Pride inclined his head in agreement as he moved along, and then gave his head a thoughtful little shake. "Water is like air. It isn't the waves, exactly--imagine if you forced a powerful surge of energy straight down into it. You'd see it part, a hole open in it briefly. It'll be good for seeing your magic's direction and power--something you can't really see in air. And it'll give you an idea of just how far it really reaches."

Ahh--and here they were. Pride stepped out of the brush, picking his way down over mossy stones and thick, protruding roots, to the water's edge. Eridanus was loud with birdsong, always full of life, but the Eyes seemed to be empty and safe.

Good.

He turned, ears pressing toward his son as he spoke further. "So; here we are. I hope you'e ready--?" This came with a hint of playfulness. "Watch." The white stag then turned to the water, peering down at it and, for a moment, focusing deeply. His magicka flickered up--not a powerful surge, but that didn't matter, not for the sake of example. It blasted down and forward in a small, light dispelling of the air--and water--before it, and for a moment it appeared as though a large fist had punched downward a few feet into the water. To either side the displaced liquid splashed up and outward, and he felt the spray over his face and coat with the satisfaction of a spell well-cast.

"There," he told Azizos, turning as he did so. He regarded his son with steady, silver eyes, then backed away from the water. "I think it doesn't go quite so far when in water, as in air, but it should give you some idea. You try it."

Pride gave his head a tilt of acknowledgement, but his expression--and his voice--were warm and approving, encouraging even. "Excellent job," he said, and then stepped down toward the water's edge again. This time, he stood somewhat away from his son. "One day, you may feel confident enough to fling the magic out in all directions--useful, for example, if you don't know from which way an attack will come, or if you have enemies on multiple sides. Watch the water, now," he cautioned, wading in chest-deep.

Damn, it's cold, he thought to himself, and the idea was troubling--Azizos was right. It wasn't just cold, either, it was bitter, almost unnaturally icy.

Shaking the thought away, Pride concentrated on his magic. The sooner he correctly formed and released his magic, the sooner he could step back out.

He glanced up at Azizos, making sure his son's eyes were upon him, before lashing out with his gathered magicka. It wasn't anywhere near Azizos himself, of course--he'd safely gained distance--but the spell's effects on water were impressive nonetheless. A crater of dry air briefly formed around Pride, an explosive splash audible as the orb of energy rocketed out around him in all directions. For a fraction of a second he stood as if in an orb of air, and the spell's effects were clearly visible as it pushed the water away--and then it was over, the lake splashing back in to fill the magically-formed gap. It took a moment for the ripples to begin to fade, and Pride looked to Azizos, stepping rather hurriedly back out onto dry (warm!) land.

"You could test all sorts of things, here. You can learn to freeze and boil water; how to form mist from it. You can learn to manipulate the water itself, or if you wish to learn fire--... Well, stay near water. That is also an unpleasant magic to have backfire on you." His tone was patient--he was in no rush. It was important that he teach Azizos as best he could. Arsu didn't share his interest in Pride's method of magic, and that was fine--the world could do with more like him and Mercurius. But Azizos did, and Pride knew damn well just how powerful their magic could be. The damage inflicted could be devastating on one's enemies--and, if not well-trained, even on oneself. In fact-... (And another thought occured to Pride)-- "Just be careful how deep you get. The last thing you want is to break your own legs, and drown from it."

Pride snorted in amusement at the young one's talk of being wet. He wasn't sure if Mercurius disliked water--the lion had not, so far as Pride could remember, professed dislike of anything. But the youth's words regarding rain were beautiful, and he gave a little nod. "It did look like rain, yes. Your words are beautiful, as well. Perhaps you ought to try storytelling, yourself," he added, thinking again of Mercurius. These were Mercy's children, after all, as much as his own; perhaps they would, in time, fill the caves with their own tales.

Then a stone was shooting off over the water, slapping off it, and Pride looked sharply to his son. "Was that magic--?" he asked, and his surprise was evident in his tone. He himself had never focused energy on an object in such a way--he'd used his mind, yes, but that was all.

Fascinated, he fished quickly for the falling stone, in the water, with his own mind. He couldn't find it, though--it had fallen too deep into the cold wet--and he turned, kicking lightly along the shore for a brief moment. There--he found another, and nudged it, looking with bright interest to Azizos.

"Can you do it again..?"