CHPT 144: Ambient Power
"Ok. What the fuck is Wild Magic and why does it feel like that?!" Claude asked as he headed to his third period class; Monster Species Studies.
He made his way down the packed hallway, passing students and Professors— being forced to hear the tail end of their conversations as he waited for Arne answer.
"[You remember when I told you about how Remus killed Romulus?]" Arne replied after a few moments.
"Yes. He ripped out Romulus' heart." Claude thought in response as he entered his third period class and took his usual seat. He was early— the first student inside actually.
"[What happened after?]" Arne asked as Claude pulled his books out of his backpack and set them on the table in front of him.
"Remus became depressed and disappeared?"
"[No, you mupp— Well yes. But I'm not talking about that. What happened with Romulus?]"
Claude sorted his thoughts and went over the story Arne told him the night after he defeated the wave of Draugr in the Astral Realm. In this time, students casually spilled into the— once quiet, room and took their seats.
"Romulus' heart was ripped from his chest and dropped in the sand— where it used the magic he was charged with along with wild ambient magic to change the terrain of the Great Basin...WAIT!" Claude straightened as he figured out what Arne was saying.
"[Yes. Now you see? The a magic continued even after his death and changed the desert because he was charged with his own magic as well as Wild Magic.]"
Claude was stunned into silence for a moment. "What is it? Truly." He whispered.
"[Since I was a Swordsman I don't know too much about it. But I had Lupines in my pack that were Mages. They were scholars really— deciding to deeply study the magical aspect of our race— one of those aspects was Wild Magic. Another form of magic that we could use and the Humans couldn't.]"
"Can the Lupines of Remus use it?" He asked while he flipped through the pages of his Monster Studies book.
"[All natural and supernatural predators/prey can use the Magic of the wild im pretty sure, the more powerful and dangerous the animal is, the more attracted it is to the magic. Think of it as ambient magic to start— simply wild and wispy waves of powerful energies that hover over untamed areas of land and even in cities in small bits. When in intense situations— like engaging in battle or hunting, we can instinctively call on that Magic to strengthen our bodies or our Magic. Although it's usually only used in small bits— very small bits. Your (Territory Marking) Skill uses it, so depending on how far away from society you are, you can claim quite a bit of land using the Wild Magic to empower the skill.]"
"Ambient Magic unavailable to Humans....." he thought as the last chunk of students came into the classroom. "Wait a minute. You said we can only use it in small bits, but Romulus used enough to transform an entire desert?"
"[Yes well. Romulus is different. The Alphas closest to him told us that he was able to synthesize large amounts of the magic with his own and stay in control enough not to go wild himself.]" Arne replied in his mind over the sound of chatting students and books being slammed onto tables.
His words caused him to tense up for a moment, "Go wild....himself?" Claude repeated in confusion.
"[Yes. You see Shape-Changers are once again in a weird spot in this world. While the Magic was initially meant for animals. We came about and we're able to use it as well. The only thing is— we seem to have a reaction to it. The Wild Magic fights to put us in our true forms, you didn't feel it?]" Arne replied as Prof. Alvis walked into the room with his feeble body leaned over the stack of books and papers he was holding.
"Uhh No. Did I use enough to feel it?" Claude asked.
"[Claude. Most Lupines can only use enough to strengthen themselves for short moments. You've been a Lupine for a matter of months and used it in union with your elemental Magic to grow a tree....]"
Before he could consider what exactly that meant, Prof. Alvis snapped him out of his thoughts.
"Hehe....Ehrm. Alright s-students....quiet down please...Erhm! Thank you. Now, it's time for us to begin class. So if you would all open to the page we left off on last class I would appreciate it."
Claude's book was already open to the right page so he sat unmoving, hoping to continue his conversation with Arne. "So—"
"[We'll talk more after classes end. For now, focus on your studies.]" Arne interrupted before going completely silent in his mind.
Claude fought to keep his mind off the idea of a whole new form of Magic he wasn't aware of as class started. But, one thought stood unmoving in his mind, like a pillar that ran straight through the earth— it wouldn't budge.
"If Romulus could blend and store Wild Magic with his own like one giant melting pot.....what can Remus do?"
***
Claude went through the rest of his classes— submerged in his own thoughts, only coming out when he was spoken to or when he felt Ursula's light brown eyes burning holes into his back. Training went a little bit better since he offered to spar with her— which she seemed pleasantly surprised by. Chase was vocal about feeling the exact opposite way.
During that time, she theorized about the twins with him silently. Questioning whether or not their random erratic changes in behavior or odd display of animalistic senses was the monster inside coming to the surface. He couldn't help but notice how headstrong she was to fight against her own personal traumas and not back down from them even when she seemed sure they could be wolves in sheep's clothing. It was stupid— but also impressive.
***
He now headed to the MessHall after taking Frosty back to Predator's Forest where the pack of canines welcomed him warmly.
It didn't take him long to follow the scent of meats and vegetables into the MessHall and grab his dinner since the only students still in line were other Beast Tamers.
He found his usual seat at the furthest corner of the room where Isaac, Warren, Maris, and Ursula already sat with their food.
"Yo! Claude." Warren yelled while breadcrumbs lined his mouth and shirt.
"Hey, Warren." Claude replied as he sat down next to Isaac who calmly nodded at him.
They all ate while Warren and Isaac mostly dominated the social side of things with Maris chiming in once in a while. After a few minutes, someone picked up on the change at the table.
"It's you two. What's wrong with you both?" Maris suddenly said as she pointed her knife at them.
"What?" Ursula replied in confusion.
"Why aren't you two talking? Your messing with the way dinner goes." She explained, in an odd show of social understanding that surprised all of them.
Warren agreed but his mouth was too full with bread and beef to say it so he settled with grunting repeatedly and nodding his head vigorously.
"She's got a point. Claude's usually scowling in silence. But what what's up with you? Everything alright?" Isaac asked Ursula.
"Wha— come on. I'm fine, just thinking over something. But my bad, I'm back now. No need to worry Maris." Ursula said.
"I don't worry about anyone." Maris replied as she played around with her food.
"Of course you don't. That's why you pointed out that me and Claude are ruining dinner." Ursula replied sarcastically before playfully bumping shoulders with her.
Claude noticed Maris' cheeks redden before she busied herself with her food and the rest of them started conversing normally.
"[You think it was a good idea to tell her? She seems quite focused on the twins.]" Arne questioned.
"I had no cho—"
Woosh!
Claude was cut off along with all the students in the MessHall as the doors swung open and a chill ran down everyone's spines. Someone powerful was entering the room.
Seconds after, he felt it. H.M Alaric stepped in followed by 6 Professors— all with grim expressions.
"What's going on?" Warren asked.
"That's what I'm wondering." Isaac added.
Ursula looked from the Professors to Claude a few times before he nodded, silently confirming her suspicions.
He could smell their fear and anxiety from where he sat.
"[So, the Headmaster has come to announce the missing twins?]"