章 18: Learning of Odh (1)

Professor Gieller strode confidently towards the acolytes, his long, overhung coat billowing behind him. As he moved, the coat briefly shifted, revealing a surprising sight: his left leg was missing, replaced by a sleek, intricate metal prosthesis that gleamed faintly in the light.

Some of the acolytes gasped, startled by the sight. Others exchanged uneasy glances, their reactions a mixture of shock and curiosity.

Riniock, however, did not flinch. His gaze fixed on the prosthesis, studying it intently with a glimmer of fascination.

Gieller stopped beside Riniock, leaning casually against the desk in front of him. The proximity made the professor's presence even more commanding.

'In my class,' Gieller began, his voice calm yet vibrant, 'you will primarily focus on theory. We will unravel the fundamental truths of magick. What is magick? What is odh? And what, precisely, is daur? These are not trivial questions, but the very foundation upon which we, as maegi, must construct our understanding and purpose.'

His tone was authoritative yet inviting, urging them to think critically whilst making the esoteric subjects sound like the most exciting mysteries to be uncovered.

'I'm fairly certain none of you would be here if you didn't already know something about magick,' Professor Gieller began, his voice laced with good-natured humour. 'But let's see if we can dig a little deeper. Who can tell me – what is odh?'

The classroom fell into a hush, the weight of the question settling over the acolytes like a heavy mist. Gieller's gaze swept across the room, his cheerful smile undimmed by the silence. He seemed perfectly content to wait, letting the question hang in the air until someone dared to answer.

Finally, a hand shot up from the back corner of the room.

'Ah! Excellent. The gentleman in the back,' Gieller said, pointing with theatrical enthusiasm. 'Please stand and tell us your name.'

The acolyte hesitated for a moment before pushing himself to his feet. 'Niann Nodahr,' he said, his voice slightly shaky.

'Good, Mr. Nodahr,' Gieller replied, rubbing his hands together as though preparing for a feast of ideas. 'Would you care to enlighten us?'

Niann nodded, swallowing nervously. 'Odh is the foundation of all magickal practices,' he began. 'It's the essence that maegi use to shape magick, create miracles, and achieve the impossible.'

Gieller tilted his head, a glimmer of approval mixed with a hint of mischief in his eyes. 'A fine answer, Mr. Nodahr – textbook accurate, no less. But I was hoping for something a bit more…original.'

Niann shifted uncomfortably on his feet, glancing nervously around the room. 'Uh, well…odh is…energy? Something that flows through all living thing?'

Gieller's eyes sparkled with amusement. 'Closer. Much closer. But still not quite there.'

He gestured for the acolyte to sit down, his prosthetic leg clicking faintly as he stepped forward to address the whole class.

'Odh,' he began, pacing along the front row, 'is more than just energy or essence. It's not something that merely flows through you. Odh is a bond, a connection between the self and the infinite – the world.'

He stopped mid-stride and turned, making deliberate eye contact with several students, his voice dropping slightly as if sharing a secret. 'It's the thread that binds us to the very fabric of existence. To wield odh is not simply to harness power but to understand – and align yourself with – its rhythm. To force your will upon it without understanding? That's not magick. That's destruction!'

Gieller let the weight of his words linger before continuing, his tone lightening. 'Now, this "textbook definition" isn't wrong. Odh is the foundation of magickal practice. But to grasp its true nature, you'll need to move beyond what's written and discover what it means to you personally.'

Professor Gieller turned towards his desk with a dramatic flourish, snapping his fingers. The desk slid across the floor as if pulled by an invisible force, stopping just short of his position.

Atop it sat a peculiar box, its surface gleaming with intricate metal locks and arcane etchings.

'For this very reason, I've brought a special item with me today,' Gieller announced, his voice brimming with excitement. 'Normally, I'd wait until next trimester for this, but sometimes, you have to trust your instincts.'

He carefully undid the locks, each mechanism clicking open with precision. The lid sprang upward with a hiss, as if it had been under tension for ages. From within, a radiant sphere of light floated free, casting a soft, mesmerising glow around the desk.

'An odh node!' Riniock exclaimed, his eyes widening as a familiar sensation washed over him – a reminder of the elusive energy he had sensed in the college's antechamber the previous day.

Gieller's head snapped towards him, a grin spreading across his face. 'Perceptive, mister...?'

'Riniock, sir. Riniock Ev Tolgir.'

'Well, Mr. Tolgir, you are absolutely correct. This is indeed an odh node,' the professor confirmed. With a slight motion of his hands, the node drifted closer, hovering between his outstretched palms.

'I'm not going to lecture you about this just yet,' Gieller continued, his voice taking on a playful tone. 'Instead, I want you to observe. Study it closely, and note any peculiarities you can detect.' He gestured to a small hourglass on his desk. 'To keep things fair, each row of acolytes will take turns examining the node. You'll have until all the sand in this hourglass runs through.'

The first row, including Riniock, rose from their seats and approached the glowing sphere.

'Please, keep it orderly,' Gieller said, clapping his hands as the group shuffled forward. 'No need to shove – there's plenty magick for everyone.'

The acolytes gathered around the odh node, their eyes fixed on its ethereal glow. With paper and quill in hand, they scribbled observations as quickly as they came to mind, some furrowing their brows in concentration, others nervously glancing at their peers.

As expected, Niann was already deep into his work, his quill gliding effortlessly across the parchment. Halfway through his roll, the meticulous acolyte seemed entirely in his element.

'Nerd…' a few murmured, their tones tinged with envy as they glanced at Niann's progress.

Riniock, unfazed by the whispers, focused intently on the node. His prior readings on such phenomena gave him an edge over most of his peers. He tilted his head, studying the shifting hues and faint patterns within the glowing sphere.

'There's this…' he muttered under his breath, jotting something down. 'And that as well. Oh, it's this colour, so it must mean…' His voice trailed off as he lost himself in thought, connecting fragments of theory with the evidence before him.

Each moment with the node revealed new intricacies, and for Riniock, the puzzle it presented was more fascinating than daunting.

'Very well. Time is up,' Professor Gieller announced, snapping his fingers to turn the hourglass. 'Second row, please step forward to examine the node.'

The acolytes from the second row rose hesitantly, shuffling towards the professor and the glowing sphere.

'In the meantime,' Gieller continued, addressing those who remained seated, 'don't just sit idly. Even from a distance, observing the node can be valuable. The slightest glance could reveal something others miss.' He paused, letting his words sink in. 'All of you would do well to remember that!'

His tone carried a mix of encouragement and subtle challenge, sparking renewed focus amongst the acolytes. Some leaned forward, their eyes narrowing as they tried to discern any peculiarities in the odh node's glow from afar. Others scribbled frantic notes, hoping to capture every last impression before their turn.