* You all reappear in what has to be the Garden of Life.  Even Ichi's somewhat
stunted arcane senses can feel the sheer amount of magic power around you.
* Ichi blinks "Wha? How? Oh."
<Cara> Wow...
* To Cara's senses, this place is even more impressive now that she's in the
middle of it.
<Tithian> Welcome to the Garden of Life.
<Cara> This is incredible...
<Ichi> Wow, I can sort of feel what you were talking about yesterday Cara.
<Tithian> Yes, it's a wonderful place.
<Tithian> Now, Ichi... have you tried casting whatever spells you know?
<Ichi> Yeah, it hurt, but...well...It felt good to...
<Tithian> Magic _does_ feel good.
<Tithian> I've noticed it, too.
<Tithian> It's almost addictive.
* Ichi nods repeatedly.
<Tithian> Very well...  you're not a real mage, unfortunately, so this will be
hard for you.
<Tithian> I want you both to open yourself to the magic, like you were about to
cast a spell, but don't draw the power.
* Ichi nods again. "Very little is easy."
<Cara> Okay.
<Tithian> It will probably help to concentrate on a specific spell, to give you
a goal.
<Tithian> It doesn't really matter which spell.
* Cara attempts to open herself up, even though she's lacking her sketchpad.
* Ichi puts one of his hands on the hilt of the sword he brought, and thinks
about his one spell.
<Tithian> Cara, what are you doing?
<Cara> Er...well, usually I'm focussing on a drawing when I'm doing magic. ^^;;
<Tithian> I can see that.
* Tithian points to the ground at Cara's side.
* Cara looks at the ground.
* Without realizing it, Cara has begun sketching in the dirt with her finger.
<Cara> Oh, okay.
* Cara focusses harder on the sketch.
<Cara> Ergh...no...
* Ichi looks around and wonders if this is what Cara sees all the time.
<Tithian> ...very good, Ichi.
<Tithian> Do you feel that energy?
<Cara> I...I...
* Tithian blinks and turns to Cara. "Why did you stop?"
<Ichi> Yes, it was all around sensei.
<Cara> It...it was gonna come into me...I didn't want to take it.
<Tithian> Magic comes from life.  You have to take it in order to cast.
<Tithian> The trick is in not taking too much.
<Tithian> You needn't worry about defiling this garden.  The Trees won't let
you.
<Cara> I'll... try again, then.
<Tithian> Wait a moment.
<Cara> Uh?
<Tithian> Let me see if I can get Ichi across the threshold.
<Cara> Okay.
<Tithian> This will be easier if I can work with one of you at a time.
<Ichi> Ok, What do you want me to do next?
<Tithian> You feel the energy, now open yourself to it.  Reach out with your
mind, take ahold, and pull.
* Cara watches Ichi to see what he does.
<Ichi> Uhm right.
* Ichi closes his eyes and tries to feel the energy again.
* The energy is right there, waiting to be taken.
* Ichi tries to reach for a fistfull.
* Tithian blinks.
<Tithian> You don't have to reach physically, Ichi.
<Ichi> Sorry sensei. ::drops his arm and tries again with just his mind::
* Energy flows into Ichi in a torrent, and his sword instantly freezes over. 
Even with the spell going, he is still overflowing with energy.
<Tithian> Let go, quickly.
* Ichi blinks and does so.
<Tithian> You feel that energy still waiting in you?
* Ichi nods slowly. "Yes."
<Tithian> You took too much energy.
<Tithian> That's defiling.
<Ichi> I thought you said that the trees wouldn't let me.
<Tithian> They won't.  Look down at the ground around you.
* Ichi looks down.
* The grass is still growing around Ichi, it hasn't wilted at all.
<Tithian> All the energy came directly from the Trees of Life.  They gave up
energy to save the plants around them.
<Tithian> They'll regenerate it in time.
<Tithian> You haven't caused any permanent harm.
<Ichi> Ah, I see now. I should probibly still do something for the trees though.
<Tithian> Relax.
<Tithian> If you _do_ take too much energy, you can't put it back, so you may as
well use it.
<Tithian> You can use it to either make your spell more powerful, or to power
another spell.
<Tithian> I don't reccommend it, though.  Especially if you're in a city.
<Tithian> Every city on the planet has an injunction against defiling in the
city, some more restrictive, some less.
<Tithian> Usually, defiling is limited to the king and his templars.
* Ichi nods.
* This whole time, the energy has been slowly dissipating, and is now gone.
* Ichi holds up his sword and concentrates on putting the extra energy he got
into the ice. "Like this?"
<Tithian> You see... you're trying, but the energy has mostly dissipated now.
<Tithian> You waited too long.
<Tithian> You don't have much time to use it.
<Ichi> Ahh...
<Ichi> Shall I try again now?
<Tithian> Yes.  But while you're drawing power... pay attention to how it feels.
<Tithian> Pull slowly, and if the energy pushes, push back.
<Tithian> When you're pulling slowly enough, you can tell when you've got
enough, and then cut off the flow.
<Cara> Should I try that, too?
<Ichi> Uhm...right sensei.
<Tithian> Not just yet, Cara.
<Cara> Okay.
* Ichi tries again and pulls very very slowly and carefully.
* The energy floods directly into Ichi, heedless of his attempts to push back.
<Ichi> Ack!
* Tithian sighs.
<Tithian> Okay... wait until the energy dissipates, and then try again.
<Tithian> I'm going to try to help Cara.
<Ichi> Sorry sensei.
* Tithian turns to face Cara.
* Ichi sits and waits.
<Tithian> This is going to be harder for you, Cara.
<Cara> Okay.  Um...why?
<Tithian> Not because you have less skill, but because you're more sensitive to
the power.
<Cara> Okay...
<Tithian> The stronger you are, the harder it is to resist the lure of all the
power around you.
* Cara nods.
<Tithian> Now... start casting a spell.
* Tithian puts his hands on Cara's shoulders.
<Tithian> I'll do what I can to help, but you have to do the real work.
* Cara wipes out the doodle in the dirt, and starts drawing a little dust
twister, while focussing hard.
<Cara> Thanks...
<Cara> Urgh...
<Tithian> Cara, don't try to overchannel this much energy.
<Tithian> Just let it dissipate.
<Cara> Okay.
<Cara> Feels like I'm gonna burst...
<Tithian> I suppose it does.
* Slowly, but surely, the energy bleeds out of Cara.
* Meanwhile, Ichi is slowly making progress on his lesson.
* Cara sighs.
* Ichi stands up and tries again, concentrating on not letting energy flow into
him.
* Ichi manages to cut off the flow of energy to a tiny trickle.
* It takes almost a full minute for him to build up enough energy to energize
his blade, but when he has enough, he can readily tell.
* Ichi cuts the flow off and holds aloft his icy blade. "There!"
<Tithian> ( I need a short break, back in a sec. )
<Ichi> (kay)
<Tithian> ( Okay, I'm back. )
<Cara> Good job, Itchy. ^_^
* Tithian looks over at Ichi.
<Tithian> Very good.
<Ichi> Thankyou sensei.
<Tithian> Now do it faster.  Taking a full minute to cast what appears to be a
combat spell is not a good thing.
* Ichi nods.
<Tithian> Now, Cara, try again.
<Tithian> [End Session]