Knee Deep in High Water [Sama'el, Conrad]

[Sama'el Sunsinger]

Sama'el played translator with good humor, and nodded excitedly to Eldon when asked if he had seen the young outsider warp his own flesh. The demonstration had been brief, but telling. Thinking to get another demonstration for himself as well as for Eldon, he told Conrad, "He will make water if you will show him your flesh-bending." For his own part, he kept his small magic a secret. Eldon knew that he had been initiated as a Web Mage, but an outsider could not know. There were tales of outsiders kidnapping Drykas Web Mages and torturing them for their secrets. They might have been old wives' tales, but it didn't do to test them out. Without any sort of visible cue, he began to open himself a bit to the Web around him. There was a strong connection between him and Eldon, and between both young Drykas and their Striders. But he didn't look too far beyond them, for it would be too easy to get lost in the array of connections that made up Endrykas' portion of the Drykas Web. He hoped, though, that any demonstration of magic within the Web might enlighten him. After all, the Sapphire Clansfolk were supposed to be the keepers of mysteries.

[Conrad]

A smile graced his face as he heard Sama'el translate what eldon said,more or less.
"Sure, Not a problem,"he began calling upon his djed slowly forcing his hand to warp in the very familiar pattern of a claw. Conrad lifted up his still morphing hand, the flesh and bones shifting in what looked a very painful way.
"I know it might look painful, but all I feel is a slight tickling of some kind."
He flexed the claw when it finished morphing.
"I have don' this thing a lot of times, It's quite handy if you ask me though."
He looked at Eldon with a smile on his face.
"Right I did my end of the bargain now its time for your part." The parrot on his shoulder just gave an annoyed look at his boss' rather hyper behavior, and also the fact that he wasn't getting mad at the guy who made him wet.

[Eldon Sunkiss]

Eldon was amazed when he personally witnessed the contortions of the hand. The fingers, the skin, the bones, twisting and warping like some sickening image he could only experience in some insane dream, yet it was right here, right in front of him. Eldon found himself actually distressed by it, though he did not respond, he could only stare in disgusted amusement. Forget what he originally thought, he wasn't going to learn Morphing, never. Even after Conrad had obviously finished, Eldon could only stare, trying to believe what he had seen. "Impressive..." It was all he could say, and it was the truth, but still, disgusting sounded vaguely familiar in that tone of voice. "I suppose it's my turn share then." Eldon, now recovered from that odd sight, which he was intentionally avoiding with his eyes now, walked off, only to return briefly with another empty barrel, he set it down next the barrel he had recently filled, and met the demon bird over. "I hope you are translate quickly Sam." Eldon grin and he allowed his right arm to fall limp into the barrel, his left extended out to Conrad, a half fist, half open palm was formed as his fingers gripped around an invisible, intangible, circular object. "For a scholar of the magic arts, it should be fairly easy to explain. I won't need to use a ton of metaphors and such. Once initiated into Reimancy, a person has the ability to create Res from the body. Res, which is the energy or substance that fuels the elemental construction of Reimancy, looks like this." As he was talking, the ethereal appearing green gel-like substance began to form in his hand, filling that spherical shape his partial clenched hand was molded around. The substance could be altered into a gaseous state, but the creation of mist, though possible, didn't do much good for him. It was water they wanted to see. The ball of res remained suspended in his hand, not by the strength of his fingers, it would easily slip through if that were the case, but by his own will. it was his res, it was under his control. He waited a moment for Sam to translate thus far his lesson to Conrad, then continued. "Once the res is formed, and you never want to form it inside your body, the creator can take the res and give it elemental properties." Eldon felt a moist sensation on his hand as the outer layer of his 'res ball' had shifted into that of water, pure, clean, Drykas Created water. The core was next to alter, and Eldon allowed the ball of water to break shape and collapse into the bucket. There was a thump, but that wasn't nearly enough water to impact the void of said container. It would require much more. "Once you learn Reimancy, it's simple to perform a single element. Controlling the element, managing the balance between giving and overgiving, and producing more than one, are all for more advanced Reimancers." Eldon frowned as he looked up at Sam, could his cousin truly think of him as such a great cousin, wonderful and all, when he could only do water? What if he could manage to manipulate the earth, or maybe produce fire? Eldon felt a smirk crawling over his face as he felt the strange sensation to master the art of reimancy as quickly as possible. "Tell him that this lesson was brief, and I know that, but if he has questions, I'd be happy to answer them to the best of my abilities.

[Sama'el Sunsinger]

Sama'el whistled appreciatively at his second sight of Morphing, not quite so revolted as his cousin, but he was only newly initiated into the mysteries, and so it all impressed him. He smiled at Conrad, and wondered if it was something he could pick up himself. Perhaps if Conrad stuck around, didn't upset any of the sacred Drykas laws, and they became better friends, he would teach him. Unfortunately, Sama'el was oath- and honor-bound not to share the secrets of the Web with outsiders. He winked at Eldon, then dutifully translated what all was said and happening. Of course, at the end, he tagged on some extra, and Eldon might have been able to interpret his body language if not his words. "Eldon has mastered Water, and will soon learn the other Elements, and then he will be even more fearsome to the foes of the horseclans. Ahh, do you have any questions for the great and powerful Eldon Sunkiss?" He grinned.

[Conrad]

Conrad just watched in fascination as Eldon gave his demonstration, listening attentively at to the translation.
not really caring about the disgusted look that had crossed Eldon's face before, most people reacted that way to his magic like that anyway.
"Eldon has mastered Water, and will soon learn the other Elements, and then he will be even more fearsome to the foes of the horseclans. Ahh, do you have any questions for the great and powerful Eldon Sunkiss?"
conrad rolled his eyes at Sama'el's praise to his cousin.
"Well, you said a lot about Res and generating it, how do you do that?" Conrad pressed, hoping to learn a bit more about it.
"Do you convert djed into res or is Res just another word for djed and on another note, how come's that you can only use water and not something else? Is that a training issue or something?"
Conrad just looked at Sama'el and patiently waited for him to translate for Eldon.

[Eldon Sunkiss]

As his cousin translated Conrad's questions, Eldon merely looked at Conrad with a surprised enjoyment. This man, the flesh-warper, obviously knew a great deal about Personal Magic in general. "I failed to specify that. I wasn't sure of his level of knowledge on the matter. Tell him he is correct, the reimancer takes the Djed from inside him and forms it into a state of matter, either liquid or gas. This form is Res. Res, from there, is controlled by the Reimancer to produce the element of his ability and choice." Eldon, in attempt to demonstrate as well as he lectured, lifted his hand once again, this time his palm was facing the ceiling of the tent. "From within, the body molds the Res from Djed." This part was not visible to the naked eye, but should a skilled Aurist be in the area, it would be possible (probably) to pick up the shifting of Djed. "Then the Res is pulled through the body." The second step was the first to be visible. The green gel substance would seep through his skin as if the very wrinkles themselves were the very openings to his soul. The Res was in a liquid state, the form that was most efficient for a hydromancer, but for demonstration purposes, he would change it up. As he waited for Sam to fully convey his message, the res began to disperse and separate, but rather than being pulled to the ground via gravity, it started to float about his arm, eventually creating a weak tinted fog. "The reimancer has the ability to manipulate the Res into any shape, and more importantly, the state of it. Depending on the state makes all the difference. Where as in a liquid state, the res simply forms water in its most natural and useful state. In a gas, it forms a mist, or vapor." Boom! The alteration was almost instant, but the effects were easily noticed as the green haze that fluttered around his palm shifted into the white natural moisture. Res may not be familiar, but nobody that had been outdoors could mistake mist for what it was. "When a reimancer grows in skill, he becomes stronger in his control, use, and creation of the elements. My father has master both water and wind, and I have once met a man that could manipulate all elements except fire." Eldon stopped talking abruptly as he considered mentioning the dangers, limitations, the overgiving and initiation. Eldon, nodded to himself. He would share about how deadly Reimancy could be, and the problems that could occur, but initiation, no. He himself was not ready to even tease himself with such thoughts.

[Sama'el Sunsinger]

Conrad would have to forgive Sama'el for his humor, but it was clear that he held his cousin in the highest regard, though he tried to keep the fact that he often patterned his behavior after the elder Drykas. That would be embarrassing. One was supposed to grow out of hero-worship. He dutifully continued to translate, though there was the occasional pause or drawing out of words as he too was amazed by the display of elemental power. One day he hoped to be initiated, but Uncle Vanah had told him to focus on Webbing for now and Eldon had claimed he didn't have the skill to initiate his cousin yet. Sama'el held tightly to the yet part. In order not to look like a total void of talent, he pulled out his hunting knife and carefully rolled it around his knuckles, a trick he had learned from Rythern back in the forests around Syliras. It went well from index finger to little finger, but when he tried to reverse it, the blade fell to the ground beside his foot. He muttered a curse and crouched to scoop it up and try again. "I think he wants to be initiated," he said to Eldon in Pavi. "Seems like most outsiders come to Endrykas looking for something, whether it's magic, horses, or something else." To Conrad he said, "What about your flesh-bending? How does that work?" After all, if he wanted information, he would have to give it in equal measure. Drykas were famed as hard-bargaining horse traders, too.

[Conrad]

Once again Conrad listened to Sama'el's translation. "So the only thing you need to learn to be a reimancer is how to mold your djed into res. The rest follows with experience?" Conrad asked while he pulled back his djed from his hand, it slowly shifting back towards its usual form. An amused grin made its way on his face when sama'el tried to show off, but blew it. He just waited as Sama'el said something in pavi to eldon in pavi, though he did wonder what exactly they where saying. "What about your flesh-bending? How does that work?" Conrad frowned as he got that question. "Well, first off its called morphing not flesh-bending." Conrad corrected Sama'el out of habit. "Secondly morphing has simple basic's but is very hard to use properly. This is because while we can bend and morph our bodies in almost any shape we wish, but that also means you can morph your body so that it doesn't work anymore." Conrad paused for a short moment thinking over what he had said. "But just like my master said to me, don't do any of the more difficult stuff until you know what you are doing and you are experienced enough with magic, overgiving in morphing is not pretty even when its minor overgiving."

[Eldon Sunkiss]

Eldon shrugged his shoulders as he returned to his own business. Whether Sam remembered to translate back to Eldon or not, he wasn't paying attention. There was something about morphing that felt unnatural to him, eerie even. That and he managed to teach a bird how to speak. This guy was strange. Anyway, Eldon turned back to his barrel and lowered his arms into the container once again. The ever familiar tugging of some nonexistent muscle was felt throughout his biceps, forearms, wrists and palms as the Djed was pulled from his very being to the surface of his palms, where it was altered into the translucent greenish gel. Res, such an odd substance. It was able to be liquid or gaseous by his own will and his alone. He smiled at himself as he allowed the res to fall from his palms, both hands this time, into the barrel. It would look, and somewhat feel, like a soft stream of water, a miniature river flowing from his fingertips, the wrinkles in his calloused hands. Eldon could even swear he heard the res humming with potential. There was more than the possibility of water there, so much more than that. He could make fire, wind, and even the earth itself. Eldon knew he could, just not quite yet. Eldon watched as the barrel hastily filled itself up, the res would, soon after, change itself into the standard water that was expected of Eldon. A Hydromancer is what he was. It's what his father was, his father's father, even the rest of the clansmen. They were Reimancers by nature. Eldon glanced up at Conrad when the word 'Overgiving' was heard, it seemed to be one of the few words that remained the same across cultures. Overgiving, the word itself caused him to notice the nauseating metallic taste on his tongue, he was susceptible to overgiving right now. He would take a break. Besides, the barrel was full now, ready for transport to whoever needs it. "Done." Eldon nodded slowly as he glanced to his cousin, glanced at the parrot, then once again to Eldon. "I can feel it brother, it won't be long before I'm ready." Eldon smiled lightly. He meant that he was nearly confident enough to initiate Sama'el. Conrad on the other hand, he wasn't so sure if he wanted to teach him. He didn't know the man, he was a human, but not like himself, not a Drykas, just human. Eldon didn't owe Conrad anything, and Conrad did not owe him. Was it fair then to deny somebody they wanted just because you would get something in return? He was experienced with Djed and personal magic, but was that enough. Eldon would not easily recover if anyone died due to his lack of experience.

[Sama'el Sunsinger]

"One must be initiated," he said mysteriously to Conrad, tossing his dagger back and forth from hand to hand. It was a hunting dagger, but it was all he had at the moment. Eventually he would have to buy a dagger or two to fight with should he lose his scimitar in battle, or to throw in case he needed range but his bow was out of reach. Another thing to add to his list of things to learn to do. "Morphing," he said, trying to remember the odd word. "Morphing, morphing, morphing." And he glanced to Eldon when his cousin recognized at least the word 'overgiving'. He passed a critical eye up and down his cousin's frame, gazing hard at his eyes to be sure he wasn't in danger of overgiving himself. Sama'el had lost enough family members in his youth; he needn't lose any more for a long while yet. "I cannot wait," he assured Eldon in Pavi.