|
|
Post by Ebony Blackwell on Aug 11, 2010 23:06:24 GMT -5
Ebony was only a few feet away, leaning against a thick, yet dead tree. Her arms were crossed over her chest, and she watche dJosh with attentiveness.
"Bigger." she commanded. She knew she was being tough on the guy, but that was the only hhe was going to learn. He should have known that from the very start when he agreed to his "magic training." And Ebony was going to give him no mercy. No matter how much she may like him.
Of course, all of this was making Ebony remember the good 'ol days back at the Lestava Magic Academy. The exercises, the orders, the sweet relief of knowing you did something right. She missed it all...Ebony shook the thoughts from her head as she focused once more on Josh. This was no time for reminiscing.
|
|
|
|
Post by Joshua Raines on Aug 12, 2010 10:05:36 GMT -5
This was expected. No mercy that was for sure. This magic stuff was difficult! Josh stared at the little flame in his palm and tried to concentrate on putting more energy into it, to create a bigger flame as commanded to do. This all confirmed his earlier thought. Later today, he would be too tired to even get food...let alone to move once he got back to the sanctuary of his bed which was now already screaming and calling for him. "O...kay..." Josh said trying to figure out how to add all this power to something that looked so simple.
After a few good moments the Flame flickered and grew a bit. A wide grin spread across Josh's face as he did something right. He couldn't lose focus though. As he continued to think and add more concentration to the fire, it grew slowly until it was fully the side of his palm and all he could hold. "Phew! It's about time!" He said and the flame went away as he focus was thrown off even the slightest bit. "Ugh...spoke too soon." He said staring at the ground. This was going to be a long painful day.
|
|
|
|
Post by Ebony Blackwell on Aug 12, 2010 10:17:19 GMT -5
Ebony was just about to say something when Josh's flame went out with the wind. She just sighed and shook her head, before standing up fully and taking a few steps forward.
"Don't lose concentration. It's like in battle. If you let your guard down for even a second, your life is swept away by one strike. If you let your thoughts go awry, you will never be able to perform magic. Now, again."
Ebony sighed once more and looked up at the sky. A beautiful day, royal blue sky, no clouds, slight breeze. Too bad neither her nor Josh could enjoy it at the moment.
|
|
|
|
Post by Joshua Raines on Aug 12, 2010 10:31:47 GMT -5
Like in battle...That sparked a thought in Josh's mind. What he looked at this from a military view? Maybe the magic would stick around longer. He always kept completely concentration in the army, so why not use that way of thinking here? Maybe it'd be easier. With a sigh Josh held his hand out a bit again and started thinking about that flame, through military eyes though. A spark was found in his hand, and he continued to concentrate. The flame grew more quickly this time and another grin appeared on his face. He held the flame, which was about the same size as his palm, fairly big enough for now, and he held it there for longer than he had before.
"Perhaps...practice does make perfect." He said keeping his attention on the flame but still able to spare a comment or two. "Okay Coach...what next?" He said staring at the little ball of fire. Throwing, is that what came next? then onto the next step of a Fira cast? then Firaga? This would be hard work, but totally worth it in the end. Josh knew it, and he had Ebony to thank...again.
|
|
|
|
Post by Ebony Blackwell on Aug 12, 2010 10:49:43 GMT -5
Ebony was actually quite surprised at how Josh quickly grasped it. With the way he was struggling earlier...well, her battle comment must have worked. He was a soldier after all.
Once Josh held it for the alotted time, Ebony nodded and made her own flame once more. Time for another demonstration.
"Throwing magic is harder than actually harnessing and summoning it. You have to be able to keep it alive, without actually having it anywhere near you. When you throw the Fire spell, the magic leaves your body which then follows the flame so that it can explode at contact. You have to be able to focus on that magic and keep the flame alive, along with how powerful the explosion will be. For example-"
Ebony proceeded to throw her flame at a dead tree in the courtyard which then exploded, small enough not to catch anything else, but big enough to pretty much demolish the tree.
"Now your turn. Make sure your explosion doesn't catch anything else, but whatever you hit must burn to the ground."
|
|
|
|
Post by Joshua Raines on Aug 12, 2010 11:04:04 GMT -5
As Josh listened to Ebony about throwing magic he noted every word she said and continued to look at the fire in his hand. Hopefully he didn't mess this up, if so, he'd just try again. Like the old saying, if at first you don't succeed...try again. "Okay...lets hope I don't blow anything up." He mumbled looking for a target, well, she had obliterated a tree, maybe he could do the same? No. Start smaller. Josh found a baby tree, not too big not too small and it was in range. But how to keep the flame alive while it soared through the air? How was he to get the entire thing burned to the ground? Oh the technical details of magic.
Josh continued to keep the flame alive with his concentration as he aimed and threw the flame, it stayed alive in the air as he forced any bit of power he had on it. The flame hit the tree with a small explosion and the tree burnt from top to bottom until it was blackened by the flames. Success? Maybe. Josh then looked over at Ebony for her evaluation of the little task. "Well...?" He asked a little curious on how he was doing.
|
|
|
|
Post by Ebony Blackwell on Aug 12, 2010 11:10:33 GMT -5
Ebony watched as Josh hit a smaller tree, and kept an eye on the flames. Once all fo the flames had burned out, she was disappointed to see that actually all the bark had just burned. Not the tree itself. She glanced back to her own tree that she had scorched down to ashes. She turned back to Josh, and shook her head, motioning that it wasn't good enough.
"Again. If it helps imagine the explosion, if need be. But you will still have to keep focus."
All of the little tidbits had actually helped Ebony in her own studies on magic. Imagining the explosion would allow you to understand how much magic would be needed for it to happen. It all depended on whether or not the user could accomplish it or not.
|
|
|
|
Post by Joshua Raines on Aug 12, 2010 11:25:05 GMT -5
Josh just let out a stressful "UGH" As he fell back and sat down on the ground. He stared at the different patches of grass. "This whole magic thing is hard work..." He sighed before looking at his pathetic excuse for an explosion. He was starting to get very frustrated by now. Now was the time to prove something right? Josh stood back up, harness the power of fire once again, more quickly this time, and took the time to think of an explosion, all this was going by quickly, he threw the bit of a fire at his first inital target, setting it aflame and it burnt down to ashes fairly quickly. Maybe there was more behind magic then just the technical details. Maybe you needed some sort of emotion...motivation behind it.
Anger had fueled that one, or frustration whatever. Emotions seemed to help with any cause. Something behind ever action was an emotion...a motive, something to cause you to do that action. Putting emotions towards magic might make things easier for Josh. "Better?" He asked taking in a few deep breaths. "Magic tends to wear me out when I use alot...or try to at least." He said looking over at the pile of ash, it made him feel successful on the inside, but weak on the outside physically. "Putting it into...fighting and battle terms really helped...I do better when looking at things from a military point of view."
|
|
|
|
Post by Ebony Blackwell on Aug 12, 2010 13:03:00 GMT -5
Ebony watched with satisfaction as Josh was actually able to summon the Fire needed with what almost seemed to be practiced ease. The target was burned fully, with only a few scorch marks around the base to even show there was a fire. Ebony nodded, with a slight grin on her face.
"Much better. With more practice you'll be able to handle more magic, and have more energy to cast the spells. But for right now, we'll just stick with basics. We'll go on to Blizzard next, the exact oppposite, and then see how much you can improve on your Thunder spells. But first, take a rest to regain some of your energy. I don't want you passing out and then having me carry you back to the inn. There could be hope for you after all in the ways of magic."
|
|
|
|
Post by Joshua Raines on Aug 12, 2010 23:34:35 GMT -5
Josh felt rather proud of himself. That took a lot of his energy but he did it. Success. But this was only the first part of the learning Fire, there was much more to come with it, like the power to cast a Fira or Firaga, but he had to start someplace. Starting off small was better then beginning with the much harder tasks. Josh smiled and looked at Ebony, she approved of this, excellent! "Me rest?" He said with a light joking tone before he went all serious and plopped down on the grass. "Okay. sounds good to me." He laid in the patchy grass resting his arms behind his head and continuing to smile in success.
"Blizzard...okay. That'll be fun. I'd like to freeze Geoff then burn him at the stake...awesome." This was starting to become a fun, and hard working lesson. He knew there was still alot to learn, aside from the basics Ebony was going to teach him black magic, but that would come WAY later, but still, it was nice to know there was hope for him in the magic world. "Yay. Hope for me. It's all because you're such a great teacher..." He smirked as he rested for a few minutes, gathering his energy back and ready to take on the art of blizzard magic.
|
|
|
|
Post by Ebony Blackwell on Aug 13, 2010 0:25:42 GMT -5
Ebony walked over, and sat down next to Josh on the grass. The wind blew back her short, cropped hair, as she just stared at the once majestic mansion that still loomed up to the clouds. The image of a freezing, then smoldering Geoff set out a few giggles from her mouth. He deserved it after what he said to her.
"I don't know if I'm all that great. I just remembered how my teachers taught me back at the Academy, and put in my own mix. It's different...being the teacher. Usually, I'm being the one taught, or just sitting off on the sidelines, or in the shadows."
Ebony looked down at her hands, before looking back up at the sky.
(Meh. =P)
|
|
|
|
Post by Joshua Raines on Aug 13, 2010 12:31:42 GMT -5
Josh just rested back as he stared at the sky through the surrounding trees. It really was a nice day, perfect for outdoor training or something better like a picnick, or something else romantic. All of those thoughts aside Josh shifted his eyes to Ebony as she spoke. "Well I think you're pretty great...if that helps any." He grinned before looking back at the sky and then closing his eyes. He was starting to feel all rested by now, time to start some blizzard training eh?
"Ebony....you truly are something." Josh said, eyes closed, arms folded behind his head and a grin on his face still. "I've said this once, and I'll say it again. I'm so glad you didn't throw me off a cliff." He chuckled a bit remembering that day, he'd found out about Ebony's black magic and she wasn't too happy, but he didn't care. Josh always was and still was persistant with her, and he'd continue to be that way for a long time. With a sigh Josh opened his eyes and sat up. "Alright, that's enough resting time for me...ready to work on some snowflakes?" He said getting to his feet slowly and stretching. "If you want, after we set Geoff aflame, I'll bring marshmellows...we can have smores." It was a joke, she had to laugh...right?
|
|
|
|
Post by Ebony Blackwell on Aug 13, 2010 15:11:53 GMT -5
Ebony just sat, while Josh kept on talking. He was different than the citizens of Cocoon. Most had recongnized her when she was living on the streets, so they avoided her, thinking she was some sort of "bad egg." The Academy had thrown her out all because she was able to control something forbidden and dangerous. Even Emilia was wary of her when she first came to live at the inn. It wasn't until Ebony had saved her from a very bad encounter that she saw that Ebony was a good person, just quiet and withdrawn.
Josh hadn't let her shrink back into the shadows, away from civilization. He reached in and pulled her out, and somehow things just turned out the way they were now. But still, there was that sinking feeling in the pit of her stomach that told her something bad was going to happen.
She glanced over at Josh as he got up, and joked about Geoff. She knew he was expected her to laugh or do something, but...she just couldn't. She stood up herself, and just tightened the gloves on her hands.
"We'd best get to work on Blizzard. You do understand that this technique will be much different than that from Fire, right?"
|
|
|
|
Post by Joshua Raines on Aug 13, 2010 16:49:15 GMT -5
Well the silence wasn't real good for Josh, he was complimenting her and trying to make a joke and the response he got...nothing. Maybe he just wasn't all that funny, but why not respond to someone giving you compliments? Oh well, that was Ebony for ya. Josh thought about the difference between Fire and Ice. If he could get ahold of the fire concept pretty quick, why not Blizzard? It should be fairly simple right? No probably not with his luck. "Okay. Blizzard....any helpful tips on this one?" He asked before even thinking of trying to conjure up a snowflake or two.
Maybe Fire was the easiest out of the elements of Fire, blizzard, thunder, water, and aero...who knew? Josh was going to get better at these though, no matter what it took. He couldn't help but think why Geoff hadn't attacked yet. This would probably be the perfect time, Josh was getting worn out, but the thought never ran through his head clearly. "Okay...im ready to get started again..."
((Ive got an idea...))
|
|
|
|
Post by Ebony Blackwell on Aug 13, 2010 19:03:04 GMT -5
Ebony nodded and quickly thought up a way to explain the concepts of Blizzard. She quickly began to explain.
"Blizzard isn't like the other elements where you conjure it. With Blizzard, you almost practically have to build it up inside you, and then release it on a seperate target. It's kinda like with me and Abyss. He is, in a way, just inside me and I build up the power necessary to summon him. Start off building up the necessary energy to bring upon the cold. Get to the point where even the grass below your feet is freezing, and then we will move on."
Ebony had to admit, that Blizzard was the toughest for her to learn. Your building up energy to bring about a force that is practically opposite all the elements in the world. It pretty much depends on whether or not you have the willpower to ignore the cold that is building up inside you. But with the way Josh was, Ebony was pretty sure he would figure out a way to do it.
(What is it?)
|
|
