Page 55 of A Bolt of Magic

“The more powerful, the more difficult wielding becomes,” she explains. “You see, magic isn’t just about power; it’s about control, focus, and intent. Show me how you pull up your magic.”

I reach for the well of energy within me, and it responds immediately, shocking me with its strength. It may have grown in potency since yesterday. I’m not entirely sure. The only thing I am certain of is that this lesson is very needed.

I reach some more, and the magic surges to the surface like a dam bursting, flooding through my veins with an intensity that makes me gasp. It’s like trying to contain a raging river with my bare hands.

“Whoa,” I breathe, power crackling along my skin in visible sparks. “It’s…it’s a lot. More than yesterday, when we were fighting those fae.”

McColl’s eyes widen as she takes in the raw energy radiating from me. “That’s incredible. I’ve only ever seen conjurers access their magic so easily; so readily, too. You need to learn to control the flow. Think of it like…” She pauses, clearly searching for the right analogy. “Your magic is like a waterfall. The stream is powerful, but you need to channel it properly, or it’ll destroy everything in its path.”

“I can feel that,” I say, sweat beading on my forehead from the effort of containing the magic. “It wants to be used. It wants to burst out of me and all at once.” I think of how I blew the chest out of that guard yesterday. I hadn’t meant to do that. “How do I channel it?”

“Think of a raging river…then of the river slowing and slowing. Now it’s damming, the water calm.”

I do as she says and picture it. Lo and behold, my magic calms. It isn’t raging like it was before.

“That’s excellent.”

“It still feels like a lot,” I push out.

“You need to picture a small trickle coming off of the dam. You’re going to use that trickle and only that small amount. Your focus is on that tiny bit.”

“I see it.”

“Good.” She walks over to a tree and picks up a small branch, placing it on the ground just a few feet away. “We’re going to start very small. Concentrate on that tiny trickle of water. I want you to set the twig on fire. Think of the trickle and of one single flame.”

“Okay.” I pull in a breath.

I try to pull just a thread of magic, just as she says.

A trickle.

Just a little trickle.

A small flame.

I’m concentrating as hard as I can, but the magic erupts from my hand in a massive gout of flame that engulfs not just the twig but a nearby bush as well, setting it ablaze with a whoosh that makes us both jump back.

McColl chokes out a laugh, already raising her hands to douse the flames with a controlled spray of water from the lake. “That’s definitely a power control issue, not an access issue. I never had that problem, but there were a few girls in my class who struggled.”

“Oops!” I stare at the smoking remains of what used to be a perfectly healthy shrub. “I could have burned the whole cabin down.”

McColl looks at me strangely. “You’re incredibly powerful, Kian. It’s extraordinary,” she says, and there’s genuine awe in her voice. “But power without control is dangerous. It’s a good thing we’re having a few training sessions. We’re going to have to work hard over the next few days, and that’s just so you can get some basic control.”

“I’m up for it.” I nod.

“I would suggest that we try this again, but in the water, where you can’t burn anything down.” She looks over at the lake.

“That’s such a great idea.”

“Here’s the thing: if you’re tense or nervous, you’ll have a harder time controlling your powers. You need to try to relax and free your mind, which is sometimes easier said than done.”

I take off my tunic and my shoes.

McColl takes off her shoes, too, and we wade into the lake together, the cool water lapping at our waists. McColl’s dress floats around her like a golden cloud, and I have to focus very hard on not thinking about what she would look like underneath it.

I need to get my head out of my ass, or I might kill someone.

“It’s chilly but not unpleasant,” McColl says, looking down into the water. Her eyes lift and lock with mine. “Now, try again. Much smaller this time. Think of a tiny flame, not a bonfire. Try to use just a fraction of your power. Think of that trickle.”

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