The lingering scent of ozone and starlight, remnants of her Magick, filled the room, a subtle reminder of the extraordinary display they had just witnessed. Zalu, her eyes wide with awe, stared at Elara with a newfound admiration. The sheer power and precision of Elara's Magick, combined with her effortless understanding of such complex celestial energies – the very forces that bound galaxies, as Elara had explained – left her speechless.
Elara, feeling the intensity of Zalu's gaze, turned to her, her expression a silent question: Why are you looking at me like that? Zalu, unfazed by Elara's typically cool demeanor, simply smiled brighter, her eyes sparkling with genuine admiration.
The bell rang, signaling the end of the class. Students began to gather their belongings, the hushed whispers now replaced by excited chatter about Elara's demonstration. As they filed out of the classroom, Zalu fell into step beside Elara, her enthusiasm undiminished.
"Elara," she began, her voice filled with wonder, "that was incredible! I've never seen magic like that before. You made it look so… effortless! It was so different from the way Professor Gryffen conjures those clumsy earth elementals."
Elara offered a small, polite nod, her expression remaining composed.
"You know," Zalu continued, her voice thoughtful, "it reminds me of the first time we talked, when you explained the celestial alignments to me. I had no idea what you were talking about then, but now… it makes so much more sense! It wasn't just about
wishing for something; it was about understanding those cosmic tides, just like you said."
She paused, her eyes widening slightly. "You're so knowledgeable, Elara. It's like you have the entire universe inside your head! You spoke about drawing power from gravity and light, and then you just did it! That crystalline flower… it wasn't just elemental; it felt… celestial, like it was born from starlight itself."
Elara remained silent, listening to Zalu's enthusiastic praise. She had long since grown accustomed to the awe and admiration her abilities inspired, but Zalu's genuine enthusiasm was… different. It lacked the underlying resentment or fear that often colored the reactions of her peers.
Zalu went on, talking about how she had never seen anyone, even professors, manipulate magic like that. "The Magicians of Eldoria, they always seem to be chanting and waving their hands at the air, pulling from the elements around them," Zalu mused, echoing Elara's earlier distinction. "But your magic … it felt like you were just… channeling something much grander, something… cosmic. Where did you learn to control magic like that?"
Elara stopped walking, turning to face Zalu directly. Her usual cool gaze held a hint of something sharper. "I believe," she said, her voice precise and measured, "I stated quite clearly during my explanation that magic and magick are two very different things. In a sense, they are complete opposites. To refer to my powers as magic is akin to demeaning their very origin, to ignore the celestial wellspring from which they flow. Magic, as practiced by the earth-bound mages, is derived from magick. It is, in essence, a lesser, more localized version. Perhaps," she added, her expression utterly deadpan, "you have the memory of a bee. Terribly efficient at pollen collection, I hear, but less so with complex theoretical distinctions. So, in the future, try to remember the distinction. It shows a certain… lack of understanding, otherwise."
Did she just…? Zalu's mind reeled. Was that an insult? A bizarre compliment about bees? Or… was that her strange way of being… serious?
Elara gave the slightest, almost imperceptible upturn of her lips, a fleeting smile that vanished as quickly as it appeared. Oh, Zalu thought, a small smile of her own now dawning, she was joking. A sudden laugh escaped Zalu, echoing in the already bustling hallway. Several students, who had been subtly watching Elara with newfound interest after her demonstration, now turned to stare at Zalu's sudden outburst, their gazes even more focused than before.
Elara then resumed walking, her mind already drifting towards Professor Eldrin's Advanced Spellcraft class. Zalu, still chuckling softly, hurried to catch up, her bright energy a stark contrast to Elara's quiet intensity. She continued to chatter, pointing out details in the hallway, students they passed, and her excitement for their next class together. Elara, though not actively participating in the conversation, was aware of Zalu's presence, a small, almost imperceptible softening in her usual guarded demeanor. She appreciated Zalu's unwavering enthusiasm, a persistent ray of sunshine in her often-isolated world.