A nice short chapter that does what it is supposed to, setting the stage nicely for later chapters... it was fun to write.
"What do you mean I am only drawing on you?" Aaron frowned, turning his attention inwards as he listened to Agnes.
"I am the Gatekeeper, right now you are only able to draw on my power not that of the collective. Your body is barely able to handle my magic, even the weaker version that comes through the veil of death. If the others added their spiritual power to yours, especially Diane since she is a demi nymph, you would burn out from the inside. There is a reason that the spells you cast all but knock you out. Like the Heat spell you used to cancel out Alabaster's Freezing spell. If you used my full power it wouldn't have taken a tenth of my power, I am many times stronger then that boy is at the moment. If you used the full power of the Collective, even if it just the five of us, it wouldn't have taken a fiftieth of our power. Channeling individuals powers beyond mine require a ritual to connect to that individual. To channel all of requires you to create a much greater channel then the thin one currently present. There is a reason only I speak to you, other then being the gatekeeper of your connection to the after life I am the only one who has the power to start the channel and connect to you."
He nodded, continuing to walk out of the Big House and move towards Will's cabin for his lesson. "So I have more potential to draw on."
"Yes, which is also why you are still learning how to draw from the Earth. That is what expands your capacity to draw on extradimensional energies and increases your natural resistance to the energies so our powers don't burn you up. In fact, speaking of this, I think it is time for you to start learning healing spells using the Earth. You spend a great deal of time learning healing as it is, learning to heal with the Earth's magic while you do this will only help you and make your more useful."
"Will I learn how to channel other spirits, any time soon I mean... and I thought healing spells were complicated and hard on the body?"
"In order yes, we will start tonight and you will see why there is such risk when you do so. You need the cooperation of the Ghost in question for one, and not all of my fellow ghosts are okay with you. As for healing, mostly it takes an equal amount of power to what would be used to heal the body naturally. However there are spells you can do that do not take too much power, like a spell to prevent infection, soothe pain and reduce minor wounds such a paper cuts and bruises. It will help you to get used to infusing magic, drawing from the Earth more effectively and that power is not reliant on any god so you don't have to worry about being denied power like you would if you cast that prayer hymn for Apollo."
"I never thought Apollo would deny me power, but you make a good point... I guess we will have to start today. Will is going to be so excited, he has been looking forward to see more then just me using those weaker potions. Speaking of, why do potions use less power but are more effective then healing?"
"The Ingredients are all catalysts that draw on natural energy for power allowing them to be more effective and less straining on the body."
"Ahh."
"""
Luke hated funerals, he always had. Even as a child seeing a classmates funeral the idea of death bothered him. Knowing how utterly unjust the afterlife was, personally knowing Hades was a real place and that countless people were forced into what added up to literal mind numbing purgatory only added to that hatred. That he had to light the pyre of his brother, Chris Rodriquez, did not help matters at all.
Tears fell down his face as he lifted the torch and placed it down onto his brother's pyre, the fire consuming his brother's body. He didn't bother putting coins on his face, knowing that as a traitor they would never be accepted by the gods. This was the best they could do for him... a notion that killed Luke more then he could say. He wasn't even close to Chris and it hurt.
A warm hand pressed against his shoulder, making him turn to Alabaster who looked just as sad as he felt. "His soul was taken. I may lack my mother's full necromantic powers, but I can feel his soul being accepted." The Witch boy frowned. "My mother is speaking to me, Aaron personally put coins in for the boy so he could be accepted into the afterlife with mercy. It might not make things better, but your brother might not end up in the Fields of Punishment."
"That's something, I guess."
"It is the best we can hope for, at least until Hades is over thrown with the rest of them and a better afterlife is put into place."
Luke nodded, a sense of purpose resurging through his body. "Your right. This is just another injustice to fight for." He turned, taking in the salty air of the sea, allowing the beautiful sunset to ease his mind. He was stressed, too stressed lately and it showed. "How did a mortal manage to kill him anyway? Aaron wasn't anything special when I left."
"Aaron was always special, he actually worked hard at everything he did. It's not too shocking that he gained enough skill to be dangerous. In truth however, the cyclops was the real danger there. She was small but blindingly fast and utterly ruthless. She got the drop on us and she overtook us before we could fight as a unit. If you want to blame anyone, blame her."
"Maybe I will. Both of them are now targets, to be killed at any cost." Luke saw Alabaster's cringe but didn't question it. He knew the boys had been close before the defection.
"If you say we should."
" I do."
"Then it will be done..."
:::
"Sicut solis in nigredinem decidet. Sicut solis in nigredinem decidet. Sicut solis in nigredinem decidet."
Will watched with awe as Aaron chanted over and over again, the feeling of his Earth magic potent in the air. Sherman, son of Ares, actually started to sigh as the spell took effect. His face, scrunched up in pain. started to relax as Aaron's spell took effect and drained away his pain. It was utterly fascinating to watch, Will had seen things like it sure but never that the hands of a mortal and never without his father's domain being drawn upon.
"Wow..." Sherman said, looking at his broken wrist. " I can't feel it at all, I mean I know it's swollen and broken but it doesn't hurt. That is very, very cool. You could win an entire battle that way, taking away the pain and leaving us to decimate the enemy."
Panting, Aaron shook his head. "Not until I get a much better grip on magic, that took twice as much energy as it should have and some of the pain leaked into me. So, no, not doing that for an army." He was shaking, his skin paler then normal, sweat dripping from his forehead. "Still I managed it, so that means I have seriously improved. Agnes says this makes me more then just an acolyte, in the old days I would have just reached a basic Priest of Hecate. I mean I am able to cast spell to the point they work, even if I lack power, so that is a great sign."
Will beamed a smile at his friend. "And you've really gotten a good grip on basic care, the bandage on Sherman's wrist is perfectly done. I mean sure I set the bone, but you were the one to wrap it so that is a success in my book. Your becoming very, very useful."
"That's the goal." Aaron groaned a little, before sitting up and pulling out a wafer from his pocket. He dug into it to replenish his energy. "Well if that's it, I need to go head over to the Forges. My sister wants to work on some new enchantments for my arrows. that way I can attack and not be knocked out by my magic all of the time."
"That would be a good idea, make me some arrows too. I may not like fighting I might need to some day."
"That's the idea Will. See you both later."
:::
Walking to the Forges, Aaron drew deep from the Earth to replenish his lifeforce as much as he was able to. His shaking stopped almost immediately and he felt far less tired. His head stopped aching, as did his wrist, the pain cast away by the magic of the Earth. He was glad for that as he had work to do, he was excited for it. Today was the day he could start to prepare for to become a reasonable threat in battle, so long as he had his bow and arrows. It would reduce his reliance on his Spiritual allies and sword, always a good thing.
He had collected a variety of supplies for this project, placing them into this satchel. Herbs and potions ingredients that would transform his arrows into lethal weapons, or at least weapons that would give him a fighting chance against monsters and the like. Either way he would be happy to have them, and he would be safer with them. Always a good thing as far as he was concerned.
"Brother, your late." Meggy said as he entered the forges, the familiar magic and heat a rare comfort for Aaron.
"I was healing Sherman Yang, he broke his wrist. It was hard work but here I am. Ready and excited for this little project."
Meggy was smiling happily. "Meggy is excited, she has so many ideas." She gestured to Beckendorf, who was standing next to her. "We are experimenting to see what holds the spells best without wasting the metals. I wanted to start with the sonic arrow you did when we fought Alabaster and the others, then move onto a Fart Arrows. Apparently. the Hunters use them so it has to be useful."
He laughed. "That has to be useful indeed. Well, let's get started."
Chapter end, tell me what you think in the reviews.
This was beyond fun to write.
Love, your Ninja Overlord,
Mika.
Like the setting sun, fade into blackness.