Davion stared into rotating fractals made of light. His mind overflowed with formulae, equations, algorithms, and data structures.
Mathematics:
Physics:
Computation:
The geometry ceased. Lao appeared, smiling. The others winked out.
"To externalize the internal model," said Lao,
"is not an act of intellect.
You will have to do the right computations quick, and in the proper order,
but the final act of extension is one of will."
"How?" asked Davion.
"The way I can say is not the way," said Lao.
"You have to figure that part out on your own."
Davion furrowed his brow. "That seems like the most difficult part of all."
Lao smiled. "You’ll do fine. Don’t be attached to success or failure. Just practice!"
Davion returned to camp with his mind afire. He felt almost feverish. He splashed some water on his face and sat down, eyes wide.
He looked around. Sarah was gone. He thought he heard some commotion from the forest folk camp down the hill.
The fire was naught but hot coals. He added a log to it, then sat back down and held his palm before his face. He did some computations in his head and tried to focus the way Lao had said.
A small, yellow flame appeared above his palm for a brief second before winking out.
Davion stared at his hand in disbelief. He looked at the cold log on the hot coals. He raised his hand toward it, calculated, and focused his will. The air shimmered, and a pea-sized spot on the log began to smolder, then smoke, then burst into flame.
Davion clasped his hands before his mouth. He stared into the fire for a long while.