First Lesson: AI Generated Art 2

^Some more AI Generated Comic Book Style Artwork of Ciara's first lesson in magic. Pros: Ciara is wearing her signature secondhand hoodie in some of the new pics. Cons: AI accidentally made the wizard a redhead as well lol.

Edit: Added dialogue from the First Lesson by @AzuraNyx into the 3rd and 4th image.

Episode 2.8: Faerie Princess

"My grandmother had written in her diary that our ancestors were once the royal family of the Tuatha Dé Danann. So, I guess that technically makes me a faerie princess." You let out a frustrated groan, visualizing yourself dressed as a faerie princess. "Damn it!"

"Faeries aren't like what Disney tells you, kid." The Englishman offered wryly. "Try reading the old tales. The original fairytales… before they got sanitized for kids. But truth be told, most of the Tuatha de Danann relocated to Tír na nÓg, leaving behind only a handful of Apostles. You could very well be the last direct descendant of Danu on earth, explaining why I had no choice but to answer your summon."

Come with me Tir na Nog. The words echoed in your mind, the ones you heard when you first touched the book that opened portals into other worlds. Could it have been Danu herself? The pieces of the puzzle started to fall in place, painting a picture that confirmed your grandmother's sanity, even though everyone had believed her to be insane.

"Since you have experience dabbling in the occult, could you teach me how to use my powers?" You asked the 'wizard' with a hint of hesitation in your voice.

"I could probably give you some pointers." The Englishman's gaze was steady. "But only because I'd rather you didn't end up dead or cause any more collateral damage."

"That will be enough." You nodded, and that was how you landed yourself your first magic teacher.

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"First lesson, kid, names have power." The Englishman said. "What you're doing now is the equivalent of throwing a hook out to sea and seeing what's willing to bite, or get hooked and pulled your way, as the case may be."

After the initial introduction, the rough-looking English wizard had decided you needed some magic lessons so you didn't accidentally summon some demon you couldn't control and get yourself or anyone around you killed. You decided not to bring up Evil Herbie's wild night on the town again.

"You may have gotten lucky so far, just pulling small fry and a nice guy like me your way. But you keep trying that and one day you'll land something you can't control or reason with. That's why names are so important. With names, you can summon specific beings, bind them, direct them, or bargain if you're desperate enough. Banish them if you called something you still can't control."

"So, what's your name then?"

"Ha, second lesson, kid, never just give anyone your name. Not unless you're strong enough for it not to matter. And there are beings so powerful that just having their name won't be enough. But it'll help."

"So you won't just tell me your name. Then how am I supposed to get the names of my other summons?"

"Summon something nicer than me and something who wants to be called back here, or blackmail them, or trick them, or hell, make them your friend who wants to see you again. Power of friendship and all that jazz."

You grit your teeth before pulling the frustration back. You were popular; you were well-liked by most of your peers and teachers; even your shitty boss liked you. Befriend demons, fairies, and whatever else your portals managed to snag or trick them into thinking they liked you enough to tell you their name, why the hell not? Something to aim for, an option maybe. It wasn't great but more than you had now anyway. It still didn't help you direct the type of being your portals and the book brought your way.

"So that could maybe help, assuming I summon something willing or stupid enough to tell me its name. What about controlling what my power summons if I don't have a name? You know, so I don't accidentally summon a big bad demon with a taste for human flesh."

"Pray," the jerk said with a smile as he took another drag of his cigarette.

"Really? That's the best you have."

"Okay, try being better at being a mage. Is that helpful?" He turned his back to you as he ground his cigarette under his heel and searched his coat for a second and a light.

"No, the best advice I've heard yet, really. 'Get good.' Why didn't I think of that?" You leaned against a nearby tree and crossed your arms.

"Alright, alright, don't get your panties in a twist. If you don't have a name, have at least a focus."

"What, like a magic wand?" you scoffed. "Should I also don a frilly magical girl costume and get a cute mascot to complete the look?"

"Cute. If that's what you need to feel like a superhero, knock yourself out. But that's not what I mean. A focus or a talisman can narrow down that net you're casting. It might not get you what you are looking for, but it could knock out some of what you're not. Something that resonates with what you're summoning. A sword for a fighter, a holy book for an angel, that sort of thing."

"A pack of smokes for you?"

"Ha, still hung up on that, kid?" He chuckled, shaking his head. "I've already told you, I'm not here to be at your beck and call."

"But you can help me. You're giving me advice now. I wouldn't call on you to fight for me, but I do need help. I know I don't know what I'm doing. But I'm not going to stop, not when I have the power to help, to actually do something, and make a difference in this shithole."

"Yes, the power to get yourself killed and take a lot of innocent people with you if you aren't careful," he retorted, his eyes suddenly stern.

"Which you can help me with! You've said so yourself, you know what you're doing, I don't! So please, I'm asking, help me. I can't make you, don't know how to, and I'm also not trying to. I'm asking here. Help me be better."

"Christ, kid, you really are asking the wrong person here. But I'm not a charity or your fairy godparent. If I give you a way to reach me, then you'll owe me. Got that?"

"I got it. If that's what it takes to get better, to learn how to control my power, then fine, I owe you. Where do we start?"

"First things first, kid," he said, leaning back against the gnarled trunk of an ancient tree. "You tell me your name, and I'll tell you mine. Then we can see where to go from there."

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[] Tell him your real name.
[] Give him a fake name.
[] Refuse to give your name.
[] Ask him to call you Apostle.
[] Write-In.