Merrion Priddy (merrymage) wrote in emillion, @ 2013-07-11 09:29:00 |
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Entry tags: | !complete, !narrative, merrion priddy |
Who: Merri [narrative]
What: Practicing Thundara -- or, the daily life of Councilor Priddy
Where: A casting room
When: This morning
Rating: PG (reference to the murders)
Status: Complete!
With the last of his mana depleted, Merri stumbled back onto the bench in the casting room to catch his breath. That last attempt had been far more successful than any before it, and his skin didn’t burn from any ricochet. The trouble now, though, wasn’t that it was out of control but barely anything more than a strong Thunder spell. He needed the in-between, the perfect, and he was so close he could feel it tingling on his fingers.
The last time Merri had attempted to teach himself Thundara, he had come so close to mastering it. He had no longer nearly electrocuted himself with each attempt, and the stray bolts had been kept at a bare minimum. Then his tutor had demanded that he learn Watera instead, and so Merri, thinking that he had mastered the spell, had left it alone. It wasn't until a few years later when he needed to cast it that it had backfired on him in a way it hadn't in a long time, and the spell slipped his mind until nearly three weeks ago when he needed a stronger Thunder spell but had been far too hesitant to try it.
No, he had made do with dualcasting Thunder instead, and he had tried to get as close as Thundara as he felt comfortable with, as he could manage, but he didn't want anybody he was fighting with to get caught by lightning that ran away from him. He didn’t know if casting Thundara would have made any difference or not – he doubted that it would have – but he was tired of the regret he felt after each battle that seemed to come more and more frequently as of late.
At least the Councilors of the guilds were wary of another attack from the sea. None of them were willing to be unprepared, and when Merri wasn’t trying to research what might be down there so that they knew what to expect, he was in the casting room, trying to perfect a spell that he had come so close to mastering before. Between this, working with the Bards Guild to reinforce the palings, and his regular Council duties, and of course giving aid to Peony for the murder cases whenever she asked something of him (he shuddered at the memory of the message she had received, and he never thought that flowers could be so sickening), he barely had time for his own pleasures anymore.
He missed his friends dearly, and spending time with Guy and his friend Zacheus Monday evening for Guy’s birthday had been a refreshing respite, but Merri, at least, was not alone even without. He still had the captain –– he still had Wil, who visited him often, who was always patient with him, who made him feel better whenever he started feeling overwhelmed. With this thought, Merri smiled to himself, a warmth budding in his chest. Truly, the captain –– Wil was the best thing to ever happen to him, and Merri knew that he would be faring so much worse if not for him.
Perhaps soon he would have to allow himself a full day to spend with him, as soon as he could afford to. Wil deserved it. But for now, Merri stood, downing a bottle of ether, to continue practicing Thundara.
A crackle of lightning sparked at his fingertips, and he concentrated, telling himself not to be afraid of the raw power. The first burst nearly caught him by surprise, but he drew the power in, and Merri was relieved to see that there was only a couple of stray bolts this time as the spell hit the targets. Again, then, and this time...
This time, perfect!
Merri sighed with joy and relief as the lightning dissipated into the air, the dummies nearest him who were supposed to represent his allies untouched, and the targets ahead, the "enemies," bore new scorch marks. Finally, after a week and a half of practice!
But one perfectly executed Thundara did not yet mean that the spell was mastered; Merri still had much practicing to do, and only an hour left to do it before he had to make his appointment. But he was close, and Faram forbid that there was a next time but at least he'd be of a little more help to the city and its citizens.