After giving it some thought, soft sleep closed thine eyes, and the strange world of dreams embraced you. Pulled out you were by Sas, once time came, and you assumed a spot beside the fire.
Not saying a word, so does he.
No use just watching each other all night long, let's sharpen your spellcasting skills. Picturing all these supernatural traits you saw at Flax's disposal, mayhap you would be able to reproduce those.
The hunter takes notice of your movements, and curiously observes all your gestures.
"I'm trying to figure out a spell..." you explain, only enchancing his wonder.
"Figure... Out?" he whispers.
"It is so indeed, powers sorcerers posess, but one needs the idea how to utilize it... Of course, thanks to ancestors, lots were already designed..."
"Do you have... Books?"
"Books?"
"You know, something to write the secrets down."
Searching your memory, you do find an answer.
"At the grove, where they teach gifted youths, something has been engraved in stone... But that's all I can recall. The tradition survives by word, lifetime after lifetime.."
"A grove you say?"
"If a boy shows such a gift, they take him to the grove. Few of us have a memory of whence we once came... After the initiation, the training necessary and the final oaths, one is ready to serve a tribe."
"I see... And what spell is it you working on?"
"One that would shield from harm, like cold, or these flames over here..."
"Do you think Cegad is some kind of a magician, too?"
You raise your eyes upon the fellow watchman, while not anticipating such a question, it does ease you into the matter at hand, you were to bring up yourself.
"That other wizard surely craved to blow him apart, I don't suppose a mild burn was what he was going for..." he continues. "Strange, isn't it? It is so... That man worries me..."
"Well, I should be asking you!" you say, jumping onto the opportunity to inquire about the mysterious stranger. "You know him better, I've barely met the man! Is he some kind of a mercenary?"
"Not a mercenary..." Sas shakes his head. "More like... An adventurer. You know, these travellers, slaying beasts, gathering artifacts... I heard he took on a giant or something akin to that..."
"So he isn't usually the one to accompany you on these trips?"
Sas nods.
"I saw him before, drifting through the village... We came to know each other just a few days ago."
"He seemed to know you well enough."
"It's Cegad. With him, one can't be sure. Remember that. May save you one day, may beat you the other."
After a pause, his sight falls down to the ground.
"You won't tell him I've talked behind his back?"
"Don't worry. Besides, you're not the only one."
Flashing a couple known signs, a thought occurs to you, a formula that might do the trick.
"I think I got it."
"Really? You've figured it out?" the hunter stands up, to take a closer look.
With your words you invite the spirits, and with your moves you direct them.
Sas's eyes flicker with amazement, as faint glow comes down your flesh, signifying the enchantment.
You take a step forward towards the campfire. As you're close enough, you stretch out your arm into the flames. And it proves impervious to the heat, like the fabled salamander it sits in the blaze, yet burns not.
"It works, look!"
Sas, stunned, can't utter a single word.
"I don't feel anything! Now we can tell Esem I am fireproof!"
Still no response you get out of the spectator., dazzled by the display.
"Come, you can try it out too!"
A brief moment it takes for him to react, but once he does, eagerly he leaps forth, tosses his glove away, and awaits your blessing.
You repeat the spell onto him, and with no less verve he is quick to put his hand into the fire too, laughing delightfully upon the successful test.
"That's enough. Pull it out, I don't know how much stable it is."
"Eh?"
"How long it'll last. There is not much keeping the magic at work, it's all upon the good will of the spirits. I could inscribe something to magnify it..."
Further you take these considerations, shifting your thoughts towards the crimson-eyed swordsman again.
"This is quite marvelous, however... I can't imagine what stands behind Flax's power. Magical items I think not."
"Can you enchant objects then? To be fireproof?"
"Hey? Oh, aye, I would know how to do that..."
"Fine... Such wonders, well, my time is about due. I shall goto bed. You want me to wake Esem up?"
"If you'd be so kind... Good night, Sas."
"Good night."
. . .
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Topic: Dwarf Fortress -Drawings- : Tales of the Deer Wizard (Read 169750 times)