Free Rising of a Mage by J. M. Fosberg Page B

to be funny. It wasn’t working.
    “No, I did not spend all that time casting the healing spells for you to get up and exhaust yourself.”
    “You cast the healing?”
    “Yes, not that there was much I could do. The only thing truly wrong with you was exhaustion, it would seem.”
    “Well then, Ma’am, it seems you are in charge of my care. May I be allowed to take this rest in my own bed?”
    “I will tell Master Gabrielle you are up, and Master Gibbins will want to see you before he allows you to go to your own bed.”
    Master Gabrielle came in alone and closed the door. “First let me say you are as reckless as you are gifted. You could have killed yourself, and it will be many weeks before your energy will be restored.”
    “Ah, but I can feel the empty well, sir. My body could handle at least three times what it could have before. Not a bad trade for two days sleep, huh?”
    His humor was more acceptable to Master Gabriel. He simply smiled and shook his head. “You are correct. Pushing yourself to a limit as you did stretches your ability to use magic and strengthens the constitution of your energy. The pull of spells will be less and easier to control. You could now accomplish what you did two days ago, and, though you would be thoroughly drained, you would most likely be fully recovered within days. As it is, you should not use magic for the next few weeks and allow the energy to restore itself—else you could lose some of your energy permanently.”
    “I understand. I will heed your guidance.”
    “Good. Now to the matter of the item you created. I took the liberty of checking your spells. They all work perfectly; only the last was altered from its original purpose. I am not sure how you did it, but you strengthened the spell. That spell is meant to deflect minor attacks: a knife thrust, an arrow or a physical blow from a club. I have tested all these things and it works, but normally it would stop the attack on contact. These minor attacks were stopped nearly an inch from contact. I took the risk of furthering the test. That coat will stop spear thrusts, steel-tipped arrows, swords. I would not continue the test past these items but I believe that coat is the strongest armor in all of the realm of Managua. I believe it has the ability to protect against magic as well but I would not further the testing without you.” Anwar smiled and nodded his head as if he had expected this. “You were expecting this?”
    “Yes sir. Well, hoping really.”
    “How?”
    “As I cast the last spell, sir, I willed it in half, two layers really. The first layer of the spell I guided into itself, feeding it with my energy. For the second layer, I pushed the magical barrier spell into and fed it until I was near collapse and then I finished the spell. After all my readings, I had seen this hinted at, but nothing had confirmed any successful attempt. My theory was you could feed the enchantment with a spell or energy that would strengthen it, but once you cast the last phrase of the spell you could add nothing and it would stop drawing from your energy. It would seem my conclusion was correct.”
    “It would seem.”
    “Anwar, would you like me to keep the coat locked in my office or would you like me to bring it to you.”
    “If you wouldn’t mind keeping it, sir.”
    “Very well. One last thing before I depart.”
    “Yes sir?”
    “You have studied the magical items and their creation in greater depth than anyone in this guild. Myself included. You have also proven your own theory in the creation of magical items. This makes you the Master of Magical Items and Creation of the Kampar Wizards Guild. Many wizards, even among those in this guild, have failed to create items with just one of the spells you used. You may continue to study as my apprentice, but you are now a wizard of this guild. You will teach classes on magical items, and perform duties in the guild. ”
    “I am honoured, sir. And I would be grateful