The Celestial Forge
By: Schin Ka'Tharos
CHAPTER 22
(Part 3)
In the end, I had been completely dominated in a pure martial arts competition which, despite my best efforts, stung my pride. In spite of the even deeper chasm between us in Forging I decided I would earn back some respect and surprise her with what I was capable of. I wanted to see how far I had come in my training these last few months. If I could land just one significant shot.
Upon seeing her ignite her flame, I instinctively activated my own natural flame and set about splitting my will. Anvil and hammer took shape within my soulcore and I began to form my celestial essence into the pattern of the Ten Skies Armament as quickly as I could. With my second flowline open I could finally form the defensive structure through my skin directly.
She held up her left hand and hundreds of thin hair-like strands of essence grew out of her forearm and hand twisting together like smaller roots forming into one. Then she thrust her hand out and a twisting cord of essence flew towards me like a spear. I raised my arm to block. My natural flame raged and I Forged in earnest but I couldn't manage to lock in the Ten Skies Armament in time. The corded essence flattened out and hit me in my forearm with a thud like a broad headed hammer. My bones rattled and my arm went numb from the strike and I was pushed back several feet.
I caught a glimpse of her face as I steadied myself and couldn't help but see the disappointment that hung there. Frustrated, I switched my forging pattern to Edge of the Flowing Lotus and ran at her in attack. I threw a series of kicks, knowing they wouldn't hit but hoping to force her on her heels. I was trying to gain some time to both lock in my technique and also bring some feeling back to my hand.
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Limited to only one technique at a time as I was, I breathed deep through my mask trying to pull in the maximum amount of essence I could. The limited amount of essence inhaled I imbued directly into the Edge of the Flowing Lotus attempting to bolster it whatever way I could, despite knowing that this essence would be lost to me without properly soul-forging it first.
Seconds burned away as I shaped my essence into the needed pattern to mount my technique. I focused on my hand and stretched my second flowline. My aura grew and extended beyond my skin on my fist and just barely expanded less than an inch above it. Still, the Edge of the Flowing Lotus began to take shape.
A Forger's overall power and capabilities consist of a complex interplay of multiple factors. Magus advancement, quality of advancement, raw celestial or arcane manna levels, essence potency, cinder levels or influence, forging technique, technique execution, type of Flame harnessed, evolution of one's relationship with the Flame, personal experience and skill, adaptability, intelligence, speed, accuracy just to name a few (and not even bringing martial arts and advancement into play).
In those three months I had focused specifically on improving my second flowline and increasing my speed and accuracy of spell-forging the techniques I knew. A forger has complete control of their essence as long as it remains within their aura which is directly linked to your flowlines. Thus as a second apprentice my essence could affect my cardiovascular system, lungs, skin and endocrine system. Your aura outside your body is integral to any spell-forging capabilities and is a direct expansion of one's second flowline. It is vital to virtually every forger save for those from Jaspen or other melee specialists, but even they eventually improve its range though with less fervor.
The Edge of the Flowing Lotus finally finished forming. I threw one final kick and followed that up with a flurry of jabs to make her cover-up. Upon finishing, I stepped to the outside of her lead foot and threw a hook to the same spot I had connected to earlier in our match. Only this time I released the Edge of the Flowing Lotus which sent a slice of forged celestial essence into her midsection.
Her hand gracefully dipped down and deflected my wrist to the side and my technique shot harmlessly past her.
“This really all you have?” she said with a raised eyebrow.
Next Chapter...
Chapter 22 (Part 4)