ORIGIN

Sebastian didn't often leave Eridanus.

But he needed to practice his Magic. The Competition had showed that his control over it was better than he had thought, and his fear of it was lessening by the day.

He feared, though, setting fire to Eridanus. To his forest, his beloved home. And, besides, wasn't Polaris said to boost your magic... or something like that, he thought. So it was to Polaris he went, taking solace that it was only a single tunnel away, hoping to gain further control over his inborn magic.

But first... he dug his claws into the ground, reaching out, making sure that he was, for the most part, alone.

He'd never forgive himself if he hurt someone else.

It would be best, he knew from experience, to start with an easy spell, one he'd known for a very long time and used more times than he could count.

So he reached for his magic, took a deep breath and felt magic, weak and warm, roll through him, thin smoke filling the air.

Well. Better than nothing, he supposed.

Something a bit harder was due next, he decided as he shook himself, dispersing the foul-smelling smoke in the air.

He took the deep, requisite breath, before exhaling, singing a rock a few feet away. The panther coughed, cleared his throat, but was satisfied - that had been better, at least.

He sneezed and licked his nose - what spell next? He'd been doing well so far, but didn't want to jinx it. Still, he'd come to practice his magic, not to goof around, so with a hesitance he pulled heat up into his stomach, spread it to his ears, his nose, his feet, looked down to see his paws glowing bright.

The light faded, and he took the opportunity to sit and groom, the light letting him see the dirt he had missed.

Next... well, next would hurt. Decently, if not a lot. But he needed to practice it, to get used to the pain, so with a flash of his teeth and a grimace, heartburn heated in his chest, and he spat a mouthful of lava-like bile on the ground.

Well... something is better than nothing?