Tomes of magic

(Aurelius's POV)

The air in the Selwyn family library was thick with the scent of aged parchment and the traces of magic. Tall shelves lined the walls, filled to the brim with leather-bound tomes and dusty scrolls, each holding the accumulated knowledge of generations of Selwyn wizards. At the center of the room stood a large oak table cluttered with open books and arcane artifacts.

I hovered at Finley's shoulder, my incorporeal form faintly glowing. "We must find a way to strengthen your magic, Finley," I murmured, my voice echoing in the stillness of the library. "At your current capacity, you won't last in a prolonged duel as you have come to learn."

Finley's face grimaced, and he lightly touched his throat, most likely feeling phantom pains of what happened to him yesterday.

He nodded, his eyes scanning the shelves for any sign of the knowledge they sought. "There must be something here," he said, his voice tinged with frustration. "My ancestors were powerful wizards. They must have left behind some clue, some ritual that can help us."

Together, we combed through the shelves, pulling down dusty tomes and ancient scrolls, fingers tracing the faded runes and intricate sigils inscribed upon them. Hours passed in a blur as we delved deeper into the labyrinth of knowledge despite the creeping sense of exhaustion that weighed upon us.

As we were searching, I saw a small, weathered tome tucked away in a far left corner of the library. Its pages were yellowed with age, and its cover was adorned with faded gold lettering. Using Telekinesis, I levitated it and gave it to Finley. His heart quickened as he flipped through the pages, and his eyes widened with wonder as he read the words inscribed upon them.

"Magic breathing," he whispered, his voice barely audible above the rustle of parchment. "A technique practiced by ancient wizards to increase their magical capacity by absorbing ambient magic into themselves."

I nodded, gaze fixed on the text before me. "Yes, this could be exactly what we need. With this technique, you could expand your magical core, allowing you to channel more power than before."

"It says that the process will also be painful throughout each time the technique is undergone due to ambient magic being chaotic," Finley noted as he kept reading the instructions.

brow furrowed, "Naturally, there will be a consequence to rapidly increasing your magical reserves that way... nothing comes for free."

"Of course..." Finley replied, walking to the center of the library, near the large table, and sitting on the floor.

With a burning resolve, Finley closed his eyes and began to concentrate. Slowly, he regulated his breathing, inhaling deeply as if drawing in the very essence of magic itself. The air around him seemed to shimmer faintly, a subtle sign of the ambient magic responding to his intent.

As he continued the practice, I observed, noting the slight tremors that coursed through his body. It was evident that the process was indeed taxing, as the ancient text had warned. Yet, Finley simply gritted his teeth and worked through the pain.

I continued to observe him as I felt the ambient magic fix with his metaphysical magical core expanding slightly each time it reached the limits of its being.

It was an interesting experience watching it happen from my perspective.

After what felt like an eternity, Finley finally released a long exhale, a wave of exhaustion washed over him. With a shuddering breath, He staggered backward, his muscles trembling with the strain of the practice. Beads of sweat glistened on his brow, his chest heaving as he struggled to regain his composure.

"Are you alright?" I asked feigned concern etched in my voice as I moved to support him.

Finley nodded weakly, his gaze unfocused as he tried to steady himself. "It's... it's just more intense than I anticipated," he admitted, his voice tinged with a mixture of exhaustion and awe. "I can feel the magic coursing through me, but it's like... like trying to contain a raging river within a small vessel."

I let out a low, mocking chuckle that sent a chill down Finley's spine. "Indeed," I remarked, my voice dripping with disdain. "The power of magic is not something to be trifled with, boy. If you cannot handle the intensity of a simple breathing exercise, then perhaps you are not cut out for the path of a mage."

he gave me a warning glare, but I merely shrugged it off, my spectral form shimmering faintly in the dim light. "But fear not," I continued, tone laced with false encouragement. "With enough perseverance, even the weakest of creatures can learn to wield magic. Whether you have what it takes remains to be seen."

Finley's jaw clenched, a flicker of defiance sparking in his eyes at Aurelius' condescending words. Ignoring the wraith's taunts, he straightened his posture, ambition burning brightly within him once more. "I won't give up," he vowed, his voice steady despite the lingering discomfort. "No matter what obstacles lie in my path, I will become a mage worthy of the title."

"But of course you will. I won't let my vessel be a weakling that would taint my image," I remark smiling faintly as he stands up.

I watched Finley with a mix of amusement and skepticism as the young mage gathered his resolve. With a faint sigh, I decided to indulge Finley's determination with a power that should help him progress, if only to further his own agenda.

"Very well," I conceded, my voice echoing softly in the confines of the library. "Let us see if you have what it takes to wield one of my powers, Cryomancy."

With a simple gesture of my ethereal hand, summoning an orb of icy blue energy into existence. The orb hovered in the air before Finley, casting a soft, frosty glow that illuminated the room with an eerie light.

"This is the essence of Cryomancy," I explained, his tone matter-of-fact. "The manipulation of ice and cold, bending it to your will to freeze your enemies in their tracks."

Finley's eyes widened in awe, "Wandless elemental magic...." He breathed as he reached out tentatively, fingers brushing against the icy surface of the orb. He could feel the chill radiating from it, sending shivers down his spine despite the warmth of the library.

"Focus your mind," I instructed, my voice taking on a commanding edge. "Channel your intent into the orb, and will it to obey your commands."

"Can I truly use this magic without a wand?" He asked with scepticism lacing his voice

"You can since it is a power that I have and I am connected to you through your soul while it will not be as easy for you without a wand as I can, you will be able to harness it with practice," I answer immediately soothing his worries, "Try drawing out the power without your wand first then replicate the effect with your wand."

Finley nodded, his brow furrowed in concentration as he tried to focus on the innate power I possessed. With a deep breath, he closed his eyes and reached out with his own magical energy, attempting to connect with the essence of Cryomancy before him.

At first, nothing seemed to happen. The orb in my hand remained stubbornly inert, refusing to respond to Finley's efforts. But then, ever so slowly, he began to feel a faint tingling sensation in his fingertips, a subtle sign of progress.

"Focus," I urged, my voice a whisper on the edge of Finley's consciousness. "Feel the cold within you, embrace it as a part of yourself."

With renewed determination, Finley pushed past the initial barrier, delving deeper into the wellspring of his magical connection between us. He could feel the energy coalescing around him, responding to his commands with a newfound sense of clarity.

And then, with a sudden burst of intensity, the ice orb erupted into a dazzling display of icy brilliance. Frost spread outward from its center, coating the nearby bookshelves in a delicate layer of hoarfrost.

I watched with a hint of satisfaction as Finley's eyes widened in astonishment as sweat fell down his brow at the display of his newfound power. "Well done," I praised, my voice tinged with genuine minor pride in his achievement. "You have taken your first steps into the realm of Cryomancy. With time and practice, you will learn to wield its power with even greater skill."

Finley grinned as he turned to me, a spark of excitement dancing in his eyes. "Thank you, Aurelius," he said, his voice filled with gratitude. "I never imagined that I could wield such power without a wand. This changes everything."

I nodded in agreement, though my own motives for teaching him this particular skill were far from altruistic. "Indeed," I replied, my voice calm and composed. "But remember, Finley, power is a double-edged sword. It can be a weapon to protect those you care about, but it can also be a force of destruction if wielded recklessly."

Finley's expression sobered at my words, a shadow of uncertainty flickering across his features. "I understand," he said, his voice tinged with determination. "I will be careful, I promise."

With a nod of approval, I gestured for Finley to retrieve his wand. "Now, let us see if you can replicate the same feat with your wand," I said, my tone encouraging. "Focus your intent, your willpower, and let the magic flow through you."

Finley nodded, his grip tightening on his wand as he concentrated on the orb of frost magic before him. With a flick of his wrist, he channeled his magical energy into the wand, sending a surge of power coursing through the air.

For a moment, nothing seemed to happen, and doubt flickered in Finley's eyes. But then, with a sudden burst, he pushed through the barrier, reconnecting with the essence of my Cryomancy skill with greater ease than before.

And just like before, the orb erupted into a dazzling display of icy brilliance, frost spreading outward in a swirling vortex of cold. Finley's face lit up with triumph as he beheld his handiwork, a sense of accomplishment washing over him.

"How is this magic different than the freezing charms?" Finley asked after coming down from his elation.

"Ah, a keen observation," I remarked, acknowledging Finley's question with a nod. "Freezing charms, like many spells in the wizarding world, are bound by their specific incantations and limitations. They freeze only what you intend them to freeze, and their effects are often temporary and easily countered by skilled wizards."

I paused, considering how best to explain the distinction between charms and pure elemental magic. "Charms are like a set of rules or guidelines that govern the magic they produce. They are precise but limited, like trying to paint a picture using only a handful of colors. You can create something beautiful within those constraints, but you are still confined by the limitations of the medium."

"In contrast," I continued, a note of pride creeping into my voice, "Elemental magic is not bound by such restrictions. With it, I can create and manipulate pure ice energy in ways that charms could replicate but not on its own it will require multiple facets of other charms to accomplish what I can. I can shape it instantly, imbuing it with incredible durability, and sharpness, or imbue the frost energy to persist on wounds or any other properties I desire."

"As for counters," I added, a faint smirk playing at the corners of my spectral form, "those who face me would find themselves at a significant disadvantage. While they may attempt to neutralize my magic with their own spells, they would quickly realize that elemental magic operates on a different plane of power altogether. It cannot be easily dispelled or nullified, like a charm. Once unleashed, it is an unstoppable force. Elemental magic can only be negated by other powers of the same sort, such as Pyromancy, the opposite of Cryomancy.

Finley listened intently, absorbing my words with a newfound understanding. As he gazed upon the swirling vortex of ice before him, a sense of awe and reverence filled him. He looked at me as if I was Merlin reborn.

"Thank you, Aurelius," Finley said, his voice filled with gratitude. "I never realized the depth of what I could achieve with Elemental magic. With your guidance, I feel like anything is possible."

Nodding in acknowledgment of his gratitude. "Remember, mastering Elemental magic requires not only understanding its power but also harnessing it with precision and finesse. Practice will be your greatest ally."

I gestured toward the swirling vortex of ice before us. "Start by honing your manipulation of it. Feel its essence, its cold embrace, and envision how you wish to shape it. Whether it be crafting intricate sculptures or conjuring sharp icicles, let your imagination guide your control."

As Finley began to experiment with the ice, shaping it into various forms with increasing confidence, I returned to the library to look for some fascinating books that I had discovered while searching for the ritual. Overall, it had been a productive day.