Recap of a Day on the Town (Open In Between)

[Ashla Marr]

Kira listened to Simon as he spoke of Mr. Go Away. She reflected on their encounter with the very large spirit as they were exploring the house. She remembered how the encounter was tainted by the ongoing bitter rivalry between Simon and Rebecca. With that thought, she was glad to see how that rivalry had finally died off and the two were starting to get along. Kira wondered if the peace could last so that the Cabal could do what they needed to do.

Kira listened to Rebecca talk of loyalty and Orders. What Rebecca said was true about the Silver Ladder. Like Rebecca, she too was raised with a die hard conviction to the Lone Star Silver Ladder. Rebecca's father and her own father had served in the same Cabal for years before banding together to form the Lone Star Silver Ladder. Not trusting the Ladder was something that Kira never really even considered before. After all, she was Lone Star Silver Ladder, heart and soul. It made Kira feel good to know that she belonged to an order that both respected and placed faith in her. Their meeting earlier today and the new items only proved this fact to Kira.

With a nod Kira spoke softly, "I remember him." She placed her fork on the side of her small plate. All that remained of her pie were scattered crumbs across her plate. She eyes the rest of the pie but knew better. "He wasn't very friendly at all," Kira commented as her eyes shifted back to Simon. "I never heard of this Elemental Court of Spirits before" Kira said slightly confused. "What is the connection between Mr. Go Away and this Court you speak of?"

[a magical taco]

Richard listened to the report that Rebecca was giving. So formal, so uptight. It was a shame she had lost the desire to drink, it might make her fun. No matter, she may be a prude but she was proving to be good people. He spent a moment picturing with his second mind, Rebecca has a Jehovah's witnesses knocking on doors.

When she handed him his staff he lost all track of the conversation. Both parts of his mind zeroed in on the staff. What was it and what does it do? Rebecca had said something about this coming from a special place in the silver ladder vault. He loved it, "I don't know what it does but I love this, thank you Rebecca."

He managed to focus back on the conversation again as he inspected the staff. When the topic of the mind spell on the best came up he finally put the staff down and took the best to inspect the spell for a moment. He would enjoy figuring out what this spell was.

He was quiet again until the topic of the free council came up. Rebecca asked Simon about not being closer with the council. He seemed to be struggling for an answer. Truth was, there really wasn't one. "We just aren't. I guess we just never really had a reason until now."

[Ashla Marr]

Kira set there listening to what Richard said. It was such a sad thing for her to hear. She felt pity for the two brothers as she recalled how important the Lone Star Silver Ladder was to her during the years after her awakening. She wanted to speak up and say something but really didn't know what to say after that. Instead she picked up her plate and fork as she walked them over to the sink. She wasn't completely sure how to address what Richard said. But as she looked down at the dishes, she had her answer. "I remember the first meeting that I attended within the Lone Star Silver Ladder. My father and mother took me just months after I had awoken. Well, okay it wasn't much of a meeting. It was more like a barbecue than a formal meeting. It was held at a ranch just south of Dallas." Kira said softly as she started to rinse off her plate.

Kira really wasn't focused on the plate as she continued, "I was only thirteen at the time and I had never before seen so many mages in my life. But to my surprise, I knew so many of them. I remember thinking if everyone my father knew had been a mage. Some were personal friends while others were business associates of my father. What surprised me even more were the new apprentices like myself. Before, I felt kind of alone in this completely new and strange world. Sure, I had my father. But I really didn't have anyone else. Um, my age" she stumbled in her thoughts. "Someone who could relate to me and what I was going through. For me, This whole new world was kind of strange and scary. All those fairy tales that I had been told as a child, Now I was finding out that they were true. I remember those first months feeling, um just alone. But when I went to that meeting, I didn't feel alone anymore."

Kira turned the water off as she figured someone else would just finish up cleaning her plate with the rest of the dishes. She turned to face Richard and Simon, "The Lone Star Silver Ladder opened my eyes to a whole other family who knew the truth about who I was. People of so many different backgrounds, different dreams. People I could confide in and speak with about what I was going through. People I could trust. More importantly, it offered me access to training, lessons and" she started to smile with a big grin as her mind was flooded with happy memories. "a special camp for those just like me," She said with fondness in her voice.

She leaned back against the counter as she journeyed down this memory lane. "I remember going there each summer after I had awoken. We would learn how to do all kinds of fun things under the watchful eyes of teachers from the Ladder. It was the first time I met a spirit and opened my eyes to the realm of the faithful. Sure we did mage things like learn how to cast spells and more importantly, when not to." she said with a playful glance at Rebecca who only blushed at the glance. "But we did normal things too. We rode horses and were able to swim in a river. But my most fondest of memories are of Jason Blaine. An older camper who loved pulling pranks. He and I used to get in to so much trouble. He showed me the love of traps. But some of the best times were just sitting on the dock of the river and talking with other young mages like myself."

She paused a moment before continuing, "Sure the ages varied a lot. I think I was the youngest in the camp's history to attend. But all of the campers were just like me. New mages who were just learning how to understand and live in this new world that we all had awoken to." Kira turned to Rebecca, "I remember your older brother, Vincent's name being mentioned while I was there. He was renowned as being one of the most gifted Mastigos in the entire Camp's history." Kira paused one last time as if something was tugging on her memory. "Oh what was the name of the camp?" she said then put her finger to her lips as she tried to remember the name. "Ah...I remember, Texas Christian Youth Camp...."

[Akirapryde]

Rebecca set in her chair as Kira recited her own childhood experiences with the Silver Ladder. For Rebecca none of this was new. Rebecca had good reason to love the Silver Ladder just like Kira did. However their two experiences were completely different. It was in that difference that made Rebecca who she was today. Where Kira's life before and after her awakening had always been filled with happiness and supportive parents. They helped guide her with a gentle hand, Rebecca's father and brothers were much more direct about training and teachings. It wasn't to mention that Rebecca's family wasn't supportive. While Kira's childhood was filled with healthy mix of play and fun as well as training.

Rebecca's childhood was filled with unbending rules and strict order. School lesson had to be learned perfectly and extremely high grades were demanded. Long before she had awoken in to this super natural world, Rebecca had already mastered many stories about famous mages of history. Such mages like Merlin, Grigori Rasputin, and Dr. Johann Georg Faust were all well known to Rebecca long before she knew magic was real. But what made Rebecca's childhood so much more different than other normal families was the competitive nature of her family. Her father actively encourage the siblings to strive to beat each other in any subject matter. First it was in school grades, then came magical arts after they awoken. It was this competitive nature of her family that drove each sibling to push themselves harder and further than any one else their age. A nature of her family that Rebecca hated.

Rebecca took note of the dishes on the counter as Kira went on with what she was saying. It wasn't that Rebecca wanted to be rude, it was just this topic gave raise to powerful emotions that Rebecca really didn't enjoy dealing with. She rose from her chair and walked over to the counter as Kira continued to explain her relationship with the Silver Ladder. Without saying a word, and more or less in her own world, Rebecca started to fill the sink with fresh steamy hot soapy water. She listened to the conversation behind her half heartedly as her hands slowly started to pick up dishes and clean them.

Rebecca's focus was more on ensuring each dish was clean than what was going on behind her. In fact her mind was hundreds of miles away and looking through the window of time. She thought of her family and her older brothers. After they had Awoken, this competitive nature was forced upon them even more than before. Anything less than perfection was never expected from any of the Pander children. And this level of intense training paid off. Each of her brothers were tested to their limits and all of them surpassed their Teachers' wildest expectations.

Then there was Rebecca who was the polar opposite of her brothers. While they thrived under that intense competitive environment, Rebecca didn't. Despite all of her best efforts, it was clear to her that she was the family's object of disappointment. She was the black sheep of the family. The one that just didn't get the skills or the spells. Rebecca looked down in to the soapy water with sadness as her mind filled with the echoes of the past. She remembered that day clearly as she almost lost it all. Even though she had been saved, all she could think of was how much of a disappointment she had been to her family.

The storm raged outside as four people set around a ranch style kitchen table. The lighting flashed as their conversation continued, "I am telling you Sir, Rebecca has failed to master even the basic initiate skills," explained Malcolm Collins. Mr. Collins, a well respected Obrimos, was the man who had been given the final task of trying to teach Rebecca how to master her magical abilities. "As I have said during my first review of her, her problem is that Magic just doesn't flow smoothly through her. She is behind even students that had started months after she did. Further lessons is nothing short of a waste of our resources."

"Sir, if I may" Hallie Younge interjected. Mrs. Younge was Rebecca's spiritual guide who had been carefully chosen from the Acanthus path to ensure that Rebecca's heart would remain pure. "I know that Rebecca seems challenged right now, but there is so much more to her then what Mr. Collins sees today. Her faith and heart has always been a source of strength for her. If she can have just more time, I am sure she will live up to her future."

"Yes yes Mrs. Younge. I have heard this before," interrupted Rebecca's own father. "In fact, what you are telling me now is the same that you told me before Mr. Collin's took over her training. But what you haven't told me is her future. Will she become the mage that we need?"

She shook her head, "I don't know, Sir. Rebecca's future is still shrouded in some kind of protection. It is still hidden from me at this time. Though not for trying. I have enlisted help but we can't see past a few years. And even in the best case situations, those glimpse are not very clear. Someone or something has ensured that no one will not be able to discern what her future holds. With that said, Sir, I believe that she is in store for something great."

The forth person at the table finally spoke up, "Father, I know how much Rebecca means to you," said Vincent Pander, Rebecca's oldest brother. "I know how much you love her. But Father, we need a strong Obrimos. And I am sorry but it isn't her. We can not waste any more time on her."

"Please Sir," Mrs. Younge said motioning with her hand to hold everyone's attention. "I don't know if we are the caused of Rebecca's magical weakness, or if this is who she really is. Either way, we owe her a level of responsibility to continue her teachings. She still needs much guidance if she is to fulfill her destiny."

Mr. Collins interjected, "We set out on a plan to find a extraordinary Obrimos. A Obrimos that is very rare indeed. Rebecca is clearly not the Obrimos we were seeking. Her skills are laughable and you" he said looking to Mrs. Younge. "Failed in your role. You were tasked with locating that special mage of the Obrimos path. Instead you found us Rebecca. Like Rebecca's own failures, you are as much a failure in this." He turned his attention back to Rebecca's father, "we have to refocus our efforts to find that one very special Obrimos before its too late."

"I did not fail you pompous ass! I warned you that her fate was clouded long before we brought here here. I warned you that you couldn't rush her awakening. That she had a unique balance woven in to her. But none of you listened to me. Just like right now, you are not listening to me. Rebecca's heart and drive are as pure as I have ever seen in anyone. Her love and loyalty is unquestionable. She has a thirst for knowledge that I rarely see. There is more to her, than what you are grading her on right here and now. Sir," she said turning back to Rebecca's father. "I beg you, please give her credit for this," Mrs. Younge countered.

It was Vincent's turn to speak up, "Father, we are ensuring the future of our Order. This is what is at stake here. We have to consider the long term effects of our choice right now. No matter how hard she tries, she will never be able to catch up to others around her. She is just too far behind. The truth is, Rebecca is not the one our Order was looking for." The sound in his voice told the story, Rebecca's own brother had given up on her. But it was his next words that stung the most, "Order above family, Father. Allow us to focus on finding another Obrimos."

"I have made up my mind!" Rebecca's father said. "Rebecca had long proven her loyalty to me and our Order. This is not questionable. I will not abandon her now." As he spoke, Mrs. Younge leaned back in her chair expecting the coming victory. "However, I can not put my personal feeling a head of the needs of the Order. Rebecca's training ends now." Mrs. Younge's smile quickly faded, "Vincent, Malcolm, work with Mrs. Younge and find us the Obrimos that we are seeking. As for Rebecca, she will go away to university after her graduation next week. This will allow the three of you the time you need to focus on your search." He rose from his chair, "As far as Rebecca is concerned. Her usefulness just might prove its self in the future. Because of this, nothing else will change for her. This is my order. Now, go.....Leave me."

High above the kitchen listening through her use of forces, Rebecca set with her back against the wall. Her eyes filled with tears as other tears had already made a stream down her cheeks. Her life time of failures had finally caught up with her. She set there shaking uncontrollably as the storm outside grew in intensity. She closed her eyes praying against hope that what she heard wasn't going to be her future. Doubt had set in once more as the question raced through her mind, 'am I truly so unworthy?' She had always been able to use self doubt as a fuel to push harder. But this time it seemed to stop her dead in her tracks. She had always been a strong student and a eager learner but the skills never really came to her easily. "Why...." she questioned softly as she felt so afraid and confused. Beyond the house, echoing in the night were the air raid sirens.

Rebecca opened her eyes and looked down in to the soapy water once more. She didn't realize that she had shivered as the memory concluded. With a heavily sigh she continued to clean all the dishes as she fought back the painful memories of her own childhood. It wasn't the only memories of her childhood. In fact she had so many mixed memories. There were both happy and sad memories. However this one was a particularly hard and painful for her. It was a defining moment of her life. While many of her Order didn't see much in her. This moment helped shaped her drive to prove herself to her family and her Order.

Yet, recently she had felt that bite of self doubt. However she had made up her mind not to long ago to prove herself to her Cabal. 'I will prove myself to them' she thought 'Aarune saw something in me, I wont let him down.' On that she once more pushed her doubt back to the darkest corners of her mind. She pushed them deep in to that place that Rebecca dares not look. She painted a smile on her face as her mind thought of something pleasant. She thought of how her father had always looked out for her. How he had never lost faith in her. On his faith alone, she could fly high above the clouds. It was these emotions that filled Rebecca with genuine happiness.

[a magical taco]

Richard leaned back and listen to the stories that Kira told about her past. As Kira finished talking, Richard couldn't help but smile, somebody else had done the dishes again.

[Akirapryde]

As the card game came to a close, Rebecca sit there wondering about the new role Richard was taking on. After all, he wasn't even an adult yet and now she was expected to follow his leadership. She smiled as she watched him and Kira pick up the cards. The game that Simon had suggested was actually fun. A little mind numbing, but fun nonetheless. The night had been filled with the normal bashing that Rebecca had become used to with Simon and his brother. This time, it was over her choice to go in to town. Then once more there was the whole mess regarding her reports, some pictures that they had assumed she took of them. She couldn't help but laugh to herself over Richard's and Simon's naive opposition to any photos being taken of themselves.

After all, Rebecca was a celebrity and both of them had already been captured on camera at her shows and thanks to the car crash in Denver. She just shook her head and wondered if they would ever realize that the point that they were arguing was moot the moment the they were seen in public with her. She even saw pictures of Richard from his first show already on the Internet. Simon's face was all over the videos of the big stunt from Denver. There was really no hiding their face while working side by side with her. She couldn't help but laugh at their arguments now, and she cursed herself for not thinking of that point before.

Her mind then switched back to Richard and their strange ever changing relationship. There was a time that she couldn't stand being around him. Before she realized it, his attractive appearance and boyish charm caused her to feel far more for him than she would ever really admit. But his actions soon caused her to hate him once more. She let a deep sigh as she realized that if she expected respect from them, then she would have to honor the choice of the group. 'Well, more like Simon's own will' she thought. After all, it was Simon's suggestion that the Cabal need a leader. 'So now he is my leader,' she thought as she set there watching. 'This should be fun,' she added to her thoughts.

If she didn't have so much doubt in her own abilities, she would have suggested herself as party leader. 'As if' she thought and laughed the idea from her mind. She knew in her heart that Simon and Richard would never follow her leadership. They were simply too different from who she was. Where she loved and thrived within structure and order, they were too reckless and carefree to be bothered with such things. Richard's decision to start offering reports to the Free Council only solidified her believe in this.

It wasn't in his desire to do this that caused her to have this opinion. After all, she supported the idea of ensuring that their higher ups knew what was going on. However in his rational to start communicating with a group that for weeks he had chosen to keep in the dark. His words were the source of her concerns. He had used the fact that she was giving reports to the Silver Ladder and her defense of those action as reason for starting to send his own reports to the Free Council.

To her, this meant that he was only doing it because she was informing the Silver Ladder. And in her opinion, that is a poor reason for this decision. She made a mental note to include tonights events in her next report. She also made a point to include a special section involving her new field handler. If they were not going to allow their new field handler to be part of the complete loop. Then the Silver Ladder leadership can ask her new handler for the reports that Rebecca submits. There had been so many changes tonight, so much going, so much to include in her nightly report. She let out another deep sigh as she was not looking forward to tonight's report. It was bound to be another long report. She careful rose from her chair.

Not making any point to hide her actions Rebecca caught Richard's attention and spoke softly, "Richard, seeing how the dishes are already down and the game is over. I really need to speak with you outside in private." She made a point to keep her voice level and calm. She had no reason to be mad or upset but she also knew how easily her tone had been misunderstood in the past. She caught Kira's eyes. Rebecca knew that Kira had wanted to speak with her after the meeting. "Kira, I know you wish to speak with me. But I really have to talk to Richard in private. I promise once I am done with him, I will give you my time also. Please understand" she said softly hoping to stem off all other comments.

She led Richard from the large home in the middle of the woods. Her mind raced with all that had gone on tonight and during the day. She calmly walked towards the large lake where they would be well away from the house. "Thank you for allowing me to speak with you in private. Now that you are Cabal Leader, I wanted to take this time to help you learn how to better protect yourself from spells. I have to give you credit....." she trailed off. There was so much more she wanted to say. She wanted to explain why he gets credit and how that she never wanted those spells cast on her. So much raced through her mind but she also knew that she had to learn to let that stuff go. She sighed once more, "This whole letting things go is going to be hard on me" she said then paused. "Maybe more than not being judgmental" she said with hint of laughter in her voice.

She had to laugh or else she would break down in tears. She wanted to scream at him for some of the powerful emotions his actions caused. But she knew that larger things were at work here and she needed to trust in Arrmon's judgment. Something that she really hadn't been doing so much. Again, another thing she had to work on. After all, for as much as she was angry with him. She couldn't deny how much he had given to help her and Kira. 'Had I really misjudged this whole situation' she questioned herself.

"Nonetheless" she said softly as she stood right before him, "For you to see what I am going to teach you, I need to cast a spell on you. It is a sight spell. Do you mind?" She asked softly and while she stood there waiting for him to give his permission she continued to explain what she meant to do. "Counter Magic Stance is a defensive posture of the mind, body and soul. It allows you to weaken an incoming spell as it is being cast against you. Because it is not a physical action, you will need to see the defense through this sight. I don't know if your own mage sights will work like mine does. That is why I wish to case this spell on you."

[a magical taco]

Richard followed Rebecca outside and listened as she spoke. When she reminded him of his new position in the group his face took on a scowl, he made no attempt to hide it but he did not say anything. She told him she wanted to teach him a new trick, one that would help him protect himself again magic. W quickly the scowl vanished and was replaced by curiosity. "Sure, go ahead" Richard said excitedly, "This sounds fun".

[Akirapryde]

Rebecca gave a simple nod as she moved closer and reached out with her hand. Her fingers were slowly and nonthreatening moving closer to his forehead when without warning she stopped. She pulled back at the last moment just before her fingers made contact with his temples. She knew what she wanted but something deep down caused her to pause. She couldn’t explain this odd feeling. It wasn’t in sharing the sight; she had done that before with Kira. Was it that she didn’t trust Richard? Maybe, but this feeling was different. It was almost the intimate nature of what she was about to do. She was about to share something with him that she never shared with anyone but Kira. She wasn’t sure if she was completely okay with this.

She took a breath, ‘there is no going back Rebecca. You need to trust’ she thought to herself. It took a moment of will to press through the odd feelings swirling around in her mind. As she touched his temples with her fingers she said, “I am going to show you the world as I have learned to see it. Since I was a little girl I have always had this way of seeing things differently. Even before I was awoken, I could sense things that others couldn’t. But it was only recently have I really begun to explore this method of seeing things” she explained.

Without a further pause Rebecca cast her own special magical sight on to his eyes. “What I am going to show you, I have only shared with Kira. For the time being, I ask for your respect in this” she explained. Casting the spell like this was harder than with Kira. She was almost sad that her first attempt failed. But once more she took in another deep breath and attempted to cast the spell again. “Sorry it’s harder for me to cast this spell on you. Give me a moment” she said then cast her spell again. Once more the spell failed. She couldn’t understand why her spell was being difficult. After her fourth attempt, she finally got the spell to cast. “Finally” she said in frustration. She wondered if that odd feeling she felt just before was linked to the difficulty in her casting her spell. “Before, I would rely upon my normal vision. However, since I starting exploring this vision, I have become more and more dependent on it.”

As her spell took hold of his vision, the world changed right before his eyes. The very first thing that he noticed was where the house and guardian spirit stood, there was a massive energy rushing up from the ground. It was almost as if someone had taken a waterfall of magic and turned it on its head. Far below them, he could see the Lay Line that fueled the entire Hollow. It pulsated with pure magical energy. The world around the Hollow exploded in so many different colors and textures. As Rebecca stepped back, he could see her two ruling Arcana’s pulsating through her. He could see her control over them as she kept them in order. In fact, he could see how the order of her mind seemed to dominate the order over her Arcanas. He could also see touches of other Arcana that she had learned over the years. He could even see his own ruling Arcanas of Mind and Space within her. Thus this showed him, her experience with the two Arcanas. The colors of her magic seemed to flow like a small rainbow of color weaving its self through her in order. However just below that order, he could see the rage of an ocean barely under control. Much of her focus was put to keeping that anger in check.

Though this sight was nothing compared to how his own magic appeared within him. Just like with Rebecca, he could see the Arcana that made up his own knowledge flowing through him. Beyond that, he could see the connections between them. In fact all around him, he saw the connections between everything. The resonances that connected all within his sight were laid out for him to see. There was so much more going on around him than he had first ever imagined. Not only could he see the minds of others, he could even see far beyond that. It was hard for his mind to communicate to his conscious mind. It was a lot to take in.

Beyond the hollow however he could see where Magic and its effects were diminished. The vision seemed to become harder for him to see the further away from the Hollow he looked. “Richard,” Rebecca said drawing his attention back to her. “So what do you think of my world,” she asked softly.

(OOC: Please bear in mind that I am trying to match how the Narrator explained all this to me over the course of several games. I hope I did it justice. Please feel free to use your imagination in how Richard sees this. For me, the way Rebecca sees the world through this sight is nothing I can really explain. It is like an explosion of imagination.)

[a magical taco]

Richard look around suddenly the world had changed into something new. he couldn't believe what Rebecca had done with his vision, he had experienced the world through his mage sights but this seemed to be more than that. It did surprise him that Rebecca had come up with this, she had never come across as a particulaly creative mage before but now he was starting to wonder. The magic may not have been complicated but it was interesting. "Neat" he said wondering what was about to come next.

[Akirapryde]

Rebecca smiled as she nodded as she answered, “Thank you.” Rebecca took a step back and cleared her mind. “What I am about to teach you is a reflexive action. For this lesson I am going to be imposing my own will over it so that you can see what I am doing so you can learn from me. But in combat, you won’t have time to think about it. Because of that, you have to prepare your mind to resist the attack hours, days, even weeks before those attacks.”

She paused a moment before continuing, “What I learned to do, is to fortify my mind in to a series of mazes within mazes. You can do the same for any part of your being. This can be any or whatever Arcana you wish to counter. However for you to be able to counter any Arcana, you have to have at least a fundamental understanding of that Arcana” she explained. “You cannot counter that which you lack understanding,” she added.

She paused for a moment before continuing. “As I said, I am going to teach you how to protect yourself from Mind Arcana attacks,” Rebecca explained. She took up a position just a few feet from him as she remembered what her old teacher had taught her about clearing her mind. “Give me a moment. In the meantime, I want you to link the sight that I gave you with your own Mind Sight. This is important so that you can see what I am doing and how it interacts with your own magic,” she instructed. A few moments later, she brought her arms up and pushed her open palms together before her face. Her mind was centered on her plans for this lesson.

At the same time she took in a deep breath and focused on her mind. She drew in a deep breath as she closed her eyes. Just under the surface, she could feel the anger slowly simmering. Rebecca pushed the anger from her center. As she forced the anger from her center, her mind focused on her breathing. Rebecca took over direct control over her walls with all of her will. It was important that she acted slowly so that he could see what was going on. Once she was sure she had complete control over her fortification, she lowered her hands and nodded to him that the lesson was about to begin.

Deep in her mind, she could start to see the walls of her maze taking form in her mental vision. She willed the maze to not interfere with his magic. “The maze is only a metaphor that makes it easier for me to explain this to you. It makes it easy for me to visualize in my eyes what I am telling you. You can create this fortification in to whatever form you wish,” she explained while she concentrated on her mental defenses. In her mind’s eye she could see the walls and passageways of her maze as her mind started to navigate the maze.

“Use your mind sight on me and watch closely as your magic interacts with my maze,” She instructed. It wasn’t long till she could already see his magic form around her while she was teaching him. She couldn’t help but take notice of what he was doing. She wanted to make sure that he was focused on the lesson and not probing her mind. While trust was still an issue, she had to try to learn to trust him again. “As your fortifications start to reinforce, it will literally act on its own to rob your opponents’ magic,” she explained. “You can learn to raise and lower these fortifications at will. You can even build on them and link them to your own mage shields thus making them even stronger.”

Through his sight, he could see how her fortifications were being formed. As she allowed her fortifications to start to interact with his mage sight, he could see his own magic starting to weaken right before his eyes. It was clear that she was slowing the effects so that he could see how the stance was working. “Notice as you form your magic, the fortification seeks it out and weakens it.”

She completed the lesson, “I know it’s not ease to master, but I know how strong in magic you are. This takes a great presence of will Richard, but I know you can master this form of defense.” She cleared her mind. As she drew in a deep breath and slowly released it, she slowly released her will over her fortifications and allowed them to function normally.