Taming the Beast

It was among the last trainings he'd perform. Possibly, it was the last.

But it was necessary just as any other. He'd known that the mastery of Storm comes with strenuous training, with the danger of actually electrocuting yourself, or shredding yourself within those hostile winds that you conjure, or perhaps even drowning if it's done next to the ocean- none of these dangers truly scared Arthur. He was determined to grasp the Mastery of Storm, at last.

And her? Was she ready for it? He didn't know.

"Bei Bei, I must warn you. This time, I'll be performing at maximum capacity - and your fire magic is what will aid me. I need to find the perfect temperature to be able to conjure strongest Storm, and thus spawn several Storm Prison cages of lightning."

"I'll need your help in this, but it can be dangerous. Are you ready for it?"

The scarlet hues rested upon her visage, waiting for the answer. It wasn't going to be anything she'd seen before, most likely, and thus he made sure that she was prepared.

If not physically, then at least mentally.
(Arthur Rowan)


Things are beginning to look up for her, which only meant one thing. If only for the moment, does she find herself beginning to press her lips together in idle thought- considering that the rebels had led a raid upon those within Gaiar...It must mean that they'll be preparing to lead more against the other factions. Or maybe- they truly believed that the city was empty. Regardless of such notions though, the Jianghese girl merely brings a single finger up to her lip, lightly tapping it in thought-...

 "That doesn't seem to be terribly difficult for me." she murmurs, her lips pressing together. "If anything, I worry that I might get shocked but ah-...If that's something that you want to do, then I'm all for it." She's strong enough to handle any bolt that fires within her direction. Although, something tells her that the heat that she may generate could cause her to become a pseudo-lightning rod.

 "Just tell me when to begin and I'll do what I can." she says, nodding briefly. For the most part, her mind was always in the right place- it was mainly, her own heart and passions that caused her to get in trouble. But to digress...

 "I'll start after you."

 A light smile is offered as she takes a few steps away from him, conjuring her own, hellish flames in preparation.
(Bei Bei)

"Very well."

He knew that he'd need to begin now, and work as quick as possible- maintaining Storm wasn't easy at all, and with the intervention of another magi, it could all go haywire. But again, if he guided her properly on what exactly needs to be done, there can't be any harm done, right?

Here's hoping he got it right.

The technique of Mixed Casting was to be employed, as always- being a master of it by now, and also having practiced this sort of magical casting many, many times by now, he'd known the precise steps he needed in order to actually conjure up the storm. The cold wind was drawn, thanks to the wind magic, and then the heated wind was drawn as well - at a smaller portion, of course, because he'd need Bei Bei with her fire magic to increase the temperature around the place as a whole.

For now, this would do the trick.

Raising it all into the atmosphere, the skies have grown darker, theclouds blackened. From the sheer fact that the air was being condensed against two contradicting temperatures, one could already hear the howling wind up above. Something was starting, and Arthur didn't hesitate to add lightning to the skies in order to disturb that mass of the wind.

It wasn't long before thunder roared.

"Begin by increasing temperature in the sky. Do not overdo it, and proceed slowly. If you heat it up too sudden, we can accidently summon Storm too great to actually deal with."

"And we'll end up fried."
(Arthur Rowan)

There was something about the gloom that she had always enjoyed. Perhaps, it is the strangest thing to come from someone who was as effervescent as she- but this love for the incoming showering made her feel that what was coming was right. In the end, she finds that she would start with her own body- in attempting to hone her own technique, she would assist him with his...

 Mana circuits charge with an amethyst glow - and as her hands rise, the flames that billow outward would steadily begin to disappear. To raise the temperature within the atmosphere meant that she would have to control the output of her own circuits...And to be quite frank, putting a 'lid' on such a thing was incredibly difficult, so much so, that even the marks upon her own flesh could be seen..

 "...I'll try."

 She concentrates, breathing in and out- the roar of the thunder ahead letting her know that there was no turning backas of yet. Ba-thump, ba-thump, ba-thump. Steadily, slow...But despite all of this, there would always be some type of pain.

 "Alright.."

 And so, it begins. Particles within the air would steadily become charged...The temperature within the area rising slowly towards a muggy humidity, nearly perfect for the storm but still 'under' what it should naturally be. Perhaps, because of her own fright.
(Bei Bei)

As humid as this area was, considering they were right next to the ocean, Arthur knew one thing- there's a reason as to why areas such as rainforests often have storms happening, it's simply because of how truly humid the area is. One could argue that almost the air itself was akin to the water, and he knew that such addition would be necessary.

Utilizing the water magic, he took it to himself to increase the number of water particles in the air, up to the number that would ensure the area is well moist and able to conduct electricity, as well as ensuring that the condensed air was going to be flowing smoothly. Of course, that's yet to be seen just how well it works- but you can't know unless you try, right?

Perhaps, at this point it'd be worth noting that it would become even heavy to breathe. Despite the cold winds that circled the atmosphere too, three was an apparent drop of sweat rolling by the side of his head- a clear evidence ofhumidity rising to incredibly high levels, combined with his breath growing deeper and laboured.

"Increase temperature more, Bei. We need to create a large storm, just make sure to do it slowly - we don't want to lose control of it."

To counteract against the increasing temperature made by the Drakaness, the cold winds kept blowing from Arthur- they were mixing with the heated ones, creating the whirlwind of malice, one that promised to create even a larger Storm at this point.

First lightning crackled in the sky, almost loud enough to deafen. Seems it was working.

"You'll need to raise the temperature now."
(Arthur Rowan)

Although she says that she can handle the lightning, it does not mean that there isn't inherit fear that comes with the roar of thunder. It was almost as if she could feel the clouds above crackling themselves-- her frown deepening considerably, fists clenching as she steadily raises the temperature bit by bit...An extremely slow approach as if she were attempting to warm up to the idea of it all entirely.

Maybe...
 She was too ready to assist him.

 Regardless, her actions do not truly falter. Instead, they grow as he commands- the billowing heat now becoming more concentrated. Instead of being tainted with occultism, it is now within it's most pure form...The arching light dancing above, streams of blaze shooting into the atmosphere, clashing with the chilled winds that crash against the shoreline...

"Do you need more?" The circuits strain underneath the pressure- her breathing hitching as she takes a single step forward. Faltering now...Would most certainly be terrible, especially, if the storm had gotten out of control. But she sees...

 She can tell that this is the way to go about creating a true disaster. But what of the area that they are around?-- How could he possibly stop it once it begins? Or...Is this his way of learning all of it at once?
(Bei Bei)

That's it. That's what he needed.

Controlling the flow of wind, he shaped the controlled 'cage' of sort beneath the skies- thanks to the spread of humidity, the particles of water easily carried over to the places where wind went, and because of that, the said 'Storm Prison' was ready in its draft. But what sort of Storm Prison is that without any actual lightning? Extending the electricity that sparked in the sky, he outstretched it to what he created, and--

-- immediately, something lit up infront of the two. Something that looked horrifying, almost akin to a torture device.

Bei Bei could remember it. It's the same technique that he used to immediately put her down after fighting was done- to suspend someone mid-air and shred them with the winds, all while the lightning made a quick work of their body and their will to fight. It's a terrible fate to bestow to anyone, even if used in smaller potency, simply dueto how helpless it makes them, all while inflicting the worst pain possible.

A tremble could be felt in one's chest from sheer volume of thunder that roared. Reality itself was shaken, the fury of Storm rising at intimidating measure, clearly something that would be hard to control - and yet, Arthur didn't stop.

"Yes. I need more. Spread the hot air all across the area right underneath the skies and sustain that."

She'd already witness arcs of electricity appearing mid-air, the balls of lightning circling around said Storm Prison. And yet, he asks for more?

Something wicked this way comes.
(Arthur Rowan)

Haah…hah..

 The breath that spills past her lips is brought forth in the form of amethyst smoke. The thought of extending her magic so far away from her being causes stress upon the circuits, especially, considering that she was not as prominent within magic as those that had practiced it as such an early age. Her physicality limits her to a certain degree- but it was her will that had drove her forward despite all that was being done. Hands clench tighter- the change of a drakanite steadily being brought forward from the stress as she brings more...

"It's hard.." But he asks for more. And she delivers all that she possibly can within the moment. The pure flames are once again forced to turn into occultism- reinforcing her own ability to bring about an unnatural heat as the atmosphere turns steadily into a gate...

 With winds and water arching and wafting, she witnesses what seemed to be a cage of some sort. Within her own grandeur, her eyes widen briefly- amazed at the power and creativity of the storm magi beside her...HEr breathing hitched- words stammering past her lips.

"This is-....You can control this?"

 Wide with disbelief and shock, if only for the moment, does she pause to take in the mesmerizing scene infront of her. It brought promises of wrath and destruction- it brought the secrets of the seas, coalescing into a mass of terrifying mana and charged particles.

"But can-...Can you control it?" Exhaustion threatens to settle in, and further, does she push the limits of her own resevoirs- her body trembling, muscles flexing in protest...

 This is dangerous.
(Bei Bei)

He didn't know whether he could control it.

But even if he hasn't grasped Riftmancy yet after Dylerun's lessons, there's one thing that he'd learned - it's the rule of confidence, of being absolutely sure of your ability to actually control it. Even if he didn't know about it to be absolutely certain, he sure kept his confidence high and it did not waiver even for a single moment.

He wasn't afraid of anything. Perhaps it's the reason why it went so well under his control.

The steeled, scarlet hues observed the horizon as more heat flooded in from the flames spawned by the Drakaness- he knew that this was the moment of opportunity he had to take advantage of, and without any hesitation, he launched the stream of cold wind to counteract against it. The gale of Storm was summoned, the fury of Nature itself, combined with the unnatural magics that caused the Storm to be so furious.

The foundation of the ground itself shook beneath their feet.

Without any further await, the lightning was fuelled even further from Arthur's fingertips, launched against the environment to create even more cages of Storm Prison. Before their eyes, an absolute hellscape of a land - it somewhat resembled jungle vines and how they stretched out to the ground, but instead of beautiful greenery, the horrifying arcs of lightning that spread out across the ocean's surface.

There was no stopping to it, no restrain.

"Yes! I can control it!"

"More! Send more heat!"

Perhaps he was asking for too much at this point, but- did that stop him? Not at all. The thought of finally conquering the Storm, even as entire ocean was set ablaze with lightning, was tingling within his mind.

With promise of greater power.
(Arthur Rowan)

When cold air and warm winds collide, she knows that the worst storm could possibly brew. She had been wrapped up within his winds before- but never upon the level that resonated with this much strength. What she witnesses is the creation of a monster- the storm itself baring fang and claw, ripping into the surface of the seas, roaring in the features of the town that is....Even now, with the rain pouring down upon the features, she feels that this does not quell the wrath that is headed their way.

Impossible.

 Does she listen to him when he tells her that he can control it? Does she go on despite knowing that the worst might potentially happen?-….Perhaps, it was for her own good that she doesn't...But if he desired more power, then he most certainly would get it.

 She charges the area even more with her presence - the clouds above stained with amethyst flames and occultism. "Prove it..!" Although she feeds more power into the storm itself...Her own thoughts of him being able to truly handle it are brought to the forefront.

 "End it now if you can! Don't...Don't bite off more than what you can handle!" Although she yells, she fears that her voice becomes snatched by the whistling winds themselves. Hopefully, he can do so before it reaches the shoreline.
(Bei Bei)

Such power. Such desire.

He knew that sustaining the Storm for long was not likely a good idea, and overcharging the environment like that was soon to backlash- it's something that he, in fact, always kept in mind, no matter what. Thanks to such thought in mind, he'd already device a plan with which he would mitigate it all.

With the mantle blowing behind him due to overpowering wind, with the rain pouring down his red locks, his eyelids narrowed, almost deaf to Bei's pleas to make sure that he doesn't bite off more than he can chew- the sheer resolve with which he pursued this greater power was too much for him to simply stop now, and that much became evident.

Arthur prepared himself. With so many cages of Storm Prison raging against the ocean, with such fierce power in the sky, he took all of his control on the Storm before himself, concentrated the mana, and--

A clasp.

!! BOOM !!

A sudden explosion from all of the cages of Storm Prison going up against each other, blowing the mana surge out of proportion- within a single moment, the terrifying power of the Storm was unleashed at once in the single force of explosion, and within an instant, he'd almost step infront of her, covering her with his mantle.

There was no harm that came to them, but... with just how powerful it was? It felt like entire ground shook under their feet, it felt like reality itself was quaked.

But at last, the Storm started to die down.
(Arthur Rowan)

There was a strange amount of greed that came with the show of power. She knew that if she could somehow do something like this- then she, too, would display the same amount of fervor that Arthur had shown within the moment- and perhaps, even moreso readily. When it comes to being hungry for the things that are out there- she knew that there were two sides of each coin. And the worst one was the one that could not deny the brilliance that came with the presence of the storm. The one that had wanted to dive in without caring for the consequences...

The rattling of the ocean felt so close to home. Even now, she felt as if she were connected to it within spirit....And soon, she dejects herself from the situation as a whole. The flames that were put out in effort to bring about the storm finally vanish and he is left to his own devices...To not just control, but to vanquish the very monster that he had created...

"Ah..." It was beautiful though- And even moreso, he was capable of doing everything that he said. With the storm unleashing- and the cataclysmic boom radiating throughout the area...It seemed that she had been too mesmerized to move herself.

 Even with the waters heading her way, she merely cringes- eyes closing shut tightly...The waters pitter-pattering above her head eventually letting her know that they were not reached...

 Though, upon seeing him nearly step infront of her being- she offers a slight, single smile. "You're crazy." A murmur is offered as her hand extends, lightly patting the side of the Rowan.

 "You could've gotten us killed!" But despite all of that, she seemed to enjoy matters such as this- so much so, that she nearly 'pushes' him into the waters.
(Bei Bei)

Maybe she was right.

The sheer desire for him to grow beyond his limits was incredible. It's something that pushed him to perform crazy, absolutely stunning feats like what he's just done - setting entire ocean on lightning fires and then exploding it all at once? You don't see it everyday.

But truthfully, he's got what he wanted. He memorized the exact temperatures, as well as the exact pressure, he would need in order to actually perform such explosions in the future, combined with several cages of the Storm Prison encircling the area. Truly, it would become a terrifying weapon in the future.

"I know that I am."

"But I also know that you love me for it."

A gentle nudge, and he steps away slightly, enough to no longer cover her- to her vision, the sight of steaming ocean was revealed, with a sudden bright, beautiful sky unfolding before them. The darkness of clouds disappeared just as quickly as it was conjured, and it was clear that the hotness in the air rose up by significant number.

It was a magnificent sight, especially after such hell on the water.

"Thanks for your help."
(Arthur Rowan)