"Chapter 2 - The Illusory Bolt
Sadly for you, the reader, you'll find that my style is a lot drier than my compatriot's so I hope this section is quick for you. The first thing you need to understand about the Illusory Bolt is that it is a gamble. As implied in the previous chapter, Illusion only works when the target believes that it is real. As such, the damage an Illusory Bolt inflicts, whether that be on an alive person or an inanimate object, is completely fake and only exists if there is an observer to make it real. An example of this is an experiment run a few centuries ago about this observer effect on the Illusory Bolt that I believe is important for the reader's understanding of the Spell."
"An experiment?" Amy said, intrigued at the possibilities.
"A regular Mage stood inside a completely mana-isolated room and was told to channel mana into a node on one of the walls. This node would then power a magical item that casted Illusory Bolt on a target dummy. At first, when the Mage was told nothing about why they were doing this, the Illusory Bolt that was fired off did nothing. The mana inside the Spell simply scattered off of the target causing no other effects. However, when they were informed that the mana they were channelling was being used for a Bolt Spell, suddenly the Illusory Bolt began to have an effect. It damaged the training dummy consistently each time mana was channelled into the node. For completion, the Mage was then informed that it was an Illusory Bolt being cast, well aware of what the effects of the Spell was. Still, when mana was channelled, the Bolt damaged the dummy.
Next, the Mage was informed that a different Spell was being used, which was completely different in all ways to the Illusory Bolt, when in reality, nothing had changed, while also replacing the dummy. After this, a second person was brought into the room where the dummy room was being fired at and was told that Bolts would be fired at the dummy. When the Mage channelled mana into the node, the casted Illusory Bolt inflicted damage upon the dummy consistently each time. Finally, the second person was told that the Spell was an Illusory Bolt. As soon as they were informed of this, the Bolt stopped inflicting damage and scattered upon the dummy once more."
"Well, they weren't kidding about it being dry," Amy muttered, trying to wrap her head around the Illusory Bolt. So this is why it's a part of the so-called 'Trickster's Trio'. It's completely dependent on what someone believes about the Spell. But doesn't that mean a connection in the mana should exist? It would be pretty obvious to someone with Mage Sight to spot that connection and realise the truth. Otherwise there would be no way for the thoughts to influence the Spell and vice versa. But... Mind Spells don't always require a mana connection either from what little I know of them. Could this be a case of that?
"Something of import to also note was what the Bolt's appeared as during different stages of the experiment. Initially, when the Mage didn't know anything at all, the Bolt was a featureless blob of translucent grey energy. Then, when they were informed that it was a Bolt, it took on the appearance of a regular Fire Bolt with tinges of grey (this is probably because of internal biases of the Mage in question). Upon being informed of the type of Bolt, the Illusory Bolt returned to its original appearance. When the second person was introduced, the Bolt took on the appearance of a Fire Bolt too (likely also due to internal biases). Finally, when informed, the Bolt's appearance remained that of a Fire Bolt. Also for completion, when the second person was explained and shown what an Illusory Bolt is, the appearance of the Bolt changed once more to that of its original cast. Interestingly enough, when the experiment was repeated with different people and or multiple Mages and secondary observers, the Bolt's appearance all appeared different to each person depending on their internal biases. Further info about the effect of multiple observers with conflicting beliefs of the Bolt will not be covered today and are too complex than required for a Mageling."
Now this is definitely more like a Mind Spell if biases are affecting the Magick, Amy realised, Could... could this just be Mind then? That's why they think Illusory is Esoteric because they're incorrectly labelling Mind as it instead. That theory falls quickly apart though. Mind Spells have existed for a long time and I doubt that these Wizards are so ancient not to have heard of it. Someone, somewhere, would've made the connection. So the relation is either accepted, or ignored. Maybe it has something to do with that dissonance between them saying Illusion is Esoteric and not Advanced.
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"The full details of the experiment are also too complicated for a Mageling's needs and that was just a brief outline of what was investigated. In summary, the main principle of the Illusory Bolt is how others view it, including the caster. With this information, I believe it possible for the reader to cast this Spell using the previously taught Wizardly Magecraft and Spellcraft. The Spellform is also written on the next page. For those still struggling to cast the Spell, in a safe environment I hope, your likely stumbling block is at the attunement stage. Try not to imagine Illusion as the word that the mundane defines it as. Illusion is the act of tricking others, and, in that trickery, you make it real; so if the dream you create, your wish to the world, is indistinguishable from reality, who's to say it's a dream at all?"
"Damnit," Amy cursed, re-reading those frustrating words. They just have to use a specific Magecraft, don't they? I'll try with my one, but I doubt it'll work.
Closing the curtains around her kitchen, she set the book down on the mantelpiece, open to the page of the Spellform. It was similar to the regular Bolt template she knew and had memorised but had some slight but notable differences. There were some odd shapes within the ring at the top of the channelling circle, and the escape lines for the mana on the front plane were significantly longer, as if tracing out the shape of another ring covering the top one, just without the curve completing it.
Memorising the shape in her head as much as possible, her eyelids slowly drooped closed, as she let herself become entranced by the lure of mana. Mana Sight would interfere too much with her visualisation to help, so shutting off as much sensory information as she could would significantly help her Magecraft. That is assuming that Illusion is not only Esoteric, but can be gathered with my standard Magecraft. For all I know it requires some super specific technique that explains why no one's ever found out about its real Elemental type.
Amy breathed in deeply as she settled her rampant thoughts, feeling the touch of mana in the air, entering her body and leaving it Pure. The absent singing of the virid mana helped her concentrate further, no longer disrupting anything magical she tried to do near the forest. Something else felt absent too, but whatever it was must've been minute enough that she'd never noticed it before. Or, rather than absent, something felt there that never used to be. Could it be the Mage Tower? Maybe- Ah! No wandering thoughts, Amy, no!
As clear as she could get it, her mind imagined the whirlpool once more, the stage that all mana played upon. It was at this first and vital step that she began to alter her thoughts, almost unknowingly. Yes, this was the stage of life and mana and all things in this world but it was also for something else. At every carnival or fair she had been to, there was always a magician playing tricks. So, it was only fitting that upon this great stage that the trickster took its place, hiding amongst the shadows, slipping into the dance. Its influence twinged upon the swirling within, a spike of something unreal fitting itself into the painting of the universe. That small twinge grew into fantastical colour as it framed it all in an ever so slightly different light. No longer was it a majestic dance, soaring through life, entrancing all in its wake. It was a show, performed to express life at its truest, to entertain, to live, and all was caught in its current.
Falling backwards out of the trance, Amy opened herself back up to the world to observe her whirlpool, and found it smaller than usual. Despite its smallness, it felt more focused than before, as if attuned to something else than just mana. And, it seemed as if a whimsical note leaked into it, tainting its intent towards that of the trickster. A smile growing on her face, Amy opened her eyes and faced towards her kitchen door, raising her arm and hand up, ready. Coalesced mana ran up her arm as it attuned itself to her thoughts. That of tricksters, of a magician's show. That of fooling the world into unreality, manifesting the fake into truth. That of lies, and that of Illusions.
The fake mana twisted into the shape Amy willed it to be, a Water Bolt, splashing on and impacting the door. It was fake, yes, an illusion, but it was one she wholeheartedly believed. A trick, for all who witnessed; and, for this grand trick, the universe was her audience. Miniscule amounts of her personal mana spun out from her being, forming into the Spellform inscribed on the book, guiding the attuned mana truly. Like a hungry beast, the Illusion attuned mana was sucked up by the Spell in an instant, bursting through the Spell's channels, harsh rapids to the breaking dam. With a snap, the dam broke, and the Bolt was unleashed.
Forming in the centre of the Spellform was a sphere of translucent grey mana, curling itself into the shape of primal blue, of Water. Building up to a great crescendo, the Illusory mana sang louder and louder, until it could take no more. The dam had broken, and it was fired.
Fired into a harmless cloud of dissipating mana, that is. No supposed 'Illusion' kept together, and the Spell fell apart, spiralling back into the Ocean, Pure.
"Well... at least it didn't backfire?"