dev 8 - the ivory

Actaeon already had a destination in mind. After Nerin was finished looking around his home, the fire-magi lead the duo towards the barracks for the order, the perfect place for them to train in.

Heading inside, he led them towards the training grounds, taking a look inside in case anyone was already occupying it, and thankfully they weren't, the training grounds free.

Walking over towards the centre of the arena, he turned on his heel to face the duo, waiting for them to get situated before he started to speak, smile curling up slightly.

It had been awhile since he has trained with Nerin. The other magi would hopefully offer another avenue for him to look into.

"I've been pushing my flames further from before, as you know after that fight with the syndicate member. My loss."

There was no shame in his words as he spoke, it wasn't truly his loss back then, but he took it as such when his flames were resisted, Heathen's own fighting back against Actaeon's.

"I ended up speaking to a plasma-magi, and got an interesting training exercise to increase my bodies resistance to heat. And it has been working greatly.

And as you know. In the past I didn't really properly control my fire, allowing it to run rampant without any clear directions. There was no true skill involved, just my power crushing through all obstacles." Words continuing to leave his mouth, his own weaknesses that had been seen and improved, smile remaining on his lips even as he spoke about such things, tongue wetting his lips as he spoke again.

"That has changed. A lot. Instead of them being widespread, uncontrolled. I've shifted towards condensing them, allowing them to get as much of the oxygen around us as possible. Funnelling it all into my fire to increase their heat further."

Perhaps a shorter description than he thought he'd say, but a demonstration would allow Nerin to understand better in his mind.

Mana travelled through his body, magic circuits being lit up as they started to link up, a spell being cast. Actaeon's irises glowing as he began to cast.

Raising a open-palm in front of himself, fire slowly gathered, all being condensed into a bright orb of flames. The heat coming off the slowly growing fireball continued to increase, and his precise control over his magic allowing him to redirect the heat towards the duo slightly, and the flames maintained within a ball shape.

Clearly, there was a vast difference between his past fire. Just the heat alone was substantially intense.

"I can perfectly control them now. But, in combat I sometimes am too focused on my opponent, allowing the heat to scorch my skin, my flames almost consuming me."

He could still recall the feeling he felt in his past spar with Holly. A moment where he thought he'd be cooked alive.
(Actaeon)

In truth, he felt about himself same way too. That his arts were simply not enough.. and no matter how much he'd try and compensate for them, unfortunately, it just wouldn't turn out to be anything so great as he imagined - the humbling experience in which he would understand that skill matters a lot as well, and that he cannot continue to rely on his raw strength alone.

In that regard, they were similar.

While listening to him, he couldn't help but reminisce on his own training- of how much he was looking for guidance from other people, travelling form one to another to complete different techniques altogether, and yet.. despite the clear 'empowerment' that it brought about, it didn't quite feel enough.

Almost as if there was a missing component.

"I'm no expert with fire magic, but-- from what I can tell, a lot of fire magi focus so much on offense that it burdens them, entirely forgetting defense - but it's something I'm sure that you understood by now."

"Perhaps, by investing in defense, you can make the flames much hotter than they already are. Perhaps you could make it something.. far deadlier, without actually risking being consumed in the flames."

A single glance is given down to his own hand; as Actaeon makes for a display of flames in his palm, his eyes steadily narrow upon his own hand, if only briefly. Here, it becomes shrouded within the mana shroud that stretches about his appendage, the circulation of mana that would provide necessary empowerment- rather than stockpiling it anywhere, he makes for a cycle.

"You know.."

"All magi are capable of manipulating raw mana to an extent, and while I had something on my mind to continue with the technique.. there's also something that I could teach you."

"Have you ever learned how to manipulate your mana circuits to a better degree? Perhaps, if you do, then you could channel offense and defense alike."
(Nerin)

The fireball extinguished after his demonstration. Arms lowering to his side and slowly being moved to his back, crossing behind them as he awaited for any advice, a new look on his magic that could help him.

Defence. A slight snort escaping his nose. Such a simple answer, and yet it was something he had never truly thought about himself. Always so focused on having an overwhelming offence, he had completely forgotten about his own defence.

And when he thought the advice was over, his eyes moved towards Nerin's hand. Narrowing as he watched his chosen-brother shroud his own hand within mana, something he hadn't seen before.

 What would it be like if he was capable of shrouding himself in flames, like Duran had spoken about when it came to Francois.

"I haven't..." Shaking his head towards Nerin as he admitted such. He had only used his mana to link together circuits, to start his casting, a way to manipulate them to a better degree was certainly enticing.

Offense and defence alike. If he could combine the two, perhaps his own weakness when it came to defence would be alleviated, or completely surpassed, a hum escaping his lips in thought.

"I'd like to know more then Nerin. Especially if it'll help even further with my control, something that I need to push further. Especially if I'm going to be using my new flames in combat." He moved closer to Nerin as he spoke, pausing a few steps away as his arms uncrossed, and hung loosely to his sides.
(Actaeon)

The raw manipulation was always something that could be useful. Even now, when he cycles out his own mana.. the shroud permits the ivory colors to enter in the scheme, where the bone steadily protrudes from the palm of his hand. After all, he would often contemplate utilizing more than just the raw mana manipulation, but something that belongs only to him.

Something to represent him being a living weapon.

"Very well."

The only remark spoken to his chosen-brother, and already, he begins displaying it to him; the mana flutters around his appendage in bizarre forms, so much so that it seems to swirl in a motion that almost reminds of a 'glove' around his hand- except, it seems to swirl in a way which suggests haze, the heated air and constant motion around his hand.

Almost as if something entirely different.

"Many magi commit to a single mistake - they pump the entirety of their mana in a single area, assuming that's where the most effect would be."

"But it's wrong. Imagine your mana circuits to be.. your actual veins and arteries, so to say. Just like heart pumps the blood in your body to sustain it - you must constantly circulate the mana s well." A pause is given, and already Nerin does as much; the colors of azure and blue flicker around his hand, the bone protruding out of his body even further..

"There must always be motion, no matter where you devote the mana. By accelerating that motion, it cycles out more of it as you go, allowing you to reach greater heights."

"Try doing so. Be slow, do not overwork yourself, lest you wish to botch and blow out your mana circuits while they're untrained for this."

By now, it would seem as if Nerin's flow is.. rather harmonized, if nothing else. How quaint.. when did he learn this?
(Nerin)

Actaeon's eyes remined upon Nerin's hand. Watching as the mana appeared around his appendage, constantly within motion as he continued to watch on, brow furrowing in concentration as he tried to figure out exactly what Nerin was doing.

But he couldn't and so when Nerin's words came he listened on intently, his sight flickering between the bone-magi's face and his hand.

His body, veins and arteries to be imagined as his circuits. An interesting way to visualize such, his eyes slowly closing as his magic circuits appeared within his mind.

Had he been so focused on the more concentrated areas of his circuits and shapes that he hadn't ever paid attention to the intricate lines that were hidden away throughout his limbs.

Too focused on where his circuits converged, the key points where his circuits were concentrated to realize there was a whole new world waiting for him to utilize.

A deep inhale was taken by Actaeon, and then he slowly began to run his mana throughout his body, this time the usual points where he would essentially 'flood' with mana were ignored, in favour of allowing the stream to run throughout his arms, his legs, places where he had never truly prioritized.

Slowly, he never rushed. There was no need as he had plenty of time, a smile curling up onto his lips subconsciously as he watched within his mind the circuits light up.

He was becoming comfortable with the action, his mana continuing to circulate throughout his newly focused on circuits, and so he followed Nerin's advice and accelerated the motion slightly.

Pain. A sharp searing pain sprung up around his thigh as his acceleration was uncontrolled, the flow of his mana within his right-leg not following the same rhythm he was so use to, sparking a fire onto his leg.

Palm slapping down to instinctively dissipate the flames, the mana that was being channelled throughout his body disappearing.

"Close.." He mumbled, hands raised as a look of confusion spread along his visage, eyes roaming around his hands, then moving onto his legs, a single glance given to the now seared flesh, the pain ignored in favour of speaking to Nerin.

 He didn't have time to worry about such a wound.

"I saw what you meant.. Too focused on the convergences of my magic circuits I didn't use the intricate lines that flowed throughout my limbs."

Even with the failure, his own flesh being scorched by a sudden flame, he smiled. For it had given him an avenue to work with, a new way to channel his flames compared to the past.
(Actaeon)

The intricate manipulation of mana was a rather complicated subject.

Yet.. at the same time, it wasn't, for a simple fact that it remained within 'basics' of what magi learn. Regardless, it was something that magi tended to ignore in the favour of advancing into something much greater- and so, much like the magi of the old, he imagined that mastering the basics to absolute perfection could go a long way in helping with new techniques.

After all..
There's not a single technique that doesn't work with circuits.

Everyone, save for Cosmic magi and some rare exceptions, use their own mana- and even those channel the magic through circuitry anyway, with the raw mana alone being drawn from somewhere else. The technique itself, however? It remains more or less the same.. only channelled through different angles and with different additions.

Something that Nerin learned well.

"Do not rush yourself."

"Close your eyes if you must, as it helps to visualize. So long as you proceed with temperance and patience to your work, there should be no real difficulty in establishing the constant flow."

"Breathe slowly as you do so. Stabilize it to the rhythm of your heart. With each passing beat - another pulse of mana must pass."

Thud, thud, thud.. Just like the heart beats within his chest, so he could use its rhythm to pick up the pace in which he would establish the flow. It sounds simple in theory.. but in reality, it certainly takes a bit.

"Like this."

Inhale, exhale. Nerin, being someone who's had ample opportunity to practice, establishes the rhythm relatively quick. Here, the ivory colors shift with the delay of about half a second between each shift, so much so that it seems there's a certain pattern to it - with the mana ripple flickering around his hand.

"Go on."
(Nerin)

The smile wouldn't leave his face, the feeling of slight success, of a door being opened up and his eyes seeing something different that had been hidden away. Partially due to his ignorance of ignoring his own foundation, and not improving the basics.

But that would now be changed. A nod sent towards Nerin as signal for him to continue, to quench Actaeon's thirst for more guidance about the matter, an intense look appearing within his eyes.

Nerin's words entered the knights ears, and his eyes closed. An inhale of air filling his lungs as he continued to listen to Nerin's words as he begun anew.

Magic circuits appeared within his minds-eye. Beautiful intricate lines flowing throughout his body, shapes of tear-drop flames scattered around as he examined the lines throughout his limbs.

Pausing for a brief moment on where he had rushed too far ahead, and luckily his mistake didn't cause any lasting damage.

Controlling his breathing came easy to him, something that was learnt a long while ago when he first meditated to activate his circuits, already his breathing had came to a crawl, the sound of his heart thumping within his ears.

He was the director of his mana, following alongside the continuous rhythmatic sound of his heart, for every beat his mana flowed, following a pattern as his magic circuits once again lit up when his mana flowed through.

Slowly, his mana established a flow following his hearts sound. For every thump the mana that now continuously moved throughout his body would suddenly accelerate, its velocity changing in a short moment and then calming down.

And it showed on the outside of his body. For every acceleration of his mana that followed, his affinity to fire-magic showcased the change in speed. Flickers of a bright flame appeared around his form, practically licking away at Actaeon's body.

A tiny screen of mana appearing around his form, praticallylatched to his skin. Barely visible to the eye yet holding back the heat, the dense fire that would so easily destroy him if it wasn't there.

 It would look like the fire-magi was being devoured by his own sudden flames, soaked within them.

But there were no screams, no smell of cooking flesh as the flames continued to flow around his form for every thump of his heart. Their colour slowly turning into something new, a hint of a different shade appearing within.
(Actaeon)

There was evident progress. One in which the thrumming rhythm of his heart was becoming the guide upon which he would channel the mana flow throughout, something to showcase just how far he could get, provided the certain technique was involved. Thankfully, neither of them were weak magi when it comes to raw strength..

Quite on the contrary..
Both of them were rather capable.

Perhaps it's the reason why they were able to follow on- after all, technically, these techniques are 'basics', except the advanced form of them, one where the magi learns how to control the mana flow better. To many unwise, this could be considered a waste of time, one in which they'd rather practice splashing out their emotions in rapid, powerful attacks to knock down their foes, but..

When it comes to anything complicated - control is everything.

And he believed that it was the necessary stepping stone. Here, as the flames flicker and flutter around Actaeon as a whole, the ivory colors bend and shift around Nerin; the stabilization upon his own appendage was coming about, the reminder of the wisdom spoken by other magi of the past that guided him for this technique.

Something that would no doubt help him become greater.

"You're doing well." A brief remark spoken, but.. there was much more to it, wasn't there? There were always challenges ahead, in which this could be broken, in which the technique would have to face off against the reality of situations to come.

"We can test how you'd maintain it under pressure- lest you'd wish to continue practicing the flow for now."

"The decision is yours."

But with extension of ivory colors from his hands and legs.. perhaps, Nerin was ready for either.
(Nerin)

The flow never stopped, his magic circuits continuing to remain active as the flames remained around his form, and with Nerin's words entering his ears, Actaeon's eyes opened.

The dazzling bright light coming from the flames momentarily shocked him, but didn't interfere with the rhythmic movement of his mana, the fire that soaked his body remained as his head turned and his eyes took in the sight.

 Beautiful..

His lips soft smile deepened, as he finished the inspection, it had been the first time he was so close to his flames, their radiance leaving a lasting impression seared within his mind.

Actaeon's eyes moved towards Nerin, a look of admiration appearing within. He always knew Nerin was a capable magi, it had shown in previous fights he ad witnessed, his chosen-brothers combat ability higher than any other person he knew.

But he didn't expect him to be so studious too, to unearth sucha technique that would give them even more control over their mana, refining their ability to manipulate it to such a degree.

"Let's test it." He replied, a nod sent Nerin's way as his shoulders rolled forward, to remove and kinks, and with his motion the fire around his form moved too.

It was the perfect time to test it too. If he couldn't maintain such an ability under pressure, then it would be useless for when he truly needed it, and as his sight swept the area around him, it just encouraged him to master this technique more.

The area around him was already affected by the heat from his fire, he could already imagine the wrath he could bring on others if it was to be used in combat.

 If he was to punch as the flames surrounded him.

There was no need to rush, and so a fireball was called forth. The magic already flowing through his body used to link together circuits, the irises of Actaeon glowing brightly as balls of flame manifested behind his back.

And the flames that had pratically become a part of his body held. Mana continuing to be used almost subconsciously at this point, a nod sent over towards Nerin to single himself ready.

 Thud, thud, thud..

All he could hear was his heart.
(Actaeon)

Training under multiple magi and learning their wisdom goes a long way. Many consider other styles no longer practical once they learn something.. or perhaps even entirely useless for them as a whole; Nerin wasn't the kind to disregard such, and if anything, he was willing to learn bits and pieces from every magi that he encountered, from every warrior that he's known.

Even if he would not master their technique..
Understanding how it works is good.

Why? Because it provides the necessary reflection, a glance from a different angle that may expose the flaws one would not notice before. In Nerin's case, it was the flow of mana that he could not properly control- the enhancements of mana that did not work correctly, and on top of that, the pain he would inflict upon himself on accident each time he would charge into 'overdrive' of sort.

Here, and now? He was close.. so closeto mastering it just right.

"Very well. Let us not waste time."

Inhale, exhale. Here, the brilliance of ivory colors shine through, with the mana covering him as if it were a shroud, focused in particular around his appendages most. It becomes terribly clear by now that he's gotten rather far.. and the fact that the flow allows his mana to excel as well, so much so that it flows through him freely.

The unnatural feeling about Nerin is a testament to such.
It almost as if.. he's not of this world.

For the strength within his veins is powerful one; yet, a dash ahead, an exchange that immediately pushes Actaeon forth into action, one that forces him to defend.

It was a test.
(Nerin)

With his own inhale, and exhale of air it seemed as if his flames changed too, the temperature raising as more mana slowly flowed into the surrounding flames that followed him around as he moved.

Actaeon's eyes took in the sight of Nerin's own change, the mana that covered his chosen-brother's body instantly catching his eye, but alas, he wouldn't have time to admire such a sight.

 For Nerin was already dashing across the arena.

Arms crossing in front of him to block the rapid approach of punches that were launched his way, the dense flames around him acting as another shield as he maintained his block.

And with it, his eyes took in the sight of Nerin slowly being burnt, the flames that were formed as his new defence, were being used as an offense against his opponent.

The pressure seemed to never let, a single mis-step and he would be knocked down and out of the fight, it was the pressure he needed. The test that would allow him to see the new technique in action.

Where normally waves of flames would be launched out, wasting the precious oxygen that could fuel them further, instead fireballs, condensed together and generating a heat levels above his past spells were thrown forth.

He was no longer using his magic as if it was a hammer, but a finely sculpted scalpel to systematically tear about Nerin's defence, the fireballs poking out any avenues that would open within his chosen-brothers guard.

The explosions that sounded out around the duo ignored, in favour of the constant beating of his heart, it was the new medium of which he used to decisely control the flames around his body.

 Thud, thud, thud...

Comforting, always within his head as he went on the offense. His fire that stuck around him following his charge as he exchanged blow after blow with the bone-magi.

In the past his flames detrimental when he engaged in close-combat, his fire burning himself too as he sent out blow after blow, but now it was different, his strikes landing against Nerin's body and only inflicting damage onto the bone-magi.

 He felt nothing but flesh landing against flesh.

An opportune moment appeared, and with it Actaeon struck past Nerin's defense, landing a solid blow onto his chosen-brother's chest.

The fight was a constant struggle, Nerin's pressure truly terrifying to face. He was the perfect partner to face against when it came to testing himself under an intense situation.
(Actaeon)

A strike, after strike, after strike. There's no telling just how much of a pressure it could be for anyone else.. but Actaeon could most certainly vividly experience it first-hand, one in which the struggle becomes apparent in a way that they exchange blows, so much so that it seems to become unrelenting, pursuing force that would not give up, no matter how much one could possibly pressure him to stay down.

These flames burned hot. So much so that it seemed as if Actaeon was taking the entirely new approach, threatening to knock down Nerin at any turn in which he makes- despite landing several successful blows against his chosen-brother, it was something which would become detrimental in the end, for Actaeon persevered.

Isn't it impressive..
How far both of them have come?

It's a rarity that anyone holds up against Nerin successfully, and more so against Actaeon, two brothers clashing with pressure and strength- and now, precision and technique- that could not be easily rivalled. While Actaeon focused his might upon his own path, Nerin's intent lies with constant enhancement, the empowerment of his body beyond measure..

Agile and powerful.
Precise and deadly.

The constant flow operated around his body, but.. even then, it wasn't enough. For when he shrouds himself in a way that could potentially guarantee victory for him, when the ivory colors protrude from his body to deliver a hardened fist in which tremendous force would pulse through Actaeon..

So close.
Yet it missed.

It's at that moment when he nears, when he misses.. it provides opportune moment for Actaeon. In truth, this was more about who would make a single mistake first.. and unfortunately for Nerin, he was the one to do so; here, when the blow from Nerin fails to land, he receives a justified response against his chest.

One to cause him to stumble back and have the air knocked out of his lungs. It breaks the flow, albeit briefly.. but it's enough to end the fight nonetheless.

"Kuh.." It comes out as a sharp exhale, but with a shake of his head, he smiles nonetheless. It would seem that Actaeon made progress.. and he received necessary insight as well.

"Well done, Actaeon."

"You grasped it."

Which would mean that the rest would be up to his chosen-brother. As for this technique that Nerin attempted?

Perhaps, he's closer than he thought.
Perhaps, that could be it.
(Nerin)