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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?

Thought I wouldn't need to go over the description process once I managed.

Our goal is conjury. Your sensitivity is certainly not going to be neglected.

[ he hates this!!! but also, he doesn't want to NOT be good at something, so he sighs ]

For the record. I feel ridiculous.

As I said, it feels alive. Tapping into my own energy simply feels like taking any other physical action, but this feels like a conversation. Negotiating with the environment around me so that I can manifest what I want.

Does that suffice?

Why do you feel ridiculous? You are learning something new.

That is certainly a good start. A conversation. Hm. Not a bad way to view it. Keep honing your negotiating skills.

I will watch, you may continue with each spell to your satisfaction.

[At this point he won't add more until Five feels he's ready to present his progress or has a question.]

"Feeling" is not something I focus on, generally, and describing the process certainly isn't something I'm used to either.

[ SIGHS!! ]

But I can see the usefulness of it, and I won't complain too much.

[ He's going to move on physic — this time, it only takes him a couple attempts to get it right, since he's gotten a much better grasp on how to use aether rather than his own reserves. By the time he's on the third spell, he does it properly on the first attempt ]

"Feeling" will have to become a focus of yours to master the elements.

[He leans against the wall of the pit, watching impassively.]

You're getting the hang of it.

I'm only going through with it because it's a necessity to actually figure out how to combine our powers. Far as I'm aware none of this will ever work in my world.

[ Not that the slight chance is not still worth trying for, but look, he has to complain ]

I believe next topic on your lesson was summoning.

It may not. But it is a good thing to learn to attune yourself to, it might be there are untapped powers available to you.

As to summoning, you grasp the complex formula, yes? This will be the same as casting any other spell, yet... sustained. And your will will move it, to an extent. It is not sentient, but it can react, and take orders.

I suppose that's true enough. The circumstances behind my sibling's and I's birth are odd enough that there must be something out there, if nothing else.

Hopefully the memory of Auracite turning into a Carbuncle won't actually make it any more difficult.

[ There's a pause, and he has to concentrate and focus again - in part because he's running the same calculations in his mind as well. But sure enough, he manages to summon an emerald one ]

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