dev 8 - creating a mirror

This should be the last step before his proper rise as a Spiritmancer, one who can reach about anywhere, and not just his local area- while he trained to confront all manners of spirits, starting from wisps, and ending up with souls of the dead, elementals, and even corrupted spirits or inherently malicious ones, he will be extremely limited as a Spiritmancer without the mirror.

And that's why he's here.

What he presents to Ashalle is soulsteel, which she gave him at some point; he also presents orchilacum to her, but clearly, that's going to be used to clad the soulsteel mirror into something. After all, a blank mirror without anything to properly hold it in would not only be fairly dull, but also dangerous to hold - it could break anytime like that.

"The plan was to make a reflective surface out of soulsteel, then surround the circle by cladding it in orchilacum gold."

"It'll be fairly efficient that way, I think.. besides, the contrast of grey to gold looks alright to me."

A pause, and his gaze drifts towards her. It's no secret that metal is much easier to change when it's heated by extreme temperatures - while he didn't have fire, lightning was practically 'refined fire', and actually possessed extremely high temperature on its own.

Anyone who ever tasted the bite of electricity could tell that its hot too and can burn.

"I could heat up the metals so it's easier to work with. Then, you could change its shape, whether by magic or by hands."

"Though.. if its the latter, perhaps both of us can do it. Sounds like a plan?"
(Keitaro)

"We can do that - but I was imagining that you would've liked my crystal magic since it can directly link itself with the concepts of the body." she finds herself beginning to look away if only briefly. "Life. Power. And protection. They are the three things necessary to complete the journey in the spiritual world...To preserve the life there is. And to bring it anew once more." Within her hands, the divinity from the crystal within her chest would show it's power. The gentle, soft light - tinged with the sickening, twisted presence of the sin.

"Even when you die and pieces of you scatter into the wind - eventually, it'll all come back together." For when the spirit finally moves on, does it not rejoin the soul? Cleansed of past memories and desires...Ambitions only coming off as vague reflections within the matter.

 Nevertheless, she finds herself beginning to smile- if only briefly. "Not difficult...We'll line it with the fading gold to silver...I'll put in different properties of my magic and then, all will be well." She didn't seem to particularly mind. After all, this was his project..

"We'll meld the metals together- you, using your own connection to the spirit realm and then me...Being the beacon here." It is symbolism. And much, much more..

"It's a go for me...So, start when you're ready."

(Ashalle)

"You can use crystal magic as well, if it's more comfortable for you. Or.. more useful on your behalf. In either case, let's begin." A brief glance is given down to the metals, and the sparkling begins to form around his fingertips.

It's the pure lightning, encased with spiritual essence. After all, Keitaro's own lightning was not like any other- rather than being a mere reflection of lightning like most magi do it, a conjuration made out of mana, it was true lightning for all intents and purposes. It resembled the true thunder, both with physical and spiritual essence that elements were bearing.

"This will help to shape the metal." A brief remark, and the metal seems to become.. softer, different in structure, almost half-way to being liquified. "You should begin by carefully shaping soulsteel into mirror. Take care to make sure that it's actually completely flat on surface - it has to be reflective, or it won't work."

And it would be a shame to waste the soulsteel for a failed attempt. Nonetheless, he does not tell her that he's ready - it's pretty obvious that he already began his work, and she should catch up to him. Only after they're done with this part would he bother with orchilacum, but for now, it's set aside.

"You can begin shaping it. It should be easier to do."
(Keitaro)

Why are you doing this? Because there's something about it that made her feel closer to the destination that she had wanted for herself at such a young age. Where the spirits were meant to dance alongside her within battle - rather than the connection be broken within the distance. In the same manner....She finds that she's sorely missed those moments. Of laughter. Of tears. Of emotion fluttering through the heart like no other. And now, all she can feel are blood within her hands. Metals and crystals and gems all coalescing into one in mere practice...As if to ready herself to begin shaping the metals...

"....There's something you should know." She says softly. "We'll be having to use silver and crystal properties along the surface...So..." She finds herself beginning...

As she reaches out carefully - hands of power, encased within protective layers of earth would grasp upon the heated soulsteel. It is there, where she would close her eyes...Exercising the partially purified mana of the divine feather through her circuits....Carefully thinning out the soulsteel while introducing properties of life into it. Jade and Lazuli. Pushed forth by the power of vermillion gems intermingling, beginning to shape the soulsteel into an oval-esque body..

"You can begin adding the next part...If you will." For now, practice within these damaged circuits are in order. To breathe life into them once again..
(Ashalle)

There is much to be done with this. Learning how to be a better Spiritmancer was merely a first step in all of the things that he wanted to do - ranging from opening permanent gateways to the spirit world, and even becoming a half-spirit himself. He imagines that unless he would actually come to know the spirits this well, he wouldn't be able to live this 'close' with them, and actually serve as the bridge between two worlds.

Unless you understand something thoroughly, you cannot speak for it.

"Do what you must. What's important to me is the result." That much is true. Almost any means necessary for this would be done.. and besides, what's the difference between using one way or another to actually create the mirror as he desired?

"I'm thankful that you're helping." But his own part remains too. Where the spiritual essence would seep deep into the soulsteel, allowing it to take place, so that it would be innately connected to the Purgatory and those beyond. Thankfully, he actually had example of a spirit mirror like this - because he held one before, and witnessed such from some of the greatest spiritmancers all around Agartha. He had something to work with, really.

"I'll begin cladding it in orchilacum in a bit."

Only after the process of lending his own spiritual essence was done, he would begin to work with the orchilacum gold, carefully melding the metal under necessary temperatures. Where it would begin to slowly take shape around what's meant to be the mirror in the future.. only following the outline that is presented before him, never rushing ahead.

"You were interested in spirits too, weren't you?"
(Keitaro)

The crystals will be the link to the real world. The rest will be within his own favor. She is careful within the endeavor - her eyes closing, a gentle sigh spilling past her lips as she prepares herself for what's to come beyond moments such as these. For now, she eases herself through the use of her mana - despite the pain that radiates along her veins. "...It's easy. Besides, I needed the practice anyway, in all honesty." She holds herself to a higher standard within these manners. Aiming to create perfection and art within every gentle flex of her fingers..

Here - she would wait...The crystalline essences within the mirror beginning to swirl together upon one side, intermingling their own essences within one another as she goes on..."...Truth of the matter is that I never wanted to be chieftain. It was Ahmir, Kamui, and Amaru's dream. Instead, I was supposed to be one with the spirits. The one that seeks their guidance...That does better for my home." She goes silent, if only briefly.

"Only recently, have I ever really gotten to do any of the things that I trained for as a child. And even coming back to them-...It's all so new again. It's like I've forgotten how to do it. But." There is no sadness. Instead, what comes forth is a haughty smile.

"I found beauty in other, otherworldly things." Little insects that called to her. The ones that whispered her name within the night to calm her. The crickets and fireflies....The butterflies. Or even the most insignificant creature of them all...

It was comforting.

"Don't mind it."
(Ashalle)

Where she works in tandem with him, he fulfils his own role. The soulsteel gives off a subtle hum as it's charged, preparing to come to acceptance of the Purgatory that its meant to be linked to. As a Spiritmancer, this is supposed to make him complete - someone who could actually fulfil the role of Shaman entirely. Now, only to learn how to effectively heal the physical body as well.. but that's another matter for the future.

"I heard so. Ahmir did say he wanted to be Cruxati's Chieftain, after all." A pause, and he continues to work with the metal. Where the golden outline begins to form around the mirror, making for a clad that would otherwise ensure that this is going to hold well.

"I don't think he really knows what he's doing by asking that.. Gehenna still needs a lot of fixing." A drift of his hand, the final shapes taking form. "Unless he would be willing to invest so much time in all of that.. he would simply see it crumble."

"Or fall on his own, when people would grow frustrated."

People are fickle, and unless you manage to keep them satisfied with what they wanted, they will eventually rebel against you, seeking to replace you with somebody else. Even with how lax people were back there.. he imagines that it could still happen. Nonetheless, his focus stays on the metal, and where the last pieces of work upon soulsteel is done by the Pride, his own outline is finished.

A contradiction between silver surface and gold ring.

"It should be fine now." There's another pause, and he looks up at her. "But I understand why you found solace with those spirits. In a way, I did so too." A promise of greater purpose, away from all that pained him.

"Thanks for helping me."
(Keitaro)