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All right. Off we go, then.
[He leads Eithan to one of the unused rooms, but it isn't buried in obscurity, so it's a bit less creepy as a result. There are a couple of abandoned folding chairs and some old newspapers. Really exciting.
He faces Eithan and clasps his hands.]
Conjuring is the mainstay of arcane magic. Mages use it to have food and water in emergencies, but it has other practical applications as well, like creating portals for fast travel. It's often overlooked because it is a non-combat skill, but it is important and useful for anyone looking to take magic to the next level.
[HE FUCKING LOVES THIS STUFF DON'T MIND HIM]
[He leads Eithan to one of the unused rooms, but it isn't buried in obscurity, so it's a bit less creepy as a result. There are a couple of abandoned folding chairs and some old newspapers. Really exciting.
He faces Eithan and clasps his hands.]
Conjuring is the mainstay of arcane magic. Mages use it to have food and water in emergencies, but it has other practical applications as well, like creating portals for fast travel. It's often overlooked because it is a non-combat skill, but it is important and useful for anyone looking to take magic to the next level.
[HE FUCKING LOVES THIS STUFF DON'T MIND HIM]
[ So exciting. Good thing Belthazar apparently has excitement enough for the whole room and maybe also one or two next door, dang dfjskla Eithan's stuck bewildered for a moment, completely unused to an actual lecture with enthusiasm like this. (They seriously exist? That's not just fiction?) But it gets him to listen. Count that as a win, kid. ]
Yeah, no, that definitely sounds useful. All of it. And it's teachable? Seriously?
Yeah, no, that definitely sounds useful. All of it. And it's teachable? Seriously?
Yes. Though, I have to say that portals have never worked for me outside of Azeroth. I can only surmise it has to do with the lack of ambient mana in space. Much of arcane magic originates from the leylines present in the ground, so...
[He could go on for ten minutes on that alone, but he won't.]
Anyway. As I was saying-- conjuring a mana crystal is a little more advanced than basic food and water, but seeing as you have such a solid grasp of magic already, I think we're allowed to skip a step.
It's all about visualization. Think of the most basic gem you can, and imagine it's big enough to fit in your hand. Think about how it feels in your palm. Think about how the light plays off the edges and inside of it. It's important to imagine a smooth and polished crystal... Arcane magic tends to be very unstable, so it will leak through any imperfections it finds.
[He could go on for ten minutes on that alone, but he won't.]
Anyway. As I was saying-- conjuring a mana crystal is a little more advanced than basic food and water, but seeing as you have such a solid grasp of magic already, I think we're allowed to skip a step.
It's all about visualization. Think of the most basic gem you can, and imagine it's big enough to fit in your hand. Think about how it feels in your palm. Think about how the light plays off the edges and inside of it. It's important to imagine a smooth and polished crystal... Arcane magic tends to be very unstable, so it will leak through any imperfections it finds.
[ Oh, right, leylines. Those are a thing in Tharia, Jacob talks about them a lot. Not that Eithan's ever had any personal experience - but! Yes, please don't overload his brain just yet.
(Though he is surprised he's allowed to skip a step, he didn't figure Belth for the kind to let that slide... Not that he'll bring it up and risk it getting retracted on him, thanks~)
He takes a second to think about that figurative crystal - smooth, shining, almost iridescent. Symmetrical. Nothing but perfect edges forming perfect corners. The visualization is the easy part, he assumes, which is not unlike bringing his own fire to life. Which... just makes him wonder if he's going to end up forming a crystal-shaped flame instead if he doesn't focus right...
-- Speaking of focus. Oops. ]
Okay... think I've got that much.
(Though he is surprised he's allowed to skip a step, he didn't figure Belth for the kind to let that slide... Not that he'll bring it up and risk it getting retracted on him, thanks~)
He takes a second to think about that figurative crystal - smooth, shining, almost iridescent. Symmetrical. Nothing but perfect edges forming perfect corners. The visualization is the easy part, he assumes, which is not unlike bringing his own fire to life. Which... just makes him wonder if he's going to end up forming a crystal-shaped flame instead if he doesn't focus right...
-- Speaking of focus. Oops. ]
Okay... think I've got that much.
[Belth steps closer to him and takes Eithan's hands. Belth's are eternally cold, but at least he's gentle.]
Now... gather your mana in your hands-- your energy-- and see yourself forming that perfect gem you just envisioned, as if it were made of clay. Don't worry if it feels too malleable. It will solidify according to your vision.
And then, repeat after me:
Multa. Neus. Arcanus.
Now... gather your mana in your hands-- your energy-- and see yourself forming that perfect gem you just envisioned, as if it were made of clay. Don't worry if it feels too malleable. It will solidify according to your vision.
And then, repeat after me:
Multa. Neus. Arcanus.
[ Cold. jdfkls dude he's gonna buy you some gloves, geez.
Anyway. He takes a deep breath, closes his eyes, pulls in his focus. His magic always flows where he wills it - always has - so it forms easily in his hands. His flame appears, of course, but there's that white shimmer with it, the one he saw Belth draw to the surface last time. ]
Multa. Neus. Arcanus.
[ The gem forms - crackling, volatile at first, but the instability levels out before it finally compresses and solidifies into that perfect shape. He blinks at it a few times, then looks to Belth with a hopeful smile. ]
... Huh. So, passing grade?
Anyway. He takes a deep breath, closes his eyes, pulls in his focus. His magic always flows where he wills it - always has - so it forms easily in his hands. His flame appears, of course, but there's that white shimmer with it, the one he saw Belth draw to the surface last time. ]
Multa. Neus. Arcanus.
[ The gem forms - crackling, volatile at first, but the instability levels out before it finally compresses and solidifies into that perfect shape. He blinks at it a few times, then looks to Belth with a hopeful smile. ]
... Huh. So, passing grade?
[Belthazar's eyes light up in a way that has nothing to do with fel magic.]
Oh my goodness! It worked! [And Eithan thought he was being nerdy before. Belthazar clenches his fists and shakes them in victory.] Yes! Oh, Light, yes!
Oh my goodness! It worked! [And Eithan thought he was being nerdy before. Belthazar clenches his fists and shakes them in victory.] Yes! Oh, Light, yes!
[ That excitement is downright contagious, and that smile turns into a grin - and a laugh. ]
Dude, this is awesome! This is-- You just-- I mean, this is nothin' like possible in my world, and you just taught me how to do it, and I did it! It worked!
Dude, this is awesome! This is-- You just-- I mean, this is nothin' like possible in my world, and you just taught me how to do it, and I did it! It worked!
[CRAZY. He's so happy he might just burst.]
It might be, if you are able to do it. Goodness, I... phew, I still can't believe... but we should move on, yes?
It might be, if you are able to do it. Goodness, I... phew, I still can't believe... but we should move on, yes?
[ Eithan's still beaming. There are so many reasons why this is amazing, with the fact that Belth doesn't have to suffer from mana withdrawal being the most important, but it also implies that if this sort of thing is teachable, well... that opens a ton of new avenues for advanced magic for the both of them. He's perhaps more excited about that than he ever, ever thought he would be. ]
Right, yeah. Movin' on. Heh. What next? Gettin' my mana to stay in this thing for you, right?
Right, yeah. Movin' on. Heh. What next? Gettin' my mana to stay in this thing for you, right?
[Belthazar sounds frightened even though he's trying to keep his voice level. It's a very hard thing to do. Besides the shakiness in his voice, he's panting, which helps nothing.]
Eithan! Eithan, are you all right?
Eithan! Eithan, are you all right?
[ It takes almost a minute for Eithan to answer, but once there's a break in the commotion, he does. ]
Belthazar! Yeah, it-- fine. I mean, I'm okay. I'm alive. What about you? You okay?
[ His voice is even, but very concerned, especially since Eithan can hear just how much Belth's trying to keep it together. ]
Belthazar! Yeah, it-- fine. I mean, I'm okay. I'm alive. What about you? You okay?
[ His voice is even, but very concerned, especially since Eithan can hear just how much Belth's trying to keep it together. ]
[Belth is so relieved to hear Eithan's voice. He nearly falls over from the relief-- or the exhaustion, he's not sure.]
I'm fine. I'm not really hurt, and our ship is secure... finally. I just--
[Light, he remembers the first time they were fired upon. He had a bad, bad head injury from hitting his head on a console he hid beneath.]
I think... after this, I'm going to need... some help. I-- I hate to bother you, but I was already... and then I used so much mana trying to protect everyone...
[His voice drops to a whisper.] I haven't fought like this in years. What if I turn?
I'm fine. I'm not really hurt, and our ship is secure... finally. I just--
[Light, he remembers the first time they were fired upon. He had a bad, bad head injury from hitting his head on a console he hid beneath.]
I think... after this, I'm going to need... some help. I-- I hate to bother you, but I was already... and then I used so much mana trying to protect everyone...
[His voice drops to a whisper.] I haven't fought like this in years. What if I turn?
[ Eithan just about falls over, too - there's an audible sigh of relief, with the touch of a smile. ]
Good. Good, I'm glad. Really glad you're okay.
[ Meanwhile Eithan's bleeding a bit but it's seriously not bad he swears fjdksl ]
Dude, no. Don't even. 'S not a bother. Ever. Okay? We can meet up soon as possible. Promise. Always.
[ There's a pause... and he has to ask -- ]
Hey... What do you mean, turn?
Good. Good, I'm glad. Really glad you're okay.
[ Meanwhile Eithan's bleeding a bit but it's seriously not bad he swears fjdksl ]
Dude, no. Don't even. 'S not a bother. Ever. Okay? We can meet up soon as possible. Promise. Always.
[ There's a pause... and he has to ask -- ]
Hey... What do you mean, turn?
Thank you. Thank you so much. I didn't really get hurt, so if you need me, I can give.
[He's shaking, now, and he knows it's from the pain settling in the wake of the adrenaline.]
If... we lose our control while under the effects of mana starvation, we become monsters. Wretched, they're called. Elves that have wasted away and only exist to feed.
I'm stable, I promise, but if I am forced to fight like that again-- I don't know. I don't want to think about it.
[He's shaking, now, and he knows it's from the pain settling in the wake of the adrenaline.]
If... we lose our control while under the effects of mana starvation, we become monsters. Wretched, they're called. Elves that have wasted away and only exist to feed.
I'm stable, I promise, but if I am forced to fight like that again-- I don't know. I don't want to think about it.
you're not dead right
[excellently done.]
[excellently done.]
[ Oh dear goddess Belth please. He's not even thinking about the blood thing right now, this is more important. ]
But - you didn't lose control. And you're not gonna be starvin' for much longer, okay? You're fine. And you're gonna be fine in the future, too - hell, we can meet up more frequently, if you wanna make sure, or whatever.
And... for what it's worth? I really don't think you'd ever lose your control.
But - you didn't lose control. And you're not gonna be starvin' for much longer, okay? You're fine. And you're gonna be fine in the future, too - hell, we can meet up more frequently, if you wanna make sure, or whatever.
And... for what it's worth? I really don't think you'd ever lose your control.
good
some of us are a little worse for wear but nothing that won't get better
you need anything?
some of us are a little worse for wear but nothing that won't get better
you need anything?
I-I'll be fine with just every few weeks. But if we keep having to fight, I... I'll need more. Light, I hate it. I hate this, I hate--
[His throat closes up as he fights back what is certainly tears, but he's not sobbing, not yet.]
It hurts like nothing else. Praying doesn't... make it better. When you're lying alone, starving in every sense of the word, even a moment's reprieve is worth a king's ransom.
[His throat closes up as he fights back what is certainly tears, but he's not sobbing, not yet.]
It hurts like nothing else. Praying doesn't... make it better. When you're lying alone, starving in every sense of the word, even a moment's reprieve is worth a king's ransom.
[ Hearing all of that, and the way Belth keeps trying to keep it together... Goddess. Eithan swears that his heart just broke loud enough to be audible, if such a thing were possible. ]
Belth...
Can you get away right now? I'll give you mana, you'll feel a little bit better, shit might not seem so dire. We can keep talkin'. Yeah?
[ Not to step on toes if you actually do want to be alone, but Eithan would rather not leave you alone with those thoughts and all of that chaos in your head right now, friend jfdksl ]
Belth...
Can you get away right now? I'll give you mana, you'll feel a little bit better, shit might not seem so dire. We can keep talkin'. Yeah?
[ Not to step on toes if you actually do want to be alone, but Eithan would rather not leave you alone with those thoughts and all of that chaos in your head right now, friend jfdksl ]
man i'm not even going to question it we would have been fuuuucked without them
don't look a gift horse in the mouth and all that
don't look a gift horse in the mouth and all that
[He doesn't respond for a minute as he weighs his options. He's definitely feeling awful, but some of that is probably the pain. No, most of that is probably the pain. Being drained of mana is exhausting. It starts as a dull ache, then spreads until it's all he can think about...]
Y-yeah, that... that sounds fine. I'll meet you in the usual place.
Y-yeah, that... that sounds fine. I'll meet you in the usual place.
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