//------------------------------// // Chapter 15 // Story: Eclipse // by Hiver //------------------------------// I thought I knew how to cast shield spells. In theory, I did. I had cast many shield spells, I was pretty fast at it too. And absolutely nothing about casting spells normally had anything to do with what Celestia was teaching me. The shields and such Luna had taught me was all about stopping me from getting hurt. They were very good at it. “And again,” Celestia said from next to me as I regained my breath. Nodding, I focused, eyes half closed behind my day goggles as I looked at the icecube sitting on a small tea saucer on the stone floor. Casting the shield spell, I formed a slightly golden shimmering bubble over the ice, saucer and all. I kept my focus on it. Celestia moved in, running her hoof through the bubble with no resistance. Then she lit her horn and lifted the icecube a little bit before putting it back down. Then her horn flashed and a stream of fire struck down against the bubble. I instantly felt a strain and I added more magic into it, grinding my teeth as I held against the immense heat and bracing with my hooves against the floor. I felt the hair getting hotter and quickly, it was like standing by a blast furnace and I was forced to take a step back. I felt the shield wavering even as I put more power into it. Suddenly the beam of fire cut off and I gasped for breath, my horn feeling burning hot as I sank down to sit. But for the first time, the icecube remained, the saucer was still there and not a melted pile of glowing goo on the floor. The floor, of course, was still okay because of the way it was protected. Celestia smiled, her wings raising as she looked at me, “Very well done, Page!” she said, looking very pleased. “H-how is that so much more effort!?” I asked and pushed my goggles up to just beneath my horn now when I didn’t risk blinding myself. “Because you are only trying to hold one thing back,” Celestia said and faced me across the saucer on the floor, picking the icecube up, “In this case, heat. There are numerous times you want to block just one aspect, be it sound, light, heat, physical force or even water.” “I know how to cast a water shield already.” Celestia nodded, “Yes, but that is more like a normal shield. This shield I’m teaching you now can be used for any specific thing. Or several at once. It will serve you well.” I frowned in thought before I nodded, “I can see the uses. But it takes so much more effort.” “It will get easier with time,” she reassured me and picked the saucer up, putting it away, “And you will find that when shielding against very powerful things, being able to limit the thing you specifically shield against can be very useful. And in the end, use less energy.” Considering that for several long moments, I scraped a hoof against the cooling stone before I nodded, “...I see your point. I have to practice that one.” “Also, it has more than one use,” Celestia said with a smile, “Such as?” I slowly tapped my hoof on the stone as I thought before getting to my hooves, “Well, it can specifically keep heat and cold out,” I mused, “It could keep food and drink cold or hot.” “Indeed,” she agreed as she turned to me, “But you may find that there are more efficient ways of doing that. What else?” Flicking one ear in thought, I considered that before I shook my head, “...Basically anything that needs you to filter something out that’s not disrupted by the shield itself, really.” “It has quite some uses, especially in such things as some sensitive potion making,” Celestia agreed, “And in practicing spells.” “Practicing spells?” She nodded and smiled, “If you, for example, live in a wooden building up in a tree and wish to safely practice fire magic…” “Oh!” I said, my wings rising, “That’s very useful!” I said before I folded my wings, frowning again, “Wait, how can I cast it and practice other magic at the same time?” “That,” Celestia said, “Is a much future lesson. But you already know how to cast two spells at the same time.” “Yeah, something like light and telekinesis,” I said and stomped my hoof, “that is a bit different! Those are very basic spells!” She shook her head, “Not quite, but also yes. But nothing you need to worry about now,” she said and stretched her wings, “But I believe we are done with practical demonstrations for today.” “I can keep going, we should make use of as much of this time as we can,” I said, shaking my head, “I’m good.” “You may be able to continue,” Celestia said and stepped close, “But by tomorrow your horn will ache from overuse and if you push it then, it will be out of commission for a week or more.” That was a good point. My horn was still feeling warm. But I smirked up at her, “I’d have you know that my horn can keep going for a long time. All day if necessary.” She smiled back, moving a bit closer, “So I heard. But I think we should put some other part of you to use for the rest of the day.” “And what would that be?” I asked and moved towards her, slowly passing past as I rounded her to stand by her other side, brushing my wing against each of hers. Celestia smiled, “We will read.” “And what will we read?” I asked, looking up at her, “I can think of a few things you may enjoy.” “So can I, but last time we tried that, you ended up writing me a book,” she answered with a small smirk of her own, “Instead I was thinking we would study magic circles in a continuation of the shielding theme..” That sounded interesting.