Location: Playground -> Serval Industries HQ, Conference Room
Skills: N/A
-- Playground 3 hours prior --
Off in an empty playground sat Jo on a bench on the other side of the park, as far away from the parking lot as the area allowed. Jo's left ankle resting on her knee and an old looking book over the plateau her leg made. Jo had considered attempting some new runes, though those available to her weren't exactly something she could try on her own. So that only left spell she could practice. Her eyes carefully scanned the pages of Solaris Mico; a powerful Solar spell that infuses Condensed Light Magic into the user and cycles that energy throughout the body until it turns the User into a blinding flash of light.
She had gone over the pages at least three times as she sat on the bench, nervously brushing her long hair behind her ear. This wouldn't be her first time she had attempted this spell. She knows how poorly it could go if performed incorrectly. She would basically be taking a blast of Condensed Light Magic straight to the chest. Sighing in defeat she decided it was about time to test herself on. Continuing to read the pages has lost its usefulness for the time being without actual implementation. Jo casually reformed the earmark on the page before closing the book and setting it on the bench beside her, pushing herself up to her feet.
Jo took several steps away form the bench, taking a moment to ease her nerves and settle her mind. She took a wide footing and brought her hands up over her chest. Placing her finger tips together and creating a hand cage she closed her eyes and focused herself, attuning herself to the flow of magic that flowed through her and the world that surrounded her. Magically light began to spark across her forearms and into her hands. From her palms shot small streams of light that slammed into a focal point in the center of her hand cage. Slowly the light grew until it was too bright too see the function of the spell. Simply a bright light radiating out from her hand cage.
Sweat began to bead over her brow, her arms faintly twitching as she began to strain. Slowly the bleeding light slowly seemed to pull inward back into the hand cage. As the Light Magic began to condense sparks of violent energy. Over the course of fifteen seconds the light condensed down into a ball nearly the size of a tennis ball, sparking and swirling within the hand cage.
"Solaris Mico!" Jo's voice powerfully boomed through the empty playground.
As her words finished she took the caged ball of condensed light and slammed it into her chest, disappearing into herself. Immediately she threw her arms out away from herself as described in the book. Her eyes clenched even tighter closed as she felt the Condensed Magic burst inside her and begin to spread throughout her.
Something went wrong.
Jo suddenly cried out in agony, a shriek of pain escaping her lips. Feeling as though hot coals were rocketing violent through her veins out from the core of her body. Her skin began to glow brilliantly, though in streaks and not the blending light as intended. It took only five seconds before the light dissipated and left her, faint red burn lines scattered having formed sporadically over her skin.
Jo dropped to her knees, sitting down on her ankles and slumping into herself. Breathing heavily as she tried to overcome the searing sensation that her body was left with. Unsuccessful, again. She groaned angrily to herself in frustration. She tried pushing herself to her feet but collapsed back into herself. She took a few more breaths and gave herself some time regain some strength. She then weakly pushed herself back to her feet. Taking a long moment to gain confidence in her foot she finally walked back to the bench, basically falling back onto the seat. She stretched out her left leg and straightened herself out a bit before stuffing her hand into her left pocket, pulling her small notepad and pen from it.
Flipping through her notepad in search for a blank page she finally found one, clicking open her pen she began to write.
Solaris Mico Test #7: Failed
Stance: Potentially Incorrect.
Cast: Potentially Correct.
Stability: Likely Unstable.
Conclusion: Condense Magic seemingly unstable. Potentially a Form or Focus issue. Requires more research. Attempt at lower levels to practice finer control and stability.
Note: Don't be dumb Jo. This time you hurt yourself so show some restraint.
With that she closed her pen and notepad, clipping the pen to the pages before stuffing it back into her pocket. She hung her head back as she remained on the bench. Moaning disheartedly to herself. Feeling mildly defeated at present. And sore, sore was definitely a prominent sensation.
-- Conference Room: Serval Industries --
Having given herself a couple hours at home to shower and rest Jo was feeling much better after her failed attempts. Though even during her rest her mind never left the thoughts of what went wrong during the spell. She ultimately came to no finite conclusion on the matter. It would take time, she needed to remind herself to practice patience.
Jo entered the facility with relative ease, kindly greeting security as she passed through. Though she remembered few of their names she did her best to at least appear like she remembered them all. Finally reaching her destination she pushed herself into the room quietly, not wanting to draw much attention to herself at this point. She was a newbie, no reason to look like a stumbling loud baffoon during her first mission briefing.
With struggling grace she walked to the end of the table, taking notice of the girl standing nearby in the corner. For a split moment she thought it was Layla, though she shook the thought quickly. The only similarity was the hair; lightly scolding herself for coming to such a quick and ridiculous conclusion off something so minuscule.
Jo continued towards her seat. Wearing a simple charcoal tank top, black leather jacket she left open, black torn jeans and high top boots. Her long dirty blonde hair messily pushed over to the right side.
As she reached the last chair she pulled it out and sat herself down. While she had mostly regained herself after her little snafoo she was still a bit sore; deciding sitting was the best course of action. While waiting for the meeting to begin she produced her notepad once again out of her pants. She opened the small notepad and flipped the the countless pages, all filled with randomly chicken scratch writing and small doodles. Finally settling on a page she began to read. Looking over the few pages she had written down notes on the Solaris Mico spell.
After a short time of study the meeting seemed to begin she focused on the mission. Absently closing her notepad and stuffing it back into her pocket.
As the mission details became more clear she felt an odd sense about it. They were supposed to track down the other members and bring them back? They were established heroes. At least within this organization. There had to be a reason they would do something such as that. Jo glanced around the room, locking eyes with the girl in the corner for a brief moment. Apparently Jo wasn't the only one confused. But that was their mission. They would figure out the reason and bring them back. Seemingly straight forward. They were all the good guys after all. There shouldn't be too much fuss. Right?
She then turned her attention as she heard another of the members speak up. She hid the surprise and concern from showing. Incapacitate them? They were relatively seasoned heroes. She didn't know what the others were capable of but Jo still had so much more to learn. Jo is best more in a supportive role. She can defend herself with her Orbis Luminis but that could even still use far more training. Despite the fact she has relatively remarkable control over them she has hardly used them in real combat scenarios.
She shook the thoughts from her mind. This was the time she would prove herself. She wasn't some old witch hiding out in the woods, shrieking spells over a cauldron. She was a hero. They did not falter in the face of difficult odds. They were steadfast and brave.
She really, REALLY hoped it didn't come to fighting. At least not against other heroes.