Flamelord and Renose Collab (Part 4)

Thomas could understand being able to do this on spells one didn't know, it was just the actual application of that process that was the hard part, and it was all the more difficult when it came in tandem with another spell that he had to deal with. "Alright. Though I've never been one for meditation. Just not patient enough for it I suppose," he repleid with a shrug and a bit of a chuckle. 

So then they got to it, practicing Runic, the spells, how to absorb magic, and Thomas got progressively better, his confidence increasing while his other self made idle comments that didn't really portend to anything of significance. Seemed he was willing to settle for Thomas working it out himself, which was a good thing. There was indeed no meditation that took place on his part, instead just resting in the short breaks that Serin insisted on before they returned to the hard work and practice, as he got used to doing it and fell more into the pattern of Serin's methods rather than the ones he had learned previously. He didn't feel like worrying about how it would hold up once he was back in the real world though. But he wouldn't know until he tried. And for that, he had to finish this.

"Through all of this I hope you are learning how to grasp spells as singular spells for controlling a specific element or power, rather than just a bunch of spells that all do the same thing or a more powerful version of the same thing. The ability to mold and control your magic with your will give you a much better grasp and control over your magic and will make it easier to obtain more powerful magic. To the point where you could even do something like this". While Thomas may not have been completely ready for spells unfamiliar to him yet, he figured he would take a slightly different approach. 

Spells that were familiar, yet not familiar. He would wait till Thomas got ready before suddenly waving his hand at the other mage. A unity of fire and frost rushed from his hand at Thomas, the two being combined into one single spell. Of course, he gave Thomas a bit of warning as he waited for Thomas to get in a stance first before casting his spell. He didn't give a warning as to what he would do though as he wanted to see how the mage would be able to grasp this type of combination spell. 

Thomas shrugged. "It's...weird. But I think I'm getting used to it," he replied, before settling in once again, ready for what came. Though it was a surprise when he did,m a single blast of frost and fire came flying at him. Fortunately he was prepared and his mind reached out, He could feel the threads, the parts of Blizzard and Fire, and he focused on them, first untangling the one friom the other with what he had learned, then preparing, his effort stretching to catch both spells, unexpected effort from two at once rather than the succession he was used to, but he was able to manage from the experience he had gained thus far. He grinned a tad in satisfaction as he waited for the next bit.

"Wow, I'm impressed. You got that one on your first try. Remember that your magic is more than just a collection of spells and incantations. It is an extension of your will. Whenever you cast a spell you put your very will into it, allowing you to mold its shape, form, and maybe even effects as you please. A fire spell could become a pillar of fire, or a dome of fire or even a wall of fire. A thunder spell could either rain lightning down from the heavens or shoot it from your fingertips. You could even turn a frost and lightning spells into a storm of chilled lightning. While you may not be practicing casting these spells now, by grasping my spells that I cast in this way and absorbing them you are, hopefully, able to obtain a better grasp at how to mold your own magic in this way". 

Serin waited for Thomas to get ready once again before beginning to suddenly move a little faster around Thomas now. He wanted to keep Thomas on his toes more than ever. This time he was moving all around the small area they were in, hoping to also train the boy's reflexes as suddenly blasts of combined ice and fire shot at him from Serin in a steady succession. Serin was ramping up the training difficulty now, and hoped that Thomas could handle it. That wasn't all that came from Serin though. Lightning bolts chilled with frost, surges of electricity laced with flame, and even shards of ice holding lightning or fire within. The best way to not only grasp Runic, but also to grasp molding magic with one's will instead of by the cookie cutters that individual spells give a person was by having Thomas absorb spells created in these various ways. 

Serin would continue the steady, successive onslaught until for a good bit, altering the pace every now and again. He would continue this until Thomas wanted to stop and catch a breather since Thomas wouldn't need to worry about recharging his Mana since Serin was giving him his through his spells that Thomas would hopefully be absorbing with Runic. The only breaks they took would be very short ones for Serin to recharge his mana a bit since even if they were level spells with power that was around the 'ira' level they still were draining his mana to be casting so many of them. 

THomas knew some of what Serin said, his own training emphasizing Mana as a force, and using that to direct your magic within the bounds of the various spells as he had learned them. To do a wall of flame or alter the output of his magic was something he knew already, though the method of going about it was, once again, different than he was used to. to him Mana had been more connected with energy itself than with will, and it was a transitioned change. But it was hopefully one he could deal with.

He fell into a ready stance, and they began the dance again. He could immediately notice the difference though, Serin's increased speed, randomness, forcing him to work faster, harder. It was enough to work up a sweat as his mind worked and his blade thrummed to block magic. He would consider himself doing fine for the most part, though he was far from perfect, some of the magic slipping away rather than being absorbed, and at particularly hectic sections he was forced to dodge rather than get hit for lack of time to work. Each sucess was a lift, each failure something to grit his teeth at and drive him harder with the determination to do it and prove to himself that he could do it, that seemingly eternal struggle to match the other mage in their group, despite how futile it might be. 

The breaks allowed him to get his breath back, wiping off his brow before they got back to the grind stone, his mind picking up more and more on that 'will' thing that seemed to be so important to Serin's style of magic. And seeing how he was doing in that, it made him wish that his past had been something else, that if he'd had a teacher such as Serin he could be so much of a better mage than he was now, more worthy of the burden placed upon him by the possession of a Keyblade. Still, no time for doubbts, and he went on responding and adapting as best he could until Serin was satisfied.

Soon enough, when Serin believed that Thomas got a much firmer grasp of both the magic he was trying to teach Thomas and of Runic the Red Wizard stopped, allowing the two of them to catch their breath. "You've gotten good at this, really good in fact. Its time for your two final lessons in Runic before we move on to the much tougher lesson. Your first final lesson is what I like to call a Complete Runic. So far you have been using your sword to block the spells and take them in, but if you noticed when I demonstrated... well... let me demonstrate one more time".

Serin drew his own blade, taking a somewhat standard stance, holding his blade in one hand while keeping his other by his side. "This time try and cast a spell at me in the way I taught you. Put your will into it. Your magic is not simply spells with already pre-determined affects. Your magic takes on the form of what you want it to be. Of what you desire it to be, within the bounds of what said element or combination of elements or magics you choose to use of course". He gave Thomas a small, confident smirk as well as a nod. "Now then, with that in mind cast your magic at me one more time. Put your very will into it to the point where your will is your magic. To the point where it is your will, not an incantation, that makes your magic come into existence". 

With that said Serin stood ready to take on Thomas' magic to not only see how well Thomas grasped this magic lesson, but to also demonstrate more about Runic.