Page 79 of Wings of Ebony
“That’s way more difficult, don’t even worry about that now.” She flaps a hand in the air. “It’s all about enunciation and timing, commanding your magic at its strongest point as it wells up inside you.”
Commanding at its strongest point.“Command, like, say?”
“Yeah, aloud. It’s super prickly though and complex. Takes lots of practice. I’ve been studying spells foryearsjust to get ahead, and I can’t get the stupid things to work. But I’m hoping to have a breakthrough now that I’m officially in training.”
I don’t know if she’s talking to herself or me. Bri does that, gets off on brainiac tangents. I slide a finger down my spell-casting page. The cover readsBeginnerand I double take at Bri’s. Definitely different.
Magic can also transfer from youtoan object you’d like to control. That’s how magicked objects work on their own, such as dishes self-washing.Transferringmagic is a temporary spell that transfers to the object for a time. Some spells will need maintenance after a while. Self-washing dishes, for example, after several months, may not wash as well, or the water may not get as sudsy. This means the spell is weakening and could use a little boost. A simple refresh spell will do the trick.
NOTE: This istemporarymagic, different from imbuing. [See restrictions onimbuingin the next chapter.]
I turn the page. Why would imbuing or whatever it’s called specifically be restricted?
RESTRICTION:Imbuing, specifically depositing or storing one’s magic into inanimate objects without express written consent from the Chancellor, is strictly prohibited. To inquire if an object may be imbued, complete Form IXII on page 793 of this manual. Allow eight to twelve weeks for processing.
I turn a few more pages to a picture of a man with a prominent nose and a warm smile. “Where did all this knowledge about magic come from?”
“Right? It’s so interesting discovering new ways the magic works. Research is really important to the Chancellor,” Bri says. “But it’s a Dwegini duty, so…”
Hmm. Interesting. I turn the page to a section titled “Lead Researchers” and scan.
Mr. Jon’ye, after which the Jon’ye Lo’Quiim Award is named, is heralded as the greatest mind in Magical Molecular Anatomy since Ghizon’s colonization. His discovery of how to alter the physical manifestation of magic into fire and electrically charged energy, like man-made lightening, is thesingle greatest advancement of our time and an invaluable asset to Ghizoni law enforcement.
Thanks to Jon’ye, the “feey’l” spell can conjure spheres of tangible energy or give your fingertips flames—a great convenience for practical tasks such as cooking, space heating, seasonal decor; and even more broad benefits such as self-defense, late night travel, and illuminating mass spaces.
Okay Mr. Jon’ye, let’s see. I bite my tongue from sheer nervousness.
Focus—my wrists warm and grow heavy, like before.
Command at its strongest point.
I close my eyes and center my thoughts on the swell of heat coiling around my hands.
“Feey’l”—and point.
Sparks like splintered pieces of wood fly from my fingertips and slam into a purple Blob-O lamp. “Sorry! I didn’t mean to—”
“You—you did it?”
If she means breaking Bri’s lamp, yes, yes I did. If she means having some sense of control over the daggers flying from my hands, that’d be a no.
She’s up on her feet. “H-how’d you do that?”
“I…”
“I’ve been studying these spells books for so long, I could recite the book cover to cover.” A nest of flyways brush her forehead and she shoves them back. “I—I don’t understand, how you just…”
“Are you done flipping out? How about you keep trying?”
Her mouth hangs open like there’s more she wants to say.
“Bri, you’re smart as hell. Keep trying.”
She tucks back in her chair with a deep sigh. That girl needs a study break. She’s losing it. I turn back to the book in my lap.
A plaque in Mr. Jon’ye’s honor can be found in the research wing of the Museum of Magical Advancement, resurrected after his untimely death shortly after his discovery.
Dude died after his big discovery? That’s sad.
