In awe and disbelief, Novus watched as the arcane bubble of reduced gravity continued to expand, fueled by the ambient energy flowing through his body and given shape by the intricate Spell Formula etched into Rixa's arm.
Such an occurrence defied the known rules of Arcane interaction that Novus had learned during his time in the academy.
He had always been aware that there were limits to how much Vis, the magical energy, he could channel.
Yet, at this moment, he was generating a power spell reminiscent of ancient times, a long-lost art, and seemingly surpassing his own Vis limit without experiencing any adverse effects.
Novus, slowly regaining his composure amidst the chaotic situation, couldn't help but be dumbfounded by the unfolding Arcane reaction.
The Gravitational Spell Formulas, an immensely potent set of elemental core Spell Formulas, had been lost to history.
In ancient times, they powered the majestic Skyships that traversed the seas between continents, specifically from the old continent of Orfini.
However, in the face of imminent danger, all this historical knowledge felt utterly useless to Novus. The tip of Rixa's knife remained pressed against his skin, too close for comfort and a constant reminder of the peril he was in.
-Please, don't kill me! If you kill me, the Arcane Circuit might implode.- Novus pleaded, fully aware of the perilous situation brought on by the immense quantity of Vis being channeled.
-I don't give a damn about the consequences! I need to find my sister, and killing you seems to be the fastest way to do it!- Rixa retorted with desperation evident in her voice.
As Rixa continued to apply pressure with the knife, causing more blood to flow from Novus' neck, the tense situation took an unexpected turn.
Callis, who had regained control over his savage heritage and now wielded his Baltas' Blade with a newfound composure, intervened, parking his weapon dangerously close to Rixa's neck.
-I advise you against following that course of action,- Callis warned in his usual stilted and archaic vocabulary, his voice now steady and unwavering.
-Callis!- Novus, relieved to see Callis come to his aid, called out.
Having the imposing presence of the Beast Blade backing him up, Novus felt a sense of reassurance, which helped to calm him down despite the perilous circumstances.
-You bastard, what did you do to my sister?- Rixa, not one to back down, glared defiantly into Callis' cold blue eyes, her voice seething with anger and worry.
-She is out cold, tied to a piece of the boat, which is still... floating,- Callis remarked, his usually stoic demeanor unable to ignore the surreal nature of their circumstances.
-Perfect, I'll slit this runt's throat and go get her,- Rixa impulsively suggested, her desperation clouding her judgment.
Given the dire situation she was in, it wasn't hard to understand her emotional turmoil, even for someone as cold-blooded as she was.
-Once again, I encourage you to refrain from doing that, or neither your sister nor yourself will be shown any mercy or quarter by me,- Callis sternly warned, emphasizing the severity of the threat while actively searching for a way to stop the unstable Arcane circuit.
Before Rixa could respond with a snide remark, the imposing Beast Blade interrupted her.
-Mes Igneus, do you have any ideas about how to stop this?- Callis asked in a flat tone, turning to the mysterious entity residing within his blade.
Novus looked at Callis in disbelief, amazed by his calm demeanor amidst the chaotic situation.
-DON'T YOU THINK I WOULD'VE ALREADY DONE SOMETHING IF IT OCCURRED TO ME!?- Novus shouted angrily, unable to contain his frustration and shock at Callis' apparent calmness amid the chaotic situation.
Even Rixa seemed taken aback by Novus' sudden outburst, causing her to instinctively move her knife away from his neck to avoid accidentally deepening the wound. The tense atmosphere was palpable, and Novus couldn't help feeling a mix of conflicting emotions.
-I'M FLOATING IN A BUBBLE OF ANCIENT ARCANE MIGHT, POURING VIS INTO WORDS INSCRIBED INTO THE ARM OF A CRIMINAL!? DO YOU THINK THIS HAPPENS TO ME OFTEN!?- Novus continued his exasperated rant, gesturing as much as he could with his hands still stuck to Rixa's skin.
-Excuse me, Mes Igneus, I merely thought somebody of your qualifications might have thought about something by now,- Callis replied with incredible calm, seemingly unfazed by the precarious situation, even as the remains of the barge floated beneath him.
-HOW IN THE NAME OF THE SEVEN MAGUS ARE YOU SO CALM!?- Novus screamed at Callis, frustration boiling over.
Callis was managing to maintain a composed demeanor much more successfully than Novus, and it only served to fuel his irritation further.
Rixa, completely outside her usual comfort zone, could only watch as the lopsided discussion continued in front of her.
-Losing my cool would not help anybody, Mes Igneus... a clear head is an advanta…- Callis calmly began to explain his composed demeanor, but Novus couldn't contain his agitation and interrupted him.
-IT WOULD HELP ME STOP LOSING MINE!- Novus cried out, still visibly freaking out.
-Novus, you need to calm down and confront this problem head-on through logic, like they teach in the Academy,- the Beast Blade advised.
Callis had, in fact, attended the Academy, just like many other sons and daughters of the High Born class.
However, one of the disadvantages of his paternal heritage was a complete lack of talent in Arcane Sciences, rendering him incapable of manipulating Vis in any way.
Novus was left flabbergasted by this revelation.
Why did somebody like Callis attend the Academy, a place dedicated to honing Arcane skills and knowledge?
-You... you went to the Academy?- Novus loudly whispered, as if trying to scream, but the shock seemed to have stolen the air from his lungs.
-Of course, my grandfather is a Regio Dominus,- Callis explained, maintaining his unwavering composure. Essentially his grandfather, Liovetus was one of the 5 most important members of the court and he revealed like it was nothing.
-I... I... so many things make sense now…- Novus stammered, still struggling to process this newfound information about Callis' background.
-I don't want to interrupt your nice conversation... BUT I'M GOING TO MURDER THE RUNT IF YOU DON'T GET ME OUT OF HERE!- Rixa interjected, her patience for their exchange running thin.
Novus, with a myriad of emotions swirling inside his mind like a brewing storm, finally found a momentary hint of clarity.
-Wait! Wait! I think I know how to stop this…- Novus interjected, his voice filled with fear and urgency, both reflecting his emotional turmoil and the gravity of the situation.
-Don't try to trick me, kid, or I'll open a second mouth in your neck,- Rixa threatened, her knife perilously close to his carotid artery.
-Callis... I need my staff! NOW!- Novus pleaded frantically, fully aware that his life hung in the balance and that time was running out.
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