ORIGIN

Practice. Practice made perfect.

Was that really all there was to it? Seemed... too simple. But maybe magic didn't need to get more complicated. It was already weird enough summoning wisps that lit up the room out of seemingly thin air.

"... What kind of magic am I good at?", James asked, and rolled another stone out of the building, before trying to summon another wisp at the same time.

"I can make these things,", he said, staring at his first flame, "But I haven't been able to do much else."

He snorted softly and went to get another rock, the pile decreasing, only a few little ones and the big one remaining. He stared at it and decided to cancel his spell before it began, and focused on the rock, eyes narrowed. He inhaled and exhaled slowly, before trying to pick it up.

He watched it float up, holding his breath, before perking up as the rock stayed in place. James trotted forward to push it towards the door, focusing on making it float rather than move or anything and moved it outside a little bit away before letting it drop down again off to the side. He grinned and spun around to face Pride, barely able to keep still.

"I did it!", he exclaimed with a laugh, eyes scrunched up with his smile.

@Pride

Pride's eyes widened a tad at the foal's latent ability; he'd lifted an item without hardly any practice. It wasn't the easiest spell, and the stag dipped his head in acknowledgment.

"James, I mean this when I say it, that is very impressive. Perhaps one day you will be a skilled magic-user," he said--and then laughed, a little; "and here, I'm having trouble managing at all!" It was said warmly--and he didn't even attempt the cast, this time. He didn't want to dimish James' achievement at all.

"I would assume that is precisely the sort of magic you're good at; the same kind as me, but we shall see. There are magics that can grow plants--for you to eat, or lay on, here--or make rocks glow, eternally, to provide light under this roof. I will try to make it rain, a little; it can wash some of the soot off the top, and it's always pleasant to be under cover listening to the rain, hm? Plus, a little something to drink."

He focused, for a beat, and a light drizzle began, outside. Pride glanced out, and up, then moved back in and began physically pushing one of the last stones outside. "One of my sons--he's grown, mind--but I believe he could be useful, here, at least with lights. Magic with light and illusion is always problematic for me. It seems to always wish to betray me," Pride added, wryly amused. "You know, there's a--helpful spell it might be good for you to try out sooner? It can protect you, if you need it, a sort of shield. If you focus your mind to move anything that comes toward you, to block it, it can prevent it from hitting you. It is... sort of like moving the rocks, but moving everything that comes toward you, you see? You could try it with the rain, if you like."

@James

James grinned, tail flicking from side to side, his chest puffing out in pride, "I hope I can be! You'll teach me, right?"

He flinched as the rain started to patter on the roof, and sprang outside to watch it, eyes wide as he immediately got wet. He shook himself and backed up into the dryness of the hut, and peered out into the drizzle created, pondering.

He stepped out into it and imagined a flat surface, like a roof, one that would repeal the rain and have it fall off the sides rather than onto him. He focused, harder and harder, ears perked and hooves firmly planted.

His eyes widened in awe as the rain suddenly started hitting the shimmering surface that appeared, dripping off the sides and to the ground. He watched the rainfall, enraptured by the droplets on the surface of the shield he'd created.

"... Like this?", he asked after a moment, looking back to Pride to see if he was doing it right. He hoped so!

@Pride

Pride's back was turned, his legs and antlers trying to wrangle a larger stone out. He turned back, at James' voice, and blinked in surprise.

The foal had not only managed the spell but done it well, shielding himself from the drizzling rain. Pride left the stone and paced over to peer up at the shield, a kind, pleased expression on his face. He was starting to think he'd been lucky enough to stumble across a prodigy--not that he wanted to use James' abilities, exactly, but it was good to ensure the foal would have the opportunites he deserved.

"That's very impressive, James. I'm giving you descriptions and you're putting them right into use. Next, you just need to use your imagination, hm?" He had an encouraging tone; and when he leaned down, offering a nuzzle atop James' head somewhat akin to an affectionate ruffling of hair, he went on: "I'll go see if I can find some grass for bedding, hm? I should have done that before it rained, but ahh well; it'll dry soon enough. And once that's done, is there anything else you'd like, in here? Aside from lights, when we can get them--or make them?"

He turned back, moving to push out the rock, first. "There should be grass close by, so I won't be long."

@James

James pressed into the affection and grinned happily, just like a kid just told they were going to Disney World. He stepped out from under the shield after a moment and shook himself a bit as the rain started to sprinkle his fur, and turned to face Pride again.

"Thank you,", he said graciously, "Um... Something colorful? Like... a chain of colorful things, like rocks and flowers and stuff on the wall. Just so it isn't so barren. But I can always add to this later."

He trotted forward to help Pride, dodging an antler before pushing at the rock, helping him roll it outside. Once that was done, he looked up at Pride, the shield above them and sheltering them from the rain.

"I can come with you,", he said, pointing his nose at the shield, "So you don't get wet."

James looked around and took a step forward to make sure he could have the shield follow him, putting a bit more focus into it. Which he could. So it was like a sort of umbrella, he thought, just one he couldn't see.

@Pride

The foal trotted out into the rain, and Pride strode alongside him. He raised his own 'umbrella,' of sorts, the shield shimmering into place above them. It was a little more draining than he could justify just to repel his own weather, but the kid seemed to be having fun, so...

"Right, grass, then; and lights, and colorful things. I have a task for you, then, if you're up for it-?" His tone was good-natured as his hooves clicked over stone. "I can make you a number of colorful gemstones to start off with, but go to Eridanus again at some point, and bring back soil. Enough to plant some pretty flowers, grass and so forth around your home, yes? It will be a test of magic; you'll have to find some way to carry it back. A challenge," Pride explained. He knew that telekinetic magic wasn't useful for picking up a lot of tiny grains at once; James would have to find something to put the dirt in first, or find another way.

He paused at one of the nearby little gardens. Orion wasn't as lush as some caves; he himself still went to Eridanus to feed. But some Gembound had laid dirt here and there, already, and planted grass or other plants. He cropped some of this grass at the base, and turned back, carrying it in his teeth. There he paused, glancing back, waiting to see if James would take some of his own.

This, apparently, was to be James' bedding. Though Pride could hardly say so with a mouth chock-full of trailing grass.

@James

James looked back over his shoulder, hooves clicking on the ground as he trotted along slowly, content and happy, "Oh? I can do that!"

He could take one of the larger leaves and fill it fully before taking it back! He knew they were sturdy since he'd taken drinks from them on occasion, finding the ones that had fallen made perfect bowls when they fell on their tops.

James hopped forward after Pride when he lagged, his thoughts slowing his legs, and watched Pride take a clump before reaching down and taking one himself. He resisted the urge to eat it and stared down at the rest with narrowed eyes. His shield dropped and his tail flicked up, and he watched a patch of grass rise up, his eyes on them as he kept them raised slightly.

Slowly, he turned towards his little house and took off at a trot towards it, the floating grass carried from the bottom, just enough in total with what James and Pride carried in their mouths to make a James-sized bed.

The grass was set down and James nudged it into the shape of his liking, before setting the stuff in his mouth down beside it and pushing it into the rest. He nodded to himself and stood back, satisfied.

"... What now?", he asked, looking to Pride when he arrived.

@Pride

Pride pushed back into the relative shelter of James' new home, and waited while James pushed his own grass into the shape of a bed. The kid was skilled, he had to give him that, really: using new magic with the ease of an old master. Once the foal had stepped aside, the white stag moved forward to lay his long, half-tangled clump of grass atop the rest, and then moved back again.

"Well, if you want more you know where to get it, now. As for what next, we can try other magic, if you wish; or if you want light now, I can send for someone to do that. My familiar can contact one of my sons easily enough, and he has skill with lights," the stag explained, "or... I think there are some abandoned light-stones further in the ruins, if you wish to search for them? They were left behind when the dragon attacked. I should be able to find them with my magic, even if they are covered in rubble, or blackened--that should clean off, at least," he added.

Pride still wasn't sure if anyone had died in Raheerah's attack. He didn't know of anyone who had outright gone missing--but he hoped not.

"Or, if you are tired, of course you can rest. Or I can show you where to find me, at other times. Now--you wanted colors, yes..? Let us hope my magic is more cooperative, now," he said, firing James a kind look. He then looked down, focusing deeply on the bedrock at the center of the room.

There was a brief crack; he grunted, finding it more effort than it should have been. It nearly did not come, and then, with a sensation like a magic dam breaking, a gemstone thrust up from the floor. It was, a a centerpiece, beautiful--not the meter-tall masterpiece Pride was aiming for but it was still over a foot in diameter, with clusters of shimmering crystals jutting from its center in several directions. It was a diamond: but one of many colors. Some was clear, some yellow, some brown or bright blue. One crystalline shaft was pink, and another portion glittered a dark, brooding red. Other pieces, around the edges, were rich and mossy green.

"There we go," he said, stepping back with an exhale of relief. It hadn't been easy to form, but here it was. "A gift, for your new home. A diamond, like my own, but with--as requested--color."

He tipped his head to James, pale antlers sweeping the air.

@James

"... That's a lot of things to do,", James said slowly and pushed the new clump of grass into place before sitting down on his new bed, happy as a clam.

He mulled it over for a minute, weighing pros and cons, wondering if Pride was up for much more.

"... Can we search for gems and train on the way?", he asked, "Then go to your place?"

There. Eliminating three possibilities. He was wondering who would come, though. Would a stag like Pride show up if they were to request it? Hm.

James' eyes widened at the appearance of the massive gem cluster, and he stepped forward, staring at it in awe, "Oh wow- it's so pretty!!"

Such a childish description for such a beautiful object, precious in more ways than just being of precious material. James ran past it to bump his chest with Pride's, his neck craning to rest on his shoulder in a hug, so happy that he could sing!

"It's amazing- thank you!", he said, and spun around, trying to figure out where to put the masterpiece (in his humble opinion).

He planned to put it up across from one of the windows, where light could shine in and reflect off of it, and if he was right, sparkle across the room. Acting as a nightlight, as it were.

James stared down at the gem and focused... and focused. Nothing. He snorted and stamped a foot, a bit annoyed at his magic's sudden lack of obedience, but whatever, he'd find another way. And so he grabbed a clump of grass and set it down, laying the gem across it so that it didn't get scuffed while he pushed it towards the wall he wanted it upon. He'd deal with it later.

"So... do we go now?", James asked, looking back at Pride.

@Pride

"We can do that, yes--certainly. Though I warn you, we're unlikely to simply find gemstones lying about. We might be able to pry some quartz loose from somewhere," he said, thoughtfully. He'd been about to turn away, to make room at the doorway, when James ran to him. He was exclaiming his joy, pushing against him briefly chest-to-chest in some equine imitation of a hug, and he laughed quietly. He was glad this kid had manners, at least; there were so many rude or ignorant of such things through the caves, and someone with this much magical power and arrogant cruelty would have been a danger to everyone. "We can go, now, yes," he agreed, watching James put the stone away.

He turned, pacing out, and off toward the Throne, wondering as he did so what he could offer for a first lesson. The child was surely wearing himself out--and Pride chose that to start with, latching onto it in a moment of inspiration. "Training, then... First let me warn you, you can only cast so much at once. You will exhaust yourself. I've given myself terrible headaches and physical exhaustion more times than I care to count," he added. "Push your abilities, but know your limits. Now..." he added.

He looked around, as he walked, and selected a stone lying up ahead, a small one.

Pride reached out with his mind, and picked the stone up as they walked, and then turned, prancing sideways and eyeing the foal. "Catch it if you can," he suggested, a little playfully, and gave James a moment to realize what he meant. He then used his magic to lightly toss it, overhand, so that it would land a few feet ahead of the foal and clatter across the rock--unless James caught it, first.

@James