The Chronicles of a Scalebound Sage: Wandmaker Vol.2

WM [85] Armories Start Small

Fuyumi guided Tanisha and Aurelius through meditative techniques. She had to enter her core which was now a full silhouette of her body. She could see the mana and maya aspects of her seiðr alloy traveling along the proper channels as each energy was intended to do. The problem was still Aether which slowly but steadily damaged her magic pathways.

"Focus, Tanisha," Fuyumi's voice was steady. "Push the circulation of your energies faster. Begin with the flow from the center of your being, up to your head, then loop it back down. Keep the tether intact. Control is everything."

She took a deep breath and visualized the energy as a roaring fire she needed to channel through a narrow, winding path. The task demanded splitting her focus into coaxing the power without allowing it to spill out and consume her entirely. Sweat beaded on her brow as her focus intensified, each pulse of energy a test of her will.

Her mind drew parallels to her earlier experiences with the control consoles on the doors, where she had to force aether through intricate maze-like pathways. This was different though. Inside the consoles were predefined constraints, what she called "walls" to keep the energy contained and directed. Here, within herself, she had to construct those walls as she worked, shaping the pathways in real time while simultaneously driving the energy forward.

"The goal is not just to expand the channels," Fuyumi explained, her voice steady but firm. "It's to maintain control while doing so. Only by strengthening the pathways can they endure the strain of your alloy's energies. Balance the flow and the barriers—that is your task."

Tanisha pushed herself harder, but the pressure became unbearable. The delicate tether snapped, and her control collapsed. A sharp, searing migraine tore through her mind, forcing her to grip her head in pain.

As the agony subsided, she quickly assessed her pathways, only to find that all her painstaking progress had vanished, wiped clean like footprints on a shore erased by the tide. Defeated but not broken, she opened her eyes, her body drenched in sweat. Leaning back on her arms, she gasped for breath, her mind already steeling itself for the next attempt.

"Why start with my head?" Tanisha asked, her breaths labored.

"Because circulating mana to your head first enhances your mental acuity," Fuyumi replied softly. "It sharpens your thoughts, quickens your reactions, and most importantly, grants you greater control over your alloy. As a mage and more importantly, as a sage—your potential is exponential. With power and practice, you'll come to understand magic at a depth capable of creating entirely new Disciplines. That is what the sages of old accomplished. It is what my father achieved. And it is what both you and Aurelius are destined to do."

"What—me?" Aurelius's eyes snapped open from his meditative state, wide with disbelief. "No way. You can't be serious." He stood up abruptly. "You're not telling me I'm a sage, are you?"

Fuyumi's eyes opened as well, her hand flying to her mouth as though she'd accidentally revealed a secret. Aurelius looked between them, bewildered. Tanisha shrugged nonchalantly. She'd known ever since she used Identify on him when they first met.

"You didn't tell him?" Tanisha asked.

Fuyumi sighed, scratching her cheek with one finger and a blue blush graced her cheeks in embarrassment.

"I was planning to tell you after we opened your Blood Gate, once you reached your next breakthrough."

Tanisha was surprised to see Fuyumi flustered.

"To be fair, I assumed you already knew," Tanisha added with a grin. "Uh... surprise? Welcome to sagehood!"

Aurelius stared at the two women, incredulous, before plopping back down into the lotus position with a dramatic sigh. He turned to Bjorn who sat behind Tanisha on a comforter he dragged from one of the beds in the open pods.