Absorption and Redirection

The Absorption spell is effective against projectiles, gas, flames, and magical attacks. Essentially, the Absorption spell gives you the ability to either Absorb or Redirect it. Absorbing a solid material, like a bullet or a knife (or gas, or flame), is generally discouraged if you're not experienced in the Absorption field. Absorbing these materials have side effects, which can be positive or negative. But that's if you decide to Absorb it into your body.
You also can Absorb it, and change it to something else. It has to be the same material as whatever you Absorbed. So for instance, if somebody attempted to stab you, you could Absorb their blade and turn it into paper clips and leather strips. Eventually, the effects of whatever you Absorbed will disappear.
In the latter, Redirection is significantly easier. With Redirection, you're able to alter the path of something. Like a missile, or an overhead swing from a battleax. But the faster something moves, the more difficult it is to Redirect since the momentum of the object wants to make it continue in the direction it was going. Redirection can also be used for less dangerous tasks, like making sure you don't get rained on or making a splash of mud veer away from you.
And the great thing about these  is that you're able to target a friend, or a pet, or whatever, as long as you're trying to protect it from harm or death. Unfortunately, the whole Absorption bit doesn't work for your friends. But you can use Redirection to protect them.

Effect

To Absorb something, and gain a fraction of its abilities. To Absorb something and alter its physical construction. And to Redirect something away from the target of the spell.

Side/Secondary Effects

Generally, Redirection itself doesn't warrant many side effects. Some weariness or sluggishness may occur, but it won't be too extreme unless you're attempting to Redirect a big amount of something, or something very large.
Absorption on the other hand, has a higher chance of negative side effects. First though, a few positive effects of a successful Absorption after this short message; fatigue and sluggishness is not uncommon after an especially difficult Absorption.

• Metal - Your skin becomes tougher, and more resistant to sharp objects and such.
• Magic spell - You gain the ability to use a fraction of the power you Absorbed.
• Light - Your skin glows, and you can channel the light into concentrated beams.

And those are just a few of them. Now, for a few of the worse side effects.

• Gas - A botched Absorption would basically be like just breathing in the gas in the first place. Or turn you into gas.
• Fire - Your body instantaneously combusts.
• Metal - Your skin becomes hard, limiting movement (or you turn to metal completely).

And in very serious cases (not that these aren't serious), death would occur.

Manifestation

With Redirection, you commonly use your hands. So the feeling of Redirecting something is described most often as "pins and needles". It's the same thing for Absorption, although the pins and needles feeling is centralized wherever you're Absorbing something into your body.
Redirection, when you can hear it, makes a sort of low humming sound. Absorption is similar, although it sounds more like a wet, squishing, along with the humming.

Source

The ability to cast spells comes solely from your Ether, and your will. A strong will and a good amount of Ether are required in order to be able to cast these spells.

Discovery

Ancient Japan

Material Components

No specific materials are required for Absorption and Redirection. Wearing a certain item to protect against something is possible. Wearing a certain caliber of bullet, a certain type of claws or teeth, a certain type of metal. That sort of thing.

Gestures & Ritual

Absorption doesn't require any large movements or special gestures. It's mainly focus and concentration, with a little emphasis on verbal incantation. There are two different versions of the incantation. You must, however, say the incantation at most 5 seconds before you attempt to Absorp something, or the magic will fail or go wrong.

• Full Absorption - "Dōka, kyūshū, ketsugō." - "Assimilation, absorption, binding."
• Altering Absorption - "Kyūshū, henka, chigai." - "Absorption, change, difference."

Redirection, however, has much more emphasis on moving. There is no verbal incantation, so concentration is key. The movement used is based on the Aikido technique Uke Nagashi Tenkan. In this technique, you deflect from the front, redirecting the attack behind you. However, because you might want to keep whatever is behind you safe, you would do a full 360-degree turn, facing back wherever the attack originated from. Redirection of attacks from the side and behind can also be achieved, although they're much tougher than from the front.

Related Discipline

Aikido

Related School

Abjuration

Effect Duration

Absorption - On average (if the material doesn't kill you), five minutes.

Effect Casting Time

Absorption - Five seconds at most. Redirection - Less than five seconds, although Redirecting something may take longer, depending on the size of the object.

Range

Redirection - The farthest something has been Redirected was at the distance of 100 yards. It should be noted that the object was a baseball, and was only Redirected within 20 feet of its target.

Level

Absorption - four years of magic school, because of how dangerous a failure can be. Redirection - two years at least.

Applied Restriction

Some materials can't be Absorbed. Specifically, items that have been specifically enchanted to prevent Absorption. Some materials are more difficult to Absorb than others.
For Redirection, on the other hand, the larger the object, the more difficult it will be to Redirect. That goes for distance. The accuracy of Redirection diminishes for every 15 feet the object is away. Things can be enchanted to resist Redirection, although that's been made illegal by the League of Sorcerers, ever since the invention of guns.