He had wandered for some time, trying to figure out where he was. It wasn't long until he came across a ruins of some sort, find himself rather lost, but still he didn't particularly freak out. He'd find his way out eventually, though he couldn't deny that he was feeling a bit hungry, though he had absolutely no clue how he'd find something to eat in this run down place. All he could smell was dirt and fungus, and it was really pissing him off.

He wandered for what felt like forever, before finally he decided that he was getting no where and he needed to do something else. Even though he needed to figure out a plan, he also was too annoyed to really think clearly right now, and he knew it. For a moment, in an attempt to clear his thoughts, he sat down and looked at his paws, remembering the weird power that he had used before. Perhaps there was something to this? He placed his paw on one of the piles of rubble in front of him, attempting to use the heat from his paw to heat it up.

Esther'd been in Orion quite often lately. Even though they have no particular reason for being there - the cave is just a nice one to visit, they suppose. Plus, finding some leftover items in the ruins is always a plus one. Especially if it's still usable.

As Esther meanders through the place, there's not anything too interesting to look at. Thankfully Orion isn't one of the caves infested with Order. If it were, they'd be focused on clearing it instead of walking in no particular direction. When they're done, though, they'll probably return to the forge, and then pick up a job to do.

Eventually they set their sights on a new child - appearing to use magic. The image is starkingly familiar to Esther's own start, where they tried to burn Eridanus down with a spell that doesn't even catch flame.

"You practicing your magic, kid?"

There's a lot of spells that happen to use touch, but this one looks quite familiar to the one Esther started out with, one upon a time.

@Nikolai

He was too preoccupied with this new power that he had found that he hadn't even noticed another was there. His attention was on the rubble in front of him, watching it sizzle as he placed his paw on it. It wasn't a lot, but it was something, besides, this was all so new to him anyway and he wanted to understand it, to grow the strange power he found himself it. How was he going to do that? He wasn't entirely sure.

However, when he finally did notice another was near, he instantly was on guard, standing up and turning to face the voice, his hackles raising and his lips pulling up in a growl. He didn't like surprises and he didn't like being snuck up on, even if it wasn't really their fault.

He opened his mouth to speak, accidently using his other ability that he didn't yet know that he had. Suddenly super heated air emitted out of his mouth towards them and he froze, blinking a few times as he licked at his mouth, as if he was tasting something spicy. He glanced down his nose for a moment before looking back up at them, even more confused now then he was before.

"I didn't even know I could do this shit."

He muttered, mostly to himself but loud enough for them to hear. He narrowed his eyes slightly at them, cocking his head to the side.

"You know how to use this stuff?"

His tone was guarded, accusatory almost, making it clear he didn't trust them, but they were the only one able to give him answers right now.

Watching the little pup turn around, all aggression and teeth, has Esther laughing right in the little thing's face. They were like that, too. It's a little cute, admittedly. When the little guy opens his mouth to speak, Esther's face does a doubletake when they notice what's going on - and they do the first thing that comes to mind. Except nothing comes.

The first thing they feel as the hot comes to them is immense anger at their own magic not even working, and then pain when the hot air hits their front. Its a blistering feeling - the same as real fire - the same as something they've not felt in a long, long time.

They gasp and sputter as the spell ends, legs quivering underneath them. Little shit! They have half the mind to retaliate with their own magic. If it even works.

"Big words for such a little thing." They huff, sitting down to calm their nerves - and to check their front fur. Yeah, the skin there isn't going to look good. Used to the feeling though, Esther ignores the pain. Even if it's still bubbling under their skin like flames.

"Yes, I can use magic. It'd do you some good to control it in the future." Showing a little teeth at the end.

Oops. He hadn't meant to shoot hot air at the stranger's face, and though he probably should have apologized..... he wasn't going to. "Your fault for startling me." He muttered, more mad at himself for being startled so easily than at them for doing so. But still, he was still going to blame them to make himself feel better.

They talked about him getting some control over his magick and all he could do is scowl at them. "Well excuse-a-fuckin'-you. Kinda hard to understand an ability I've only had for a few days." He looked them up and down for a moment, a look of annoyance on his face. "You're clearly old enough to have a reign on your abilities." Did he just call them old? Yes, he did, and had zero remorse about it too.

But he didn't dwell on that, even if They did, and just continued to the next question on his mind. "Can you help me with it or are you just gonna criticize?" He raised an eyebrow expectantly, waiting to see if They would be useful to him or not.

They grin, teeth on full display when Nikolai speaks.

"I like the attitude, kid. But first tell me your name. Mine is Esther."

This one is a lot more confident than the other little wolf children running around, that's for sure.

"No matter your age, your abilities can still turn on you if you fail." They say.

Esther lives off of their spells backfiring. Their magic flashes and peers into the child's mind - showing him the true capability of their magic. Images filtering in of randomly combusting in black flame, flashes of the Void coming in and out of their vision - bone crushing pain just from having a spell in their arsenal. Needing to stabilize because of their magic.

Eventually the spell wares off - and Esther comes back to themselves. "Of course I can help!"

"You use fire I take it? It's dangerous, but all magic is. It should be a natural instinct for you to use it. Go ahead and try, but not on me please." They hum.

@Nikolai

He hesitated for just a moment, taking in their name before speaking his own. "Nikolai." He said simply, not really offering anything else on the matter. However, as flashes of visions push into his mind, he shakes his head with a growl, huffing slightly in annoyance as he narrowed his eyes at them. He wanted to say something about them being a failure but instead he held his tongue, recognizing that if they wanted to, they could probably kill him and he had already blasted their face with scorching air, so he wasn't keen on pushing his luck just yet.

When they spoke of his fire magic though, he paused for a moment, glancing down at his paw as he spoke. "Well, you already saw one of the things I've learned how to do." He placed his paw down on the ground for a moment, using the first ability he ever learned he could do.

This time though, nothing happened and he narrowed his eyes, brows furrowed. Okay so maybe they were right about things not always working. He hadn't had that happen before and just sat there for a moment in annoyance.

They hum when the pup's magic does not come to him. Thankfully, so young he won't have any dangerous fire spells. Esther can't put out normal fire spell with their own magic - without causing more danger at least.

"You're still young, it may take time to fully harness your power."

Fire can be quite unpredictable, Esther's fairly certain they may have seen it with their own eyes maybe once. It's hard to remember things that've happened so long ago. Esther creates a small flame on the ground near the two of them. It's glowing, sure, but not hot. Far enough away to not damage the smaller gembound.

"This is what mine looks like. I used to have spells like you, though."

The corrupted flame has nothing to tether to for energy, so it quickly fizzes out. Rock isn't so great for fire.

@Nikolai

He cocked his head to the side for a moment, turning to look at the fire that they produced. It was different than his, not hot but just as beautiful in its glow. He raised an eyebrow slightly, finding it rather odd but interesting. What kind of flame is that?

He asked, turning to look back up at them. It wasn't fire, at least not like his, and coupled with the fact that they spoke of 'used' to having spells like his, made him assume that whatever their magic was, certainly wasn't real fire like he used.

But at the same time, that begged the question, why did they change? Was it forced upon them or did they choose this path?

They stare at the wolf pup when he asks about the flame. Most gembound who obtain this magic would call it the worst mistake of their life - what direction does Esther want to take this? They certainly don't regret it. Esther'd made a conscious decision many cycles ago to make themselves this way. Even if they didn't know what it meant at the time.

"We call it Corruption." Esther remembers being so upset when they felt the flames for the first time and they weren't hot.

It's still one of the few things they regret about their magic. Fire should burn hot, not... Cold. Or the best interpretation of cold fire could do. Their mind goes to Helion, they wonder how long it's been that bad. Esther'd never really spoken to the demon-cat before.

Kill Me.

Did the hybrid mean it when it'd told Esther to do it?

They quickly push the idea away, focusing on the things in front of them. Now is not the time to think about this.

"It's a dangerous form of magic that damages the user just as much as their enemies." Or their allies. "Most gembound who have it regret it, even if they're born with the magic. The side effects can be debilitating."

Esther has days where they lay in the rocks of Draco unable to move due to the force of their own magic. They try to not dwell on the bad feelings for too long - instead focusing on the things they can do. The quests for the Forge, training to make their magic more stable (it doesn't work).

"If you see anyone who has similar magic, or their stone leaks oil, they can be unpredictable. Be careful around them." Esther is incriminating themselves here, but it's still good to keep in mind.

@Nikolai