Roger seemed delighted by the question.“Yes!We’ve found that raw ingredients work best for collaborative casting.The magic in the item is such that the fae participant can more easily access it.And as you’ve seen, it strengthens the power of the spell for the human, as well.”
Sage nodded.
“And I thought it might be best for you to cast on the desk instead of the floor,” Roger went on.“Easier for Sage to see your work, and then he can stand next to you.That sometimes helps.”
Conrad cheerfully went to the desk and began writing out the sigils to the levitation spell.As he was using fresh clover instead of the powdered variety, he added the Bokemann Modulation to reduce everything in the spell.Then he glanced at Roger to look over his work.
Roger came forward eagerly.“I really appreciate how clean your work is.You don’t add two sigils when one will do.You don’t overcomplicate things.Your approach to magic is very concise.”
Conrad tried not to puff out his chest at the praise.“Thank you.”
“Perhaps you ought to feel out with your magic before Conrad casts, Sage,” Wyndham said.“See if you can get a feel for the spell now.Familiarity with the setup will make it easier to integrate your own magic later.”
Sage was tense beside Conrad, but he nodded his understanding.His focus seemed to go inward for a moment and his jaw tightened.He gave a slight nod.
Conrad took it as his cue and cast.The handkerchief flew to the ceiling.Conrad laughed.“Well, we know it was effective.”
Wyndham studied it for a moment.“Indeed.It could probably do with further reduction next time.Sage, see if you can press the handkerchief downward with your magic.”
A muscle in Sage’s jaw ticked a little as he complied.The handkerchief bobbed a bit.Sage made a frustrated sound at the back of his throat and the handkerchief bobbed again.
Wyndham hummed.“Perhaps a different tactic.Working against Conrad’s magic may not be the best choice, now that I think about it.Let’s get your magics to work together.See if you can move it across the room, since Conrad’s magic is keeping it afloat.”
Sage took a deep breath and the handkerchief began to drift to the side.Conrad gasped in delight.
“Keep going,” Wyndham murmured.
The handkerchief continued to move.Then it went from inching slowly across the top of the room to shooting across with as much speed as it had gone up.When Conrad’s spell finally lost power and the handkerchief flopped down to the ground, Sage was breathing heavily.
“All right?”Conrad asked him with a hand on his arm.
Sage nodded, but his gaze was locked on Wyndham.
Wyndham smirked.“Interesting what happens to magic when it combines with another person’s, isn’t it?”
“I was having difficulty following along,” Roger admitted.“What happened?Why did it start off so slowly?”
Wyndham didn’t respond, waiting for Sage to answer.Sage swallowed.“At first, I tried to move the handkerchief independently of Conrad’s spell.It’s the only way I’ve ever used my magic.But then I felt out for Conrad’s magic and was able to…weave the power he had put into the spell into what I was doing.”
Roger grinned.“Delightful!Shall we try again with the same spell or something different?”
“You can decide,” Sage said to Conrad without looking at him.
Conrad wanted to pull the other man into his arms and tell him he was doing marvelously.But Sage was keeping his emotions under guard.Wyndham seemed to be studying the other fae with as much focus.
“Let’s try this one again once more,” Conrad said.
“Excellent,” Roger said.“Since your spellpaper is so clean, you should be able to use it all again.”
Wyndham plucked the handkerchief off the ground and handed it over.Conrad placed the handkerchief in the center of the paper again and glanced at Sage.“Ready?”
