dev 1 - display of technique

To not be rude about this, Nerin acknowledges the presence of Nemein as well, nodding in turn- though, the moment Id greets him with a wave, he returns one of his own. Upon approach, he already begins elaborating.

"Thank you for coming about, and.."

Well, there's no point beating around the bush, is there? With things rapidly changing around them..

"I'm rather certain you're a busy person, so I won't stall. I kind of needed help with grasping at Energy magic- so a lesson or two from you could be helpful, provided you're able to help me."

"Apologies if it's abrupt or sudden, but.. lately, there have been a lot of things happening." Such as confirmation of witches, of Occultic practices.. and more. And one way or another, he had to prepare himself better.

If he's advanced enough to learn yet another magical style, on top of what he already knows.. then surely this can't hurt?

"Do you think you could help?"
(Nerin)

Id leans forward to wave towards Nemein, too, and acknowledge that he's spoken to her and she heard him. To Nerin's question, she pauses for a few moments to think about that. Yes, she could very much help him understand what Energy Magic is about but to actually awaken the ability to use it is something he has to do on his own.

A gentle nod is made towards him, along with a smile. It's not only a happy smile but an eager smile because she would finally get to fight Nerin to demonstrate fully what it means to be an Energy Mage.

So of course she accepts the request because she's actually not that busy. Her business was mostly private lately thanks to a certain person. A motion is made towards the other arena.

If Nerin wanted to learn, he would learn through example.
(Id)

In truth, he didn't quite expect it to be so sudden. If anything, he would assume that she's not going to help him so easily.. that for all intents and purposes, she would rather 'test' him in some way or another before committing to the fact that she would be teaching him - even if for a single lesson. But..

It's good, isn't it?

If he begins his studies already, then perhaps he could handle it just in time before the drastic changes occur- before his own mettle would be tested by fighters that were deemed supreme many times again. For what he knows, their opponent isn't that akin to Syndicate anymore..

But something far, far more fearsome.
For that, he had to be ready.

"Ah.. already?"

Even if he asks in surprise.. he doesn't necessarily sound disappointed- instead, actually glad to hear that. A single nod is given in return, and already he walks towards the secluded area, one in which such studies could even happen.

"Let's get going then."

Not like he has time to stall about it, either.
(Nerin)

A hand is brought up to gently weave through the air and leave a strange after image behind it, generated by raw mana. Then, she turns her side towards Nerin, her left hand moving forward angled towards the floor with her fingers lax and just barely curled inwards.

Her right is brought up simultaneously to form an almost spear hand formation with her palm slightly diagonal towards the floor, thumb downwards.

Her body sways in the stance with readiness to lash out and she calms her mind, allowing nothing but the raw willpower she contains to flow outwards in the form of ethereal blue flames that crawl across her clothes and body until they engulf her and then begin flowing in a regulated pattern.

She'd have to test Nerin's capacity for resolve first, that much was true, and the best way to do such a thing was to provide something new in a fight to fight against. Something less fair than one might expect.

Would he steel himself and adapt to it? Id would just have to see. In reality, she hopes he does. He's one of her friends after all.
(Id)

Id assumes the Way of Willpower stance!

Watch and learn.

It's a peculiar way of teaching, considering that most teachers of all sorts tend to thoroughly lecture their student about the usage of the technique, as well as what exactly they should be doing with it and how.. but when it comes to learning under Id? There's no word, there's no unnecessary speech.

There's only the display - and one's ability to grasp it.

Or fail to.. though, Nerin was determined enough to study it thoroughly. For when he sees the brilliance of blue follow her form, when he sees the decadence of colors follow her form, he can't help but narrow his eyes a little bit. In truth, it wouldn't be the first time that he's seen the Energy magi at work.. so certainly, this can't be far too difficult?

Inhale, exhale. The understanding comes with reflection in one's experiences, one upon which the flow of mana is steadily established within, so much so that it becomes a rhythm of second heartbeat. When the flow pushes in and out within the mana circuits, and the steady, raw formation of flickering haze manifests around his hands.

Not quite the pure Energy..
But a beginner's attempts.

"Huh.."

What surprises him more is the way that she portrays her fighting style. No, if she were similar to him, he would know.. but instead, it clearly becomes something more- something that intrigues him greatly. Something in which he finds a new endeavour to pursue..

For now, he knows that he's to steel himself. The steady breathing would be his support, and the flow would be his weapon- here and now, he knows that he's to be tested..

And he wouldn't go down without a display of what he has.
(Nerin)

It's difficult.

To fight off against the ethereal glow of her form.. so much so that it would become a constant struggle to overcome the flow of energies, the brilliance and glow of the shimmering light in which she becomes nigh absolute before his eyes. If anything, it's sheer talent of Nerin that carries him anywhere at all.

But not skill.
Not skill at all.

Here, it becomes a struggle to overcome her in any way that he knows. Here, when the manifestation of ethereal glow batters him time and time again, he has no choice but to tap into the magics of Bone- one that protrude almost instinctively to assault Id in return, but..

"No! Stay down!"

Has he disciplined his body too much to react to such circumstances? So much that it fails to not answer to the bruises that Id delivers unto his body.. but it's far too late, for it already made an impact in their fighting- yet, at least midway through he intends to focus on his skill with body more than anything, one in which the flow of Energy tries to flicker to life once more.

Time and time again.

In the end, their exchange, their bout.. it becomes the endeavour in which Nerin still stands. His resolve is strong one, and while he's been betrayed many times already.. he still stands, despite the odds. Yet, it's almost clear that he's dissatisfied..

Almost as if the manifestation of ivory colors was never meant to be.

"..Huff."

He does not belittle her by asking whether she's fine- if anything, he knows that she'll be absolutely okay from all of this. She's stronger than that..

But he needed to know what's wrong with his flow, did he not?
(Nerin)

Id flips back to her feet when she's knocked towards the floor, but it's clear that Nerin hasn't one thing that he needs. She experiences a flash back, one that's both negative and helpful for what it is. She, for only a few moments, experiences the memories of Kirai beating her and how he took control of the battle when she tried to escape capture.

Id understood now that what Kirai really wanted was to manipulate her and keep absolute control, just like he controlled his own clan. It didn't help that she became exactly like him, but not in a negative way. She grasps the flow of combat and Energy in order to block her opponent's ability to cast spells by overriding their circuits temporarily.

However, what Nerin lacks is exactly what prevents him from learning the extension of will that is Energy Magic. Id's progressed to a point where hers is almost reflexive but at times she still has to try in order to control. Why? Because Energy Magic is a reflection of the understanding practitioners have of themselves. It comes from the psyche and soul directly, it is not refined in the same way or even projected with the same emotions.

Instead, Id projects her energy with absolute resolution. The drive to get better in combat and protect what she cares about. What Nerin really lacks is that self control required to manipulate raw mana and refine it. He doesn't fully understand himself and that impacts his flow entirely. He has the drive, but lacks a component in which he needs.

His ability to moderate himself is lacking entirely. That much is obvious when he expresses his control over Bone Magic reflexively. However, instead of continuing the fight, Id pulls out a piece of paper. Writing would last longer than her words, certainly, and would not strain her to perform. She begins scribbling down some things then moves forward to offer Nerin the paper and begin walking away.

When he finds what he's missing, he can find Id again and tell her. But, until then, she can't do much as far as teaching him goes.
(Id)

The lack of control is something he would have to exercise upon. The sheer fact that his body manifested the Bone magic almost reflexively is a testament for that- as much as Nerin possessed the talent and necessary strength for it all, he wasn't quite skilled in the Energy magic or its applications. If anything.. he lacked the necessary restrain to keep his circuits reeled in.

For he remembers the way he lashed out.

And it would be a test of his own, would it not? Quite often, Nerin was unable to keep himself entirely controlled when confronted with something he felt strongly about.. such as the scenery back at the Moonfall village, for when he lashed out so much. Even with the influence plaguing him..

Was it truly influence all along?
Or was it what he truly felt as well?

With the flow steadily subsiding, he knows that the first lesson would be taught- that with resolve of his tested, he would need to now display how much he can learn about control as a whole, how much he can steel himself against using magics that were not meant to be. Here, it becomes the beginning of something else..

The beginning of him overcoming this 'heart on a sleeve'.

"..I'm thankful for the lesson, Id. I'll seek you out later."

He most certainly will. But for now, when his eyes drift over the note, he only solemnly nods.

There would be much to do.
(Nerin)