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The original was posted on /r/hfy by /u/grierks on 2024-12-27 00:13:34+00:00.

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Power coursed through Aria. Aether washed through her body, drawn in by an effort of will that pulled the energy towards her and circulated it throughout her entire being. It should have been a simple process, a warm up that would be a prelude to actual spellcasting to most. For her, who had yet to form a Circle, it was her main method of practice.

One that she was growing increasingly impatient with.

The Aether that ran through her circulated as it should have, for the most part. It flowed through her in a constant current, guided by her intentions to concentrate around her head. From there she would have to maintain the flow and allow the energy to start to condense, where it would then form a Circle that would hover around her temples. It would be her first step on a long journey of spellcasting, but it proved to be more and more elusive as a baser instinct compelled her to do otherwise.

The image that she saw before, of hands that were both hers but not hers, flashed through her mind constantly as she channeled Aether and a subconscious part of her directed the flow of power around her wrist, a clear intent of forming a Circle there prominent at the back of her mind. As it did, the energy flowing through her felt cold, sending a creeping chill across her skin. She pushed back against the impulse, forcing the flow towards her temples and keeping the image of fire in her mind to combat the cold. Her efforts only managed to split the flow, and she felt as if she was drifting down two rivers simultaneously, pulling her in opposite directions. In addition to that, she could feel the fire and ice within her clash, making her feel gooseflesh and a heat beneath her skin at the same time.

Under such split sensations, it was only a matter of time before Aria’s concentration broke, and the Aether slipped away from her, leaving her nothing but breathless and with a slight headache.

“The flow diverged again,” Jahora observed. The Mage was positioned on the bed across from Aria, peering at her with a searching expression.

The girl could only nod as she caught her breath.

Jahora hopped from her bed and walked over to Aria. She took the girl’s hand and gave her a reassuring smile, “It’s alright, you’ll get there in time.”

“How long?” Aria asked in a frustrated tone, “I feel like I haven’t made any progress at all.”

The Mage wore a mask of assurance, but Aria saw the brief flash of uncertainty that glinted through her eyes. “I can’t say,” Jahora admitted, “but, what is preventing your progression is not a lack of talent, but rather your focus.”

“I am focusing,” the girl grumbled.

“You are, but you are doing so with the wrong purpose,” Jahora said, her tone growing firm, “You spend so much time fighting how power naturally flows through you that there is little else to refine that energy into something tangible.”

“But…” Aria trailed off, the phantom of The Cold causing gooseflesh to trail up her arms. She remembered its chill touch, how it smothered all her emotions and left her in a state that could barely be called alive for almost all of her life. Her fingers trembled at the memory, and despite her clenched fists they did not stop shaking.

Jahora took both of her hands into hers, “It will be ok, Aria, there is no rush, but I will say this…” she shifted the girl’s face to focus on her, “You do not need to shy away from what is within. Shunning something to define ourselves against it still means that it controls us in some way.”

Aria tilted her head and furrowed her brow.

Jahora smiled. “You’ll understand in time. For now, let’s get you over to Serena’s house.”

The girl’s expression brighted at the mention of her new friend, and she pushed whatever doubts she was feeling to the side as she hopped from her bed with a newfound energy.

Jahora snorted at Aria’s excitement and straightened the girl’s dress. When the Mage was satisfied, she walked over to the burrow and grabbed Aria’s rapier. “Though I must be honest, I was not expecting training as a start of your play date.”

The girl scratched her head, “Serena wanted to show me what her father has been teaching her.”

Jahora gave her a knowing smile, “And you no doubt wanted to show off your fancy new sword some more, didn’t you?”

“…no,” Aria’s voice trailed off as she looked away from the Mage.

Jahora laughed, “There is nothing wrong with showing off a bit, everyone likes a little flair from time to time,” she winked, “and I’m sure Camilla will make sure you two don’t get up to anything too ridiculous.”

Aria raised her eyebrows, “You’re not staying with us?”

The Mage shook her head, “Helbram wished to discuss a few things with me and Elly,” she explained, “But I will be walking you on over,” a mischievous light glinted in her eyes, “I have to make sure you don’t get lost on the way there.”

Aria pouted, “It was only one time.”

“Certainly,” Jahora buckled Aria’s sword belt around her waist and patted her on the shoulder, “but let’s keep it that way, shall we?”

The girl fluttered her lips, but raised no further objections as they left the room and made their way to The Tree’s Root’s main hall. Helbram and Elly were seated at a table near the bar eating a simple breakfast of eggs, toast, and cured meats. Elly herself had a pile of books next to her breakfast, but they remained untouched as she and Helbram spoke of something that trailed off as they noticed Aria and Jahora’s presence. Both of them flashed a smile in their direction, but that was overshadowed as the two wolf cubs sprinted out from under their table and began to hop around Aria in excitement.

“Calm down you two,” Jahora said with a chuckle, “she’s only been away for a couple of hours, the day is still young.”

Responding to the Mage’s words, the two cubs stopped hopping, but were wiggling in place as they panted up at Aria. Unable to resist the clear begging on their faces, she knelt down and petted them with an energy that only someone her age could possess.

“Productive morning?” Helbram asked Jahora.

“In some ways, yes,” Jahora said, “It would be better to discuss the details later.”

“Fair enough,” Helbram said, “we can speak when you get back then.”

Aria looked around the hall, noting that someone was missing. “Where is Leaf?”

“Out with Merida,” Elly explained as she drank from her mug, “they have begun their investigation with haste, and as of right now any extra hands will just get in the way,” a smirk quirked up one corner of her lips, “I would ask if you were ready to play caretaker, but I think you have a handle on that just fine.”

Aria looked down at the cubs, who were now on the receiving end of belly rubs. She looked back at Elly with a bashful smile.

“Well you can’t hog them all to yourself,” Jahora said, “Are you ready to see Serena?”

The girl’s smile stretched to a grin, and she nodded.

___

Helbram kept a watchful eye on Aria as she left. When she first entered the main hall, he could see there was a clear disappointment in her eyes, but that appeared to fade by the time that she was on her way. He was relieved at that, but he knew the next time that she went to practice that frustration would rear its ugly head again. It never stopped doing so with him, at least.

Elly, who had opened one of her books and was scanning its contents, caught onto his worries. “Aria just needs more time.”

“I know,” Helbram said, “but that does not mean I do not wish to aid her in some way.”

The Weaver tapped her bottom lip, “That is admirable, but despite her frustrations she has made steady progress. She is able to reach out to Aether more readily, for example, and even if she has not formed a Circle she is still able to cast a cantrip from the control over energy she has alone. For one who has trained for a little more than a month I would say that is quite a feat.”

“Yet the circulation of power through her body is her greatest hurdle,” Helbram said. “Typically, it is the opposite, is it not? I know it is related to her nature as a Shade and the fact that her current self appears to be at odds with her past self, but how to address that…”

Elly produced her notebook from the pile at her side and sifted through its pages, “I would say that whatever adjustment needs to be made is a matter of mindset…” she scanned over a page, “we have encouraged her to be her own person, but, as you discussed with Jahora, perhaps it is because of that her current struggles exist today.”

“And, as I said before, I do not think it was the wrong decision,” Helbram said, “but now we have the task of instructing her in how to reconcile the two.” His eyebrows raised as a realization came over him, “Perhaps we have been overthinking this.”

Elly tilted her head, “What do you mean?”

“Well, even if its nature and the powers it provides are extraordinary, the past of a Shade are really just distant memories. Like anyone, our memories and past play a part in who we are today, and I do not see why Shades would be any different. I have told her to learn and draw from her past, but I did not instruct her on how to do so. That is most likely the missing link.”

“That idea does hold merit… I assume that you have an idea on how to guide her through this?”

Helbram smiled, “That I do, but that will have to wait for when I next instruct her,” he looked at the …

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