Relief washed over her, though Acheron knew at once that this feeling of unease, of guilt, of fear for what she might've done, would never really leave her. It was a lesson learned--one of caution, and she wasn't sure she would find herself ever making fun of her father's overzealous safety standards ever again.
It made her uneasy.
Pride tried not to show how hard the question hit him. He'd not seen much of Acheron's emotional side, and her worry was touching and he felt, in turn, bad for having frightened her.
Maybe that would distract her; Pride didn't really know. But he led the way a little ways back, glancing at Acheron to see if she was still interested. It was the best thing he could think of, though as an afterthought, he tried to prepare a shield to raise before them--just in case.
It shimmered into being a moment later, and he tested it a little.
Acheron wasn't too sure about this, but she glanced at Pride anyway--faint fear lingering. She exhaled, and turned her attention to the Spire, following him.
She stepped out, tail flicking, and studiously inspected the base of the Spire. Hooves clicked as she came to a halt alongside Pride, dwarfed by his height. She was ready to step behind his barrier; she just needed to use her magic, first.
At length she picked out what looked like a little bit of aqua stone--one of the littler crystals around the edges of the crackling power.
It was one thing to beg for a piece of the Spire--to excitedly demand the danger of trying to steal a bit of it--and something else altogether to actually be the one attempting it. The thrill running through her twinned with that spark of fear, rising up again, and she had to fight to concentrate on the little piece. Already she felt attached to it, pale eyes locked on it, all her focus now on blasting it free of the bedrock.
She saw the little bit knock free, and skitter surprisingly uneventfully across the floor--but it was a little too close to the Spire for comfort. Acheron considered, and looked up at Pride.
Pride gave a little nod, and stepped forward. He was tense--there were no two ways about it; he'd feared something terrible would happen. But as he let his shield drop, he allowed himself the faintest sigh of relief, exhaled through flaring nostrils.
It had just fallen, like any rock. Broken free of the black stone beneath, and tumbled. His shield fell away, and he concentrated on the tiny piece. His mind slipped, then gripped it, magic hoisting it a few inches over the ground and levitating it gently back.
It did hurt--a snapping sting like a static shock--and he flinched back.
She stared, eager, as the stone swept toward her--and as it landed before her, as Pride touched it, she felt a strong sense of her own pride.
But she couldn't touch it yet--so she waited, prancing in place a little before forcing her hooves to settle. Pale eyes lifted, sought her father's face as she struggled to stay patient. But that patience didn't last long--she leaned down abruptly a moment later, determined to test it for herself.
It bit-! It reminded her at once of the magic of the lizard Saul, and she flinched back exactly the same, hooves clattering. But she didn't cry out. Instead, Acheron squinted, snorting a little, and looked up at Pride.
Pride shook his head, amused but also disapproving--she just couldn't control herself. But she took it in stride, at least, and when she asked her question, he gave a hum of assent.
Nothing came, at first, and he gave a little sigh, stepping back.
She watched the magic fail, but she wasn't really in a hurry, now. She sat herself down on her haunches--a dog-like posture that looked a little awkward on a half-deer form--and eyed first the Spire chunk, and then Pride.
Pride snorted some, shaking his head in amusement. He tried first, again, to make another little holster of sorts for the Skystone piece: a frame to wrap around it, ornate and almost organic, a pale almost-white, blue-hued diamond. This time, magic sparked up and stone cracked up from underfoot, spreading at his command.
It turned out a little... thin, and he wasn't entirely sure it wouldn't shatter with a hard hit. But it'd keep Acheron from getting zapped, at least, while she carried it.
He briefly described Cetus, and then Ursa--warning her to be cautious of fungus there--and lastly, Leo; he advised her to seek out the Blacksmith should she visit there.
Was that all-? He thought so; he stepped back at last, leaving the stone piece to Acheron.
This was... a lot to take in, and Acheron hesitated as she tried to remember it all.
Giggle--a "hyena" (whatever the heck that was) in Canis.
Mountains and water and stuff in Pegasus.
A palace(!) in Cepheus!
She couldn't figure out which one she wanted to visit first, but she was at once determined to see it all.
She stood and picked the gemstone up in her teeth, testing it; it seemed fine, not shocking her at all, and she wagged her tiny tail.
Then she turned, taking a few clicking steps toward the tunnel, as if to indicate that she was ready to go.
Just in case it wasn't clear, though, she reached for her magic too. Two bounds later and she was sailing through the air, firing a playful glance back at Pride.
Pride gave yet another little snort of amusement, another shake of his head. She still wasn't worn out-? All right, then.
He focused for a moment, and then stepped to his right. Another "Pride" stepped from the same spot, but left, and both peered at Acheron. Then the doppleganger leapt in a graceful bound, and streaked off down the tunnel up ahead.
He carried on with the lesson as he walked, his voice fading off down the tunnel even as his Drift-self, off ahead, faded too. Later on, he'd reflect that he hoped this had been a good lesson for the child. He didn't yet know it--but it had.
exit Pride