At least this guy doesn’t put us to sleep. Although I give it a week before half the class is swept away by a rogue windstorm.”