The Unveiling - Modern Magic: Book 1

Chapter 14

Chapter 14 - Calm Before the Storm

James and I got back to my apartment after a stop by a local Chinese place. I figured that his craving from the other night wasn't likely to have been sated. With full stomachs and overwhelmed minds, we did our best to plan out our next few days. I sent emails to my professors, claiming to have come down with the flu. I promised to study and be ready for exams the following week. It is going to be so strange to just go back to class after having an all-out magical battle the day before.

"We're going to put together a workout routine for you. As you now know, magical and physical stamina are connected. Unfortunately I don't think we'll have enough time to get you up to par for this kind of a fight, but we'll get you started." I looked him in the eye, hoping this didn't come across as condescending or lacking in trust. "You shouldn't come to the cemetery on Sunday. If you're burning out your magical capability with only a few manifestations, you're more likely to get hurt or become a liability to someone trying to protect you."

James nodded, showing no teenage angst or anger, but wisdom far beyond his years. "I had thought that too. I was hoping I was wrong. I want to have the chance to right the wrongs I've made these last few weeks." I could tell he was wrestling with that idea.

"You'll get your chance, but not now. It's far better to live - commit a long life to being better and helping others. Going out in a blaze of glory sounds heroic and amazing, but it never talks about peoples' lives after you're gone." He nodded again, seeming to be on the same page. "That's no reason not to start training now though. We have a few years to catch up on." I smiled, hoping some of the optimism would show - even if it was forced.

We started working. I won't go into the deep individual details of the training regimen I put together for him, but we focused on toning the muscle he had with a slow build of new muscle. Neither of us could afford him being so sore that he couldn't move for a whole day. I also talked James through my normal workout routine to help him to put together his own for when he had built up a nice baseline strength and stamina. We both went to bed that night mentally and physically exhausted.

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April 18, 2019

The next day, I started working with James on the feel of manifestations. Having an unlocked memory is invaluable, but it would never teach you how your body feels when manifesting different magical energies. Even though he had definitely felt kinetics before, I had him run through the basic formations again. He hadn't been focused on the intricacies of power flow and energy efficiency back then. James tackled these new challenges and my guidance amazingly well. He seemed hungry to learn more about what had been denied him for so long. I wonder if it felt like another link to his parents? Whatever the reason, he was a better student than I could have hoped for.

It wasn't long before James was manifesting kinetic bolts and barriers far more efficiently than before, even pausing to laugh for a moment as he looked up at me. "You deflected them. I tried to absorb the full force." He shook his head at the absurdity. "I mean, don't get me wrong, you're still way more powerful than me. It just burned through what little power I had in no time compared to letting most of the force deflect off to the side." I smiled and nodded at his conclusion.

"That's one thing that our memory is great for - teaching us tactics. There have been literally hundreds or thousands of Magi before us who have made all the mistakes we don't have to repeat." It was my turn to laugh and shake my head a little. "Of course that also has pushed us into a little rut - which is why your attacks were so effective. We believed we knew the best way to fight other Magi, and on the surface, we were right. But we got stuck in the rut instead of expanding on it. Since we all know how other Magi expect to fight each other, there is a benefit to finding a counter to that style of tactic. In this case, I'm referring to Antimagic."