He had told her that depending on her progress, she can conduct the ritual on four days. If the training was not fruitful during those days, she can further train herself and then do the ritual instead on the next month.
As they start the training, he told her that she needed to practice her focus and control first as it is the very nature of the ritual.
Meredith couldn't fathom it at first, but with a demonstration by him, she was able to understand what he meant.
He closed his eyes and then showed her that with proper focus, she could cut a leaf in half with her mind. He put one on his palm, shifted his focus on the leaf, and with proper focus without distractions, he was able to see the energy properties of the leaf.
After a second, Meredith gasped when she saw how the leaf was cut in half on the top of his palm the moment he opened his eyes, and then he looked at her.
"It may look simple, but for a first time user of magic such as you, it may be too much. So we're going to do this step by step," he said, Meredith nodding. Like a curious student, she cocked her head to the side, asking him a question.
"How do you do that? I know you said focus is the key… but is it all that?"
"Good question," Austin commented, answering her question. "It's good that you noticed that it's not at all that simple," he added, giving her a leaf. Meredith took it in her hand, looking at it on the top of her palm.
"Everything in this world… they have energy," he began, her eyes now shifting to him as she listened. "The energy they posses can either be a strong one, or a weak one. But nature? They will always have natural properties of energy that is why magic is strongest when around nature."
Meredith nodded as she remembered the basic concepts she learned from Austin days ago. She now connected the lessons they had to today's lesson and indeed, she was able to make assumptions based on what he said—a really perceptive student.
"So… when we close our eyes…" she mumbled, Austin hearing her.
She then closed her eyes and thought of only the leaf on her hand, surprised at what she had seen. She immediately opened her eyes as she blurted aloud what she noticed when she did so.
"It's there—the energy!" she began, a wide smile appearing on her face. "It's yellow green in nature, and swirling in its own way."
"Very good!" Austin clapped his hands one time, proud that she was able to make a quick absorption of how things have natural properties. "Now… try holding a pebble."
Meredith looked at her surroundings. There are a lot of stuff in the garden and so, she bent down and picked up a small rock. The moment she closed her eyes and focused on it, in an instant, she saw the energy properties of the rock. This time, it was white-greyish in color.
"It's there… but unlike the leaf, its energy is stagnant—not swirling."
"Correct," Austin nodded, further connecting their training to what she needs to learn. "For our training, you have to learn how to shift your focus and control. You have to learn how to tear up a leaf, then a rock, then a rubber ball."
"Oh! Sounds easy," Meredith commented, Austin raising a finger and waving it to warn her.
"Easier said than done, Meredith. Your mother may scold you if she hears you underestimating the basics of magic."
She nodded, thinking that Austin is indeed right. He leaned on the garden table behind him, continuing to talk about Gwen.
"She, too, found it difficult to master before she was considered to be the most powerful witch, you see. Without the perfect grasp of control and focus which is the foundation of every magic, anything could fail."
"Alright," Meredith said, her lips in a tight line as she took back what she said a moment ago. "I'll do my best."
"Right," Austin smiled, pointing at the leaf on top of her palm. "Now that you've sensed its energy, try looking at the movement of the leaf."
"In a spiral… right?" Meredith clarified, Austin nodding to answer her.
"Now… as you close your eyes and focus, try moving your mind along with the movement of the leaf's energy."
Meredith blinked her eyes a few times. As she cocked her head to the side, wondering how she could "follow the leaf's movement" with her mind, she stared at Austin as if looking for answers.
"Try to look for it and try it out yourself," he urged, Atlas and Marcus coming to their training to watch them from afar. He acknowledged their presence with a smile, Meredith not minding them as she focused with what she was doing.
"Hmm…"
Meredith took a deep breath and then exhaled it slowly. The moment she closed her eyes, she focused on the leaf on her palm.
She saw yet again the energy of the leaf. It was light green in color and it was swirling inside. She creased her brows as she focused on it and nothing else.
She clicked her tongue when she realized that unlike Austin's who just cut it in a few seconds, she was taking more time. Noticing that she was hard on herself, he encouraged her not to pressure herself.
"Remember that magic is best done calm and patiently especially for one who uses it for the first time," he said politely, making her relax. "Be kind to yourself and do it at your own pace."
Not opening her eyes, she took a series of her deep breaths, her focus not wavering on the leaf. His words helped her calm down and so, she continued trying to follow the pattern with her mind.
"Oh!"
Before she even knew it, the leaf tore in half after a minute, a bead of sweat already formed on her forehead. As she turned to proudly look at Atlas and Marcus, she exclaimed excitedly on her achievement.
"Guys, I did it!" She held the leaf up, the three of them smiling at her. "I tore the leaf in half!"