Unless this contradicts something I'd have observed about the full body armour, and assuming I didn't see anything with my light-sense, I say, "To begin with, I have no idea. It could be any number of things, but my guess is that it is powered through the amber. Perhaps the amber takes energy from the wearer, light in the area, or some other source. My instinct is that it has something to do with light since we are Light based Tech mages, the amber is translucent and electricity is a form of energy closely related to light. But given that it is magic, anything is possible."

"A most thoughtful answer.  However, even if it is magic, not everything is possible.  Magic has its own rules.  But yes, you the wielder of Light magic power this device, and this device powers your armor."

He opens up a  box, and begins to pull out circles of amber, enough for each of you.

"Your first goal is to get it to glow."

This takes an hour, and all of you are able to succeed.  You can see a path of light emerging from your chest, and going into the amber.  At the same time,  you can feel the drain on  your energy.   Its a mix of concentration drain, and physical exertion, and something else.

Everyone is ranked, and currently you're number four.

"Now, the next step is to keep it powered all day.  I know, some of you are about ready to pass out.  but it can be done.  Keep in mind, some of this energy comes from you.  So when it comes time for supper...get a second plate.  I'm not kidding.  It does not look like much, but its the equivalent of toting a seventy pound bag of rocks around all day.  But you can do it.  Questions?

I ask, "Are there additional ways we can increase our endurance besides maintaining the magic all day?"

I try to keep the circle powered all day, and I have a second plate at supper.

In reply to Scord (msg # 54):

"All right, a sucker for punishment. I like it.' The instructor says as the rest of the class laughs.  "Yes,  you can cycle up and cycle down the power feed.  For the start, if you can manage it, try to go up high once per minute and down low for the next.  Hold the low and the high as steady as you can."

He holds his example circle and pulses it about ten times in the next minute.  After which he is sweating.

"It takes time to learn, to develop the mental muscles, and the connection to the light."

You practise, but you're having a hard time holding it for more t han thirty minutes, much less pulsing it.  And you and everyone else finishes your plates with some going for a third.  You hit the bed that night, and don't remember anymore until morning roll call.

That morning I ask God for the strength for the day that I'll need for His glory. After completing my required regular tasks, ASAP I pray for strength for the day to bring glory to God. ((asking to be given enough excess of physical, emotional and mental strength throughout the day as I would require in order to make God look good by my association with Him. This is something I ask for regularly and am blessed with. I have faced down my abusive boss with grace and peace when he nearly fired my ass. However, I've definitely never tried making a magical/technological hybrid object light up with my newfound magical powers.))

As I practice, I try each new technique one at a time in a focussed effort before I begin practicing it.

I plan on developing a regular practice to speed learning by pushing myself hard, but asking Holy Spirit to keep me from overexerting myself. ((asking to be prompted to slow down or increase my efforts if I'm losing optimal efficiency))

You feel the faintest touch of strength as  you pray the first time.  Later as you pray to bring glory to God, you feel a significant surge.  For a second, you think  you're glowing.

You work hard on your individual techniques, and get up to position #2.  You're able to hold for an hour three separate times that day.  And that night...you don't remember even hitting the bed.

Your small class is doing well.  No one has been cut for lack of talent, or had any sort of even semi serious accident.  You've had a few people 'fuzz' themselves for a couple minutes as they incorrectly redirect energy back into themselves.  It seems like getting hit with an electrical current and blissing out at the same time.  Its a known minor issue from incorrectly stopping the energy flow.

"Now, fuzzing or Energy Flow Incorrect Termination and Redirection, EFITR, is not a serious problem, if you were a civilian.  But, you are Shayan Marines.  Spend two minutes out of combat going goo ga, and you might have doomed your squad.  Get it right, People!!!"  The Instructor says.

If anyone asks me how I'm keeping this pace, I answer humbly that it's all for my God's glory, and I explain as much as they ask.

I continue my ((practicing if allowed)) prayers, and do my best to avoid fuzzing.


As training continues, I continue to try to maximize my efficiency with the aid of Yahweh, and generally seek Yahweh's will and desires.

In reply to Scord (msg # 58):

One of your fellow Tech Mages, Alan, asks you about it.  After a bit, he nods.  "Ah, an  Old Believer." And wanders off bored.

A day later, Jeff, asks you what you were doing as you pray, and he's very interested as you explain.

"I look at these gods, Krox, Shaya....and I'm awed.  And the Godswar and the Last Dragonflight, and I'm awed....but then I look at the stars, the galaxies, the many galaxies....and I feel like we're ants worshipping eagles.  Do you understand?"

"Completely! My God is bigger and beyond all of that, yet present in entirety in every subatomic particle. One of my regular practices is to remind myself of my smallness in comparison to my God. I visualize outward beginning with my own body, zooming out to the planet then the system, the galaxy, the cluster, the supercluster, the background radiation and beyond, then I remind myself that my God is so much bigger than all of that, that it would all fit into the tiniest crevice of space in my God's thumbprint. Yet my God's entire infinite heart is focused on me, pouring out love, forgiveness and understanding every moment of every day. So yeah, I feel like an aomeba worshipping the god who loves me as if I were God's own child. I am humbled partially because I am worthless by comparison and encouraged because I am loved beyond comprehension."

In reply to Scord (msg # 60):

"That is what I am saying." He smiles, and listens to you, and asks questions, and after a while you two are called to the next class.

Cool.

As long as I'm in training, my goal will be to be a good trainee. As always, my overarching goal will be to 'bring glory to God' which I take to mean: make God look good by my thoughts, words and deeds.

In reply to Scord (msg # 62):

A week later, and you're fetching materials from a supply room when the door slams behind  you, and the lock clicks.  The light in the room flickers....

With a quick but constant silent prayer for God's help and protection as much as is needed, I listen for footsteps outside of the room in case someone from the outside just locked me in. But I also carefully look around the room, using my amber to light my way if needed, and trying to sense the use of magic around me.

In reply to Scord (msg # 64):

You see a patch of darkness in the corner of the room which just won't go away despite your amber light.  And  you feel magic swelling, magic that feels wrong....

I pray for the strength and wisdom to do God's will, and His protection over me and the rest of the people from whatever this threat is. I recall the feeling and sensations of when the DI made the magic stop obeying me, and try to dampen the magic being used in that corner. Simultaneously, I get myself into a defensive stance and prepare for battle, remembering any advice I've been given about this kind of thing, and also attempt to raise the alarm and warn others.

So far in this world, I've only come across fire, light and life magics being used by "goodguys" and I've heard of other magics being used by "badguys", so I suspect an attack, possibly from that voice I heard back when I first entered the world and botched my prayer.

In reply to Scord (msg # 66):

A blazing light, a sense of joy in battle, fills you, and shines around you.

Gain !@3 Protection from Evil Dark Magic.
Gain 1@1 Widesspread Protection from EDM.

You push out trying to dampen the enemy, but magic surges back at you, overwhelming your attempt.  It carries malice and hunger but the joy in you leaps at it and shreds it.

You're seeing darkness like claws come at you, and a gorgeous fire leap out laughing from you.  You're not sure if this is a vision or material.

You bellow out a warning, and seconds later you hear pounding footsteps.

And a hand of shadow with talons on it extends to block the door shut.

You're pretty sure this is somehow connected to the voice you heard.

The talons look similar to the teeth you saw.

I pray, "Yahweh - You who are who You are, rescue us from our enemies." Intended effect of getting God's cooperative help in the positive resolution of this danger.

I recall the pertinent information that I would know by now about the Emissary and their role in protecting this planet and the Shayans. I say aloud and think hard, "Emissary, I am requesting your help."

With full faith I say, "I am a citizen of the Kingdom of Heaven by the blood of the King of the Multiverse, I am loyal to Him alone and He is loyal to me. Beware. In my weakness, He is strong. Make peace or leave."

In reply to Scord (msg # 68):

"Peace?  Peace is a delusion of fools.  There is only hunger, the eaters and the eaten."

Nothing seems to happen in response to your prayers and it laughs at your warning.  The other cadets outside the door slam the door, and it opens a bit, and then shuts.  Another smaller, thinner arm with an end full of talons slashes you.  You feel cold and pain across your face and chest.

"Once Beloved, you eat by coersion, which is the way of darkness and death. If darkness and death remain your food, they will uterly consume you. I eat the fruit that never dies. Even if you kill me, I will never die. I offer you that fruit if you will hear me out. But I will attempt to stop you if you continue to attack me."

If it continues to attack me, I pour the love of God and light into a focused beam and push the beam of love and light into the center of the darkness.
This message was last edited by the player at 14:19, Wed 08 Apr 2020.

In reply to Scord (msg # 70):

"I....." He flares into bright light.  "Understand."  And he's gone,  and the door slams open and your fellow cadets come crashing in, light flaring about one, and another having a sabre of light in his hands.

After I relay all the details of what happened, I ask the one with the Sabre and the one with light flaring to teach me how they're doing that (unless it's easy enough to figure out.

In reply to Scord (msg # 72):

You explain to the others, and then your superiors who show up.  You can tell  your superiors are a bit concerned.  One of them mumbles something about Umbral beings.  They say they will get back to you.

The two using the Light spells agree to teach you.  As the guy w ith the sabre says..."looks like you might need it if you get any more midnight visitors."

I accept the word of my superiors, and all where I can learn more about umbral beings.

To the guy with the Sabre, I respond, "Totally. It almost seems like my argument converted the being of darkness into a being of light, but I doubt that will work every time. So how does that Sabre work?"

In reply to Scord (msg # 74):

"Wow. Well yeah, yeah, dude. Um, lets go to the gym.  You want some space around you when you're learning a saber."

He starts teaching you how to make a rough shape about a foot long and two inches wide.  And you see what he means.  This light is so fast, so slippery, its very easy for it to lurch out of your hands and go spiralling off somewhere.  You even hit him, but he laughs.

"Expected.  I taught you a low power form just because.  Now what you need to do is to press this  Shard or Ingot into a longer form.  Then you need a basket hilt to keep  it steadier in your hand."

He pauses.  "I learned the Ingot technique.  I imagined I was a blacksmith and hammering out an ingot of metal.  There are other techniques.  The Shard requires visualizing an expansion, but it has to be smooth and precise.  I can now do both.  Shard is faster, but Ingot is easier and stronger."

"I find that easy things are often less valuable than difficult things, but I'll try to learn both of I can. I'll try the shard version first."

So I try the shard technique, then if I can, I also try the ingot technique.