Beginners Magic : Lightning Bolt
It is all about magic! 

Now Lightning Bolt is a same Bolt magic as Ice Bolt, but differs in many ways. First, let us talk about how to obtain this skill.

Spell: Lightning Bolt is obtainable through lessons by Lassar in Tir cornail, or by reading and understanding the Book. Only problem is, Lassar in Tir cornail does not sell this Book of Lightning, so to obtain this skill at begining, I would suggest taking up lessons from Lassar for cheaper gold, as well as the extra intelligence from the lessons, for they are permanent. Don't want to? You can take about 20 minutes to walk to Dunbaton, the second town to get the book from Magic Academy there. Stewart sells it for about 7500 gold.

A -> Tir Cornail // B -> Dunbaton

Unlike Ice Bolt, Lightning Bolt has very unstable damage. It has very low minimum damage, as well as very high Maximum damage. At rank 1, damage done by Lightning Bolt is 40~150, which leaves 110 difference from Minimum damage to Maximum damage. For such reason, starting to level up Lightning Bolt from very begining when the magic damage balance is very low, is not recommended. Only way to increase magic balance is through Increasing one's intelligence and their Magic Mastery skill. Unlike other skills, enchants that increases Balance % nor does dexterity matter in spell damage. Now, it is quite not possible to have high intelligence at begining due to not being able to increase, not being able to raise various skills due to lack of Ability Points. Because of this, using Lightning Bolt at begining stage would not be very efficient.

Lightning Bolt is in many ways a very unique bolt magic.

First, It will put the monster that has been hit by lightning bolt for longest moment of suspension. By suspension, I mean the duration of time when monster gets hit and stops all action to recuperate. For this reason, It makes the casters have easier time to prepare for next casting after the first attack. This is useful when monster gets too close to the caster, and upon a hit, caster will have easier time preparing for next attack such as another bolt attack, or time to run up and hit the monster without worry of being hit back so easily.

Second, caster may charge up mabinogi the lightning bolt up to five times and may chain through out monsters upon impact. If you are to charge the lightning bolt x times, upon a impact, it may hit up to x number of monsters when they are clustered together. Now, one needs to have experience in using Lightning Bolt many times him/her self in order to get an idea of distance "chain attack" will reach to next opponent. Lightning Bolt has another interesting fact; if charged twice or more, it will cause a single target to knock back. Now, it gets a little bit more complicated.