Ars Magica: Playing with the Mind

Title: Ars Magica: Playing with the Mind (Drabble fic)

Author: Gaia

Rating: PG

Warnings: This is an Alternate Reality fic, sorry, no Hogwarts

Series: Will be apart of the Ars Magica series, once I write the rest

Disclaimers: Sadly, I don't own any of this. The characters belong to JKR and WB. The RPG I am using is by Atlas Games

Summary: Boredom leads to some interesting results in the life of one apprentice.

A/N: This is in response to a bunch of different things. First, the weekly Dictionary Drabble challenge. This one is for malinger: to pretend incapacity (as illness) so as to avoid duty or work. Also, there is some discussion on a different list about the lack of AUs and ARs in the Harry Potter fandom. Since I am probably the self proclaimed High Priestess of AUs (hell I started a list dedicated to them) I felt the need to write some. Then the idea of an RPG I played called Ars Magica came to mind.

Ars Magica takes place in Medieval times but with the additions of mages, fairies, dragons, trolls, and stuff like that. The apprentices spend 15 years in training before they can finally become a mage. Most magic is done without wands. There are 5 techniques and 10 forms that the Hermetics or Mages use in combination to cast a spell. The Techniques are: Creo (I Create), Intellego (I know), Muto (I change), Perdo (I destroy), and Rego (I control). The forms are: Animal, Aquam (water), Auram (air), Corpus (body), Herbam (plants), Ignem (fire), Imaginem (illusions), Mentem (mind), Terram (earth) and Vim (magic). So that is all you basically need to know for this Drabble. So on to the fic.

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Aroldo attempted to read the text he was assigned but the sun was shinning and a warm breeze was flowing off the ocean. *Must concentrate,* he told himself. After a bit the words bleed into one and his eyes started to droop. *This is going no where.*

He gazed out the window, thinking of a way to liven up the day, when an idea stuck him. This book was about the wonderful arts of Mentem, magic of the mind and emotions. Surly his master, Lucio wouldn't mind him play around with this art. Practical application of magic was always encouraged of an apprentice, so attempting a small spell shouldn't cause too many problems.

*Lets see, I know some Creo, which I could create a memory. That could be fun. But then there is Muto...change... hm... This could be interesting. I have been wanting to get a certain individual to see me in a different light.*

He devised a plan to try to get this to work. A very simple spell would change his appearance, gaining a little bit of attention from Lucio. Then he could cast a spell on his master, just a small suggestion could, at least for a little bit, change his master's view of him. He cast a simple spell to change his skin color into purple with orange dots. Feeling a little winded, he sat there until he caught his breath again. Then, he went to the door that separated his chamber from his master's and opened them slightly.

Lucio sat at his table, working on a new spell. Aroldo didn't remember what it was, something about controlling the mind of a non-hermetic, or something like that. He was so lost in thought, scribbling down notes and diagrams, trying to make the connections between the traits that he did not even hear Aroldo open the door. Very quietly, he started the spell, trying to change his master's frustration into lust.

Lucio dropped the quill and looked at the door to see a very frightened face of his apprentice staring back at him. "Aroldo, boy, what in Gods name were you trying to do!"

Looking back at him, Aroldo opened the door all the way and took a few steps into the chamber. "I'm sorry, Master. I don't feel so good" Aroldo held out his hands to show the changes skin.

"Aroldo, how many times have I told you not to go and play around with magic? Come here, boy and lets see what is wrong with you." Looking hurt, Aroldo walked across the room and stood in front of the older mage. Lucio cast the spell that would attempt to identify what was wrong with his apprentice.

"Hm...interesting, I can't identify the spell...must be something low level." He cast a different spell and Aroldo's skin changed back to normal.

"Thank you, Master. Shall I get back to my reading now?"

"Yes, you may. But before you go, please tell me why you were trying to cast a spell on me?"

Aroldo looked scared for a bit and then cursed himself. How could he have been so stupid to think that he, a lowly apprentice could get past the great magical defenses of his master. "I am sorry, Lucio. I wanted to practice what I learned and maybe try to...um...get you to...um...see me as the man I have become, and...um...not the boy you took as an apprentice 7 years ago."

"Well, your spell did not work. I will let you off this time, but mark my words, if you ever try and cast another spell like that on me again, I will have to punish you and seriously think about your apprenticeship."

This hurt Aroldo more than anything could have. He wanted nothing more than to please Lucio. Tears started welling up in Aroldo's eyes. His master could be so harsh sometimes, but that is what he loved most. "But...I love you," he said in barely more than a whisper.

"Speak up, boy."

Aroldo felt the cold gaze of Lucio on him. "I said...I love you."

"You love me, so that is why you tried to trick me instead of just coming out and telling me. Did it ever occur to you that just maybe I had the same feelings for you? Probably not?" Aroldo shook his head. Seeing the hurt in his apprentice's eyes, Lucio lowered his head to lock Aroldo in a kiss. Tongues met in a flurry of wanting and needing, love covering the hurt, sealing the wounds. The kiss deepened slightly until the need for air separated the two.

"Do not get too greedy here. We will talk about this later tonight. I believe you have some studying to do."

"Yes, Master." Feeling proud of himself, Aroldo walked back to his chambers and continued dreaming about Lucio's lips on his.

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