Draiks and Angels: Survivor

12 - Runes & Moon

Maja was plenty welcoming when Ava and Tadeas returned to the Aerie with Saga. The Archangel showed them to some guest rooms personally on the second floor, then asked if there was anything she could do to help them while they waited.

"Actually," Ava started, eying the bruises that were starting to bloom on Tadeas' arm, "I was wondering if you knew of any ways to, ahem, diffuse contention with humans without permanently harming them?"

Maja tactfully didn't say anything about the implied "contention" but answered, "It is different for Draiks and Angels, of course, but I know of some ways. We can look at them tomorrow, if you'd like."

"We would appreciate it."

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Ava and Tadeas were led to a practice room by a male Angel the next morning, who then loitered in the corner. Eventually Maja entered, apologizing for being late.

"I've asked Peik to help us, since I can't do magic like an Angel."

Peik, upon hearing his name, saluted to Ava and Tadeas.

"The two easiest ways to deal with a human, um, gently is to knock them out or put them to sleep. Basically, the same thing. You can put them to sleep pretty directly, using the spell..."

"Yarsimue," Peik supplied.

"Or just using magic for a Draik, but it can fail if the human is too alert, or aware of what is happening. Knocking them out is more reliable, but usually needs some kind of concussive force to help it along, though it doesn't have to be one that would knock them out normally."

"What does that mean?" Tadeas asked.

"Well, usually to knock someone out, it requires a serious blow to the head or brain. But with the spell..."

"Toche ishki alta," Peik added.

"Or again Draik magic, a blow to the back would still knock them out."

"What about... the leg?" Ava asked.

Maja thought about it, "I don't know. I've never seen it done, but theoretically it should work."

Tadeas looked at the ground and admitted, "I don't have much experience using magic. How would you... apply these spells, for a Draik?"

"I had presumed as much. For the knock-out spell, usually you imagine it as a... film on your hands, that gets transferred to whatever it touches. For the sleep spell..." Maja shrugged, "I see it like invisible pixie dust raining on my target."

Tadeas thought about the images Maja had described. They were definitely different than conjuring, and even different than cutting the ropes and belt. More abstract. But they almost made more sense to him.

"How long will they be out?" Ava asked.

"For the Angel spell, about an hour. For the Draik, just depends on the intention," Maja shrugged. "Though of course longer takes more magic. I would advise an hour for that as well unless there is a need."

Tadeas nodded and tried committing it all to memory.

"We don't have any volunteers to practice on," Maja gestured to the empty room, "but you can try the spells anyway," she looked at Ava. "Might be hard to know if you got it right without someone to try it on," she looked at Tadeas.

"Thank you for telling us, anyway, Maja," Ava said gratefully.

"You're welcome."

Maja and Peik walked out of the room, leaving Ava and Tadeas in the empty space.