Basil and the Slumbering Emerald

Preparing for the Rites

The two weeks leading up to the week of Basil's birthday seem to go by so fast. Kelkian takes Basil out on a candlelit romantic dinner and a shopping spree at the mall. Gram takes Basil to hang out with his teammates and play mini-golf, go paintballing, and of course ice skating. Mattias and Basil bake cookies, watch movies, order take out, and paint together. It's honestly refreshing for things to work out well, Kelkian and Gram have their moments but for the most part, things are going alright until the week of Basil's birthday, his birthday being October fourteenth.

Petril wakes Basil from a long night with Gram and Kelkian, nothing sexual, just another fight between the two that he had to break up. Basil and Petril sneak out of the room to talk while Gram and Kelkian keep sleeping. "So I know you must be excited about your birthday, you should be but this week is going to be tough for you. You have to read up on the basics of magic use and prepare for the rites. The rites are simple and end with a vow. I know I don't need to tell you this but Gram has to be kept at a distance this week, if he even glimpses the slightest bit of magic, we all could be in trouble." Petril warns as he offers a book to Basil on the basics of magic. "This book is enchanted to be invisible to shackled. So don't worry about leaving it out or taking it to school, only unbound can see it. There will be a test of your magic the night of your rites so read up and be prepared. No Vipera has ever failed the test. I don't want you to be the first." Petril smiles and kisses his forehead. "Welcome to the family properly Basil." He heads down to help with breakfast. Basil takes the book to the living room and starts reading.

The basics of magic make calculus and trigonometry seem like child's play. Simplifying it down, the book starts by going over the three basic phases of magic. Stored/Potential magic is when magic is dormant within the body or is being conserved for magic use. Active/Kinetic magic is when magic is in the midst of use such as spell casting. Dispersed/Concurrent magic is when magic has been used and is either retaining it's properties or holding it's charge, such as enchantments and imbuement. The next section of the book goes over the process of willing, channeling, and releasing magic. Willing magic is the process of gathering the magic from your reserves for the spell. Channeling magic is tapering the flow of the magic to controlled amounts during the spell. Releasing magic is releasing the channeled magic into the spell, effectively expelling the magic. Proper use of the fundamentals of magic use is encouraged to prevent overexertion of magic and magic depletion sickness. Just as Basil gets to the section on depletion sickness Gram comes into the room and Basil hides the book.

"Hey, baby. Good morning. Can we talk?" Gram asks sitting beside Basil and pulling his hand into his lap, lacing their fingers together. Basil looks worried.

"Should I be worried right now?" Basil frowns rubbing his thumb over Gram's knuckles lightly.

"Of course not babe. I just wanted to talk about your birthday. It's coming up and you haven't said a word about it to me. Are you not celebrating or something?" Gram asks nuzzling his nose giving it soft kisses.

"Oh... about that. My parents only want family to be there to celebrate..." Basil still frowns and Gram furrows his brow.

"I'm your boyfriend though. I'm invited right?" Gram seems confused assuming that only means Trisha and Becky can't come. Basil takes a deep breath.

"No... it means... babe. I love you but it isn't my decision. You can't come... but we can always celebrate together just us the day after. Promise." Basil tries to ease the blow's pain.

"Wait... just us? What about Kelkian and Mattias? They're not invited right." Gram looks hurt and Basil grimaces and looks away.

"They... were invited... please babe. I didn't pick who comes. You know I'd want you there. It won't be any fun without you, but I don't make the rules." Basil tries to excuse but Gram stands up in front of Basil, his expression hurt and incredulous.