Renose & Flamelord Collab (Part 2)

Serin watched Thomas as he played around with the sword a bit. It wasn't that great of a sword, but it wasn't terrible either, which was what the weapon was meant to be. A weapon that one wasn't too used to so that they could get a better feel for how to make a sword an extension of their body. Once Thomas got a feel for it and was ready to go, Serin nodded, looking at Thomas for a few moments before beginning to speak. 

"Now to use Runic you must first know how to link your magic with your sword, or in this case how to put your very will into your blade. I gave you a weapon that you are not used to so that you can get a better feel for the process and I recommend that, in the future, you use this weapon to practice. That way when you do use it with your Keyblade you will be able to do so with much more ease. So, get into a stance that you find most comfortable, one that lets you get a feel for your sword. After that, I shall tell you the necessary steps needed for activating Runic". 

Thomas cocked an eyebrow, and he glanced down at the sword. "Okay. I guess I can carry this thing around. Don't know if I'll ever use it otherwise," he replied, with a hint of resignation, but he didn't object. Whether he would continue to do as suggested once he left the world would remain to be seen, though there hadn't been much time to practice magic while they were traveling in any case. Just resting and recovering from the last fight, or moving to another one. And he supposed he had become more reluctant to practice his magic with everyone else around, his attempts to regain some kind of position or confidence that had been loist not something he wanted to show to the others. 
He settled down then, blade held in two hands with legs spread, the tip pointed at Serin. He looked up, indicating that he was ready to get on with it. 

Serin looked at Thomas' stance, giving him a nod. "Alright. Now close your eyes and feel your magic within you. Once you get a feeling for that, you must flow that magic into your sword, which must become an extention of not only your body, but of your will as well. This is why this skill requires knowledge of the sword, because you must be able to connect your magic with your blade. Now then... when that is done hold that for a moment, get a good feeling for what it is like to have your magic, the power of your very will, within your blade. Tell me when you are ready for the next step". 

Thomas nodded, then closed his eyes, taking deep breathes as he tried to calm his mind, to get in touch with that magic inside him. It was strange, more elusive, and when he found it it seemed slightly tainted in a way, as if the darkness in his arm was seeping over into the magic thrumming through him itself. Which was probably not a good thing, though he had only noticed it now as he took the time to actually look. At least his other self didn't comment, or get in the way, and he had a feeling that it wanted him to do this, to have this ability. He supposed he could see why, since it would make him stronger, close the gap between him and the others a bit. 

Though it was slippery, almost oily in a sense to his mental touch, he was able to get a hold of it, a feel of it, and he began channeling it into the sword he held, charging the materials that made up the blade with power, hoping it didn't shatter or something under the pressure of the power flowing into it. He wasn't going to lie in that he didn't totally understand everything regarding the connection between magic and will, but as time passed (and he wasn't sure how long it was), he started to get the feel for it,the feel of magic filling the sword. He also idly wondered if this was how those magic artifacts got made, but left that for another time. "Ready," he announced, eyes opening.

Serin watched Thomas as he began to get a feel of pouring magic into his sword and connecting it with his will. He was a fast learner, taking a few long minutes to get the hang of it. Once Thomas told him that he was ready Serin nodded. "Now we shall first practice absorbing a spell. To do this you must feel out the properties and power of the spell before it hits you, which is where an intimate knowledge of magic comes in. You have to be able to do this in mere moments, but for now just for practice I will take it a bit easy since this is your first time. Once you know what the magic is, the moment it hits your sword you must grab the spell's power, the very magic that makes it up, with your own magic in the blade, using the magic in your sword, and your very will, to trap it in the blade. Once its in there the spell is yours to command and you simply dispel the spell and take the mana that makes it up as your own, replenishing your own reserves". 

Serin aimed his palm at Thomas, a ball of fire forming right in front of it. "Feel the spell in my hand before it hits you so that when it does you can grab it and trap it, taking its energy and magic to replenish your own. Now then, let us begin". With a slight forward thrust of his palm the ball flew from his hand, shooting right towards the other mage. 

"Okay," Thomas replied, nodding in the affirmative and saving the question that leapt to his mind for afterwards, since it stood to reason that it worked in steps, so he'd be able to do what Serin had done later. It did seem a bit much, to identify the power of a spell and its composition while it was coming at you, before it could strike, then subvert control and take it for yourself, quite a bit of effort that would force you to be quick on your feet if you didn't want to get slammed with something. Though they hadn't exactly met very many Heartless who used spells, so he would be able to get a lot of practice with this 'Runic' ability before he seriously needed it. Hopefully. 

He was ready then, as Serin instructed him, and as the fireball flew forward, he did as such, reaching out with his mind in a way he never had before to contact the magic moving towards him, feeling it out as it flew through the space between them. All well and good, though he flet, in the back of his mind, like it was slightly too easy.; But with nothing to go on from those thoughts, he ignored them, and forced his mind forward yet again, wrapping around the spell as he attempted to subvert control of it.

By the time he did that though, it was nearly at his location, and he quickmly snapped his sword up while struggling to maintain the conenction and blocked it, absorbing the spell before hopefully dissipating it. He could feel the mana being added to his own, and he blinked with an almost perplexed look. "Well, that was a thing."