[center][img]https://i.imgur.com/qSXKgkY.png[/img]
[sub][@Nanaya][@Estylwen][/sub][/center]
Otis’s eyes lit up as Rio explained his own thought process. He hadn’t missed that meaningful look exchanged between Chloe and the shield-slinging boy when Alto spoke of the effects and consequences of utilizing one’s Prime Essence with one’s Personal Barrier, but that was outshone by the concept of manifesting a Personal Barrier utilizing a belief that one’s self had the sole attention of their object of worship. It was a remarkably selfish take on things, considering the collectivist nature of religion as Otis understood it, but the Strigidae nodded along regardless. He could map it well enough, at least, to the concept of a ‘personal connection’.

Davil, of course, almost, [i]almost[/i] drew a sigh out of him. Having an Ethos was a rare thing. Getting accepted into Wingram Academy ought to also be a rare thing. And while a Personal Barrier may be something complex, surely the theory behind it was easy enough? It caused Otis to frown then. He didn’t ascribe to the idea that true understanding mastery of theory manifested when one was able to explain it succinctly to children. If the redhead was unable to even withstand a couple minutes of lecturing, he ought to be placed in a special education program.

Ciara’s statement, however, was curious.

‘Simple’, she called it.

The Strigidae tilted his head to one side. The shadow-witch smirked, but there was only an empty interest in the expression he returned to her.

[b]“We should talk about this later,”[/b] Otis said. [b]“As far as I’m aware, the Personal Barrier isn’t so simple a spell that one could acquire it without either an obsession with the study of essence or regular encounters with the possibility of bodily harm. Would you say that it’s a feature of primal magic, to be able to oversimplify such a process? Or are you, in fact, a prodigy? A veteran in violence could work too.”[/b]

A pause. [b]“You don’t have to answer that for now. I need to attend to my subject.”[/b]

Without any more hesitation, Otis strode towards Davil, snapping his fingers to get the boy’s attention. The nature of essence-usage depended on two things. One was the ability to see the words of creation that actually composed of essence. The other was to gain a strong enough visualization that you can guide one’s own essence through. When it came to his arcane studies, Otis employed the former as often as possible, but the latter was useful too, when one had to guide others. If the default of Davil’s mind was ‘emptiness’, then he simply needed to fill that emptiness with something meaningful.

[b]“Match my breathing, Davil, and close your eyes.”[/b]

Meditation was first. Deep breaths, but not enough to strain the lungs or the diaphragm, just enough to settle the mind. One minute exactly, before Otis spoke up once more.

[b]“You are running alone.”[/b] Matching his past and his present. [b]“This is not a race, nor is this training.”[/b] Removing external context in order to not constrict one’s access to this spell. [b]“You can’t see the path, but you can feel the wind.”[/b] The element upon which the barrier is interfaced. [b]“It presses against you; you are moving fast.”[/b] Establish one’s own position now. [b]“It is raining too. But you do not feel the raindrops. The wind against you flicks the rain off of you.”[/b] A wind shield, so to speak.

[b]“Hold that image, Davil. Hold onto the feeling that rises from the image.”[/b]

He waited, the Strigidae’s own eyes open in order to watch the development of emotional essence around his roommate. Once it seemed to have bubbled to a reasonable level, he nodded.

[b]“Now, apply your essence to that emotion. Make that wind a real thing.”[/b]

Ciara pulled shadows. Iraleth turned light into armaments. Rio danced with an idol. Otis opened doors to empty space. Davil advanced in the eye of the storm.

Perhaps a similar-enough image would work here.

Or perhaps this would be the worst possible way for Davil to discover his Prime Essence, in which case, good riddance to that.