Nikolai Berkley

He raised an eyebrow ever so slightly, noting the change in the man's tone, though ever so slight. However, he said nothing about it and just made sure to keep an eye on him. He took the time to listen, nodding slightly, mostly to himself, as he took in the information the creature was giving him. However he wasn't expecting the man to ask for an item.

He furrowed his brows for a moment, unsure what the man was trying to do, but figured he was already this far, he might as well continue and see what this creature was trying to show him. No point in arguing anyway. Fine.

He muttered softly as he turned to leave for a moment, grumbling softly to himself. It didn't take him long, maybe about ten to twenty minutes, before he came back with a cave rabbit in his jaws, hanging limp. He walked over and with a huff, placed the creature down in front of the man, taking a single step back afterwards, before looking down at him expectantly.

• I take my whiskey neat •

@Fahl

Fire as an element was more often destructive than not. Most times he'd been lucky enough to avoid it backfiring upon him, but even successes caused their little harms. His voice hadn't always been so rough; expelling superheated breath from his mouth and rarely allowing delicate insides time to recover had left him with permanent damage. Even the minor act of converting water to steam had stung him repeatedly in the past, his paw not withdrawn quickly enough from its hover overhead to avoid surface burns. Therefore, Fahl decided, this demonstration would be small. Better to keep the situation relatively safe than catch two Gembounds in a catastrophic explosion.

"This may be hard to notice at first... but watch closely."

His paw, the usual conduit through which he channeled magic, he thrust above the rabbit's haunch. Far more subtle than the blinding flash and melting crystal of before, the space around this area shimmered. Should someone reach out to touch this distortion, it'd become apparent this was a telltale sign of heat's presence. Elsewhere on the dead prey was unaltered, the surrounding air's temperature indistinguishable from the rest of the cave.

"The warmth is restricted to one spot. You can do the same with a flame. Go after your enemy's weak points while min—mini—ah, making less the risk to yourself."

@Nikolai

Nikolai Berkley

He sighed softly to himself but watched, lowering his head to the ground slightly as he watched. He really didn't think this would work well, maybe on a bundle of sticks, but that was about it. How could something like this possibly do anything on another creature?

But he held his tongue for now at least, watching and learning, taking in everything the man was saying. As the man struggled with a word, he snorted softly for a moment but said nothing of it, just found it a little funny. Last thing he wanted to do though was piss off his mentor.

He seemed to think for a moment, cocking his head to the side. Can things like this be used to warm yourself if it gets cold? He enjoyed fighting, and enjoyed offensive magics, but he also wasn't stupid. He knew survival was important too and be it fending off enemies or fending off the cold of the night, both were important.

He concentrated for a moment, trying to see if he could focus his magic on himself instead. Sure enough, he began to heat up, though more outwardly than inward, his already fire colored eyes taking on a flame like aura as he stood there, focusing on his magic. Quickly though, he shook out his fur, not wanting to get too hot as he wasn't really sure what he just did or how, but his mind was already working on how he could use it to better himself in the future.

• I take my whiskey neat •

@Fahl

"Of course you can."

Living in a cave like Pisces required someone of a more cold-blooded nature learning how best to keep warm, otherwise the chill temperatures there would've frozen him solid long ago when he was but a mere hatchling. According to memory, the sudden jolt of being cast from the warmth of his chrysalis into that frigid climate had promptly awakened his connection to magic and acquainted him with fire's touch. First of all spells he'd discovered had been warming the surrounding air, and while more offensive uses of his element were flashier, the utility of this had served him well and often over the cycles. Though his pupil was quick on the uptake, already visibly demonstrating grasp of the concept asked by the increased illumination of his eyes, Fahl drew upon his own power to prove as much to himself as anyone else that he still had this control. Weakened, perhaps from its recent use, a similar, fainter shimmering of air gathered around the iguana, its presence rendering him mirage-like.

"Seems you've already figured it out. And it does work. But remember: the heat can only last while your own magic fuels it. Build your stamina, and you'll be able to maintain that longer if you have to."

@Nikolai

He lifted his gaze to the creature, nodding for a moment at his words. Interesting. He said simply, mostly to himself as he took in everything he had learned thus far. He had learned so many magics already but still didn't fully understand them, and that was what he was focused on doing from now on.

He finally gave a quick, determined nod, his mind made up. I will. Thanks. He said simply before taking a step back, relaxing his body and getting ready to head out. I'll see you around, maybe show you what I've been up to when we meet again. He paused for a moment, realizing they hadn't given names out yet. I'm Nikolai by the way.

He would wait a moment to gain their name, wanting to know who his impromptu mentor really was.

• I take my whiskey neat •

@Fahl

Indication this younger Gembound would heed his advice meant Fahl returned Nikolai's nod with his own, satisfied someone at least was willing to pay attention when an elder imparted key information for success. Too often halting speech or the fact he wasn't the biggest, most physically intimidating creature to wander the caves meant his insights went ignored, others' self-confidence creating a barrier against common sense points. The lament was a hypocritical one, his own insecurity preventing him too from accepting certain criticisms well, but that was an issue that currently existed separate from this conversation. For the present he listened as the canine gave him an identity to remember, internally sighing in relief that the syllables sounded easy enough to pronounce.

"Well, Nikolai," he stated, a silent cheer ringing in his head at nailing the name on the first try, "if we do cross paths again... I shall hold you to that. I'm Fahl, named after the running waters of Pisces."

This explanation for his moniker was a blatant lie, the truth far less dignified. Blurting a noise in haste to a question he hadn't fully understood as a child had permanently saddled himself with it instead. None of that embarrassing origin bled through in his voice, though, and a chin lifted high did its utmost to sell his legitimacy. Whatever humble beginnings he stemmed from wouldn't matter so long as he convinced strangers otherwise. Good impressions were important, even during a parting of ways.

@Nikolai

Nikolai Berkley

Fahl. He nodded slightly as he took in the man's name, keeping it locked away for future reference. As far as he was concerned, this man was a beacon of knowledge that he would continue to come back to, continue to learn and grow from as often as he would be able to.

With a smirk, he would give one final nod, a silent promise to come back, before turning and leaving. He was content with the information he had gotten so far, with the knowledge he had gained, and the thirst for more.
-exit-

• I take my whiskey neat •