Read Online Arbiter (The Arbiter Chronicles Book 1) by Elisa A. Bonnin - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Elisa A. Bonnin
Ads: Link
not the roomiest accommodations, but I only had so much stone to work with,” he said. “I can close the dome for a short time as well, if it decides to storm, but I’d rather have it ventilated.”
“I am not getting in there with you,” said Rae.
“Claustrophobic?”
She shot him a look. “It’s not the enclosed space that worries me.”
Cathel shrugged. “Suit yourself. If it helps, we’ll be taking watches for most of the night, so there should be only one person in the dome at any given time.” He got up, walking over to the firewood she had brought. “…So,” he said. “Let’s see about that fire.”
It was about two hours by the time they finished setting up camp and having something to eat. By then, the sun had fully set, and the only light in the ruins came from the fire Cathel had built. Cathel watched the ruins cautiously as the sun sank beneath the western horizon, but when nothing jumped out at them he began to relax, although he still kept his sword close at hand. They rested a bit after eating, then Cathel got up, motioning for her to come with him a little away from their campsite.
It was time for her first magic lesson.
Chapter Seven: Light Within
Cathel led her a few feet away from their camp, making sure to keep it in sight. He sat down cross-legged on the stone of the ruins, motioning for her to sit in front of him. She did so, tugging her cloak out of the way and lowering herself into a sitting position. The moon had risen over the ruins, its silver light reflecting against the smooth black stones and giving them a slightly eerie glow.
“Magic is…” he began, facing her. “…Well, it’s difficult to give it a definition. The best definitions are already in books, like the one you were reading back in the library—the use of a Source to manipulate the universe into doing something it would not otherwise do. There are three stages of magical training. In the first stage, the new mage is taught the First Teachings, a set of basic spells that every mage should be allowed to do, like the spell for light, the spell for fire, the spells that detect other spells, and the spells that read the magical properties of an object.”
She nodded to show that she understood. She had read that far into the book.
“The first stage can be taught by anyone that’s also completed the first stage of training,” said Cathel. “So basically anyone who is no longer an apprentice. The second stage involves learning a Series.” He paused, considering his next words. “…This is a little different. Each Source is different, so each person’s magic is suited to different things. But we’ve been able to narrow down the possibilities to about fifty spell Series. A Series is exactly what it sounds like, it’s a series of spells that all revolve around a central concept.”
“Like your magic,” said Rae.
Cathel nodded. “Mine is the Edictal Series,” he said. “So they revolve around commands. Forming bonds and breaking them. A mage can show aptitude for more than one Series, but once you choose a Series, you’re bound to only learn spells within that Series.”
“Why can’t you master more than one?” asked Rae.
“Because each one uses your Source differently. Each time you cast a Series spell, you are training and modifying your Source to conform to that particular use. Let’s say, for example, that you have a block of iron. You take this iron, and you melt it, you refine it, and you forge it into a sword. From that moment on, you have a sword. What do you think is going to happen to your sword if you decide to use it to crush rocks and dig holes in the ground?”
“You’ll break it,” said Rae quickly. “You’re using the wrong tool.”
“Exactly,” said Cathel. “Once you use a Series spell, you’ve started molding your Source into something. Using it in a way it wasn’t meant to be used puts a strain on it. Too much strain, and you could very well end up
“I am not getting in there with you,” said Rae.
“Claustrophobic?”
She shot him a look. “It’s not the enclosed space that worries me.”
Cathel shrugged. “Suit yourself. If it helps, we’ll be taking watches for most of the night, so there should be only one person in the dome at any given time.” He got up, walking over to the firewood she had brought. “…So,” he said. “Let’s see about that fire.”
It was about two hours by the time they finished setting up camp and having something to eat. By then, the sun had fully set, and the only light in the ruins came from the fire Cathel had built. Cathel watched the ruins cautiously as the sun sank beneath the western horizon, but when nothing jumped out at them he began to relax, although he still kept his sword close at hand. They rested a bit after eating, then Cathel got up, motioning for her to come with him a little away from their campsite.
It was time for her first magic lesson.
Chapter Seven: Light Within
Cathel led her a few feet away from their camp, making sure to keep it in sight. He sat down cross-legged on the stone of the ruins, motioning for her to sit in front of him. She did so, tugging her cloak out of the way and lowering herself into a sitting position. The moon had risen over the ruins, its silver light reflecting against the smooth black stones and giving them a slightly eerie glow.
“Magic is…” he began, facing her. “…Well, it’s difficult to give it a definition. The best definitions are already in books, like the one you were reading back in the library—the use of a Source to manipulate the universe into doing something it would not otherwise do. There are three stages of magical training. In the first stage, the new mage is taught the First Teachings, a set of basic spells that every mage should be allowed to do, like the spell for light, the spell for fire, the spells that detect other spells, and the spells that read the magical properties of an object.”
She nodded to show that she understood. She had read that far into the book.
“The first stage can be taught by anyone that’s also completed the first stage of training,” said Cathel. “So basically anyone who is no longer an apprentice. The second stage involves learning a Series.” He paused, considering his next words. “…This is a little different. Each Source is different, so each person’s magic is suited to different things. But we’ve been able to narrow down the possibilities to about fifty spell Series. A Series is exactly what it sounds like, it’s a series of spells that all revolve around a central concept.”
“Like your magic,” said Rae.
Cathel nodded. “Mine is the Edictal Series,” he said. “So they revolve around commands. Forming bonds and breaking them. A mage can show aptitude for more than one Series, but once you choose a Series, you’re bound to only learn spells within that Series.”
“Why can’t you master more than one?” asked Rae.
“Because each one uses your Source differently. Each time you cast a Series spell, you are training and modifying your Source to conform to that particular use. Let’s say, for example, that you have a block of iron. You take this iron, and you melt it, you refine it, and you forge it into a sword. From that moment on, you have a sword. What do you think is going to happen to your sword if you decide to use it to crush rocks and dig holes in the ground?”
“You’ll break it,” said Rae quickly. “You’re using the wrong tool.”
“Exactly,” said Cathel. “Once you use a Series spell, you’ve started molding your Source into something. Using it in a way it wasn’t meant to be used puts a strain on it. Too much strain, and you could very well end up
Similar Books
