Chapter 1: Necessities

Starswirl had gone to that same lake quite a lot. Spelltome told him to spend 100 hours meditating. Then he would start his magickal training. Starswirl invested a fair amount of that time being bored at first, not knowing how to meditate properly. Spelltome decided to leave him to his own devices for the most part. He had taught Starswirl quite a few exercises to focus his mind and bring about a healthy mental environment for magickal energy to make its residence. Other than that, Spelltome told him that he must gain his own insight if he was ever to become adept at spellcasting.

Spelltome told him, “Starswirl, now that you have the necessary tools to begin your training, I will let you experiment with them. Do whatever works for you. You must separate your emotional mind from your physical mind to become good at this. I want this to be your first task.”

Starswirl asked, “How do I go about that?”

Spelltome joyfully cooed, “I don’t know!” He winked upon finishing his sentence. “You just have to keep at it and it’ll sink in eventually. Don’t worry, that’s the main thing.”

“I swear, if I had a nickel for every time he said ‘Don’t worry’….” Starswirl was venting in his frustration. “Why can’t he just teach me how to shoot bolts of lightning and shit like that?” Starswirl paused, “I guess I’m being a bit childish.” He continued to meditate. “How the hell am I supposed to get good at magick just sitting here though?”

As he silently thought to himself, Spelltome showed up, winking in rather suddenly as usual.

“Spelltome! You really gotta stop doing that, I think I almost had a heart attack that time.” Starswirl shouted.

Spelltome looked at him. “You need to meditate more deeply. You should have sensed me coming.”

Starswirl gave him his “not the time” look.

“So…” Spelltome’s voice became serious, “I wanted to come out here to tell you that it’s time to do some field exercises.”

“Huh? Why so suddenly…?”

“Celestia sent me a letter today. She says that she knows I’ve been training you, and that she wants me to pick up the pace a bit. There is a need for spellcasters in Canterlot and she wants every unicorn she can get.”

Starswirl looked distraught, “What about my meditations, I haven’t even come close to mastering…”

Spelltome closed his eyes and spoke stoically, “Don’t worry about that, you have your whole life to master magickal discipline, but right now, I’m sure you’re more than ready for a few spells.”

“Oh, hum….very well, let’s get to it, then.” Starswirl sighed, feeling robbed of his training time.