Energy and Elements [Æros]

[Hilana Chenzira]

Late Ash, Year 122

[Closed - Æros]

Hilana made her way through the Aurecine district with Tiaz draped around her shoulders, holding the piece of paper with the address to where Æros was staying now in one of the family estates. She was always a bit nervous in this section of the city. Even though she had visited Arvaelyn and Finn, and she had routinely collected her student from here to take him out for lessons, and nothing had ever happened to her there... She was still quite cautious. She had yet to be stopped or questioned, and there were fewer guards than one might think that there would be… but caution was wise.

She had a couple of loaves of date-walnut bread wrapped in waxed cloth for her friend and for his cousin. The girl was determined to make a good impression, and not screw up her first time meeting Dominus Æros’ cousin. Palaemon was to be her new Elementalism master, and poor behaviour on her part would reflect negatively on her friend who had gone out of his way to arrange this for her. As a result, Hilana had made sure she had gotten changed from work so the odds and ends of the day that had been on her clothing and in her hair were taken care of. She had changed into one of her long, many-tiered skirts dyed in shades of blues and greens, along with a fresh white short halter shirt. In a nod to her friend and his love of purple, the Vastiana had woven a long, thinner scarf of purple and silver into her hair, for once worn down in a long, thick braid that went down past her rump.

Her python was more relaxed than she was, but Tiaz was never on the edge. She brought a hand up to stroke his scales, feeling the way he was relaxed on her. Her emotional support python indeed. She knew she shouldn’t be nervous; His Divine Radiance had said she was well-built to bear this Rune, and that was encouragement enough. The Dominus that she was going to see now had said the same; and while Hilana knew not to be overconfident, she knew that being timid wasn’t going to do her any favours. Be open, listen, learn, and be prepared. She had a notebook and pencils in her rucksack along with the sweetbreads, well-ready to take notes. She had books for her studies at Sweet Remedies, she wrote down recipes and tips and tricks that she learned for cooking and baking... there was no shame in making notes about such things. Better to write it down so that she would have an easier time recalling it later. Her great aunt had said much the same: no matter how good her memory was, sometimes writing things down would be a lifesaver later if something ever did happen to that head of hers.

She checked the address once again against the elegant domus before striding up the steps, smoothing her skirts and using the knocker upon the door to let the servii know that she had arrived. “Good evening,” Hilana inclined her head to the servant when the door was opened. “My name is Matsi Chenzira Hilana. Dominus Æros is expecting me.”

[Aeros]

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As Ash waned and Frost neared, Æros had become increasingly busy. In many ways, this was a good thing. In many others, it was jarring and hard to get used to. For the past few years, he'd been aimless, riding life's currents with no real direction, no focus, no responsibility, no nothing. So now, it was…really rather novel to be thrown back into the life of true nobility once more. And while he had been raised this way, it wasn't as if he had any freedom or power when he was last here. Before, every choice was made for him and he was held by the yoke of his mother. Now? That was no longer the case.

It was strange, really, how familiar yet foreign this life was. It really was stark how many things one missed when one was robbed of autonomy, but at least Æros wasn't walking into this new life blind. He had his uncle's guidance and was welcome back into the fold of his kin by no shortage of extended family, and then there was the fact that he always had his closest confidant at his side– a lover he'd taken, a slave he'd bought.

Lastly, there was a friend of his, a beacon of encouragement and boundless energy, and one he was expecting to show up today. Originally, the intent was to confer a new rune unto her but, through a serendipitous turn of events, the rune was gifted by the divine. And thus, plans were altered– her studies would begin on this day instead.

Æros and Palæmon awaited her in a garden that sat in the middle of the property. The manse was actually built around it; the garden itself was the centerpiece and one would find an entrance to it on all four of its walls. Open and lush, the point was to demonstrate the beauty of life wrought by the sun's majesty. When it came to practicing Elementalism, here was ideal; a river and pond were also present and the open roof allowed for air to flow freely. All four elements would be present, though fire wouldn't exactly be welcomed if used carelessly.

When Hilana spoke her name to the servus that answered the door, she would be escorted through the front part of the manse and then delivered to the company of the two awaiting noblemen. Palæmon would regard her with warm eyes and a curious tilt to his head, though initially, he would not speak. On the other hand, Æros would greet her warmly.

"A little early, you are! …but to be honest that was expected, so we prepared for that." The half-Fæ spoke with a laugh before introducing his family to his friend.

Then, Palæmon spoke. "The way in which it was conferred to you is fascinating– I've no doubt you'll catch on quickly. Have you tried to use it at all? Where we start depends on the ease with which you can weave æther." His voice was silken and smooth, matching the sort of serene air the moon-touched elf carried about him.

- - -

'Thoughts'

"Vallenor Tongue/Speech"

"Vastien Tongue/Speech"

"Valasren Tongue/Speech"

"Common Tongue/Speech"

[Hilana Chenzira]

Hilana thanked the servus for showing her in, and it took an awful lot of willpower not to go flying around the garden to investigate it. But Æros had probably anticipated that excitement, because the wildness in her Symphony almost erupted with delight. This was an oasis in the heart of the Aurecine, and it thrilled her. Bright eyes took in the variety of plants, and one by one, she recognized them. But at the same time, the Vastiana knew enough to let it go for now and come back and focus on the noblemen who had been waiting for her and Tiaz. Judging by the looks of the garden, it had been the right decision to leave Hayima’el back in his stable. He would have done some damage having a snack, and that would have been a travesty. Especially since this was Æros’ family estate, and Hilana had no desire to make a bad impression on either of the Re’hyaeans.

“Thank you for having us, Dominus Æros. It is my honour to meet you, Dominus Palaemon,” Hilana bowed to both of them, sweeping her skirts out. “This is Tiaz,” she added once she straightened, introducing the python, whose tongue flickered lazily. Æros’ scent he recognized, having spent a number of hours soaking excess heat out of him after his Semblance initiation, but the moon-touched Syltori’s scent was new. “Your garden is breathtaking,” the girl was not prone to empty flattery, it was a genuine compliment, and from a botanist, that was surely worth something. She couldn’t comment on the rest of the house, considering this was where she was looking, but it engaged each of her senses in a way that almost made it hard to bring her attention back to the others. But she did, her bright eyes settling on the Moon-touched Elf that had kindly agreed to take her on as a student.

From her rucksack, she produced a notebook and a pencil, and she would sit on the third shaped seat if it was indicated to her, slipping the rucksack from her shoulders. The striking python was unbothered, though he also scented Khyan on the half-Fae. He began to stretch himself out, and Hilana offered the muscular snake to the horned noble, having understood where he wanted to go. Her attention was then back on Palaemon. “That is very kind, Dominus, gratias. I’ve mostly tried to listen to them, to commune with the spirits around me, and I really haven’t tried to do too much beyond that,” she admitted. “I have asked dirt to move in a pot so that I could plant something, for example,” she pantomimed with her hands. “Or asked water to ripple and move in a bowl. It is a bit slow-going.”

Part of it was that she wanted to make sure she was doing it right from the start rather than start developing bad habits that would need to be corrected. She didn’t know how much Æros had told his cousin about her and her lack of arcane education, but she was earnest, and she was determined to learn. The notebook and pencil showed she at least intended to take notes as the opportunity arose, even if it was shorthand that she could later translate into a more proper guide. And if he had books that he recommended, Hilana would head into the Forum to find them, too on her break the next day. Hilana was under no delusions that this was going to be a walk in the park...or, well, a walk in the garden as it was here, but there was something to be said for enthusiasm.

[Aeros]

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Regardless of season, this desert oasis did not wane in its lush greenery. While the ceiling was open to the elements now, a Kineticist could push a pane of glass on the roof to create an enclosed space, an artificial atmosphere to be toyed with and precisely crafted at any given time by an advanced Elementalist. For the most part, both of these jobs were done by Palæmon himself. He had people help him if need be, but..he'd picked up Kinetics explicitly so he could do more on his own. Compared to his favored craft, his skill in this was weak, but it was enough to accomplish what he needed.

Æros could immediately tell how happy his family's garden made Hilana the moment she stepped through the threshold. He held himself in a perpetual state of Overture, always open the Symphonies of those around him and she was always loud, but here? Especially so. Tiaz, as per usual, sang a song of sloth…but what was new? The half-Fæ honestly found his song to be more relatable in that regard.

While Palæmon had no Mesmer rune, he could tell how Hilana felt simply from her glowing disposition. And to him? This was endearing; the garden was his work, after all. As she approached, he smiled at her in greeting, though she and Æros spoke first.

To her compliment, however, he beamed, "...you think so? I do put a lot of work into it." His tone was quite bright, happy to be in the company of another who shared his appreciation of botany.

The moonborn's garden was a thing of beauty; it was crafted and shaped for aesthetics, though not grown without purpose. He cultivated a lot of useful flora in medicine, consumption, dyes and so forth– most of which was used by others within his house as well as himself, though some was given away as gifts. Palæmon wanted for very little. For him, there was no need to sell that which he had extra of.

As the Vastiana continued, he listened to what she said with interest and then appeared contemplative for but a moment. His smile softened at the mentioning of the spirits. As he spoke, he gestured for Hilana to sit. "Communing with spirits can be difficult for those not used to peering far beyond the veil of our plane. I'd only expect that to be easy if you were already a Summoner or the like…but spirits are tricksy things. You've done well enough to have not angered them, in truth. They can be…quite harsh with newcomers who bite off more than they can chew, so to speak." While this was not always the case, it was easy for a novice Elementalist to to wield aether…bluntly.

Without shifting his gaze, water from the nearby stream rose into a tendril and floated through the air between the two elves, eventually forming a perfectly rounded sphere. "Æros also told me you've no other runes. Given that…we can't be sure or your aptitude. With this water, shape it in as complex a way as you can manage. Freeze it, evaporate it, sculpt it…or even just create ripples within."

This was a test, though it was one not possible to fail. Æros did not say anything, though he did push confidence and encouragement into Hilana's Symphony.

- - -

'Thoughts'

"Vallenor Tongue/Speech"

"Vastien Tongue/Speech"

"Valasren Tongue/Speech"

"Common Tongue/Speech"

[Hilana Chenzira]

When Palaemon claimed responsibility for the garden, Hilana’s Symphony got louder with delight. She was still managing to restrain herself otherwise, but Æros knew full well the Vastiana’s song could be boisterous…though these were some fairly impressive levels, even for her. At some point, the girl was going to need Mesmer, if only to quiet it down from others that were less friendly that might be listening in with less noble intentions… but the trick was not overloading her with too much, too soon. Even if they would be her benefit. She was certainly agreeable that he had done an incredible job with the garden; and Æros could probably tell that Hilana was dying to discuss the different plants and trees and the pairings and virtues of the symbiotic growth and harmony that were present… but miraculously, she managed to restrain herself. There would be time for that after, and both of them knew full well that if she got started on such a topic she might delay her lesson… and Hilana knew better. Inasmuch as it seemed that she and her paedagogus had plenty in common, the last thing Hilana wanted to do was waste his time when he was there to give her the lessons that she had asked for.

Hilana nodded along at Palaemon’s words. That was what her grandmother had said. You ask the spirits, you do not command. You listen more, talk less. Seek to understand them first, and gauge what sort of a mood they are in. For spirits, too, had emotions and moods, and coming across poorly could have dire consequences. She didn’t like it if she was having a bad day and someone demanded something of her, now, did she? She did not. Still, she was glad to hear that waiting for her lessons, rather than throwing herself right into it with her usual gusto, was the smarter course of action. If she was so pushy and presumptuous to make the elements shun her before her first lesson? That might be a first… even in a Kingdom full of mages. “I didn’t want to upset them before I even had my first lesson,” the girl admitted. “Sometimes I can be… well… enthusiastic.” And that was putting it mildly.

Her eyes were wide as the sphere of water was shaped from a steady pull from the stream. He wasn’t even looking at it! She listened to the instructions: shape it, do whatever she could do it. Evaporate it? That required fire, surely, and far more of it than Hilana dared to attempt to use here in such a beautiful environment. That was going to take a while. But freezing… well, that was applying air to it. That she might be able to ask the spirits to do. If she sought the water itself, she could maybe interrupt its flow in the sphere… she considered her courses of action, and as she debated, trying to sense which spirits might be the most amenable to her, she felt that encouragement, that confidence. And she used it to make a decision.

With the pencil and notebook on her lap, Hilana lifted her hands, splaying her fingers open and flexed them, feeling the air. She bit her lip, as she listened to the spirits, and offered them a thread of aether, and then another, in order to ask them to help her cool the air around the orb of water. Let the temperature drop, despite the sun overhead, and try to encase it within a frozen outer shell. If she could freeze the outside, then she could keep going until she got the rest of it. She was careful, more than she normally was… but for someone who has no experience using magic, perhaps that caution was wise.

[Aeros]

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Palæmon was a deceptively young looking man, and when pleased or curious or excited or anything else that would pull a smile to his lips, the man's features, though angular, would look especially youthful and bright. "Æros told me all about your enthusiasm– he said it was you and another who helped pull him from the mire of his own mind. And enthusiasm is grand! …if one has the presence of mind to temper it and wield it well," he winked. "Nonetheless, you accomplished an impressive feat for two people, I think. His uncle and I have been trying to do that for some time…and to hear it accomplished by two strangers?" The elf giggled, "...well, color me surprised! …and ever grateful." Palæmon nodded as if to punctuate the sentiment with the closest thing somebody of his station would do resembling a bow towards somebody far below his caste. From his words, it would be unclear what exactly the Faerie had said to his moonborn kin, just that it was enough for the man to, at the very least, understand his current situation.

In response, Æros sighed and looked a bit sympathetic towards the elf, as if apologizing for being so…distant, in the past.

It was, however, very endearing to hear how excited Hilana was at both their surroundings and the simple flex of æther it took his kin to draw out the watery orb. A student this engaged would certainly pick things up quick, no?

It was not long after Hilana moved her hands that patches of frost began to appear around the orb, thickening into rounded sheets of ice at the centerpoint of each while the frost expanded outwards. The progress it moved would be considered sluggish for most Elementalists, but for a novice? "Very nice! See how far you can go with it before you feel strain, but please, don't push yourself. If you strain, you'll be unable to practice more later." His words were encouraging and carried strands of his own excitement, pleased at the woman's ability thus far. Some novices could barely make ripples.

- - -

'Thoughts'

"Vallenor Tongue/Speech"

"Vastien Tongue/Speech"

"Valasren Tongue/Speech"

"Common Tongue/Speech"

[Hilana Chenzira]

“Dominus Æros is too kind,” Hilana smiled. “He was ready to make this change, truly. He may have needed a little nudge from us, but that’s all... but at the end of the day, it was of course up to him,” she smiled at her paedagogus and the horned hybrid that Tiaz was relaxing on. The snake was surprisingly solid, despite the ease with which the nomad carried him around day in and day out. “He has been very kind to me, and sometimes all we need is a bit of encouragement. The other one and I are outsiders, strangers, and that’s probably what did it,” the girl was cheerful. She knew Khyan was very much not a stranger to the Dominus, but she also did not know how much Palaemon was privy to with regards to their relationship. Therefore, the Vastiana elected for discretion. Still, for all those words, she meant it. If Æros thought back, he might have recognized the pattern of deference in Hilana’s words and actions - she had minimized her own involvement in the matter of Arvaelyn and the merchant in the Forum back at the Radiant Mass on the day before the Autumnal Equinox, and just as she had then, she did now.

She was focusing on the sphere of water, and she was thrilled to see the frost and ice spreading slowly to encase it. Slow progress was still progress. It was a good start! Hilana offered the air spirits that she had coaxed close with her moving fingers another thread of aether, and then more, just tendrils at a time. She didn’t want to overdo it, either in her entreating them or in her own practice of expending aether to cast. But perhaps it was also the slow, steady flow through the molten gold sun on her palm that seemed to shine a bit brighter as she kept it going. Her eyes left the orb as the Moonborn spoke to her, though she was unsure if she should have looked away... but the cold air continued to do its magic, slowly, steadily freezing more and more layers through the inside now that the outside had been encased. “Yes, Dominus,” she nodded in acknowledgement, though her symphony sang with the encouragement that she had been given. Hilana was someone who encouraged him relentlessly, and it seemed that she responded to the same.

She knew what the signs of overstepping were; not necessarily from experience, but because it was one of those topics that Vasilei had bid her to learn and focus on, and quizzed her relentlessly on those symptoms. In a Kingdom full of mages, there wasn’t a day that they didn’t see at least one aspiring mage, or even more experienced ones, brought to them for treatment. And overstepping with Elementalism could have some consequences that were rather permanently dire. Someone had come in once with their hand completely turned to stone, and when they had made a fist... the fingers had fallen right off as they crumbled. Hilana wasn’t keen to experience such a thing herself. While she had some star thistle draught in her bag - Vasilei had all but ordered her to take it in order to be safe, lest the girl get overconfident and forget that she was a complete and utter novice - she didn’t want to have to rely on it. She was starting to feel the beginnings of a pinch between her ears, like a threat of a pressure headache from a change in the air. That told her that she was done, and Hilana let it go, thanking the spirits that had answered her call and aided her, lowering her hands and looking at her handiwork. She had frozen nearly half of the sphere, and the water inside of it was much colder than it had been, and had otherwise slowed its flow down, it remained unfrozen. “That’s it for now, I’m afraid,” she admitted. “There is a pressure change up here by my temples, like a storm is coming... and I think it was telling me to quit while I was ahead.”

[Aeros]

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Hilana and Palæmon having a conversation about him right in front of him was a bit uncomfortable from Æros’ perspective, but in terms of sway, Palæmon technically had seniority here. It was not his place to interrupt. At the same time, their conversation was embarrassing at worst, so it wasn't really that terrible to hear. The two spoke affectionately about the star-touched Færie, and, while this was reassuring, it nonetheless made his skin crawl if only because he didn't agree with either of them and looked upon himself through a lens far more cynical. Of course, he appreciated their commentary, strange as it was…and Hilana's discretion about his involvement with Khyan.

That, however, was a bit of an open secret to the members of his family with which Æros spent any time at all, as well as others with an eye and mind discerning enough to connect the dots. Nonetheless, to discuss that openly would be considered a fairly large broach of decorum despite the fact that nobility using their slaves for sex was not an uncommon thing. That being the case, however, those who could detect their emotional entanglement might actually see it as worse, in a way, as many believed that such ties to the chattel were little more than a blatant lack of self respect, and if one does not respect themselves, one does not deserve it from others, either. Most nobles carried a supercilious air to them, lofty as their roles often are, and would consider such a relationship to be little more than weakness. Those close to Æros, however, turned a blind eye to it for the most part; that is, aside from teasing him for it from time to time. Some of them thought it was cute and wished him the best, but all of this remained unspoken between nobility.

To Hilana, Palæmon responded, "you do have a point. What he's heard from kin over the years has been endless and…sometimes rather pointed. That likely made it far easier to ignore," as he continued, his tone shifted from thoughtful to something more puerile, "...and, the other person to whom I owe thanks, so I hear, is bound to him in a way none of the rest of us are. I have no doubt that, too, played a part." Palæmon wore an expression that held all of a cat's mischief within it. Because, yes, that sentiment was true in a literal sense regarding Khyan’s slavery, but…surely, that wasn't what he meant. Æros merely squinted towards his cousin at this comment, arms across his comparatively rather broad chest. To that, the moontouched smiled innocently.

Conversation slowed as Hilana properly bid to begin the exercise as both elves watched with interest. The sphere gradually chilled, the surface becoming nearly encased in frost, though only half of it had truly frozen. So when Hilana announced that she had felt the entropic touch of overstepping begin to scrape at her mind, the exercise would hitherto be considered complete. Both Palæmon and Æros were best pleased she heeded the advice of not pushing beyond her present ætheric peripheries.

Looking delighted, "...well done! Smooth ætheric flow, solid progress, and you heeded all of the advice given. I see you becoming both an excellent student and mage in due time." Palæmon beamed at her; he did not believe there was a reason to withhold praise from this one, as she showed very little potential for arrogance compared to many others. And, in general, he preferred to be as open with his students as possible– let them know when they do well and vice versa.

Æros smiled, too. "See? I could tell you held great potential to wield magic– especially with a rune your mother held so dear." It pleased him to see a friend succeed, and his words were bolstered by a Mesmeric touch, one that was merely meant to reinforce his sentiment.

"We can meet again soon– I am unsure of your schedule, but Æros knows mine, so the two of you can work something out, no?" Palæmon spoke merrily, but he was trying to get out of the logistics side of things, since, well, that wasn't really his forté or interest.

- - -

'Thoughts'

"Vallenor Tongue/Speech"

"Vastien Tongue/Speech"

"Valasren Tongue/Speech"

"Common Tongue/Speech"

[Hilana Chenzira]

Hilana was deeply amused, though she hid it behind a small smile as Dominus Palaemon teased his cousin. Apparently such discretion on her part was unnecessary amongst the present company if he knew about Dominus Æros’ relationship with Khyan. Still, it wasn’t her place to reveal such things and she knew it was better that she hadn’t. She did hope her friend didn’t mind the bit of ribbing that he was catching from his cousin, and if he was uncomfortable with the Vastiana singing his praises, he was just going to have to get used to it. Either which way, it was good to see this kind of relationship between the cousins. It reminded her of her chosen family, those that she had grown up with, and that was worth so much more than blood ties. Of course, Æros had blood ties through his extended family; so perhaps that was the best of both worlds. But with Æros’ arms crossed, Tiaz lazily draped himself over them as if to position himself for more basking in the sunlight where he could watch his owner at the same time.

Calling it where she had apparently was the right choice of action, because Hilana’s teacher and friend were well-satisfied with those instincts. She actually blushed at the praise, and she gave them a small bow where she was sitting. Palaemon was correct, though, in that the girl didn’t have any arrogance to her. The Vastiana didn’t give herself airs, and her presentation of herself certainly made her seem younger than she was. She lacked the overdone pride and extravagance that were common amongst the Populus Equestris, the pretension and superciliousness that tended to permeate their ranks. “I thank you. That is so kind of both of you, and I truly do appreciate your taking the time to teach me, Dominus. Is it true that if you overdo it with Elementalism, then sometimes the spirits will completely ignore you and refuse to proceed as a way to help protect you from yourself? As a way of saying ‘Stop, you’ve done enough?’” she was curious, at least.

And for a very brief moment, Æros’ finely honed Mesmeric abilities might have picked up something very unusual in Tiaz’ Symphony. There was pride there, aimed at the wild, colourful girl who sat across from the Re’hyaeans. But as soon as he sensed it, it was gone again, and the python’s usual, lazy contentment was back. There was nothing different at all to him.

“I’ll figure out with Dominus Æros when a good day and time is,” Hilana smiled at both Æros and Palaemon, clearly pleased that she had done well enough to merit continuing her lessons under him. “It is best to wait a few days between lessons, yes?” she had a feeling smaller practicing sessions were good once she had recovered, so a little practice each day, and let herself recover before a larger, more focused lesson. “Are there any books that you would recommend for me to get, Dominus? To assist with my studies?”

[Aeros]

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Æros appreciated Hilana’s polite demeanor, though he could detect her internal amusement through the ring of her Symphony. And though this served to embarrass him further, it wasn’t as if she were the worst possible person to be having this conversation with Palæmon. Since he’d met her, she’d always put him in the best possible light– even when she’d learned many of his more negative attributes. Confusing, perhaps, but ultimately a very reassuring thing.

Alongside his change of posture, the snake adorning his shoulders also shifted in position, beady gaze steady on the interaction between Hilana, Palæmon and the orb of water which floated between them. Tiaz was always a curious beast, showing interest and focus on things to a greater degree than most animals did. Even in this scenario, he watched Hilana with a more discerning sort of eye than the dazzled sort of interest most animals would usually regard such a thing with. But while this was odd, the serpent’s Symphony was no different than that which he’d come to expect from any other similar animal. Perhaps he was simply more intelligent than what was average for his species.

Perhaps not, however, because once Hilana completed the exercise and Palæmon sang her praises, there was a subtle, yet detectable difference in the serpent’s song. Pride and the accompanying cognition to support it…but only for a moment. Æros’ posture stiffened and he blinked a few times fast in surprise, gilded eyes narrowing as his mind immediately began to postulate on what that was while the other two mortals talked. Æther pulsed through his Craft and he pushed a trill of pointed perception into the mind of the snake. Tiaz would feel as if he had the starborn’s discerning gaze on him, as if a spotlight’s flicker lit up his body for just a tick. He had been detected. Ultimately, this could’ve been a useless gesture, but if there was, indeed, something…more…to the snake, it couldn’t hurt. At worst, it would incite brief paranoia in the animal that would quickly fade.

To Hilana's first inquiry, Palæmon thought for a moment, and then answered in his usual, markedly chipper manner. “That depends! Sometimes, a spirit might bid assistance to a mage, yes, but it wholly depends on the nature of the spirits present, the skill and decorum of the mage, so on…as such, there are some who find themselves blessed enough to enjoy a boon of that sort and many more who don’t.”

To her second, “ah!" His pointed ears perked upon the exclamation as if he had just realized something important, "yes! ...how silly of me not to have thought of that on my own, really, but, ah…here.” When he arrived at the end of his sentence, the elder Elementalist gestured for Hilana to hold for a beat.

A stick from a branch on a nearby tree snapped off shortly thereafter, caught and then suspended in the air by a tiny zephyr. The bark would fall away like the skin of a fruit while a tendril of water from the nearby stream traveled through the air, soon encapsulating the wood within. The zephyr would fade as the water absorbed into the wood and broke it apart into paste, briefly becoming an amorphous blob of pulp before the liquid further flowed and stretched the substance into a thin sheet. Then, the water fully evaporated out of the sheet, and it floated like a leaf on a gentle breeze down to the waiting Moonborn. He then pulled a pen from his pocket to begin writing a few titles upon the surface of the newly made paper. His command of the elements and the spirits that existed just beyond a standard mortal’s reach was consummate; this process took less than a minute. Once he’d finished writing, he folded the paper in half and sent it over to Hilana on the wings of wind.

Offering her an encouraging smile, the strangely sunny silver elf spoke again. “And yes, while you’re new, one ought to give their æther a rest after practicing. These titles should do, for now. One of them is meant to be for Summoners, but learning about the spirits’ plane is just as useful as an Elementalist.”

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'Thoughts'

"Vallenor Tongue/Speech"

"Vastien Tongue/Speech"

"Valasren Tongue/Speech"

"Common Tongue/Speech"