Ruger realized that many spells worked this way. Weakening them step by step was another form of modification. Modifying a spell did not necessarily mean making it stronger; selectively weakening it was also a standard method. Normal Spirit Awakening, for instance, was far beyond a Wizard Apprentice's reach. But by weakening its awakening effect, restricting its targets to fur, and incorporating a few other elements, Spirit Fur Nourishment had ultimately been created, bringing it within an apprentice's grasp. True Spirit Awakening, after all, worked on far more than fur.
Ruger had no idea exactly how much the awakening effect had been weakened, but he had heard of the spell back in Burning Blood City. After obtaining Spirit Fur Nourishment, he had also discussed it with Uncle Lunse, the old dog-headed man. Apparently, Spirit Awakening was inherently full of uncertainty-or rather, awakening a spirit was itself an unreliable business. Lunse had told him about a treasured sword, a knight's weapon given to him by his father. It had remained by the knight's side through blood and glory, through his darkest hours and betrayals, and had never left him even after he became a powerful Wizard many years later. The various spells that Wizard excelled at also revolved around swords. One day, on a whim, the Wizard decided he wanted to chat with his sword, so he went and learned Spirit Awakening. Before he even finished casting it, however, he discovered that his old companion had long since awakened its own spirit. It had simply never bothered to speak to him, and even thought his hands smelled bad and the creases in his palms were a little rough.
Ruger looked at the tufts of fur he was toying with.
As far as he could tell, these smooth little things, which had come