A flicker of suspicion sparked within her. Khaled hadn't mentioned the book, nor did he seem interested in the fantastical tales meant for children. His focus was entirely on the ancient tome he now held, its pages filled with cryptic symbols with familiar script.
" Rank 2 Irsal* " Nina's mind whispered, While Irsal was the first magic one learned, it was also the most basic. Students like them, still struggling to master the foundational control required for even basic feats, wouldn't be venturing into such complex areas. Most, at this stage, were eager to move on to the 'flashier' Anasir* – the elemental magic that promised dazzling displays of power.
Nina knew the allure. The ability to conjure fireballs or manipulate water held a certain romanticism, a promise of immediate gratification.
The inscription etched onto the tome's worn leather cover: "Control is the foundation of mastery." The words resonated with Nina, a truth often overshadowed by the powerfull displays of elemental magic.
True power, she knew, wasn't just about raw force, but about precision and manipulation.
In the realm of magic, where spellcasters wielded the arcane energy known as Riaf*, Irsal stood as an often overlooked yet fundamental discipline. It was the foundation upon which more spectacular magic was built, a language understood by all spellcasters, but truly mastered by few.
Spells Schools like Challal*, Irsal*, Anasir*, Tashin* and Sehir* belonged to a system where spells were categorized into seven distinct ranks. These ranks weren't just about the raw power unleashed, but also the Riaf consumption, the underlying force generated, and the maleability of the spell itself. Take the seemingly simple "Small Fireball" of the Anasir school. This Rank 2 fire spell could drain a significant portion of an Aspirant's Riaf reserves. However, with practice and a deeper connection to the element of fire, a skilled Hami could minimize the Riaf cost.
Adaptability , as the High Warlocks have– proven in both combat and strategy – often pointed out, was where the true mastery lay. Nina closed her eyes for a moment, the Ideas swirling in her mind. "Adaptability,only possible if the Spell had a high degree of maleability and that was where true mastery lay....". A simple fireball could be more than just destruction. The same "Small Fireball" could be used not just for damage, but also strategically. By compressing it, intensifying the heat, it could blind an opponent from afar.
Irsal offered something even more profound: while its consumes the least of all schools of Riaf, the foundational knowledge for a truly powerful ability – Riaf manipulation. However, this advanced technique wasn't something a student like them could access yet. It was a secret reserved for Magus-level Hamis, those who had honed their skills and Riaf control to a peak.
This allowed this Art's Hamis to influence the spells of their enemies. They could deflect projectiles, disrupt formations, or even hijack an opponent's magic entirely. However, this ability was heavily dependent on three factors: the Irsal mage's Riaf concentration, their affinity for the element being manipulated, and their proficiency with that specific spell. A significant rank difference between Casters often resulted in a clear victor, with the higher-ranked easily overpowering the lower-ranked one's attempts at Targeting anything with the spell or at even creating it.
Nina, however, couldn't help but think there was another way.
Why delve into the complexities of Irsal when they could be focusing on directly optimizing their Anasir spells? After all, both paths at Higher Ranks required proficiency and elemental affinity. Imagine a fireball not just compressed for heat, but its very essence honed to a razor-sharp edge. All that extra effort spent on Irsal, she thought, could be used to push their elemental magic to the next level, to truly unlock its potential.
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Irsal, while powerful in the right hands, was often seen as utilitarian – a tool for mages of lower ranks, or a steppingstone to more exciting forms of Riaf. But the limitations Khaled faced, his restricted access to it, the magical energy source, meant this Magic school was likely the only avenue truly open to him for now.
"Is he getting frustrated?" thought Nina, Was he pushing himself too hard, delving into advanced techniques to compensate for his restrictions?.
"Finished with the children's story already?" Nina couldn't contain her curiosity any longer. She leaned across the table, a hint of curiosity dancing in her tired eyes.
Khaled glanced up from his studies, his own eyes betraying weariness. "Found it tucked away on a shelf," he replied with a tired smile. "Got me curious, I admit. A children's book in the School of Hami, wouldn't you say that's entertaining?"
Nina chuckled softly. "Entertaining indeed. Especially when you consider it's about Farid the First Djinn." They both knew the truth – Farid was a mythical figure, a cautionary tale woven into children's stories to remind them of the importance of balance when wielding Riaf.
"Do you think that's why it's here?" Nina continued, her voice dropping to a thoughtful whisper. "A reminder for us too, never to lose sight of that balance, even as we delve deeper into magic?"
"Perhaps" he said, a touch of amusement in his voice. "Maybe those librarians are more cunning than we give them credit for. Hiding a little wisdom amongst the fantastical tales to keep us, young mages grounded."
Nina's smile mirrored his. "Well, who knows?" she replied, a twinkle in her eye. "Perhaps there's more to this Farid than meets the eye. Maybe there's a hidden lesson for us aspiring Hami, a deeper understanding of Riaf veiled in a story."
The morning light, pale and tentative, filtered through the high windows of the library, chasing away the shadows that had clung to Khaled throughout his long night with Nina. He stretched, his muscles stiff from hours hunched over ancient tomes, the weight of newfound knowledge both exhilarating and unsettling.
"Ugh, finally some light," Khaled groaned, rubbing his eyes as the first rays of dawn peeked through the library window. "Nina?" he called out, noticing the empty chair beside him.
Farid's whimsical journey through the twilight realm of Elgin echoed in his mind, a fantastical tale that resonated with the situation at hand in a way he couldn't quite grasp.
The children's book, dismissed at first as a mere distraction, now held the key to a deeper understanding.
"This story... it can't be just a coincidence," Khaled muttered to himself, flipping back through the pages of Farid's Magical Odyssey. "There has to be a connection."
As he replayed the events of the story in his mind, a kaleidoscope of images swirled before him – the ancient willow tree bathed in ethereal light, the playful wisps of light flitting through the Moonlit Glade, the monstrous entity awakened by the corrupted ritual. Each detail seemed to hold a hidden message, a piece of a puzzle waiting to be assembled.
"The corrupted ritual," Khaled mused, pacing between the towering bookshelves. "That's it! What if Jahith and Samad messed up the summoning somehow?"
The corrupted ritual. That was the crux of the matter. In the story, the pixies' innocent attempt to mimic ancient knowledge had resulted in a distortion, a summoning gone awry.
Could the same be true for Jahith and Samad's failed summoning? Had they, in their desperation, strayed from the traditional methods, tinkering with the delicate balance of Riaf, causing unforeseen consequences? The monstrous entity – a chilling manifestation of the imbalance? The idea sent a shiver down Khaled's spine. The library, once a sanctuary of knowledge, now felt charged with an unspoken tension. He glanced around at the towering shelves laden with books, each spine a potential repository of forgotten lore, yearning to unlock the secrets they held.
"There has to be more information here somewhere," Khaled whispered, his voice echoing in the vast hall. He scanned the seemingly endless rows of books, a growing sense of urgency gnawing at him.
But where to begin? The library was a labyrinth of information, and Khaled felt lost in its vastness. He yearned for a guide, a mentor to illuminate the path ahead. Yet, his status as a "restricted" student limited his access to the more advanced teachings.
*Irsal : Telekinesis
*Anasir spells: Elemental spells
*Tahsin and Sehir : Fortifying and Enchanting Spells
*Challal spell: Paralyzing spell
*Rafik: familiar
*RIAF: Source of energy in the Elginn Wolrd (Mana)
*Hami: noun[c]. Mage. Protector. The title given to those who are able to control their Riaf, the core of all living things, and use it to move the elements at their disposal