[ENTER THE PALACE]

[warpweft]

[You find yourself with a sensation like floating in water.]

[Above, the sky is dark. You can occasionally see things shifting, like gusts of wind, or perhaps waves of water. Is it…even a sky above you? Or is it some kind of giant ocean? Whatever it is, you can’t make it out very well. All around you, you appear to be floating in what appears to be water. It looks like a great, wide ocean of…space in every direction around you, with stars and lights twinkling in the distance. It looks like water and feels like water, but it doesn’t make you wet. You can reach your hand into it and pull some out, the purple and violet water and the tiny points of light inside it will even rest in your hands if you cup them to carry it, but once you’re not trying to hold it anymore, it’ll flow off of you, not a single drop remaining behind. You feel something similar if you go underneath the surface. The “water” doesn’t touch your eyes, mouth or nose when give the chance, it merely drifts around you, allowing you to breathe and see unabated. And you can see for a great distance, the twinkling stars illuminating the ocean of space all around you. Though perhaps less dark and empty, it feels every bit as vast as the sky above. You feel like you could swim forever and never reach the edge.]

[It’s quiet, here, with little noise around you but the starry ocean’s waves crashing back into its surface. It’s peaceful. In another situation, it might even be comfortable.]

Comments

[velluminous]

[ she's probably got a fine powdering of gravestone dust covering her now, which is fine. it adds to the unhinged aesthetic as she immediately moves to obey Zarya's instruction—such is the draw of new, interesting power— ]

I can't. Why can't—?

[voidhearts]

Exactly.

That spell is extremely powerful, as you just saw. But spells of that caliber cannot be cast without limit. They take significant time and effort to prepare. Nessa developed her own technique where she can partition off some of the time and effort each time she casts a weak spell, using some of the Spark she generates to charge the stronger spell. You've already duplicated this method. By casting the Pulse Bolt multiple times, you charged the Explosive Bolt.

[Casting your Basic Spells will charge your Powerful Spells! Check the effect text of your Powerful Spells to see the requirement to charge it. You can have four spells equipped to be taken into battle at one time.]

Carefully consider the strengths and weaknesses of each of your spells and how you will use your weaker spells to open up opportunities for your strongest spells. Timing is going to be paramount in your upcoming battle. If you are able to find a way to harm Esmau, it will likely be just a small window of opportunity. Build your spellbook to take the greatest advantage of that window.

[velluminous]

[ on the one hand, this is so interesting.

on the other... she feels a bubble of frustration. now? she has to learn an entire new system of magic now? ]

How do I fill out book? I do not have time for transcribing.

[voidhearts]

You'll find more spells in the shop. I believe Nessa's Shadow managed to convert some of your own techniques into spells.

I understand she is.

[How to put this diplomatically.]

An obnoxious bore. But she has gone to lengths to create a system that will allow you to become stronger as you explore the palace.

I would also recommend seeking out other witches within the palace. They may be able to help you learn their spells as well.

The greatest impact you will be able to make on your spellbook all at once is by empowering your Spark. The Spark is a the magical energy existing within all witches that allows them to cast magic. Nessa, for example, was born with a Void spark. Right now, due to your injury, yours is neutral. When you infuse it with the power to take on an element of its own, you'll gain access to a great deal more power. When you empower your Spark, I will be able to teach you about all the things it can do.

Unfortunately, nothing else in my basic lessons will give you anymore spells or the. [Sigh.] "Nessa Points" necessary to purchase any spells or empower your spark. If you wish, you can leave and pursue the goal of filling out your spellbook, come back and continue preparing for battle later.

[velluminous]

[ oh, Sprezzatura listens to the entirety of what the strix has to say, but once she's done, she speaks, and her voice is a touch sharp. ]

Quiet. She is nothing like "obnoxious bore". Who could ever be so interesting that you would think that of her in comparison?

[voidhearts]

Hm.

I feel a debt of gratitude to both versions of Nessa. They both allow me shelter within their body and see me as a companion, not a burden or the reason for their incarceration. But I feel particularly indebted to her younger self. When one of the Warden's manipulations made me use her body to attack her teammates, she forgave me. When she learned that the Warden planned to erase her consciousness, steal her body and give it to me, she did not hold it against me.

I find the way the Shadow carries on about her and pretends to be so wounded that people would befriend such a girl extremely grating.

[velluminous]

She has not been particularly sweet to me, either. But there must be reason for it. She was that girl, once.

[ does she feel as though the fondness everyone has for the younger her... speaks to liking her better then? before she was capable? a part of Sprezzatura's own heart goes out to that idea. after all, her parents seemed to like her quite a lot more before she started being smart about things.

but even then, they hadn't liked her much. ]

[voidhearts]

Hm.

Perhaps you have a point, witch.

[They are the same person after all, it's true. But that seems to be all Zarya's willing to concede for the moment. You get the feeling she still doesn't particularly care for Shadow Nessa. But...she's at least thinking about what Sprezzatura said.]

All things being made equal, I simply wish for what will make Nessa wake up. Whatever form she may take when she does.

I owe that to her.

[velluminous]

[ stiffly, ] Good. And I have name.

[voidhearts]

I felt it rude to use it when you never chose to give it to me.

Do you wish to continue my lessons? Or leave and pursue your spellbook?

/2

[velluminous]

[ this woman doesn't have manners of her own ]

[velluminous]

Sprezzatura Vaux.

What more can you teach me?

[ she wants to be as prepared as possible in case this Esmau shows up again. ]

[voidhearts]

Making your spells inflict increased damage and using Shards and Facets to enhance you versatility, both of which will be of limited utility to you until you empower your Spark.

And defense. Which will be useful if you are harassed by the Nightmare throughout your travels.

[velluminous]

[ as a utility caster, she does lift her chin just so at the mention of "defense". ]

Enlighten me how to defend myself. Then I will "empower".

[voidhearts]

Alright.

[Lesson 04: Defense]

Esmau is an incredibly deadly opponent. She'll make every attempt to strike you down, and you'll have to use every tool you have to prevent her from doing so.

[Zarya pulls out a longstaff. She then lunges at Sprezzatura and jabs the staff at her stomach - then sweeps at her legs, trying to knock her off her feet.]

[velluminous]

[ oh my god. she dances back from the jab, but is easily swept, like Mulan at the start of the I'll Make a Man Out of You sequence. hits the ground hard on her back, her breath leaving her in a gasp. ]

I am no fighter! What am I meant to do, then?!

[voidhearts]

[Sprezztura: 90/100 HP]

[Zarya holds a hand out and if Sprezzatura takes it, she pulls her up.]

Being attacked unguarded like that by Esmau will be devastating. I, on the other hand, was holding back. Now, be on your guard and get ready for another.

[Zarya takes a couple steps back.]

When I attack, brace yourself as best you can. Stand and do your best to take it.

[She lunges forward again and swings the staff at Sprezzatura. When an opponent attacks, you can choose to Guard.]

[velluminous]

[ stand and take it? this is not how a wizard operates.

she's about to say something to that effect, still dusting herself off from her stumble, when Zarya lunges again. and she instinctively makes to try to dance away, again. but she is, if nothing else, a fast learner—which means at the last second she plants her feet. normally, she would use Shield...

but Guard will have to do. ]

Stop that!

[voidhearts]

[The staff bonks against Sprezzatura's arms as she Guards herself.]

[Sprezzatura: 85/100 HP]

Guarding won't prevent you from being damaged, but it will mitigate the worst of it. If you have no better options, it can be best to just cut your losses and brace yourself for the incoming damage to prevent it from being much worse. There are also spells to make Guarding more effective, to the point where taking damage via Guardian becomes manageable over the course of a long fight.

Now. Try to take no damage at all. DODGE!

[That's the only warning she gets before Zarya thrusts the staff at her. When an enemy attacks, they roll to hit you successfully. By Dodging, you apply a penalty to this roll, making their attack less likely to hit you.]

[velluminous]

[ screeches and dives behind one of the gravestones ]

W-Wait!

[voidhearts]

[Roll to hit: 14]
[Roll 1d20-4: 14-4=10, miss]

[Zarya's thrust zips right over that headstone just as Sprezzatura dives over it, missing her.]

Good. You're getting it.

Bear in mind, if you try to dodge and fail, you'll take full damage, obviously more than if you had chosen to Guard. It can be risky, but if it works, you'll take no damage at all.

Now.

[Zarya plants her stuff on the ground.]

Come here and try to attack me.

[velluminous]

[ her hands appear on the lip of the gravestone. she peeks up over the lip. ]

What with?

[voidhearts]

Anything. A spell. A weapon. Your hands. It's merely for example.

[That's mildly ominous.]

[velluminous]

[ she thinks about the last time she tried attacking something in a palace. the swift and agonizing end that followed.

not with her hands.

can she use another Spark Bolt from behind the safety of her gravestone? ]

[voidhearts]

[Well, she can try. When she does, Zarya immediately whacks her spellbook out of her hands and then bonks her on the head with her staff.]

[She does it lightly, at least.]

[Sprezzatura: 84/100 HP]

You can also attempt to parry an attack. Parrying fully neutralizes an incoming attack and responds with a counterattack. It's a great way to turn the tide of a battle in your favor, if you can pull it off.

Now, try to parry me.

[Zarya rears her staff back and swings again. You can attempt to Parry by rolling against your opponent's attack roll.]