I love different angles, and this is a awesome.
With great focus, Samuel went through his book. Other than the spells, he found the first tenth of the book dedicated to the rules of magic. Mainly that magic required focus, a willing mind, belief, and enough energy to make the magic work. Magic took life-force, the raw essence of the body and nature, to work. You could draw from objects, like his book, or natural objects like herbs and plants and trees and even other people.
It also said that practice would build up his magical powers, both in focus so he could no longer need words or even cast bigger and broader spells without passing out. So, with that in mind, he started going from person to person to heal their wounds from the night before. It was an interesting process, but after the tenth or so person he had to lay down where he fell asleep, only waking when a huge burst of energy filled the world.
He panicked, rushing out to see a massive blast of purple light that exploded into a millions shining threads. His heart dropped into his stomach, as he sensed a familiar energy in the air, one he only felt when he had been knocked out and woken up by said presence. He knew, just knew, that it was the Shikon Jewel.
"What did they do?"
About an hour later, He learned the truth... Kagome had been abducted, a crow demon took the jewel, and she used it's foot to lead an arrow straight to it, shattering the jewel and spreading the pieces far and wide.
He was horrified...
"Kaede, if the jewel magnifies even one person with it's whole part, a single shard would do the same, right? Magnify that by hundreds of shards, and you get a whole host of increased humans and demons... we are so screwed."
""
A few days later, they were resting at a local river, with Kagome swimming to clean herself off of blood. Samuel had done the same earlier, and he was very happy for it. He was wearing a small grey tunic given to him by a local that had appreciated his healing. He felt clean, happy and safe, odd as that was.
"You've gotta be kidding! Even if it is Feudal Japan There's no hot baths?! C-C-Cuh-Cuh Cold!" Kagome all but shrieked.
He sighed, he liked the girl but she was a bit spoiled.
Kaede turned to her, from the small fire near them. "Kagome, don't force it. Come on out. No! I'm all bloody and dirty. And I can't stand my filthy hair!" She dived into the water, eager to be clean, which he could understand.
After a while of enjoying the day, Kagome popped out and shrieked. "Sit!"
The two bystanders turned, shocked as Inuyasha came crashing down, slamming into the hard ground.
"So you are here, Inuyasha." Kaede said passively, but Samuel was displeased.
"Kagome, that was unneeded." He walked over and helped Inuyasha up. "He did not need that."
"Rrragh! I'd forgotten about the subjugawhatchamacallit".
Kagome rushed out, to get dressed. "Shame on you! Spying like that!"
"Huh?! Yeah, right! All I was doing was trying to steal the Sacred Jewel"
"Yes, I know." Kaede said, pulling out the shard they found.
"If you knew, why'd you ask?"
"The future looks very bleak Inuyasha, unless you join forces with Kagome, who has the ability to "see" the Jewel there is no way all of the fragments will be found. And that is not taking into consideration Samuel's growing mystical skills. He will be a valuable asset to you both, not even you Inuyasha can shrug off all injuries. Healing magic will be undoubtably helpful."
"And I'm tellin' you that if it's for the sake of the Sacred Jewel, I'll put up with the dumb girl, so stop worryin'!"
"Do you really dislike me that much, huh?" Kagome asked, coming out dressed like a priestess in red and white. Her outfit seemed to stun Inuyasha, who looked at her with a stoic sort of pain. "What's that expression on your face, Inuyasha?"
About an hour passed while Kagome dried her clothes. Samuel went through his book, learning spells, and trying to focus on sensory magics. It was key to eventually not needing the book, he needed to be able to feel the magic around him, the life force of all things. He was meditating, as it instructed, and so he almost it when a woman came to their small camp.
"Priestess Kaede?"
"Yes?"
"My daughter..."
"I see. I will be right there. I must return. Do not fight. Samuel, come with me please. Your powers may be very useful. I think I am going to be instructing you in healing, so you can be of use with or without magical assistance."
Smiling, he hurried on after her, smiling at the warm priestess who had so kindly taken them in. He had his book in hand, ready to help her by any means.
As they got closer to the village, Kaede said. "She suddenly collapsed?
"Yes. She was just fine this morning. Let's see Hmm?!" She stopped as she entered, as did he for there were lines of razor thin thread, all over the room and all over a sleeping woman on the cot. "Stay back!"
And then, the woman on the cot rose, not flying but held up by those threads, like a puppet. "Huh? She's floating."
"Hair?!"
From the ground, a knife flew up and into the woman's hands, and in a flash she descended. No time for a spell, Samuel threw himself in front of Kaede, only to almost black out as pain tore through his back and shoulder.
Chapter end, tell me what you think in the reviews.
This was a joy to write.
Love, your Ninja Overlord,
Mika.