Coalescence

Chapter 5: Such A Gift

Over the next week, Malcolm did nothing but mana control exercises and drills. Jameson would track a concentration of mana in his system and direct Malcolm where to move it. After about three days of that, Jameson then switched to manifestation drills where he made Malcolm manifest small mana orbs outside of his body in certain places. Using the next four days for this, he sat Malcolm down on the seventh day for one final exercise.

Jameson used his Art to keep the room at an equal pressure and sat Malcolm down in front of him, blowing out every candle and light in the room. The room laid silent with an eerie presence.

"Now, do you remember what I taught you when you first came under my tutelage?" Malcolm nodded. "Don't doubt yourself, simply believe that you can and then do."

Malcolm held out his right hand, closed his eyes and focused on the circulation of his mana. A small orb began spinning in his hand, dimly lighting the small area around them. He took a deep breath and focused on maintaining the orb and thinking,

"I will hold the sun" In sync with his thoughts, the ball in his hands lit up in a glimmering yellow shimmer. Jameson's eyes widened at its presence, a warm aura that filled the room. As Malcolm felt its warmth he smiled and Jameson let out a light chuckle.

"Looks like you have the will to learn after all." A glint of curiosity sparkled across his vision. "Hold that orb there."

"Um, ok." As Malcolm focused on maintaining the orb, Jameson placed his hand above it. Beneath his hand, he started to create an area of high pressure around the orb. The energy got more ferocious as it was enveloped by the pressurized area, whipping around in between their hands.

"I will create a flare" Jameson whispered as their energies melded together. The room started to light up completely, leaving no corner untouched by the incandescent glow. Decorations along the walls shook with the force of the maelstrom being created, and they could feel the structure around them start to shake and jitter at its foundation. Jameson squinted his eyes to continue watching it as the aggressive whips of air assaulted their bodies; Malcolm only felt slightly disturbed by the pressure and other than an occasional jolt showed no real response.

As Jameson slowly removed energy and his own hand, the small storm in Malcolm's palm didn't stop raging. All on his own, Malcolm had managed to maintain two Arts simultaneously. A smile formed on his face as he felt the swirling pressure in his hand. He opened his eyes to see the small manifestation of energy and smiled bigger. His first real step of progress, right in front of him.

"Don't forget to maintain control of your mana. If you lose it this building could go down." Jameson warned, backing away from Malcolm slightly.

"I understand." Malcolm slowly moved his hand around the orb, circling it in a solid, spherical pattern; almost like there was some kind of invisible surface he was running his hand across. He got a feel for the orb and its energy, tracing the pathways of mana with his fingers as he studied it closely.

As he continued his study of the orb, he felt a hungering emptiness in his arm. He tried to pull his hand away, but he couldn't manage to move it. His left arm was completely stuck in place as if sealed within concrete, and he felt magnetized to the energy in his hand. Jamesons face grew pale and he observed Malcolm's hand closely. From the top of his bicep a string of purple flames crept down, inching towards the orb in his palm like a moth to a flame.

"Malcolm, try and resist it, hold it back!" Jameson yelled over the maelstrom, his voice lingering with an unfamiliar tone of uncertainty. Malcolm tried feeding all of his mana into his arm, but it was all swallowed by the insatiable emptiness that slowly consumed him.