She would take his paw, trying her best to sheathe her claws as not to hurt him, though it'd be evident she has trouble doing so fully.

she nodded, and would try to do what she did last time. maybe now that she knew what she was asking her magic to do, it would work more in her favor?

she would sigh as she could feel her mind fall away again, her eyes becoming distant and half closed. her grip on his hand would tighten just a bit, as if trying to anchor herself.

She took the pebbled, dry-skinned hand--hot to the touch--and the gentle birdsong and soft breeze of Pegasus slipped away.

The air grew stale, the distant odors of smoke hanging on it. A clang of metal-on-stone was audible somewhere in the distance, rhythmic. Vargas--the same massive, magenta beast--strode along a road, stone buildings standing high to either side. By his side was another, similar, if smaller creature in hues of purple and black, spined. It was speaking.

"...ensure none of them try to run, or plot, in there," it was saying, its voice husky and androgynous.

They passed a massive tower, a number of watchful eyes staring down at them from the shadowed room at the top as they passed it. And overhead--a shadow, broad-winged and immense, swept overhead.

The husky-voiced creature glanced up. "The Master is usually deterrant enough." A pair of draconic wings beat once, the distant emberglow of the Chaos Beast's undersides gleaming in the dim light of the starlit cave, and the vision faded, smoky air giving way to fresh, the road beneath them once more soft grass.

@Bebby

it would take her a moment, as the world around her faded into smoke, to start speaking, trying to listen when the recognized words were being said.

"i see.." she started, sounding far away. "Towers. i.. i can hear metal, clanging. you're walking with.. someone who looks like you, but... like... smaller..? you're talking to them about something, someone p-plotting?...."

She struggles to find her words, like her tongue is clay in her mouth, the physical world around her distant. her tone is dizzy, like someone spun her around a few times.

"i can smell smoke, and i.. i can see people in the towers. o-oh-! wait, i-i can see something big! it's got wings. you might be in orion?.." she shakes her head, and the world comes back into focus. she's holding vargas's hand again, and they're back in pegasus.

"That was longer than last time... and this one didn't have any blood!" she said, coming back to herself, slowly. "was that one of your memories? i think i got some dirt's memory last time."

@vargas

- THE LEVIATHAN -

Vargas remained quiet, allowing Bebby to focus. And as he did so, he focused, too--and yes, he thought he could sense the element of arcane magic glimmering there.

Ironic, then--what she saw. It would be too much to explain why it was ironic, bar that the beast she'd seen in flight suffered now, taken forever from the very creature who had been Master of the magic she now used.

He nodded, withdrawing his hand afterward. "Very good," he rumbled again, his approval direct and unabashed. "And yes--if you touched dirt, you would see an echo of what was there. This element is an... esoteric one. It is one of time and whispers, of the mind and thoughts, and memories." Unusual, that one such as she had tapped into it--and he wondered, briefly, why. Nemean's design, or something other, entirely? Chance, or curiosity, perhaps? Hm. It didn't matter, for now. "Be warned that you may see what you should not, or see things that can be dangerous to an untrained mind. I do not know anyone who uses that magic now," he added--none of the Masters, anyway, and none of the Forge that he was aware of could use more than one or two touches of that element.

"I would find someone skilled in it, if you do choose to delve deeper. And was there anything else that you know, bar Light and the Arcane?"

@Bebby

She listened. arcane, huh? sounded familiar.

She thought back, as unpleasant as it was, to the memory the tunnel had showed her. could the caves feel pain? was the memory of this event just as painful to the caves as it was to her, or was the fact the dirt had long since lost all fade of blood, now sweet, meant that it didn't? or maybe it'd just healed.

She wondered what it meant, then, if he didn't know anyone anymore who used her magic. where could she go to learn?? maybe it would just make it more impressive then, if she could master it without anyone elses help.

"I have a thing that lets me make flowers bloom, and theres some other magic rattling around in there, but its like. it feels familiar to the arcane stuff, so it might be more of that?" she answered thoughtfully. "kinda like becoming familiar with footsteps. the weight or how loud the magic is can become familiar. my light magic feels, well, light, and it whistles super duper loud in my head, but the arcane stuff is deep and kinda floaty, like the fall you feel when you fall asleep!"

she thought more. "the plant stuff feels kinda like its drawing something from my chest. and i'm more tired after that then with my light magic. whatever else is in there feels kinda. clinky? also kinda heavy but like, in the way a rock is heavy."

"I can try one of those out, if you want?? i might have 1 or 2 more spells in me. maybe." she yawned.

@Vargas

- THE LEVIATHAN -

Plants? he wondered, and then it made sense--Ahh, to create Nemean flowers, obviously. Whenever she wanted.

That was probably it.

"Cast what you like," was his indifferent response. "If you are growing weary there is no point in demonstrating new things. My recommendation to you is to work on your basics. In return for all of this advice," he added, with dark amusement, "feel free to offer a service at some point to the Chaos Forge in Draco," and he nodded off toward Tunnel G.

"But do you have any more questions for me? While I am here. My time is not usually so loosely spent," he added, as if to indicate that Bebby was very lucky to get all this one-on-one training time from a Master. "-And if you see Nemean, once she emerges... try to keep her out of trouble, hm?" This, again, was dour.

Nobody could keep Nemean out of trouble.

@Bebby

She yawned again.

"I will! when im more useful though... i'll pop by draco when i'm really good, and then i'll do whatever you want!" she said cheerily. "and uh... i don't think- oh, wait! if both you and nemean are masters, are there others? and, if so, wheres the closest one? aside from you." she asked.

she rolled the thought over in her head. "I'll try my best! though i wonder if nobody else could why i'd be able to. maybe i could bribe her with candy to stay in one spot." she mused. "Thank you for everything, master vargas sir! and sorry for screaming earlier."

she decided to maybe try something impressive, just to see if she could do something cool to send him off. maybe he'd feel like his time was spent wisely if he saw something before he left?

She dug up the unfamiliar magic in her heart, pulling it upward. the air around her would fill with beautiful music, ringing like windchimes, pretty and sparkly sounding. she smiled up at him. "Some music for the road! thanks again!" she mewed cheerfuly, fluttering her wings.

@Vargas

- THE LEVIATHAN -

Vargas tilted his head. "Other Masters?" he echoed. It still confused him, to this day, that some of the little beasts didn't know who their Masters were. And one of Nemean's-! She's been lax, with this one, he mused--and hastily made a mental note to list every single Master to members of the Forge, so they didn't make the same mistake.

"The nearest is likely Totum, who works with me," he answered. "Master Astraea comes and goes. The rest are in their various regions of choice," he added, and that was vague, but it was deliberately so.

He paused, tilting his head at the melody that cascaded around him now.

"...That is another element altogether," he observed aloud, surprised. A pause, as he tasted it on the air, sampling its spark, and then... "...Earth?" it was tentative--the magic of stone and dirt was not something he ever expected to sing, but there it was. "Your repertoire is oddly expansive," he informed her, with some surprise.

As if in afterthought he turned, tugging the deer's head free from its body. It was mostly consumed, by now, but he used claws to strip bloodied flesh from bone, and then offered out the skull. "Can you make this glow?" he asked, curious.

He likely considerd it a memento, of sorts--from Nemean's lost servant.

@Bebby

She nodded, taking note. totem then, when she had the chance. maybe she can go screaming in other caves, asking for whichever master lives there. certainly got his attention.

she almost didn't expect him to give it much thought, but the fact he seemed IMPRESSED by how much she knew, even when she felt like she knew very little, is incredibly cool. every girl loves a compliment about her magical prowess. "thank you! do people not normally know this many...?"

she looked at the skull, mouthing an intrigued oooo... , before nodding.

"I can try! lets see if i got another in me-"

she touched a paw to it with a cheery "boop!"

it wasn't as intense as the last bauble, but counting it up to her being awfully tired, she shrugged. it did light up in some lovely places though, rays shining through small fractures and through the sockets, and some even shimmers from where the teeth lay attached.

"pretty!" she cooed, wagging her tail.

@Vargas

- THE LEVIATHAN -

He lifted the skull, peering into the still-meaty dead eyes. It would do nicely, he thought, once cleaned up. "Ahhh... now this is suitable payment for my time," he said, amused.

Then he looked back to Bebby, lowering the head. "I do not know how old you are," he began, "but you do not sound all that old?" He made it a question, then continued. "Most grasp their element, perhaps--if they are lucky--and dip into others as they require. But that takes much time, and practice; the fact that you know touches of power from so many, without having yet even fully mastered your own, is surprising to me. Impressive, yes," he reiterated. "It is not rare, precisely. But it is uncommon. Keep practicing, child. And learn to use your magic in battle--you may find me to speak of that another time, should you wish it. But you will be a force to reckon with, if you do."

And he meant it. Another might have seen something silly: a cute kitty, with rainbow colors and simple candy.

Vargas saw a cat--the ultimate hunter--designed by Nemean. Nemean--cute, tiny, loud--but with devastating powers of misdirection and a sadistic streak a mile wide. A cat, too, with a rapidly widening grasp of magic and a hunger for fresh meat.

This one really would go far.

"Travel safely, now," he added. "You are dismissed."

exit Vargas?

@Bebby