[center][b][h3][color=#00FF98]T[/color][color=#05FE98]h[/color][color=#0AFE98]e[/color] [color=#15FE98]I[/color][color=#1BFE98]n[/color][color=#20FE98]d[/color][color=#26FE98]o[/color][color=#2BFD98]m[/color][color=#30FD98]i[/color][color=#36FD98]t[/color][color=#3BFD98]a[/color][color=#41FD98]b[/color][color=#46FD98]l[/color][color=#4CFD98]e[/color] [color=#56FC98]H[/color][color=#5CFC98]u[/color][color=#61FC98]m[/color][color=#67FC98]a[/color][color=#6CFC98]n[/color] [color=#77FB98]S[/color][color=#7CFB98]p[/color][color=#82FB98]i[/color][color=#87FB98]r[/color][color=#8DFB98]i[/color][color=#92FB98]t[/color][/h3][/b][/center] [img]https://txt.1001fonts.net/img/txt/dHRmLjEwNi41MWNlMGUuU21GemNHVnlJRmRwYkdSbC4w/millaysia.reg.webp[/img] Jasper put his car into park in the parking lot to one of the numerous parks that dotted the city. His car had certainly seen so many more miles since he came back to the coven, but that’s why he bought the nicest car on the market with the most safety features, best longevity, and spacious design. Jasper looked over to the passenger seat and looked at Stormy and chucked. [color=98FB98]“I can’t thank you enough for this. I haven’t learned a new spell in so long that wasn’t painting based. This will be fun.”[/color] Jasper smirked as he turned off the car. Stormy opened the door and stepped out. [color=00ff98]”I’m honestly surprised you didn’t ask sooner. It’s good to learn new spells every now and then. Let’s find somewhere quiet, this might take a while.”[/color] [color=98FB98]“For sure”[/color] Jasper said as he stepped out of the car and went to the trunk. He grabbed a canvas, paint, and his trusty channeler. [color=98FB98]“Just in case,”[/color] Jasper quipped, [color=98FB98]“I have been meaning to. Today just felt like the best day to finally get around to it, you know? Lots of stuff happened since I joined up,”[/color] Jasper quipped back as he closed the trunk. [color=98FB98]“Lead the way!”[/color] Stormy walked off into a distant corner of the park. Thankfully, Jasper picked one of the bigger parks, one with plenty of trees and rolling hills of grass to conceal them. Today was a nice day, the weather was good and wouldn’t ruin anything Jasper painted. [color=00ff98]”This is a good place.”[/color] Stormy stopped and turned, pulling a small book from his jacket. It was old, leather backed and had Stormy’s name on it. [color=00ff98]”Before we begin, I need to make something clear,”[/color] he said, Folding his arms and holding the book up. [color=00ff98]”What you’re going to learn is something that demands more from you than you will think you have. You and I are yellow Adepts, and our Lux is built on the concept of fear.”[/color] By his tone, it was clear Stormy took this seriously. [color=98FB98]“The fear of the unknown. That describes my dating life,”[/color] Jasper paused as he put his stuff down, [color=98FB98]“I faced my fears getting sober, I can face whatever fear comes my way today.”[/color] [color=00ff98]”You will,”[/color] he stressed. [color=00ff98]”My spells are demanding. Fear is [i]foundational[/i] to yellow Lux. And it is foundational to the spells I’m going to teach you. You’ll have to embrace it, not just look it in the face. You and I have things we could lose. It could be our lives, it could be the lives of someone else, but there’s always going to be [i]something[/i] that you can’t just ignore. If you don’t lean into that and dive headfirst into it, this won’t work for you.”[/color] He helped up his other hand, and Stormy’s channeler- his watch- lit up with the usual malachite green glow of his magic. [color=00ff98]”This will test your soul, so be prepared for that. Alright?”[/color] Jasper listened to what Stormy said and sighed. He did have a lot of stuff to fear. He was afraid that he might eventually relapse and what that would do to his sister, his friends, Luca. He was afraid of that skeleton that haunted his moments of joy. He was afraid that, at the end of the day, he was going to lose the one who brought him so much joy right before either were able to truly experience it. And he was afraid that no matter what he did, all of this would be for nothing if father wolf had his ways. Jasper knew he had a lot to fear, but he also knew that he had the motivation to push past it. He was strong, creative, and was willing to throw hands at a supernatural demon who had two times as many arms as him, he was courageous enough to stand up for what he felt was right, and that he was filled with enough love to bring a bright light into the darkest of places. He was ready. At least he thought he was. [color=98FB98]”I have a lot of strength to counteract my fears, I’m ready and I’m prepared.”[/color] Stormy nodded, smiling contently. [color=00ff98]”Then let’s start with something simple, the first spell I ever made: Guardian Barrier.”[/color] He put a hand out in front of him, and a circular shield of green energy appeared between himself and Jasper. [color=00ff98]”Imagine your Lux is a physical substance, like wet paint. The way I apply that is by drawing it out and shaping it into a shield. This is what my other shield spells build off of, so this one is the most critical for you to learn.”[/color] [color=98FB98]“Okay,”[/color] Jasper said as he held his hand out in front of him. His form was a poor impression of Stormy’s, and his posture was loose and relaxed. He tried to pull the magic out and shape into a shield but only summoned some small shield like sparkles. [color=98FB98]“R.I.P,”[/color] Jasper sighed before he chuckled, [color=98FB98]“You make it look so easy,”[/color] Jasper chuckled. [color=00ff98]”Try doing it your way,”[/color] Stormy suggested. [color=00ff98]”I used to have to draw these shields out in lines using my channeler. I learned how to do it this way, it’s like muscle memory to me at this point. You’re an artist, so try painting one and infusing your Lux into it. The same way you would use your other spells.”[/color] [color=98FB98]“You know I’ve been able to do shields for a minute now,”[/color] Jasper said as he painted a quick shield, infusing his desire to protect into it. After a few more seconds worth of details were added before he used his brush from the page. The shield was a kite shield and it had an almost cell like shading style to the design. It had numerous yellow orbs painted on that glowed. [color=98FB98]“What I’m hearing is,”[/color] Jasper said as he placed a hand on his chin, [color=98FB98]“that you have learned how to go from the page to just being able to summon your shields. If I can figure that out I might be able to go from the canvas to just pull my constructs and shields like you do,”[/color] Jasper asked. [color=00ff98]”Exactly. But something you’ll have to remember is that shields are quietly literally the core of my spells. All Adepts have an affinity for one thing or the other, this is mine. So the way I cast them is naturally going to be different from someone who paints his creations into the world.”[/color] Stormy walked closer, and pondered the kite shield. [color=00ff98]”Good. Now, move around with it. If you’re learning based on how I do this, you might find yourself struggling to stay mobile once you start casting these in bigger numbers.”[/color] Jasper moved around with the shield but noticed it was impractical to do so. It was cumbersome. While he could paint in the intent for it to be lighter the thought escaped him in that moment. Somehow, he knew it wouldn’t matter. Magic was full of weird little quirks. [color=98FB98]“It’s not super easy. After all my affinity is,”[/color] Jasper said as he drew a simple stick figure with his paintbrush and pulled it from the page, [color=98FB98]“constructs that fight,”[/color] Jasper said as he watched the stick figure throw a few punches. [color=00ff98]”Why not give your kite shield to one of them? You can let them be bodyguards,”[/color] Stormy noted. [color=00ff98]”At least for a while. The shields I make are heavy, and there’s a… Metaphorical reason behind that. It’s a [i]burden[/i] to protect people, and you have to shoulder it. It doesn’t get easier, but you get stronger.”[/color] Jasper began painting something else. [color=98FB98]“Back in the day I came up with three spells,”[/color] Jasper said as he went to work on the painting, [color=98FB98]“I was a kid who played too many video games so I focused my spells on things that I saw there.”[/color] These paintings were his bread and butter. [color=98FB98]“The Knight, The Ranger,”[/color] Jasper paused as he pulled the construct from the page, the resulting thud announced the arrival of the third form he created, [color=98FB98]“The Paladin,”[/color] Jasper said as his kite shield dissolved into paint. [color=98FB98]“Back then, and even now, I mostly use the Ranger, then Knight, but the Paladin is always ready to shine,”[/color] Jasper said as he looked up to the Paladin who was a hair taller than him. The Paladin was completely encased in armor, from head to toe, and the armor was embedded with red and yellow jewels. It was armed with a large hammer with glowing red lines along the side. Stormy would see the same kite shield that he summoned before in the Paladin's arm. [color=98FB98]“One of these held off Scott for a few seconds but,”[/color] Jasper chuckled, [color=98FB98]“he’s a little slow,”[/color] Jasper laughed a little harder. Stormy studied the Paladin for a moment. The heavy weight was a problem. [color=00ff98]”His armor… Try replacing it with the specific Lux your new shield is made from. Trust me for a moment.”[/color] Jasper did as was commanded and waved the Paladin goodbye as he pulled his life force back from the monster. He returned to the canvas and pushed to shave some of the bulk off the Paladin. He molded the armor off the agile Knight, but used the specific he used with the shield. He added more of the defensive spell and he grinned. He pulled the new Paladin from the pages and it landed with less of a thud. It still had the same shield and hammer as before, but the armor profile was much more streamlined and less bulky. It definitely was durable as a whole, but it could actually move closer to the knight now. [color=00ff98]”Alright, that’s a start. Now, you’ll want to decide what your shields [i]do.[/i] My Guardian Barriers just block physical harm, and there’s nothing wrong with something that simple,”[/color] Stormy said. [color=00ff98]”But there are many different kinds of danger, and so you’d be smart to have many different kinds of protection.”[/color] To demonstrate, Stormy dispelled the round shield and summoned a bright, glowing tower shield into his grasp. [color=00ff98]”Anything you can throw at me, this Stoic Shell will reflect.”[/color] Jasper looked at the new Paladin, and smirked. With a simple look the Paladin smashed the hammer on his own shield producing a noticeable explosion. [color=98FB98]“Shall we test that,”[/color] Jasper paused as he looked to Stormy. [color=00ff98]”Good idea.”[/color] Stormy raised his own shield up. [color=00ff98]”Swing as hard as you can, Paladin. This will be a good comparison.”[/color] The newly forged Paladin took off in a run. It was fast now. While not as fast as the knight it was at least as fast as a quick high school sprinter. As it drew closer it pulled its weapon back and swung it at the shield. As it collided with Stormy a forceful explosion was brought forth at the point of impact. The explosion itself was repelled causing the explosive force to be redirected back into the hammer, and the arm of the paladin. The heat from the explosion made their arm brittle, and the explosive force shattered it and the hammer. [color=98FB98]“That’s why I prefer the knight and the ranger,”[/color] Jasper paused as he walked over to the paladin and patted it on it’s back. [color=98FB98]“Heat makes it brittle, water washes it away. Same for all my constructs but my knight has the speed, my ranger has the range. Though with his faster speed I could probably go back to a normal hammer,”[/color] Jasper said as he rubbed his chin. Stormy watched it bounce back and tear itself to shreds, and just nodded. [color=00ff98]”That doesn’t surprise me. But don’t feel discouraged. When I first started using my shield spells, they were also brittle. If you’re using the same methods as me, you’ll get better at making the Lux stay solid,”[/color] he explained. [color=00ff98]”Eventually, it’ll feel like trying to get through a brick wall. From there, you can branch off. Remember what I said, lean into fear, and don’t let up. Be unshakeable.”[/color] Lean into fear? There were a few fears that Jasper had run from more than all Jasper sighed at the thought. He was always afraid of bringing out the raw, unfiltered truth that he buried deep. The truth was he was deeply scared by the death of friends. He watched his friend Doug get pulled limb from limb by the snakes minions, James was carried off and killed just out of reach, and Hugh sacrificed himself to save Jasper when he was too slow to get a construct out. Dead friends issues. Lila knew him far too well. He was afraid that history was blind to repeat itself. That Lila will fall to the Maiden and become just another monster to be put down, that Evelynn will drink herself to death before his eyes all the while he could’ve helped by sharing his own story for the first time, and that Luca is destined to die without his help. He was much more afraid of these possibilities than he would ever let anyone know. This fear was never a source of his power, it was always the bane of it. He needed to show strength, he needed to be strong, and he needed to be the one that protected others. All he could feel was the cold embrace of loss weigh over him and the images of all his dead friends, present and past, flash by him in a whirl. This was always going to be his life. Moments of happiness surrounded by an endless abyss of suffering. Jasper grabbed those emotions, that fear, and that desperation with his brush and painted them into his next painting. Normally he painted his intent to the construct but this time, this time he tried his fears. A moment later the construct was pulled from the page but this time both the armor and shield was missing the jewels and crystals that was the spell within the spells. Instead, the armor and the hammer both had a soft yellow glow. The paladin also carried itself with a different posture. Before it was regal, stood tall, and was the shining example of virtue in the desolate wastes of his life. This one was practically rabid. It’s shoulders were slouched, it carried the hammer and shield with a loose grip. It’s eyes remained, or at least the yellow glow of eyes, rested entirely on Jasper. It had a rapid breathing-like motion even though it did not need to breathe. [color=98FB98]“That’s new,”[/color] Jasper said with a raised eyebrow, [color=98FB98]“I painted it like the last but it’s warped, changed, and different.”[/color] Stormy looked it up and down, thinking about this in a way that he looked at his spells with. [color=00ff98]”This is a good step in the right direction, Jasper.”[/color] He handed his friend the book he had been holding. It was full of all the spells, ponderings and discoveries of a man who made this very form of magic his entire brand. [color=00ff98]”Human beings tend to treat fear like the opposite of strength. It’s so easy to think that you’re strong because you’re [i]above[/i] fear. But the truth is that none of us are. We wouldn’t be human if that was the case. Looking at your new Paladin, here, I think you just found a way to accept that. We protect people because of fear, and not [i]despite[/i] it. Do you know why?”[/color] [color=98FB98]“Why?”[/color]. Jasper looked through the book and was astounded by the spells he saw. Jasper knew when to lead, and when to be a student. [color=00ff98]”Because, Jasper, we are [i]human beings.[/i] We protect people and ourselves because we are vulnerable, and because we’re afraid of what will happen if we fail. Your shields break, someone dies. If we were unkillable, we wouldn’t be scared of anything. But none of us are completely invincible.”[/color] This was something Stormy knew in his bones, because it was the foundation of his very soul. [color=00ff98]”We defend others because we fear what will happen if we don’t. We become unbreakable walls that hold up the world because we fear what happens if we [i]break.”[/i][/color] [color=98FB98]“I see. Then this fear, this emotion, we use it to ensure that the ones we care about are safe,”[/color] Jasper said as he walked over to the paladin and placed a hand on the paladin's chest. He accepted the fear that created this one and a yellow wave washed over the body of the paladin and the manic appearance soon gave way to one that was more polished, more regal, but still looked more human than the original one. [color=98FB98]“I think this will make my constructs more ferocious in a fight,”[/color] Jasper smirked, [color=98FB98]“my intent to protect is strong, but my fear of loss is even stronger.”[/color] [color=00ff98]”Then your intent to protect isn’t strong enough, yet. Lean in, don’t let it lean into [i]you.”[/i][/color] Stormy knocked his hand against the construct’s armor, testing how sturdy it felt. [color=98FB98]“Then I have work to do,”[/color] Jasper flashed a devilish grin. It’s been a while since he learned something new about his magic. [color=98FB98]“I’m ready to get better with that then.”[/color] He nodded, feeling proud. [color=00ff98]”Don’t rush into this. Think of it like building up physical strength. Once you have this mastered, I’ll teach you the art of Abjuration.”[/color] [color=98FB98]”Okay teach,”[/color] Jasper said to the professor as he pulled the life force out of the paladin causing it to melt, [color=98FB98]“how should I start?”[/color] [hr] Stormy swooped back in, stepping around to Jasper’s side and throwing yet another punch. His skin glowed with the scaly pattern of the Dragonhide aura as he hammered away at Jasper to test his ability to use the shield. [color=00ff98]”Let up, and you let someone die,”[/color] he repeated. [color=98FB98]“Try and get to me,”[/color] Jasper said as he used his free hand to paint a fresh shield on the inside of the shield. The current one was cracking from the repeated assaults, and he needed a new one and Stormy was tenacious and kept him away from the canvas, on purpose no doubt, and he needed to improvise to ensure that he stayed in the fight. As a punch was about to land he summoned the new shield, the old one melting away causing Stormy’s punch to hit nothing but air. The new shield's handle was caught by Jasper’s hand, and Jasper spun in place with an even stronger shield than before and he was aiming the face of it Stormy’s way. Stormy clapped his hands together around the rim of the shield, using his arms to lever the shield back the other way and swing at Jasper with a round shield of his own. Jasper let go of the handle of the shield and ducked under the attack, letting Stormy fall forward as a result, and Jasper used the momentum of the dodge to shoot forward like a football player into the stomach of Stormy with his shoulder. Unfortunately, Stormy was trained to fight with his bare hands, so the fist that hit him in the stomach didn’t make him flinch, nor did he fall over. In fact, thanks to Dragonhide, it was like hitting a brick wall. [color=00ff98]”Bad decision, Jasper,”[/color] Stormy remarked, before throwing an elbow at Jasper. Jasper took the hit and he was not as strong as Stormy. He collapsed as the hit stung like a bitch and Jasper had never felt a hit like that in a decade. [color=98FB98]“Ooof, good hit,”[/color] Jasper gasped as he rolled over to his back and breathed a few hard breaths. With that, Stormy stopped and bent down to help him up. [color=00ff98]”Breathe slowly, you’ll be fine. You can walk that off.”[/color] [color=98FB98]“Thanks,”[/color] Jasper said as he took the help and breathed slowly as he rose to his feet. [color=98FB98]“I’m getting better at fighting. That last shield was my strongest yet,”[/color] Jasper stretched his back out as finished. [color=00ff98]”The more you chip away at it, the stronger you’ll get.”[/color] Stormy gently clapped him over the shoulder. [color=00ff98]”And you learned this faster than I did ten years ago. One day, and you’ve got yourself a solid shield.”[/color] [color=98FB98]“I have practiced a lot with the spells I developed to be faster, stronger, and quicker with them over the years. That’s helped with learning this new stuff,”[/color] Jasper said as he smiled. [color=00ff98]”Back then, shields were all I had, so that doesn’t surprise me. Keep practicing with that, and you’ll be able to make variations on it. Eventually you’ll work your way up to this-”[/color] Stormy put both hands out and into the air, and the two of them were suddenly surrounded by a vibrant green dome of energy. The Iron Fortress. [color=00ff98]”Out of every spell I’ve ever attempted, this one is the peak. This is my magnum opus, I could set this down in front of a runaway train and it’ll bounce right off.”[/color] [color=98FB98]“This is mine,”[/color] Jasper paused as he went to his canvas and painted for a minute or two. He pulled out the rifle from the painting and posted it to Stormy. [color=98FB98]“Not quite the same thing but it is powerful,”[/color] Jasper paused as a smirk crossed his face. Powerful enough to kill that skeleton. [color=00ff98]”Hmm. I was never inclined to that kind of magic. But you’re more flexible than me, so it makes-”[/color] He had an idea. [color=00ff98]”You could learn my Abjuration spells and use [i]that[/i] for applying them.”[/color] [color=98FB98]“To take out the monster at range,”[/color] Jasper gasped at the idea. [color=00ff98]”Range is something I can’t do, I always have to be right there in someone’s face to use that kind of magic. But you? You could make bullets that sap the strength out of apparitions or silver bullets for aberrants. You’re onto something, here.”[/color] [color=98FB98]“And I can do this,”[/color] Jasper paused as he pulled his life force back, causing the gun to melt. Jasper went back to the canvas and began painting again. A few minutes later he pulled out his Ranger, though this time the Ranger had two guns, one in each hand. The Ranger tossed one towards Stormy. Stormy caught it, curiously. [color=00ff98]”This is new for me, I’m not much of a ranged fighter.”[/color] [color=98FB98]“Neither am I,”[/color] Jasper paused as he smirked, [color=98FB98]“but can you imagine Amara with a weapon like that, though?”[/color] [color=00ff98][i]”Very[/i] true. But don’t be too quick to assume it’ll work that way. Sometimes, magic can surprise you with curveballs, like the fact that my shields slow me down.”[/color] [color=98FB98]“Very true. I think I’ll need to learn your abjuration spells first, and then once I am able to use it freely,”[/color] to hold Luca’s hand, [color=98FB98]“I can begin work on incorporating it into my weapons.”[/color] [color=00ff98]”That would be a good idea. But since you’re also using other kinds of Lux, yours won’t be as powerful. That’s something to keep in mind.”[/color] [color=98FB98]“True,”[/color] Jasper stopped as the image of Luca’s hand holding his flooded his mind, causing Jasper to blush, [color=98FB98]“but I think versatility alone would make up for it.”[/color] [color=00ff98]”It could be. But keep in mind that those spells wouldn’t be their best overnight. It could take weeks or months before they have an impact, and we’re fighting for our lives every other day. Don’t lean on them too hard too soon.”[/color] [color=98FB98]“I won’t,”[/color] Jasper said as he walked over and grabbed the gun from Stormy. He tossed the gun to the ranger before he pulled his life force back. [color=98FB98]“How do we start?”[/color] Stormy let his Dragonhide aura run out, before speaking. [color=00ff98]”Abjuration is a sort of logical progression of the shield spells you’ll learn. To use those, you embrace your fears and keep yourself on that edge to sustain them. But now, you need to learn how to not just embrace it, but to separate yourself from it.”[/color] He took a few steps back, and stamped his foot into the ground. The grass began to glow, as green smoke trailed up into the air. [color=00ff98]”Using the shields means you look death in the face and let him break against you. These spells, though? You’re not leaning into anything, you’re pushing [i]away.”[/i][/color] [color=98FB98]“Pushing away. So I would use my own fear to fuel that once again? One specific to the power itself?[/color] [color=00ff98]”In a way. The concept is the same, but you’re applying a different part of it. To make shields that last, you need to keep your foot on the gas, so to speak. Don’t let up, don’t shy away. If you do, it’s too little,”[/color] he explained. [color=00ff98]”Abjuration auras are the opposite. You need to put your foot on the gas just long enough, and then detach yourself from the fear of what you want to protect against. If you can’t, it won’t happen in the first place.”[/color] [color=98FB98]“I think I can do this. Let’s focus on the auras. I just got the most impressive idea for a new construct, and I think the aura is the key to it,”[/color] the key for a great date tonight’s Jasper admitted to given selfishly, [color=98FB98]“foot on the gas, detach from the fear. Where should I focus my magic?”[/color] [color=00ff98]”Focus it on where you want to be when you’ve put space between yourself and danger. If I were covering someone while they healed the wounded,”]/color] he gestured to the ground. [color=00ff98]”I wouldn’t want to move.”[/color] Jasper focused it on his hand. At the same time he focused on his fear of loss. Losing the ones that were important to him, losing the chance to be with someone like Luca, and dying to some strange skeleton monster. He pushed down on the gas. His fear told him he wasn’t going to be strong enough to stop any of that, not strong enough to stop any more deaths. It all builded to a crescendo, tears forming in his eyes and he gritted his teeth. A second later he pushed past them, and he summoned an aura and it soon spread to his channeler. [color=98FB98]“Which aura is this,”[/color] Jasper asked as he raised his paintbrush up. [color=00ff98]”You tell me. I’m teaching you how to set up your own, instead of skipping right to teaching you one’s I’ve already made. I’ll do that once you have the hang of this. Walk before you fly.”[/color] [color=98FB98]“I used my fear of losing more than before,”[/color] Jasper said as he looked over the aura, [color=98FB98]“I’m surrounded by adjoined and agent’s at home who struggle with their monsters. I am afraid of losing them, this doesn’t feel like an aura that can help with that. This one feels, I don’t know, like a way to do something else instead of pushing them down. This feels like a guide light for them to follow,”[/color] Jasper paused as he looked at the aura from all angles. [color=98FB98]“Maybe it’s something to grab their attention,”[/color] Jasper said with a gasp. Interesting. Stormy pondered it for a second, wondering how this could be worked with. Jasper was an artist, art was meant to be noticed and in this case, felt. [color=00ff98]”That could be useful… But I wonder if that counts as yellow Lux? What’s the thought process with that? Protection from isolation?”[/color] [color=98FB98]“If something goes wrong I could get their attention on me,”[/color] Jasper said as he raised an eyebrow. [color=98FB98]“ This is based on an older fear, this comes from our fight with the snake. I think I was on the gas pedal too long.”[/color] [color=98FB98]“I have an idea,”[/color] Jasper said as the tip of the paintbrush erupted in a yellow, red, and green fire. He walked over to the canvas and began painting. A few minutes later he pulled out the construct. It was like the knight, but the sword was shorter and it held a torch in the other. The torch had a vibrant green flame that had no effect on either Jasper or Stormy. [color=00ff98]”Hm.. It makes the most sense to channel the magic through your constructs? That’s a lot more versatile than my version of these spells are. But what will you do if they’re taken out easier than you?”[/color] Stormy asked, curiously. [color=98FB98]“Figure out how to do it myself,”[/color] Jasper said as he inspected the quality of his work, [color=98FB98]“Imagination was my strength, my calling, so this is how I think I can-,”[/color] Jasper paused as he looked at Stormy, [color=98FB98]“you can infuse objects with your aura? What about paint?[/color] [color=00ff98]”You know what they say about magic? Infinite possibilities,”[/color] Stormy answered, sagely. [color=00ff98]”I used to write out glyphs before I could cast my spells quickly, it’s not unheard of.”[/color] [color=98FB98]“Can you show me,”[/color] Jasper asked as he grabbed a thing of his oil paint. Stormy pointed to the smoking ground. [color=00ff98]”You’re looking at the Phantombane spell I used on the Rot, right now. It wards off apparitions, weakens them and suppresses their connection to their hosts.”[/color] Jasper took his paintbrush and painted the glyph on his forearm. [color=98FB98]“What do you channel, where does your fear come from for Phantombane,”[/color] Jasper asked. [color=00ff98]”From the damage that an unchecked apparition can do. Ask Luca, ask most of 8th Street’s oldest members. Ask anyone who survived the Stygian Snake. Apparitions are some of the most unpredictable paranormals you’ll meet. And that’s not even getting into what they can leave [i]behind.”[/i][/color] Jasper tapped into that same fear. He knew all too well that damage. Much like everyone in the coven Jasper saw first hand how much damage that snake could bring with its monsters alone. How they murdered his friends. And this reminded him of what he feared. If someone was killing Sycamore members, the snake had to be involved in some fashion. And if the snake was involved, there was a real chance it could be unleashed again. If it was unleashed again he could watch his beloved city fall into flames, his friends killed again, and more of that same trauma that lead to him being a drug addicted artist who was afraid of using his art to help tell the story of who he was. Of how Lucas’s rot terrified him, that the idea that the man he had come to admire, adore, and want to get to know on that romantic level could fall one day and rot everything around them. That Lila might accidentally curse him and turn him into a crow forever. Jasper drew this new fear into the magic and pulled that into his paintbrush and painted the sigil again. This time it began to glow. [color=98FB98]“Is it the right aura,”[/color] Jasper asked Stormy. Stormy nodded, pleased with his teaching and with Jasper’s progress. [color=00ff98]”Now, here’s the important question. What does [i]that[/i] have going for it? Every spell has its downsides, what can’t it do?”[/color] [color=98FB98]“Last. All my paintings, all my magic, also draws on my own life force. The longer I leave it running the weaker I will get. The weaker I get the more it draws,”[/color] Jasper paused, [color=98FB98]“I can of course pull it back but I can still pass out if I go too hard.”[/color] [color=00ff98]”One of mine does the same thing. Consecration. It’s not a [i]constant[/i] pull, but every time I cast it, it takes a piece of my soul that won’t be replaced any faster than, say, a few hours. Your options for that, in my informed opinion, are to get better at tolerating the pull it has on you or find another source to draw from for powering it.”[/color] [color=98FB98]“This brings me back Stormy,”[/color] Jasper said with a chuckle, the glyph on his hand began to bubble as the spell began to fade, [color=98FB98]“ learning new spells, trying new things. To protect, to do better, to hold Lu- ”[/color] Jasper shut up immediately [color=00ff98]”Except now, we aren’t fighting a war. At least, not exactly,”[/color] Stormy added. It [i]was[/i] nice, being able to make mistakes in relative peace. [color=00ff98]”And we’ve grown since then, we can grow again now.”[/color] Out of curiosity, Stormy reached out and gently touched the fading glyph. The glyph seemed to not budge. On closer inspection Stormy would see that the glyph itself has bonded to Jasper. [color=98FB98]“With my spells they either take too much damage, or I pull my life force back, they are durable otherwise.”[/color] [color=00ff98]”Good. Having it tied to that symbol is risky, but it’s manageable. I always have to be there in the fray when I’m keeping an aura up. You might have the same problem here, but this could technically last forever. Mine just last 15 minutes.”[/color] [color=98FB98]“I might be able to get it better,[/color] Jasper said as it kept bubbling, pieces of it began to flake off. [color=98FB98]“You know what this means right?”[/color] [color=00ff98]”That I’m not the only one scaring off apparitions now?”[/color] He joked. [color=98FB98]“No. You would make a fantastic professor, have you ever considered that line of work,”[/color] Jasper paused as a laugh escaped his lips, [color=98FB98]“now I have a few more hours until I need to get ready for dinner tonight. Can you help me make it stronger?”[/color] Stormy chuckled. [color=00ff98]”I can try, but the best way to do that will ultimately be time and practice. You’ll get better the more you use it. With the way I’ve taught you, I learned how to improve the power of my spells through muscle memory. Just keep doing it.”[/color] [color=98FB98]“Okay. Well good thing I’ve been working on my muscles. Let’s keep practicing.”[/color]