Jeze settled into a busy training routine, just like when she was in Angston so many weeks earlier before she entered the Wandering Spire. That feels so long ago, Jeze considered and reflected upon all that has happened to her. The victories, the deaths of friends, the defeats, and perhaps the most painful, the betrayals.
“Excuse me, are you going next?” A young boy asked. He looked like he was twelve years old with close cropped blonde hair.
Jeze was standing on a raised platform before the obstacle course. It was early morning, with the sun barely up, and the air was brisk and cool. The boy’s question snapped her out of her thoughts. Ziplocke would have called me a knucklehead, Jeze briefly thought.
“Yes, I was just mentally preparing myself,” she answered.
The young boy nodded and replied, “It is always hard the first time. But, it will get easier.”
Jeze nodded. So true, she reflected on the kid’s words, but the obstacle course was not the issue for her. Managing her fears, concerns, and emotions was difficult. Jeze worried about the Lich obtaining the Hold Core. She hoped that her friends were safe, and the threat of the Fiendish Lord escaping loomed heavily in the back of all of her thoughts like a tall mountain range in the distance. But, like the young boy said, things will get easier with time and experience. I have to get stronger!
To ensure her body remained fit and to keep her mind clear of her concerns, Jeze joined the young Prospects in the courtyard outside of the Academy. She hoped to get a workout before she spent the rest of the day, and probably evening, learning the compound aspect. It has been a while since Jeze felt challenged with Rune magic. The last time she struggled to learn this much was when she was a kid and under the tutelage of the Old Crones.
“Can I go ahead of you?” The boy asked and snapped Jeze out of her thoughts a second time.
“Oh, I’m sorry,” she muttered.
Jeze jumped off the platform and swung on a rope that took her to a raised log. The obstacle course consisted of numerous balance beams, bars, poles, and thick rope nets. It required climbing, jumping, swinging, and balance. Most of the young Prospects struggled with completing the entire course. Their fatigued bodies tumbled and fell off the beams, bars and poles to land in the dirt and hay below.
Not Jeze. She ran through it with the ease of a spring breeze. Having ventured through the Spire, where Jeze had to flee Hellbats, scale cliffs, and run for miles through ice and snow, this obstacle course was a gentle walk in the park. It was enough to get her warmed up. When she finished, she was cheered on by the small crowd of Prospects.
“Wow!” The young boy from earlier exclaimed.
“Students!” Grifus called from the steps of the Academy.
All the Prospects paused their exercises to stand at attention before their instructor. At this early hour, there were maybe a little over a dozen of them.
Grifus motioned to Jeze, and his voice boomed, “Were you all not impressed with how quickly and easily she completed the Devastator?”
The collected group of Prospects nodded. Some glanced with admiration at her.
“The Devastator?” Jeze asked the young boy.
He whispered back, “It’s the name of the course.”
“Really?”
The boy shushed her.
Grifus continued, “Today, you may be terrified even to start the Devastator. But you will take that first step, and you will fall. It will hurt, but you will live. More importantly, you will no longer be afraid. Next, you will be determined to complete the course, but you will fail many times. Until one day, you will complete it. On that day, the Devastator will look simple to you. Like a child’s game, you will seek out even greater challenges. That is what it means to advance!”
Jeze surpassed a laugh. The Devastator? Who came up with that name? But, she controlled herself. This was serious to the young kids around her. Grifus concluded his speech, and Jeze and the students returned to their routines. For two hours, Jeze ran through the Devastator and trained with the Prospects. She gave pointers during sparring sessions and enjoyed being able to share her experience and knowledge. Afterward, she grabbed a quick bite to eat from the mess hall and then buckled down inside the library, where she found Lady Kalina.
“Have you been here the entire time?” Jeze asked.
Lady Kalina sat at the middle table with her eyes closed. The very same table from the day before and she opened one eye and responded, “I’m learning to control the hunger and rage within me. Why do you ask?”
“You were here all night and all morning,” Jeze pointed out.
Lady Kalina opened both her eyes and looked around as if she had noticed her surroundings for the first time. She shrugged and went back to meditating.
“I’m nearing a breakthrough,” she stated and added, “Now leave me alone.”
“Breakthrough? Like what?” Jeze asked.
Lady Kalina shushed her. That’s rude! Jeze reflected. If anything, she admired Kalina’s commitment. Maybe that is what it takes to be Adept rank? Jeze wondered and returned back to engraving runes on small metal plates that were linked to a chain. This was the same Channeling tool that Lady Kalina, the Ironfist Templars, and other Rune casters hung from their belts. Each plate was hand-sized and layered with rows of perfectly inscribed Runes. Grifus provided a tool with three metal plates linked to a small chain, and Jeze finished inscribing two of the plates. Compound aspects required more complex tools. Her channeling tools consisted of rings, bracelets, and a necklace. Jeze never needed anything more for the Foci she used.
For the Stoneskin aspect, she needed to hang the chain with the three metal plates from her waist. Jeze was concerned that it would hamper her movements, but she reminded herself that Lady Kalina was able to move just fine with it. With effort, Jeze finished the Life aspect pattern Grifus showed her the day before. It was a spell that enhanced her body’s durability. It was easier for her to inscribe the Earth aspect pattern as she was already familiar with it. Now, she needed to work on braiding the two Rune aspects onto the third plate. This was the hardest part, and Jeze bit her lip as she meticulously and carefully etched the Runes on top of each other the way Grifus had shown her. She was so focused that she lost track of time and her surroundings that she nearly jumped out of her seat in surprise when Grifus checked up on her.
If you encounter this narrative on Amazon, note that it's taken without the author's consent. Report it.
“Those look good,” he observed.
“I’m not sure if I did it correctly,” Jeze replied as she examined her work.
Grifus shrugged and replied, “Only one way to find out.”
“Really?” You think it’s ready?” Jeze asked with an arched eyebrow. She studied the runes on the plates.
“Let’s see, give it a try,” Grifus said.
Jeze hung the tool from her belt and stood up. She tapped the plates and completed the final gestures in the air with her hands and arms. Jeze poured her Will into the movements and felt the energy snap into place. That was the Life aspect spell, she felt energy flowing through her body that made her tougher. Without breaking her stride, Jeze tapped the next plate and finished the Earth aspect where she Summoned and Shape dirt into stone. She felt the Stone encase her body.
“Did I do it correctly?” Jeze asked.
She saw and felt her skin harden like a rock.
“Almost,” Grifus replied.
Jeze realized it was very difficult for her to move. It felt like she was encased in stone and she released the spell and felt relief as the Earth aspect dripped off and faded away into the ether like a cloud of steam.
“Where did I go wrong?” Jeze asked.
“You just need more practice. You are still casting each aspect separately. Remember, they are not separate. It is one aspect. Watch,” Grifus replied.
The teacher tapped the metal plates that hung at his waist and with grace he completed the gestures seamlessly. He did the movements as if it were all one aspect, not two. Jeze watched as Grifus’s skin turned to stone, but he was unhindered and able to move with ease.
“I’m going to need more practice,” she reflected.
“You have the time,” Grifus said.
“No, we don’t! You said the minions of the Lich will be here tomorrow!” Jeze cried.
“I did, and that is tomorrow. Today, it is still happening. Keep practicing,” Grifus answered.
Jeze nodded and went back to work. It was difficult merging the two aspects as if they were one. Jeze was able to weave and overlay the Runes on the channeling tool, but shaping them in the air was a different story. The precise patterns not only required perfect body movements, but also, it demanded perfect focus and Will. Inserting her energy into two separate aspects as if they were one was very difficult but not impossible.
For nearly an hour, Jeze practiced the spell. In some moments, it was perfect, and she didn’t even notice that her skin was as hard as a rock. Other times, she felt slow and burdened by the enchantment’s effects. Jeze’s forehead glistened with sweat as she slumped down onto the chair. Her body and Will were exhausted. She took a swig from her waterskin and realized something. I need to make more Recovery Broths! The infused potions would have helped her tremendously. But she didn’t have them and would need to recover naturally, which took longer and made her anxious. With a heavy sigh, Jeze rose from her chair to try again.
“You should form the Runes with one hand, as your other will most likely be carrying a weapon,” Lady Kalina observed.
The Amber Guard was so quiet in meditation that Jeze had forgotten that she was there! With a furrowed brow, Jeze tried to complete the pattern with one hand. The spell failed.
“How? That’s impossible!” The teenager cried.
Immediately, she knew that it was possible. Jeze recalled that when she first met Lady Kalina, they had sparred. Kalina Shaped the Stoneskin spell in an instant with one hand to turn her skin hard to block an attack.
“I would prove you wrong, but I have my own challenges to face,” Kalina growled.
Jeze’s face softened. “How is your, uh, condition coming along?” She asked.
Lady Kalina opened her eyes, and after a moment, she answered, “Nothing has changed. The fires of this curse will eventually consume me. But, I am able to delay them by strengthening my Will around my essence.”
“Can you do Rune casting?” Jeze wondered.
“Some, but not at the level I was at before,” Lady Kalina replied before closing her eyes to resume her meditation.
Right, Jeze thought to herself as Kalina abruptly ended their conversation. Back to work! She practiced Shaping the Stoneskin spell with a single hand and struggled. After another hour of effort, she managed to cast the spell perfectly in one and ten tries. However, she was able to cast the spell correctly when she used two hands, eight out of ten tries.
“Good, tell me what you have learned,” Grifus said.
Jeze was startled a second time in the library. She was so engrossed in the motions and patterns that she failed to notice the teacher coming in. Or was he doing this on purpose? Jeze wondered with a scowl.
“I feel like I am Shaping my skin into Stone, but that would be nearly impossible,” she reflected.
Grifus smiled, and his eyes twinkled. “But you are close. The Life aspect chain I showed you, what does it do?”
Jeze narrowed her eyes as she reflected upon the pattern. She tapped the channeling tool and completed the Glyphs in the air. Jeze felt the spell take effect upon her body. She felt strengthened. More specifically, she felt reinforced, and that was when it dawned on her.
“I am Summoning and Shaping another layer of skin,” Jeze stated.
“Precisely, and the Earth aspect chain?” The teacher asked.
Jeze tapped her chin. “I get it now. It makes sense! I use the Life aspect to create a new layer of skin and the Earth aspect to turn the skin into stone.”
“What is it similar to?” Grifus asked.
“The Foundation aspects!” Jeze exclaimed.
Grifus nodded.
Jeze ran her hands through her dark, disheveled hair. Why didn’t I notice this earlier? When she Summons dirt, she Shapes it into a boulder or a stone fist. The same goes for Fire, she Summons a spark, and then she quickly Shapes it into a flame dart. The Compound aspects were no different, except she Summoned one aspect and then used another to Shape it!
“With that revelation, go ahead and try the spell again,” Grifus said, “This time with one hand. You will need the other hand to hold your weapon if you wish to fight like a Gestalt Warrior.”
With trepidation that came from eagerness, Jeze used one hand and Summoned the Life aspect that was attuned to her body. The spell snapped into place, and her body was reinforced with an extra layer of skin. Without missing a beat, Jeze then focused on the skin and Shaped it using the Earth aspect into stone. She treated the Summoned skin as if it were Summoned dirt. At first, Jeze thought she failed, but her eyes opened wide with realization.
“You did it,” Grifus observed.
The teacher was right. Jeze’s skin was covered with stone, but she couldn’t feel the difference. Jeze cheered as she performed a backflip with ease. Her movement was not hampered at all! But she had an extra layer of tough protection. Jeze’s celebration was cut short when she heard the clattering of metal plates on the table. Grifus had emptied a bag of unmarked Channeling tools.
“There’s more?” Jeze asked.
Grifus nodded. “You can now add the Spirit aspect to the spell to grant you a layer of magical protection.” He placed another tome on the table.
Jeze groaned, but inwardly she was excited to learn something new. However, she was exhausted and she slumped in a chair.
“As you mentioned earlier, we do not have a lot of time. I suspect the Lich’s minions will have the Grave touch ability. This enhancement of the Stoneskin spell will guard you from its effects,” Grifus pointed out.
Jeze scowled at the teacher. But he is right, she reminded herself. Jeze had a Hold Core and all the responsibility that came with it. I need to get stronger! Jeze vowed and went right back to work.
