Ranger24: Okay another chapter here to go.
Chapter 19: Magic is the simplest things.
Disclaimer: I own nothing.
The next day they were up early trying to get as far away from Yazuac as possible when Naruto spoke.
Naruto: Why do you think those two sanghelli were in Yazuac?
Ranger shrugged.
Ranger: It's possible that they deserted the main force to loot the town.
He sighed.
Ranger: I suppose you're still curious about this magic business. I guess I will have to start teaching you. First you're not a wizard, summoner, or magician. Wizards rely on implements to cast spells.
Naruto: Implements?
Ranger: Objects with some magical power mostly through potions. Summoners control spirits to do their work. Magicians have the talent naturally but some will study into other fields of magic.
Naruto: Okay if I'm not any of these three what am I?
Ranger smiled.
Ranger: You're a rider. Now when training for magic young riders were never told of their power. They weren't taught magic till they were considered mature enough. Until that time they did exercises in increasing the strength and learn the ancient language that allowed control over magic. Everything in the world has a name in the ancient language. Knowing this word gives you power over the object in question.
Naruto: Does that included people?
Ranger: Yes. All people have two names one is for everyday use the other is their true name. Elves instinctively know their own true name but the human riders often went on quests to discover their true names.
Naruto: I wish I knew my name.
Ranger looked at him eyes wary.
Ranger: Take care. Knowing who you are is a terrible fact. Some riders went mad from the knowledge. But the rewards are great.
Naruto: Well I still want to know my name.
Ranger: Well your not bending on this so that's good. Only the steadfast find their true name.
Naruto: Hey does the language have a name?
Ranger: Yes it does but no one knows it. It would be a word of incredible power. Now where was I? Oh yeah riders learning magic. When the students were ready they were given a series of pointless exercises.
Naruto: Huh?
Ranger: As in they did stuff that is very stupid. Like fill an ever draining tube with water, move several stones with their feet, and other impossibilities.
Naruto: Okay then what?
Ranger: Hopefully the students would get so frustrated they'd use magic. However if the student discovered magic on his or her own, he or she was quickly taken away for private tutoring.
He smiled again.
Ranger: I'll have you know you're the youngest rider to have ever discovered magic and none of the others ever first used it like you did when you killed those two sanghelli. However there isn't time for me to give you a formal instruction. There are still those that have had this training the elves for one and the King.
Naruto: Where did you learn to use magic?
Ranger: In a remote area. To say the least he was a very good teacher. I will do my best to pass on his instruction to you. You'll have to amass your skills on the run.
Ranger suddenly stooped in the saddle and grabbed a few pebbles. He discard all but one and hand it to Naruto.
Ranger: This is your training.
Naruto stared at it for a moment.
Naruto: Umm…. I don't get it.
Ranger: Of course you don't! That's why I'm teaching you and not the other way around. Lift it into the air. The words you will use are Stena Risa. Say them.
Naruto: Stena Risa.
Ranger: Good now get to it we don't have all day.
Naruto focused on the pebble and spoke as powerfully and commandingly as he could.
Naruto: Stena Risa!
Nothing happened. Ranger didn't seem surprised. Naruto tried again.
Naruto: Stena Risa!
Again nothing happened. Naruto was starting to get a little embarrassed.
Naruto: Stena Risa!
Again and again he tried without success. His face was beaded with sweat from concentration. Ranger was just having a very large anime sweat drop.
Naruto: STENA RISA! STENA RISA! STENA RISA!
Finally he threw the pebble to the ground in disgust.
Naruto: This is impossible!
Ranger looked at the pebble.
Ranger: Stena Risa.
The pebble rose into the air and Ranger plucked it out of the air then tossed it to Naruto.
Ranger: No it isn't. I say when its impossible. Fight for it! Don't give up!
Naruto groaned and start searching his mind for anything that might tell him how to use the magic. Suddenly he felt something. A bump in his mind. It was a piece of him, but not of him. Excited he dug into it but there was a barrier that held strong! He pushed against it fighting to gain access to his power then the barrier shattered like a window. Light flood into his mind and he spoke voice trembling.
Naruto: Stena Risa.
The gedwey ignasia on his palm glowed. The rock wobbled for a moment the to Naruto's amazement and delight it rose into the air ten inches off his hand. Then the power faded and the pebble dropped onto his hand. He sat there in the saddle panting heavily. Ranger smiled.
Ranger: Good.
Naruto looked at his hand.
Naruto: Why does my mark do that all time? It's like a little lantern.
Ranger: Riders normally funneled their power through the hand that bore the dragon mark. I'll buy you some gloves at the next town if it isn't gutted.
Naruto: Which is…?
Ranger: Daret. Now do it again.
Naruto had an anime jaw drop.
Naruto: WHAT!
Ranger: Yes and be a bit faster I have a lot to teach you and day ends at six.
Naruto groaned and got back to forcing his way into the power. When Ranger finally told him to stop Naruto hated everything about the pebble. He was about to throw it away when Ranger caught his arm.
Ranger: Keep it. Unless you want to redo the entire lesson.
Groaning Naruto put the pebble into his pocket.
Ranger: We're not done yet so don't get comfortable.
He pointed at the dirt.
Ranger: This is called Deloi.
The next few hours were spent with Ranger teaching him about three dozen words in the ancient language. When they finally stopped for the night Naruto had one hell of a headache. Then he heard the familiar sound of a stick flying through the air. He grabbed the makeshift sword. Ranger stood at the ready holding his stick with his left in a very weird style. It was pointed down and to Naruto's surprise Ranger's stick was about only half its usual size.
Ranger: You know the drill kid.
Naruto groaned and the fight began! For once Naruto didn't do as bad as usual. He was able to stop some of Ranger's attacks and for the first time in one of their fights hit Ranger! Still at the end of the fight Naruto was still covered in brusies.
The next few days they spent following the same pattern. Magic during the day sparing at night. Naruto's skills began to improve slowly. The pebble stopped wobbling when he raised it into the air. In his fights with Ranger his arm stopped shaking after each parry and Ranger finally started looking a little sore in the morning. However with his increase in skill Ranger started going harder on him. He started showing Naruto how to use what he called counter kills. The basic idea was to deflect the enemies attack the hit them with a blow meant to either kill or disable. These left Naruto with even more bruises than ever before.
One day Ranger brought them to a halt in a thicket of trees.
Ranger: Dismount.
Naruto: Huh?
Ranger: Do it.
Naruto did as he was told.
Ranger: Climb a tree without using your hands.
Naruto raised an eyebrow.
Ranger: Watch.
He dismounted. Then he ran at a tree, light seemed to gather around his feet! Then to Naruto's amazement he ran right up the tree straight to the top the jumped down rolled and rose to his feet. Naruto, unsure of what to do, did a golf clap.
Ranger: There are some things you can do with magic that don't need words to work. This is one of them. However you only have a limited amount of time before you run out of power and fall. This is a favorite technique of assassins.
Naruto nodded and ran at the tree. He broke through the barrier and sent as much of his power to his feet as he could! He put his foot on the tree took five steps up and then fell to the ground and landed hard on his ass.
Naruto: OW! What the heck!
Ranger sighed.
Ranger: You didn't let me finish. Depending on the traction available you need more or less energy. For running on wood which has knotted and thick park you can get very good traction though you still need about medium amount of power. On high traction use less energy or you'll break the surface and fall. On low traction use lots of power because you'll need it to grip it. Now try again.
They spent the entire day in the thicket Naruto trying to get to the top of the tree while Ranger and Cortana had a staring contest which Cortana lost when a leaf hit her in the eye. She challenged Ranger to a rematch. Naruto just hoped Cortana didn't know that his attempts to climb the tree had caused the leaf to fall.
It was dark when he finally reached the highest branch. Due to his exhaustion he didn't do so well in the nights fight with a lot more bruises then Ranger, whose arm had finally healed enough to allow him to fight with it. Naruto flopped down on his bed roll with a groan. Magic was nowhere near as simple as Ranger made it look.
Ranger24: And that's the end of the chapter. For the tree climb thing I used Naruto's actual lesson and elements of wall climbing in the game assassin's creed. (Awesome game thinking of making Parody of. Still need to find nine mean people to get killed.) Anyways read and review!