Flowers and Ferns (Initiate Druidism, Private, Minerva Please)

[Brine]

Brine nodded, and then closed his eyes, and returned to his Clara. As he did this, he would mix his vis and ara to start the arcalysis reaction. When it was created, he would then focus upon the plane of Nature and channel the essense of nature into his arcalysis reaction to form the necessary Mana to the spell. Then as he had gained the vision of knowledge of how it worked, he would divine it into the mind of the creature infront of him, to induce the primitive feelings of familiarity that Elder Trach had spoke of. As he did this, he would also attempt to make it so that there were no fears between himself and the deer...

[Minerva]

Each spell was simple enough to prepare, and to cast, especially given the knowledge imparted every time. At Brine’s level of training, it was doubly stress-free, and he managed the technique with very little trouble at all. A wave of absolute calm flooded over the young deer, and as it looked up to the treant once again, the fear and uncertainty in its eyes had been replaced by something else; peace. Brine had successfully managed to instil this into the hapless beast- he had succeeded at casting yet another spell.

Elder Trach was certainly pleased, though the younger treant once again would feel drained; he had exerted his will enough for this brightening, and would need to rest before committing himself to more.

“You rest for now, young one. I’ll return once you are ready to begin again…”

Beneath him, the deer nuzzled his roots, before trotting over to where Brine was stood, and settling down at his feet. The young treant was to have a small companion for his rest, it seemed.

[Brine]

Suddenly the dear became more affectionate towards them, and unafraid of them. As it came over and laid down next to Brine, he felt a sense of kinsmanship towards the animal, and rooted himself into the ground next to it, allowing it to sleep next to him. Closing his eyes, as he felt tired from all of the spell casting upon that day, he fell into a deep slumber, only to awaken the next day. Whether or not the deer was still there, he would look for Elder Trach, and upon finding him, would say, "Good morning Elder Trach, I am ready for todays lessons..."

[Minerva]

The Elder was there and waiting when the younger treant awoke, the deer which had once been by Brine’s side now settled by his, instead. Wide eyes shone affection as the creature nestled by the treant’s old roots, adoration personified in the way that it kept itself close. The Elder himself contained a benign expression on his face, though there was a hint of curiosity, as well. This great guardian of the forest was contemplating something, it seemed, and whilst not willing to share it, he did deign to continue on with their lessons instead, as planned.

“I do not have many spells left to impart, young one.” Was the initial sentiment put forth; apologetic, almost, for all that this would be over, soon.

“The first is named Detect, and rather unsurprisingly allows you to detect the presence of others around you, within a range. For you, young Brine, this spell will work only for creatures in your immediate surroundings, and through proper shaping, you will be able to see the auras of all. Every living creature radiates an aura of spirituality, young one, and this is what you are striving to see.”

The young treant’s senses would be heightened, here, once the spell had successfully been cast. It would be attuned to a specific aura, a specific essence present within all living things; Brine would be able to perceive things that he had not been able to before; a useful feat, perhaps, for what in the future could come.

“Cast the spell, young one, and see the forest around you, within this new light.”

[Brine]

When Elder Trach spoke of not having many spells for Brine, the young treant sighed a bit, saddened that his time of learning the initiate spells would soon be over. But at the same time, a new thought occured to him, as he thought that he'd be learning more spells once he practiced his initiate spells, and was ready to become and apprentice druid of the treants. That thought alone prepared him, and made his mind ready to learn the next spell that Elder Trach was explaining.

Brine smiled, and rooted himself into the ground as he began to close his eyes to meditate; to reach into his Clara. Once he was there he began to mix the Ara around him with his Vis as he had done so many times before, to create an arcalysis reaction. He would the focus upon the plane of nature, and channel their essense into the reaction to form the necessary mana for the spell. After he had done that, he would then move the mana around him, so as to try to create a field around him in which he'd be able to see the spiritual energies of all things living around him, perhaps even the deer which he had befriended, if it was still in the viscinity...

[Minerva]

The world was a different place with this spell as a visor for his eyes. Brine was able to see things in an altered light, things he would not normally have been able to see before. Everything was changed, with various forms painted a soft yellow-white. Beside him, the young treant could see the glowing form of Elder Trach, the light within him bold and shimmering as it sparkled with a strength of life. The deer as well, nestled between the Elder’s roots, had an aura, albeit duller, not as vivid or intense in form.

Beyond these two, there were others, as well- other creatures, low lying as they made their way about on all four feet. Other deer, perhaps, as well as rabbits, birds, and rodents, scurrying through the forest amid verdant grasses and leaves. Even though Brine could not see them physically with his eyes, they were there, bodies hidden away, souls bared.

Elder Trach resumed his position as tutor, then, sighing a low, lengthy sigh which sounded like the hum of wind through the trees, before speaking, voice mellow and soothing, once again.

“As guardians of the forest, young one, there may come a time when it falls upon us to defend her. The last two spells I will be teaching you are, sadly, offensive, and hopefully you will not find use for them soon. I impart them, however, for your protection, in case of need.” There was a saddened lilt to the elder treant’s voice, marking it more strongly towards the end.

“The first, pollen, allows you to conjure such in order to partially blind or distract, swelling with any allergies that your…opponent, I suppose, may have. It is simple enough, similar to the Globe of Fireflies spell in that you are drawing them to you, envisioning the pollen within your mind before sending it forth. Now, I don’t want you to try casting it on anyone here, young Brine. Simply try to cast it on the ground there, instead, or the space before you, alright?”

So saying, Elder Trach simply left his student to his work.

[Brine]

Brine looked at him a bit saddened at the fact that he'd be learning two offensive spells. He generally disliked any fighting, but as a guardian of the Forest of Light, knew that it would have to happen at some point. Making his way into the meditative state known as his Clara, he began to work with the Arcanic weaves around him. He'd mix his Vis with the Ara to create an arcalysis reaction, and would then begin to focus upon the plane of Nature, and channel the essense of nature into his arcalysis reaction to create the mana necessary for the spell.

Once that was completed, he would then begin to Alter the shape of the mana into a globe as he had done with the globe of fireflies, and imagined it filling up with pollen from the plants around it. Upon completion of casting the spell of pollen infront of him, where there were no animals, or anything of the sort, he would come out of his Clara, and watch the spell take form to see what it looked like...

[Minerva]

Though Elder Trach and Brine were both against the use of offensive spells, there was always the chance that they could be required, in time. Pollen, whilst a lesser breed of such, perhaps, was nonetheless efficient in what it did, and the young treant, as such, was wise to do as he did. The orb was cast, the pollen scattered, a rain of yellow dust drifting idly in the space before. The specks circled and danced, in what was a seemingly innocent display, drawn to life before fading away, once more.

The spell had been successful, and he had not even had to cast it against a living thing.

“Very good, young one. And so it is that we come to the last spell. Again, it is offensive, and again, you will not be called upon to use it unless absolutely necessary.” The Elder treant paused, reflective, almost unsure, before deigning to speak once again.

“Panic Animal is the opposing spell to Befriend Animal, young one, and where before you were instilling a sense of peace, this time you will be instilling one of fear. The belief that a predator is nearby, or cubs at risk, for instance.”

“I will impart the spell to you, young one, though I do not expect you to try casting it, now. It will be there, however, in your mind, until such a time you are called upon to use it.”

The Elder did not wish for Brine to try casting it upon any child of the forest now; such would be harmful to them, after all, and fairly sadistic on the treants’ part, to boot.

“Are there any questions before we end this part of your training, young one?”

[Brine]

As the last spell was imparted, Brine sighed a massive sigh of relief that he would not have to use the spell on any creatures of the forest this brightening, for he would not wish to scare any animals unnaturally. It just wasn't the way of the eternal beings known as Treants. Uprooting himself a bit, and taking a step forwards towards Elder Trach, he then said, "I have no further questions, other than when I'll be able to practice these skills, and also when i'll be able to continue my training. No rush as usual, but just curious... will you return to speak with me once i've shown enough progress in the teachings of druidism?"

[Minerva]

“You can practice the spells you have learned within your own time, young one. And yes, once you have shown enough progress within the sphere, I will return to you.” The Elder replied, mossy eyes gleaming with pride at what had been done. Here was a young treant who had shown great aptitude for Carmelya’s ways, the magic inherent without and within, and Elder Trach was certain that, in time, Brine could become powerful indeed.

“When that time comes, young one, I will unlock another level of the power which is within you. Until then, tend to the forest, and live well beneath our benevolent mother’s gaze.”

The words were soothing, filled with life, though they were the last that Brine was to receive. For after they had been spoken, the elder treant dug out his roots, removed from the soil as he went on his way, a slow sojourn through the forest once again...

	-Thread Complete- Experience Awarded: Druidism +2 (Initiate Level Approved)