It's been a short while since Jan Ren had settled in Fiore, and even shorter since joining Blue Pegasus. Though with recent activities experienced, besides numerous sights seen and people met, he'd come to learn some things about the country. For the most part it was the abundance of people who relied on guilds for help, having been requested quite a lot of times for such a short stay. With this realization in mind, it was clear that staying the way he was, simply wouldn't cut it. He needed to get good, to get better and fast. If not for the aforementioned, there was that bettering oneself was all his new home was about. As such, Jan has decided to make a trip to Hargeon's Lighthouse. One of the spots he realized would be less frequently visited, where he could be alone for a bit.

Legs dipped in the water, clothes neatly folded over a nearby rock as to keep them as dry as possible, hair tied with the red band he kept at his wrist for these moments; Jan stationed himself by the cliffside. Finding a spot of shallow waters in which he could stand, and still practice his magic with the deeper levels. Yes, today's practice was about his magic power. Being a Water mage meant a place with a big body of water was ideal for him. If he could get more adept with his magic, his reputation would grow, and as such Blue Pegasus'. Ergo, more people would turn to them for help. And above all else --

A better reputation means a great start with the ladies. There was NOTHING to lose from this!

Focusing his magic power around his body as the magic circle slowly swirled under his legs, a few drops of sweat rolled down the Sinese's body before the magical energy dissipated in his eventual release. "Alright... I think I've warmed up enough. Let's get down to business."

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WC: 325

Magic Power already gathered in his body, Jan concentrated deeply as he crouched his knees some, leaning back a little as he centered his weight on his thighs; arms both stretched out forward, palms wide open. Aimed at the sea in-front of him as through his magic, he made the water rise a bit. The most basic form of Water Magic: Hydrokinesis. "That fish..." He mused, recollecting his fight with the monstrous fish. To anyone happening to evesdrop, it may have been nothing but weird, off-context.

He recalled the inconvenience he had fighting it; the creature was large, a little too big for a mere fish. Whatever bait that fisherman had decided to use to reel in something that impressive, must be the cause. ...Hopefully. Because if not, that meant these beasts were lurking in the waters even now. If that was the case, Jan needed to broaden his horizons when it came to his spells. His arsenal was at the moment, still rather shallow; consisting of barely some offensive options and a gimmick. He needed something better, and the man he was today was capable of coming up with the sufficient idea for that.

"...A wall..." That's what he needed. A reliable wall to block out incoming attacks. Like that fish. He spiked his magic power, concentrating it on the small piece he lifted off the ocean, trying to swirl it around. It responded accordingly, spinning some; but the amount was, unimpressive to say the least. The Sinese continued to pour his magic into the improvised spell, trying his best to get a successful try off this mishmash of last-minute need and idea.

"There!!" He yelled out, throwing his arms up to the air as he forced the body of water to swirl faster, raising more of the ocean's water to interwine with the already floating piece. It spun aggressively, forming the shape of a whirlpool in the air. Swirling violently, though recklessly as it didn't take long until it... Dispersed, blowing up in midair and splashing everywhere. "Ack!..." Oof... That started out right, but seems like it'll take a little longer to fully utilize this idea. Regardless of this single failure, a smile rose to the Sinese' face. There was a clue there!

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Spell Trained:

So for now he had the general idea down. He had the form he wanted to perform envisioned in his mind, and could pretty much draw out the necessary magic power required to make it a reality. Current question was however, how to make sure it stays in place long enough. On a second try, the same result happened; the whirlpool in the air spun violently and Jan found himself unable to maintain its form for long enough. The same happened on the third try, and the young man finally fell down on his behind, panting out as fatigue from exerting magic power for that long got to him. Time to take a break.

...So what was missing? It really shouldn't have been that difficult to pull off. He took his sweet time thinking, closing his eyes and meditating; legs fully soaked in seawater as the chilly sensation cooled his body off, contrasting with the sun's warm spring rays. "(A vortex... Rising vortex... In one of Sha's old texts, it detailed that streams of water are just currents. Swirling currents...) So maybe it doesn't have to be that big?" He mused to himself in thought, few minutes after assuming his resting position.

True, size would only make for more exertion of his magic, and could be surprisingly flawed. In the first place, he was still relatively new to all of this. Concentrating again several minutes after taking a rest, Jan stood up as he formed the same position, this time focusing his magic power out of his body; a meter away as the magic circle appeared on the water's surface. "Let's go."

He slowly raised his hand up to his head's level, palm facing up to the sky. Gradually, the water exited through the magic circle, already taking the shape of a whirlpool, sustained in the air. Steady, steady. Don't lose your composure. Hold it as it is. Mentally standing on his point and goal, Jan struggled to keep the whirlpool's shape consistent through a solid minute before finally smirking to himself, releasing control as the current calmed down, falling limply to water surface.

He pumped his fist in, drops of sweat rolling off his form. "Yes!!" That's one done!

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Spell Trained:

Up next on the list...

Adrenaline pumping through as Jan was filled with a sense of accomplishment, the young man had thought to himself. If he could improve his fighting power, he could more easily complete more dangerous requests. You know... The likes of, fighting giant fish. Though he wasn't an upfront fighter by any means, and had a complete aversion to pain... Jan could still work with his magic in that department. Not to boost his self in any way, but certainly to improve on his signature attack.

And what would that be?

"Shot Drop!" The Sinese declared, having already assumed the right position. Hand shaping a gun, the magic circle appeared at his fingertip as he fired away a small drop of water, moving like a bullet. Aiming at one of the rocks he could spot in his vicinity. Though the drop dispersed into nothing before it could reach its target. ...There's problem number one.

With his lack of experience, reaching a far-away target is but a vision. Sure, he could shoot stuff from a small distance away and probably hit his mark while at it... But if he wasn't so close to his target in the first place, the Sinese would have never hit the Beast he'd come to encounter a while back. As such, more practice was in need.

"Shot!!" He announced, firing again, though reaching the same end result. And again, and again, and again. But this time, it wasn't a matter of finding a different way to shoot, no. All his shots were done the same way, and all he wanted to get was a better result. And much like a muscle consistently built through repetition and tension, this process took similar procedure.

In other words... Jan was going to shoot as many times as he needed until he became satisfied. Or, until he dropped from exhaustion.

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Spell Trained:

He fired. Again, and again, and again. Non-stop for over three minutes, feeling the exhaustion building up gradually as he began panting, having to draw out even more magic power with every shot. Doing this consecutively sure wasn't easy, but the means were worth the ends. He took a short, five minute's rest to regain his compsture; hair already disheveled despite being tied, as such Jan used the water to sleeken it back, redoing the styling. By the end of his rest, he once again sprung back to his feet and prepared to get in proper stance.

Somehow, he didn't feel too well.

Another shot, and another, and another. Consecutively, without stopping (with as little delay between shots as he could muster). Another three minutes, and after a short rest, another minute--

And he fell down. Unconscious, at last; the Sinese' body grew too wary to support his focus, magic power running out completely as he ignored the ill feeling overcoming him. Maybe he was too determined to keep going? Either way... He wasn't getting up now. Eyes closed, "Drat..." Jan accepted his fate and allowed himself to rest, basking in the sun's rays as the water around engulfed his form.

...

--When he came to, Jan realized he's been washed away from his previous spot, by some miracle having ended up in some cave, possibly a hidden spot under the lighthouse's cliffs. He felt a little hungry, though well-rested. He wasn't too sure for how long he's been out, though fact was that he wasn't... Preyed upon, by any animal nearby. Which on itself was good enough!

Springing back on his feet, Jan chastised himself for being careless. One ought to think about resting while practicing as well, or he'd experience the burn again. Getting in proper position, the Water Mage once again initiated magic power through his body, a magic circle appearing by his fingertip. "Shot Drop!!" His voice echoed in the cave as he aimed at a nearby wall.

This bullet, however, finally reached its mark. Face lightened in glee as his training (and rest) paid off, Jan excitedly shot another bullet, and another. All three piercing through the stone wall. This marked the Improved Shot Drop! "...Qang."

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Spell Trained:

So far, so good. With a new location set (a little troublesome seeing how his clothes were now missing) and two spells already under his belt, Jan took another turn to more diversity. He had to broaden his style if he was to become a better wizard, as having to stick with a single form would just label him a one-trick pony.

Shaping water was where he was aiming at. With the ocean connected to the waters that led to the cave, Jan had room to practice hydrokinesis even in a place like this. Immediately beginning to concentrate his magic power in his hands as he, faster than before, managed to move the water around, trying to maneuver a stream of water he 'borrowed' from the ocean to fit the shape he envisioned in his mind. He played with it for a small bit, shaping it around; stretching, shrinking. Lenghening and rounding, swirling around. Sloppily so, but still enough to get enough practice; familiarizing himself with the procedure needed to shape the waters, more than just randomly searching for a suitable shape.

Twisting and turning the liquid around, Jan had finished by assuming a calm position, allowing the water stream to fall down to the ocean again. He's got an idea through this rather short experience, and while he was far from mastering water-shaping to his liking, he still had a solid idea of how he wanted to form the next spell on the list. Dealing just with shape wasn't the only element, but to make sure it worked out, he needed to at least get that part right. As such,

Jan began by focusing his magic power in his palms once again, a magic circle appearing as he opened his palm. He was in control. Thrusting a single hand forward, the other clenched in a fist, the Sinese fired outward a single stream of water, shaping it like a donut. Or, well, a cuff. A short while after generating the stream into reality and making sure he perfected its shape and control, the spell was undone, and the young man was ready to begin with phase three.

"One is good, but... Not enough."

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Spell Trained:

While he wasn't a master of shaping just yet, he was rather adept with the skill. Though, such only applied to a single body of water at the moment, it seemed. And just a single one wasn't enough, for his current level. He needed to improve further, and that'd be why... He tried to use two. Shocking!!

Assuming the same position. Jan once again drove magic power through his arm as he thrust it forward again, expelling two streams of water out of it, though ultimately failing as they collided with each other and dispersed into the ground. "...Well."

Round two! With the same motion, Jan concentrated on trying to move the waters slower this time. Expelling two streams of water from his palm as he tried controlling their movements with his fingers, though again to no avail. The inevitable collision once again caught him off-guard, and before he could properly shape the two they canceled each other out. After another failed attempt at even slower speed, the Sinese concluded that the issue was not in controlling the trajectory (though there was that too), but rather in something else.

creak.

If he understood the procedure properly, he could shape each of those separately or together, to satisfactory levels. So maybe... If he didn't treat the two as two but rather one-- No, that's stupid. He was already including both under the same notion. Then, what if control of the spell itself was the issue?

For the fourth time, deciding it to be the last before quitting back to the sketching board, Jan initiated the spell once more. Two streams of water steadily expelled from his palm, though this time he sped it up for as fast as he could. Once the two streams inevitably collided however, the Sinese focused his concentration to interwine the two into a single wave; then separate them as they finished their course, splashed into nothing as soon as they turned out of the water mage's range.

And that, concluded the solution to this minor issue. With phase three complete, Jan was ready with yet another spell in his arsenal.

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Spell Trained:

Now with some ideas to work with, Jan figured if he continued to practice for the remainder of the day at least, that would be just good enough. He had to stay mindful of his magic reserves and fatigue levels, having already collapsed once already. Who knows if the next time would end the same way... or if he'd turn into fish food. ...Worst case scenario.

creak.

Typically, the Sinese didn't view himself as a fighter. He wasn't one for violence, unlike a certain blue wolf he got to meet. So the truest form of magic he'd go with, would easily be one he was comfortable using. "My Bullets should suffice in that aspect, at least..." He started, voicing out his thoughts to better define them for himself; "...But it doesn't feel right, after all. Heheh, I'm not made to be the badass-type, huh." A heartbreaking realization for some, easily so. Perhaps even for Jan himself.

But being down or focusing on the negatives will forever be just the catalyst for self-improvement; not the cause or the way for it. "So... Stick to what you know, huh. Alright!" With some newly acquired determination, swallowing his sadness down, the naked man quickly reassumed his position. Widening his stance for better stability as he held his arms a tad away from his body. Focus interrupted with a sneeze. Well, it was chilly in here... And he had close to no clothes on. Better get this done quickly or he'll freeze next!

creak.

"Liquid Leecher!" Yep, the one spell he felt comfortable using, just so happened to be arguably the most disturbing one. The few water bodies expelled from his hand took an undefined shape, as the Sinese used his control to manipulate and move them around. At dipping his own finger in one such a piece, Jan failed to restrain the discomfort his expression showed. Requiring more time than he wanted just to get it out. "Ugh... ...Yeah, something like that." That's your direction this time?

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Spell Trained:

creak.

With the idea set, Jan began formulating his new plan. Just a numbing feeling to delay escape and general discomfort, wasn't going to cut it. It may have been funny in retrospect to afflict people with wet disturbance, but in a real life scenario, what good did it bring? He needed more than just making people uncomfortable (although that, on itself, was a must too)!

creak, creak.

If he poured more magic power into it and perhaps changed the property, that might work. Jan began generating the familiar spell once more, though the water he drew from his hand appeared darker. He'd have to test it one way or another, simply changing aesthetic amounts to nothing as well (besides a nice bluff). And as there wasn't any living creature to try is on, Jan decided to take the blow himself. Dunking his hand into the water as he felt a sharp jolt run up his spine, discomfort ensuing a second later. He could feel physically weaker, as if he had to stay on high alert about his hand.

Though it wasn't exactly enough. He felt like he could still take another step forward with this move.

... creak, creaaak. rumble...!!

"--Ow." Suddenly, the Sinese was hit with a pebble, on the top of the head. It fell to his hand, rather gracefully. As Jan finally noticed the rumbling sounds, sand falling down from above. As he raised his head to look up, his face went pale. The ceiling was literally crumbling above him! From those three shots from earlier!? "Really!!? For that reason!!?" This wasn't even funny, he could die in here!

On immediate cue, Jan moved to make a run for it, but the ceiling was fast to break. As the Sinese found himself in the path of a giant boulder, threatening to squash him should he let it. This was... Far, far from ideal.

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Spell Trained:

With the giant boulder posing an immediate threat on the Sinese's life, if it simply wasn't going to gravely injure him, time seemed to slow down for Jan as he went into panic. Blood rushing, adrenaline booming in his body as he was sure he would die, if he didn't do anything. But with so little time to react, what could he really do?

This surge of panic was just enough to spark him to act without thinking. He was already doing something a moment before this happened; it wasn't the best of ideas, but in his lack of those, what else could he resort to?

A magic circle formed in Jan's palm as he overcharged his palms with his magic power, shooting out on cue streams of water that would leech at the falling rock. ...It didn't serve to stop it at all!! The pool simply sat there, straight under the boulder as it came down ever closer, all in the span of several seconds. "Aaaah!!!"

He yelled out in fear; closing his eyes and bracing for impact as he raised his hands in a desperate attempt to maybe hold the rock off. Surprisingly, his palms collided with the boulder and on impact... The rock broke.

Shattered in half as Jan struck at the pool he panicly formed, it appeared as though that spell really did something. "...OWWW!!!" ...But it didn't make him take the hit any better.

With the rumbling still going on, the Sinese ran out of the cave, back outside to seawater. For one extra moment, the Water Mage managed to grab another large rock from inside the cave. He once again got in stance, magic circle forming from his (pained) palm as he threw the rock in the air, generating some bodies of water to engulf around the piece. If he speculated right, what should have happened when he did was...

...As expected. When raised to hit the rock, it simply broke into pieces as the spell dispersed. Exhaustion soon followed. "Phew..." He wasn't going to allow himself to faint again, but it was clear he was running out of magic power yet again. "Maybe this spell is a little more taxing than the rest... ...I'd better use it carefully."

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Spell Trained: