[Memory] You roll an 18 (required 10). Success!

After thinking it over, you decide to study the Protect spell. You figure that beyond its versatility, learning new runes might grant you further insight into the arcane. And so, you go back to the earlier spell's chapter.

As before, the chapter begins by introducing a few runes. This spell's subject rune is Aer, much like the Camouflage spell of the same level, meaning that the target is a pocket of air. The intention, however, is different: rather than the inside of the bubble, this spell targets its surface.

Without a specified location, the spell's origin defaults to the caster's own centre of magic, and as such, no conjunction is required. This phenomenon is described as the Law of Magic Relativity.

The other runes are unfamiliar to you yet. The aspect rune, Vis, refers to a subject's physical energy which, given a direction, translates to movement. It is noted that while this rune is part of the instinctual spell Telekinesis, it may not always be so intuitive to weave into other spells.

Fortunately, you are reading a spellbook for beginners, and the current application is simple enough. In this case, it is bound to the command rune Sisto, which nullifies a given aspect from the subject.

When arranged together using the proper magic circles, tristars and interflows, the result is a force field which, when struck by an object in motion, absorbs its energy. The spell's magic cost is proportional to the amount of energy absorbed by the impact.

As you read the spell's instructions from one page to the next, you begin to recognize certain patterns you've seen before. The chaotic runic geometry is, after all, the language of the arcane, and you have been repeating some of its essential phrases.

You barely notice Moonflower sneak into the room until you are showered in sleepy hugs. Taking the hint, you soon settle into bed with the bat pony — though even once the candles are blown out, you find yourself still reading the spell over in your mind...

You learn Protect!

A new day nears dawn upon the coastal village of Shui-Ti. The moon shines brightly in the starlit sky as a light ocean breeze follows calm waves to shore. You wake up after a good night's sleep, disoriented by the nightly darkness.

Moonflower: "Mmh... is it mornin'?"

Honourshine: "Seems so. Good morning, you two."

You greet your friends, and tell them that it should be daylight within the hour; that is when you arrived the day before, you recall. Either way, your pocket watch indicates nine o'clock somewhere in the world. Time to get rolling!