G.H.O.S.T. Teams: Book 1 - Magic by Bobby Brimmer Read Free Book Online Page B

granola now?” I smiled.
    I could tell from the look she gave me that she was thinking about hitting me again. But she refrained. Maybe she was trying to avoid bringing things back down to my level.
    “So manna is given off by all living things and it’s basically the fuel for the spells?” I summed up.
    “Exactly,” she replied.
    “So let me guess, you are about to tell me that the method used to gather it is what actually matters?”
    “Very perceptive,” she replied skeptically.
    “Lucky guess,” I shrugged.
    I didn’t think she was buying it, but she continued on nonetheless. Either she was a good sport or she was falling for my charms.
    “Now, as you guessed, the methods by which one shapes the manna and the ways that it is collected are where things really get interesting. There are too many variations for us to go into every single one at this time. So for the purpose of this discussion it is probably most helpful if we talk about mainstream magic,” she said.
    “As opposed to the indie scene, where they shy away from the commercialization of magic?” I asked straight-faced.
    “Was that a movie joke or a music joke?” she questioned.
    “Let’s say yes and move on,” I smiled.
    “Probably best,” she smiled, “So, for our purposes there are three different types of magic users in the world. While the names can occasionally vary, the most common are as follows. There are Witches, such as myself, and although that term has always been unisex, I know that many male practitioners prefer the term Warlocks,” she said.
    “And is that a religious thing?” I interrupted.
    “Not at all. You are probably referring to Wicca, the so called religion of witchcraft,” she frowned, “Contrary to popular belief, the two are not connected, although there are some similarities. A true Witch, and the arts that we practice, predate any known religion. The confusion comes from the fact that many religions have copied our spells, techniques, and titles, and in an attempt to understand those powers they create gods and goddesses. I am not some holy weapon that magic channels through. I simply have a gift and I have been taught how to use it. True magic is more of a method than a lifestyle,” she said.
    The tone of her voice had been slowly changing. There was a hint of pride in her inflection. I could tell that some part of her really enjoyed explaining this, even if she had to explain it to me.
    “So Witch is just a title?” I asked.
    “Exactly. It denotes the method by which I conjure manna,” she said.
    “Okay Ms. Big words, so how do you conjure manna?”
    “Very slowly,” she stated.
    “What do you mean?”
    “As a Witch, I slowly pull manna from the surrounding area, shaping it as I go. Once I have gathered enough power for the desired effect, I release the spell and if I did everything properly, magic springs forth as intended. That is pretty much all there is to a spell. The trick is obviously to gather the right amount of manna and keep your concentration long enough to shape it as is needed.
    “As I am sure you’ve noticed, I often use gestures and chanting to help me accomplish this. While the speaking and motions are not an integral part of the spells, they do make it easier for me to visualize what I am doing. You will find that this is a very common method used by almost all practitioners. That is why when you read about witches and mages in Fairy Tales, they always cast their spells in this way. We were the examples from real life that those stories copied,” she smiled.
    “So do you ever brew magical potions in huge black caldrons?” I asked.
    “Most often the use of ingredients or instruments is simply another way that a practitioner can maintain their concentration. However, there are times when a spell requires more power than should be safely gathered loosely, and in those times ingredients can sometimes be used to store or contain the additional energy. Spell components often