Entry 3
I felt it.
I know it's been a while, I'm sorry for not writing enough, but I felt it.
I was out on a boat, fishing away, having a grand old time, when one of the seamen saw my magic book. He was a Miqo'te, I think the sun tribe? I know it's a little bigoted but I kinda assumed those guys didn't have a lot of magic, they always struck me as the hunters rather than the scholars, you know? Still, it turns out he was a pretty accomplished mage.
We talked for a while, the fish weren't biting so I was feeling chatty. He said he had a lot of respect for the Arcanist guild but they missed a lot. He said we were all books and no emotion, and all the circles and formula in the world didn't mean anything if magic became just routine.
I actually liked that a lot, he was right, magic kinda needs a sense of wonder, of awe, even if it's something basic to you. Then he asked if I ever felt 'it'. To be honest I thought he was hitting on me for a bit and frowned, but he explained quick enough.
He said mages like him, guys who spend their whole loves toying with the Aether when things get bad they can feel everything. For just a moment, they become merged with the Aether itself, or so it feels. For just a moment he says it feels like every bit of energy in the entire world is flowing through you, and you can call on it. He says he only felt it a few times, it's not something you can call on, just something that happens, and all the times he felt it was during moments he was sure he was going to die.
I was polite, but I kinda thought he was putting me on. You know, tease the bookworm with mumbo jumbo and all. Still, he painted a pretty picture.
Then it happened.
I was out in the wastes, there was this little grotto I wanted to fish in, I caught the most beautiful sunfish in there last time and wanted to get a whole bushel to fry up. So I'm there, line in the water, and right on the back of my head I feel hot air. I turn and see the biggest damn jackal I've ever seen. It's twice as big as the underfed runts around the area, with fangs like swords, seriously he looks like he could eat little me in one bite.
I panic, my book's in my bag against a rock, and I'm running as fast as my legs can take me, the dog on my ass snapping and barking the whole time. I got to the bag, just as he got to me. He tore my leg up bad as I was pulling the book out, gods I'm shocked he didn't just yank it off. I can't stand, I'm on my back flipping through my book for the summoning diagram when he lunges again, and I'm just sure this is the end. Zutoto Zuto, dead because a jackal ate her while she was fishing, isn't that the perfect end?
The I felt it. It was like I was flying, it was like the rock under me vanished and I was just floating in this blue void. There are lights all around me, stars they look like, popping up in clusters, every one making me feel like I'm getting pumped full of fresh energy. I look down at my book and it's open to a fire spell, super basic, I'm talking lighting a candle when I'm reading late basic. My hand moves to it and I feel it. I can feel the fire, it's like it's flowing through me.
It didn't burn, it just made me so warm, like a fresh mug of tea on a cold night. The weirdest thing, though, I can feel the jackal too. I feel his rage, his hunger, his hate. This thing is messed up, I don't know why but it sees everything around it like it's food. I feel my teeth ache from when he bit at rocks, my skin is sore where he has scars. I feel the fire, I feel the jackal, I feel the world.
And then I erupt. Every pore on my body feels like it's opening as the fire spews out, and I feel the Jackal's pain as it sears him. It hurts me like a backfire, I scream in agony as the beast skitters back. I feel his fear, this meal is too hard, this meal could kill him, I have to run. It takes every ounce of control in me to not flee like he is as I feel the void fading. The ground is hot under me, he must have been right in my face when I blasted him. My body isn't burned though, even though it feels like it should be.
That's it, that's what being connected to the Aether means. It's not wielding it like a weapon, it's becoming part of it. You feel the pain of everything else because Aether is in everything. Is this what the Primals feel? Is this why they're so brutal? Do they feel every time someone hurts around them?
It only lasted for a short time, not even a minute, though it felt like hours. I have no idea if I'll ever feel it again, but I'll treasure that memory forever, because it helped me understand the world greater.
The Arcanists are great, they'll always be my guild, but I need to leave. I'm going to Ul'Dah, to speak with the thaumaturge guild there, maybe they can grant me a different view.
Besides, I hear desert peppers are hotter than fire, I can't wait to add them to my stir fry!
I felt it.
I know it's been a while, I'm sorry for not writing enough, but I felt it.
I was out on a boat, fishing away, having a grand old time, when one of the seamen saw my magic book. He was a Miqo'te, I think the sun tribe? I know it's a little bigoted but I kinda assumed those guys didn't have a lot of magic, they always struck me as the hunters rather than the scholars, you know? Still, it turns out he was a pretty accomplished mage.
We talked for a while, the fish weren't biting so I was feeling chatty. He said he had a lot of respect for the Arcanist guild but they missed a lot. He said we were all books and no emotion, and all the circles and formula in the world didn't mean anything if magic became just routine.
I actually liked that a lot, he was right, magic kinda needs a sense of wonder, of awe, even if it's something basic to you. Then he asked if I ever felt 'it'. To be honest I thought he was hitting on me for a bit and frowned, but he explained quick enough.
He said mages like him, guys who spend their whole loves toying with the Aether when things get bad they can feel everything. For just a moment, they become merged with the Aether itself, or so it feels. For just a moment he says it feels like every bit of energy in the entire world is flowing through you, and you can call on it. He says he only felt it a few times, it's not something you can call on, just something that happens, and all the times he felt it was during moments he was sure he was going to die.
I was polite, but I kinda thought he was putting me on. You know, tease the bookworm with mumbo jumbo and all. Still, he painted a pretty picture.
Then it happened.
I was out in the wastes, there was this little grotto I wanted to fish in, I caught the most beautiful sunfish in there last time and wanted to get a whole bushel to fry up. So I'm there, line in the water, and right on the back of my head I feel hot air. I turn and see the biggest damn jackal I've ever seen. It's twice as big as the underfed runts around the area, with fangs like swords, seriously he looks like he could eat little me in one bite.
I panic, my book's in my bag against a rock, and I'm running as fast as my legs can take me, the dog on my ass snapping and barking the whole time. I got to the bag, just as he got to me. He tore my leg up bad as I was pulling the book out, gods I'm shocked he didn't just yank it off. I can't stand, I'm on my back flipping through my book for the summoning diagram when he lunges again, and I'm just sure this is the end. Zutoto Zuto, dead because a jackal ate her while she was fishing, isn't that the perfect end?
The I felt it. It was like I was flying, it was like the rock under me vanished and I was just floating in this blue void. There are lights all around me, stars they look like, popping up in clusters, every one making me feel like I'm getting pumped full of fresh energy. I look down at my book and it's open to a fire spell, super basic, I'm talking lighting a candle when I'm reading late basic. My hand moves to it and I feel it. I can feel the fire, it's like it's flowing through me.
It didn't burn, it just made me so warm, like a fresh mug of tea on a cold night. The weirdest thing, though, I can feel the jackal too. I feel his rage, his hunger, his hate. This thing is messed up, I don't know why but it sees everything around it like it's food. I feel my teeth ache from when he bit at rocks, my skin is sore where he has scars. I feel the fire, I feel the jackal, I feel the world.
And then I erupt. Every pore on my body feels like it's opening as the fire spews out, and I feel the Jackal's pain as it sears him. It hurts me like a backfire, I scream in agony as the beast skitters back. I feel his fear, this meal is too hard, this meal could kill him, I have to run. It takes every ounce of control in me to not flee like he is as I feel the void fading. The ground is hot under me, he must have been right in my face when I blasted him. My body isn't burned though, even though it feels like it should be.
That's it, that's what being connected to the Aether means. It's not wielding it like a weapon, it's becoming part of it. You feel the pain of everything else because Aether is in everything. Is this what the Primals feel? Is this why they're so brutal? Do they feel every time someone hurts around them?
It only lasted for a short time, not even a minute, though it felt like hours. I have no idea if I'll ever feel it again, but I'll treasure that memory forever, because it helped me understand the world greater.
The Arcanists are great, they'll always be my guild, but I need to leave. I'm going to Ul'Dah, to speak with the thaumaturge guild there, maybe they can grant me a different view.
Besides, I hear desert peppers are hotter than fire, I can't wait to add them to my stir fry!