Lolotaru jumped at Joz's yelp. He whipped around to see a very different girl; a much more honestly startled girl than he had glimpsed up to this point. And he watched as it passed from her face. It was only a moment and it disappeared like a shadow, but he had seen the hint of something else. Defiance?
He quickly, and with great uncertainty, continued his lecture. "That was Ruin, the most basic of the arcanist's designs. It is somewhat crass and it's applications are limited compared to the full battery of arcanima, but it has its uses. Namely, for learning how to draw out the aether. Later manifestations require greater finesse; not so with Ruin." He closed the notebook and held it back out to the girl.
"I don't want you trying to cast it. Not outside of this room, at least. Not yet." His face was such that would brook no argument. "Take the book again and return to the designs. But don't force them so much, this time. As you trace them over again, follow your instincts, your whims even. If an angle seems more pleasing or natural wider or narrower, then widen or narrow it accordingly. If a particularly straight edge seems constricting, then loosen and curve it. If you possess the necessary aetheric levels, then the aether will manifest itself," he concluded and paused. She seemed truly enraptured in what he was trying to teach her.
"Your hair may stand on end, or there may be a slight breeze where there was none, or you may feel warm or particularly energized."
He leaned in and placed the outstretched notebook in her hands. They were slick, clammy.
He quickly, and with great uncertainty, continued his lecture. "That was Ruin, the most basic of the arcanist's designs. It is somewhat crass and it's applications are limited compared to the full battery of arcanima, but it has its uses. Namely, for learning how to draw out the aether. Later manifestations require greater finesse; not so with Ruin." He closed the notebook and held it back out to the girl.
"I don't want you trying to cast it. Not outside of this room, at least. Not yet." His face was such that would brook no argument. "Take the book again and return to the designs. But don't force them so much, this time. As you trace them over again, follow your instincts, your whims even. If an angle seems more pleasing or natural wider or narrower, then widen or narrow it accordingly. If a particularly straight edge seems constricting, then loosen and curve it. If you possess the necessary aetheric levels, then the aether will manifest itself," he concluded and paused. She seemed truly enraptured in what he was trying to teach her.
"Your hair may stand on end, or there may be a slight breeze where there was none, or you may feel warm or particularly energized."
He leaned in and placed the outstretched notebook in her hands. They were slick, clammy.
