mastering riftmancy

The arts of Riftmancy were dangerous.

So much so that being anywhere but the most secure, distant locations could potentially be a death sentence. There, however, when Ambrose brings them forth to the distant land..

He shows the book - one written by Ryker, yet with the notes clearly taken from Nyphadora Ingress herself, and even credited her for such.

"Thanks for coming, Adrian."

"But, ah.. what I wanted is essentially practicing my mastery of Riftmancy. I believe I'm coming close to ensuring that I would finally properly wield it, but.."

"At the same time, there are things that I would not attempt alone."

Unless he would find himself simply fried by the very art that he practices, banished into eternal death.

For there would be no second time coming back, as was with his ascension.

"Here-"

He opens the book before him; the Collective takes it, and floats it right infrontof Adrian and Ambrose alike, so that they could read.

"I remember we both practiced the basics."

"Judging by this book.. what do you think we should start with? Or would you rather I decide?"
(Ambrose Roche)

And off they went!

It doesn't take long for the duo to reach the outskirts of Asphodel. Their enhanced speed made it trivial to move such distances, so much so that rifting somewhere isn't even necessary. Upon arriving at the location, Adrian nods towards Ambrose.

"Think nothing of it, Ambrose." Adrian says, while carefully reaching out and taking hold of the ancient tome presented to him. The moment his hand touched the leather bound surface, a chill ran down Adrian's spine. It was something that had not occurred in many of years, not since his first advances within the art.

"Oh my." He mutters as he slowly flips the book open. Eyes scan over page after page, and there is more than a few times that he mutters to himself. "Incredible. Absolutely astounding." Flip. Flip.

"This has to be one of the most advanced tomes on riftmancy I've ever seen. I mean, I've not had much to compare it to, but this is leagues beyond anything I've ever read." The collective knowledge of some of the strongest riftmancers in Eternia was held in his hands, and he almost couldn't help himself.

"Rift collision... I've heard of it only in rumors, of an experiment performed by Ryker decades ago. By Cain, I wish I could've been there to see it." However, the book is eventually shut closed, and a shake of his head is followed.

"What you have here is a veritable treasure trove of rift related information. A literal jackpot, some might even say."

A slow glance is given towards the Prince.

"But it contains knowledge far beyond your capabilities. Even mine." There was a reason such knowledge was forbidden. It was far too dangerous to practice it without precautions, and much of the knowledge contained within was far too advanced for Ambrose.

"But it still contains the basics, invaluable for someone like you."

The tome is offered back towards Ambrose. "If you need more practice, I suggest we keep focusing on the basics. Tearing open a rift in the lifestream, even if you cannot set it to a specific place, offers valuable insight to the machinations of the art itself."
(Adrian Ivanovich)

It was good to hear such a praise.

In fact, better than anything else that he's heard about this book so far- but it only served to assure him that what he retrieved was truly a treasure to behold, hosting myriad knowledges that come from some of the best Riftmancers to ever live.

Which means their knowledge could become his.

"I'm glad to hear that, Adrian."

"And... yes. It took some effort to retrieve the book, and I did get hurt in the process, but I think ultimately it's worth it."

"I think there's even something you could learn from it." Something to advance his own mastery..

Or come up with techniques that are new altogether.

Though.. when Adrian mentions of simply constantly practicing basics, there's a mild frown. Ambrose already knew these.. and while he could do that, albeit flawed, there's something that he was just not satisfied with.

"--No, Adrian."

"I want to push for more. I want to push towards advanced techniques." He remarks, boldly. "I was practicing basics all along - even in battles, whether to rift someone elsewhere, or to rift myself to safety."

"I will not move past basics unless I dare to touch upon something more."

Truth be told, if he wanted basics, he could just do it himself - but there's a reason why he asked Adrian to come here.

"I wanted you to help me to move forward."

"I don't know.. whether it's the quick techniques of warping about, or perhaps conjuring several rifts at once and jumping between them all. Or..."

"Trying to view locations from afar, maybe? Or even this rift collision.. albeit, on small scale."

Anything.
Anything that is not basic.

"I already practiced basics enough."

"I need to do more."

Determined, even if it means danger to him.
(Ambrose Roche)

"Do not shun the basics, Ambrose."

Adrian could understand the mans impatience. There was only so much practice of the basics one could do before they craved something more. And much like many other forbidden arts, the power of riftmancy was an addictive power that left one craving more.

Which lead to the death of many practitioners.

Still, Ambrose's eagerness isn't completely dismissed, and thus a sigh soon follows.

"Fine. We'll start with short distance riftmancy." The book is held up for the Collective to take, and once it is Adrian begins speaking once more. "But know that it is risky. We'll start with this for today, since colliding two rifts is something that... Well, I believe it's something we'd both have to dabble with before putting it to use."

It was, after all, much more advanced than simply opening a rift.

"Right. As for warping about in combat. It's considered by some to be the natural progression of the art. As the more you become accustomed to it, the faster you are able to open up rifts. It takes beginners several minutes of concentration to tear open a rift, not to mention extremely taxing. But as you come to master the art, it becomes easier. Well, I say that relatively, but it becomes easier to conjure rifts on the fly, even easier when the location is just a short few feet away from you. One does not need to put so much effort into surveying the mana in the location when it's in your immediate vicinity. Observe."

Adrian takes a few steps forwards, before snapping his fingers. Suddenly the sound of reality itself being ripped open filled the air. Like the sound of fabric being ripped in half. It conjured a portal roughly the size of Adrian, manifesting behind him with such speed that if Ambrose didn't have prior knowledge, it almost seemed as if it was instantaneous.

And then?

Adrian vanished.

Only to reappear a short distance away from a rift that manifested just as quickly. And then he was gone again, remerging just a few steps away from Ambrose. There is a faint sheen of sweat that drips down his brow.

"It is still as exhausting, mind you." Adrian states, his breath slightly strained, but it was clear he was quickly recovering. "And it still takes time to gather the mana required. But to those who don't expect it..." His hands clap together.

"It can make a world of difference."
(Adrian Ivanovich)

It is something that he would come to expect.

Something that would allow him to practice in the arts that would be useful not only in the sense of standard riftmancy, but even in combat. After all.. wouldn't that be something he desired to learn for so long by now?

Wouldn't that be the means of reaching his greatness?

"I know that it's dangerous."

"But I think that refusing to subject myself to any danger would be simply.. the death of me, really."

So much so that he would rather put himself in danger time and time again, rather than grow complacent and entirely meek and weak. Still.. quietly, he observes the rift that is conjured by Adrian. The Collective, while it holds onto the book, also watches.

It is evident that it would be a skill that is too useful to pass up.

Something that draws entirety of his attention- the formulas, the way how it is produced by Adrian.. and of course, the way how he makes his way through this.

Once he steps ahead, his head tilts a little bit to such, rather.. puzzled by that.

"--That looked impressive."

"Very, very impressive."

Evidently, there's even a smile to such. Still, while he watches that, Ambrose already begins to step forth.

"Do you think it would be safe for me to try and repeat this feat?"

"I think that Collective would watch over me just fine, and.. given your presence, it should go well." Even if it's exhausting, that does not scare him away.

"Unless.."

"There's another technique you wanted to show as well?"
(Ambrose Roche)

"Normally I would suggest waiting until you can conjure a proper rift before trying." After all, the rift step was a natural evolution of creating a rift. If Ambrose couldn't do the former, performing the technique would be nigh impossible.

But it was likely he would do so regardless.

"But I doubt I could stop you even if I tried." Adrian knew that Ambrose was stubborn and would likely practice it, regardless of the fact Adrian was at the ready or not.

And so, he simply shakes his head.

"I will keep watch to ensure a rift doesn't collapse on you, or worse." Though he doesn't clarify what 'worse' is, it likely wouldn't take Ambrose much to figure that out.

"But do take care."

"As for anything else, the colliding rifts in the tome looks interesting. Incredibly so. But I believe that should wait until you've gotten a full grasp of the art. For both our sakes."
(Adrian Ivanovich)

That much is true.

It is something that would be best practiced once he actually grasps the art- for this rift collision could spell not only the end for him, but even for Adrian if he isn't careful enough. Of course, both of them are quite sturdy, being the vampiric magi and whatnot, but..

It's best not to tempt fate.

"I agree."

"It's unlikely you would stop me - I would just get around to doing that, even on my own, if I have to." So in a sense, it's better that Adrian watches him here and now.

With that said..

The myriad shadowy hands appear- all of them already mimicking the riftmancy runic formula that was present by Adrian not so long ago. The benefit of the Collective is how quickly it aided Ambrose in learning, so much so that he could become the force to be reckoned with, provided he's allowed to study something, and here..

It becomes the force to aid him with runecasting too.

Perhaps that was the intent of the Collective all along - to aid the Prince in all things that he learns. Little by little, the sparklings of purple hue appear in the air; even if aided by a literal group of hands that cast the runes with him together, it takes a great deal of concentration and mana..

No matter how much he tries to 'cheat' this by having the Collective aid him, experience was still vital.

"Colliding rifts, though.."

"Have you ever seen that technique before, or heard of it?" He quietly remarks, all the while the first images of rift begin to take place.

Dangerous, volatile, but..
Steadily coming into control.
Naturally, it takes a bit of time.

"It sounded.."

"Dangerous."
(Ambrose Roche)

Adrian shakes his head.

"I've heard rumors of it within Achyon decades ago. Some grand experiment. Unfortunately I was still back in Apropryia at the time." In fact, he and Vanessa were still preparing for the expedition to Esshar. But it didn't take long for him to hear the rumors upon arriving.

It was, after all, the public execution of a Saint.

"I've considered a few experiments with it on my own, but I lacked the experience or the assistance to do so. I believe Achyon was in possession of various relics that helped them with their riftmancy, relics that I lack."

However, a faint smirk spreads across his face.

"But I plan on changing that soon. Very soon. I've already begun crafting a ring that will help focus and stabilize the rifts. It's... Still a work in progress, however." There would be many materials required to make such an unholy relic, and there was much work to do.

"Regardless!"

His hands clap together, as his gaze focuses back towards Ambrose.

"Once you've gotten the basics down, we can begin practicing with colliding rifts. It was a dangerous experiment with just one riftmancer, regardless of how powerful Ryker was. But with two of us? Well.

"The odds of us succeeding grow much higher."
(Adrian Ivanovich)

Little by little,
piece by piece...

It seemed that the rift was slowly coming to life - slowly becoming conjured right before their eyes. It is a steady process, one that required not only help from the Collective, but a great deal of his own work.

Something to focus on,
lest it would backfire upon him greatly.

"Were you still back in Apropriya? That makes it sound like you arrived relatively recently."

"About... fifteen years ago, or so? Maybe twenty."

He couldn't quite tell, and perhaps it's for the best that he doesn't - yet, the work continues. With an ever increasing purple hue in the air, Adrian could already see, he could already tell..

Of sparkling manifestation of Riftmancy.

Aided with the shadowy hands that were constantly working on greater, more powerful runes- it is the essence of all magi that he's stolen at some point that aid him, something to create an impossible bright light before them, until..

Boldly, he steps forth.
To test his own creatures.

He's lost to the warp, at first- it is imperfect, and isn't as quick as that of Adrian. If anything, it takes worrying moment before anything else would show up.

Two seconds..
Five seconds.
Ten seconds.

Until he finally exits- right at the cliff, something that causes him to immediately take step backwards.

Did he just nearly fall into the sea?

"..." A pause. A blink.

"--That.."

"Wasn't terrible?"
(Ambrose Roche)

"I wouldn't exactly call it recent, but It's been nearly two decades now." Unsurprisingly, Adrian sees the passage of time much differently than Ambrose. Such is the blessing and the curse of already living for over a hundred years. While short in vampiric standards, even now Adrian started to view the world differently.

"But alas, those were different times. Vanessa has returned to Apropriya, Kalon rests in a torpid state, and many others of us are dead or missing." An unfortunate turn of events, but such as it was.

However, as Ambrose begins his efforts in conjuring a rift, Adrian's attention promptly shifts. He watches closely as the shadowy abomination behind Ambrose begins weaving the proper runic arrays into place. Slowly but surely the rift tears itself open. It is a slow process, much slower than Adrians own, but the sheer fact Ambrose had already developed so far was a staggering surprise.

"Incredible. You've-... Wait, no. Don't!"

Adrian's words fall upon deaf ears as Ambrose suddenly enters the rift before him. He knew full well the danger of doing so, of how many riftmancers stepped through their rift, only to vanish from the face of eternia forever.

And as there is naught but silence, a frown begins to grow across Adrian's visage. For a brief moment, Adrian assumed Ambrose had failed. That he was now floating somewhere in the void between the stars, forever forced to drift through the emptiness. Sustained and kept alive by the blessing of Cain, it was truly a fate worse than death.

But as the rift forms right at the edge of the cliff, Adrian immediately turns to face it, his eyes wide open. And when Ambrose emerges from the rift, it is clear Adrian was in shock.

"Ah-..."

"..."

"Ahahahah. You suicidal fool. You could've died, or worse! But..."

He couldn't deny the fact Ambrose had succeeded.

"You actually did it. Sloppy, and you nearly fell off the cliff. But you did it."
(Adrian Ivanovich)

A blink, once, twice.

Is it any wonder that Ambrose would even do this? He would tempt fate more often than this, and perhaps it is something to be admirable - or something to fear. For while many other would fear for their lives..

Ambrose does not.

To Adrian's remark, he smiles. This has been a better result than initially expected, and to Ambrose, he would even call it success. Still..

"Ahaha.."

"There are things more important than my life, things that matter more. If it takes being suicidal to explore these rifts like this and see if I succeed.."

"Then so be it."

Was it the Occultic influence at the back of his mind that made him so unhinged at times, so careless? Perhaps.. but even then, another remark follows.

"I think I'm slowly getting the grasp of it."

"But, hm... I don't feel like testing my luck again." Because if he keeps testing it, he may as well not emerge next time. Something terrible might happen..

And he'll find himself floating in the void.

"It wasn't bad though, was it?"

"I doubt you see someone so willing to step into the unknown so quickly." A trait that could be noted.

"Is there anything you could note about such method?"

The shadowy hands seem to follow him, still- no doubt the presence of the Collective.

It definitely had the part in aiding him.
(Ambrose Roche)

"It'll take time to get a full grasp of the machinations behind riftmancy, but despite your reckless actions, you've taken a big step towards doing so. Some say trial and error is the best method of learning, but to apply it to riftmancy is just..."

He shakes his head in disbelief.

"Nothing else of note. All I can tell you now is to keep practicing. The more you build up that foundation, the easier and faster it will be to conjure a rift. It will take time, but as Vampires that's something we have in spades."

After all, they would live for an eternity, if nothing tried to kill them.

"Regardless, I believe that's enough lessons for today. Rest up, and continue your studies. Once you've mastered the basics, we can begin looking into this so called 'Rift Collision' that Achyon had performed."

But there's no telling what may come of it.
(Adrian Ivanovich)

Nothing of note?

At first, alarming.. but maybe that's a good thing. He would certainly need to refine this runewriting technique and ensure that he gets it right next time, so that there are neither delays nor inaccuracies like that the next time, but..

A single nod follows.

"Thank you for watching over me today, and bothering to teach me. I will remember that."

It's not as ominous as it sounds... but if people knew anything about Ambrose, it's the fact that such favors, or wrongdoings, always catch up through him.

Perhaps Adrian might've earned a significant favour today that may come very useful one day.

"Then I'll continue my work, until we're both ready."

There, the Collective takes the book back, if only to conceal it elsewhere- storing it amidst the shadows.

"I'll be back for that."

To perform this rift collision. Perhaps..

It would become grand work, one day.
(Ambrose Roche)