The western tower was the highest point in the school. From here the entirety of the grounds could be seen as well as a perfect view of the night sky for astronomical purposes. But James considered neither of these things, being content to merely utilize the laboratory space in the room directly below the observation deck.
He first cleared out the center of the room in a large circle, then brought from the corner of the room a large piece of paper from the supplies, placing it in the center , covering a space of about three feet in diameter. Afterwards he took the device from his bag and examined it more closely.
It appeared to be a square block, several impressions dug in shapes of ancient lettering, slightly discolored where blood had been spilled on it. It was also made entirely of silver.
Taking it in hand, James set the device on the paper in the middle, then took out a pencil and began slowly to draw from the base of the object outward, then again from another direction, and then creating a circle around the whole structure at the edge of the paper. He was left with a spoked wheel with the device in the center. Thirteen Sections in all. He then went to each section and wrote down a single rune in each. slightly different each time. Once he finished he stood up to look over his handiwork, and finding nothing wrong with his lines or runes, he nodded and pulled out of his jacket the small black box he had recovered from his own dorm space. He opened it, revealing a pair of lenses, one gold framed the other Silver. Rather more like monocles. He picked up the Silver one, bringing it up to his eye, then the gold he placed squarely on the device. Afterwards he stood up, one hand holding the silver monocle in place, the other over the strangely covered paper.
"Reveleus. Tacti-utarnik, Find That which I seek, Reveal it to me!"
Suddenly in the silver monocle, the scene changed, so completely that had he been wearing another lense, he would have thought he was no longer in the tower. But he closed his right eye, and the tower was still there.
In the right eye he could see very little, something was obscuring his vision. perhaps the paired device was stored away... but whatever the case, it did not appear that anyone was nearby, and James could hear nothing as of yet. Though perhaps Gahnbara's friends had not returned. It was unlikely that they would have abandoned a place unknown to the school, even if their identity had been discovered, so he put down the monocle, leaving the items in place, and the spell up. He then walked to the edge of the room, placing the silver monocle in his pocket. If he was still on the school grounds and anything happened, he would be able to hear it.
He first cleared out the center of the room in a large circle, then brought from the corner of the room a large piece of paper from the supplies, placing it in the center , covering a space of about three feet in diameter. Afterwards he took the device from his bag and examined it more closely.
It appeared to be a square block, several impressions dug in shapes of ancient lettering, slightly discolored where blood had been spilled on it. It was also made entirely of silver.
Taking it in hand, James set the device on the paper in the middle, then took out a pencil and began slowly to draw from the base of the object outward, then again from another direction, and then creating a circle around the whole structure at the edge of the paper. He was left with a spoked wheel with the device in the center. Thirteen Sections in all. He then went to each section and wrote down a single rune in each. slightly different each time. Once he finished he stood up to look over his handiwork, and finding nothing wrong with his lines or runes, he nodded and pulled out of his jacket the small black box he had recovered from his own dorm space. He opened it, revealing a pair of lenses, one gold framed the other Silver. Rather more like monocles. He picked up the Silver one, bringing it up to his eye, then the gold he placed squarely on the device. Afterwards he stood up, one hand holding the silver monocle in place, the other over the strangely covered paper.
"Reveleus. Tacti-utarnik, Find That which I seek, Reveal it to me!"
Suddenly in the silver monocle, the scene changed, so completely that had he been wearing another lense, he would have thought he was no longer in the tower. But he closed his right eye, and the tower was still there.
In the right eye he could see very little, something was obscuring his vision. perhaps the paired device was stored away... but whatever the case, it did not appear that anyone was nearby, and James could hear nothing as of yet. Though perhaps Gahnbara's friends had not returned. It was unlikely that they would have abandoned a place unknown to the school, even if their identity had been discovered, so he put down the monocle, leaving the items in place, and the spell up. He then walked to the edge of the room, placing the silver monocle in his pocket. If he was still on the school grounds and anything happened, he would be able to hear it.
A man walked to the top of the tower standing at the door as James began to do his tests. The man hadn't been noticed by James or the scan. He just stood and began to soak in all the information. He began to place his hand on the door of the Western tower and grabbed the door and began to open it fully. He walked slowly looking around keeping his eyes on everything.
"You seem to be doing a lot after being injured in the whole battle thing. Should you be doing this alone?" he said these words with a sincere tone in his voice walking into the area. "So I heard your from Stoicheio Tria. A lot of information had traveled real quick around the school. I must say I'm glad you and your friends helped out Errown. It as definitely required I couldn't imagine being down there." he sat down looking at James as he continued. "I'm interested and in fact that you like enchanting. I could never get into it myself." he looks over to James. "The names Ludovic any way I can help?"
"You seem to be doing a lot after being injured in the whole battle thing. Should you be doing this alone?" he said these words with a sincere tone in his voice walking into the area. "So I heard your from Stoicheio Tria. A lot of information had traveled real quick around the school. I must say I'm glad you and your friends helped out Errown. It as definitely required I couldn't imagine being down there." he sat down looking at James as he continued. "I'm interested and in fact that you like enchanting. I could never get into it myself." he looks over to James. "The names Ludovic any way I can help?"
James shook his head. "Not for now, Really I've just set up a hidden microphone more than anything else. Pretty basic for this type of work." He turned and began to size up Ludovic, His body type and stance, mentally gauging his agility and speed.
"Stoicheio Tria, right now it's just a name more than anything else. Barely had a chance to train or anything with anyone yet and we're under attack. So, " he said, changing the subject. "Ludovic, you a student or what?"
"Stoicheio Tria, right now it's just a name more than anything else. Barely had a chance to train or anything with anyone yet and we're under attack. So, " he said, changing the subject. "Ludovic, you a student or what?"
"A student... You could say that. It's been a long time since I've been here. I graduated a few years back. Top of my class for physical techniques. I was here when Errown made his rise to power. I saw the fight between him and that man. I left with the crowd I haven't seen action in ages. I wouldn't of lived during that fight. I commend you all greatly for your efforts. So how long have you been here?" he placed his hands in his pockets.
Ludovic leaned back against the wall "So what did you find for this?" he pointed at the object in the center obviously intrigued by this magic.
Ludovic leaned back against the wall "So what did you find for this?" he pointed at the object in the center obviously intrigued by this magic.
"Barely been here a week really." James responded. "New to this school, so called. Ironically I have yet to meet an actual teacher. Honestly I get the feeling like this is more like an independent study archive than anything else."
He looked back at the device in the center of the floor. "This is a bloodspeak stone. I found it in Gahnbara the traitor's possessions after he left. Essentially when it is fueled with the blood of the person you want to contact, you can see and hear them as if you were in the same room. Since it was never cleaned of its last connection, I set this up as a system to spy on whoever is on the other end." He held up the silver monocle. "If I hold this on my person, I will know immediately when someone enters the room with the other bloodspeak stone. I figure since we don't know where the enemy is for sure and Gahnbara could have headed anywhere, this is our best chance of locating the enemy. Plus, My magic is a rather obscure branch, I noticed that neither Gulliver or Gahnbara were familiar with it at all when we fought. So they won't expect anyone to be spying on them with their own device."
He looked back at the device in the center of the floor. "This is a bloodspeak stone. I found it in Gahnbara the traitor's possessions after he left. Essentially when it is fueled with the blood of the person you want to contact, you can see and hear them as if you were in the same room. Since it was never cleaned of its last connection, I set this up as a system to spy on whoever is on the other end." He held up the silver monocle. "If I hold this on my person, I will know immediately when someone enters the room with the other bloodspeak stone. I figure since we don't know where the enemy is for sure and Gahnbara could have headed anywhere, this is our best chance of locating the enemy. Plus, My magic is a rather obscure branch, I noticed that neither Gulliver or Gahnbara were familiar with it at all when we fought. So they won't expect anyone to be spying on them with their own device."
"That so? It sounds interesting. I can say that I haven't seen anything like this either. It is quite Unique. I'm just a nether after all. It's quite sad honestly." he sighed and laid back really tired. "I can entirely say that you have a unique magic type." he laughed a little and looked at him directly. "So this device.. What makes you think it's even still functional? Or that it's connected to the man... Ugh was it Gulliver you said?" he placed his hand on his chin. "All I can say is that I'm entirely confused about the situation.." he sighed and looked into the position of the device. "You ask me it seems entirely old."
James shook his head. "All magic leaves a trace, and communicative magic is the simplest to track with my techniques. Its why I'm surprised more people don't study runic methods. As for whether its still functional, that's fairly irrelevant I just need the object as an anchor for the trace. "
"I see... I suppose that makes sense. It would make a lot of sense." he grinned and mumbled something very interesting under his breath. "I believe it's time that we look forward don't you think James?" he stood upward and looked at the wall walking over to it. He laughed and closed the door looking over to James. "Unfortunately I can't let you go forward with any of this... James" he grinned at James and cracked his knuckles and began to walk towards him.
James was standing on the opposite side of the room, the device in the center. He laughed. "Ah, I see. Of course I should have guessed you weren't supposed to be here, a regular student wouldn't have bothered to sneak up on me the way you did."
James reached into his jacket as he spoke. "Of course, not knowing anything about runic magic, you've rather revealed a pretty sad weakness."
He pulled out of his jacket one of his new wooden spikes, this one bearing a different rune from before.
"I'm the type of guy who likes to experiment. Yesterday in the arena, I found out that my absorption rate and limit for holding white energy was higher than I thought, so I prepared something different.
He held out the spike, aiming it directly at Ludovic. "Stoicheio." he said quietly.
Instantly from each of the runes in the runic circle a beam of white energy flew to the spike and into James' arm. He began to glow with a pale aura, growing stronger, and he laughed.
"I didn't put those there to trace the device, I just needed the monocles for that. These are Absorbing Runes!"
James reached into his jacket as he spoke. "Of course, not knowing anything about runic magic, you've rather revealed a pretty sad weakness."
He pulled out of his jacket one of his new wooden spikes, this one bearing a different rune from before.
"I'm the type of guy who likes to experiment. Yesterday in the arena, I found out that my absorption rate and limit for holding white energy was higher than I thought, so I prepared something different.
He held out the spike, aiming it directly at Ludovic. "Stoicheio." he said quietly.
Instantly from each of the runes in the runic circle a beam of white energy flew to the spike and into James' arm. He began to glow with a pale aura, growing stronger, and he laughed.
"I didn't put those there to trace the device, I just needed the monocles for that. These are Absorbing Runes!"
Ludovic smirked... "Oh you can try that if you'd like. I don't need to worry about that. Your little runes aren't strong enough to bother me." he walks over and stomps on the device breaking in three. "Unfortunately your out of your league when it comes to me and Gulliver.. The difference between us is phenomenal." he grinned and walked slowly over to James. "I've done all I need to now. Don't make me kill you either. My work here is done." he walked over to the window and opened it up slowly. "Have a nice day... James" he brushed himself off and took one of the pieces of the object. "If you want this you can come after me."
James lifted his left arm, the right one still holding the spike absorbing the energy. As Ludovic opened the window, James waved his left hand, and the stones suddenly moved as if made from liquid to cover it.
"I just absorbed about twice as much white energy as I did yesterday and in less time. You don't have any idea of how powerful I can be."
He stood at ready, his left hand aimed squarely at Ludovic's chest. "You said you were a physical fighter. Well that's all well and good, but I am a runecaster. I observe and I evaluate. I already know your body's limitations in agility, and I can kill you with a thought before you make a move. Surrender, and I will not do so."
"I just absorbed about twice as much white energy as I did yesterday and in less time. You don't have any idea of how powerful I can be."
He stood at ready, his left hand aimed squarely at Ludovic's chest. "You said you were a physical fighter. Well that's all well and good, but I am a runecaster. I observe and I evaluate. I already know your body's limitations in agility, and I can kill you with a thought before you make a move. Surrender, and I will not do so."
Ludovic sighed and turned around to face James. "Go ahead... Hit me let's see what happens shall we?" he stood and faced him. "Unlike anyone else. I'm not one to give when it comes to push and shove." he laughs and turned around again and walked standing on the window spot. "Let us see what happens entirely. We will see how good a rune caster truly is" he stood there ready to take the attack.
"I'm prepared for you to give me your entire worse. Let us see what happens when this occurs. "
"I'm prepared for you to give me your entire worse. Let us see what happens when this occurs. "
James fired. out of each finger a beam of energy appeared, as if a flashlight was in each, and each of them hit Ludovic's body squarely in the chest. entering his body and coming out the other side. James moved his fingers in a crisscross pattern, sending the beams like lasers through him, focused energy slicing through his enemy's chest, separating bone, muscle, and skin.
"Die then." He said. as the energy left him. the spike in his right hand still absorbing it from the runes.
"Die then." He said. as the energy left him. the spike in his right hand still absorbing it from the runes.
Before the beams hit Ludovic he grinned at James. He quickly moved his hand outward letting the beams collect in his palm. He squeezed the beams together and compressed them into a tight ball of white energy. He dropped it to the floor and looked at James. "You can absorb that back if you'd like. That all you have to offer. You judged me wrong Mr. James I'm much more agile and stronger then you'd believe." his hand dripped blood as it truly wasn't enough to stop all the energy. He looked at James. "You were right that power is quite strong."
"My father always told me that white energy was the strongest of magics. and that those who could absorb it would be the winners in any fight. " He smiled. "You did pretty well catching it like that. but like I said, I have alot more in me than any creature on the planet should be able to wield. that was a test on my part."
His entire body began to glow brighter, suddenly his entire body obscured by the bright light. "I'm tired of holding back. And since you were wounded so easily by so little of that, I guess I won't.
A James shaped beam of light flicked on like a lightswitch, and a sound like a sonic boom filled the room, smashing every article not made of stone, splintering wood, glass, and porcelain. If no one else hears this, theyd have to be miles away, so regardless of whether they knew Ludovic was there or not, they know something isnt right here.
The beam hit Ludovic, growing larger as the runes sent a continuous flow of it, deadlier than any bullet."
His entire body began to glow brighter, suddenly his entire body obscured by the bright light. "I'm tired of holding back. And since you were wounded so easily by so little of that, I guess I won't.
A James shaped beam of light flicked on like a lightswitch, and a sound like a sonic boom filled the room, smashing every article not made of stone, splintering wood, glass, and porcelain. If no one else hears this, theyd have to be miles away, so regardless of whether they knew Ludovic was there or not, they know something isnt right here.
The beam hit Ludovic, growing larger as the runes sent a continuous flow of it, deadlier than any bullet."
He grinned "Maybe I should tell you that I haven't even tried." he pushed his hands out and grabbed the walls. All of a sudden a large amount of energy spilled from Ludovic countering every ounce of white energy he put out. He began to walk through the white energy towards him slowly. Eventually he reached James and gripped him by his neck. "Your out of your league." he used the rune of absorption against James himself countering the whole energy.
"May I say that I caught your energy the first time without using an ounce of my own? Out of Gulliver... Stanton... And myself. We have our own perks. But, I'm the strongest of the three... Or perhaps I'm not it's hard to say... I know Gulliver loves forbidden things. My power comes from just these two hands. It's interesting indeed." he puts him against the wall now.
"May I say that I caught your energy the first time without using an ounce of my own? Out of Gulliver... Stanton... And myself. We have our own perks. But, I'm the strongest of the three... Or perhaps I'm not it's hard to say... I know Gulliver loves forbidden things. My power comes from just these two hands. It's interesting indeed." he puts him against the wall now.
James relaxed his body as he was lifted. "ah, I see," He said, as he was pushed against the wall. "Very good,"
he looked down at the floor, then back up at Ludovic. "You know you're standing on one of my runes right?"
He grinned and whispered in his face. "Absorption works both ways stupid."
As he speaks the energy changes, from white to gold, to black, as it is forcibly removed from Ludovic's body. draining physical strength as well as magical.
"Thanks for being my battery for today!" he shouted, then lifted his feet, kicking Ludovic in the chest, easily knocking the severely weakened man to the floor. then standing over him. holding a second spike to his eyeball. "You're good at blocking white energy, but lets see how you do when its attacking you from inside your FACE!" He shouts, stabbing Ludovic's eye with a squelch.
he looked down at the floor, then back up at Ludovic. "You know you're standing on one of my runes right?"
He grinned and whispered in his face. "Absorption works both ways stupid."
As he speaks the energy changes, from white to gold, to black, as it is forcibly removed from Ludovic's body. draining physical strength as well as magical.
"Thanks for being my battery for today!" he shouted, then lifted his feet, kicking Ludovic in the chest, easily knocking the severely weakened man to the floor. then standing over him. holding a second spike to his eyeball. "You're good at blocking white energy, but lets see how you do when its attacking you from inside your FACE!" He shouts, stabbing Ludovic's eye with a squelch.
The rune he tried to use to absorb Ludovic's energy drastically began to shake after a split second and exploded. Ludovic did fall back from the kick but flipped back to his feet. "Unfortunately your runes seem to be very weak. Very very weak. To weak in order to deal with my powers." the glare began to come through the window slowly. The glare showed a green energy surrounding Ludovic. "Unfortunately you realize now that Nether doesn't leave it's bodies host." he turned quickly and kicked him into the wall. The second spoke that he had dropped to the ground and he reached down and picked it up.
"Let me tell you something about our Nether power. It doesn't come from our bodies. But instead from everything around us. All types of foliage. That'll prove why you can't deal with it. But, coming into my situation it's much different. I'm more directed toward the path of pure evil." Ludovic seemed quite off from a normal situation that James would come to be in. Ludovic wasn't normal in fact he was even more corrupt then Gulliver was.
"Let me tell you something about our Nether power. It doesn't come from our bodies. But instead from everything around us. All types of foliage. That'll prove why you can't deal with it. But, coming into my situation it's much different. I'm more directed toward the path of pure evil." Ludovic seemed quite off from a normal situation that James would come to be in. Ludovic wasn't normal in fact he was even more corrupt then Gulliver was.
James looked up at his opponent, the spike still embedded in his eye. "Youve got somethin, right there." he said, pointing at his own Eye for reference.
"Oh wait, that's one of my M-EMP's "
as he says this the spike lights up in a purple aura, creating a cone around Ludovic and the room. James unsheathed his dirk.
"No more magic for at least ten minutes bud, Ive been saving that one for special occasions. and that also means not a bit of shapeshifting. so you're as weak as any human right now. And like I said, I already know the limits of your agility. I say once more, surrender. You've got less than a minute before the rest of the school gets up here and finds you. I only need to hold you back for thirty seconds or so, and even that's debatable. without magic, you're just about even with me, but I doubt you can take on a dozen, at minimum. and they won't be affected by the M-EMP since they werent in the blast like us."
As if in answer, Footsteps from beneath were heard heading up the tower,.
"Oh wait, that's one of my M-EMP's "
as he says this the spike lights up in a purple aura, creating a cone around Ludovic and the room. James unsheathed his dirk.
"No more magic for at least ten minutes bud, Ive been saving that one for special occasions. and that also means not a bit of shapeshifting. so you're as weak as any human right now. And like I said, I already know the limits of your agility. I say once more, surrender. You've got less than a minute before the rest of the school gets up here and finds you. I only need to hold you back for thirty seconds or so, and even that's debatable. without magic, you're just about even with me, but I doubt you can take on a dozen, at minimum. and they won't be affected by the M-EMP since they werent in the blast like us."
As if in answer, Footsteps from beneath were heard heading up the tower,.
Ludovic grinned at James. "Magic you say? Magic you say! I deal with no magic! I have no Magic!" he grinned and grabbed the stone wall. Beginning to tear the pieces out slowly and tossed it towards James. He looked at him and smirked. "Shall we meet again... Enchanter." he grabbed onto the edge of the wall and kicked off landing maybe one hundred or more feet below the structure unharmed. He shouted upwards. "You will be seeing me within the month" he walked into the forest alone leaving the scene.
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