Samuel watched the copper keep changing and shifting. They were at five, six alterations now. Customarily, he would go no farther than five at a time. His mouth formed an expression that was half between a smile and half between something he wanted to say, but did not. Perhaps a word of warning. The amount of magic that was contained in the transmutation circle kept increasing, with no way to escape it. He could feel the change of pressure in the air. It made the hair on his arms stand.
On her end, the strain of what she was doing crept up on her. There was a slight unsteadiness in her breathing and heartbeat, reverbarating trough her magic, that for a moment sent a shiver through the structure. But before he could move, she had somehow caught herself. Only when Themis started to speak again, he understood.
"You are a swimmer too. I now understand better how you sustain this", he said, even though he knew that was not what she had meant to say.
He saw her flex the form of the copper yet again, bringing them to seven alterations. Just when he started to doubt if he could permit this to continue, Themis posed that question herself.
"You are right, we need to end this transmutation and dissolve its magical boundaries. The most difficult and most dangerous point of our experiment is yet ahead of us”, Samuel said.
“You have done seven alterations, if I counted correctly. Each of them increased the amount of magic trapped in the circle and built up pressure that could spell disaster if released in an uncontrolled manner. That can happen easily, while you pull back and sever the supply. It is the point at which many in your place suddenly find themselves past their own limits, with nothing to bring them back."
He steadied himself on his side of the table and looked at her. I have not prevented you from diving this deep despite the danger that lies below, he thought. It is my responsibility to bring us back to the surface.
"Your control is extraordinary. I do not say this to flatter you. Nontheless, I think it unfair to put it upon your shoulders to ensure our safety from here on. I will join you in a moment. While you retreat from this circle, I will supply my own magic to keep it stable. Then I will dissolve it." He let a moment pass for her to take in this information. But at this point of the process, the stakes were too high to lose more time.
"We will need to achieve a degree of synchronicity for this to succeed. Please, look at me. When I enter the circle, it might create a startling sensation. You must keep yourself steady in that moment."
The Alchemist's dark eyes locked onto her. A profound gravity now filled them.
"As soon as you are ready, say so."
On her end, the strain of what she was doing crept up on her. There was a slight unsteadiness in her breathing and heartbeat, reverbarating trough her magic, that for a moment sent a shiver through the structure. But before he could move, she had somehow caught herself. Only when Themis started to speak again, he understood.
"You are a swimmer too. I now understand better how you sustain this", he said, even though he knew that was not what she had meant to say.
He saw her flex the form of the copper yet again, bringing them to seven alterations. Just when he started to doubt if he could permit this to continue, Themis posed that question herself.
"You are right, we need to end this transmutation and dissolve its magical boundaries. The most difficult and most dangerous point of our experiment is yet ahead of us”, Samuel said.
“You have done seven alterations, if I counted correctly. Each of them increased the amount of magic trapped in the circle and built up pressure that could spell disaster if released in an uncontrolled manner. That can happen easily, while you pull back and sever the supply. It is the point at which many in your place suddenly find themselves past their own limits, with nothing to bring them back."
He steadied himself on his side of the table and looked at her. I have not prevented you from diving this deep despite the danger that lies below, he thought. It is my responsibility to bring us back to the surface.
"Your control is extraordinary. I do not say this to flatter you. Nontheless, I think it unfair to put it upon your shoulders to ensure our safety from here on. I will join you in a moment. While you retreat from this circle, I will supply my own magic to keep it stable. Then I will dissolve it." He let a moment pass for her to take in this information. But at this point of the process, the stakes were too high to lose more time.
"We will need to achieve a degree of synchronicity for this to succeed. Please, look at me. When I enter the circle, it might create a startling sensation. You must keep yourself steady in that moment."
The Alchemist's dark eyes locked onto her. A profound gravity now filled them.
"As soon as you are ready, say so."
