Alissa
I was regretting the fact that I had beaten Gordon. Now I was the Beta and that meant I had to deal with all the people that wanted to talk to Paul. The only consolation was the fact that I no longer had to deal with mating challenges. Everyone that had been in the room during the fight had heard him and now most of the pack knew what Gordon had said as well as how I reacted to it. No one wanted to deal with my wolf.
The fight did let me and my wolf come to a sort of agreement. She now let me deal with everyone how I wished and would help if I asked. The only time she would force her way forward was either if we were in danger or if Eli was. Course, her definition of danger when it came to him still needed a bit of work. She thought that attacking his character was enough to warrant death.
Sighing, I picked up the next request form and started working on going through it. It would be a miracle if I could get through reading the single form before someone interrupted me with a question for Paul. Maybe I should get Gordon to be my secretary. Now there was an idea.
Eli
Finally, getting away from everyone that had mobbed me in the cafeteria, I had made it back to the sanctuary of my room. They had meant well. They were just checking to see how I was doing as well as asking questions about the fight. However, being crowded and constantly questioned had pushed my anxiety through the roof.
One of the people in the group must have noticed and taken pity because the entire group was dispersed. It had been done so expertly that I hadn’t even noticed what was going on until everyone had left. If I ever found out who it had been, I would thank them before begging them to teach me the trick.
Pulling Sàga out, I set her on the table. The complex shield diagram formed on one side with the solar spell on the other. “I am guessing you want to see about enchanting something with these spells?”
“Yeah,” I twisted the spells so that they laid flat. Looking for places that would need to be changed to make them into enchantments. “It isn’t like I can keep the spell going forever. At some point I will be distracted, and the spell will fall apart.”
“Are you sure about that? No, that is the wrong component for that section.”
Looking over the component I had just added, I disagreed. “Placing this here would allow me to place it on a lower quality substrate.”
“No, that component will do the opposite. You want to use this component.” She formed a component next to it. It looked similar. When I saw it, I realized I had used the wrong component entirely.
“Damn,” I said, quickly replacing the component. “Now what did you mean when you asked if I was sure about the spell?”
“Have you checked on the spell since you cast it?” Pausing, I realized I hadn’t. On top of that, my mind had not even paid it a lick of attention. The spell shouldn’t even exist now or be so twisted and broken as parts started to vanish.
Quickly closing my eyes, I focused on my core. Looking for the thread that connected me to the shield spell. It was still there and looked like it was as solid as when I had formed it. Following the thread out, I found the shield spell. It had moved just above my core. Given that its effects were nowhere near the spell construct, the fact that it was inside me was not an issue. In fact, that meant no one could see or interact with it easily.
The thing that was causing me to freak out was the fact that I had never moved the spell into my body. It had done that on its own at some point. Just above it was the solar spell. Oddly, the tether between the two seemed to loop around the solar spell a few times. Almost like it was being held in place.
“What the fuck?” I exclaimed.
“Ah, you finally noticed. Yeah. The shield spell did all that while you were distracted by the mob of people.”
“How did I do anything. It is just a spell. Spells shouldn’t have the ability to do anything.”
“Spells are made of mana, willpower and intent. Sometimes you can substitute some of one with a ton of the other two. The clearer the image of the result you want as well as a proper application of mana and you would never need to form a spell construct or such.” I shook my head, not understanding where she was going with this. “When you formed the spell, you must have had a powerful image and the willpower to back it up as you cast the spell.”
“But what does all of that have to do with the spell doing something without me tell it to?”
“The spell took your image and the massive amount of mana to fulfill the will and wish that you imparted onto it. It isn’t alive and thinking, but it is the closest thing. Equal to me in some ways. It moved to where it could do its job the easiest while taking its mana source with it.”
“Are you saying I am now stuck with this spell? Why does it need such a massive mana source when you need nearly nothing?”
“One, all you need to do to get rid of the spell is will it away. However, I wouldn’t do that. The spell is a masterpiece and will do its job without you needing to do anything. Even if you are asleep. It may even change to do its job better, possibly grow a true intelligence. Being able to study and watch that process is rare and sought after by every magic scholar.”
“Ok, so I won’t get rid of it. At least not right now. But, what about the mana requirements?”
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“I only retrieve data, talk and display this screen. None of my current functions require large amount of mana. The shield though needs to be able to cast the shield array at any time as well as constantly watch for any spell that might be targeting you.”
Taking a minute, I thought through all of that. Something about what she had just said seemed off. “What do you mean by any spell that might be targeting me? What about physical attacks?”
“The shield was designed to activate against spell attacks. If I had to guess, Janet didn’t want the spell to suddenly activate if someone went to walk past you. It could lead to some misunderstandings and trouble.”
The image of a shield suddenly standing in front of a professor actually made me laugh. “You may be right about that. But it would be hilarious to see, at least the first time.” Going through the entire spell, we worked it into a theoretically usable enchantment. “How do you think we should do the solar spell? Another enchantment entirely or as a part of the shield?”
“It is getting late, I suggest we message the question to your professor and get you some food.” A text box I had never seen popped up. It looked like a simple text message interface. My question sat in the text box. A send button the only thing left to press.
“When were you going to tell me you had this ability?” I said as I pressed the send button.
“There were a few functions that are locked down to your group. The messaging system was one of them. After your near fatal attack, the entire staff agreed to partially allow messaging. You are only allowed to message any of your professors and your group.”
“What other restrictions do we have?” She stayed quiet which told me that those restrictions likely included information on said restrictions. As I stood up to head to the cafeteria for whatever was left of dinner, a ding came from Sàga.
“Your professor says that he would need to see both spells to figure out the best method. He is offering to see you tomorrow early in the morning to go over the spell and help you get materials.”
“Well, at least I know I likely got his assignment done. Now, how to go about casting spells without much effort?” Grabbing Sàga, I started for the door.
As I exited the room, she spoke up. “You do know that you have already finished that assignment, right?”
“The enchantment assignment, I did just say that it was likely done. Then again the assignment was to come up with an enchantment design, not to make the enchantment.”
“No, the casting assignment.” My feet stopped as I stepped onto the path outside. She likely noticed my confusion because she continued, “Just try casting a fireball spell.”
Raising my eyebrows, I went to cast the fireball spell. Just like last time, the spell seemed to form in an instant without my directing the thread. A ball of fire popped into my hand and I threw it at a nearby target. It acted as a normal fireball would. “Ok, what is going on with my magic. Now only does my mana feel thicker, but it seems to form spells that I am thinking about without my needing to consciously do anything.”
It was Professor Olivia’s voice that answered my question. “I meant to talk to you about that.” Turning, I faced her as she crossed the field and stepped onto the sidewalk next to me. “While I have never seen it, I have read about mages that have nearly died only to survive and leap in power.”
“Why are you only now bringing this up? Why not say something about it when I came to?” Walking side-by-side, we meandered toward the cafeteria.
“I needed to go and reread the texts that mentioned it. Each and every single text was from before the cataclysm.” Before I could ask, she waved her hand, “Don’t worry about it. You will learn about it in your advanced history class. The texts allude to a bond with a Beast Kin. Since I know you came here directly after waking in the medical center, I doubt you had time to form such a bond. Did you?”
“No, you were right that I woke up shortly before being teleported by you to this academy. How did you know?”
“Oh, the nurse you were with gave that away. Typically, a guard or such would transport people to the circle. Now tell me, are you bonded to someone and if so, who? I won’t tell any of the other professors, but I need to know.” That last statement brought me up short. If we humans with magic powers were targeted, how much more would a gifted human with a Beast Kin girlfriend be targeted?
Problem was, I needed to trust someone eventually. I knew I wasn’t going to be able to get out of here without at least some help. Of all the professors so far, Professor Olivia seemed to be more on our side then not. Sighing, I made up my mind. “Her name is Alissa. We were together when we got sick.”
“Based on the fact I have never heard her name and that you are here without her, I am guessing she became a Beast Kin of some kind?” At my nod, she continued, “That being what it is, being together when you get sick does not form a bond. Those are only formed by a Beast Kin when it feels deeply enough about a person and is rare. Most beasts only get one mate after all.”
Thinking back to that last two days, I smiled. “I know I love her. It is why I want to get out of here and find my way back.”
“Well, that is not enough for me to assume a bond is there but let’s do so anyway.” She took a deep breath and stopped. Turning to face her, I listened as she continued in a slow and soft voice. It was almost like she didn’t want anyone to overhear us. “The old texts speak of the mages magic changing. Of it becoming tied to their life force.”
She looked at me like that was supposed to explain everything. It meant nothing to me. “What does that even mean?”
“When a mage uses all their mana, they cannot cast another spell. A mage that has their mana tied to their lifeforce can use said lifeforce as if it was mana. This means that they can last longer in a battle as well as throw around spells they would never have the ability to cast normally.”
I could sense the but that was coming. I was awarded when she said, “But, if they use all their lifeforce, they will die, and no spell will be able to heal them. Of course, they can also pack their mana into their lifeforce and build a bit of a surplus.”
The first part scared me. If I cast a spell that instantly drained my core and my lifeforce before I could stop it, I would die. Talk about having to be careful to only cast inside my means. “What would mana do inside my lifeforce?”
“For one, extend your life. You will find that most of the oldest mages in history have always had some way to do so. Those spells also died with them for obvious reasons. The only benefit is to pass that lifeforce back along that bond. That would allow the Beast Kin to heal rapidly or life longer as well.”
“Wait, if lifeforce can go one way, what about the other direction?”
“Yeah, if you drain yourself dry, you will also drain the Beast Kin dry at the same time. Before you ask, there is one way to break a bond but only if you and the Beast Kin agree to it in a face-to-face meeting. This will not be without cost though…”
I tuned out the cost. I would not let the possibility of any mistake in a spell cause Alissa’s death. The next time I saw her, I would demand that the bond be broken. Something in my heart broke as I made that decision, but it knew why and agreed. “When can I go see her?”
“You weren’t listening to me, were you?” I glared at her until she finally gave up with a shake of her head. “Let me talk to the headmaster. It won’t be soon, that’s for sure. For now, pack your lifeforce and build what enchantments you can. You may need them after you break the bond.”
She then turned and walked toward a building across the campus from us. I just turned and resumed walking to the cafeteria. Eating dinner while letting what she said go through my mind again and again.
