A lesson in lightning and walls

The two of them headed into the old orchard. “This looks like a good place for it, but we might spook those horses of yours a bit.” Vel gave the three mounts a mental command and they trotted off towards another part of the orchard. Fal clearly understood what had happened. “Ah, so you’re one of those too. The archon seems pretty sure you’ll be able to throw lightning. Potent combo if you do have both that and mindmagic.” There were a few things to unpack there. “Archon?” Fal looked a bit surprised. “The old man we left in the cave, that’s his rank in the order. You didn’t know that?” Vel shook his head. “No, I call him by his name. I knew he was high up in The Order of Watchers though.” Fal looked at him appraisingly. “I don’t have a ton of insight into the order, but I know an archon is a boss of bosses kind of rank. Is he here just because of you?” Yet more to unpack. “I believe he is, yes. Are you not part of the order yourself?” Fal let out a short bark of laughter. “Hah, no I sure as hells am not. I am a killer for hire, or mercenary, if you want to be polite about it. The order is a frequent employer of mine. I had no idea who they were for years, took a while for them to trust me with a job where I had to know.” Vel nodded, that made sense. The man looked like a mercenary, and with how secretive the order apparently was, they would probably prefer to stick with a few reliable mercs.

“You trying to look at my mind?” Fal had seemingly mistaken Vel’s quiet thinking for something else. “No, I haven’t. Feels like it would be kind of impolite.” The mercenary grinned. “You have my permission, go ahead and try.” Intrigued, Vel quested out for his mind and quickly encountered a wall exactly like the one that surrounded his father’s mind. “There’s a wall around your mind, how?” Fal grinned and raised one of his hands, pointing at a ring. It was a plain silver band with an about coin sized silver circle on it. Recessed inside that circle was what looked like a flower seen from above, carved out of dull grey stone. “That ring is the source of the wall?” Fal nodded. “Sure is. It’s an expensive little piece, rarely seen on anyone who isn’t a battlemage or high-ranking imperial official.” That led to a rather obvious question. “I can’t help but notice you are neither.” The merc smiled. “I was in training to be a battlemage, still have a few contacts. It cost me a small fortune, but most people wouldn’t even have the option of buying one, no matter how much they’re willing to offer.” Vel stroked his chin in thought. Should he reveal the existence of his father’s mental wall, or try to get more information without revealing anything? Honesty would probably work best here, he decided. “My father has a wall just like that around his mind, but I am pretty sure he doesn’t wear a ring like that.” The merc nodded. “Well, the ring isn’t the important part. It’s the little coin-like trinket mounted on it. Your father might be wearing it on a chain as a necklace or bracelet. I knew a guy who wore his on a chain around his ankle. As long as it is activated and he’s wearing it, it will protect his mind.” So many questions. “How does one activate it?” The merc held out his index finger as if pointing. “Make a little cut at the fingertip here and press it to the little flower. Hold for an hour or so. Afterwards it will work for you, and you alone. It can’t be lent to someone else and can never be activated by anyone else.” That was useful knowledge. “I suppose my father must have one on his person somewhere.” Fal nodded again. “Lord Andros could probably get his hands on one of these if he really wanted. Hells, he led an army at one point, he was probably given one back then.” That made a lot of sense. “Thank you, Fal, this will be useful information.” That got him a cocky smile. “No problem, lordling. Shall we get around to testing you for zappy magic?” That sounded good to Vel.

“…and then you throw out your arm in front of you like this-“ The mercenary whipped his arm out in front of him, snapping it straight, and a bolt of lightning shot from the tip of his index finger, blowing apart an old stump. Vel couldn’t deny being impressed. “Damn.” Fal came over to him and helped him get into the correct position. “Now, the missing part of your leg is a bit of a disadvantage here. Your body is key to generating this kind of magic, and your pose is what channels it. Can you stand without that cane for a bit, both feet on the ground?” Vel nodded tentatively. “Yes, but not for long. And I won’t be fully straight. I don’t have a whole foot in that boot, and I can’t fully extend that leg without it hurting and cramping up.” That was good enough for the merc. “Okay, now put your other arm behind your back, forming a triangle from your body. Yes, like that, with the hand resting in the small of your back. Legs evenly apart, good. I want you to, when I say so, throw out your arm like I did and form a straight line between these four points.” He touched each of vel’s shoulders, his elbow on the extended arm, and the tip of his index finger. “The energy will come from all of you, but it will gather in your core. This hand-“ He touched the one in the small of Vel’s back. “- will collect it and send it up trough here.” He ran his finger along the arm that was forming a triangle. “And then when you form the line and will it to unleash it will shoot through that line, and with great ****. As long as you have the gift you can throw lightning, the pose isn’t strictly necessary, but it will ensure the best results. Now, have you managed any lightning before?” Vel shook his head. “Not lightning, no. Got a bit of crackling going between my fingers once when I was angry, though.” That got another nod, an approving one this time. “That is a good first sign. Okay, let’s try this then. Hold the pose, make the motion I showed you, and form the line. As the line forms, will the lightning out. That might sound stupid, but it will likely just work, like the first time mindmagic came to you. Are you ready?” Vel nodded. “Okay, on my go. Three, two, one-“ The “go” was lost in the loud crack as a massive bolt erupted from Vel’s finger, causing him to lose his balance and topple backwards.