Side Story: The Bases of Magic 1 - Evocation

Author’s note: There is no sex here, just me getting into more detail with the magic.

After eating Uklag dismisses all of his servants – with the exception of Catherine. “It’s time I start your training, follow me.” The warlock says and soon they enter the enchantment quarter. “Over the course of this evening I will teach you the bases of the five schools of magic I practice: Alteration, Conjuration, Transmutation, Evocation and lastly Enchantment. We will begin with Evocation, tell me what you know already.”

Catherine obeys, “Evocation is the art of using magic to affect the state of matter around you. For example a mage doesn’t create fire, it’s more correct to say that a mage transforms the air into fire.” Uklag nods, “Yes – so far the basic theory. The elements we can Evocate are varying degrees of heat energy, red, blue and white fire as well as Ice, and for these the basic theory works pretty well but when you use lightning.” Uklag throws a thunderbolt at a piece of cloth that is hanging around. A flash later the cloth crumbles into ashes. “The theory doesn’t really hold anymore. I didn’t just convert the air into electricity.”

“Are you saying that the basic magic theory we use in Estara is wrong?” Catherine asks with interest. “No, it just seems you haven’t been taught everything yet. A mage doesn’t change the air into fire, that is what it looks like but in reality the mage converts his physical strength into fire and then uses the natural properties of air to keep it burning. Similarly a mage converts his strength into lightning but there are a couple of annoying things to using electricity on long range.”

Uklag steps over to the ashes and steps on the last few glowing embers. “Evocation is very simple in the idea: Use power to throw fireballs. However there is so much more you can do to perfect the destructive output. Follow me.”

They walk into a different room where an iron mannequin stands around. “I don’t need that thing anymore, so let’s use it as targeting practice for that next bit. Use a lightning bolt please.” Catherine follows his command and a branched out lightning strike hits the mannequin. “Now a fireball.” She throws a fireball that crashes into the target and leaves a red marking on the metal surface.

“Mhm, that is pretty good but you really lack technique.” Uklag stretches out his hand. “First off, put what I told you earlier into use: The magic has their origins in you, meaning that it has to leave your body at some point. Most mages make the mistake to use their palms, you do as well, but that is unworthy of someone who has at least some control over the flow of magic.” A fireball flies through the air and hits the mannequin in the chest, burning a small hole right through it.

“How?” Catherine asks with a greedy face, “I will use lightning now. That should give you a clue.” His apprentice looked very intensely at Uklag’s hand as he casts the spell. The singular lightning crashes into the metallic dummy and Uklag lowers his arm. “Where did the magic leave my hand?” He asks, “At your fingertips.” Catherine says and rubs her eyes, the thunderbolt has burned into her field of view. Uklag shakes his head.

“No, but almost right. It’s the nails.” “The nails?” “Yes, there are three parts to why this technique is better than channelling through your palms. First, magic that flows through your body uses next to no strength so it will conserve at least some strength, second it allows you to bundle the magic into much smaller projectiles and third the nails are the easiest exit point in the body, wasting less energy in the process.”

Catherine nods and looks at her hands with newfound interest. “The reason most mages don’t use this is because it takes a considerable amount of skill to divide the magic into five streams and reconstruct them afterwards. It’s the question of whether you want to use raw power or mental fortitude. Another reason is that the most popular Evocation, Fire, doesn’t benefit from it as much as Ice, water and electricity do.”

Uklag steps away from Catherine, “and that concludes my explanation on Evocation. Follow me if you want to know more.”