Flashback The Will of Fire

[Khal'iah]

Timestamp: 49th day of Spring 512 AV It was almost humorous how slow time crawled when one was excited about something. T'was almost as if the powers that be derived some sort of sick amusement from watching the mortals below agonize over every second that slowly passed by, aching for that which captivated their desire. For the young warrior born to the name Khal'iah Vojak, his desire was to begin his training in the art of Reimancy, and the two days that needed to pass in order for him to do so slithered by slower than a snail. However, after what had seemed a small eternity, the promised day had arrived and the violet-skinned Akalak bolted from his home and broke into a sprint through Riverfall. What could he say? He just could not help his excitement... In just a few minutes, the young warrior arrived within the garden he had encountered his Mentor Aren within, standing upon the exact spot from two days prior. He knew this due to the droplets of dried blood that still marred the surface of the earth, from the ceremonial incisions that were made upon Khal'iah's arm in order to "initiate" him into the ways of Reimancy. It was an exceptionally painful experience, but one well worth it in the mind of the young warrior. Despite this mindset, his arm still twinged whenever he thought about the invasion of foreign energies in his system, and Khal'iah gripped his bandaged forearm absently. Unlike previously, there was no buckler tied upon his arm, for obvious reasons. "Where might he be..." Khal'iah mused to himself, bouncing upon the heels of his feet in anticipation. He had heeded the order of his Mentor to the letter and had not made any attempts to tap into his newfound "Djed", but was more than eager to do so this day. "...Come on Aren, hurry up..."

[Aren]

"You sure are here early," Aren stated, his voice emanating from some distance behind his young student. As he approached, fully clad in the usual attire he was so comfortable with (weapons and all) it was clear that the older Akalak had underestimated just how eager Khal'iah was to get to their training. "Good, cause I have a whole day of fun and adventure prepared for you," By which, of course, the Reimancer meant that Khal was likely going to spend a good deal of the morning listening to Aren talk about boring things like conceptualizing, shaping and layering. These esoteric terms may not have sounded like they were very exciting, but they were an unfortunate requirement for mastery of the most basic tenets of Reimancy. They were the building blocks of the art, and without understanding them, a mage would never be anything more than an amateur. That being said, even Aren could probably not stay on such a boring topic for long, and he suspected his attentions would eventually shift to the practical demonstration segment of the day's class. "First off," The teacher began, taking this opportunity to unstrap his scythe and lay it down on the trimmed grass upon which they stood, "We'll start with the most basic of the essentials: drawing out your Res," he said, determined not to be as hokey as he sounded in his own mind. "The process will eventually become almost second nature, but at first, you'll need to practice certain exercises so that you may begin to control this ability," The warrior-mage offered a reassuring smile, knowing that this exceptionally boring routine was as essential as it was frustrating. Everybody always wanted to go out and blast things with their new magic powers, at least Aren remembered feeling something like that when he was a kid, but an infant had to learn to crawl before they could hope to walk... and Khal was little better than a mewling babe at this point of his education.

[Khal'iah]

After only a few moments, the azure-skinned Akalak had made his entrance into the park, remarking upon the earliness displayed by his young pupil. However, his statement about "fun and adventure" gained a mixed response from his student. On one hand, the young Akalak took him seriously...but on the other, he steeled himself for the possibility of that statement being layered with more sarcasm. Nonetheless, the violet-skinned warrior turned to face his Mentor as he strode over, inclining his form in a polite bow of greeting before addressing him with a low, respectful tone. "Good morning Aren." he stated simply before standing straight once more and folding his arms about his chest; as was his habit. The young warrior's shimmering eyes followed his mentor as he came to a halt and unstrapped his scythe, and in that single moment he regretted not bringing along his longsword. No matter, he still had his Lakan! Khal'iah hearkened carefully to the words that his Mentor said regarding what they were about to do and the reasons behind it, his head making silent nods of acknowledgement all the while. He could only imagine the exercises that his Mentor would put him through in order to draw out his Res, but the Akalak silently hoped that, whatever they were, they would be significantly less painful than the Initiation he had endured just days prior. "Alright," the young warrior began, once his Mentor had stopped speaking, "I'm ready for whatever you throw at me! Let's get down to business!" His eagerness was obvious, but there was an edge to his voice, a slight...holding back as if he was being a tad cautious. Indeed he was, as the Initiation had forced a respect for the art of Reimancy. Though excited, he had no intention of bringing any bodily harm upon himself, nor endangering his master.

[Aren]

Aren had paused for a brief instance after hearing Khal's good morning, as if the greeting had triggered an errant thought, but it was gone after a second; the only response his otherwise occupied mind could muster in reply was a halfhearted wave. Unfortunately, proper manners had not been a popular topic amongst the Akalak's teachers as he was growing up, and so he often found that observing the most basic pleasantries sometimes escaped his lofty notice. "Sit down," The teacher instructed, himself falling to the ground in a cross legged stance. Khal'iah was like an endless wellspring of bouncy enthusiasm, which might prove annoying in some situations, but which served him well in the role of a student. Ambition for the discipline one studied was generally considered key to rapid advancement within any field, which is probably why it had taken Aren almost a hundred years to get to where he was. Magic had always terrified him as a boy, hearing his mother's cautionary tales, and knowing she would one day make him take up it's study as well. This upbringing had led to an aversion for using his own Reimancy well into adulthood, which took him decades to get over. Right now, however, Aren was free from that problem, and he found that his pupil kindled an excitement for magic that he had never felt before. "Close your eyes and think of your Res as just another extension of yourself, like an arm or a leg. Don't just feel it inside you, see it in your mind. Give it a color and a shade, a texture and a taste," The teacher suggested, trying to guide Khal'iah in the conceptualization of his Res. The substance, by nature, had few defined attributes, but it often helped the novice to associate it with particular traits. It was hard, after all, to imagine something that din't look like anything. This way, the student could begin to expel their Res in whatever form was most comfortable for them, after which they could slowly experiment with different shapes and states. "Now, see if you can pull on it, like unraveling a thread," Aren commanded, all too aware that it may take anywhere from minutes to days for Khal to actually be able to do as he was bid, "Do it slowly, cautiously. There's no hurry. You and the thread are the only things in existence. My voice is only a pale shadow reflected on the grass." Everyone had different sections of the training at which they would be slower or faster at. It had taken Aren only moments to expel his Res during his first attempt, but he had grown up around a Reimancer. Even before he had been Initiated, he knew more about the discipline than he had ever cared to. By contrast, this same fact had held him back when he was required to begin learning about transmutation. The knowledge that he would be shifting his Res into a volatile element had caused trepidation and anxiety, delaying his passage though that particular stage.

[Khal'iah]

The young warrior did not have to endure patiently awaiting the arrival of his Mentor long, for the azure-skinned Akalak made his entrance into the Park just a few moments following. His first instruction, after waving away the eager, violet-skinned Akalak's greeting, was for him to be seated. Khal'iah obeyed without hesitation, dropping to a cross-legged seating position that mimicked that of his senior; seating himself only a few feet away, facing him. Next, the azure-skinned warrior set about instructing Khal'iah on how to visualize the Res. He suggested seeing it as an extension of himself, much like how Khal'iah was always taught to see a weapon, and to see it within his psyche. He was also told to give it a color, shade, texture, and taste. Admittedly, the young warrior wasn't exactly the most creative being on the face of Mizahar, but he did not dare open his mouth in protest. Instead, his shimmering eyes lulled to a close and he inhaled a deep breath, focusing upon his Res as was instructed. For the days past his Initiation, Khal'iah could feel his Res within him, brimming with a warmth that was both foreign and comforting altogether: a sensation that was new, but felt as though it was there all along. He attempted to put a "face" to this presence and conceptualized it. A deep violet was the color and shade he had selected to personify this energy, as was his skintone and the hue he was most familiar with. Its texture and form mimicked that of the Res he had seen utilized by his Senior days prior, as he had no idea what other forms Res could take as of yet: it was a gaseous, almost etheral form. Taste...this stumped the young warrior for a moment or two, yet he thought about all the warm, comforting things that were edible. This segued into a side thought about his mother's amazing ability to cook, and all of her "famous" dishes. His mouth watered at the thought...before he snapped himself out of it and settled on one of his personal favorites. Khal'iah was uncertain as to how selecting a taste for his Res would help...would his enemies taste the sugar in his fireball? But nonetheless, he settled upon the sweet taste of vanilla, the same type that came from the plant his mother would often add to tea in order to bolster its flavor. Once he had finished "fleshing out" his Res, he hearkened once again to the voice of his senior, wondering what in the world could he request him to do next. Yet, the order seemed reasonable to say the least. The young Akalak inhaled a deep breath and attempted to do as his mentor had alluded to: shutting out all outside distractions and focusing solely on the task at hand... ...And so he reached within himself and grasped the enigmatic force within him. Like a stray thread upon a piece of clothing, he gingerly pulled and tugged at it; slowly and cautiously, just as his Mentor had instructed. He took his time, which amounted to several minutes of silence on the part of the young Akalak. Then, after a small eternity had passed...something began to stir in the swordhand of the young warrior. It began as nothing more than a darkening upon the flat of his palm, a barely noticeable change in the grand scheme of things. Khal'iah felt it surfacing, responding to his cautious pulling and urged it onward. Further and further the darkening grew about his palm until the Res escaped his hand altogether, slowly and lazily extending a mere two inches above his palm in the form of deep, violet wisps. It was at this point that Khal'iah opened his eyes and looked down at his palm, a small grin forming upon his face. "I've done it!" he said in a soft, measured tone. Though elated, he didn't want his pride and eagerness to be too obvious. Now it was only a matter of awaiting further instruction.

[Aren]

"Good, good, but stay focused," Aren ordered, realizing that this was an exciting moment for any prospective mage, but that concentration was paramount. "Now, see if you can coalesce that formless shape into something more coherent. It doesn't have to be a perfect sphere, just something a little more organized," The Reimancer suggested, eager to see his student taking his first steps into the word of magic. This second stage of the process was critical to master. The mind of the mage had to be fluid, perceiving the world not in absolutes, but in possibilities. A Reimancer who could only shape his Res into a single form, no matter how strong, would never live up to his full potential. "Imagine a hand. Open, the hand is soft, fluid. Closed, it's rigid, hard. Simply try to close your fist," Honestly, the older Akalak didn't know exactly how to explain the process to someone with no prior knowledge of it, but he tried to use an analogy a warrior like Khal'iah would understand. These techniques eventually became so second nature, that Aren had to suppress the reflex to inadvertently produce and shape his own Res, here and now. In a year's time, or two or ten or however many, Khal would find the need for these exercises completely ridiculous, but if he even thought about them he would likely find himself doing exactly as his teacher was doing now. This was a testament to the power of these simple techniques. "At least I know they work," The Reimancer thought with a smile, realizing that his own master must have experienced the same thing.

[Khal'iah]

"Understood." said Khal'iah, offering a swift nod before lulling his eyes to a close once more. He returned to the state of immense focus he had attained moments before, continuing to conceptualize his Res in the form that had now manifested within his palm. His ears hearkened to the instruction of his azure-skinned mentor, and a slow nod was all that the male received in response. Part of the young Akalak hoped that Aren would not take offense to such a lack of response, seeing as though he was attempting to focus, but that "part" of him soon fell into that same tide of focus and the thought was gone. 'Soft...Fluid...' the words danced about the young warrior's psyche as he attempted to decide what shape he would form from his Res. As per the suggestion of his Mentor, it did not have to be perfect, but it did have to be organized. 'Rigid...Hard...' he continued to think, his psyche conjuring mental images of possible ideas. Khal'iah recognized that the steps he was taking were the building blocks to becoming great in the art of Reimancy...and that recognition was what dictated the shaping of his Res. "Building Block." he muttered absently, honestly not even knowing that the words had escaped his lips. With focus absolute, the young Akalak began the process of guiding the wisps of violet Res into the rudimentary form of a cube. He began with a "solid" foundation, a firm, flat, rigid square that took him several moments to get just right. It amounted to nothing more than being an inch in size, but it was indeed a start. He then mimicked that process several times, erecting the "walls" of the cube and completing it with a "ceiling". Though the end result was far from being an absolutely perfect cube, it was indeed more organized than the wisps that he had manifested before. His eyes opened once more and he regarded his work with a proud smile, yet his eagerness did not bubble forth as before. It took a higher level of concentration to maintain the form of the Res, and the Novice dedicated the entirety of his focus into keeping the cube intact. After all, he did not want to fail in the slightest before his Mentor.

[Aren]

"You learn quick, that's good," Aren offered, the praise meant as honest assessment of his student's capabilities. "Now, try a different shape, and then another," The Reimancer commanded, attempting to evaluate Khal's potential with a bit of a test. Since he did not know how adept the younger Akalak might prove to be at the art of Reimancy, Aren knew he had to figure out a way to get a feel for how slowly or quickly he might develop. It was true that Khal'iah had picked up the first and second most basic stages easily, but every novice would be better or worse at some things. This, in itself, proved nothing. As such, his teacher needed to check whether the boy's intended exercises might prove too challenging, or not enough. Asking Khal to rapidly coalesce his Res into a second shape, and then a third, was simply one way to do that. Theoretically, the feat should prove to be beyond the initiate's abilities, but one always had to account for the possibility of a student who was skilled beyond his training. In truth, individuals like that were exceptionally rare, but Aren knew that the mere chance was enough to justify such a test. More than likely, Khal'iah would be unable to produce multiple shapes at this point, or if he could, very slowly, but that would tell his teacher something as well. Of course, not wanting to deflate the young man's attempt, Aren decided against informing him of the difficulty of the task. Success or failure, however, this knowledge would guide the pace of his instruction, allowing him to maintain a curriculum that was challenging without being impossible.

[Khal'iah]

The young, violet-skinned warrior did his absolute best not to allow his head to swell from the simple compliment of his Mentor. Sure, it meant quite a bit coming from his senior, but Khal'iah was not about to let it distract him from the task at hand. He was commanded to mold his Res into a different shape, and then immediately into another; for reasons beyond the Akalak's current train of thought. His best guess was that this was an exercise to get him used to manipulating his own Res, and made a mental note to avidly practice molding the enigmatic energies as apart of his training regimen for the future. The young warrior offered only a silent nod in response to his senior's order and then undertook the command with gusto. Firstly, he decided to utilize what he already had in play in order to make the first transition "easier". Moments passed as he concentrated in silence, melding one of the squares that made up his cube with another and then re-arranging the entirety of the shape. Sweat beaded upon his brow from the sheer might of his concentration, and after the minutes had passed, a small pyramid was the result. A calm exhale escaped the Akalak's mouth as he took a small breather from his task. He had to admit, it was rather exhausting to concentrate this much on a new task; but much like swinging about a sword, one didn't develop the muscle and stamina to wield the weapon constantly after one training session. With that in mind, he immediately dove into the shaping of his Res' second form. This time, he opted to form the shape that was mentioned previously be his senior: a sphere. This would prove a tad more challenging, seeing as though his previous shapes were prisms and this would be an entire sphere. But, if it were easy...it wouldn't be worth doing. So, Khal'iah began the process by guiding his Res in a circle, dismantling and essentially smudging out the pyramid. This circle completed a sloppy arch above his palm and he set about fleshing it out better. He gave it a more defined curve, expanded it slightly, and after several moments of fussing over its details, exhaled in triumph. The sphere was far from being perfect, but it was easily identified as such. All in all, the back to back shape transformations had taken the young warrior quite a long span of time to accomplish, so he was by no means a prodigy of the art... ...But he was capable. And he could do it. "Alright," he managed to say, maintaining his focus with furrowed brows, "what's next?"

[Aren]

Aren watched in silent observation as Khal'iah attempted to do as he was bid. His eyes evaluated every instance of furrowed consternation, of applied effort, aiming to divine just how difficult his pupil found the task he was performing. Eventually, the task was accomplished, but clearly neither easily nor quickly. The shapes the young initiate formed left much to be desired as well, but that was to be expected. Their form would improve along with his progress through the art of Reimancy, and one day he would realize that making nearly flawless patterns wasn't very difficult at all. "Good work," Aren stated, offering a nod and a smile to his student for indulging the necessary inconvenience without any complaint. He likely thought it was just another exercise, and it was (in a manner of speaking), but the Akalak wondered how the young man would have reacted if he knew it was a test of sorts. Would he have done better, or worse? Would he have resented being tested on his first day of class? As a child, Aren recalled not appreciating his mother's impromptu exams, always believing that it was unfair to be asked to do something he had yet to actually be taught anything about. It was only now that he realized that the purpose of these tests were merely to judge the student's potential. "Now, focus on your Res and... just bring it back," The Reimancer didn't really know how to explain the act of reabsorbing one's expelled Djed without having to use so many words, so he was forced to be rather vague about it. Khal would probably instinctively understand, however, undoubtedly able to feel the urge even as they spoke.