ORIGIN

The tunnels had been of much help to him. They'd so kindly allowed him to try and chip away at the ice that layered their walls. He had pounded, scratched, and even in a moment of weakness screamed frustration until speaking could only be done in strangled croaks of pain. And when finally the lack of progress had become too much, a single conviction had cemented itself: if the cold could not help, then the heat would.

First, travelling took him to Eridanus. Wandering amongst the greenery, body matured in spite of a mind focused on juvenile pursuits. Once jet black scales became mottled with red. A small hope suggested that this was a sign of his growing magic; it'd been incorrect. The climate proved insufficient for his needs, the fire he attempted to claw forth never obeying his command. Still he remained there for longer than necessary, reluctant to leave behind the lush vegetation that his stomach desired.

Fornax had been an accidental discovery, blundering in places he was unfamiliar with. Driven by desperation, Fahl had taken paths he previously would not have considered, too attached to being within close proximity of Pisces. A fortunate find welcomed him with a gust of warmth from its entrance. Although not scorching, it was a step above the previous environment.

This was why the marine iguana now lounged upon a small island within the vast ocean. Eyes closed, he could be mistaken for napping. Instead meditation would be a more apt description. Heat soaked his entire body and he memorized its sensation between deep breaths for future reference. An active creature, the comfort in such an exercise was nonexistent. Strong urges demanded for him to fidget, to run, to swim. He kept himself prone while the water lapped at his toes and threatened a surprise drowning.

Unsurprisingly, the peace was not meant to last. Annoyance grew and his tail began to lash over the sand. Then a low growl built at the back of the throat. Next thing Fahl knew, he was spitting curses into the air. He'd been resting here for at least ten minutes and already his calm had reached its limit. Usually one obsessed with image, in this instant he did not care what innocent ears might hear him, too fed up with his entire situation to bother.

Despite the quick rage that had burrowed into his chest, the venting could not be carried on for long. Tongue and jaw weakened with each impassioned flex, and power sapped away alongside the words that swept past them. Finally breath escaped his grasp entirely. Spent, he flopped onto the ground. Even though the climate remained warm, shivers shook his body; desperate gasps tried to recover the air he'd lost. Frustration lingered, embers that refused to die. But they needed to.

He couldn't be stupid about this. Contrary to his own assertions, sheer willpower had done nothing against walled away potential. Shouts and screams evoked little cooperation. Maybe—as much as Fahl hated to consider it—understanding would, if he gave it a chance.

Fighting back a fresh jumble of curses rising in his throat, he breathed in. Then out. Repetition settled into routine, and focus fell once more upon the ambient heat. Even so, the occasional twitch of discomfort could not be avoided. That was simply how ignoring deeply ingrained behaviors worked.

Things were beginning to seem, if he dared believe it, almost tolerable. Having attained a steady rhythm in breathing, simple parts of life became more appreciable. Fornax kept him well-fed, the surrounding waters were not frigid like those he was more acquainted with, and his hide warmed without any effort on his part. In this moment, contentment ruled over him more than concern. A part of him wished to stretch that feeling on forever even though it was a betrayal of his nature. He could stay here, absorbing heat instead of conjuring it.

So he did. The sound of rushing waves was drowned out while serenity enveloped his mind. Only the embracing warmth mattered. Fahl's mouth slightly parted to form his signature reptilian smile, and he accepted the affection as if it were from a close friend. The iguana welcomed this and delved deeper.

What had not been accounted for was the drowsiness accompanying the comfort of his position. Mindfulness gave way to mind fog without his even knowing, his thoughts blurring at their edges. But perhaps this failure what not the setback it appeared to be; as awareness shifted into fantasy, a memory floated to the surface. Although old, the sequence of images still managed to hold clarity in its most important details: open jaws, a rippling stream of air pouring from them. This had been a happy moment. Over time it'd been tinged with self-doubt as he'd held it against his meager attempts at replication. Now, he could see the revelation woven into its tattered fabric.

Location had been what had led him here, seeking out the greatest heat to comprehend and ultimately measure up to. However, he'd neglected to change the destination on a more personal level.

When warming fish, had he ever bothered to apply his magic to more than the meal? No. In doing so, the heat he created only touched his face on occasion and never his tongue. But what did he recall? Warmth expelled from the mouth.

Eyes having been opened and spurred by the inkling of an idea, Fahl rose from his sprawled position. He parted his own jaws, and instead of shoving his intent out, he centered it within.

The air seemed to have thickened, uncomfortably so. With some difficulty, he lifted his tongue and swept it over the roof of his mouth. Wet had become slightly less. Fahl blinked and swallowed, feeling as if warm sludge had been pushed down his throat. Despite the unpleasant sensation, this wasn't enough. More magic was pulled and directed to the same place.

Temperature inched up and the inside of his mouth dried a little bit more. He swallowed a few times, feeling how the air had coalesced more into a block of moisture and heat. Progress was being made but to his benefit? He did not know for certain. All he understood was this heat still was inferior to that he remembered. It had to be pushed further.

Fahl focused more, but the intent shoved in recoiled, dispersing the building humidity. A relief for him but not one he desired.

Results being diminished so easily was infuriating. Impatience a familiar enemy of the lizard and calm only a mere acquaintance, it'd already begun to tighten its grip upon him again. He took a couple deep breaths to ward against his foe and tried again. Regardless of the outcome, surely it'd manage to be helpful insight into his problem; while he preferred heat, maybe cold could contribute as well. To him, it was a dumb thought but one that kept his anger at bay.

As previously, the opposite occurred. His breath, while not like it was at the start of the endeavor, was a mild breeze over his tongue. The one successful fire resided in his mind, causing him to exhale his displeasure with a hiss. Initially, his magic had seemed more willing to bend to his commands due to the greater understanding between them. Had he not done enough? Was more meditation required?

He dipped a foot off the sand and into the water, idly swishing it about as he mulled over his methods. Much like the rest of the cave, its warmth lapped tenderly at the offered limb. Struck by a fit of childishness, Fahl splashed around, reminded of the shallower ponds of home. Here, the depths were not confined to a single waterfall and the dive would possibly be more to his liking.

Another idea emerged from this divergence. A determined head shake dislodged fonder thoughts and his eyes became fixed upon the ocean, seeing it no longer as a place of fun and food but also as a tool of learning. Wordless, he kicked off the ground, soared through the air, and fell with a burst of droplets into the water. The surface settled but the marine iguana did not propel himself back to the top.

-Exit