The elder witch gets a gleam in her eyes I know all too well and the younger of the two perks up too, although the look of excitement on her face is of a slightly different nature. I guess it's to be expected. The duo runs a business here after all, not a charity.

Well, I don't mind anyway and since I'm already here I might as well listen to their offer at the very least. I motion for Rysia to go ahead with a grin.

"Alright, let me hear it. What do you have in mind?"

She puts away her only half empty cup and folds her hands.

"Well, usually I'd not exactly go out of my way to teach the art of actual magic in anyway to an outsider, meaning anyone but my girl, or possibly any other apprentice, but I could make an exception. That exception being, that Brygida could try to teach you the spell in question. She already has shown you her meditation technique after all."

I nod in understanding.

"And she might just get a little more experience teaching and maybe a level up out of it. Am I just about right? That's probably not all this time around though. Or am I mistaken?"

The elder witch chuckles.

"That's why I like working with people from the guild. You are quick to catch on."

I take note that she didn't specify which guild exactly she means. Well, I'm not going to inquire either. Instead I let her continue and take the chance to nab one last cookie. They are pretty good after all.

Rysia only smiles as she continues.

"Anyway, yes. My girl gets to benefit from the learning, or rather teaching experience, but isn't all. I'd say six pennies for a basic spell on top of that should be a pretty decent deal. Mind, I only do this because it's you and Brygida gets something out of it too and even then I'd usually charge you way more, but if you really do take care of that ghost problem out at Hangman's Hill you are due a little discount. What do you say? How does that sound to you?"

I could try to haggle, but I decide against it in the end. Instead I extend a hand to seal the deal. I really want to learn that spell after all. I do not accept the deal in complete silence though.

"Do you have some small change? I only have five pennies and a shilling right now."

The witch mother nods as she shakes my hand.

"No problem. Just give me a moment to get your change. Make yourself comfortable with Brygida in the meantime."

The girl nods towards the spot where she taught me my first lesson on meditation not too long ago and we move our chairs over there while we wait for her mother to return.

I dig my single penny out of my purse as well, while I still have some time to kill. I don't have to wait long though.

Before long the older witch returns with six bronze pennies, which I receive in exchange for my silver shilling. After wards we shake hands once more. Then she is off again to put away the silver coin. She doesn't leave without some parting words though.

"Alright you two, make me proud!"

I flash the girl sitting across from me a crooked grin.

"Well, we better get to it. Wouldn't want to disappoint her. So, how do we go about this anyway?"

The girl clears her throat and assumes her teacher persona, which being full of childlike enthusiasm while being quite earnest at the same time, is incredibly adorable.

"First I will demonstrate. I won't do it just like that though. Instead you'll try to enter the meditative state I already taught you. That way you should be able to feel the change in the ambient Mana, as I cast the spell, at least a little. That will be your first hint. I doubt it will be enough for you to learn the spell, simple as it may be, but it's something we can build upon. Alright, please get ready."

I relay on my chair, as I have done before under her guidance. I fold my hands in my lap and close my eyes. I calm my breathing and my heartbeat and as I do, I drive all idle thoughts from my mind too. Just as the city and all activity in it all around us becomes nothing more than a low buzz I become aware of the Mana around us too again.

I have no way to tell when she'll cast her spell, as the passage of time is one of the things that escapes me in this state, but when she does, it's actually impossible to miss. It's like there is a sudden disturbance in the ambient Mana around us as she does!

[*Ding!* Your skill Meditation has leveled up to level 4!]

[*Ding!* Through Meditation your Mana increased by 2!]

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My eyes snap open, as the Notifications brush my mind apparently right after I take note of this disturbance in the ambient Mana. My heart beats surprisingly fast and I actually almost fall off the chair this time, as I come around.

Not only have I noticed what she meant, I made a little progress for my scoundrel class too. Even better my spirit attribute increased as well and as a result my magic power and my Mana reserves too. I give in to temptation and use a little exclamation I haven't used in too long.

"Oh! Quack!"

Brygida snorts in amusement, but her mother shoots me a reprimanding look. It seems like what I introduced as a puny little addition to the local way of speaking not too long ago has made the rounds. Enough so, that the older witch is well aware of what is hiding behind the pun.

I'm quick to apologize.

"Ah, sorry about that."

Then I turn to my young teacher.

"You were right, I was able to feel that. What is the next step?"

She nods at the softly glowing sphere of light hovering in between us.

"Now you use your identification skill on it. That is the next step to get a better feel for it."

I blink in surprise. To be perfectly honest I wouldn't have thought of that on my own. I wouldn't even have guessed that it's possible. I guess it depends on the spell or skill in question or rather it's effects. How silly of me. Of course, I was able to see the effects of the blessing at the temple too. Except that was different, wasn't it? I used the skill on the blessed object there. Here I'm supposed to use it on the actual manifestation of a magical effect. That might just be the keyword here. It's a manifestation of something. Magic made manifest.

"What are you waiting for? What's up with the look on your face?"

I grin apologetically, as Brygida reprimands and questions me in one go.

"It's just that using that skill on actual magic is a novel idea for me. And I was kind of wondering if I could have used it on Ediva Glimmersong's signature spell too."

The young witch snorts in amusement again, while her familiar starts to circle below the glowing orb of light, like it's a plaything intended for its amusement.

"The glowing embers? Sure you could have. For a brief moment right before getting blown up. I'd guess, it would have been a once in a lifetime experience."

She laughs once more. Then she gets serious again.

"Now, please, focus on the light."

I do as I'm instructed and focus my attention on the magical sphere of light. It's surprisingly bright, considering it's supposedly only the basic light spell. There is a downside to that. It being so bright actually makes it hard to properly look at the roughly fist seized glowing sphere directly.

My young teacher seems well aware of the fact, considering her next comment.

"It's alright if you squint a little. What really matters is your intent."

I nod and follow that suggestion which actually helps. To be honest, the girl might have a knack for teaching. I really hope she gets another level or two out of this. For now though I have to do my part. I focus on the light real hard and trigger my [Identify] skill. As usual some of my Mana drains away, the skill improves a little and the results are whispered directly into my mind in Fox's voice. That result isn't quite like any other I have received before though.

[Light (Magic, Common) – A sphere of light created using the Light spell. It sheds a rather cool blue light. The brightness depends on the magic power of the caster. The duration of the spell depends on the skill level. Remaining duration: 5 hours, Category: Evocation/Light]

I blink in surprise. Not just because of the information provided by my skill, but because it's almost like I can see something else in the sphere of light. A pattern to the flow of Mana. And … it deteriorates ever so slightly as time passes? It's barely perceptible, but the effect certainly is there. This isn't just my imagination. Curiously enough that earns me a little progress for my [Perception] skill too.

I swallow hard and decide to ask about it, as any dutiful student should.

"You … you gave the Mana you put into the spell form? But it's fraying at the fringes? Is that what determines how long it will last?"

The older witch still watching us smiles behind the counter. The youngster across from me downright beams at me though. I might just have earned her some progress for her [Teaching] skill. It's either that or she just really enjoys the experience. It could be both too of course. Either way, she is quick to answer.

"You noticed? Good! And yes, you are right. The more practice someone gets and the higher their skill level, the tighter they can weave the flow of the Mana. Some other, secondary support skills can help with that too. Anyway, the flow comes apart at the fringes ever so slightly over time and eventually, when it becomes too unstable it collapses altogether and the sphere of light will wink out completely."

She points at the sphere for emphasis before she continues.

"While the pattern still holds up, the brightness will not dim in any easily noticeable way, although if you pay real close attention, you might be able to notice that it does dim a little. Once the pattern gets too frayed though … poof! It flickers and is gone in an instant."

Brygida stops, thinks for a moment and claps her hands.

"Alright, lets give this a try! It's mostly an exercise in focus and imagination. Well, at least for us witches it is. Wizards and some other schools of spell casting go about it a little different of course, but the way of the witch is the only one I can teach you right now, so I hope you don't mind."

I grin weakly.

"It's quite alright. I think this approach actually fits me better than book learning. So I try to focus on pouring out some of my Mana and form it into glowing ball of light?"

She nods.

"Keep what you learned about the spell while in your meditative state and while using the identification skill on it in mind too. It really helps if you don't have to start from scratch. Try to put yourself into an uplifting, light mood too. That helped me anyway. It's not a very hard spell anyway. If you go about it like that, the pattern holding the Mana should form pretty much by itself."

Before I can start focusing though she has some more details to share.

"Some people speak the spell's name or a short incantation, as it helps them to focus. Sometimes out loud, other times only in the confines of their own minds. You can too, but I honestly don't think you need to. The way you pick up things you should be able to make do without crutches like that."

I take a deep breath, relax and begin to focus, calling to mind what I learned about the spell before. Even while I do I can see the young witch across from me slip into her own meditative state. Possibly because she will be able to get a better feel for my spellcasting like that? I try not to let it distract me.

I manage to coax some of my Mana forth and it even begins to compress into the desired shape, at least at first. Before the pattern I desire can solidify though it fizzles out. I groan as it dissipates without any actual effect. It's not as much as my shape changing power eats up, but considerably more than my identification skill would use and now it's just gone.

Brygida's eyes snap back open. They hold a special sparkle.

"Almost. Don't worry, I think no one really manages to do it on the first try. Go ahead, try again. You still have enough Mana, do you?"

I simply nod and begin to focus again.

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