New Limits

My boots scuffled begrudgingly in the dirt as I made my way towards the other camp. To me, it was senseless to make friends with people we may only know for a couple weeks.

However, my fathers words echoed in my head. The least I could do was talk to them until they annoy me.

I approached the boy closest to my age first, Elliot, I think.

"So, um, h-hi?" I asked with immense hesitation- although, he's bound to like me- I'm far too cute for the common man.

"Oh, hey, does your brother need help lighting the fire again?" He asked without a hint of judgment in his voice.

Now that his head turned to me, I could see him much better. He looked to be a year or so older than me, so 15. Elliot had long brown hair that sat just below his jawline, his hair was wild and contorted in loose curls framing his bold features in absolute detail. Elliot's eyes were a pale blue and held a kind gaze, to me, they were the eyes of a man who had never held hate in his heart. In contrast to this, Elliot's smile twisted into a confident smirk that issued to me that he held far more of this quiet confidence than he let known. 

"Probably- but, I actually came over to say hi, and… you know, introduce myself." I tripped over my words as my persistent nervousness washed over me.

"Right… Well, I'm Elliot. My family are respected healers travelling to the capital- but if i were you- I wouldn't talk to them. A little fanatical, if you ask me.' He smiled and rambled without restraint. He stood up, his shoulders now at the level of my head.

"So that means they're smart right?" I asked somewhat inquisitively and partly intending to insult. "I have this book- someone smart could help me understand it. I have tried to read it yet but it looks hard-"

"And what makes you think I'm dumb?" He interrupted. "Just because I don't do magic like my family doesn't mean I'm simple."

I suddenly found myself backtracking. "Oh- no I just-!"

He placed one hand on the back of the book I was clutching, the other grabbed mine and squeezed all but one of my fingers closed. Elliot positioned the book flat and gently guided my hand to a dust-laden indentation on the thick leather cover. He slowly guided it over a symbol, it was sharp and rough edged, closer to a triangle amalgamation than a smooth circle.

"You feel that?" He asked with complete focus on the symbol. "That is the old rune for 'Manipulation Theory'. The book you have is an oldie."

My hand broke free from his grasp and I took a wide step back. Looking up toward him, I instinctively bought and held the front face of the book on Manipulation theory to my chest. 

"Hey, would you like to tell me more? Lets just go out to the forest and read."

*-A couple hours later-*

Me and Eliot were sitting on an assortment of small boulders. Through both the book and his surprisingly vast knowledge for a swordsman, I learned that Manipulation theory refers to the theory on how the mages of old built great structures and landscapes.

The author of this book, Alexandra Zynus, studied unnatural phenomena such as the great walls or floating cliffs. Supposedly when checked for magic particles, or any other sign of magic, they are non-existent.

Zynus argues that this is because of a way to manipulate magic without directly using mana. She claims this could theoretically increase the potency and longevity of any spell cast. This is because the mental strain of the spell is off-capped to runes.

Of course Zynus can't back up the claims with anything but stained centuries-old doodles. However, they do propose an interesting drawback- any rune used must be designed by the creator for a particular effect and replicated, perfectly, everytime the spell needs to be cast. 

Cool… well, that seems crazy. I guess Zynus had something to drink before writing this?

Either way it's entertaining enough for me to keep reading later. But, for now, it has given me another idea of something I could do for now.

"Hey, Elliot?" I asked quietly as I laid back on the mossy stone.

"Yea? Need something?" He replied casually.

"Do you know magic?" 

"Some, only the basics really. The sword is more my style." He quipped.

"What spells?" I inquired directly. To be honest I'm kind of hoping it's something awesome, like fireball.

"Water-mist. It's good for watering healing herbs, you know my family's profession."

"Oh." I said with mild disappointment. "Can you teach me?"

"I mean, okay, but there's a chance you find magic difficult and casting a water spell will be even harder if you don't have the respondent affinity. And the mental focus required for a spell can be pretty demanding-" Elliot continued rambling but I couldn't be bothered listening.

"Right… so what do I do?' I interrupted somewhere in his monologue.

"Just-" he sighed. "Hold your arm out and picture a ball of water, and then imagine a dust of water flying out of a focal point." He carefully instructed.

I followed his directions for a few seconds before a small ball of water formed and a pitiful couple of drips splashed the floor. I, both immeasurably bored from the pathetic levels of success, and ecstatic that there was some success, broke my focus. The water ball splashed down and soaked my boots. 

"Can you show me your attempt? Maybe it would help visualise." I begged as much as someone of my awesomeness should.

He closed his eyes and raised his arm for a few awkward moments before lowering it and looking at me. 

"So when's the magic coming?" I once again inquired with maybe a teeny tiny bit of sarcastic intention.

"It's not. You should figure this out yourself- besides it's too hard to focus." He nonchalantly answered.

I nonchalantly berated him for betraying me.

I tried again. Unsurprisingly for someone of my caliber, I finally got it and began spraying a mist of water. Sure it was somewhat unimpressive, but now I have power. Unlimited power! I subsequently sprayed and chased Elliot with my new found god-like ability for 20 minutes.

After I spared him from a watery grave, he asked me "So… what do you think? It can be tiring your first time." He asked in his ceaselessly annoying considerate tone.

"Honestly- it maked me want to pee more than anything." 

"Are you serious?" He asked in disbelief. "You cast your first spell, the first step to untold abilities and you need to pee?"

"Hey, it's not like it was 'fireball' or anything." I quipped back, insulting his spell.

Despite my insults, we laughed and played for a few more hours, past the sunset, before I eventually went to my tent to sleep.

It was a nice day.