"Contrary to popular belief, magic is not the answer to everything. If you can achieve something by applying basic science, there is little need to construct a magic circle to do the same. A complicated magic circle has more chances of blowing up hence increasing the risk of hurt to the sorcerer. Transmutation is a magic that deals with changing properties of an item into something else. Transmutation is a powerful art that is unpopular due to the strict demands attached to it. One must know the chemical composition of an object and it's resulting component to enable the magic to work. Failure to that, the object breaks down into non-being. Existing everywhere at once and cannot be retrieved again."
Oh, so that's how it is. I finished the page and rubbed my eyes. I knew I couldn't channel magic with my body so I had been looking at other alternatives in case the rune magic thing didn't work. Remembering a scene from Full Metal Alchemist, Roy Mustang had had transmutation circles imprinted in his gloves that when activated, allowed him to raise the density of oxygen around a target and using his gloves to make a spark, he can send the spark towards his target and cause a destructive fiery explosion.
Unfortunately, the alchemic rules in this universe were not as flexible as the full metal alchemist world. To draw transmutation circles on a pair of gloves would need an intricate hand. Not to mention the transmutation circles needed to do that themselves would need to be constructed through runes from the ground up. Runes weren't easy to work with. The pattern, runes, meaning and magic all needed to resonate and synchronize so as to work. That was why rune sorcerers dedicated all their effort into pursuing this branch of magic and ignoring the rest.
It wasn't as easy as just inscribing a rune formation on something and bang! expecting it to work on the first try. There was a difference between a rune formation and a magic circle. A magic circle is a stable spell formation constructed by a sorcerer to better focus and enhance a spell. It was mostly meant for high tier sorcery. A rune formation was just that. A formation of runes placed in a way that they achieved a set objective when powered.
All this information was contained in the acolyte section so I wondered just what to expect in the other sections of the library. An excited feeling bloomed inside me and I brought a hand to my chest to calm my loudly beating heart. Magic had awakened something in me. A thirst for knowledge that almost superceded my hunger for power. Almost.
"Jin Jin Jin. Look!"
Yuki came blasting inside the library excitedly. In her hands she had a shrunken sapling that was almost dry. I rose a brow as she brought the sapling close to my face.
"Umm normally you're supposed to give someone a flower Yuki."
I joked.
"Mm mm. Don't be silly Jin! Look at what I can do now."
Words died in my mouth as I watched her channel a thin film of water into the sapling and it slowly started to regain it's vitality. By the end of it, the sapling was glowing with life but Yuki looked exhausted.
She lost her strength and I gently caught hold of her into my hands.
"Well done Yuki. That was impressive."
I softly told her.
She nodded and disappeared back into my mind space. I hadn't doubted her for even a second. Yuki possessed an iron will and despite her young nature she was surprisingly determined. Something we shared. I felt a sort of pull and closed my eyes where I stood.
I instantly found myself Infront of the portal to the pocket dimension attached to my mind space. I felt a brief surge of annoyance that someone had actually done something in my mindscape without my knowledge but managed to stomp it down. I walked through the portal that always managed to awe me with it's colorful look and stepped out into a gray world. I disappeared and reappeared next to Logan. He had a little smile once he saw me. A tilt of his upper lip that one would think was dipped in arrogance.
"So you're back."
He observed.
I shrugged.
"Yeah I am. The reception is bad as always."
He snorted and gestured to his chains.
"My hands are quite literally tied. I'm afraid you'll have to speak to the management."
I chuckled.
"It's funny how you can be so nonchalant about this."
"Why not? You guys are going to get me out of here right?"
I nodded seriously.
"Yeah we are. Yuki is quite determined to save you. She's tired from showing me...you know what, I'm going to let that be a surprise. No use in spoiling the fun too early."
"Yeah. I can't fake my expressions at all. And if she finds out you told me, it's gonna be open season on your ass."
I shuddered. I'll reiterate once more. Yuki's pranks always went overboard quickly.
I needed to go back to my body so I looked at Logan seriously and said,
"It's only for a little while longer. In the meantime don't trash the place."
I walked away amidst a laugh and a shouted, 'fuck you.'
A smile appeared on my face once I got back to my body.
"I'm not too hopeful of your sanity if you stay there for too long smiling like a fool."
A voice said behind me and I turned around a little spooked. I was used to detecting someone through my water sense and blood manipulation before they came near me, so I was a little surprised that Grand Master Zoren could get the drop on me like that. A little surprised but slowly I was getting used to it. How? He always did that.
"I thought we talked about this Grand Master."
His apparition shimmered and appeared a couple of steps at my front.
"Cease your incessant rambling and come to my tower."
I shook my head and decided to follow behind. Grand Master Zoren's spire was located at the far end of the whole conservatory and it took a while before getting there. On the walls of the hallway connecting the tower to the rest of the central building, scenes of the past shimmered into existence on the surfaces as I walked by.
The murals depicted a story of war, courage and despair. They told of the fall of Atlantis into underwater due to a battle between the gods. A battle that ravaged the lands. Due to the presence of a demigod of Hecate, the goddess of magic, the city and his inhabitants was saved and after winning the favor of the god of the seas, Poseidon, a self sufficient civilization was born in the depths of the ocean. Fearing the break out of another war, the first Grand Sorcerer established the conservatory. A place where he taught sorcerers, magic. A son of Poseidon became the first king of Atlantis. His dominion over the seas all but guaranteed the position. The only other contender being the first Grand Master who wanted to focus on magic.
Generations later and...that's where the mural scenes ended. After seeing the progress made by the generations of kings and sorcerers, the abrupt end had caught me off guard. Ever since then, it has been constantly on my mind. I wasn't sure if everything depicted was also true. History is written by the winners after all. The only thing I was sure of was that there was more to the story. Much much more. And I had a feeling it was connected to me in some way.
The huge doors to Zoren's towers Swung wide open and once I stepped through... bindings of bright orange appeared around my form, dancing before disappearing. I instantly felt all of my powers go. It wasn't like during the test where I could still feel them. This time I was completely cut off. I felt weak and a heaviness settled on my shoulders almost sending me to my knees.
"What did you do?"
I asked with barely contained anger. I didn't like being weak. Not at all.
"Its time to begin the procedure."
He simply said from where he was gesturing. The movement of his hands was hypnotic and confusing.
"And my powers?"
"A test of your resilience."
I didn't believe that.
"The real reason."
"To stop any interference from you divine side. This procedure is delicate and magic never plays well with divine energy."
I Nodded, appeased.
"Now, get over here."
Was that a mortal Kombat reference? This old troll.
The gestures stopped and between the room a light spread out and we found ourselves in a garden. A floating platform hovered over a pool of magma. The clothes on me shed and I was left with only a boxer.
I didn't need to be told what to do next so I started walking forward.
"Wait. Are you sure you want to do this?"
Zoren asked me.
Did I? What if it didn't work? I couldn't save myself like usual due to my powers being absent. Was I strong enough mentally to endure the pain and suffering I was about to go through?
For a second I almost contemplated turning around and walking away but...then I remembered the hope Yuki and the others had placed on me. I couldn't let myself down at this juncture. I had already come far what's a few last steps?
"Yeah. I am."
He didn't say anything but I could see a glint of approval in his eyes before it was ruthlessly crushed by his usual impassive face. The 7 feet long platform hovering over the magma floated and came to stop before me, upright. An indent of a vague body shape appeared on it's surface. I turned and the table like structure pressed itself upon my back. Manacles to hold me down appeared on all of my limbs.
"Is it too late to say no?"
I joked.
A force straightened my back out and I winced. The platform turned horizontal from it's vertical position and proceeded to hover at it's earlier place. My body had melded to the metallic structure and it's cold surface felt uncomfortable in my skin. The only warning I had was warmth. Then I started burning.