Borrowing Magic

Ethel just as the ceremony was about to begin. They were on top of a flat roof. Patterned rugs were laid out for them to sit. Crystals grew from pots along the edge of the roofs, providing them light to see by. In front of her sat a studious-looking older haedian and mutated haedian across from him. Mendras, now free from his political duties, stood on the opposite side of the roof from them. He held a rope in his maw. A makeshift kite was tied to the other end. He looked very pessimistic. A quick glare from Ethel fixed that. They needed a “clear atmosphere” as the professor put it. Any negativity could affect the outcome of this experiment. 

The corrupted haedian, called Manu, was peppered with hard round scales that clustered over her shoulders, back and chest. They had now spread to her stomach and delicate wings. When the professor introduced her, she had explained how the scales kept her land bound, unable to glide like the rest. However, through a process the professor was about to demonstrate, she might be able to borrow his wind magic to help her glide. That was the theory at least. She still needed practice controlling it. Having spent months trying to learn everything she could, Ethel was eager to see this process in action. 

The professor nodded for Manu to begin. She closed her eyes and began taking deeper and deeper breaths. The professor placed a paw on her shoulder and breathed alongside her. The chain of remnant crystals around her neck began to light. For a while nothing happened and the hardians were utterly silent. Strange birds called from the trees. Mendras shuffled on the spot. Suddenly a gust of wind puffed outward from the haedian pair, startling both Mendras and Ethel. The aor was still for a while more before another puff of wind swirled around the roof, and then another! The puffs came faster and faster until a steady breeze was maintained. The breeze, however, was enemating from Manu, instead of the professor! She was having trouble steering the stream of air towards Mendras and the kite. 

Ethel could tell the excitement of it was making it hard to keep control of the magic. The professor had to shut off the flow of magic before Mendras could be blown off the roof and the process needed to be started all over again. Still, the results proved fruitful which was far more than Ethel and the professor were hoping for. Through the innate connection Tranquil haedians shared, Manu would now be able to use and even control someone else’s magic without harming herself or anyone else. If the rest of the theory holds up, the professor might be able to charge up a crystal with wind for her to use whenever she needs to get around. 

When the session was over, Manu thanked the group and left for home. 

“That was very exciting!” The professor said. He bent down to clean up the mess made from the tiny wind storms. Mendras was picking smaller objects out of his mane and tail.

“I could have done with a little less wind in my face.” Mendras murmured. Ethel shot him a look that instantly shut him up. 

“I’m thankful you let us sit in on one of your sessions, professor.” Ethel bowed her head to the elderly haedian. 

“I’m just glad to have such an eager student and one willing to listen to me drone on and on at that.” he chuckled. “With your help, I can get this knowledge out there to help others. It’s one thing to do the research but what good is it if no one can use it, hm?”

He led the vayrons down the stairs to his office, where his desk sat amidst a sea of books. He took up a quill and made a note in one of his many scrolls. “Unfortunately, Manu is the only one scheduled for today. How’s about I introduce you to thought-flow, now that you’ve seen it in action? We have a lot of free time on our paws today. If we’re lucky, we might even get you two to project. Sounds fun?”