Both Jennifer and Karyn looked at each other and then towards Helia. Karyn chose to speak first.
"What kind of offer?" She asked.
Helia smiled "A kind that would allow you to learn magic." She said to Karyn with a smile. "First, I will tell you that ways to grant magic power to normal humans were researched in the past. There are a few and some of them are of... questionable nature." She started her explanation.
Karyn "I would imagine we are not going to consider those, then. So, what are our options?"
Helia smiled "Well, like I said - there are quite a few ways. The one I would like to offer to help with in your case is Pactio." She started her explanation. "In simple terms Pactio is a kind of agreement between magic user and another person. It is a kind of master-servant relationship. At least originally." She paused "It was developed by western mages a long time ago. The purpose was to provide a mage with a sort of close combat support while a mage would cast spells. The mage gets protection, while the servant would receive a limited use of magic in a sort of enhancement and would also get personalized magic artefact." Helia paused "At least that is the case in the most common form of pactio - temporary pactio. I suppose you could see it as mage contracting a bodyguard that would protect him or her from dangers."
Jennifer frowned a bit "I don't really like this. I don't want Karyn to be like a servant. We are equals."
Karyn looked at Jennifer with a smile "I agree with Jennifer." "Even if I would not really mind it, if it means I can protect her." She thought to herself.
Helia nodded "Thought you two will think so. As such I don't actually suggest the two of you to use temporary pactio." She smirked "I suggest you use a permanent one."
Jennifer blinked a bit "What is a difference? It kinda sounds like temporary would last just some amount of time while permanent would last until well... one of partners perishes..." She said with a frown.
Helia nodded "You are correct about the length of contract. But permanent pactio is much more than that." She started. "Then the Pactio system got created it was quick success. A lot of mages started using it. In fact it is often used to this day as well. But once partnerships developed more, some of the partners would fell in love with each other. For some master-servant relationship of pactio did not feel right just like for you. As such a certain mage improved upon the pactio system and created a permanent type of pactio - Extremus Pactio." She paused "This kind of pactio is usually used by lovers. It is a formalizing of bond between two persons. Both of the people involved receive equal rights. It is no longer a relationship of master-servant. It is a relationship of partners." She smiled "Both of the people would receive a unique magical artefact each from this. But that is not the important part. The important part is that the person who has no magic potential would get an ability to use magic." She smirked "And before you ask - no it would not harm the person with magic potential. It is not quite well understood how it happens, but this sort of pact is able to create a miracle of granting someone magic who would not have it otherwise." She paused "It is, however, not a guarantee that the pactio would awaken a magic potential in another. There are documented cases when it did not happen. It is believed that the chance for it to happen depends on a strength of the bond between two partners." She smiled "I believe in your case it is almost a guarantee."
Both Jennifer and Karyn listened for explanation in attention and looked at each other for a bit. Karyn then turned towards Helia. "I think I can speak for both of us that this kind of... pactio does sound like good option."
Jennifer nodded "Yeah. Though I do have a question - what is exactly involved in the forming of this pactio?"
Helia smiled "It is actually quite easy. Which was one of the reasons why this got so popular. A special magic circle needs to be drawn. In a case of permanent pactio it is bit more complicated circle than in normal one. Apart from that, once circle is drawn it is charged with magic power. Then the people who wish to form the pactio stand in the middle of it and seal the deal. Sometimes it is done in form of blood oath, but usually it is sealed with a kiss." She giggled.
Karyn blinked "Really? A kiss and - bam. I could use magic?" Jennifer did not seem like she believed it either.
Helia giggled "Not all magic requires complicated incantations, rituals or rare ingredients. In case of pactio - a circle and a kiss is enough." She chuckled "It is really quite an ingenious system."
Karyn nodded "Okay, think it is definitely an option we can go for. Though I would like to hear if there are any other viable options."
Jennifer nodded in agreement with her girlfriend.
Helia nodded "Fair enough." She paused "Well, the easily available one is to use the magic artefact in Jennifer's possession to grant you a magic potential. There are dangers involved with a wish, but with careful wording it is not impossible." She thought some more. "In the past there were attempts to use essences of magical creatures and implant them into humans to grant humans magic powers. Those attempts got mixed successes and would often change humans to be more like the creatures involved. Needless to say - depending on creature used for this it could have very bad results." She paused. "The only other way I can think of that you would actually consider involves lots of pain and would grant you a really small magic potential. It would take you a long time to do even simplest of spells." She shrugged "That is all I can think off. All other ways are of more questionable and forbidden variety."
Jennifer and Karyn nodded in understanding and looked at each other quietly discussing which option to pick.
