Solo [Sanctuary] Something that Fits (Training)

[Elem Bree]

41st of Fall, AV 512

Elem was beginning to find the library in the Within as homey and natural as the laboratory. It was a good feeling, though he suspected he would do well to either buy ink in bulk the next time he was in town or just learn how to make his own, the latter more appealing as Winter approached. While Morphing was very interesting and had made it clear to the Zeltivan how Djed worked, his newest browsing in the meager but growing volumes was much more suitable for his beliefs and way of life as it stood.

His journal was out before him, quill at the ready. He had chosen to use the same book he had been copying the Morphing book from, since his funds were dwindling and he needed to be frugal in his research. Suspecting that winter would make saving and using the most efficient means obvious, he felt it best to get the right habits down early rather than later. Elem opened the book to the first page, happy even with its clear premise in its title.

Shielding: Basic and Advanced Techniques

Finding it among his other book and among other topics of magical disciplines, Elem was at once enraptured with the idea that he could use Djed in a way to not only protect other people and animals, but places and objects as well. There were so many applications of this discipline that it was truly dizzying to even get a handle on it. he had hoped for such a reaction with Morphing, but its emphasis on forgetting the body was in stark contrast to his boxing training and body building. He was glad to know what little he did, as his swimming was improving with the addition of the webbing when necessary.

Since it was a topic he was truly interested in, prior to rote regurgitation of copied sentences, Elem took the time to really understand the coursework presented. For now, it would be only notes, giving him time to absorb the material without so much rushing to apply it.

[Elem Bree]

After a good bell of perusing and flipping, Elem's mind was no better organized. He was already thinking of the many tasks that could be applied to a shield and the many benefits that could come from them.It was then that he closed the book and his eyes, taking a deep breath. "Come on , Bree. Get it together. You aren't going to get anything done this way." Looking around, he was at first happy that no one was there to hear him talking to himself. This brought to mind the fact that he often found himself alone in this room, so best to make the most of it.

Moving a second lamp from a neighboring desk, Elem lit them both, the oil sputtering as the new addition came to life and light. There was much work and experimentation to be done and he was eager to get to it. Placing his own notes in the center, he placed the Shielding book to his left, opening it to the beginning. Recognizing Kavala's handwriting, as it was on most of the things to be found at the Sanctuary in the first place, Elem saw no reason to make yet another copy of this book. he would focus solely on the study and retention of its contents. Only the slow scrawling of his own quill into his notes would be evident of any writing that day.

First, a definition was in order. Sheilding, in its basic and primary form, was the application of weaving Djed into three dimensional objects in which to prevent foreign Djed from passing through its barrier. Elem thought of this for am oment, listing some examples of foreign Djed in his notes. People were made of Djed, as were animals and plants. The elements? Surely yes, as his entire surroundings were made from magic. Really, anything that was present could be protected with the proper shield. Elem had to avoid letting his mind wander to these thousandfold applications again or he would never get anywhere in his studies. He would much rather be using this magic than reading about it.

The tome described the commonality of Shielding being used in a wizard's laboratory, to avoid the creations or energies used there from escaping and destroying the wizard's home. Elem loved laboratories, especially the one at the Sanctuary. His mind went back to the sedative and poison that he and Serrif had created there. What if that large flask with the P on it had been dropped? The gas could have escaped and affected all of them, since the Within was a mostly closed cavern. Elem knew where his first barrier would be for sure. But how to separate what went in and out? Again he caught himself before flying off into the realm of fantasy.

Returning to his note taking, Elem recorded the fact that a shield, while primarily blocking Djed, could also keep some things in, some things out or a combination of both. It took time, study and skill to define these functions. Elem suspected he would have plenty of time for sure, as this was becoming as exciting to him as the study of medicine. Study was a given for the Zeltivan, as many of his native people could easily be born with a book in their hand without much surprise. Skill would come with the first two.

[Elem Bree]

As he continued to read, Elem noticed that another discipline was mentioned often: Auristics. The tome explained that by using Auristics on an object or person prior to crafting a shield, the wizard could gain important knowledge on factors that might go unnoticed otherwise. Elem grinned a bit at the idea of being a Wizard. It didn't really make a lot of sense to him. He was a physician, a healer, but a Wizard? Then again, a season prior he wasn't a rookie boxer, so anything was possible.

His mind returning to Auristics, an idea occurred to the Zeltivan. Just as he had stumbled across the Shielding book while looking for his previous Morphing tome, he recalled seeing the title of a book dealing with the other discipline among the tomes in the library. Standing from the desk, Elem walked over to the stacks and looked over the titles. there were many other books there that he would absorb over the coming year, but for now his mind was set, pulling an introductory manual and bringing it back to the desk.

He placed it to the right of his open notation journal, mirroring the Shielding text on the left. Perhaps it would be best to study both disciplines simultaneously, using the Auristics to study a subject and then applying a shield to it. it made logical sense to Elem, which pretty much made it the standard. Upon opening it, the first thing he noticed was Kavala's handwriting again. Elem looked back over to the stacks, wondering if she hadn't copied every book in the library from another source. His next concern was whether or not she ever slept. He would have to ask her the next time he saw her, which wasn't often with her busy schedule.

Moving his attention to the book on the right, Elem began reading the inital pages of it. Another definition was in order, to begin yet another practiced discipline. Auristics was the discipline of reading the aura of an object or sentient creature. Everything that existed had an aura which could be read and analyzed. this statement was read and reread a few times before sinking in. Elem looked up and his eyes perused the contents of the library, his hands, even the quill in it that wrote out notes. Everything that existed. The scope drew a long breath from the Zeltivan.

It was hard to resist trying to see an aura, much less read it. Elem knew that he would never get anything done if he kept on jumping ahead, however. He recalled how much preparation he had made before his intial Morphing jaunt and felt that these two should be no less practiced. Remaining focused on study alone, Elem continued reading between the two books, absorbing the information contained therein and scrawling away at his own pages. He had plenty of work to do at the Sanctuary outside of these disciplines, even if they would eventually enhance his other mundane ones.

[Elem Bree]

It had come to the point where Elem had to finally make an attempt. However, this attempt was not at the two disciplines he was spending so much time on. Instead, it would be an exercise surrounding a statment made in the Auristics book.

Most proper students by now have learned to have their own reserve of Djed to use for spellcasting, so the risk of overgiving in this mostly passive Art should be of no consequence in the first place.

Reserve Djed. Elem had written the phrase three times in his notes, partnered with a number of ink blots from the quill tapping near the words. Fatigue of the day and the study were already setting in, so he had placed bookmarks where he was in each tome and returned them to their rightful places. His own journal and supplies gathered, the Zeltivan snuffed the lamps and candles before leaving the library and returning ot his own quarters.

He had missed dinner with the extra study, which was alright. He knew he could pick at leftovers in the morning before heading out to work on projects. If nothing else, he would munch on the grain feed given to the animals. Being a Zeltivan in a famine had taught him that food was food. If you were hungry, eat. Placing his supplies at his personal desk, Elem closed the heavy door and latched it. He gave himself a good stretch before getting on the floor to do pushups. His body was beginning to reach a point where daily exercise was necessary to retain his progress.

As the floor came up toward him with each push's release, his mind still was fixated on the words Reserve Djed. All things that existed were made of Djed. He did not want and could not afford to sap himself of his strength as it was a direct insult ot his Goddess and himself. What did ti mean then? He suspected that each living entity was allotted an amount of Djed in the first place by their very existence. How then would a reserve be created? The thoughts dwindled Elem turned on his side, lifting each leg like a blade and holding it, first with the toe out and then with the toe in, his leg muscles burning with the extension and effort.

Stnading and jogging in place, Elem suspected that the relaxation and meditation he had achieved with his Morphing preparations would be as helpful with training his mind as his exercises were with his body. If he had a maximum amount of Djed, it made sense that his whole self would have to be optimal in order to enjoy the same optimal results with magic. It was unfortunate that wizard schools were not as popular as they were when many of the books had been written, he thought to himself. Rolling his neck and arms, Elem disrobed and slid under the blankets, looking up at the dark stone ceiling. He reached over and snuffed the candle at his bedside, blanketing the room in ebon.

Only his breath and thoughts remained in that inky blackness. His eyes closed as he returned to the state he had achieved before, by letting all thoughts of magic and the body slip away into that oblivion, his purpose to expand the reservoir of mental and spiritual. To expand. To expand..

[Jackalope]

Elem

Award

Skill	XP Earned	Lore Earned
Observation	+3	Shielding's Definition and Its Use
Bodybuilding	+1	Shields Can Prevent Entry or Deny Exit
		Auristic's Definition and Its Use
		Importance of Reserve Djed

Witty Remark Here

Alright. Looks like Elem has some foundations with which to begin working on these schools of magic. Looking forward to when you're ready to start practicing them! Keep up the good work! If you have any questions or concerns regarding your grade, please send me a PM and we can figure it out.