Banishing the dark thoughts from his mind, Verdan focused on the matter at hand as he wound his way through the slowly forming camp to find where Kai was setting up.

Unsurprisingly, Kai and Gwen had taken spots next to each other. They weren’t travelling together yet, but whatever had been keeping them apart seemed to be slowly unravelling, which was good.

The two of them were good people, and they deserved to be happy.

Surprisingly, Verdan saw Vaijon was also present and in a quiet discussion with Kai about something.

“Ah, it seems you’re quite the popular one tonight,” Vaijon said with a chuckle as he spotted Verdan heading their way. “Unless you’re here for me?”

“Actually, I was hoping to steal Kai away to help me with some teaching,” Verdan said, glancing between the two of them. “But if you’re busy, I can come back tomorrow.”

“Teaching?” Vaijon echoed before Kai could respond. “I thought our methods were entirely different to your own?”

Verdan hesitated, unsure of what to say, which only made Vaijon look all the more interested.

Seeing Vaijon perk up, Kai cleared his throat to draw the Elder’s attention. “I’ve been teaching Verdan some basic breathing exercises. It seems to be helping him.”

“Oh, how interesting,” Vaijon said softly, his eyes wide as he turned back to Verdan with a wide smile. “Perhaps the difference is not so great if our techniques can work with yours?”

“The truth is that they are incredibly similar,” Verdan said with a slight shrug. “But the difference between them is one that seems to be insurmountable. No Sorcerers seem to be able to interact with Aether, instead only having access to Essence.”

“Yes, I remember our initial discussion on the differences. Still, I’d be interested to see all this in action, if you don’t mind an additional person?”

“Well, I was actually coming to ask Kai if he wouldn’t mind instructing Magnus and Dirk. The increase in absorption I’ve seen is solid enough that I’m willing to include it in their training. Hopefully, they will take to it well.”

“There we go then,” Vaijon said, making an expansive gesture to include them all. “Kai can teach your apprentices, while I give you a personal lesson using my own insights. If that works for you, Verdan?”

Verdan hesitated, but only briefly. The advantages here far outweighed the potential costs. “I’d be delighted to hear what insights you have to pass on.”

“Kai?” Vaijon turned to the other Sorcerer next, who glanced back to Gwen questioningly.

The Witch had been watching them with a bemused expression and waved aside his questioning look. “Don’t worry about me. I was going to go catch up with the other Witches, anyway.”

“In that case, I’m willing to join as well,” Kai said.

“Good, good, then let’s go find those apprentices.” Vaijon clapped his hands together excitedly before striding off toward the Kranjir section of the camp.

Verdan and Kai exchanged amused looks before following along in the Elder’s wake. For all that Vaijon was odd, he did know what he was doing, and Verdan was interested to see what else he could learn from the Elder.

-**-

In no time at all, Vaijon had gathered up Dirk and Magnus, sent them off with Kai and had brought Verdan out to a pond that wasn’t far from the camp.

“Ah, this will do nicely,” Vaijon said, dusting off a fallen tree before taking a seat. “Please, make yourself comfortable.”

Verdan drew up some stone, forming his usual seat, and settled into a loose meditation posture. “Do you need me to demonstrate first?”

“Why not, that seems as good a place as any,” Vaijon said with a shrug, waving for Verdan to begin.

Nodding, Verdan settled into his familiar routine, while also following the steady breathing rhythm that Kai had shown him. It was a simple pattern, but as he settled into it, he could feel the effect it was having on his Aether intake.

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It was a small effect, one hardly noticeable at first, but after hours of practice, Verdan was firmly aware of it. Focusing on that effect, Verdan tried to keep it as stable as he could.

Holding that state for several minutes, Verdan eventually released it when he heard Vaijon call his name.

“That seems stable enough for a beginner,” Vaijon said once Verdan’s focus was back on the world around them. “How are you finding its effects, anything lacking in improvement?”

“What do you mean?” Verdan asked, furrowing his brow as he tried to understand what the Sorcerer was saying.

“Strength, agility, endurance, anything physical really for that matter. What increases are you feeling and what are you aiming for?” Vaijon asked, pausing before holding up a hand. “I’m assuming you’ve meditated with this active for more than an hour or two, right?”

“I meditated for most of the day, but no, I don’t feel any changes,” Verdan said slowly, trying to wrap his head around that revelation. “Are you saying this is how Sorcerers gain their enhanced capabilities?”

“It is the long, slow and boring way to do it, yes,” Vaijon said, peering intently at Verdan. “Are you sure you don’t feel any physical changes? Even a basic technique like that should be doing something.”

“Perhaps it’s related to being a Sorcerer, rather than a Wizard,” Verdan said absently as he considered the issue. “Kai didn’t mention anything, so I didn’t realise.”

“He was most likely forbidden to tell anyone. Sect secrets and all that,” Vaijon said with a shrug. “Different techniques focus on different benefits. I know a few I was going to offer if they suited your preferences. Now, though, I’m a bit lost for how to proceed.”

“Do you have anything that doesn’t target the body?” Verdan asked hopefully, wondering if there was something more esoteric that might work for him. Any kind of benefit or advantage would be more than welcome at this point.

“Not how it works I’m afraid,” Vaijon said absently, his attention clearly elsewhere. “How puzzling. The basic technique doesn’t do much, but it should do something after this much time.”

They both sat in thought for a few minutes, trying to grasp the best way to help Verdan advance.

“What about a technique that focuses on large amounts of Aether or Essence movement?” Verdan asked eventually, deciding to stick with what was easiest.

Some sort of improvement would be nice, but settling for more Aether was hardly a problem.

“Actually, I think I do,” Vaijon said slowly, a grin spreading across his face. “Well, I don’t, but one of my brethren does. An older method, one less popular now as it focuses on providing Essence in large quantities but gives very little physical improvement. Given that you can’t do the second part, it should fit what you need nicely.”

"I’d definitely be interested in that,” Verdan said with growing excitement. If that new technique was even slightly more effective than the one he had now, it would have a dramatic effect on his capabilities.

“Good, good, I do have one request, though,” Vaijon said, flashing Verdan a hungry smile. “Teach me this gathering spiral method.”

Verdan hesitated, weighing the benefits again. He’d taught Kai and some of the Hobson’s Point Sorcerers the basics, but they’d failed to progress beyond the basic formation of the spiral and split their focus.

This could be a good opportunity to get a fresh view on what the block was, and if it was possible to be overcome.

“Well?” Vaijon asked after a few moments.

“I’ll do it,” Verdan said, deciding to do it, but give Vaijon less instruction than he had with the other Sorcerers. “I’d ask you to keep it to yourself for the time being, though.”

“Done and done,” Vaijon said, his grin widening as he smoothly rose from where he was sat. “I’ll have the technique for you tomorrow evening. Could we start your training now?”

Verdan nodded and waved a hand, drawing up a second stone seat for Vaijon. “Okay, so first I need you to manipulate your Aether that hasn’t been converted and form a single thread that runs throughout your body in a spiral. The end should be the very core of your being, which will then fill with Aether.”

Vaijon nodded as he sat back down and closed his eyes to follow Verdan’s instructions.

Verdan could feel a little of what was happening with his Aether senses, but Vaijon was already quite suffused with magic, making it difficult to pick out any small changes.

Sitting back and focusing on his own meditation, Verdan kept a small part of his attention on Vaijon, but kept the guidance light.

“I think I have it,” Vaijon said after a few minutes of working at it. “Now what?”

“Keep it going. Does it feel like it’s increasing your Essence at all?”

“Marginally, yes, it does,” Vaijon said, keeping the process going for a few more moments before stopping. “I see the issue now. You keep this going at all times, don’t you.”

“Yes, that’s the core of being a Wizard.”

“I see. The problem for Sorcerers then is that we have to focus on our elements to actively cultivate Essence. That means focus and intent, which is impossible to do subconsciously. As far as I’m aware, anyway.”

Verdan felt himself relax slightly as Vaijon explained the problem. It sounded like the spiral would still help them, but he didn’t have to worry about Sorcerers gaining the full benefit. They’d clearly been too focused on the split concentration aspect when testing it before, and not on the mechanics of the process.

As much as Verdan wanted to help his allies progress, this was good news. Essence had an inherent aspect, and so it took less to create a spell for Sorcerers than it did for Wizards.

Verdan had greater reserves and replenishment, which far outweighed that advantage, but this might well have changed that.

“I admit that it’s disappointing that I can’t do the full technique,” Vaijon said, drawing Verdan out of his thoughts. “Still, this will be a clear benefit. Thank you.”

“I’m glad you found a part of it useful,” Verdan said as he got back to his feet. “Let me know if you have any questions.”