A Rose by Any Other Name (Sivan)

[Flower]

He did think that he might feel better when spring came, but he also supposed that most people might feel better when spring came. Winter was relentless, and he knew that he could not possibly be the only person who felt the chill. He had seen Sivan shiver, after all, had felt the chill in his skin. He smiled quietly up to Sivan, grateful for his thoughtfulness, for his willingness to help him find answers when he gained very little from it himself. Whatever this curse was, if it was actually a curse, he hoped they might reach the bottom of it, so that he could have some recollection of who he was and what had happened to him before being discovered in the mountains.

A shuddering sound left him as he laughed. There was no real sound to it, simply the huffing, rhythmic breath. His eyes brightened, and he shook his head. No. For some reason, he did not think he needed to be planted. The idea might have been a little silly, but he did think that putting his feet in warm dirt sounded nice. Relaxing. Not essential to survival, though.

For a long moment, he studied Sivan, trying to find the words to express how grateful he was for the kindness that had been shown to him. But a simple word did not seem to be sufficient. Sivan had, quite literally, saved his life. Had Sivan and IX not found him that night, he did not doubt that he would have died alone in the mountains and snow. What a miserable way to depart from the mortal plain!

He felt the warmth of Sivan’s arm around his shoulders, and his smile brightened, his own arm slipping around Sivan’s waist. He gave a slight squeeze, a one-armed hug to express his gratitude, before he tugged him towards the kitchen.

“Show,” he whispered. If he could help make food, it would be all the better for both of them. There might, then, be some comfort to be felt in returning home from whatever it was that Sivan did when he was away. Truth be told, he did not fully understand the extent of what such training required, or what sort of magic Sivan studied. The concept of the world beyond the visual was, for the moment, a bit of a mystery to him, one which would, no doubt, be unfolded in time.

“Show!” He repeated, pointing to the kitchen, this time with the tiniest bit of force. He was eager to help.

[Sivan]

"Ah, I don't really know what to show you," he admitted. "I'm no great chef, hardly even a passable cook. I just bought things that could be eaten as they are. Bread, cheese, winter apples... But I suppose..."

It seemed silly and simplistic, but he showed the Fae'ethalan how to pour water into the kettle and safely put that in the fire to heat up. He showed him the best way to hold the knife, and cut up some cheese, cored an apple, and sliced the bread. Now they had a little lunch spread to graze from and all that really needed cleaning was the knife and the cutting board.

"You should eat," he said. "Bears and such eat a great deal in the fall so they can sleep through the winter while their bodies use up their fat. You don't look like you'd survive a day without food." He didn't mean it to be shaming but sounded rather like an elderly person trying to force food upon a younger person. It was a way to care without admitting it, though Sivan wouldn't think of it in those terms.

When the water was boiling, he carefully removed it from the hearth, filling a sachet with tea and other herbs, which he set in the kettle to steep.

"It only takes a couple of minutes. Some things take shorter or longer, but I usually forget to time them. I try not to let it over steep, though, because then it becomes too bitter. I wonder if Jacun will teach me cooking, as well. It seems like a sort of alchemy. Or perhaps it just seems like magic to the uninitiated." He considered that for a moment. "I'll show you how to draw water from the well tomorrow. It's too cold to go back out into it now. But, come to think of it, if a fire sprite deigns to keep our hearth warm, perhaps a water sprite could be convinced to help with our plumbing." He squinted at the sink. Kalzasi had amenities. Sivan just couldn't afford much in the way of luxury.

"Anything else you want me to show, show, show, you demanding little bastard?" he asked. The words might have been harsh but his tone wasn't.

[Flower]

He nodded encouragingly. Sivan could, he was quite certain, do anything to which he set his mind, though that might have been his own lack of experience showing. Sivan was capable and smart, he believed, and the sole reason he was alive to begin with. He did not know enough people to say whether or not Sivan was smarter than others, but if he had to venture a guess at that moment, he would have absolutely been sure that Sivan was the smartest man alive.

And probably the kindest.

He watched each and every movement carefully, memorizing exactly how to set the kettle on. That seemed like an important skill to know. Making the water hot would be useful. He could make tea, or maybe even find other things to put in warm water that might be delicious to eat! Yes, that would be especially helpful. The things Sivan brought to eat were delicious, but if he could contribute more meaningfully, be more helpful, he might feel as though he was actually earning his keep here.

He nodded at the offer to see how water was drawn. It would be easier to know how to get it himself, rather than waiting for someone to get it for him. And then, perhaps, he might not feel as though he was such a burden to Sivan.

A little smile was offered, and he shook his head. It seemed enough for him in terms of lessons for the day. But he leaned up on his toes to brush aside a bit of Sivan’s hair. His nose wrinkled as he beamed up at him, whispering, “Help now.” Sivan had been more than kind to him, and though he knew nothing of himself or the world from which he hailed, he understood that it would be better if he could somehow offer some sort of something--anything--in return, rather than simply sitting in the sunlight all day.

Food was readied, and he was eager to eat it. He was especially fond of the cheese, though each part of the meal was pleasing. Nibbling on a bit, he studied Sivan. “...Learn magic?” He gestured to Sivan. “Teach me magic?” He was uncertain if one must be born with such a gift, or if the talent could be taught. Perhaps he could learn, and contribute in that way, too. Perhaps, if he learned, he could figure out what was wrong with him in the first place. There had to be some sort of answer to his many questions, something he could do himself to uncover the truth.

[Sivan]

"Well... that is an interesting idea," he said. Considering the Fae'ethalan while they grazed, he tried to explain some of the basics.

"Magic can come from a variety of sources. Some are inborn — like how I am able to speak to nature spirits, which I get from my mother's blood. Dratori blood. I think your kind has some innate magic, as well, but I will just have to research that in addition to curses and breaking them. Other magic comes from attuning to runes, which come from the Gods, though... I don't know that runic magic needs necessarily be considered holy. I know two types of magic that come from runes. The summoning of spirits, which I started to build on top of my natural abilities. And I can summon all sorts of spirits: wild natural spirits like the sprites I've been thinking about; celestial, holy spirits; infernal, profane spirits; eldritch, chaotic spirits. I stick to the nicer ones. The darker ones are always trying to trick you, or drive you mad. And I've attuned to a rune that helps me see magic. To see aether, the stuff that spirits and magic are made from. And then there are ways of manipulating magic through knowledge and skill... They don't require anything of the magus but attention and effort. I know artificing to help create things like IX." He pointed to the living statue. "And I will be learning alchemy from Jacun if all goes to plan. That's a magical craft focusing on changing the nature of materials.

"I am not so skilled with my runic magic that I know how to attune someone. The rune has to be inscribed on the body and... there is some sort of ritual involved, but I have only been on the receiving end. And I have lived through the sickness that comes after. It's temporary, but dangerous. Perhaps by the time I can pass something over to you safely, we will either have solved your amnesia problem or determined that threshold sickness won't... make it worse.

"What would you like to do with magic anyway?"

Curious now, he threaded his Rune of Semblance with his aether so that he might see the Fae'ethalan more clearly, more profoundly.

[Flower]

He listened intently to Sivan’s explanation. Warm now, and with a full belly, he was better able to consider the words spoken, to give thought where his brain had been foggy in the past. He had not witnessed much by the way of Sivan’s magic, given that they had only been together for a short amount of time, but it seemed to be something about which Sivan was very passionate, and that drew his interest. If the sort of things Sivan imagined were possible with magic, then perhaps a solution to his own problem was possible, too. Perhaps a spirit like the one who led Sivan to him could help him to discover not only the source of his problem, but also the means to correct it. If not that, then perhaps there might be some spell they might craft to uncover the mystery.

All he really had was hope. What other alternative was there in this unusual situation? He considered. Perhaps, given their new location, they might be able to find a teacher for him, someone who could show him how to create magic that was suited for him. He hugged his arms to himself, and considered Sivan’s question. What would he like to do with magic?

The thought that came unbidden to his mind was clear, and he smiled a little. “Hide,” he whispered. And then, he touched his temple, as if to indicate thought or the mind. “Trick.”

Whatever he might have forgotten, he had not forgotten the importance of hiding, or the need for it in the face of potential risks. He considered how he had sought to keep to himself in the mountains, now that he recalled some of the time, limited as it might have been, before Sivan’s arrival, and before the arrival of the cold. He took another deep breath, closing his eyes to improve his focus as he spoke.

“Make...calm. Enchant.”

They were simple words, and he could only hope that they were sufficient to give some sort of insight as to what he intended. Thus far, communication, though difficult, had gone smoothly enough. He did not want to suddenly see it derailed.

[Sivan]

"Hm," he mused. "Hide, trick, make calm, and enchant. I think those would fall under the purview of the Runes of Masquerade and Mesmer. Neither one a rune I know, but if I meet an illusionist or a mesmerist, I will try to ascertain whether they are trustworthy and willing to take on a student. The largest group of magi in the city seem to be the Circle mages, but from what I understand, they are quite a tight knit group and require membership for training and I don't really want to be part of a group. Having a master I respect is one thing, but when I achieve a level of proficiency, I will be free to do as I will."

He shrugged.

"The other seems so permanent. I suppose I just don't play well with others, come to think of it. Most people are idiots." His smile went a bit wicked. "And I suppose the silver lining to your curse is that I know you won't go telling people I said so."

To his aetheric eye, Flower looked entirely different than did a Hytori or Dratori. The Fae'ethalan were not truly elves, or so he understood it. They just chose to mimic elves due to a connection with elven religious practices. At least, that was what common knowledge there was. Though his body was small and slender, his aura bespoke stronger, more resilient stuff than met the eye. He supposed that was how he survived in the wild without much of anything to his name for however long he had been out there. He was beginning to recognize that pattern as him, though his aura was a bit blurry on the topic of sex. Him seemed to be how he identified, so that was enough for Sivan.

And then there was the strange blot upon him. A dimming. A darkness that seemed to turn even his aetheric eye aside. He knew it would give him a headache to regard it for too long, but he wanted to understand the nature of this mystery they faced. He presumed it was a curse but didn't know enough of curses to really say.

[Hikami]

A Rose by Any Other Name (Sivan)

---

Points awarded:

• Sivan - 8 {Can be used for magic}

Lores:

• Sivan
  ► Show Spoiler

  Survival: Gaging How Long Food Lasts
  Survival: Food That Will Keep
  Clockwork: Figuring Out How New Things Work
  Botany: Understanding What Plants Need
  Summoning: The Four Spirit Types
  Summoning: The Nature of a Deal
  Summoning: Planning First
  Summoning: Knowing What Sprites Do What
  Summoning: The Types of Sprites
  Semblance: Studying a Fae'ethalan
  Semblance: The Difference Between Races
  Semblance: Flower's Aura
  Semblance: Recognizing a Curse
  Flower
  - If you return and wish to obtain lores and points for this thread do not hesitate to reach out and let me know ^v^

Loot:

• N/A

Injuries:

• N/A

Notes:

• Great thread!
  If you feel I missed anything contact me and we will make adjustments!
  enjoy your rewards!