Magic is in the air

[Miro]

25th day of Winter, 512 AV

Miro woke from yet another nightmare. It started out so pleasant too, it really left him feeling alone and shattered. "Miro, are you alright? You were yelling in your sleep for some time. And now look at you, awake, but you are more white than usual. All color and life has been drained from your face. I have this nagging feeling in my core that says you are not well. Beyond that, you are hurting." But Ender did not truly understand what had happened. He felt every bit of the taint from the Leeching initiation, but he did not share the same trauma. The real issue of their initiation was the fear. He possessed a skill that frightened him. It came with this craving of use, mastery, but also he knew that there were downsides to using such a skill.

In his dream he was home, Avain Manor, it looked magnificent, as if never ravaged by fire. Kinneas was there too, happy, playful, like he never was. He came up to embrace the boy, something he missed with every fiber of his being. But when he came to wrap his arms around him, he changed. Suddenly he noticed the man's scent, like a rotting corpse. The patches of dead flaking skin, dead droopy eyes. Miro pushed to free himself, but the monster squeezed him tight, began to use Leeching on him. It was at this point he came to realize this monster not as Kinneas, but as Rayage. Their setting faded to a cold lab where the boy was nothing more than a test subject.

No, but that was just a dream, something he could recover from. What he could not was the agony of this magic plaguing his mind. He could not fear this part of him, but he found it hard to master a skill that gave him such cravings. To take in more of the taint, spread it, all while keeping it a secret. He had no idea why, but to cause every thing he came into contact with made him itch to take from it. He cradled his face in his hands, knowing the truth of the matter. He did not want to use it on glyphs or the room, he wanted to use it on a person. Inside him he knew just how much relief it would give him to pin another person to the ground and drain them dry. They would be living, so he could see the emotion on their face, take it all in and make it sweet for him.

Further into the madness the wizard dove. He fantasized of the look, the feel, it made his body tingle with excitement. Miro began to open his body to his surroundings, take in Djed from the environment. Slowly the pain and fear began to morph inside him. As his body filled more and more with the taint, his emotion changed. A hatred for the pure bodied apprentices in the Elements Sanctum. They were Reimancers, brimming with Djed, some of them living. So weak, yet they thought themselves so powerful. They had no experience with this taint, this secret magic, but one would find himself a lucky winner. It was decided, he would take a victim, but they would need to be taken quietly.

The charm bracelet next to Ender only furthered Miro's hatred. He did not have much to say to his Familiar, but something had to be to shut him up. "I am fine. I have decided that today we shall take some time to enjoy our own minds. Let's just keep quiet and let the other do as they please. You are fine to stay here by yourself, right?" The boy's face showed no emotion, striking odd in his icy partners mind. There was no sarcasm, no intended deeper meaning than the words said, something rare, if ever occurring in the past. "No, no, I am fine to stay with you. But, yes, of course, quiet day. Let us just enjoy each other's company in peace and quiet, sounds lovely. You know, I am still here if you need me. No need to feel bad for bothering me."

Ender could hardly believe the words uttered to his overly talkative master, but he knew that for once he would be happier to hear him talk his feelings. He was more sure now than ever, something was wrong, and it was very wrong. In other days he had appeared fine, but the past few seemed to wear on his young master. Perhaps it was the island of Nuit draining the life from him. If things kept up, maybe his attitude would become permanent. Such a change would suit the Familiar just fine. Whatever the case, he needed to stay close and watch his other half closely.

Miro removed his face from his hands, now filled with plenty of emotion. He did well to keep it all in, to save it all for his victim, but any with Auristics would feel him coming for miles around. A glint of red caught his eyes, something on the floor. He reached down and felt for a minute before finding something. It was a ring, a beautiful one at that. It was gilded, containing a large round ruby on its face. The boy looked around for a moment before slipping it on his left ring finger and adored the ruby for a second. The red reminded him of fire, and of blood. To protect his secret, he would have to kill. But after given insight into true impurity, it would be a favor. He was not a monster.

He made his way out of his quarters and through the halls towards the Sanctum. His prey was not already in mind, but the criteria were plain. As he walked, he could feel the presences of Djed get heavier and lighter. It became obvious which doors contained magic experiments. Every once in a while, he would catch a strong stream bursting through a door and linger outside of it, drawing in the Djed and tasting its unique flavor. The more Djed he took in, the more the compulsion churned in his gut.

Finally the Reimancer found himself in the Sanctum hallway. The presence of Djed was heavier here than any other place visited, and only got stronger the closer he came. A slight tingle could be felt on his ring, a sensation that flared for a moment before fading. As he grew closer, not only did the environment grow more rich, but the sensation on his finger more pronounced. I was not just a tingling, a tinge of heat, as if the metal were reacting in some way. For a moment it bothered him, making him question the decision of taking it, but it sure was a pretty item.

Miro reached the large door and kicked it open in the traditional fashion to make his appearance. Nobody looked, too busy with their own egos, how typical. It was time to decide on a prey and pick out the weak'n of the group. Nuit were discounted immediately for their standing as much as dead emotions. Their kind was smarter than to throw their lives away by coming to this place, and mostly fool Pulser lined the room. Still, he could feel the reaction pulse in his hand, stronger than ever, but still unsure of what could be causing it. Every time he felt the heat, it made his heart pound harder, his anxiety build. For now he would just circle his prey, lap the room.

"Earth Reimancer, how boring, probably would grit his teeth and bear it. Wind Reimancer, pff, would try to escape, call for help. The fool Nuit, won't do, and that one, Master Malestrom has his eyes set on his now. No, these will not do." The twisted Reimancer continued his lap, the warm pulsing in his finger almost growing hot with each flash. The intensity, it was boiling his emotions. The increased passion of the object only furthered his. He was sure he was close to his target. A sight caught his attention, one he would normally avoid. A fire Reimancer in the back corner, practicing his flame on various targets. An interesting fact, each time he transmuted his Res to fire, the ring reacted in excitement.

It was decided, and his mind set on this man. A fire Reimancer was likely to struggle and fight back, just as much as he was to cry for help. But this man, he was a back corner loner. Smart enough to stay out of Roknus' gaze and under the radar. Few people cared what happened to the others, death was more than accepted. The weak were picked off, tossed aside, and you only mention it if you were the one doing the killing. If anybody would care, he wouldn't give them the chance. He had it all worked out in his mind already.

Miro began to pour Res from his hands as a liquid. He paid no attention to the substance, hardly even willed its creation, only fuming on the instincts of murder. The light blue substance ran freely from his hands and fell to the floor, leaving an oozing trail as he walked. His emotions were so intense, the substance strewn across the floor began to bubble, as if coming to a boil. As fantasies of torture flashed through his mind, some of he substance transmuted. In places there was a light coating of fire, steam rising, sparks crackling. His ring was more excited than ever.

The poor naive man was so hard at work he did not notice the wizard walking behind him. For a moment he stopped to gather himself and take in the moment. The transmutations ceased, but Ender was well aware of the emotions boiling inside his master's soul. "Miro, stop, now. Let's leave, have a day to rest. You look like you need it." But Miro could only scowl, upset his partner would impede on his work. "Quiet Ender, I won't tell you again." This time making the message more clear. He was not going to be bothered. His remaining Res was called to hover about his right hand as he slowly and quietly approached the man from behind.

The fire Reimancer produced another amount of Res and hesitated a moment. He was slowing down and showing signs of exhaustion. Again the man heaved his Res forward, bursting it to flames, licking the stone targets face before leaning forward and heaving out a few heavy breaths. Just as it was cast and Miro heard him heave his breath, he was in action. First he redirected stream of Djed Flux from the pathways in his arms to his legs, pouncing forth and landing behind the man. Then he reversed the redirection, taking the stolen Djed and then some back to his arms. He wrapped his left arm around the man's chest hard and clenched him tight. His right, Res in hand, was brought around his mouth, and willed the substance to move down his throat and be transmuted to rock.

Miro grinned with sick delight as he initiated the pull of Djed from the man through his face. He coaxed a stream of energy that flowed in through his hand, down his arm, through his center and finally back out his left hand. His mind wrapped around the feeling of delight, and he focused on the sickening feeling of his aura to wrap it about the man. His mind tasked his presence with a sick feeling of delight that he would instill in the man, mixing it with emotions of relief and excitement both. The wizard clenched tighter to fight against his thrashing resistance, watching the look of desperate fear in his eyes and the veins on his temples bulging out so far. He could feel his racing heart, now beginning to slow. With no way to take in air, the man was panicking and hastening his death considerably.

Still he pressed on, furthering his push on the man before his life ended. Miro instilled a message into his mind, hoping he might calm the man and give him a few more seconds in this world. "Calm down!' was the first, followed by, "Just relax" and finally, an emotional response of a gentle relaxation to ease him out of consciousness. The flow of Djed mostly halted, but the Mixed Blood was not done reveling in his hunt. The entire process hadn't even been a chime, and his target was drying up. No, he would pull harder, deeper, taking every last bit he could before his soul split from his body.

Miro closed his eyes and did a final redirection from his left hand to his right, filling it with all the strength his body could muster and still support the unconscious body. He imagined roots jutting from each of his fingers that dug deep into the man's face, down through his throat and to his core, latching onto his soul. He issued an intense pull of Djed, reaching deeper, pulling harder, more, he needed more. The unconscious body began to convulse for a moment before becoming entirely limp, and the flow of Djed stopped.

In anger, the boy twisted his neck upon releasing his face, causing a loud snapping noise. The disturbed Flux in his body was released, allowing his limbs their natural strength once again. The Reimancer just backed away, letting the dead body bang its head against the floor and resound with a thud. As Miro looked around, he saw all eyes on him, each Reimancer with their Res at the ready. Of instinct, the boy countered by producing an amount of his own, knowing just how fearful each of the little lambs were to lose their lives. None would challenge him. None ever did.

A sudden pain arose in the boy's right arm, a spasm that had plagued him for some time. He grasped the limb, massaging it as he grimaced. Let any of them try something, he would kill the lot. But they were not worth it, any of them. He simply walked past them, towards the door, ready to jump in an instant. A destination was clear in mind, and another goal. As he walked through the halls, he still took in Djed passively. They were the same doors, same experiments, yet the flavor had changed. There was no mystery to it, but more a richness, textures he began to notice. Some tingled his skin, while others made it want to crawl.

The destination he had in mind, the Testing Grounds. In the Prairie, near the first Mudpool, there was an area unnatural. This secret area, it was just for Miro. A place where he hid his most important things. Nobody knew of it, and only a Reimancer could access it. Miro made haste, though still took time to enjoy the various scented flavors of magic through the enchanted halls. Part of him had calmed, though through a maturity of sorts. He had relieved the tension and fear of Leeching, only to replace it with a desire to understand more. The way he made that man so helpless, hapless, and the pain he felt. Every once of his weakness became the wizard's strength. Though the uneasiness of it inside of him still felt unnatural.

Nearly an entire bell had passed before Miro arrived at his spot. Off some distance from the mud, there was a tree that stood alone in a clearing. It had damage from being struck by an amount of lightning, and before it was a large plate of rock. He held his hands before him and began to flow a supply of Res. It wrapped around the mass and lifted it to upwards, revealing a cavity below. From it he took his staff, Ionu's Light. And in his backpack was a pot of inscribing paint and a brush. He needed only to draw two focuses. One to store a spell for Leeching, and then another one to store a Leeching spell.

Miro took his tools from the area and allowed the rock to land safely nearby. He took his staff in hand and held it out, quickly attuning his body to it. When he last used it, he found it worked as both a quick path for his Djed Flux and held the ability to create Res as if it were his own skin. Using the tool felt right, and every time he held it their bond grew stronger. Miro had grown stronger, and Ender too. Sahova was a place of true masters, some of which outshone him in magic. Leeching would allow him to further his casting and show them all what a living body could do.

The wizard tapped his left leg for a moment, drawing from its pathways. His staff-wielding arm instantly gained strength and power, but also the sensation in his arm returned. The muscle began to spasm, even after he broke connection to his leg, bothered by the Flux. He began to take deep breaths, and calm his mind. He brought the staff down to be held by both hands, and the wizard began to split the Djed Flux between his hands, lessening the burden on his right.

Now able to think clearly, he calmed his body to a still, only his muscle quivering still, and began to slow the pace of his hearts beating. It was slow, calm, serene. Each breath released a bit more stress, and his leg began to wobble slightly. The excess Djed in his left hand was allow to travel back to rest in his leg, and his heart rate began to pick back up. He brought his mind back to focus, flowing his Djed through his staff and out as Res. It was pointed down at the ground below him, and began to pour a liquid that split into two masses. They were quickly formed into plates and transmuted to rock. It was the perfect surface for Glyphing.

Miro set aside his staff and opened his paint. His arm was still charged with Flux, and his muscle was still twitching. He began to focus his gathered energy in just that muscle, issuing it to calm and rest. It took all of his concentration, but he managed to suppress it. He took a deep breath and dipped his brush, already having a shape in mind. He drew a circle with a thick line going through its center. In the center of line he drew a small filled circle and added more paint to his brush. He began to draw small symbols around the inner edge of the circle, in the form of various intersecting lines. A single line was drawn across the center circle adjacent the long line.

Now having a rune complete, he moved to the next tablet. He looked over his previous rune and did his best to copy it. The added Djed Flux allowed him to work as fast as his mind could translate what his eyes saw into movements, and with great precision too. Within a chime he finished copying the rune, and ready to test his magic. Miro took his sandals off and stepped onto the first rune. He planted Ionu's Light in the center circle and began to redirect Djed Flux from his right arm, to his left in a steady stream, using the staff as a shortcut. He focused he impression of the magic onto the focus below him and forced and imprint. But he would need more than that, and to push the rune to its limit. The wizard began to redirect from the pathways in his legs, slowly charging his arm even further. This arm did not have the same twitch as his staff-wielding arm.

The spell continued for a few more moments, before the issue was given to restore his levels to normal in an instant. The amount of control he had found himself able to control gave him handle over a much greater balance and discipline. Miro stepped back a bit but left his staff planted on the rune. He focused on the point of contact between his staff and the rune, visualizing the contact the staff made and the magic stored. He began to visualize pulling a stream of Djed from the rune through his staff and into his body. The sensation of drawing in Djed fueled his will to drain more. It took only a few ticks for the focus to be drained dry and fade away.

Being filled with Djed gathered from Leeching, it shook him up inside. He felt a detachment from his body fade in and out, as if the Djed would strain his pathways. Miro made contact with the center of the remaining rune and focused on the tip of the staff once more. He began to emulate the fear and pain from being initiated into Leeching, living his trauma once again. His body began to quiver slightly and his heart raced. His mind flickered with memories, remembering every bit of discomfort and betrayal. The impression Rayage had left on him, it was the cost of his gift. Such a harsh introduction was a harsh reality in magic.

The boy was a Hypnotist, and through the powerful emotional realization he was slowly honing his skill. The workings of the mind were as complex as they were subtle, and influence required a delicate touch. But it also served to express emotion in a unique and profound way. A key part in his Hypnotism process was emulation to more accurately and powerfully fuel the emotion, allowing some release for him. He focused on the connection with his staff, able to sense the glyph on the other end. He began to focus the Leeched Djed. It was only a portion of that spent on the glyph, proving his technique inefficient to a noticeable degree. He centered his mind on those emotions of fear and the feelings of pain and channel them through the staff into the glyph as an emotional response. He fueled the spell onward, releasing all tainted Djed and negative emotion from his body and into the glyph.

Miro was washed over with relief. Each breath felt as if he had just come up for air, and his mind found a new peace. He would not fear Rayage or his gift. And with Ionu's Light to guide him, he would find a new level of skill. His talents were growing, and he saw a clear path for each Discipline he practiced. The staff was a key in mastering personal magic, and would serve as a bridge cross them all. With practice, he was sure he would find a deeper harmony with each magic, and continue to amaze him as it always did. He focused on the connection with the glyph once more, drawing the energy in until the rune faded.

Again he was filled with stolen, tainted Djed, but it did not feel quite as nasty inside of him resting in his arm. With a cocky smirk, he held his staff to the sky and began to flow out his Res as a cloud. The substance poured out in several odd puffs, breaking the flow his his casting repetitively. The Res just drifted away, unwilling to move as he commanded it. He drew his attention to a fixed point and commanded it to move with a thrust of his staff, putting great emphasis in his effort. The Res slowly hazed to a central point and gathered together.

As Miro pushed to will the mass to gather further, he felt a strain, a struggle he had not encountered since first using Reimancy. Amount of his Res began to transmute without his will, sending pulses of fire outwards and pulses of lightning down into the ground. The wizard quickly began pacing backwards, still holding control of his Res to the best of his ability. Water began to rain down, and steam from the top, and all manners of earth oozing form the bottom. Sand snowed down, filled with chunks of rock and the odd bit of water mixing in to create mud. The mass of Res quickly evaporated into the elements and left the wizard feeling exhausted. He closed his body from taking in any more Djed and took a chime to rest.

Reimancy and Leeched Djed did not seem to mix well. The risk of friendly fire meant that it would likely have to be avoided until he furthered his control. However his staff did well to assist him in all of his personal magics. All except Familiary. He was not sure if Ender and his staff could find a connection. Still, he had shrugged his partner off when he meant well. "I am feeling balanced again Ender. I am through making mistakes with magic. I understand Leeching now, and I feel closer to my staff and magic than ever. This place is a garden of opportunity. Endless seeds of knowledge and magic have been planted, and I will push to gather as much as I can. I will master my magic and make a name for myself."

Ender had sat by idly and watched a man be murdered by his master. The entire room was ready to kill them, but were all too afraid or too smart to make a move. The feeling of gathering Leeched Djed, it sickened Ender to feed from Miro the more he took in. As he came to get fresh air however, the boy did seem to relieve his angst and calm. Breaking the silence was bittersweet for the Irylid. He was just beginning to enjoy the quiet, though it was a relief to hear from his partner. Miro quickly became annoying, but he seemed to be back to normal. "Well, you seem better. I was beginning to worry you were finally able to contain pointless thoughts to your own mind. Still, better or not, you still look as if you need some rest."

To that Miro nodded, gathering his supplies and putting them away. When his possessions were tucked away, he began to produce Res to lift and replace the stone cover before leaving towards the Citadel. On the long walk back, he reflected on the knowledge he had gained. There were so many applications for the skills he possessed, only needing now the opportunity. With so many accomplished wizards on the island, he would have many chances to find the next bit tool at his disposal. Sahova was filled with more secrets than any one person could hope to uncover, even with eternity to do so.

[Fallacy]

XP Award! Name:Miro XP Award: Leeching- 3 Hypnotism- 1 Familiary- 2 Flux- 2 Glyphing- 2 Drawing- 1 Copying- 1 Stealth- 1 Acting- 1 Meditation- 2 Lore: The Leeching Nightmare Leeching: The Urge to Take The Ring of Fire The Ring Reacts to Fire Choosing a Victim Mastering the Fear of Leeching Sensing Ionu's Light Casting Magic through Ionu's Light The Beginners Leeching Inefficiency Using Leeched Djed for Reimancy Notes: +Ring of Flame Any questions or concerns about the rewards gained please send a PM