FIC: REPOST: Militat omnis amans (Every lover is a warrior) Part 3c/?

["Beckett, Kevin" <kevin.beckett@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Militat omnis amans (Every lover is a warrior) Part 3c/?
K. Beckett (c) 2000 

Disclaimers:
Buffy, Willow and all of the other characters and places from the show
belong to Joss Whedon, WB and Mutant Enemy etal. Everyone and everything
else is mine. None of my characters are meant to resemble anyone living,
dead or un-dead, if you see yourself you are looking way too hard.

Rating: 
R 

Other: 
The Latin and Gaelic are mine; I take the responsibility for any
translations of them. In addition, the descriptions of the rituals, spells
and other craft work come from my traditions, so please don't take offence
if something described here does not match your traditions or what you think
it should.

Archiving etc.: 
Ask and I'll say yes.

Spoilers:
Everything up to the middle of season four - I diverge then.

-------------------------------------------


"And yes, to a certain extent it is," continued Grael, "however, what turns
a normal into a mage is the ability to shape and use this energy."
"Normal?" Asked Buffy.
"The vast majority of the population who do not have the innate talent to
perform magic," answered Grael.
"Only one in a ten million people has more than rudimentary talent to use
magic," Amana continued, "fewer than one in fifty million have the talent
that Grael and I have, you appear to be at this level Buffy."
"And fewer than one in a billion have your apparent talent Willow,"
concluded Grael.
"Oh," replied a suddenly very quiet Willow, "how can you tell?"

"First of all, both Grael and I have taught for more than twenty years,"
Amana answered, "and second, since we sat down to talk we have been
measuring the two of you."

"The drink I gave you has the relaxation properties that I mentioned,"
continued Grael, "it also has one other property."
"What's that? Asked the slayer.
"It allows someone, who has been trained, to measure the amount of energy
that is attracted to person who drank the mixture," Amana concluded.

"Great," said Willow, "I'm a big magnet."

"Willow," asked Grael, "when you performed your spells, and rituals, didn't
you feel energy being attracted to you?"

"Yes, but I thought..." said Willow quietly, "well, I didn't really know
what to think," concluded Willow.
"Well I do," Amana replied, "and it was your ability to use magics that was
attracting the energy although you didn't know that at the time.

"What gives then with spells, and tools?" Asked Willow.

"They are used as focuses," replied Amana. "In the working of some magic it
is useful to use a device or object or 'spell' to help you focus the magical
energy and then to release it as you wished it to be used."
"Some specific items," she continued, "such as those based on iron, can be
either useful or disruptive."
"Iron, in particular works in this way," continued the older woman. "When
it is used in a sword a mage can focus the energy raised into it and then
use very effectively. However, it is also a magic attractor, so it may also
disrupt the mage when they are trying to use magic."

"There is a price for each benefit," added Grael. 
"Okay," replied Willow, "what about rituals and circles then."
"They are used for a slightly different purpose," replied Grael. "We use
them to focus, and transfer the energy from a number of people, not all have
to be mages, and send it to a mage for use in great magics."

"That's what I thought," Willow said, "however, it's never been clearly
explained to me before."

"Now, we will spend some time working with the two of you to measure more
accurately your abilities, and to judge the level of your training,"
injected Amana.
"Well, I'm easy," said Buffy, "I've got no training."

"That's true," replied Grael, "however, we will have to determine which area
or areas your abilities are focused in."

"What do you mean areas?" Asked Willow.
"You are aware that we divide the essence into five areas?" Replied Amana.
"Yes," answered the redhead, "Earth, Fire, Water, Air and Self."
"Exactly," said Grael, "and it turns out that each mage is best suited to
one, sometimes two of these areas."
"They then concentrate on the manipulation of that type of essence, and
develop their capabilities there," continued Amana.

"So what she and I are going to do is test you in these areas and figure out
where your 'inclinations' lay so that we will then be able to concentrate
your training there," concluded Grael.

For the next two hours the women were tested using a variety of techniques.
Some like levitation were familiar to them; others such as matter
manipulation were not. Finally, Grael brought the testing to a conclusion
and had everyone sit down once again by the fire.

"That was certainly interesting," said a very excited Willow. For in the
last two hours she had been exposed to more magic than she had in her life
to that point.
"Different," was the only response from the exhausted slayer. She was as
tired as if she had battled dozens of vampires and demons.

"Well, ladies," said Amana, "this has been one of the most exciting days in
my life."
"I have to agree," said Grael, "the two of you have certainly met, and
exceeded our hopes."

"Why am I exhausted and witch girl here is bouncing off the ceiling?" Asked
Buffy.
"Mainly because she has so much more ability," answered Grael, "and because
we put the two of you through an exhausting mental workout which you are not
used to. This type of activity is very strenuous and exhausting."

"The two of you are probably very hungry," continued Amana.

"Details, need to know details, food can wait, what can I, no we, do?"
Bubbled Willow.

"Let's start with Buffy first," replied Amana, "As expected she has
significant potential, but is totally un-trained."
"No surprises there," replied the slayer.
"None at all," said Grael, "however, we were able to determine that your
particular areas of strength lie in the manipulation of self and air."

"Which means?" Continued Buffy.
"Principally that you will be able to control your body and the essences of
air," answered Amana, "In fact, we now believe that your 'superior' healing
and some of your reflexes and speed are merely an offshoot of your magic.
In other words, you heal faster and react faster, because you are able to
magically repair and boost the energy output of your muscles and tendons."

"Say what?" Asked Buffy.

"It's just that you have been doing this unconsciously until now," replied
Grael. "We will endeavour to train you so that you can do it consciously,
which should significantly improve your abilities and extend the range of
what you will be able to do."

"Such as?" Asked Buffy's lover and friend.

"Such as repairing bone, replacing blood loss, curing viral and other
illnesses and the ability to regenerate lost organs and limbs," he replied
to a stunned Willow.

"Oh," said Buffy in the sudden silence. "What does the manipulation of air
allow me to do, fly?"

"In the short term we will be able to train you to build shield and other
things like vacuums where you wish, in addition to skills such as
levitation," answered Amana, secretly pleased that the two young women were
still able to keep their sense of humour though all that had happened.

"And in the long term?" Asked an excited Willow; she was beginning to see
incredible potential options in fighting what until then had seemed an
endless, and ultimately hopeless, fight against the forces of evil, not only
on this world but also back home.
"Massive wind movements - tornadoes, hurricanes and other wind storms,"
replied Amana.

"But it will take time to train you to use your abilities at this level,"
continued Grael, "and I don't know how much time we will have to do this
training."

"Okay, you have gutted and filleted me," said the slayer, "now what about my
lover?"

"Willow," answered Grael, "Willow is a once in several lifetimes find."
"Eh?" Replied the redhead.
"Your abilities are overwhelming," he continued, "and with training you will
most likely be the most powerful person on either world."

"Not only that," said Amana, "but with this training you will be able to
control the essence in all five areas."
"Right now, your have self trained yourself in the disciplines of Earth, Air
and Self magic, however, neither Grael or myself were able to detect any
weak points in your ability to manipulate either Water or Fire magic."

"You are," said Grael, "what has been until now a legend."
"Say what?" Asked the confused witch.

"An arch-mage," replied Grael, "someone who is able to manipulate any form
of energy and essence." 

"That's enough for now," said Amana, "why don't the two of you go down to
lunch, after all you are expected in the training halls as soon as you
finish eating. We will continue our talk tonight after dinner in our
study," she concluded as she led the two contemplative women out to the hall
where they were met by Aiofe, Bridie and a cat.
"Meeow," said Shadow-Cat who continued plaintively, "Meeoooow!"
"She's been in such a state madam," said Aiofe, "trying to get in to see
you, and I think looking for lunch."

"Okay, then" said the arch-mage smiling even with the importance of the
morning's revelations still fresh in her mind, "food it is." The four
humans and one feline then headed down to the dining hall for lunch. Amana
turned back into her workroom and retuned to sit by the fire with Grael
after stopping by a bookshelf to collect a bottle and two glasses.