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Oh, so you do social niceties. See yourself out, we'll talk later.

When the mood strikes me and my conversation partner is oh so charming. See you later.

[ but that's it, he's going to just leave ]

[He waves, already picking up a journal.

LATER THOUGH, depending on when they both get to bed, someone will be stepping into Five's dreams.]

[ surprise they're just as terrible as last time so once more enjoy BUILDINGS ON FIRE and dead bodies ]

I don't suppose you'd like a better background.

Yes, this is hardly conducive to study.

[He waves a hand, opening a probably familiar darkness portal.]

Come along.

[He's stepping through it without waiting for Five. This time the dream is... Quite plain. Just a huge stone room, with a large circular pit in the middle, stone steps leading down to it, where a row of target dummies wait. The "pit" is really an indent, just a little over five feet deep, and bordered by railing so those above can watch those below. There's a comfortable couch next to one rail, with a table and books.

Lahabrea holds out a hand and one of the books on the table vanishes and reappears in his grip.]

[ he follows with no real hesitation, though he does take some time to study the place once they're there. ]

I suppose it does work better than a platform.

Hm. Yes he does like that doesn't he?

[He hands the book over. The first pages are the spells familiar to Five, the other pages literally can't be accessed, they just won't budge.]

This is all the tool you will need to start with. The ink is enchanted, aether you channel through it will manifest your will into the form you wish, as the spell is written.

Eventually we will get to the subject of making your own ink. Given your world will have no access to it. But let us not put the cart before the horse.

Edited 2020-05-27 00:58 (UTC)

[ Taking the book and just looking at the spells - totally trying to turn the other pages, but giving up quickly when he sees they can't be accessed. He still had to try! ]

That can be a subject for another time, yes.

[ facing the target dummies then, and examining the book and the spells available to him first and foremost. He doesn't like to waste time and they've talked enough, so he'll just get right down to it and try to start with the first spell he was showed during their lesson - ruin. It doesn't come to him easily, because it's clear he's putting actual effort into channeling theory into practice. But eventually, he does manage ]

[While Five toils Lahabrea teleports himself to the couch and settles down, picking up another book and reading it, not paying much attention until a spell actually manifests from Five's effort. He glances up then, finally.]

Pause.

How did that feel for you?

Inadequate, to start with, this should not have taken nearly as much as it did.

[ though after a pause, he adds ]

There's differences, obviously. But it does feel similar enough to when I use my own abilities, to the point I wonder if I used the right source of energy, after all.

I shall watch this time. Do it again.

[ It's easier now that he's managed to actually cast it ONCE, so it takes considerably less time, but still a lot of effort and concentration. He is, however, absolutely using his own internal reserves - and the spell itself comes with a blue tint around it ]

Stop. It is fine to use your own mana but you are not channeling aether.

Describe to me what the flow feels like to you, that you are using.

[ he looks so annoyed because he can tell he's not doing it PROPERLY and he hates it ]

What's there to describe - I feel energy and I tap into that, it's as simple as that.

[He closes his book and stands, teleporting down next to Five.]

You will get nowhere if you think you know everything. Pay attention.

[He casts, simply, physic on Five.]

How did that feel? What was that energy like compared to the energy you just tapped into?

[ he wants to protest but he knows Lahabrea is right, and him thinking he knows everything already proved disastrous to him in the past. So he swallows down his pride ]

... it's different. If I had to describe it mine feels more like electric charge. This lacks that distinctive feel.

Interesting.

[He examines Five visually, then casts an Adloquium on him.]

While that lasts see if you can describe it to me. There is no wrong answer, simply use your senses.

[ This might be the hardest thing for him through these lessons, because he clearly has a difficult time just focusing on FEELING and putting it in words ]

The spell itself feels as though my energies are being replenished, after I had to use them just now. But as for its energy ... I don't know how to describe it. It's different, and that in itself is enough to make it feel unnatural. Warmer than what I'm used to. ... I suppose it feels like it's alive.

Mm.

That is of course a manifested spell. But it is still aether, however formed. Pay attention as it dissipates.

You are good on theory. Let's try this approach. We can break a spell down into three components. First, intent; what you wish to manifest, the spell you are trying to form, in essence. Second, power; simply, the source by which you form your intent. Third, control; you could call it focus or will, but it is that by which you harness the power.

For you, the first and third seem easy. I would say whatever it is your internal resource is, it would make an excellent control. But it is also what you are using as power.

It is possible you could adapt to use it as a harness for power, not the source of it. It will still drain you to do so, but at a much reduced rate. I think you can understand that as a concept well enough. It might help in merging your own powers with magic, later.

However that is not what I am here to teach.

Let us work on your power. Arcanima does not require the same amount of sensitivity as Conjury but you still must be able to affect the flow of aether, if not around you than in yourself.

Instead of forcing the spell with the resource you are familiar, focus your will, and hold back that power you lean on. The spell is already half made for you, the book and your will-power and intent only need the final spark of power. And that spark is everywhere.

Barely literate half beasts can summon a god with naught more than the will of their prayers and sufficient aether. A man like you can surely cast the most basic of spells when it is all but formed for him already.

I think these barely literate half beasts have the advantage of actually being from your world, still. In case that wasn't clear there's no such thing as aether in mine.

[ But those are excuses. He said he would exceed expectations and now he's doing nothing of the sort. He's already used to using different powers in Imeeji - it shouldn't be this hard to mute his own abilities when he's already not having access to them on a regular basis ]

If I was able to do it while half-possessed there's no reason I should not be able to now. Very well.

[ he furrows his eyebrows, focusing on the spell again and this time, actively trying to suppress his instincts. Focus on the energy around him to control its flow, and channel it through the spell already in the book for him.

For his first two attempts, there's nothing but a small, muted blue light as he falls back to using his own internal sources but stops before actually forming the spell. But the third time, finally, he's successful. His control is poor and he barely manages to hit the target - but he's made it with the right source of energy ]

[Lahabrea watches, without comment, waiting. And when Five manages, finally, he's actually... Quite pleased. Not that it shows. Especially in the curt way he commands;]

Just like that. Again.

[ he doesn't protest because now he's focused on the task at hand, and trying to concentrate on the way he felt so he won't lose sight of that. He casts it again, and though his control still leaves something to be desired, it's already improving, making it clear he's trying to adjust himself ]

[He's not concerned with finesse yet, this is already good. Excellent even.]

Again. Do not stop until I give you leave.

[He won't make Five exhaust himself. But he won't say "stop" until Five is either obviously comfortable with using aether for the spell or the man looks too tired to keep casting.]

[ That works just as well for him, really, so he's going to keep trying. Compared to using his own powers, it's slightly less tiring - though not so much he could go indefinitely.

Which each time he's casting, his control gets better and the time necessary for a new one reduces as well. It does take him a few tries, but eventually, he manages properly ]

- That should be it.

Mm. That is... Basic. But yes. A passable start.

Now tell me, how does it feel?

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