[center][h2]Damian Gerard|Path to Crocus[/h2][/center]
[center][@Sanguine Rose][/center]

[color=B20C0C]"I reckon they're magical dire wolves if their size is any indication myself, but I don't question it. They've helped save my life on more than one occasion and they've made the last few years more bearable."[/color] He nodded when she asked if she could inquire further. [color=B20C0C]"I'd be happy to help how I can, though I'm not sure how much help I'll be with the matter."[/color] With that answered, he listened to her explanation of what he'd seen of her magic. He certainly had to agree with her statement about plenty of magic users being capable fighters when their magical abilities, whether they used them to augment their existing abilities or used the magic to learn how to fight in general, assuming they didn't just become magical artillery that launched spells from a distance without actually endangering themselves. In many cases, they had a limited number, if any, of defensive moves.

[color=B20C0C][i]In that regard, I find myself fortunate, since while I do have a set of dedicated defensive spells I've developed, I can also turn many of my more offensive spells into tertiary defensive spells. Nothing on par with that nifty magic shield user I met once, but still helpful.[/i][/color] Then she mentioned the training he was doing and he couldn't help but grimace on the matter ever so slightly. While he [i]had[/i] trained with his magic before the incident that had killed his parents, his father had insisted that maintaining his martial training was more important and that the magic training would only be sufficient to keep from accidentally using it. In the end, it hadn't made much difference, because he hadn't learned the emotional control needed due to focusing on his martial skill.

[color=B20C0C]"If I'm honest, Miss Ria, my magic training has been mostly been based in exploration. Growing up in the Royal Army, when my magic manifested, dad was more concerned with making sure I wouldn't accidentally kill myself or someone else, but not actually learn anything about it or how to use it. So over the last few years, I've spent my time learning. From a martial standpoint, having a sparring partner would be fantastic, would give me a chance to actually refresh my memory on various blocks and forms. But from a magical standpoint? I'm not so sure it would be smart. I can't even wield my full magic power without putting my body under enormous strain."[/color] He stopped and faced Ria, intent on explaining it before there were a hundred questions.

[color=B20C0C]"The best way to show you what I mean is to have you feel the temperature difference between where I am now and wielding my full strength. Touch my arm."[/color] Once she had done so and had registered he was running a normal temperature, perhaps a little higher due to working out recently, Damian stepped back a couple of steps and closes his eyes and focuses. A magic circle, orange in color, appears underneath him and after a moment, he speaks. [color=B20C0C]"Release Power Lock Alpha. Confirmation Ceta-Zulu-Foxtrot-Bravo."[/color] The magic circle changes colors, shifting from being orange in color to a deep green, but it doesn't vanish. [color=B20C0C]"Right now I'm at about eighty percent of my full strength, maybe eighty-five. Pushed to the limits of this power lock, I max out at ninety percent and that's it. But if I do this,"[/color] the intensity of the magic energy around him flairs up suddenly as he speaks again, saying, [color=B20C0C]"Release Power Lock Omega. Confirmation Beta-Delta-Epsilon-Ceta."[/color] The green magic circle darkened to pitch black and for the briefest of moments, the aura around Damian shimmered the same color before he brought it back under control.

Opening his eyes, the circle disappears and he approaches Ria again, offering his arm. This time when she touched, it was very clear his temperature had spiked to higher than a normal person's and he seemed to feel it. [color=B20C0C]"My full strength burns me out, and if I operate at it for too long, I'll be unable to do much anywhere from a couple days to a couple of weeks."[/color] The magic circle reappears and with an uttered series of words, turns from black to green to orange again. [color=B20C0C]"Get a feel for what I mean?"[/color]