ORIGIN - Memories Etched in Stone

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Ahhhh. That had been a little too quick, hadn't it-?

Pride dipped his head. "Of course; my apologies. I'll do just that." He turned, seeking out the rock again with eyes and magic; and this time, when he lifted it, it was slow and careful. Rather than throw it, he began to turn it in very slow, lazy arcs; gradual and sweeping shapes through the air. "Strike at it when you feel ready," he assured Ember--there was no rush in it now.

Ember lifted his head, patient. When the rock began to lift, to swing more slowly to and fro, he took a moment to track it: to learn its new rotations, the patterns with which Pride moved it.

Then he concentrated on his magic, welling it up with quiet emphasis on focus and stability rather than raw power. This time, when the blast came, it was light, but laser-focused: it knocked the rock forward (and Pride likely let it go on impact) so that it clattered down and away across the stone.

He looked to Pride, fiery eyes bright with enthusiasm; his draconic tail swept slowly to and fro behind him.

"I did it," he said, again--quietly, simply, happily.

@Pride

Pride flicked his tail, head lifting. "Well done!" he praised, but kept his voice quiet. "That was a good hit. We can try again, if you like-?" he offered, turning with a clatter of hooves to reach for the rock, again. "Or we can do something else, if you prefer?"

He turned back to Ember, levitating the rock into the air for him, but his expression was questioning rather than expectant. If the kid wanted to try more of this, to practice, that was good--"It would be safe to practice until you're sure with it; this magic is strong, but dangerous is misused." But if he didn't want to, Pride wouldn't force it. He himself had learned the basics on his own. Undoubtedly Ember could, too; it was just that Pride would feel better if he were here in case something did go wrong.

@Ember

"I can try again," he answered, mild, agreeable. He wanted to, in fact. Wanted to practice this, to get good at it--though why, he couldn't really have said. It was just a vague desire to improve; maybe a competitive edge? But the sort of "competitive" nature that Pride himself held: to be the best that one could be, rather than comparing his skills to those of anyone else.

Hesitation, and then--"I want to try again." Clarified, then.

Ember took his time, again: he arched back his neck, focusing on the stone, on his magic, on his own gem, on a blast of controlled energy-

-and again it connected, a strong burst of kinetic power slapping the rock from the air and sending it clattering across the ground. Proudly, Ember lifted his head again, and looked to Pride, eyes bright. "I did it," he said again, and there was confidence in his tone, now.

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