“Largely because it isn’t really alchemy,” Not-Anubis drawled, “You heard Roy-Boy, Poe. Your technique violates basic laws of alchemy – it violates the principles of this universe and more than a few others. It can make stuff from nothing. Or, at least, that’s how it appears at first glance.”

“And at second glance…” I trailed and pointedly looked at my palms, “…I’ve got nothing.”

“Think about what you have done so far.” The fawk-man raised a hand, “Think about it really closely. Then consider what you’ve used the power of the Rider to do. The Ghost Rider’s flames aren’t supposed to hurt people that you don’t intend on hurting, but whenever you’ve used his power that fire has stayed behind.”

“Well, sure it has.” I answered. If the Rider was like a nuclear weapon, I was like a child hitting it with a rock. It should have come to no surprise that I’d be misusing the Rider’s power, and it should have been even less of a surprise that I would damage others with that same power, however accidentally.

“What my compatriot is trying to say is that not all those flames belong to the Rider. Some of them belong to you. And part of the reason for your lack of control over the Rider’s flames is you can’t control your flames.”

“Are these circles meant to do that?” I asked, “If I use these, will I have a better handle of my fire-based abilities?”

The fawk-man shook a level hand, “Sort of? Sort of not?”

“Even with absolute control over the power that is your own, you’ll be hurting yourself a lot. Those circles are a kind of limiter. You can open them a little by clapping your hands together, which gives you access to the Door,” Not-Anubis pointed high above us to the massive creature that spawned the spirits, “Your soul, basically. Or, alternatively, you can try just activating those circles on their own for a quick boost in strength or speed.”