Post by PFA on Nov 29, 2013 2:58:20 GMT -5
that moment when you're not sure what should happen next so you stall for time by going back and writing some of the scenes you skipped (it's winning! :^D)
In different news, here's a Myrin excerpt like I've been promising! It's magic-tastic.
(Quick context, they discussed magic mechanics in an earlier scene, and Raia expressed interest in trying to learn magic too)
Myrin's Expertise (And Lack Thereof)
In different news, here's a Myrin excerpt like I've been promising! It's magic-tastic.
(Quick context, they discussed magic mechanics in an earlier scene, and Raia expressed interest in trying to learn magic too)Myrin's Expertise (And Lack Thereof)
Before long, nighttime came, and the group decided to set up camp for the night. Myrin was a little surprised that they had been traveling for so long, and there was still no sign of civilization anywhere in sight.
"How far away is Taniet Town?" he asked.
"It's pretty far out. It takes almost a week to travel there by foot," Kentu told him.
"A week?" Myrin cried in disbelief. "We won't get there for another week?"
"Well, yeah," Warris said with a shrug. "Wait, you don't have any magic that will help us get there faster, do you?"
"Ngh... no, I don't," Myrin replied, massaging his temple. "Though if I knew the trip was going to take this long, I would have researched such a spell before leaving."
"Hey, are you sure you're all right?" Raia asked him, concerned.
"It's just a minor headache. Nothing to worry about," Myrin told her, pulling his hand away from his head. "Now then, is this where we're setting up camp?"
"Yeah, I think so," Kentu said, looking around at the immediate area. "It looks pretty secluded. I think we'll be safe from monsters here."
Myrin frowned at this. "You... 'think' we'll be safe?"
"Hey, don't worry!" Warris assured him. "We've been doing this for a while now, and we're pretty good at picking out safe spots. The chances of monsters coming to get us are basically slim to none."
"Yeah!" Raia agreed. "And I know how to keep wild animals away from our food and supplies. We should be fine."
"Y-yes, of course," Myrin said, gritting his teeth. "You people have done this before, after all. And even if we were attacked, you would know how to fend them off. And... if worst came to worst, I can put up a barrier."
Warris did a double take at the last sentence. "Wait a minute. You can do that?"
"Well, yes," Myrin told him. "I could, in theory, put one up around our campsite, and it will maintain itself until either its energy is depleted or I dismiss it, myself. Of course, I've never made one to last through the whole night, but it shouldn't be too difficult..."
"That... might actually be really useful," Kentu admitted. "I mean, not necessarily for tonight, since we're already pretty safe, but maybe sometime if we can't find a safe place to sleep."
"Hm, on that note, it's worth noting that monsters could theoretically break the barrier if they attack it enough," Myrin pointed out, seeming to relax a little as he thought on this. Magic was what he was good at, after all. "So in addition to the extra energy it would take to create a barrier to last the whole night's length, it would need extra energy in order to withstand any attacks on it... either way, I would have to do some practice to see if I can get it to work as needed."
"Well, if you think you can do it, I suppose tonight would be as good a night as any to test it out," Kentu said. "If you're up for it, of course."
"It could be worth trying," Myrin admitted. "After all, as you said, it could be useful."
"Oh! Speaking of practicing magic," Raia spoke up, "I still want to know how to make magic!"
"Hm? Oh, yes," Myrin said in response. "But perhaps we should set up camp first."
"Oh, yeah, I guess," Raia replied. "But after that we can, right?"
"...I suppose," was Myrin's response.
"All right!" Raia cheered, as she started setting out her sleeping bag. "That's gonna be fun."
"I'm not certain I would call it 'fun,'" Myrin pointed out.
"Aw, why not?" Raia gave a playful smile. "I think magic sounds like a lot of fun!"
"Magic is a tool, not a toy," Myrin told her. "It can do many amazing things, but it is also very dangerous. It takes a lot of responsibility to use it properly."
"Well, yeah, I know all that stuff. It's like using a weapon, or any other tool. You've gotta know when to use it," Raia said. "That doesn't mean learning how to use a new tool can't be fun, though, right?"
Myrin was silent, apparently not sure how to respond to that. After a while, he decided on, "...I suppose."
"Exactly!" Raia grinned. "So then, you gonna set up your sleeping bag, Myrin?"
"Oh! Yes, of course," Myrin replied, hastily taking his pack off of his shoulders and pulling out his sleeping bag. He set it out neatly and carefully, trying to make sure it was as perfect as possible.
Once they were all done setting up, with their equipment set aside and their sleeping bags made, Raia walked up to Myrin again, asking, "Do you have anything you need in your pack?"
"Er... isn't that why I brought it?" Myrin asked in turn.
"No, I mean, like, right now need," Raia explained.
"Oh. Then I suppose not," he told her.
"Okay!" Raia hefted up Myrin's pack, carrying it off. He was about to protest, until he noticed that she was gathering everyone's packs in the same area. "It's good to keep your food and stuff at a good distance from where you're sleeping, so it doesn't attract animals," she explained. "On that note, it's also a good idea to keep it out of reach of most animals."
"I... see." Myrin blinked, watching her place the packs in an animal-proof shelter of her own making. Noticing how far away it was from their sleeping bags, he added, "I'm... not certain I can make a barrier large enough to encompass both us and our supplies at this distance."
"Well, if I had to pick one, I'd pick us, rather than our supplies," Raia pointed out. "We can always get new supplies, but we can't get new us."
"...I suppose you're right," Myrin admitted.
"So then!" Raia chirped. "If we're all set, ready to teach me magic?"
"I suppose I may as well. I really would not expect it to work, though," Myrin said, standing up after laying out his sleeping bag. "In order to use magic, you must first become aware of your own aura."
"Okay," Raia replied. "How do I do that?"
"You concentrate," was Myrin's answer. "Try to feel your presence extending beyond your body."
"Beyond my body?" Raia asked. "My aura extends past my body?"
"Yes," Myrin answered simply. "Now if you're actually serious about learning magic, try to concentrate."
"Right. Concentrating..." Raia took a deep breath, closing her eyes and focusing. Kentu and Warris watched from a distance, curious how this was going to play out. After a while, she spoke up again. "Okay, I think I feel it. Now what?"
"If you can feel your aura, try to focus its energy into your hand," Myrin said, holding out his hand. To demonstrate the technique, a nebulous ball of magic formed in his hand, shining a brilliant red violet color, matching his cloak. "Those are the basics of magic."
"Everything's about focussing on stuff, isn't it?" Raia raised an eyebrow.
"Yes. Magic takes a lot of focus to use properly," Myrin replied flatly, dismissing the magic and lowering his hand. "Are you certain you can handle it?"
"Hey now! I can be focussed!" Raia protested, holding up her hand and trying to concentrate. She scrunched her face, muscles tensing as she tried her best to mimic Myrin. She was doing her best to concentrate her aura into her hand, but it didn't seem to be doing anything, no matter how hard she tried.
Warris, meanwhile, who was watching from the background and trying to follow along as well, was stuck on the 'feeling your aura' step. He was vainly poking at the air around his arm, trying to see if he could feel anything, but to no avail. "What exactly are we supposed to be feeling?" he whispered to Kentu. In response, Kentu just shrugged unknowingly.
Myrin sighed, shaking his head. "...As I thought. It would seem you do not have the capability to use magic."
"No, wait, I think I'm getting it!" Raia insisted, though from one glance, Myrin could already tell that she wasn't.
"You may believe whatever you wish to believe," he said, turning away. "Now if you'll excuse me, I have magic of my own to attempt."
Raia made a few more valiant attempts to create magic, but quickly lost focus as she instead started watching what Myrin was doing. He moved to the center of the sleeping area, taking a deep breath as he himself began to focus. His hands began to glow with magic, slowly becoming brighter and stronger. Then, when he decided it was suitably strong, he raised his arms out to his sides, sending magic flying out in every direction around him. The magic passed through everyone harmlessly, traveling for a bit before stopping, solidifying as a red violet barrier that extended a few feet around the sleeping bags in each direction. The barrier started out almost opaque, but quickly faded, until it was almost hard to notice.
"Wow," Warris remarked. "That's pretty cool."
"Hopefully that should be strong enough to last the whole night," Myrin said, panting softly to catch his breath. Apparently it was more difficult than he made it look—though considering how hard Raia had been concentrating, they could understand why. "I don't know about the rest of you, but I'm quite exhausted. I'm going to get some sleep."
"Oh, okay," Raia replied. "Good night, Myrin."
"Good night," Myrin mumbled, as he took off his boots and climbed into his sleeping bag.
"We should probably get to sleep, too," Kentu said to the others. "We've got a long way to go to get to Taniet Town."
"Yeah, you're right," Warris agreed, letting out a yawn. "I'm pretty tired, too. 'Night, guys."
"Good night."
"How far away is Taniet Town?" he asked.
"It's pretty far out. It takes almost a week to travel there by foot," Kentu told him.
"A week?" Myrin cried in disbelief. "We won't get there for another week?"
"Well, yeah," Warris said with a shrug. "Wait, you don't have any magic that will help us get there faster, do you?"
"Ngh... no, I don't," Myrin replied, massaging his temple. "Though if I knew the trip was going to take this long, I would have researched such a spell before leaving."
"Hey, are you sure you're all right?" Raia asked him, concerned.
"It's just a minor headache. Nothing to worry about," Myrin told her, pulling his hand away from his head. "Now then, is this where we're setting up camp?"
"Yeah, I think so," Kentu said, looking around at the immediate area. "It looks pretty secluded. I think we'll be safe from monsters here."
Myrin frowned at this. "You... 'think' we'll be safe?"
"Hey, don't worry!" Warris assured him. "We've been doing this for a while now, and we're pretty good at picking out safe spots. The chances of monsters coming to get us are basically slim to none."
"Yeah!" Raia agreed. "And I know how to keep wild animals away from our food and supplies. We should be fine."
"Y-yes, of course," Myrin said, gritting his teeth. "You people have done this before, after all. And even if we were attacked, you would know how to fend them off. And... if worst came to worst, I can put up a barrier."
Warris did a double take at the last sentence. "Wait a minute. You can do that?"
"Well, yes," Myrin told him. "I could, in theory, put one up around our campsite, and it will maintain itself until either its energy is depleted or I dismiss it, myself. Of course, I've never made one to last through the whole night, but it shouldn't be too difficult..."
"That... might actually be really useful," Kentu admitted. "I mean, not necessarily for tonight, since we're already pretty safe, but maybe sometime if we can't find a safe place to sleep."
"Hm, on that note, it's worth noting that monsters could theoretically break the barrier if they attack it enough," Myrin pointed out, seeming to relax a little as he thought on this. Magic was what he was good at, after all. "So in addition to the extra energy it would take to create a barrier to last the whole night's length, it would need extra energy in order to withstand any attacks on it... either way, I would have to do some practice to see if I can get it to work as needed."
"Well, if you think you can do it, I suppose tonight would be as good a night as any to test it out," Kentu said. "If you're up for it, of course."
"It could be worth trying," Myrin admitted. "After all, as you said, it could be useful."
"Oh! Speaking of practicing magic," Raia spoke up, "I still want to know how to make magic!"
"Hm? Oh, yes," Myrin said in response. "But perhaps we should set up camp first."
"Oh, yeah, I guess," Raia replied. "But after that we can, right?"
"...I suppose," was Myrin's response.
"All right!" Raia cheered, as she started setting out her sleeping bag. "That's gonna be fun."
"I'm not certain I would call it 'fun,'" Myrin pointed out.
"Aw, why not?" Raia gave a playful smile. "I think magic sounds like a lot of fun!"
"Magic is a tool, not a toy," Myrin told her. "It can do many amazing things, but it is also very dangerous. It takes a lot of responsibility to use it properly."
"Well, yeah, I know all that stuff. It's like using a weapon, or any other tool. You've gotta know when to use it," Raia said. "That doesn't mean learning how to use a new tool can't be fun, though, right?"
Myrin was silent, apparently not sure how to respond to that. After a while, he decided on, "...I suppose."
"Exactly!" Raia grinned. "So then, you gonna set up your sleeping bag, Myrin?"
"Oh! Yes, of course," Myrin replied, hastily taking his pack off of his shoulders and pulling out his sleeping bag. He set it out neatly and carefully, trying to make sure it was as perfect as possible.
Once they were all done setting up, with their equipment set aside and their sleeping bags made, Raia walked up to Myrin again, asking, "Do you have anything you need in your pack?"
"Er... isn't that why I brought it?" Myrin asked in turn.
"No, I mean, like, right now need," Raia explained.
"Oh. Then I suppose not," he told her.
"Okay!" Raia hefted up Myrin's pack, carrying it off. He was about to protest, until he noticed that she was gathering everyone's packs in the same area. "It's good to keep your food and stuff at a good distance from where you're sleeping, so it doesn't attract animals," she explained. "On that note, it's also a good idea to keep it out of reach of most animals."
"I... see." Myrin blinked, watching her place the packs in an animal-proof shelter of her own making. Noticing how far away it was from their sleeping bags, he added, "I'm... not certain I can make a barrier large enough to encompass both us and our supplies at this distance."
"Well, if I had to pick one, I'd pick us, rather than our supplies," Raia pointed out. "We can always get new supplies, but we can't get new us."
"...I suppose you're right," Myrin admitted.
"So then!" Raia chirped. "If we're all set, ready to teach me magic?"
"I suppose I may as well. I really would not expect it to work, though," Myrin said, standing up after laying out his sleeping bag. "In order to use magic, you must first become aware of your own aura."
"Okay," Raia replied. "How do I do that?"
"You concentrate," was Myrin's answer. "Try to feel your presence extending beyond your body."
"Beyond my body?" Raia asked. "My aura extends past my body?"
"Yes," Myrin answered simply. "Now if you're actually serious about learning magic, try to concentrate."
"Right. Concentrating..." Raia took a deep breath, closing her eyes and focusing. Kentu and Warris watched from a distance, curious how this was going to play out. After a while, she spoke up again. "Okay, I think I feel it. Now what?"
"If you can feel your aura, try to focus its energy into your hand," Myrin said, holding out his hand. To demonstrate the technique, a nebulous ball of magic formed in his hand, shining a brilliant red violet color, matching his cloak. "Those are the basics of magic."
"Everything's about focussing on stuff, isn't it?" Raia raised an eyebrow.
"Yes. Magic takes a lot of focus to use properly," Myrin replied flatly, dismissing the magic and lowering his hand. "Are you certain you can handle it?"
"Hey now! I can be focussed!" Raia protested, holding up her hand and trying to concentrate. She scrunched her face, muscles tensing as she tried her best to mimic Myrin. She was doing her best to concentrate her aura into her hand, but it didn't seem to be doing anything, no matter how hard she tried.
Warris, meanwhile, who was watching from the background and trying to follow along as well, was stuck on the 'feeling your aura' step. He was vainly poking at the air around his arm, trying to see if he could feel anything, but to no avail. "What exactly are we supposed to be feeling?" he whispered to Kentu. In response, Kentu just shrugged unknowingly.
Myrin sighed, shaking his head. "...As I thought. It would seem you do not have the capability to use magic."
"No, wait, I think I'm getting it!" Raia insisted, though from one glance, Myrin could already tell that she wasn't.
"You may believe whatever you wish to believe," he said, turning away. "Now if you'll excuse me, I have magic of my own to attempt."
Raia made a few more valiant attempts to create magic, but quickly lost focus as she instead started watching what Myrin was doing. He moved to the center of the sleeping area, taking a deep breath as he himself began to focus. His hands began to glow with magic, slowly becoming brighter and stronger. Then, when he decided it was suitably strong, he raised his arms out to his sides, sending magic flying out in every direction around him. The magic passed through everyone harmlessly, traveling for a bit before stopping, solidifying as a red violet barrier that extended a few feet around the sleeping bags in each direction. The barrier started out almost opaque, but quickly faded, until it was almost hard to notice.
"Wow," Warris remarked. "That's pretty cool."
"Hopefully that should be strong enough to last the whole night," Myrin said, panting softly to catch his breath. Apparently it was more difficult than he made it look—though considering how hard Raia had been concentrating, they could understand why. "I don't know about the rest of you, but I'm quite exhausted. I'm going to get some sleep."
"Oh, okay," Raia replied. "Good night, Myrin."
"Good night," Myrin mumbled, as he took off his boots and climbed into his sleeping bag.
"We should probably get to sleep, too," Kentu said to the others. "We've got a long way to go to get to Taniet Town."
"Yeah, you're right," Warris agreed, letting out a yawn. "I'm pretty tired, too. 'Night, guys."
"Good night."
