Chereads / Mage Of Misfortune / Chapter 4 - Experimentation

Chapter 4 - Experimentation

Using a candle was the safest thing Wesley could think of to test the spell on. The flame was small and was in a jar. "I think there's a candle in… Mom's room…" Looking down at the floor he paused. Lost in old memories he stayed there unmoving.

Shaking his head he looked back up. "I think there's another candle in the bathroom under the sink" 

Placing the candle on the table he started drawing the circle once more. I wonder if there is an easier way to draw this? Looking over the newly drawn circle he searched for a simpler way. 

"Hmm… I already have the process pretty simple. A bowl for the circle, and a ruler for the lines. The only thing that slows me down is the symbols and they have to be really accurate so can't rush. The only thing I can do is keep drawing so I can get better at it"

"Now how do I light this?" Thinking for a minute he got up taking a piece of paper and walked towards the stove. Lighting the stove he stuck the paper in the flames igniting it. Walking back he picked up the candle and lit the wick. "There we go."

"Crap I forgot to turn off the stove!"

Quickly turning off the stove he sat back down to continue the experiment. Looking over the circle once searching for defects. Finding none he activated the circle focusing on the flame.

Leaving his eyes open he watched as the magenta energy started to envelop the circle. It started at the top of the circle going down clockwise just going around the circle all the way back to the top. 

After reaching the top the energy continued on to the star starting at the bottom left point going up. It went to the top point going back down to the bottom right point onto the top left. It followed the same path he had used when drawing the circle.

Once the star was completed it started on the top symbol going right still following the same order as it was drawn in. "I wonder if I drew a circle and printed it what path it would follow assuming it worked?"

With the circle activating Wesley focused back on the experiment. As he watched he felt the energy travel from the circle to the flame. Despite his best efforts, he couldn't see the energy as if it turned invisible after leaving the circle. The only reason he knew it was still there was because he still felt a connection to the energy as it traveled from the circle. 

He watched the flame as the energy finally reached its destination. At first, the flame flickered erratically then it started to weaken and slowly it started to disappear. No longer sensing the energy his connection was cut off.

"Hmm, I don't know what I was expecting. I guess it should have been obvious it would extinguish the fire"

Staring at it for a few seconds he got closer and felt the energy covering the wick in the shape of a ball. "The only thing I really learned during this experiment is that the path the energy follows is the order in which I drew it. I guess that's actually not bad at least I learned something"

Deciding the candle was now useless with the energy covering the wick he picked up the candle to throw it away. 

"OW! That's HOT!" 

Dropping the candle he held his hand. "I didn't think it was lit long enough to be hot. Man that hurt." Blowing and shaking his hand he looked to see where he was burned at. Looking at his hand expecting to see his fingers burned from touching the glass he saw in the center of his palm a bright red circle. 

"Huh… Was I not burned by the glass?"

Looking at the candle once more his eyes slowly widening he came to a realization.

Picking up the candle once more, this time from the side, he brought it closer and blew it out. Smoke appeared over the candle confirming his assumption the spell only got rid of the light and not the flame. 

"Haa Haa…" He stared at the candle his breath getting faster and faster. "Haa Haa… This is really magic Haa Haa…" Wesley was bewitched by this revelation. Ever since he first created the Light Circle he never felt like it was real magic. It seemed as if it was just some kind of unknown science. Everything he had seen was possible something that if you tried enough you could accomplish with science.

Not anymore, this was real magic. Something science has no hope of ever achieving. This was something truly otherworldly.

"Haa..Breathe Haa..Breathe Haa.. I can't stop now I have to keep going"

Enthralled Wesley immersed himself into his experiments. He lost track of time he lost track of everything except for his experiments nothing else mattered. He was too engrossed to realize illusionary chains encompassing his entire body were shattering one by one.

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"Beep! Beep! Beep! Beep! Beep! Beep…"

"Huh! What... My phone?"

Startled he looked at his phone it was his alarm for work.

"It's already six it doesn't feel like that much time passed?"

"Uggh my head"

No longer in his enthralled state, Wesley felt a wave of exhaustion hit him all at once. 

"Crap I need to get ready for work"

Going into his room he changed into his work clothes and left for work. Looking into the mirror one last time he sighed "This is going to be a long day next time I'll make sure to get some sleep before work"

__________

"You ok Wesley you don't look very good?" Blake asked looking concerned.

"Yeah I'm fine I just didn't get to sleep last night"

"Did you stay up reading last night?"

"Yeah, something like that" Rubbing his eyes Wesley walked alongside Blake into Quincy.

Stepping inside they walked to the gym getting the cart out of the storage area.

"If you want you can take a nap in the truck and come back after lunch"

"Are you sure I can make it through the day"

"Yeah, it's fine we're not in a hurry just don't get caught"

"Thanks, Man" 

Walking back to the truck he reclined the seat and took a nap.