mountain_sage | 076 [Video]

Current Mood: scared

Entry tags:

video

076 [Video]

[Ever since Rydia left, Saleh had been thinking of his early years in Luceti. Rydia and Kain, two people who have been his close friends almost since his arrival. That alone gave a significant impact, among other things. The battles they've fought, both inside and outside of the enclosure, and experiments that were horrible or just plain weird or nonsensical. Saleh found himself missing those times now that they were gone...both the good and the bad. They made him stronger.]

[But those times feel like an eternity ago. Saleh feels a hollowness in his heart as he wishes he could take action, make a difference, as he was trained to do back home. What he had longed for, more than anything, was to fulfill his duty. It could make all the difference. Lady Myrrh needs him, and he's not there. Being unable to take action is the most painful thing to him.]

[There's a melancholy sigh as he stares at his open journal.]

Kain's gone. Rydia's gone. Julia's gone. Ewan's gone. So many of my closest companions are gone. I...have never felt so alone. Only then will you realize...that even the worst memories are to be cherished.

[He gazes at his open palm, facing up, conjuring a gentle fireball...however, once it ignites, the sage jumps up with a gasp, causing the journal to drop, and the journal feed to abruptly cut short.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[...naturally the sage's obviously sombre mood and the abrupt ending of the video feed gives Eley cause for concern, and he realises that perhaps he hasn't been the best at visiting him as regularly as he first suggested. Being a Spirit, he wasn't used to such obligations. It didn't mean he didn't care or worry however... and so he decided to head over to Saleh's house in the hope he might meet him in person.

So! Have a Wind Spirit knocking on your door, Saleh. He hopes you're okay enough to actually answer it...]

[A visitor? Saleh hasn't expected that, as rare as it is to get visitors. He's still shaking slightly, but he makes his way over to the door and opens it.]

Ah...Eleytheria.

[He greets the Spirit with a wash of relief.]

[Eley's coming in before being asked this time. True, he didn't much like confining himself in these rooms, but he felt that his friend needed him right now and that was more important. For now, he'll focus his attention on the sage.

He turns to Saleh now, a look of concern on his face.]

Did something happen here?

[And Saleh steps back to let him in, of course.]

Ah...no...I was just startled. I didn't mean to alarm you...

[At least he thinks Eley's just referring to being startled by the fire.]

...why should you be startled though? To be startled means that you were not in control.

If that truly is the case, then your pain must run deep, Saleh. I am sorry.

[Not just that he might feel that way but because the Spirit had failed to do anything about it. At least until now. He had already come across this problem before - of someone losing all of their close friends - yet still he wasn't sure of a solution. How could he console someone when that happened?]

I'm...not sure. I only wanted to gaze upon the gentle flame, and yet...

[He trails off, picking up his Fire tome again. Perhaps he should try it again. Perhaps he had lost control. He concentrates on his palm, more carefully, conjuring up the flame again. And again, once the fireball ignited just above his palm, he gasped and jumped back, dropping the tome on the floor, disintegrating the flame. Saleh grabs his head, shaking, breathing heavily. Is it gone? Is he safe?]

[Eley watches carefully as Saleh retrieves the tome and conjures another small flame. It did not seem that he had trouble producing such a thing at least... but then all of a sudden he was jumping, cancelling everything out as if he was afraid to hold onto it any longer.

...and seeing his reaction to such a thing, the Spirit can't help but go to his side, resting a hand on his shoulder to try to get his attention and calm him.]

Saleh? Everything is fine... why did you stop so suddenly?

[Saleh cautiously straightens himself, staring at the tome on the floor.]

The fire...it scared me. I don't even know why...

[He shakes his head, just trying to make sense of this.]

[As he straightens up, Eley removes his hand, giving him some space. Saleh was scared of his own magic? But Eley knew that he was doing nothing wrong or dangerous. He had control, yet fear gripped him and disrupted it.]

You are under a great deal of strain, perhaps your emotions are having some effect. While I know that you are more than competent at using magic, and while I am unfamiliar with it myself, surely a lapse of concentration could lead you to grow wary of casting such power?

[He considers the words. It is a valid point. Magic was nothing to be messed with, and one must be of sound mind to be able to use it properly.]

It is possible. If handled maliciously or carelessly, magic can be very destructive to oneself and to others.

[And yet he didn't have trouble concentrating on conjuring the flame. He only became startled when the flame itself appeared.]

Hmm... [Saleh decides on a rather less destructive form of magic - his healing staff. Taking it from its place against the wall, he focuses on the orb, releasing its soothing blue glow. He seemed to take it in without any sort of fear.]

[Eley's still observing, trying to make sense of the situation himself (while also being rather curious about his magic in the process). He didn't seem to be having any trouble this time. Was it because this magic wasn't destructive, or was it really the flame in particular that had frightened him?]

You still seem capable of something at least. What other more dangerous spells do you know? Perhaps it would be worth testing one of them.

Hmm. I suppose I should at that.

[Saleh picks up his Thunder tome from the bookshelf. Without hesitation, he casts the spell, calling a bolt of lightning to crash down in the center of the room with a thunderclap that could have rocked the entire building. When the smoke clears, Saleh stares at the char mark on the floor, his eyes focused and fearless.]

[While Eley was used to storms, being able to draw them in himself, he couldn't help but still be a little startled at the sudden thunderclap. Magic really was a strange thing, especially when linked to something as simple as a book...

But this wasn't about that, this was about Saleh. It seemed that the destructive nature of his magic wasn't what he was afraid of after all.]

How strange... If it is not the dangerous potential of your magic, or a fear of losing control that has unnerved you, then it seems that it is specifically linked to the flame. Has... anything happened to you recently involving fire?

[So it's true. It's only the flame that's scaring him.]

No...nothing's happened. It makes no sense...unless...

[Oh, it was that sage who helped him initially]

Is everything alright?

[The feed returns, and Saleh's staring at his hand, fingers trembling slightly, worried that the flames might ignite again.]

Oh...yes...

[As much as he wants to believe everything's all right, he just...can't be sure.]

You sounded as though something startled you. Is your magic acting oddly?

[Thats what first springs to mind]

[His magic? Right...he had conjured the fire with his magic. He doesn't know why it startled him so.]

Ah...no....

[He picks up his Fire tome, but even the fireball depicted on the cover seems to fill him with fear. Curiously, he tries again to conjure the fireball in his hand. Again, as soon as the flame erupts above his palm, he immediately flaps his hand to put it out. He grips his chest, breathing heavily as if to contain an explosion in his chest. The fire is scaring him, and he doesn't know why...]

[A fear of fire was something that he had grown accustomed to seeing in his years, mostly from enemy forces. The sage hadn't seemed to have it before]

You seem to be having a bit of an aversion to fire.

...I am?

[...He is, isn't he? He shakes his head in disbelief. How can this be possible?]

But...Fire is the most basic spell for any mage. I've never been...I shouldn't be...

[Now he has to wonder if he's afraid of all of his own magic now. He decides to find out. He gets up to retrieve his Thunder tome. A loud thunderclap booms through the journal as the video flashes white for a split second. Saleh picks up the journal again, unphased, but still confused.]

I suppose it is just the fire...

So this hasn't been a concern before?

[A healthy respect of fire was normal, but fearing it was not]

No...Fire was my first spell. I've been using it for years. So, it makes no sense...

[And since it makes no sense, Saleh begins to suspect that he might know what's going on.]

...But is it any fire I'm afraid of? Or just from my own magic?

[He's going to go ahead and suspect the former...]

Well, I suppose we could meet up and I could produce some fire to test that out.

[Its the least he could do, really]

Ah...

[His eyes widen, as the very thought seems to terrify him. But still, he has to know.]

All right. Where should we meet?

We can meet outside the Welcome Center if that is acceptable to you?

[He would help this man if he could]

Yes, that's fine. I'm heading there now.

[And head there he shall.]

[Iroh waits for him, sitting with a cup of tea, sipping it calmly. Hopefully they could get to the bottom of it, and find a way to address this fear]

[Saleh arrives at the Welcome Center shortly after. He pauses for a moment, trying to remember his name.]

Hello...Iroh, was it?

[Iroh inclines his head]

Yes. Hello, Saleh.

[Saleh returns the head gesture.]

I'm...I am ready.

[As ready as he'll ever be, anyway. The hesitation is clear in his voice however, and his eyes are...not quite focused on the older man as he says it.]

[He produces a simple flame in his hand, small and non threatening]

[Saleh's eyes immediately widen, but he's determined to resist his fear. His heart pounds, and his muscles tense. "I'm not afraid..." he thinks to himself. "I'm not afraid."]

[But he reaches a breaking point. He jumps away, quickly turning his back and clutching his chest. He sighs, disappointed. He really is afraid of fire. But it makes no sense...]

Unbelievable... [He muses with an exasperated sigh.]

[Iroh watches his reactions carefully, after he jumps away, Iroh closes his hand extinguishing the fire]

It seems it is not only your own magic.

[Saleh cautiously faces him again.]

...So it would seem. At least it helps to know that...

Well, I think that facing your fear would probably be the best option.

Indeed...

[He's well-aware of the "face your fear" remedy...]

...How would you suggest doing that?

I would suggest start meditating on the true nature of fire before you do anything.

[His voice perks up at the suggestion.]

Valega. By a bonfire. An excellent suggestion.

[Taking in all of nature's elements, as he's done all his life. How can this fail?]

Just remember, that you don't need to combat the fear. Fear is natural, it is something you need to accept, not push aside.

[The feeling of loneliness - the man's overall tone as he speaks is one that resonates strongly with this boy. Rudy can't help but feel bad for him as he listens. He's had his own brushes with those bitter feelings in the past, after all.

He's about to speak up with his own thoughts, but that line of thinking is soon replaced with concern when the feed abruptly stops.]

H-- Hey, everything okay over there?

[Saleh restarts the feed. It seems he's stirred a lot of attention with his fire.]

Oh...oh, yes. I'm sorry...I was careless.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

076 [Video]

[Action]

[Action]

[Action]

[Action]

[Action]

[Action]

[Action]

[Action]

[Action]

[Action]

[Action]

[Action]

[Action]

[Action]

Video

Video

Video

Video

Video

Video

Video

Video

Video

Video

Video

Video -> Action

Action

Action

Action

Action

Action

Action

Action

Action

Action

Action

Action

Action

Action

[voice]

[voice]