out of the fire

[Talon]

D A E M O N

Ash 15, 122

Talon kept his touch light as he worked to paint upon Mathias back. He was in the process of creating a Glyph that extended up and down the young man’s spine. The brush that he was using was one that had a simple aetherite dragonshard affixed to the end but it was all that he needed. He dipped the tip into the well of spellwright’s ink that was beside him.

“So, tell me why I am getting a magic tattoo again?” Talon smirked.

“Because our newfound companion is a Mesmer.” He created a line of ink that followed the curvature of the young man’s spine. With the expanse of Mathias aura and his internal aetheric pathways open to him, it was easy to find and paint where those aether channels were strongest. He was being very careful to construct the sigil so that it complimented the flow of power that naturally wove itself into the young man’s body.

“What is that?” Mathias turned his head slightly, the look of curiosity on his face showcasing his interest. Mathias had a deeper fascination with magic than most. He had been surprised at how eager the young man had been to learn more about it. It should not have been surprising, with the rune of Semblance sitting directly between Mathias shoulder blades, his interest in magic should have been apparent to him. He painted a circle around that rune and began branching his sigil outward from it so that the ward he was constructing worked in tandem with Mathias aura.

“In its simplest description, it is telepathy. The power to read minds and also to influence or even control them.” Mathias stiffened slightly at the description.

“That sounds dangerous.” He was glad the young man had the wisdom to understand its danger. He nodded, even though Mathias could not see the action. He brought his brush up and joined together a few more lines of the glyph that he was creating.

“It can be. It can also be a great boon. I have known Mesmers who have done great good. Healers who specialize in the diseases of the mind who spend their days working to combat these unseen ailments. Men and women who work diligently to defeat insanity and cure forms of madness or even assist others in dealing with mental trauma. Mesmer is a tool, just like all other magic. It is the wielder who determines whether that tool is being used for good or ill.” He completed his pictograph and set his brush down.

“You know, this would be a lot easier if you just gave me the rune.” Mathias spoke and he could hear the near pout in his squire’s voice. He chuckled.

“In due time, Mathias. Now hold still.” He placed his hands on the young man’s back and touched upon the powers of Negation. He brought the full expanse of both Mathias aura and his internal aetheric pathways into his view. Steadily he began feeding an anchor into the heart of the glyph that he had created between Mathias shoulder blades and along his spine. As it spread outward, he funneled the power into the pathways leading up to the young man’s mind. Carefully he cloaked them in a layer of protective magic instilled with the purpose of blocking and deflecting probes into Mathias thoughts. The incident the night prior had made him realize that he needed to more carefully guard both of their minds against intrusion from external forces. He reinforced that protection so that if one layer was breached, another would spring up in place with greater force. Weaving the Negation across the web of Mathias aura, he stitched it into place so that it blended in with the deeper layers of the aura so that outwardly it would not appear as though there was a barrier around Mathias mind in place.

Using his mastery of Semblance, Talon obscured the presence of the protective ward. When he was satisfied it was firmly in place, he removed his hands. The pictograph upon Mathias back gained an opalescent sheen as it absorbed and worked to maintain the magic.

“I will need to renew this every week.” He rose to his feet, collecting his scrivening supplies and depositing them back into his featherlight bag.

“The ink won’t run?” Mathias twisted around as though the act of doing so would enable him to see the pictograph that had been put in place.

“It is enchanted ink. It will remain in place until the power within it fades. It is not powerful enough to keep out a master, we do not have the time for me to construct such a glyph at the moment. It should be enough to deter most others, however.” He stretched, instinctively arching his back and waiting for the mental feeling of stretching his wings. The absence of them made him blink as he realized he had been waiting for that feeling. He shook his head.

“Come. It is time for breakfast. Gather your things, I expect we may not be returning here tonight.” He stepped out into the hall then went downstairs to find a table. Once he had found one, he procured some food for himself and his companion. He was just sitting down when Mathias joined him. The two of them began eating in comfortable silence as Talon set about observing the occupants of the room.

[Aeros]

TIMESTAMP: -
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As one would expect, the inn did, in fact, carry alcohol. When making his purchase, Æros did his level best to not look like a desperate alcoholic, and either it worked or the barkeep didn't care. Some had morals, so it was best not to look like too much of an addict lest they decline to serve you. While such a thing was somewhat rare, when one is as needy as Æros was, one must take every possible precaution; after all, being denied when that close would be agony. He stayed down at the bar for a good hour or so as the alcohol they kept wasn't as strong as he was used to, but in the end, it did its job and the half-elf felt monumentally better, though he still had another problem to remedy.

By now, the sun had completely set and the cold of a desert's night fell upon the city. For the Winter Fæ, he did not mind even when wearing little. Rather, he found it refreshing as compared to the curse of daylight hours. He wandered for a bit looking for establishments of a certain nature, trying to hazard a guess at precisely which one would contain somebody in possession of his quarry.

It took a few stops before he'd hit his mark. With a combination of sweet words, the fact that he was walking starlight, and the occasional flex of his social power and wealth, he found it simple to manipulate most folk into both directing him where to go and to give him what he wanted. He had zero qualms in lying to any of them, either. A few false promises, a flick of his aether here and there, and he'd come across a woman who had a lot of that which he desired.

Using his Overture as he did with the others up until this point, he felt the familiar reverberations of curiosity, interest and attraction. Such melodies were pleasing to him and the song played was both as comfortable as it was common. With Tuning, he made her attraction to him stronger while simultaneously Composing a series of new melodies– trust, comfort, affection– to add to her Symphony as the night went on.

He spoke to her as if he wasn't in hot water with his family, as if everything was fine, and as if he had taken a genuine interest in her. He'd even used his injuries to weave a very sorrowful tale to garner sympathy, which he then heighted with Tuning. This wasn't a short conversation, no, and the reason for this is because he didn't want to have to go out constantly for a fix. He spent a rather questionable amount of time with this woman, in truth, but sometimes to accomplish one's goals one must be patient.

Though he, of course, was paying little attention to the time, he did not leave this woman's place of residence until an hour or so past midnight. Having waited for her to fall asleep, he slunk away with what one could consider to be a dragon's hoard of several different things and he sure felt great!

It was not difficult to make his way back to the inn from which he'd departed, and once he did, he went back to his room at a quick clip and promptly went to sleep. Though his bruises still lingered, he'd managed to strike off the maladies that had haunted him for the past few days. And for that, he was grateful.

….to himself.

……….

When he awoke the next day, he felt refreshed. Æros was a bit lazy about getting ready but nevertheless, it did not take long. With languid steps, the half-elf made his way down into the common area of the inn wherein he spotted the two he'd met the day before. Suppose it would make sense they'd have gotten up and down here before him, really, given the time at which he actually went to sleep.

With a smooth, poised gait his movement was as fluid and graceful as one would expect from a man of such grand appearance. Joining his newfound companions, he greeted them.

"Early risers, then, hm?" Looking now towards Mathias, "I don't believe I had the chance to catch your name?" His voice was much cleaner, lacking the almost feral sort of rasp he had the night before.

He also wasn't sweating, shaking, or nearly as depressed and aggravated as the day before. The færie appeared serene, quite happy, really. Such a thing was more than just appearances, too. He genuinely felt that way because he considered the large man before him to be something of a…business venture, and from what he'd seen, it would certainly be a lucrative one. This should be perceived as a good thing, but it would be an extremely strong contrast to how he'd acted the night before.

- - -

'Thoughts'

"Vallenor Tongue/Speech"

"Vastien Tongue/Speech"

"Valasren Tongue/Speech"

"Common Tongue/Speech"

[Talon]

D A E M O N

Down the stairs and into the room, Aeros walked. He approached their table with a bit of a swagger to his step and far more color in his features than had been present the night before. Talon briefly wondered if it had something to do with a delayed aspect of the necromancer’s care or if it was something about the man himself. Regardless, Aeros was in a far better mood from the looks of it. When the man looked to Mathias, his squire looked to him. He gave him a nod.

“Mathias.” He offered with a bit of a smile. The youth had managed to put on a bit of weight since his time in Gel’Grandal. He still was not near the size and bulk of Talon but he no longer had the look of a young man who had been starved. His hair was brown and came down to his neck. His eyes were a bright sky blue. He looked to be a human who was either nearing his eighteenth year or who had just reached it. The young man scooted his chair closer to Talon, making room for Aeros. Talon slid a third plate over the table, toward Aeros.

“It is still warm. We have not been here long.” Talon resumed eating, spearing a piece of sausage with his fork. He had enough on his plate for what could have easily been two grown men and he clearly had no difficulty eating it. When Aeros assumed his seat, Talon spoke to him.

“Where do we begin?” He looked up at Aeros, pinning him with a stare as he recalled their conversation from the night before. He was not sure how much of it the other man would remember but he would jog his memory if the need for it arose. If Aeros wanted him to impress him with his skills, he would do so. It was as good an option as any.

“You wish for me to perform? Do you know where this is to take place?”

[Aeros]

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Passing his gaze between the two men before him, it was somewhat obvious that Mathias was closer to his age than Daemon was. It wasn’t as if the larger of the pair looked old at all, rather, he just appeared more world weary than the smaller one. While Mathias was probably younger, he looked to still be in his teens, Æros himself had just turned twenty-one. Actually, he’d done so five days ago and it was very likely the kick-off to the worst series of days this sheltered young patrician had experienced thus far.

“Lovely to make your acquaintance then, Mathias. I am called Æros, but here, anyone below my status will call me by one of my titles, Domine or Dominus– or a select few other honorifics, but those are the primary two. In Solunarium, titles and the like are…not optional outside of private company. While those also work for other people of status, women typically use Domina.” He paused, looking now towards Daemon as the other man addressed him. “Oh- thank you, it’s…been a questionable amount of time since I’ve eaten anything. I think?” From the way he speaks, it’s obvious he doesn’t remember.

Accepting that which was offered to him or otherwise indicated as okay for him to take, he actually hadn’t realized how hungry he really was. For a few brief beats, he lost himself in the task of filling his stomach.

Then, Daemon spoke to him again. “Begin…?” Æros seemed confused at first, but soon, realization struck that this man was very much a foreigner and had no idea where anything was, much less how it worked.

“Ah, that. Er…I’ve not really spent much time in Tertium, but it shouldn’t be hard to find a place to get you started. Mm…might have to find something a little underground at first? Ah…” Leaning back in his chair, he brought a hand to his chin and narrowed his eyes in thought.

After a moment, realization. His eyes widened and he sat up, “Right! Hold on.”

The half-fæ stood and stepped away, walking over to the inn’s barkeep. Speaking in Vastien, it would appear that this time, Æros was after information as opposed to anything else. The conversation was not long, but lacking in patience, he did use Overture to open himself up to the other’s Symphony, Composing both respect and comfort so that he’d be more likely to talk, and talk he did. From what Æros could glean, one did have to start in the bloodier depths even with somebody willing to sponsor; that was only one part of it, the other was a fighter's own reputation. A foreigner, unfortunately, would start at zero.

Now knowing what to do and a vague idea of where to go, the half-elf returned to his companions with a smooth walk and a smile.

“Good news! I do know where to start. The thing is, even if I were to just give my word and my money in your name, it cannot skip you ahead of anyone– the only way to do that is if you came from a known family here. Your talents are certainly respectable; I’m sure that’s fine, then, yes? Build a baseline for myself and then I’ll back you in the more…legitimate arenas,” he laughed a bit at the last two words.

Really, Æros imagined the man before him would sweep the floor with those trying in the lesser rings– in a way, he felt bad for those that would be unfortunate enough to walk into the ring with him.

“We can set off whenever you’re ready.”

- - -

'Thoughts'

"Vallenor Tongue/Speech"

"Vastien Tongue/Speech"

"Valasren Tongue/Speech"

"Common Tongue/Speech"

[Talon]

D A E M O N

“Dominus.” He inclined his head. Beside him, Mathias seemed to be wrestling with the idea of constantly referring to someone by a title. He supposed he did not struggle as much with the idea given he had been surrounded by nobility, pomp and circumstance for the majority of his life or rather, for the majority of Talon’s life. It was easy to fall into the charade of courtly circumstances. He did not have to respect the individual who held the title but it was dangerous to disrespect a person who held one in a land where they were very much foreigners who did not fully grasp the culture. After a moment, Mathias bowed his head.

“Dominus.” He was glad that Mathias had the intelligence of a street survivalist. He could trust the young man to make smart decisions where those instincts were concerned. As Aeros dug into his meal, Talon ate his own in silence. When the man came back to them after getting his initial full, he waited for Aeros explanation then watched as he went off to find the answer to his question.

“Do you really think this is a good idea? I mean he doesn’t exactly seem…?” Mathias searched for the right word. He knew what the young man meant. As he finished his eggs he spoke.

“It is one path. The most viable at the moment. Besides, I suspect that no matter who we choose, our path will have to be one forged on our own.” He picked up his mug of water and down a bit in order to chase some of the food and clear his throat. He eyed the nobleman across the room, observing through the man’s aura as he plucked at the barkeep’s symphonies. He was again glad that he had taken some precautions to stave off such influence. With Aeros more rested, he was able to better grasp the depths of his power. It was not miniscule, such as that of a mere beginner, but it was nowhere near the depths he expected of a master. He had no particular judgement about the use of Mesmer in simple conversation. He simply did not want someone uninvited to be rifling through his head. He had experienced enough of that as of late.

“He’s not half bad at that.” Mathias commented. He did not have to look to know that Mathias was also observing Aeros aura. Talon nodded.

“It will play to our favor, I think.” He let the observation of Aeros aura fall away as the man turned to head back in their direction. When the nobleman returned, giving his explanation it was as he had expected. Beside him, Mathias gave a half-snort and a chuckle at the idea of him going up against fighters in a lesser ring.

“That’s going to be fun to watch.” He did not comment when his squire made the remark. He simply looked down into the water in his mug before speaking.

“Finish your meal, Dominus.” He took a drink. “If you have errands to run after that, I will accompany you as your bodyguard, as agreed. It will also give me time to continue Mathias education.”

The young man sighed prompting him to smirk slightly.

“We may then face the fighter’s pits this evening. If you are inclined to allow such, Dominus?”

[Aeros]

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It was odd to be called by his title from the mouths of foreigners– he knew…very few of them! Especially one of such apparent power, but no matter, it was more an etiquette thing than anything else. It would look bad for him to be walking around with people below his status that didn’t, but that’s also not to say he didn’t like the reverence such titles came with regardless of the person’s actual opinion of him.

To Mathias’ reaction, Æros smiled. “Ah, so it is as I expected, then? I was…out of sorts when we first met, so I wasn’t sure if what I saw was the truth, see? Poor, unfortunate souls in those lower rings…but I can’t say I won’t mind the view,” golden eyes having shifted to Daemon by the time he’d finished speaking.

His stare was pointed but distinctly flirtatious. That was just how he was towards anyone he found attractive; it was rare for him to stop, even if the target of his words was…as stone faced as this one. Frivolous commentary, playful euphemisms and flirtation were so burned into the way he spoke that it would be difficult to not, anyhow. Plus, it’d be even funnier depending on how the man’s younger companion reacted, too.

With that, he took the time to finish what food he had left.

“I was traveling here for leisure, to take a break from my responsibilities at home and I didn’t come with a set itinerary in mind…but I would like to explore the city at least, see what’s here and all that. One thing we should look for is a place to stay that’s more in my typical price range. This one is fine and all, but…I can afford better.” Though what he said was certainly not the circumstances under which he had been ‘taken’ to this location, he spoke as smoothly as if they were true.

Being a practiced liar, it was easy for him to put himself in the same headspace as he’d be if he were telling the truth and thus making it all the more difficult to tell the difference. The part about pricing, however, was true.

……

With tasks of import, well, lesser import at the most, out of the way, Æros led his two new companions in the direction that he knew the beach was in. He did not like the desert heat at all, hence his living space being in Umbrium, and the closer to water they could get, the better. There would at least be a breeze of some sort near the waves, cooling the air as it went over the water. So if they needed to burn time before night fell, there would be the best place.

When they arrived, it was as he expected. Much cooler, to the Winter Færie's massive relief. Having to wear a cloak to cover his skin so it wouldn't burn was a double edged sword; it kept the heat of his body in just as much as it protected him. Though Tertium's coasts were popular places for people to hang out, if they wandered a bit, it wouldn't be that hard to find somewhere relatively open and quiet.

Plus Daemon had mentioned something about teaching Mathias? Æros, though he appeared as not much more than a rich party boy to most who’d make his acquaintance of late, loved magic of all types, world included. If his new friend had knowledge on the subject, he’d be more than happy to sit and listen in, too. It’d been a hot minute since he’d engaged in anything academic, and in some ways, he even missed it.

- - -

'Thoughts'

"Vallenor Tongue/Speech"

"Vastien Tongue/Speech"

"Valasren Tongue/Speech"

"Common Tongue/Speech"

[Talon]

D A E M O N

The exploration of the city had been largely uneventful except for the handful of times that Mathias had quietly pointed out that there were thieves eyeing Aeros. One stern look from him had been largely all it took to dissuade them from attempting him while they were out wandering the market places. When finally their exploration of Tertium had come to an end, they had come to the beach. The sight of the shores and the waves brought him a measure of peace in a way that many other things could not. On some level, he understood why the shape of his divine realm took that of a seaside shrine. He could spend the whole of his days along the coasts and never grow tired of the experience.

“Can I just go swimming?” Mathias looked up at him hopefully as Talon removed his cloak. He folded it neatly, setting it beside the space they made for themselves.

“Lessons first. Swimming afterwards.” Glancing over at Aeros, he noticed the sweat that was on the man’s body. The elements did not bother him, certainly the heat of the desert did not bother him because his natural element was Fire. Seeing Aeros made him take a closer look at Mathias. The young man’s skin was a bit flushed. There was sweat upon his brow. He could see some redness in the spots that had been exposed to the sun for the day. It was easy for him to forget that others were not as resilient as he was. He was accustomed to standing in the company of warriors and mages who could bend reality to their will, able to withstand the onslaught of things most ordinary people did not even have dreams or nightmares about.

“On second thought, go. Jump in.” As Mathias brightened and immediately began pulling off his outer layers of clothing, Talon touched a hand to his shoulder. “Stay where I can see you. I will be setting up our practice space while you cool off.”

Mathias nodded eagerly and upon being released, sprinted toward the crystal clear waters. Talon watched him for a moment before turning to the space in front of him. He shifted his thoughts to his attire and the sandals upon his feet flowed upwards, the pauldron upon his shoulder melted away and soon all he was left in was the Solunarian style skirt and a pair of bracers upon his forearms. The rest of his body bare, to enjoy the elements. He cared not whether Aeros saw the display, it was already established that he had power. It would be yet another layer to add to the powers in his possession. On that note.

“Here.” He extended his hand, holding fingers as though he were grasping something. Aether formed between his fingers and soon a crystal took shape. It was an orange-gold in color and into it he passed a small enchantment of Elemental Deference, specifically, the element of Fire that was his Arche. Upon being taken, the heat of the desert would abate somewhat. While it was not to the level that he himself enjoyed, it was certainly enough to make a difference for the Winter Fae. With that done, he turned his attention to the area in front of him. Taking a seat, he adopted a meditative pose, with the palms of his hands flat against one another. Reaching out into the world around him, he drew in a deep breath and then exhaled steadily. Through the rune of Elementalism, he began the process of slowly communing with the Earth. He reached into the sands and stirred the aether of the earth into motion.

It was slow at first, Earth was not his primary element but it was closer in kinship to him and Water was. Air came naturally to him due to his lineage as an Avialae but for the moment, his focus was the Earth. He coaxed it into motion, causing the sands around him to stir and shift. Expanding outward from beneath him, the sands became flatter and smoother until it formed a perfect circle big enough to fit both himself and one other person in.

In his mind’s eye he conjured the symbols of the simple pictographs he intended to go over with Mathias. He sculpted them into the sands in front of him, filling in half of the circle he was seated in with various Scrivening marks that would be the focus of their lesson. He did all this without outwardly moving, directing the motion of the sands with but a flex of his willpower and manipulation of his elemental aether. When it was finished, he turned his gaze less inward and returned his focus to the world around him.

“Thank you.” He spoke softly to the Earth. In the back of his mind, he felt a dim acknowledgement from the element as it accepted his gratitude.

“You are welcome to listen and observe, Dominus. If you have something to add, I will certainly welcome the input.” He turned his eyes to Aeros.

[Aeros]

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Æros stood with crossed arms and a light, but empty, expression as Mathias voiced his desire to go swimming. Understandable, given the weather here, really. The fæ had half a mind to go lay in the wake of the waves as well, to be frank. Granted, the idea of then being left in soaked clothes or having burnt skin didn't really sound all too enticing at the moment.

At first, Dæmon declined his request. However, after taking a moment to ponder about, ah, something, it would appear that he changed his mind. Once the word was given, the younger boy was quick to bolt away towards the sea. Their relationship felt, at least to Æros, as something akin to parent and child more so than one would come to expect from simply mentor and student. On some level, it was cute, but it did give the half-elf the false impression that Mathias was younger than he really was.

Without words, Dæmon would dismiss pieces of his attire; it was as if they vanished into thin air, almost. What was this, then? Some elaborate use of Traversion? Intriguing. But then, Æros was pulled from his thoughts by a word and an outstretched hand. Eyes cast down toward the other man's palm, he watched as a crystal materialized before him. With a slight cant to his head and a puzzled but curious expression, he withdrew one hand from across his chest and plucked the crystal away from the other, bringing it up close to his face, in the sunlight, to get a better look at it. At the same time, he very quickly began to feel cooler. Æros thought about it for a moment, guessing it was…maybe a lodestone, from Elementalism? The enchantment on it, however, he couldn't quite place. He'd learned a lot about various runes throughout his studies in Solunarium, but remembering each and every detail at will could be difficult. How many runes did this man have, though?

"Ah, thank you. My…bloodline isn't exactly built to withstand this climate," he laughed a bit; saying that was an understatement of understatements.

When his acquaintance sat down, Æros remained standing, eyes transfixed on the subtle shift of the sands below. More manipulation with Elementalism, he assumed. Really, that particular rune seemed convenient to have; but then, so were a lot of them. The half-elf often found himself compelled to seek out more of them. Fifty-fifty was the split between his desire being for magical intrigue and suicide through initiation, however. He would not complain about either result. Granted, it's not as if he even could should the latter occur.

These thoughts ran through his head as he watched symbols continue to be drawn in the sand, lines thaf were drawn by aether alone. He recognized them vaguely to be Scrivening marks, but he had no memory of their meaning or purpose having learned them many years ago and then never revisited the subject. When all the pictographs appeared complete and the other man uttered a thanks to the elements, Æros stepped back and sat down, hands now resting on his knees. In doing so, he made sure not to disturb the circle or anything else Dæmon had drawn.

"I'd be happy to, though I would be watching more as a student than a peer. It's…been so long since I've really looked into the mechanics of Scrivening, to be frank. The subject always sparked interest, though, so revisiting it does pique my curiosity," he spoke with a tone that conveyed the same emotions as did his words.

"You are a man of many talents, aren't you? I'd assumed you to be more of a warrior than anything else, but there's so much magic in you as well, hm? It's always a delight to work with somebody so experienced in subjects more arcane, I think," then, a short pause, "...and you're easy on the eyes, too. How lucky for me," he laughed, expression impish and words underscored with a sort of puerile delight.

- - -

'Thoughts'

"Vallenor Tongue/Speech"

"Vastien Tongue/Speech"

"Valasren Tongue/Speech"

"Common Tongue/Speech"

[Talon]

D A E M O N

“He has known little joy in his life.” He spoke as his attention turned to Mathias who was very excitedly diving into the waters and cooling himself off. Talon’s gaze softened as he regard the young man. If he was to become a puppet of the empire, he would at least do this one good thing. Even if it meant he lost himself in the end, some part of him believed that if he taught enough of what he believed and fought for to Mathias, that part of himself would live on. He said nothing more about the matter and listened as Aeros confessed to being more of a student and a listener. That was fine as well. He was not divulging any great secret during this lesson, most everything he would be sharing was knowledge that any Scribe could share.

“I did not appreciate the full breadth of Scrivening as I should have. It took a mentor of my own to show me its true potential before I took it more seriously.” His thought drifted to Lyra and some of the things he had seen her do with a precise yet creative application of her knowledge of pictography.

“I am what my life has required of me.” Memories presented themselves. Some of them were of a childhood that was a long, long faded past. The world had been very different then. It had felt more raw, more wondrous, more everything. For as much as Ransera had gained in this age, there was so much of it that had been lost to the ravages of time.

“I have many gifts. Some of which you have seen and are about to see. I have no issue using them. Hesitation has cost me much in my years.” It was his hesitation in holding back that had landed him in his current situation. If he had not held back, if he had chosen another path that winter day, what would his life be like now? He looked back to Mathias. Well, there was no use dwelling on such things. At the compliment, he quirked an eyebrow. He unfurled his legs, the muscles rippling and flexing as he crossed his ankles. The sands beneath him, surprisingly did not get smudged as he whispered softly to them with his aether to cushion his movements and retain the shapes he had drawn into them. He ran a hand through his hair. Talon was not a small man in any sense of the word. From the strong expanse of his chest, his broad shoulders and even down to the soles of his feet, he dwarfed many a human and elf that he came across. He knew this about himself and could see a use for his physical attributes in the road ahead.

“You are a Mesmer. I gathered that much last night. It is not a magic I possess but it is one that I am familiar with. I saw you use it to communicate throughout the day. Is that kind of magic common here?” He knew that Solunarium was a land that venerated magic but he did not known if it was something reserved only for the elite. If it was something only the elite had access to, he would likely see less of it in the underground fighting pits they were headed toward. That would make the fights less challenging for him but he supposed he could still find a way to make them entertaining for the spectators. He was doing this as much to gain a reputation as he was to get near his end goal.

“On the subject of communication, I would be interested to learn the Solunarian native tongue. If you are inclined to share it.”

[Aeros]

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Æros shifted his gaze back towards the waves when Dæmon commented about Mathias, the smallest hint of a frown forming on blue lips. For all intents and purposes, Æros had a privileged upbringing in terms of standards, education, and the like. While his mother and greater family managed to break him anyways, all of his physical needs were met and he always slept in comfort and had a full stomach. The half-elf knew not what it was like to struggle in a physical sense, battered as he was emotionally.

"...and yet the wonder in his eyes and fire and in his spirit both remain so bright, almost pure. He must be strong," he'd shifted his voice to possess a tone more laced with admiration, though there remained a sort of wistful air to his words.

Really, he was envious of the boy's resolve. He'd managed to shatter to pieces in his youth having only rarely been struck, so when he thought about others who'd gone through much darker circumstances, he did admire them. But at the same time, he belittled himself because of it. Weak, he'd call himself. A fool, he'd say. Pathetic, most of all, is what he felt he was. A pit would form in his stomach like a void, anxiety beginning to eat at him from the subject. While this didn't really show on his face, his eyes would reflect a sort of haunted hollowness from his self-flagellation.

Then, he blinked, trying to shed these emotions as Dæmon spoke again, returning eyes of gold to the larger man's figure.

"Ah, yes. Sometimes all it takes is a good teacher to cultivate one's true appreciation for a subject; I know how that is." To this, he smiled. On his end, he could think of a few instructors over the years that really had pushed him in good directions, tried to help him succeed to the best of their abilities. A shame he wasn't strong enough to stay the course.

'I am what my life required of me.' This single sentence spoke volumes. Even with no details, Æros could picture the nature of the other's existence, and he felt…maybe pity? Sympathy? For one who had yet to truly experience living life for oneself. One should note, however, that living life too selfishly is also just as much of a curse– Æros and his recent choices can attest to that. His life may seem glamorous on the surface, but he is a hollow shell of a person.

He did not respond to that comment; he hadn't a clue what was appropriate to say.

The concept of hesitation also seemed to hold great emotion in it for Dæmon, but all Æros could do is wonder why. The other man was so quiet, so guarded about himself that it certainly had not been enough time to start asking invasive questions…again, all he could do was wonder. The idea, at least, was relatable. If one hesitates, one can forfeit opportunity. The Færie wondered what exactly it was that his companion had missed, so to speak. Maybe this had happened many times, too.

Much as it was annoying, he wasn't clueless without his Mesmer; having grown up the way he did, he was forced to learn to read people lest they take out their troubles on him for not somehow knowing better beforehand.

"Hesitation can lose one opportunities, yes, but acting rashly can also close doors…both can have consequences most catastrophic. Striving for balance would be ideal, I think." And as much as he did believe this, he, as of now, failed to follow his own advance. "...I do so anticipate seeing more of your 'gifts,' however." A soft yet coy smile danced across his lips.

As Dæmon moved, the half-elf found his gaze drifting down a bit, looking to follow the larger man's movement with his eyes. Since he possessed very little body fat, it was quite easy to see the flexion of each muscle as he repositioned himself. Æros found this fascinating from an anatomical perspective but also intensely alluring. He'd never lain with a man that was this much bigger than he was, and of course, he was curious by nature. Even without the bonus of his size, however, he found the other man attractive by his features alone. Such a shame he was so very stoic, indeed. Not that that'd make him cease his suggestions, but still, it was more fun if it were an active game, so to speak.

Æros' mind having drifted off on this tangent resulted in his focus snapping back to reality when his companion next spoke. A question about Solunarium culture and magic, it would appear.

"Oh, magic is beloved here. Many have runes and if somebody is skilled and friendly enough with you, it's not uncommon to share them. Of course, every initiation carries risk, so if you get too close…people will often decline, fearing a bad outcome," though he laughed, it was true. Prying a rune from somebody's hands required a delicate balance of trust and affection– too much or too little and one was liable to hear a 'no.' "However, it's common to expect folks to have one, at least in my experience. Regardless of caste."

One question answered, another asked.

"Oh, you would, would you? I'd be ever so happy to indulge you however you'd like." Æros smiled; he spoke playfully with features donning a more knavish expression.

"But as for myself, I've the ability to speak four– Vastien, Vallenor, Valasren, and Common, though the latter two aren't as fluent as the former. I figure with as much time as I've spent studying, I should be able to translate those skills into teaching, no?" Partially true. To some degree, though, teaching does require a special sort of finesse and adaptation to one's student.

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'Thoughts'

"Vallenor Tongue/Speech"

"Vastien Tongue/Speech"

"Valasren Tongue/Speech"

"Common Tongue/Speech"