Chapter 26

They had created a monster.

"Pull, push," Tobias said, chanting the words like a mantra.

Riley, casting along with him in time, within the small casting room, made small motions with her paws. A white ball of flame erupted from them, traveling next to an orange ball of flame from Tobias.

Silver crystal, antenna-like structures occupying the corners were glowing red hot with heat. A shimmering field caught the bolts before impacting the wall, dissipating their energy and ablating their damage.

"Need another break," Riley panted in staccato, falling to all fours. The purple bar of magic in her overlay was flashing the same shade, bracketing the now mostly empty space.

A powerful headache dwelled at the edges of her perception, threatening to work an aggressive and nasty coup, ruining her peace and focus in the process.

"Me too," Tobias wiped at the sweat from his brow. Even his robes were moist, and the heat of the room wasn't helping.

"It's been hours, at least twelve… I think? We got here at seven bells. I heard the chime for seven again a while ago," Riley reckoned, going by the curious way they kept time here in the Ashenrealm.

Tobias opened the door as a burst of cool, fresher basement air wooshed in, providing ready relief before taking a magicka potion off the table, pouring half of it in a bowl for Riley before chugging the rest of it down.

"Which means we've got three more to work before they kick us out of here to scrub it down. I've got to be ready," day two of the Magical Murder Pace weekend was underway and almost done.

For the first time in her life, Riley longed for the frantic pace of a Monday.

"Ugh…" She flopped on her side, then on her back, flailing all four paws in the air in the process, "Dead! You've worked me to death."

She let her tongue lull out of her muzzle before going limp.

"You don't have to cast with me, ya know? They wont be examining you, but take your potion all the while," He tapped at the bowl. Riley reanimated, hopping over to it on weary, shaking paws.

"I want to learn too, and it's fun to watch literal balls of fire erupt out from my forepaws, but the pace, driven much? You're like the terminator on amphetamine the last two days!" She lapped and saw the bar replenish while her stamina remained low. It did help her feel better, at least.

Tobias cocked his head, in a way, imitating Riley, pondering the strange and esoteric words as if they were magic spells themselves.

"I guess I am driven. This is something I've been waiting for, no focus torc, nothing to get in the way of me and the power. Yeah, I'm dead exhausted and starving to boot, but I can cast!" He exclaimed, pumping his fist in the air in victory.

"And god, man, do you need a shower! I could probably use a bath, too," Riley went for broke, challenging his hygiene, hoping it would have the same effect it had on her when she was a teenager.

Tobias tentatively sniffed at an armpit before jerking his head away, "I smell like a dead kraus, but I suppose that's just what hard work does."

"God dammit," Riley finished her potion and let herself go flat on the floor, reveling in the deep coolness transmitted up from the ground.

"Just another couple of hours, and I promise you a nice hot bath. In the meantime, why don't you rest?" Tobias offered, already moving back to the center of the room, as the wards were now cool, "We'll do less damage that way."

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“Already… ahead.. of…” Riley felt a deep feeling of unconsciousness wash over her as she noticed, briefly, that her stamina bar was blinking.

Blissful blackness overcame her before the sound of voices drifted to her sensitive ears. Alertness caught, like sparks in grass.

"Master Teranaga," Tobias exclaimed, grounding his cast before turning his attention towards the door.

"Wha? Where?" Riley scanned around to see the dark skinned sorcerer from the potions class.

Strangely, the room was still cool, and the wards weren't glowing.

"A servant informed me there was still one student in a casting room. I chose to investigate. Apparently, you have been here all day?" She asked, as her nose twitched almost like Riley's.

"Cram session. I think I've worked out the problem with my casting, but I've still got a long way to go before I have the right finesse, I think. It's hard to keep the fire consistent. Sometimes it slaps, sometimes it booms," Tobias explained.

Riley marveled at how, after 14 hours of almost constant work, living on potions and a bit of bread, that could still be his one and only focus.

Everything had fallen before that one goal, and inwardly, part of her was happy for him. Still, there was also the part of her that desperately wanted that hot bath and her comfortable half crate, along with an unbroken span of sleep.

"Indeed, consistency in casting is often difficult for many students. Here, hold fire for me," she said, drawing up beside him, facing the wall.

Tobias' hand suffused in orange flame. He slowly rotated his outstretched fingers and thumb, palm up. A ball of fire flashed into existence, floating inches above him.

"Very good, now feel your magic; feel how if you feed it. The flame will become more intense, and if you deprive it, the flame will fade. Your magic sustains it; finding a good balance when you cast with the power you have at your command will be the next step for you, I think," Contorting her hand into a claw like position and rotating it palm up, a similar burst of reddish orange flame appeared before her, showing the deftness of her control, causing it to brighten and dim.

Tobias nodded thoughtfully before rolling his palm down and then snapping it forward, sending a ball of fire flying towards the wall.

"You are indeed gaining control of your cast. I am impressed after seeing you struggle. You are pushing because of your trials?" Teranga assumed.

"That and I just had my breakthrough. I'm still struggling sometimes, but it's coming easier, and it feels so good to finally have some momentum and confidence," he admitted.

She patted him on the shoulder.

"You've always been a good and dedicated student, but that's enough for the day. Return home, wash if you can, and come back tomorrow, but also be certain to rest. Your spirit needs that time as much as your mind," the older sorcerer advised.

"Preach it, sister," Riley felt a huge yawn seize her as she stretched out on trembling paws.

"That's a good idea. I think my companion is more tired than I am, and that's saying something," Tobias observed.

"You should care for her. A good companion is worth their weight in gold coin," Teranaga said, slightly bowing before turning to leave.

"You're absolutely right she is," Tobias affirmed.

Riley felt a swelling of pride.