Chapter 3 Beaten but Not Broken  

On my day off, I spent my morning swimming in the lake that fed the showers at camp by a small aqueduct. I had made sure it was acceptable before I headed up to the lake, and one of my trainers confirmed it. There was a watchtower up there, and the two guards said I should just remain on the banks under it, and I would be fine. The last thing I wanted was to be executed for trying to escape.

I was sitting on the bank, admiring my fit body, and one of the mages came down to the bank with a fishing pole. Looking up, I noticed it was Damian. He had healed me many times and was usually the one who charged my translation amulet. We started talking while he fished.

“Damian, what is the difference between a spell form and actual magic?” I asked while he cast over and over, something akin to fly fishing.

He was very patient with me as he explained, “In order to cast a spell, a mage has to channel aether into a construct. Constructs come in three forms. They can be a physical device with an embedded spell form like the amulet you are wearing. They can be imprinted permanently onto a person’s aether core, although each affinity can only accept one such inscription. But what really defines a true mage is the last method. Being able to create a spell form in the air using aether manipulation and manual dexterity. However the spell form is created, once you have it, you only need to channel aether into it to generate the spell’s effect. Give me your translation amulet, Eryk.”

I removed the device and handed it to him while he put down his fishing pole. He proceeded to disassemble the device, showing six stacked discs inside. Each disc was comprised of complex runes. He assembled the device, orienting the discs on a tab, charged it, and handed it back to me. He continued, “You can see how difficult it would be to write out all six sets of runes, maintain their forms, and then channel aether to cast the comprehension spell.”

“Yes. I could maybe write one from memory if I studied it for a while, but all six?” I responded with a new appreciation of mages.

“There are some simpler spells with only three layers, but it is not just writing them with aether in the air. You have to do it fast enough that they do not dissipate and keep them all oriented correctly. Even if someone had a strong affinity, only one in a thousand of those people can control their aether and truly cast spells. Mages are highly valued throughout the world,” he sighed. “I am not a true mage. All my spells are spell forms permanently imprinted on my aether core.”

“Can anyone add spell forms onto their core to cast spells?” I inquired hopefully.

“Yes and no. It is actually not too difficult as it is mostly intent and will. But you do need to have a strong enough affinity with the magic. Generally, a score of at least 10 in the affinity to successfully imprint a spell form on your aether core. Less than that, it is extremely uncommon, Eryk.” He picked up his pole and continued to fish.

After a while, I asked, “So people generally don’t have affinities over 10?”

He looked over at me curiously, “Generally, everyone is tested when they are fifteen. Do they not do that where you are from?”

I remained calm and responded, “No, it is reserved just for the nobility.”

He nodded in understanding. “A waste. You never know where the next great mage might come from. But everyone always has some affinity for one of the magics. It is usually small, between five and six is normal. Secondary affinities are usually half of their primary.” He considered for a moment, “If you have never been tested, maybe your primary affinity is strong enough to create a spell form on your core. If you wish, I can try and obtain an affinity assessment stone when it passes through. They are expensive and usually only found in large cities.”

“I would appreciate that, Damian,” I replied with a hopeful smile.

He nodded and cast again, “I am actually quite well versed in the process. I can not create spell forms in the air but have seven different spell forms inscribed on my core.” He held up his finger to demonstrate, and a steady flame appeared on it. “This is my fire affinity spell form. I only have an affinity of eight, so this was all I could manifest. Still, it is useful in lighting fires,” he smiled triumphantly.

His smile fell. “Your affinities were space and time?” I nodded. “Do not get your hopes up. They are rare magics, which usually means lower strength of the attribute.”

“How strong is your healing affinity?” I asked.

He smiled at my curiosity, “Generally, it is impolite to ask a person their affinity strength.” He grinned, “My healing affinity is 54. It is my second strongest affinity. My spell form can heal another person’s flesh, organs, and bones.” Damian was one of the best healers in the camp, and I had been administered to him many a time.

I pressed hopefully, “Can you teach me some basic aether shaping exercises? I have a potential of eight and would like to improve.”

Damian frowned, “I thought it was something like that. In order to create spell form and cast spells like a true mage, it is considered a requirement to have a minimum score of forty in aether shaping. My own score is twenty-seven, and my potential is only slightly higher. I spent years trying to learn spells and failed.”

Seeing my downcast expression, he tried to cheer me up, “You still might be able to create a spell form, Eryk. I will see about borrowing a tablet if it passes through. And I will teach you the two basic exercises for aether shaping as well.”

We spent the next two hours as a teacher and student. The two exercises were focused on visualization and meditation. Once you could feel the aether, you could manipulate it with your mind. It was late in the day when we finished, and I thanked him and returned for dinner since I had missed lunch while I was out swimming. I planned to double up on my calories.

I kept my routine over the next three weeks and could finally manifest the feeling of my aether in my core with the exercises Damian had imparted. It was difficult and mentally taxing. My control was crude, like kneading a dough ball in my core. My mental exhaustion didn’t help me during morning fitness training the following day, so I needed to temper my efforts.

The next wave of testing was upon us, and I was very curious to see my results.

Physical

Mental

Magical

Strength (+3/+0)

/79

Intellect (+1/+0)

/54

Aether Pool (+1/+0)

/21

Power (+2/+0)

/82

Reasoning (+3/+0)

/59

Channeling (+2/+0)

/55

Quickness (+2/+0)

/49

Perception (+1/+0)

/60

Aether Shaping (+3/+0)

/8

Dexterity (+2/+0)

/55

Insight (+6/+0)

/49

Aether Tolerance (+1/+0)

/50

Endurance (+3/+0)

/87

Resilience (+2/+0)

/71

Aether Resistance (+0/+0)

/19

Constitution (+4/+0)

/65

Empathy (+0/+0)

/21

Prime Aether Affinity

Space

Coordination (+2/+0)

/61

Fortitude (+1/+0)

/88

Minor Aether Affinity

Time