The Twin Mage

As the first light of dawn seeped through the windows, Arthur stood in the center of the room, his presence calm yet commanding. Today, he would begin Morgan's training in the elements of light and darkness, a balance few dared to master.

"The light element is about order," Arthur began, his voice steady and patient. "It restores the original shape of things. When used on living beings, it becomes healing magic. But light is unlike the other elements; you can't wield it through sheer willpower. Light seeks order, and the only way to shape it is to artificially create order."

Morgan tilted her head, curiosity and confusion battling in her expression. "Artificial order? What does that mean?"

Arthur's lips curled into a small smile. He held out his hand, and a sphere of radiant light appeared, shimmering like liquid gold. "Let me give you an example," he said. "If I emit light magic and use my willpower to make it look like you, what do I obtain?"

Morgan furrowed her brow, thinking. As Arthur held the glowing sphere before her, she focused. Experimenting with her own light, she conjured a glowing form. Her creation took the shape of… a lightbulb with Arthur's face awkwardly stamped onto its surface.

Arthur chuckled, his laugh warm and encouraging. "Not quite. But you've grasped the essence of the challenge. Light doesn't follow vague intentions. It demands precision--patterns, structure, and symmetry. Try again, Morgan, but this time, create order with intent."

Morgan nodded, determination sparking in her eyes. She closed her hands around the trembling light, feeling its chaotic nature resist her will. Then she remembered Arthur's words. Artificial order. It wasn't about forcing light to behave but giving it the framework to align itself.

She closed her eyes, conjuring vivid mental images of Apollo and Elyan. Her thoughts moved beyond their basic forms to the details that made them unique. Apollo's angular jawline, the way his hair framed his face in crisp lines. Elyan's slightly disheveled hair and relaxed posture. She dissected these traits in her mind, arranging them like puzzle pieces.

Taking a deep breath, Morgan extended her hand. The light began to shift, soft and uncertain at first. But then it stabilized, morphing into two glowing forms. Apollo and Elyan now sat at an imaginary kitchen table, their features unmistakable in the radiance. Every detail, down to the faint gleam in their eyes, was crafted with care.

Arthur's approving nod felt like a quiet triumph. "That is the light's power," he said. "Not just illumination, but creation through meticulous order. Do you feel it?"

Morgan gazed at her creations, a mix of pride and awe swelling in her chest. "I do. It's… not like the other elements. It feels… deliberate. Exact."

Arthur say "And now I will teach you how to add color to your Holograms?To achieve adding color into your Holograms you must add an element without breaking the balance that is required to maintain the hologram"

Arthur watched Morgan as she meticulously shaped her first colored hologram—a simple branch, crafted from pure light. It hung in the air like a fragile sculpture, delicate but lifelike. Morgan was focused, her brow furrowed in concentration as she added the first tinge of color. The soft golden hue of the light shifted into the subtle green of fresh leaves, its veins traced with delicate precision.

"Remember," Arthur's voice interrupted her quiet thoughts, "the light element must remain the anchor. If the balance shifts too far, the color will distort the structure you've created."

Morgan nodded, understanding the delicate dance between creation and control. The addition of color wasn't just about hue—it was about maintaining the integrity of the form she had already created. She reached out, carefully infusing the light with the color, adjusting her focus so it flowed seamlessly with the glowing structure of the branch.

The first attempt was uneven. The colors bloomed in unnatural patterns, briefly distorting the image into something garish and unrecognizable. Morgan winced, her hand instinctively pulling back as if afraid to ruin her creation.

Arthur's tone was patient but firm. "You're too rushed. Focus on the structure first. Only then can you color it. It's like painting a masterpiece. You sketch the outlines, you set the form, and then you apply the layers."

Morgan took a deep breath, letting go of the frustration building in her chest. She returned her focus to the hologram, stabilizing the shape of the branch. Slowly, she pushed the chaotic energy back into control, the light once again bending to her will. Then, she began again.

This time, she focused on the very essence of the color. She imagined the light filtering through trees at dusk, how the fading sunlight gave everything a warm, amber glow, and how the leaves were kissed with the richness of a deep green. She gave her intention a clear shape, allowing the light to fold into the colors with a sense of purpose, not force.

As the branch took shape again, this time with perfect detail and vibrant, natural color, Morgan felt a thrill of success. It looked real. More than that—it felt real.

Arthur nodded approvingly, his eyes twinkling with quiet pride. "You've done well. But now you must move beyond the simple forms. Bring the figures to life."

Morgan's hands trembled slightly as she thought of her parents. She had watched them in the mornings, when they had shared small, private moments—her father's serious demeanor softened when he smiled, her mother's graceful movements that seemed to flow like water. She wanted to capture that essence, to recreate them not as mere shadows of light, but as vibrant, living images.

This time, she began with their faces. She shaped the contours of their faces, carefully mirroring every detail—her father's sharp jawline, her mother's soft expression. But it wasn't enough just to mimic their faces. She needed to embody the way they moved, the subtleties of their expressions.

As she worked, she added another layer of color, gradually infusing warmth into the light. The images she created of Apollo and Elyan shifted from being mere holograms to something more substantial—figures that almost seemed to breathe.

When she finished, a perfect replica of her parents stood before her in the air, their forms glowing in warm golden and earthy tones. They were lifelike, vibrant with the love and care she had poured into the creation. Morgan stepped back, a sense of accomplishment swelling within her chest.

Arthur's voice was soft, yet full of admiration. "This is the essence of the light, Morgan. You have not only created order but brought the magic of connection to life. You've captured them, but more importantly, you've made them real in a way that goes beyond simple mimicry. You've infused them with a purpose."

Morgan's heart swelled, but she knew this was only the beginning. The training had just begun to tap into the full potential of light and darkness. As she gazed at her glowing parents, she felt a deeper understanding of her powers settle into her bones—a deep responsibility, one that required precision, balance, and the recognition that magic was not simply about what she could create, but what she could bring into being.

Arthur placed a hand on her shoulder, his voice firm yet kind. "The power to shape light is not only a gift—it is a responsibility. And now, you are ready to learn how to use it."

The day stretched on, filled with hours of practice, refining her control and exploring new shapes. As dusk began to settle, Morgan stood by the window, looking out over the horizon. Her eyes were brighter, and her heart was alight with the thrill of discovery. With Arthur's guidance, she was no longer just a learner—she was beginning to understand the true depth of her potential. And this was only the first step.