Set right before Darkness Unfolding

He made his way to the little hollow against the wall where Azrael made his home, holding a dead cave rat in one hand and rubbing another two together, almost nervously. It was very odd to see him look this way, almost unsure of himself, but he was obviously trying hard not to let it show. Still, anyone that had been with him long enough might notice.

As he ducked into the den he folded his legs in and set down the kill. "I have caught food," he called out, in case Forgraves and Banshy were there. With his long talons, he began to carefully slice apart the rat, separating it into portions and carefully pulling the meat off the bones. He left one of the legs and thighs for Forgraves, a large chunk of the torso and a front leg for Banshy, and the rest, including the bones and entrails, for him.

@Forgraves

The growing, but still young, demon crept out of the shadow of the den, blinking sleep from their eyes. A gaze of cool ice flicked up from Azrael to the rat at his feet. They eyed the large piece that Azrael pushed towards them and took it with a long blink. They sat down, in the same way their life-giver was, and pulled the meat into their lap, pecking slowly at it and eating the flesh in small bites.

Something was off, they could tell. They had known Azrael, stayed with him for all their time, took in his every detail, his behavior and movements, but something in his stance, in the way he rubbed his hands together, the eyes narrowed a bit, even the glow in his chest, which was not as bright today, informed the demon that something was up. But...if he wasn't going to talk about it, they would not pry. He was, after all, strong. Whatever wrong he could deal with. Still, they could not help but be curious about what had their father so bothered.

Banshy;

love, dante

Action. Thought. "Speech."

Forgraves, by no surprise of his own, was there in the cave. he found himself almost unable to permanently pry himself away quite yet, after all, the eden not yet need a full-time medic, and he still needed time to discover all the techniques for himself, he couldn't help until he knew them. so, he had been practicing, trial and error in secret, and, mostly, returning to the place he still called home.

when Azrael came home, he was immediately alert to his change in demeanor. it had truly been a while since he had last seen Azrael look nervous. his first thought had to be something was wrong, right?

he gratefully took the food, taking a bite, he had been neglecting his roaring stomach since he had began studying, so he scarfed it down relatively quickly, but also partly because he ached to know what was up.

"Azzy?" he asked softly. "Is... is everything okay?"

@Azrael

He lifted how own chunk of the rat and began to rip it off in big bites, swallowing it down quickly without really tasting anything. It was silent, for a while, the only sound to hear being chewing and Banshy's little pecks, until Forgraves broke the silence with a soft question. Azrael grunted and swallowed down the chunk he was eating. "I am fine. Only nervous."

He paused and set down the rat that he was holding, crossing his arms across his chest. "There is a bird called Emuh that tests gembound. If you pass, he takes your magic and twists it and makes you weaker for a while, but when you recover you were stronger then you were before. I am going to take his test." Explanation done, he picked up his rat again and took another large bite, eyes glancing from Forgraves to Banshy. Neither of them had really seen the extent of his power before - demonstrations weren't really his thing after all.

When their father explained, they slowly set down their own piece of meat, eyes narrowed a bit in thought. They shifted in their spot, wondering why this was so important that he would change his demeanor. Was that what anxiety did to a creature? Was that what magic warped one to think? Their claws shifted, scratching at his own fingers as he thought about this, eyes flicking to Forgraves briefly before looking back at Azrael.

"This test," they whispered in their quiet voice. "Is it dangerous?" Perhaps that was what he was worried about. But he was not a creature of fear - he did not shy from injury, no, he ran towards it. Creating it. He never cared before. It was something else. But Banshy did not know, because they did not fully understand the ways of thinking, nor the mind of Azrael.

Banshy;

love, dante

@Forgraves

Action. Thought. "Speech."

He immediately paused. a test? he had no idea who emuh was, but it sounded like something Azzy would definitely do. he'd lived with him long enough to guess he liked to prove himself and his ability, especially seeing his performance during the magicka show, spectacular as it was. he smiled, but nodded to his sibling's question.

is my dad gonna be okay...?

"sounds wonderful! i-i can't imagine being able to do something like that, it sounds fun, rewarding, maybe i could-" ok maybe i'm a little jealous, MAYBE i'm fantasizing about being that great, MAYBE, just a little, who cares.

he cleared his throat, embarrassed, "Are you going to be safe..?"

@Azrael

He continued chewing, now munching on one of the bones, and swallowing heavily. "It is wonderful. But I am a little nervous. I do not want to fail." One of his fists clenched and he paused in his eating. He couldn't even imaging the level of shame he'd have to endure if he failed the test. He would never forgive himself for being so weak. To fail where others succeeded...unacceptable.

He snorted. "I do not know if it's dangerous, nor if I will be safe. I am going in with little knowledge, but I do not care. I am not afraid." And that was true. What Azrael was feeling was not fear. No, more like anticipation. Performance anxiety. It was a difference that was quite important to him. He really did not want to fail.

He was raising the rat to his mouth again when he paused, eyes flicking up to his children. Lowering the meat, he stared at them, considering. "If you wish...you watch me. Be there - I show you my strength." That...and he realized he didn't really want to be alone when he did this. If he failed, he would need them. If he succeeded, he would want to celebrate with them.

Banshy was silent for a moment. If Azrael didn't know if it was dangerous or not...then why would he invite them? Hm...no, he wasn't afraid for them. Banshy doubted that whoever Emuh was wouldn't let a couple of bystanders get hurt for no reason. Unless they were some sadistic freak, in which case Azrael would not let them go. After a moment of thinking, they nodded silently. "I will go."

Banshy;

love, dante

@Forgraves

Action. Thought. "Speech."

He nodded. that made him nervous. it was a test for powerful magic users with... a possibility of failure. and no idea of what that failure entails. possibly death, possibly humiliation. he didn't know, he didn't like the sound of either.

"a-ah... w-well, you'll be careful, right? you'll try not to get hurt? not that i think you'll fail! of course i dont think that, just- im worried- thats all-" he rambled. he didn't want azzy to think he didn't believe in him, but death wasn't really merciful towards the powerful, if anything, it was meaner. so, he nodded at the offer to come along. if anything to keep an eye on his dad. "of course i'd come, i-i believe you can do it, and i wanna watch you win!"

@Azrael

He snorted again. "If I get hurt, then I get hurt! It is the risk of testing, of magic, of life!" He sat up taller and glared down at Forgraves. Not angry, but firmly - he did not need to worry about him. He did not need to be afraid on his behalf. He was strong and independent and powerful in his own right.

He relaxed a bit and leaned forward, patting Forgraves' head. "You do not worry. I will win." He reached over and patted Banshy on the head as well. "Thank you, both." He sat back and grabbed the remains of his rat, beginning to eat in fast bites. "Eat - we will leave, then, for Polaris. That is where Emuh is."