Renose & Flamelord Collab (Part 8)

Serin noted how Thomas' swordsmanship wasn't the greatest thing, but he seemed to have a pretty decent grasp. The Red Wizard knew that with some practice and polishing that it could become something great. And now it was time for that practice, Serin blocking the air augmented blade, the blade's fast and flowing movements being a little harder to block then normal sword swings, but Serin was a skilled swordsman. He would block each of Thomas' blows, letting Thomas continue to strike at him as he blocked, or occasionally side stepped, his movements. 

"You're good, but your swings need a little work, put your will into them, into the magic in your blade. Your blade is an extension of your magic and your will now, not just some slab of metal you swing around, let it move according to your will" and "Don't make such wide movements, not only are they easy to read, but they waste your energy" were bits and pieces of advice that Serin gave the other mage as he let Thomas continue on the offensive, letting Thomas continue until the other mage was ready for a short breather. 
The hits didn't land for the most part, which Thomas had expected for the most part despite his magic enhanced blade, and the clash proved a struggle to hold on to that spell, and it did slip at times, reducing the speed and increasing thew weight. He did hear the advice and listened to it, trying to incorporate it on the fly, though converting will into physical action, as opposed to simply mental. He wasn't so much of a trained fighter and he wasn't sure if he was doing it right or if his instincts were even useful, but he tried it regardless. There was a slight rolling of eyes at some, his own opinions on the advise unspoken as he tried to follow what he was being told. He was getting slightly tired but barrelled on regardless, determined to land at least one hit before he finished.

Serin could tell that Thomas wasn't fully understanding his meaning, but he could sense the boy's determination. As long as he had that, then Serin knew that he could get it. He could see that Thomas was trying out his advice, his swings growing a little less wider and even a small bit of will behind his swings. Serin suddenly slashed at Thomas' sword quickly, knocking him backwards with a burst of air from his palm. Just enough to separate the two of them, not knock him over. "You're getting it, I can tell. But perhaps another push is required. What you need is to experience a true usage of this skill first hand, perhaps upon not only seeing it, but feeling it against your own blade will show you what I mean". 

Serin held his blade parallel with himself, placing two fingers on the blade. "Runic has one downside. It is a skill only useful against mages. If an opponent isn't using magic or magic like powers then this skill is useless. The true essence of Mahou Ken makes Runic a skill useful in all situations. As instead of just capturing the magic of your opponent and making it yours..." he paused, a surge of magic flowing from within Serin to his blade. Suddenly the sword lit alight with scorching flames, the flames licking and moving over and even in the blade itself. 

"You can put your own magic into the sword, trapping a spell of your own in there and letting its power charge your sword instead". Serin then proceeded to get into a stance, ready to strike. "I hope you're ready. You are about to experience what this skill can really do...so keep your senses sharp and feel my blade and feel the will behind it as well as the magic within it" Serin would let Thomas ready himself before he suddenly charged, being on top of him within a manner of a few moments. Suddenly he swung his blade down at Thomas. The blade's swing wasn't lightning or wind fast, but instead full of the explosive power of fire, the swing holding a tremendous amount of will and force as it went down towards Thomas, aiming for him, hoping that the mage could block this hit since Serin gave him ample warning. If not well it wouldn't kill Thomas, but it sure wouldn't feel pleasant either. 

Thomas panted a tad as Serin forced him back, feet skidding along the way as he came to a stop, sword dropping as it became evident that this part of the fight wasover, and he was disappointed that he hadn't been able to land a single hit. Not that he didn't see it coming, but a man could hope, couldn't he? An eyebrow rose at the statement that he needed to feel it, already having an idea of where this was going. 

"I guessed that," he replied with the ruge to fold his arms, it not too hard to figure out that a skill that absorbed magic wouldn't be too useful against things that didn't use magic. Talk about stating the obvious. He listened onwards, intrigued by this thought of using his own magic to fuel the elemental power around the swords. It would be a significant effort to hold up Runic while under attack, and powering the sword in turn. Still, he had an obligation to try. And that was what he would do, watching Serin infuse his blade with fire and fall into a combat stance.

"Alright, let's go then." Thomas dropped into a ready stance as well, doing as instructed and focusing more on his senses. Serin's quick movement set him off, and he dropped down a bit and swung his sword up to catch the fiery lade, having some idea of what he could or should do. He caught it, struggling against the explosive force of fire and reached out, grasping for the spell running along Serin's sword, grabbed it and pushed back, though what that would do he didn't know.

Serin was pleased that Thomas caught the blade, struggling against its explosive force. He was more impressed that Thomas even managed to get a feel for the spell in the sword and began to push back now, a smirk appearing on Serin's face. "Good, you're getting it". Now was time for the extra push though. Serin focused now all of his will into the slash. The power of the spell not increasing, as Thomas would be able to feel that if he did. No instead it seemed to intensify and focus itself as Serin put more of his will into the blade and behind the swing. 

If Thomas was focusing his senses as Serin instructed, Thomas should be able to feel it. Unfortunately it was a little too much for the simple iron sword as suddenly, despite Thomas pushing back with his own blade and will, the blade shattered under the explosive power of the fiery blade, a small burst of flame erupting from the sword as it shattered Thomas' weapon that would send him flying back somewhat. Serin breathed a little now, dispelling the spell in his own blade and absorbing its Mana. He walked over to Thomas after that, offering him a helping hand. 

"You did good. If you hadn't been using that iron sword you would have been able to withstand that attack". Whether Thomas accepted Serin's hand or got up on his own, after Thomas got up Serin scratched the back of his head. "Sorry about that though, I put a little too much will into it. But since I did... did you feel what I have been telling you before? If you put your will into your blade, into its magic, it can become alot stronger without you having to pour more magical energy into the spell". 

Thomas struggled with the blade pressed against his own, muscles yielding bit by bit as Serin forced the blade down, not as a result of his spell, but something else, the general aura that surrounded him. At least, that was the way it seemed to Thomas in the short time he had to consider such things while trying to stop that resumed sword slash. And it was a lot harder to sense someone else's will than his own. Sweat beaded as he tried to hold it back, forcing back in turn but not successful.

At that, he was taken by surprise as the sword in his hands shattered, a burst of flame erupting and tossing him to the ground with explosive force, hot shards of metal landing on him and on the ground. That was the firsgt priority once he recovered from his daze, quickly brushing them off with a hiss before his clothes caught on fire or something, because that would not have been good.

"Thanks," he replied with a grunt as he pulled himself back to his feet in spite of Serin's offered hand. "Kinda. It just seems weird considering will as magic, yet also as something different that can impact how strong it is but isn't instrumental in using magic. Or something." He shrugged noncommitedly, still working it out in his mind in a way that made the most sense to him. 'Will' was a very ethereal concept after all, and though 'Mana' was as well, it seemed easier to imagine than his desire to do something, since it could be more accurately measured and gauged. "I don't suppose you have another extra sword around somewhere," he asked.

"It can be hard to understand, but nothing is ever easy to understand. Think of it like this". He held out his palm, aiming it at a block of junk. "This is a normal Fire spell". A ball of flame shot out, slamming into the junk. It put a small dent in it and burned it a little, but it wasn't all that impressive. "Your Mana is a part of you and so is your magic. Think of will as your mental force. You simply focus and put it into everything you do, not just magic. For when you focus your Will into something..." He focused for a moment before thrusting his hand towards that same pile of junk. 

It felt like a normal Fire spell that shot from Serin's hand, but was not. It was not stronger on a level of holding more magical power, but it had alot more force behind it. The moment it hit the junk block it exploded, shattering the block of junk as the fire ball impacted it with much more force this time. "That something becomes much more intense. Filled with drive and able to accomplish more. Swords are the same. When you simply swing it around you won't be able to cut through much, but if you put your will into it even stone could yield before your blade. When I first made contact with your sword the strike itself was quite strong, the magic in it intense. When the slash suddenly became even stronger though you probably did not feel the magic inside growing more powerful with more magical power. Instead it grew more intense, the force behind the spell became stronger as did my force behind my blade". 

He took out another sheathed sword, handing it to Thomas. This one felt different, it weighed a little lighter than the Iron sword and was a bit easier to hold, yet it also was pretty different from an Iron sword. "Will is your drive, your desire. When you focus it into anything your own power increases without you having to pour more energy into something. When you do pour more energy and will into something it becomes even more powerful or greater". 

Serin then took a few steps away from Thomas, gesturing to the sword he handed him. "That sword is made of steel, much more durable than an iron sword. The iron blade was to give you a shoddy weapon that you can get used to performing these skills with. Essentially I gave you that iron sword to limit your abilities. With this steel one perhaps you should be able to sense just how much you have improved. Whenever you train you have to use things that restrain and limit your abilities as only then when you remove those restraints you can tell just how much you have grown". 

Serin redrew his own blade. "Now let us clash swords for a bit. This time you are to power your sword with your own magic. To do this imagine casting a spell through the weapon, like you would with your Keyblade. Your weapon is an extension of your magic and yourself, so let the magic of your spell flow into it. Instead of releasing the spell though into existence you trap it in your sword. With nowhere to go the spell will instead come into existence in the blade and imbue it with magical power. Essentially whenever you use Mahou Ken you are pretty much creating a magical sword". 

Serin demonstrated one more time. This time ice seemed to form around his sword instantly, the spell being stronger this time than the other spells he had cast at Thomas before. The blade now seemed to chill the very air around the sword. After that he took a stance, waiting for Thomas to imbue his sword with magic.