11-30-2013, 11:30 AM
As Claire told her story, Tony regained some of his composure. The pain had died down, although much too slowly for his liking. A bad sign, but he had other concerns.
The death of her comrades did not surprise him. Michael had told much the same story.
His brows furrowed in thought. These hunters were certainly wide-spread. And more than dangerous, something he could attest to well enough. Yes, they were definitely a faction that needed investigating. He would have to question Michael more thoroughly about them as soon as he was able.
For now though, Claire was his primary concern, in more ways than one it seemed. A Circle? What was it those girls had taught her? Tony was well aware of the vast mysteries that surrounded the power, and would be the first to admit he knew only the basics, but Claire's tale was concerning. It seemed the poor girls had no chance against the hunter. They were lucky enough not to have killed themselves, it seemed. It was not judgement - it was not as if there was an obvious answer to the workings of the power - merely concern.
When Claire suddenly rose and made her way over to him, his concern turned dark. It wasn't her fault, really. She was merely trying to learn. Nonetheless, Tony felt pangs of anger and bitterness. This knowledge was not something he would sell. Too many lives were at stake.
He forced himself to adopt a soft smile. He would not take it out on her. "As fond as I am of you,"
he said in a soft voice, looking into her eyes, "I do not require any form of payment. This power has cost both of us our lives. If I was not willing to share anything I know, nothing could persuade me otherwise."
Taking a deep breath to clear his mind, Tony addressed her questions. "A 'Circle' is not necessary. I suspect that your friends knew no more than yourself - not that I blame them."
He squeezed his eyes shut for a moment to expel his fatigue. "You require a 'Circle' because you have developed a mental barrier which prevents you from accessing the power at will. From what I gather, this is because you associate it with a form of magic that requires such things. It is the mind's way of coping with a sudden foreign power. A rationalization, if that makes sense?"
He paused to let her absorb it, although he did not wait for an actual reply. "The "Five" are the basic attributes of the power. Everything that can be done is done by combining these elements. Fire, Air, Water, Earth and...something like Will or Lifeforce... It is hard to explain the fifth, but 'Spirit' is the best way to describe it. You will understand once you feel it."
"Each of these elements produce a distinct thread. These 'threads' or 'wires' - again, it is far easier to understand when you experience it yourself - are threaded together to form patterns. These patterns produce the effects you see - the magic, if you like."
He didn't dare attempt to demonstrate, even if she was a man. "Much of what you learn for yourself is instinct or luck, but it is extremely dangerous to experiment. If you make a mistake, or create a faulty pattern, anything can happen. You could kill yourself, someone else or -"
he grinned, "burn down a house."
"As I said, I can't teach you by demonstration. You will not be able to see or feel what I do, nor any other man. However, I can guide you from what I have been told. I can also help to break your mental barrier, so you can use the power at any time, without any Circles."
He hesitated a moment. "I will warn you...It may require methods which could prove painful. I leave the decision to you."
The death of her comrades did not surprise him. Michael had told much the same story.
His brows furrowed in thought. These hunters were certainly wide-spread. And more than dangerous, something he could attest to well enough. Yes, they were definitely a faction that needed investigating. He would have to question Michael more thoroughly about them as soon as he was able.
For now though, Claire was his primary concern, in more ways than one it seemed. A Circle? What was it those girls had taught her? Tony was well aware of the vast mysteries that surrounded the power, and would be the first to admit he knew only the basics, but Claire's tale was concerning. It seemed the poor girls had no chance against the hunter. They were lucky enough not to have killed themselves, it seemed. It was not judgement - it was not as if there was an obvious answer to the workings of the power - merely concern.
When Claire suddenly rose and made her way over to him, his concern turned dark. It wasn't her fault, really. She was merely trying to learn. Nonetheless, Tony felt pangs of anger and bitterness. This knowledge was not something he would sell. Too many lives were at stake.
He forced himself to adopt a soft smile. He would not take it out on her. "As fond as I am of you,"
he said in a soft voice, looking into her eyes, "I do not require any form of payment. This power has cost both of us our lives. If I was not willing to share anything I know, nothing could persuade me otherwise."
Taking a deep breath to clear his mind, Tony addressed her questions. "A 'Circle' is not necessary. I suspect that your friends knew no more than yourself - not that I blame them."
He squeezed his eyes shut for a moment to expel his fatigue. "You require a 'Circle' because you have developed a mental barrier which prevents you from accessing the power at will. From what I gather, this is because you associate it with a form of magic that requires such things. It is the mind's way of coping with a sudden foreign power. A rationalization, if that makes sense?"
He paused to let her absorb it, although he did not wait for an actual reply. "The "Five" are the basic attributes of the power. Everything that can be done is done by combining these elements. Fire, Air, Water, Earth and...something like Will or Lifeforce... It is hard to explain the fifth, but 'Spirit' is the best way to describe it. You will understand once you feel it."
"Each of these elements produce a distinct thread. These 'threads' or 'wires' - again, it is far easier to understand when you experience it yourself - are threaded together to form patterns. These patterns produce the effects you see - the magic, if you like."
He didn't dare attempt to demonstrate, even if she was a man. "Much of what you learn for yourself is instinct or luck, but it is extremely dangerous to experiment. If you make a mistake, or create a faulty pattern, anything can happen. You could kill yourself, someone else or -"
he grinned, "burn down a house."
"As I said, I can't teach you by demonstration. You will not be able to see or feel what I do, nor any other man. However, I can guide you from what I have been told. I can also help to break your mental barrier, so you can use the power at any time, without any Circles."
He hesitated a moment. "I will warn you...It may require methods which could prove painful. I leave the decision to you."