Anima, Ch.6: Resonance

[Anima, Ch.6: Resonance]
----------------------------
--01-- [Scene: Tir Chonaill] <BGM: A Credible Roadsign>
Right after the day's lecture on the properties of the fire element at Lassar's magic class,
I went out and practiced using Icebolt until I was too mentally exhausted to focus.



--02-- <BGM: A Credible Roadsign>
I took in as much of the Mana around me as I could hold, and five pulsating orbs of energy appeared,
circling around me. Unfulfilled potential. A quick thought can convert them to sharp icy spikes.



--03-- <BGM: A Credible Roadsign>
I simply held on to the unused Icebolts. The Mana suffuses through me. It's...intoxicating.
I'd been drowning in a sea of forgetfulness, and now I'd found a lifeline.
I didn't want to let it go.


--04-- <BGM: A Credible Roadsign>
I'm not exactly thrilled to use this power to kill, but I drove off a pack of wolves that had their
eyes on the local sheep flocks. The wolves had grown bold lately, even attacking in daylight.



--05-- [Scene: none]
Lost in the magic, I lost track of time. Before I really knew where that time had gone,
or what I'd done with it, it was dark and I was in my guest room in the inn,
lying in bed, dozing off to sleep.


--06-- {SFX: pit-pat}
The next morning, I woke up with a pounding headache. Literally.
It felt like something was hammering on the inside of my skull, trying to bash its way out.
Maybe I overdid it yesterday...?


--07-- {SFX: pit-pat}
The pain pulses in counterpoint with my heartbeat. Ugh.
I rolled out of bed, and barely managed to rise to my hands and knees.
The room felt like it was spinning.
Stop. Stop spinning. Stop spinning!

--08--
After several very uncomfortable minutes, the throbbing and dizziness mostly faded.
I didn't feel completely better, but good enough to get downstairs, exchange greetings with Piaras, and eat.



--09-- [Scene: Tir Chonaill] <BGM: Kind Lesson>
After breakfast and a bit of time on my feet, I was feeling much better.
By the time I was done chopping firewood to cover my lodging expenses, I was...almost back to normal,
just in time for class.


--10-- <BGM: Kind Lesson>
Still, that was a distressing experience I don't want to repeat. I'd better go easy on the magic.
I settled into a chair in the small classroom, just as Lassar was getting started with her lecture.



--11-- <BGM: Kind Lesson>
(Lassar)
Good morning, everyone. Today we're going to continue our study of the Firebolt spell.
It is similar in principle to Icebolt, but there are some key differences, which we'll be going over.



--12-- <BGM: Kind Lesson>
She went over those differences, namely that instead of getting five separate projectiles,
you only get one big fireball that gets stronger with more charging, and it grows in strength non-linearly.



--13-- <BGM: Kind Lesson>
(Lassar)
Now, let's go out and try some hands-on practice, shall we?




--14--
The class relocates outside, myself and four other Milletians.
One's a girl who seems to be barely paying attention, another a young boy who also has trouble focusing.



--15--
The other two, a teen-aged boy and girl, look too similar to one another to be a coincidence.
They'd arrived together, and seem very familiar with one other. Maybe they're siblings?



--16-- <BGM: She's a Kind Mentor>
(Lassar)
Now, the first step in learning the Firebolt magic is to create fireballs by using the power of Mana only.
The most important part is to concentrate heat into a single point by using Mana.



--17-- <BGM: She's a Kind Mentor>
OK, so, like Icebolt but...hot? I focus, and try doing the opposite: instead of forcing heat out,
I draw heat in. A small floating ball of flames flares to life, orbiting around me.
Is this it?


--18-- <BGM: She's a Kind Mentor>
(Lassar)
As you learn how to quickly adjust the process of absorbing heat by using the...
Well, I see one of you already has a grasp on how to do it.
Well done, Meara, but if I may continue?


--19-- <BGM: She's a Kind Mentor>
I dismiss the fireball and continue listening half-heartedly.
Takes more Mana, yes. Harder to control, yes. Moves slower, yes.
Can we just get on with it? The flame calls to me.


--20-- <BGM: She's a Kind Mentor>
(Lassar)
All right, now each of you try it. Please use the nearby training dummies, and do your best.




--21-- <BGM: She's a Kind Mentor>
At her prompt, I once again drew on the surrounding heat, and amplified it.
This seems so natural, even more than Icebolt.
I drew in more Mana to grow the spell to its limit, then I launched it.


--22:-- {SFX: explosion}
The fireball struck with fearsome force, blasting the target into splinters. Um....oops?

The others look at me, dumbstruck to various degrees. Maybe I overdid it? Just a little?


--23--
(Lassar)
My goodness! Are you sure you're just a beginner, Meara? Even *I* can't do that.




--24--
"Yeah. I'm...pretty sure that was the first time I've ever cast that.
At least...the first time I remember doing it. Did I do something...wrong?"


--25--
(Lassar)
No. Just...unexpected. When you use magic of one particular element often, you become stronger with it.
You seem to already have an...affinity for fire magic. Maybe you *have* forgotten something.



--26-- [Scene: none]
Well, that was an interesting class. Lassar insinuated that I really shouldn't be wasting my time here
if I had such a grasp of basic magic already, and lent me a book on a third type of basic magic.



--27--
Apparently there's also a Lightning Bolt spell. It works similar to Firebolt, just with the ambient
static charge in the air instead of heat. After skimming through the book, I think I got it...



--28--
I focus, and try gathering...energy? Hm, not so easy.
The Mana obeys me though, and a ball of pulsing, crackling electricity takes shape around me.
I add more to it, and soon there are five orbs.


--29-- {SFX: lightning}
I try and project a ball of energy towards a fencepost, and instead of one ball,
the energy from all five immediately surges towards my intended target.
Hm. This one will take some practice...


--30-- [Scene: Alby Dungeon] <BGM: May the Blessings of the Lord Be With Us>
As a bit of a "test," Lassar also wanted me to get through Alby dungeon on the north edge of the village.
Just go through and go out the other end, nothing special. Right?



--31-- <BGM: May the Blessings of the Lord Be With Us>
I'm...not entirely comfortable with using magic to kill living things.
I try to tell myself, "they're just vermin," "they've overrun the place," "nobody will miss them," "it's okay..."



--32-- <BGM: May the Blessings of the Lord Be With Us> {SFX: huge failure}
IT'S NOT OKAY.
I have no choice, though.
The doors won't open, unless I go through with the dark dealing of death.
It's one thing to defend yourself, but these are just...minding their own business.

--33-- <BGM: May the Blessings of the Lord Be With Us>
I reached a large door after a while, with a heavy heart, a sour stomach, and a trail of impaled,
exploded, and electrocuted rats, bats, and spiders behind me. Just a little more....



--34-- <BGM: Formidable Adversary> {SFX: slam}
Oh, my. That's...a really, really BIG spider. Um...I don't want to be here anymore!
Can't go back. The door shut behind me.
It's me or the spider. I fumble for a spell to use. The flame obeys first.


--35-- <BGM: Formidable Adversary>
It sees me. It's coming!
I draw the fires close around me, fan them as strong as I can make them.
It approached slowly, menacingly, its fangs quivering in anticipation of a meal.
No. No! GO AWAY!

--36-- <BGM: Formidable Adversary> {SFX: explosion}
I flung the Firebolt at the spider from as far away as I can manage.
The resulting explosion...sent burnt spider pieces splattering all about.
Eww. The detached smoldering legs were still twitching.


--37-- <BGM: A Safe Zone> {SFX: pit-pat}
My heart was racing. Thoroughly unnerved, I ran for the statue of a winged woman in the far room,
leaned against it, then suddenly found myself...elsewhere. Fresh air surrounded me.

I'd made it out.

--38--
Still uneasy, I trudged up the short staircase and out into the evening twilight, then down the hill to the main
path leading back to town. The nearby guard waves to get my attention as I pass.



--39--
(Trefor)
Hey, you don't look so good. You all right, miss?




--40--
"I almost got eaten by a giant spider in there. I... I've had better days."
I think I'm going to be sick.
I feel...faint. My vision goes white.


[chapter end]