Aaron found that the book was true in it's points on magic, but if he had to add one thing, it was that Intentions were everything. Your mind had to be entirely clear, your words valid to make it work. You also needed enough energy to cast spells, the book actually labeled humans ( especially non inherently magical humans) as incredibly weak magically speaking but your power would and could grow through exposure to magic over time. Life force was how humans without innate magic cast and so he had to bolster his life force in any way he could, that meant he needed to get healthier, fitter, in better shape.
That also meant he needed a place to gather himself, his power. To that end, he spent the next week mastering the Mover Cor spell, Or Move the Heart as it translated to. He got free hotdogs from vendors, a place to stay every night and some new clothes and a bookbag filled with supplies. All for free.
Not to say that he was not working on other spells and magic. He worked on Abi, a spell that simply meant go. It was a strong repulsion spell, one that pushed people away and forced them off...
Aaron learned to use that and later a ward and healing spell the hard way after his first week... and it was also when he learned for certain that monster were real, just as the gods were.
He was out late, practicing levitating rocks with a Movere spell, struggling to lift the slight weight of the rocks for more than a moment. So focused on that, and the warmth of the protective bubble he cast ( The same as the first night) he did not notice the callused hands coming near him until they grasped his shoulders, pulling him into a strong chest.
Rank breathe filled his face, and his own voice echoed in his ears. "Wait, why are you doing this... so cute, little witch, but I got to eat!" The voice changed once it was done mocking him, shifting into a woman's voice, cold and callous and full of hunger.
Without thinking, he focused on his back. "ABI!" Years of fighting his father kicking in, he pushed his entire will into the spell and the creature flew back... only, its hands still held him and he too went flying, smacking his head into a nearby wall. Blinking past the pain, adrenaline was all that kept him conscious.
Struggling to stand, he saw the creature, a female... Cyclops as turned out, was stuck in a dumpster, growling out at him hatefully. "GET ME OUT OF HERE, OR I SWEAR TO GAIA I WILL KILL YOU!"
Not bothering to wait, Aaron bolted as fast as he could limp, his mind moving so fast that he turned randomly soon found himself in very small abandoned building, shaking from the probable concussion. Reaching back, he felt the blood on his head, but did not falter. Reaching back once again, he muttered a spell, one he read about. Simply put the weakest of healing spells, essentially first aid.
"Restituere, Restituere, Restituere." He muttered, until slowly the wound healed in a swirl of purple light. Focus returned even as his energy levels drained. "Safety next..." Smearing the blood on the ground in circle around him and mixed it with salt from his bag. Grabbing his grimoire out, he drew in deep of it's mystical energy and used it strengthen himself, anchoring the spell more purely as the book had taught him for bigger magics. "Per Terram et Sanguinem, me defende!" He slapped his hands on the ground, and in a wave of purple energy rippled out, melding into the circle and creating a barrier of purple light. 'Bound by blood and earth, the spell draws on the offering of my blood to create and bind a protective spell... it will last for at least ten minutes at my level, I can only hope the cyclops leaves me the hell alone...'
Breathing deep, he knelt. "Lady Hera... help me... please... I am in dire straights. If there is anything you can do, help me. Give me the tools to save myself." He whisper prayed. And, to his shock, that is exactly what happened. The book flipped open and he saw an enchantment spell... one that's cost was blood and power to create a temporary mundane weapon strong enough to kill most monsters. "I can work with that... wait, I can't just stab her normally, crap... good thing I ran. "
And so he dug into his bag and pulled out a pocket knife, one he bought mostly for spells. It was six inches long and entirely mundane... which sadly meant that by itself would not hurt a monster, but with some help...
Smearing more blood on it, he held and focused the last of the magic he could safely wield that day and uttered. "Per sanguinem, percute inimicos meos." The purple light burned across the blade, shimmering until the thing actually almost boiled. Then, he turned, just in time for the cyclops to literally burst through the wall, smashing over him and through his protection spell.
Rolling away through her legs, he turned and thrust the blade into the back of her knee before she could run off or hurt him. "AHHH!" She bellowed, turning to smack him, but failed and collapsed in anguish as he yanked out the blade. She tried to turn once more, just as he rammed the blade into her temple with all of his might, killing her instantly. Her body fell shattering into dust and his very bent blade.
Huffing and panting and shaking, he dropped to his knees. "Thank you... Hera, for your help..." Coughing, he struggled to stand, picking up his now defunct weapon. "Someone is due an offering..." It took twenty minutes before he found a drum of fire burning. Oddly there were no homeless people nearby, but he did not question it. He tossed in a banana and his blade. "Thank you, Lady Hera, for saving my ass... and ensuring I actually survived... now... I think I need to get in shape for another reason, My freaking reflexes... wonder if I can magic a personal trainer or get some judo classes."
"""
"If he could kill a cyclops with such bare training,... what will he be capable of in years to come?" Hera all but cackled, wildly pleased with her Champion. It really was time her Greek side had a Champion if her Roman side had Jason. She could not wait to see who he'd be in the decades to come. "I can only mask your location for so long from my husband, my sweet, soon you will be exposed. Prove yourself and ensure your own life. This was but your first test."
She hummed and hawwed for a moment then an idea formed in her heart.
"Perhaps, yes... it would be wise for him to join the Camp after a few months, once he is worthy enough... I will see what I can arrange."
And so she continued to watched the boy, ever so pleased with all he had done so far.
Chapter end, tell me what you think in the reviews.
This was a joy to write.
Love, your Ninja Overlord,
Mika.