The Fox, Red

062 - It's A Juggling Act

I placed my order just before the weekend. I got notifications that they should start showing up on Monday. I have to make it through the weekend before I have to start doing the hard work. Madam Odette has been doing her best to simulate a classroom environment which includes giving me the weekends to do my own thing. I'm going to use this time to try something. The thought of teleportation stuck with me. But to transport myself from one place to another without a steady base to build off of could spell disaster. I want to do something similar but different.

I found a section that detailed an old transportation method mages would use if they didn't have wind to sail with. They used magic to push the still air in sections to push them forward. I'm wondering if I can kind of use the same idea to push myself faster. Instead of pushing me to begin with, I'm going to start with something sturdy. If I can get the desired result I want with that. I should be able to use my muscle memory on myself and maybe prevent some injuries or falling on my face. I expect to fall on my face. I just hope that it's not too much.

I found an old post. I hope that I can push it forward and keep it standing up straight. The technical aspect of it is super simple. Nothing needs to be refined. It's a very basic mix of elements. I can use my new alchemy technique to just use the surrounding air. I push forward, throwing the post in all kinds of directions before it rolls to the ground. This is going to be harder than it looks.

The post just seems to ragdoll whenever I push it. I try from different angles and different speeds, but it just seems to go flying. I need to guide it as though it's walking down a hallway using the walls to keep it upright. That makes this a lot more complicated. Maybe...

I have to rethink this. I don't think just brute force is going to get the result I want but I need to think of how to come about this. I have a few theories. First is similar to drafting. An area where the air resistance isn't as strong while still pushing from behind. I'm thinking that it should help with the post flying everywhere. But how? This is going to be difficult. It'll be like casting two spells at the same time. Again, maybe...

Could I take the air from in front of the object, pull it behind the object, and use that to push it forward? This is going to take some practice. My first attempt goes as expected. The post just fell over forward. Actually, that's better than what it was doing by just flying everywhere. I need to even out the pressure behind the post so it doesn't topple forward or backward. One more try!

I give it a nudge and it goes forward but lands and falls forward right as it starts moving. I stand it back up taking a look at the post once more. I push it again, and again, trying different things. Eventually, I start putting more pressure on the bottom. It starts to work better. It's moving forward but still falling forward when I finally see what's happening. It's friction. The bottom of the post is on the grass so it needs more push to overcome it. If it were a person they could jump or maybe in between a step?

I keep trying and I'm getting more distance until the push below becomes too strong, toppling the post backward. Do I trust myself to use this on myself? I'll postpone it until tomorrow. I've been at this for most of the day and I'm still feeling a bit drained. Anne was the only thing that reminded me to take a break for lunch. I ate outside with a book in my hand dealing with the brisk air. I was close to getting it. I feel as though I'm getting so close to solving this!

I also know that I'll be obsessed over it to the where I won't sleep. When Anne brings me dinner, that's my cue to sit down for the night and just relax. Read a little bit on it but don't devote my entire focus on it. I'll just end up getting stuck in a loop and never solve it.

I sleep pretty well considering what's on my mind. This new spell, Madam Odette's surprise, and I still need something to make it special. I have kind of an idea but that also needs to be fleshed out. So many problems, so little time. But as morning breaks again, it's back to work. I have today for myself before my "classes" begin again. I grab the post from yesterday patting it like it's doing a good job. I start up with where I was yesterday by pushing the post a short distance before it topples over in some way.