The Apprentice's Apprentice

Part 23

"Whatever. So it's like my magic fence but stronger and keeping other magic out, right?"

Warren nodded. "That's basically it. See what you can come up with. Once you're comfortable with it, I'll try a light attack."

She nodded and turned her attention inwards. She reached for the warmth inside her and pulled it out, keeping it in the area in front of her. Then she hesitated. Cora was so used to immediately trying to make something float that she had almost forgotten what the basics were when not involved in a transference spell. She frowned and tried to think of what her shield should be like.

Cora wanted something strong, but not something likely to be broken. Sort of like Tekkai from One Piece, but in a way she could move. Maybe like a kind of iron coating all over her body, like armour, but something so light she wouldn't feel it but strong enough to stop anything. She built up the feeling in her mind, something almost like the way sunshine felt on her skin, a feeling without weight, but with power and strength beneath it.

She concentrated on this feeling, the warmth of her power making it an easy transformation. She let it spread until she felt like her whole body had been painted in it, that not an inch of her was left exposed. She kept the coating tight between two thinned out mental fences, more like Saran wrap in her mind, something to keep the magic in place. Once she felt that it was right and settled properly, Cora poured her power into it.

Instantly she felt warm. Like she'd been wrapped in a blanket fresh out of the dryer. She made a mental to use this during winter, especially when her mom made her shovel the front steps. She sighed, enjoying the feeling even if the day was hot. She looked up at Warren and smiled.

He shook his head. "Even if your power earlier hadn't proven to be tied with defensive, that expression on your face would have told anyone. You've taken to it like a duck to water. Now, I'm going to try a gentle attack. Nothing that should seriously hurt you, but if it gets through, you're going to feel it. Are you okay with that?"

Cora nodded and stood up. Warren followed suit. He closed his eyes, and as Cora watched, held out one hand, palm up. As his steadying breathing continued, it looked like light began to pour into his hand, forming a tiny sphere. Only when it had reached the size of a plum did he open his eyes.

Like a pitcher he wound up and threw the ball towards her. Cora stifled her instinct to duck and let the ball hit her squarely in the chest.

She fell backwards into the couch.

Cora coughed a few times as she tried to catch her breath, rubbing the spot she'd been hit. "Ow," she said. "What was that?"

"Shock spell. It should have zapped you, but apparently your shield protected you from that part of it. You're going to have to do something about the force it hit you with though. Try building a different kind of shield."

She frowned but nodded. First Cora carefully broke her first spell. She knew what Warren would say if she didn't properly unravel the first spell and reabsorb the power. At times he was a worse nag than her mother. As she brought the last of her power back inside of her, Cora exhaled and relaxed. But only for a moment.

She pulled out some of her power again, letting it run all over her body. Her first shield had been partially effective at least, if not as strong as she'd wanted it. Then again with it so light, she really shouldn't have expected pure strength. Maybe she didn't need it to be strong. If it could insulate her from an attack's effects already, then she just had to figure out a way around the actual blow. A way around...

Suddenly Cora grinned. She had a great idea. She brought her power up again and wrapped herself in it, coating her skin with the warmth until she again completely covered. But this time she added a slippery feeling to the outside it. Like when her hands were oily and she tried to open something. The feeling that everything would just slide right off.

She built up the two layers in her mind, the slippery outer one and warm, protective inner one, until they felt right. With her second set of layers keeping the magic in place, she finally poured her power into it and let the shield's feeling wash over her again. She was definitely going to be practicing this one at home. It felt better than a hot bath.

Cora looked back at Warren and smiled again. "This time I think I'm really ready. Hit me with your best shot."

He shrugged. "Alright, just you'll have to change styles if this doesn't work."

She nodded as she stood up; setting herself so she was less likely to fall over again. Across from her Warren was already preparing the spell. Cora watched the light gather in his hand and wondered when she was going to learn something like that. It looked cool.

As he wound up again, Cora couldn't help tensing up. She had to remind herself not to dodge, to stay as still as she could. She bit her lip for a moment before thinking better of it. Then Warren was releasing his attack and she didn't have time to think of anything.

The glowing sphere struck her side this time. And it kept on going, sliding right off her waist to splash against the couch. It dissipated in moments, leaving only a faint charged feeling to the air.

Cora grinned at Warren. "See, told you I was ready."

He shook his head, eyes studying her. "What did you do?"

"I made my shield into two layers. The warm protective layer inside and a slippery one outside. That way even the things that don't slide off all the way won't be able to affect me. What do you think?"

"I think I need to stop trying to predict what you'll do. We'll need to test his further, but it sounds to me like you've got a unique shield that'll work. Now break it down and start from the beginning again. We're going to be practicing this a lot."