[ OPEN ] you got a shock to your system

[godshattering]

Who: Claude and you!
When: May + June
Where: Aquila, Cadens, Libertas, the Horizon, Nocwich
What: Catch all for both months
Warnings: None currently, will add/mark as needed


( Open and closed starters in the comments! Also good with prose or brackets and please feel free to wildcard into the open prompts or the log with something else. If you'd prefer plotting first, you can find me at indech, on Discord, or by PM at any time! )

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[godshattering]

[ There's a pause and it's that's familiar and nostalgic, oddly, because it reminds him so much for a second of learning this back at the academy. The focus, the reaching for something that's difficult to find without knowing what it's supposed to be until it suddenly clicks into place - Claude might be trying to not smile as Kyle focuses. Mostly because even if the other man's eyes are closed, he doesn't want to risk it seeming like there's any teasing going on. ]

No, but keep at it. No one ever succeeds at this the first time around, unless you're my friend Lysithea and that's only because you've been studying magic on your own long before you technically started learning it.

[ On that, at least, Claude's not all that kidding though it's said with no small amount of fondness for the friend in question. Still, none of that is likely to help Kyle, so he takes a moment to think. ]

As you might've read in the books, they say a critical part to Faith magic to harness that healing power is believing in Fodlan's goddess. [ The last time they'd talked about religion in more depth also crosses his mind, and now here's another moment where this one is meant for choosing his words very carefully. ] That never worked well for me, probably due to having no faith in her at all. But substituting what I do believe in helped me make the connection, so I don't see why that couldn't also be the case here.

[ushiri]

[ He likes to listen to Claude talk about his friends, even in casual snippets like this. It's no surprise that he has so many of them either. It's that part of Claude that seems to inspire trust, the qualities of leadership peeking out.

Ah. The books. He gives Claude a dubious look when he's reminded of the Fodlan goddess - or more specifically, that this type of magic requires faith in her. He actually hasn't thought about that last conversation of religion they had, despite the guilt he'd carried for the brusque way he responded at the time - only to be struck with the fear soon after that that might be their last conversation. He doesn't think of it now either, mostly because he's stuck on the idea that maybe he can't learn this magic if this is a requirement. It's something he's realized about High Magic here, and any interest he may have in learning its practice will always hit a wall: he already has a god that his body and soul remains devoted to, and he cannot give his faith to any other.

But then Claude continues and he looks thoughtful again, biting his lip. ]

So you think it might be possible to use this power through my belief in Parfir? [ Through the connection of his bones and blood, or - ] - or by channeling my belief in him through our connection to the Singularity?

[ This second part seems more like a more complicated example. But it has to do with his beliefs, how the Singularity connects to his world, to all of their worlds. ]

[godshattering]

[ The expression on Kyle's face is promising, at least, in comparison to that last conversation. Something that'd only registered with him much later and then that he didn't have to chance to correct what with... well, everything. None of what came after is anything he wants to bring up here - even if it's the very reason this lesson's so much later than when they'd planned it in what feels like another lifetime ago. He's also not going to bring that up directly if Kyle doesn't, so he'll have to settle for waiting for what thoughts will follow.

There's not long to wait as it turns out, and he grins a little when Kyle picks up exactly what it was he was trying to say. ]

I don't see why not. My belief was more in the land and what it could do. And granted, that was while in Fodlan and on that very land, but given that it's carried over here there has to be something to that. The Singularity, probably, but if not for the belief then I'm at a loss on how it would know to stand in for what's no longer present.

[ That's oversimplifying it, Claude's sure - especially given that he's one for tracking down every complicated twist and turn lurking beneath an idea. Deeper discussion of that can wait for later, though, since he's more interested in seeing if this really will work for Kyle's lessons. ]

In whatever way reaching out for that works for you, let's try it when you try again.

[ushiri]

[ He looks down at Claude's hand in his own, studying and not-studying the burn as his brow pinches. ]

I think Solvunn has it right. Partially, anyway. Whether or not the Singularity was once at the center of creation doesn't matter. It is a center. We're all only here right now because of it.

[ He closes his eyes and tries to reach for something again - the connection that allows them to speak through their minds, to visit each other on the other plane that is Horizon. He bolsters it with his belief in Parfir's love, and the will to ease even a small amount of pain like this little burn.

In Kyle's hand Claude might feel a small tingle on his skin, a numbing like ice. It's not much, but the burn visually seems a little less red and irritated. The sensation persist for a minute before Kyle suddenly lets out a breath he didn't realize he was holding, breaking his concentration. ]

[godshattering]

[ There's a hum from Claude, the kind that usually prefaces a series of thoughts he has ready to say, but he holds them back for now. Solvunn and the Singularity are two topics which haven't been far from his mind after being forced to examine them both up closer and in far more than idle curiosity after the Acolytes. Talking about it can wait since for as much as he loves to talk, Claude's not keen on breaking up Kyle's attempt.

A successful attempt, too; there's a flutter of magic brushed across him that's a feeling he knows well and it's hard to remember to stay quiet when what he really wants to do is cheer. The burn fades a bit and so does the residual ache within it - another clear indicator that it's worked. ]

Hey, look at that. [ Said to draw Kyle's attention from wherever it was focused when he takes that exhale as a sign it's alright to speak up again, and with a helpful small wiggle of his hand in the other man's grasp to signify where it is he means to say to look. Claude brings up his other hand to point to the improvements. ] Whatever you pulled upon, it worked. Faith magic has a certain feel to it, at least to me, and that's definitely what happened here.

[ Now he's grinning, somewhat because of finding yet another way to undermine the Church even from afar, but mostly because Kyle's success is far more important than even that. ]

Take a second to relax because this can be tiring at first. It gets easier the more you use it, both to tap into the magic and do what you want to, but there'll come a point when you'll need to rest for longer after using it for an extended period of time or a few times in rapid succession. When you're ready, go ahead again.

[ushiri]

[ Kahlil studies the wound with Claude's pointing, noting the minute changes. He glances up and meets his friend's gaze with a small, crooked smile just as a small wave of dizziness rolls over him. This, he's a little prepared for. He was warned about it when he first started learning Academic Magic. All spellwork takes something from the one doing the casting. Using the Gray Space is the same, if more hazardous.

A part of him wondered if he could even do this at all. If he might find he wasn't made for healing, only violence. ]

Alright -

[ At Claude's instruction he does relax a little bit, his shoulders loosening with the grip on his hand. Then, he tries again. Closes his eyes and concentrates on that thread from before. He focuses more of himself through it this time, drawing from that same well - emboldened by his first small success. The burn starts to almost heat up for a second, then cools as more of it fades and shifts to a healthy color.

This time Kahlil noticeably sways in place from the effort. ]

[godshattering]

[ The smile's encouraging since it's not lost on Claude that learning another world's magic must be daunting. That's before even including the magic here in Abraxas which must affect this, them, everything beyond what they even know. He's not going to add any extra doubts in there if Kyle's already feeling anything not showing, so when he seems to brace himself to try again - Claude waits patiently.

It seems to take less time for magic to whisper over him in that familiar way promising relief from any ailments. Again his hand begin to smart less as some of the residual pain is whisked away with that healing, and he watches in fascination while it happens. Even if it's magic he's familiar with, the process is still as intriguing as it is when his Crest activates.

Until he looks up to see Kyle's movement which doesn't seem entirely voluntary, and - ]

Easy there, [ gets murmured when he pulls his hand from Kyle's light hold to place his hands on the other man's upper arms to steady him, and not without a little bit of concern. ] Don't make yourself pass out over a burn, especially not when this one was my own fault. I've been through much worse, promise.

[ With a grin, like that's reassuring, but he does mean it about Kyle not overdoing it. It won't take away the exhaustion that might already be creeping in, but Claud sends a quick flash of Faith magic through the other to remove some of what else he might be feeling, with any luck. ]

You still doing alright?

[ushiri]

[ His concentration breaks when Claude pulls his hand away to steady him. Kahlil's face flushes faintly, and he eyes his friend with a wry look meant to mask his faint embarrassment. ]

I know, I've seen. [ And only recently too. It's still a bit early to be making light about what the kidnapped went through though. And he's distracted again anyway when the magic is cast over him, a bit of warmth blooming within his chest. It seems to steady him. ]

I'm fine. [ He purses his lips, and takes Claude's hand in his own again. ] One more go.

[ He thinks he can finish healing it. The use of foreign magic might be draining at first no matter how confident he is, but he is confident now. Kahlil has always been a quick study with the right motivation. ]

[godshattering]

[ He's about to add some more reassurance, but Kyle's response successfully catches Claude off guard for once. It takes him a second to place that having seen it before, considering he'd been thinking of the war and things long before that. But then there's the time they were trapped in the labyrinth - even if that wasn't real - and the rather terrible state he'd been in after the events of pit.

In the end, there's nothing he can really offer except a smile that's still rather pleased even for being politely yet firmly corrected, because: touché. ]

Well, you've got me there, so let's give it another try. I believe in you.

[ That smile makes it all the way into his voice since he's entirely too amused over it, but the latter part he does mean rather seriously as he's not one to stand in the way of progress to be made. If Kyle says he's good to go then Claude trusts that and the confidence behind it.

It's easy enough then to go quiet once more and hold still to keep from interfering with the other man's concentration, intent on watching to see what happens. ]