If you believe in magic, come along with me [OPEN & Closed]

[aquaveiled]

WHO: Himeka & you!
WHAT: Conjury lessons and incidental mingling
WHEN: Throughout October
WHERE: Solvunn - Primary & the outskirts to the northeast

[ ooc; I default to brackets but I am happy to write in prose! Whatever you feel comfortable with. If you want to join training but haven't signed up yet first, feel free to do so in the link above. ]

i. conjury training; outskirts [CLOSED to current students]

[ If only E-Sumi-Yan could see her now. Being something of a protege in her own right, it was fairly common for Himeka to be asked to step in with both the new and senior members of the Conjurer's Guild. The only non-Padjal White Mage known and the Warrior of Light at that, all of them were keen to speak with her--hear her stories, learn from what they could.

Now...that never meant she was a particularly good mentor by any means. Truth be told, it was in these instances that she started to realize that in all her practice, most things came naturally and she hadn't spent much time thinking on the mechanics of what and how she was doing what she was.

Well, that's got to change. The Conjurer's Guild had centuries of experience and knowledge and training, while the other hopefuls here in Solvunn may need a little extra something if they are going up against any other nations bent on harnessing the power of the Singularity, for good or for ill. The least she can do is teach a few healing spells and show them how to throw rocks.

Rocks come first, of course. ]

Let's try this again.

[ She puts her hands on her hips, assuming what she hopes is an authoritative pose. ]

You only need to...force your will on the ground! Of sorts. As if you want it to move.

[ Yeah...totally easy! ]

ii. after hours; outskirts [OPEN]

[ White magics have come easy since she began her training, but despite her natural proclivity to magics in general, her other fields required a little more concentration. So when she finally calls it quits for that day's lessons, Himeka uses the evening hours to practice on her own. Without her job stones and proper equipment, channeling of Red and Black magics will take time. And as much as she enjoys running errands about town to meet people, being without her abilities those months in the dungeon have made their return feel all the more precious.

Standing (presumably alone) not far from the forest's edge, Himeka inhales slowly before calling forth her leylines beneath her feet, slowly rotating about her form. They make the air around her crackle as they settle and she refines their shape. It takes a few seconds.

Then, her vision darts to a large stone near by and, without much preamble, she raises her hands in the air as dark energy radiates and collects around them before an explosion of fire is set upon the stone, causing it to scorch and shatter--

--hopefully not to anyone who happens to be on the path nearby. ]

iii. a witch without a wand; solvunn proper [OPEN]

[ Himeka has quickly found that there is a reason that mages and sorcerers use all sorts of canes, wands, and rods to channel their magic--it's so much more easy to control and amplify. Therefore, she's determined to fashion something of one for herself.

And really, how hard can it be? She knows they are made from natural materials and Solvunn has an abundance of those about. So a few carved sticks and a nice rock or something should be good enough, right? Right!

Except as she sits on a fence that lines the road right into the center of town, she frowns as she looks down at her creation. She found a shiny stone and tied it with twine to a long stick, but it looks more like a child's attempt to make a club that anything an actual wielder of ancient magics would dare use. Not if they wanted to be taken seriously, at least.

Himeka sighs, watching the people walk to and fro into town. She lazily waves her "wand" and one of those people. ]

Zap.

[ Except it doesn't zap any poor, unsuspecting soul (thankfully). The "wand" pops, sparks, and then catches fire. She immediately drops it. ]

Shite!

xx. wildcard

[ ooc; If you want something related that isn't listed there or just want a random thread, feel free to hit me up on the discord server or at doggystyle and we can work something customized out. ]

Comments

iii

[unnecessaryflourishes]

[Her attempts might - fortunately - not strike any of the passers-by. But they are not without witness either. How welcome his presence might be is, truly, anyone's guess but he is there all the same - and given that he had not been only moments prior, it's reasonably likely that he arrived via one of his portals.

(He is... not unaware of the fact that continuing to use them may in fact be drawing some amount of suspicion his way. But he's hardly about to stop using them, when the alternative would be to simply walk everywhere.)

He watches, for a moment, as the magic backfires on the wand and she drops it, and then a long-suffering sigh splits the silence.]

Really? Did no one explain what went into creating a proper focus for any sort of magic?

[As he speaks, little tendrils of darkness rise up from the ground around the staff, smothering the fire.]

[aquaveiled]

[ He doesn't catch her entirely off-guard, finding a strange sense of familiarity in Emet-Selch just simply showing up whenever and wherever he feels is worth his time. That doesn't mean she was expecting him, but it is only fitting he would show up when she makes such a silly mistake as this.

Himeka looks up and over at the sound of his voice, frowning as he puts out her little mistake with ease. ]

I haven't had much need to make anything myself.

[ She is, at least, honest, even when it comes to her shortcomings. ]

Every wand, rod, and cane I've used has either been gifted, bought, or discovered along the way in mysterious chests in deep, dark, and dusty dungeons.

[ The true adventurer life. ]

[unnecessaryflourishes]

[Frustrating though certain aspects of the situation at hand may be, he cannot fault her for the honesty, at least. In fact, quite the opposite. Though it may not necessarily be a comfortable truth to have to admit to, that she is willing to do so is still more than can be said of some people he has known.

Even if it means that he might need to be the one to explain some of the finer intricacies of the inner workings of magic. And focuses for same, should one choose to use them. (He himself has not typically needed to, but in all fairness he is blessed with more power than is the case with even the best and brightest mages of the Source.)]

At least you admit it.

[And none are, inherently, bad methods by which to acquire something.]

Although I might question the wisdom of choosing a staff that has lain hidden in the depths of any given locale for what could well be eons beyond measure.

[A pause, and shrug. Misgivings aside, he's not here simply to judge her failings.]

Be it staff, rod, or cane, a mage's weapon is the tool by which they focus their energies. As such, it cannot simply be thrown together haphazardly, but must be specifically crafted such as to be able to focus the energies that are to be channeled through it.

[aquaveiled]

[ He agrees to that a little too readily, honestly. She doesn't take too much offense to it, though, given that it is the truth. Himeka just expected it to be much more...natural to her. Like many of her skills.

This is something she's going to have to spend actual time on, isn't it? Not that that's a bad thing, but it would have been much more convenient if she could craft it easily. ]

I am aware of that much...

[ Himeka puts her hands on her hips, her tail giving a sharp twitch behind her as she looks Emet-Selch up and down. ]

But I've been told that every conjurer's cane or wand is made from natural materials so that it can better commune with the elements. What is more natural than a rock and a stick?

[unnecessaryflourishes]

[For better or worse, it is something that she's going to have to take time on. Admittedly, he could simply Create one - it would be no trouble even now - but neither is he going to. Not without a good reason to, and a bit of nudging even then. She's the one who knows best what she wants out of a cane, after all.

Instead, there's another brief pause, as he takes in her - not unjustified - annoyance, before he speaks again.]

Natural does not always indicate that something will be best suited to this particular cause. Not least of all for the fact that rocks are typically aetherically null.

[aquaveiled]

[ He's--well, he's not wrong. She had chosen that specific rock because she thought it was charming and had hoped she would be able to imbue it with enough aether from the surrounding air to give it an effect, shift the balance to something active and useful.

Instead she had only caused it to explode.

Himeka doesn't particularly want to admit that she's feeling a little too green without her soul stones. Sure, it has been much easier to get a handle of her white magics again given that she was most familiar with her own, but her offensive magics were just as important. Without her Black Mage and Red Mage job stones, however, the results have been...varied. It's like she's learning how to cast Fire all over again. Powerful, but unguided.

She pouts a little, but just for a moment before sighing. ]

I'd hoped I would be able to change that, but mayhaps I'm not as skilled as I'd hoped.

[ Creating weapons was never her forte--being one is what she's good at. ]

It isn't as if there are an abundance of crystals made of condensed aether around here. There were a few up in the mines that felt as if they were charged, but those were back close to Thorne and...well, I doubt braving their ire is the best course of action at the moment.

[ A pause as she taps her chin. ]

...Though we had found a way out of the mines without getting noticed? It could be doable...

[ She really should not. ]

[unnecessaryflourishes]

It is no easy task to force something into functioning in a manner it was not meant to. Even for we Unsundered.

[Not entirely beyond the realm of possibility, perhaps. But not easy, either - and not something he would entirely wish to consign her too, should there not be good reason for such. Not least of all for the fact that he rather doubts Solvunn will be much improved by a series of fires. Even if they do happen to remain small.

(Nor is she entirely wrong to assume that crafting a weapon is very different to being one, though he has little and less experience in the latter.)]

I would hardly advise attempting to return to Thorne, given their previous reception of some of their would-be guests. Even if this world lacks the abundance of crystals that might be more common on the Source.

[Or her shards, though he figures that goes without saying.]

That being said, a magically created crystal would, by its nature, be comprised of a fairly significant amount of aether. Enough to be more than suited to this particular endeavor, I should think.

[aquaveiled]

[ It's a fair point. She didn't necessarily think it would be easy, but she didn't expect it to feel impossible. This whole experience has really been one of...well, forcing her to realize how much her own growth was supplemented by others. She has a natural proclivity to aetherial manipulation, sure, but without the tools for the trade she is not nearly as effective.

He's also not wrong that returning to Thorne would be a terrible idea, even if it were more accessible. How long would it take without an available portal? Months? She has no mounts, it would all have to be on foot and while she does enjoy trekking the old fashioned way, she doesn't think she could leave Estinien and Relena here in Solvunn for that long.

Himeka gives a heavy sigh.

Then he offers an alternative. Himeka blinks, looking back over to Emet-Selch with renewed hope written across her face. ]

Magically created crystal?

[ Of course! Why didn't she think of that. ]

If I can just compress enough aether down then it should solidify into a crystal!

[unnecessaryflourishes]

[In theory, he would be able to bear her to Thorne. Portal or no, he still has his own, and they work just as well as they had previously. It's merely that he hasn't seen any immediately pressing need to go anywhere else. There is no Rejoining yet to be completed, and as matters currently stand he is not sufficiently invested in the goings on of the other cities to bother taking the more direct approach.

Still, for all that the possibility exists, he doesn't bother to address it. Instead he turns his attentions to Himeka's response to his suggestion - his offer, more like, though it would seem that it has not quite been taken in the manner he had meant it.]

That would be one way to create a crystal, yes.

[It's a method even he might think twice about trying - it's no easy task to compress aether to such a degree - but if she should mean to make the effort, he hardly means to stop her.]

[aquaveiled]

[ Himeka taps her chin as she considered. She may be no Sorcerer of Eld, but her aetherial manipulation abilities are high by modern standards. It was really those that landed her where she is now--erm, well, prior to this whole summoning business.

But she has never tried to forcibly condense aether before. ]

I wonder...how tiny do you have to make it?

[ She looks between her hands and starts to pool aether between them, drawing it from the air around them until a ball of wind-aespected aether has formed. ]

If I just...

[ She pushes her hands together and the ball grows smaller, and smaller...

And then explodes into a gust that gives them all a Marilyn Monroe moment. ]

[unnecessaryflourishes]

[There's no answer to her question. Partly because he has no answer - he has never tried what she has just suggesting. He has created crystal, yes, and with little more than a thought, besides. But that is a far cry from forcibly condensing aether manually.

Still, the idea is intriguing enough, and so he lets her try... only to be both relieved that he is wearing something under his robes and disappointed in equal measure when the ball of aether promptly explodes outward.]

There is only so far anything might be compressed.  Much less if one should seek to try with wind-aspected aether.

[aquaveiled]

[ Well, he can't say she didn't try. She haphazardly readjusts her dress but mostly looks frustrated. She--in all of her incarnations--has been very much a "trial and error" sort of learner. One mishap won't make her give up yet. ]

It's the most readily available, though...I suppose I could also try water. I'm much better at that.

[unnecessaryflourishes]

Should you wish to see us drenched besides, you are certainly free to do so.

[That said, he's not entirely surprised that she's better with water-aspected aether. Not given the life she has lived and where - he assumes - she has spent much of her life prior to having become Eorzea's champion.]