ORIGIN

The lion watched intently as the younger Gembound seemed to think about his question. When nothing happened, he just thought that Sebastian was struggling to tell him that he didn't want to. The puma's next words chased those worries away though, and sparked his curiosity.
So Sebastian had been trying to use his magic this whole time? How, Faelan wondered silently, just before the scent of burnt flesh hit his nose. He snapped his attention back to Sebastian and found him beaming as he left a searing paw-print in the dirt.

Faelan struggled with a mixture of awe and worry. Sebastian was obviously hurt, and yet, he had used magic on command. The fact that it wasn't on the first try didn't even matter. The young Gembound could, and did, use magic, even though it hurt him. The tawny brute didn't remember his own magic hurting him, but he was just now starting to realize instances in which he might have used magic.

After a few, seemingly long, moments of silence passed, Faelan finally let out a long breath before finally saying,"Thank you. I'm sorry that it hurt you, I...I didn't know it would. My magic doesn't hurt." The excuse, especially since he couldn't be certain of it, made the older Gembound feel rotten. He looked down at his deep blue gem nervously, wondering what he was doing.
He liked talking to Sebastian. It was almost as good as playing with Asimona had been, and it was far better than the craziness that had happened in Orion. But he felt awkward and unsure, and knew that there was nothing that could be done about it. He barely knew himself, how was he supposed to get to know another Gembound?

While Faelan's anxiety spiked, his magic lashed out again. The rock that has previously cracked now split down the middle. The sound echoed, resoundingly familiar, and made the lion jump from one worry on to another one. "I'm sorry!" He blurted out to Sebastian. "I didn't mean to do that, again. I'm not sure why it keeps happening. I'm not really sure about a lot of things right now..." He trailed off despondently, his gaze dropping back to his stone.

@Sebastian

@Faelan

Where Faelan was broody and uncertain, Sebastian had an aura of verve and confidence. Perhaps it was his youth, the older Gembound thought just before recent memories washed over him.
Eyes floating in mid-air. Total and utter darkness all around. That had been magic, surely, the lion concluded now that he knew it could be controlled. There was no other explanation for the strange creature and all of the events that had happened around it within Orion.

He hadn't had time to consider any of it while it was happening, but now he could. Faelan's ears were still pointed at the dark feline beside him, but his thoughts were far away as they tried to comb through his memories for instances of magic.

After another couple minutes of silence, Faelan's train of thought chugged its way back to his companion. He blinked rapidly a few times, as if to chase away the whirlwind of thoughts, before he looked up at Sebastian again.
"I think you're right. It might also be because I've never tried to use it on purpose."

It felt embarrassing to admit his lack of experience to one so young, and proficient with their magic, but he didn't even consider lying to Sebastian. The younger Gembound had been nothing but friendly, encouraging and understanding. He didn't deserve dishonesty, and Faelan wouldn't stoop to trickery anyways. He was what he was, even if he didn't know what all of that was yet.

"I'm gonna try now, I think." He announced suddenly, his golden gaze locked with Sebastian. After a curt nod, to make sure his companion knew he was about to begin, Faelan closed his eyes and tried to remember every time he thought he'd used his magic. He focused on the rock beneath him too, and it splitting like it had just moments before.
Nothing like that happened though. Instead, a red glow appeared before the lion's closed eyes. He could see Sebastian's gem, glowing a brilliant shade of red, in his mind's eye. The gem glowed so bright that it illuminated the young Gembound's smaller frame. Flickers of different colors of light dragged the lion's head one way, and then the other as he surveyed the distance.

He could see other Gembounds, he realized just before his eyes finally popped open. "I did it! I used my magic! I can see your gem, and other Gembounds, even when I close my eyes!" The lion excitedly babbled, his golden eyes alight and a grin on his cheeks.

@Sebastian

Faelan couldn't be certain if it was Sebastian's encouragement, or his own concentration, that finally made him able to use magic on command. And frankly, he didn't care which it was because, at the moment, the excitement of accomplishing something overwhelmed him. He finally seemed to have control over something, even if it was just his own emotions and abilities. What might seem trivial to others felt amazing to him, because he barely felt at home in his own skin since the moment lately.

Seeing that same excitement mirrored in Sebastian's eyes, and words, made Faelan grin even wider. The same warmth that he had felt when Asimona asked if they were friends flooded through his chest again now. He stared at the younger Gembound a long moment, which was apparently becoming a norm, before finally parting his jaws to speak.

"It's because of you, Sebastian, that I was able to do it. Thank you," the lion said sincerely, making sure to hold Sebastian's gaze the entire time he spoke. Then, after an almost reverent dip of his golden crown, Faelan looked back up at the smaller feline as he continued. "You have helped me so much. I don't know how I'll ever be able to thank you enough. I'd...like to consider us friends though if that's okay with you."

The same wide grin as before slowly spread across Faelan's maw as he stared hopefully at Sebastian.

@Sebastian


(OOC: Would you like to exit in their next posts and then maybe do a thread for them after Faelan's fight with Dezba is over?)

The young Gembound's humble and easy-going attitude both grounded and inspired Faelan. He knew now that he was capable of some form of control, and he wanted to prove that could gain it again. Not to Sebastian, but to himself.

The idea of how to do that flew out of his head whenever Sebastian agreed to his proposal of friendship though. As if to consummate it, the younger male leaped up and bumped his forehead against the lion's. Faelan grinned back at the midnight-cloaked feline, his bright gold gaze twinkling with unabashed joy. Moments like this one were when he felt completely and utterly right.

Faelan savored the warm, complete feeling for a moment before finally letting his idea from earlier slip back to the forefront of his mind. A sigh rushed past his lips at the same time that his gaze fell to the floor. He didn't want to leave Sebastian, at least not all of him did. He just felt like he needed to return to Orion and face his fears to better understand him, and his magic.

"I need to do something, but...maybe we can meet back here later?" Faelan gave Sebastian one last, long look before pushing to his paws. His smile faded as soon as he turned back the way he came. Fear that darkness, that nothingness awaited him, sent a shiver down the lion's spine as he padded away from his newly made friend.

-exit-

@Sebastian