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[born_in_flame]

Caleb knew he was hard to read, even Nott couldn't figure out what he was thinking sometimes and she was the closest to him among the Nien. Caleb had to play things close to the chest, his past and what he was running from demanded it. But just because he wasn't open with his thoughts and feelings doesn't mean he doesn't have them.

He is currently in his cabin on the Ball Eater thinking about Fjord. Losing power after having it can be difficult and Caleb is worried for his friend. Then an idea occurs to him and after a bit of mental back and forth he gets up and goes looking for the half orc before he talks himself out of his plan.

"Fjord," he calls softly, "I was wondering if we could talk?"

Comments

[mayberaven]

What was the saying? It takes one to know one?

Regardless, Fjord couldn't help the faint flush that spread across his face at the soft-spoken praise, fingers fidgeting with the edges of one of the ledgers that laid open beside the map. "I... that's mighty kind of you Caleb. I just... I'm just doing what I can to keep things running."

He didn't know how great a leader it made him. But Caleb's opinion... it meant more than he could really say.

"Well things should be fairly uneventful for the moment..." He mused, considering the idea, feeling... well a bit more hopeful than he had before Caleb had come in. "So it'd make sense to take advantage of the quiet time yeah?"

[born_in_flame]

Caleb was a bit startled when he saw that his words made Fjord blush and he found himself turning a bit pink and looking at the floor. But he'd meant what he'd said. If he'd known someone like Fjord when he was younger maybe his life wouldn't have....taken the road it did. He looks up and nods, shrugging off his coat and revealing his book holsters. He carefully removes his spell book and moves over to the half orc's side."I...could start now," he says shyly, not really feeling prepared to do so. "You know the basics already anyway so it's about finding...what school or element you might be drawn to."

He sets the book on the table and starts flipping through it's pages, a thoughtful expression crossing his face. "Water makes the most sense and yet....sometimes the simplest answer is not the correct one."

[mayberaven]

There were so many ways things could have gone, ways that Fjord's life could have turned. He could have somehow never met Jester and Beau, could have wound up at the Academy at some point. Could have never even survived the ship sinking. And he'd never have met this hectic sort of group, would never have gained the family that they'd seemed to evolve into. And he'd never have met Caleb.

Whatever else could be said, he was glad he'd met the wizard. Fingers flexing faintly to curl and rub against the faint scar across his palm a reflexive sort of move as he was watching his companion get a bit more comfortable, free hand moving to nudge the ledger back so there was more room for him to set his spellbook out, watching as the wizard started turning pages already focusing on the puzzle of where to start.

"We'll figure it out, yeah?" Fjord mused, watching the sigils and script on each page turned over Caleb's shoulder. "Like you said it's not like I'm starting entirely from scratch so that should help a bit."

[born_in_flame]

As he flips the pages, Caleb's mind drifts as much as he can do so. He is not a big believer in fate, never has been and yet he feels as if the Nien coming together was meant to be. In particular how drawn to Fjord he has been since the beginning. Fjord's more open nature balances Caleb's quiet one. And in battle they balance each other. truly bound now by more than blood though they crossed that line as well. A deep part of him is glad Fjord has seemed to give up his dreams of the Academy. He does not like to think of what that place could have done to his friend. He has yet to make peace with what it did to him.

Caleb shakes himself out of his increasingly dark thoughts and looks back at Fjord. 'What do you want to learn," he asks softly. The one question he himself never got asked/

[mayberaven]

The Academy would have done nothing good, that much was certain even just looking at how he struggled with the pact he'd ended up in with Uk'otoa. That need for approval was a thing so easily twisted to darker purposes, especially if worked with more deftness than the sea snake thankfully seemed to exhibit.

And he's honestly a little startled at the question. Gaze skipping to Caleb, a bit of that uncertainty bleeding into him because... well he'd never had the chance to choose either. He'd woken with his abilities, been given new ones as he grew stronger but they'd all been... not his.

"Maybe... some of the stuff I had before? Or some of the spells you're more familiar with... Seems like the former'd be the easiest to start on given I've managed those before and the latter'd likely be the easiest for you to teach."

[born_in_flame]

Caleb considers and flips a few pages stopping at a spell. "I can show you a variation of the Eldritch Blast," he says, "It will help you focus the beam a bit better and control where it goes." He taps the spell on the page. "Mage magic is part component, part hand motion and mostly will. As long as you have the will to cast the spell correctly it will happen. Depending on the school and or the element you choose you will do a bit better with some spells than others. But no magic is off limits to any mage willing to learn."

Or in Caleb's case, forced to learn. His mentor believed in having well rounded students and Caleb was eager to please stuffing his head full of spells that he might never use just to hear words of praise. He still struggled with this issue even now...questioning his place among the Nein after every battle. He is getting better, but old habits die hard.

[mayberaven]

It was actually a bit comforting to hear that said. That there weren't limits being placed, choices being made for him. And while he didn't quite understand everything on the page, all the arcane elements and runes, he still studied the page with curious interest as Caleb was sorting his thoughts on the option, a light hand against the back of the wizard's shoulder without even really thinking about it.

"That sounds like a good idea to me." And it did. Combat was where his skills had suffered the most with the loss of his powers, and anything that could give him an edge again would help, both in making him feel more secure in his own role in the party as well as in keeping the others safe.

[born_in_flame]

Caleb is so focused on the pages that he doesn't notice the gentle touch until he feels the warmth of Fjord's hand on his back. It's a comfort after everything they'd been through recently and Caleb is distracted enough that he allows it to continue. "This looks complicated but it is not," he promises quietly. He taps the circles. "These are the hand movements and the direction in which they go." He taps underneath the name of the spell. "The component is here...if there is one. This one uses ice...I will teach you how to make it so it does not melt in your pouch."

He then smiles. "And then once you feel the spell open up to you you can put your will into it and it should take. You will feel the change easily once you get the hand motions down. Then muscle memory will take over in time."

[mayberaven]

"Yeah that'd be helpful, elsewise this'd get real messy real quick." Fjord commented in a lightly amused tone, free hand already shifting faintly, mimicking the gesture. It would certainly take some practice to get it to something like second nature, but Fjord wasn't unfamiliar with hard work and was pretty damn persistent when set to a goal.

"What's your favorite spell, anyways?" He was curious for one, and for another well... a person's favorite anything told you a little about them. And Fjord did want to know more about Caleb.

[born_in_flame]

Caleb goes still for a moment at the question. Years ago he would have been able to answer the question without hesitation even proud of the spell he had chosen. But he was a different person then the one he had been. "I do not have a favorite spell," he replies, finally unable to think of something that will not remind him of his past and the pain contained inside it. It isn't a lie, just a redirection of the conversation. "I was once taught that to depend on one spell is to close your mind to opportunity as well as knowledge."

His hand comes up to rub the back of his neck in a familiar nervous tic. "There are some spells that I use more often than others, but no one spell comes to mind now."

[mayberaven]

"Well I suppose there's sense in that... not relying on the same thing all the time..." Fjord could tell there was something there, a faint slide of his hand on Caleb's shoulder in reflexive offer of comfort. "But there's nothin' wrong with havin' a favorite I'd think. Like sailors'll have favorite ships even if they're not gonna just sail on that one sort forever."

A small smile cast Caleb's way. "How about if you wind up findin' one in the future, you tell me then?"

[born_in_flame]

Caleb chuckles and relaxes when he sees his redirection has to appear to have worked. "Ja," he replies quietly, "I can do that.He continues to share spells with Fjord choosing a mix of combat related and general stealth and illusional magic all things he has seen the half orc already use. The more he talks and explains the more Caleb relaxes and lets his body language loosen up almost like he has forgotten he is speaking to someone else.

[mayberaven]

Of course Caleb would have a good idea where to start. Spells similar to those Fjord had known before, or were similar enough that mastering them might be a bit easier. And it was comforting too, the idea that this time the power would be his and not tied to being beholden to something like Uk'otoa. And with Caleb relaxing, the half-orc is in kind, the hand at his shoulder moving, a slide to rest against the small of the wizard's back just a warmth there as he was studying the pages he was being shown, focus mainly on absorbing what he was being told.

[born_in_flame]

Without thinking about it, Caleb leans in to Fjord a bit as he talks and gestures. He pauses after a while, suddenly aware how close they might be and he moves away with a slight blush. "I think that is good...for a first lesson. I gave you a lot to think about and practice with." His face is bright red and he ducks his head a bit trying to compose himself.

[mayberaven]

Fjord doesn't even realize how close they are until Caleb's putting distance between them again. a faint flush of darker green crossing his face as he offers a small smile, nodding his agreement.

"Got... a lot to work on looks like," He replies softly, though he does look a lot less stressed than he had before. "But thank you Caleb. I... I really appreciate this."

[born_in_flame]

The wizard smiles slightly as he turns to go. "We are blood brothers Fjord...I meant that oath. How could I not do what I could for you." He turns to go. "I believe that in no time you will be back to full strength again." And he leaves, but he is back the next day with a few more spell books and papers.

He has also shed his coat and his book holsters needing the better range of motion today for the spells he plans to teach.

[mayberaven]

It's a lot different, dealing with the lack of ability now. Knowing that he could, with Caleb's assistance, claw his way back to something resembling useful. Which meant he was definitely going to put his all into learning what the wizard had to teach.

And admittedly looking forward to the time it meant they got to spend together in said lessons.

[born_in_flame]

Caleb is smiling as he walks into the cabin and sets down everything he is carrying. "While we cannot practice the combat spells safely on ship we can practice others well enough," he says. "It is a trick to grab the right component and move into the movements you need." Even harder when you are injured as Caleb knows well he wants to make sure Fjord is comfortable in his own skills. "How are you coming with the Haste and Slow spells?"

[mayberaven]

"Yeah, I don't think anyone would appreciate ill-cast attacks, or the mess they'd make." Fjord replied with a faint chuckle, moving things off the desk so Caleb had room to spread out his things as needed.

"It's comin' along though. The movements are similar enough that if I try goin' too quick yet my hands stumble on which one I should be goin' for," Not surprising, and not a thing he was too worried about yet. "But that should come out with more practice."

[born_in_flame]

"Then that is where we will start for today," Caleb says, handing over the component for the Slow spell and flipping to the right page in his spell book. "You will attempt to slow me down as I use Haste on you. "It is easiest to keep the component in your comfortable hand and draw it across as you start the movements you need."

[mayberaven]

Fjord's fairly sure he's going to get beaten out here. Not that Caleb would be mean about it, but as new as he was to this, it was reasonable to expect. He just needed to make sure not to rush himself. To try not to get flustered if he had a hard time of it.

Nodding at Caleb's instruction, he glanced to the page being opened, a faint flicker of fingers following him reminding himself which gestures were for the spell he was doing now in the hopes that it would help keep that fresh. The verbal element was easier, and he was mindful to take the component as Caleb had suggested, readying himself with a soft huff.

[born_in_flame]

Caleb offers his friend a smile as he begins to cast Haste. He moves more slowly than he normally would since he's working with a new mage. It isn't actually about speed right now, but about learning to do things right. It is the way he wishes he had learned and has been teaching Nott, when she doesn't pick up spells on her own by watching.

[mayberaven]

Fjord is just glad that Caleb seems of a similar mind to what he was figuring. That technique would come before speed, and that he wasn't going to just rush the half-orc. He'd had plenty of tutelage in other facets of his life where that was the norm. You kept up or you were kicked out, and to have something a bit more considerate of the process... was nice.

It didn't stop his face from heating near-immediately when he felt his fingers stumble on the motions, shoulders hunching ever so subtly in an automatic expectation of displeasure as he quickly shifted back to the start to try again.

[born_in_flame]

Caleb gives Fjord an encouraging smile. "That was decent for a first try Fjord," he says softly, "you are still learning the right motions and you almost had them. Hesitation is to be expected when you are tying to make your hands do something you haven't had to before. Your magic was different from mine and you should do well to remember each time we practice."

[mayberaven]

That soft encouragement wasn't what he'd expected, if the faint surprise flickering through him was any hint. Not that he figured Caleb would be cruel about things, but the utter lack of disappointment or annoyance shown threw him.

"I- right... of course." His gaze dropped for the moment to his hands, working through the part he kept stumbling over several times to try and ease the hesitation, ears tinging that darker green as he did.

[born_in_flame]

Caleb walks over and shows Fjord the hand motions again keeping his movements slow and easy. "If it is easier for you I can guide your hands with mine until you understand what to do. It may help, but only if you would be comfortable with that." Caleb had once seen another master guide a student that way and he'd scoffed at the idea of learning without pain. He understood now that that master was doing things the right way. No one should learn by getting hurt.

[mayberaven]

The half-orc is attentive, watching the way Caleb's hands moved, in that deceptively easy and graceful manner that had always fascinated him. Gaze skipping up at the offer, a bit surprised but at the same time... it sounded sensible enough.

"I... wouldn't mind it. If you think it'd help." Replied softly, ears going a faint bit darker.

[born_in_flame]

Caleb smiles and moves closer to Fjord slowly and gently gripping the orc's wrists. He tries not to blush himself at how intimate the moment is. "Try again and go slowly," he says, "When you feel yourself start to hesitate I will help you."

[mayberaven]

Fjord stilled under the light touch, trying not to focus too much on the warmth of fingers around his wrists. Nodding at Caleb's instructions, trying instead to pay mind to the movements he was working on learning. He took it slow, brows drawing slightly in concentration, though Caleb would easily be able to spot the moment when it seemed his fingers started wanting to trip, especially as close as they were right then.

[born_in_flame]

The moment he feels Fjord start to hesitate Caleb's own hands are moving gently guiding their hands into the right position and holding them there so Fjord can feel the motions and his muscles can learn when to move and when to stop. He then pulls away and smiles. "Try again," he encourages, "trust your hands to help you."

[mayberaven]

It's easier than he expected, to relax and let those warm fingers guide his own, to allow Caleb to make the shapes that his hands and fingers needed to. Something in his expression softening as he smiled in turn, watching the movements before nodding.

"I know it's only cause you've done this a million times but you sure do make it look easy." Fjord teased in a light tone as he was slowly moving to start again, using the lingering points of warmth from the wizard's touch as something of a guide when he was getting to the spot in the motions that had given him trouble before.

[born_in_flame]

Caleb blushes and looks away. Praise will be forever hard for him to accept, he knows this, such words were just so rare in his younger days that hearing them now makes him uneasy like he will never truly earn them. "My mentor once told me it takes many, many hours to master a skill, you will get to where I am soon enough," he says, turning his gaze back to Fjord. Caleb doesn't mention the pain that accompanied that lesson and many others after it. The pain he spares his own students.

[mayberaven]

Fjord might not respond to praise in the same way that Caleb does, but it was rare to nonexistent for so much of his life that there was a hunger for it in him especially from someone important to him, clear enough in the faint brightening of his gaze at that assurance from the wizard, light as the encouragement was.

"Well... I don't mind puttin' the practice in," He replied with a faint, sheepish chuckle. "Especially if it means I get some extra one-on-one time with you."

[born_in_flame]

Caleb smiles feeling a blanket of warmth settle over him. He enjoys being around all the Nein now that he is loosening up a bit and learning to let people in. But Fjord being slightly closer to Caleb in age has been easier to get close to without things feeling weird. It helps that the half orc is charming where Caleb is shy and well spoken where Caleb is quiet and able to choose his words with care. "I...enjoy spending time with you Fjord...it has been a long time since I have had a friend close to my age." Nott is a good friend, but she is older and has had different life experiences than Caleb, so there are times where he is more her son than her friend.

"Do you wish to keep working on this spell or choose another?"

[mayberaven]

"I... well I feel kinda similar, to tell the truth. Didn't really have many friends before meetin' you all, so this is... well it's nice." He'd had companions and acquaintances but they'd all been superficial for the most part, kept at arm's length for his own well-being. And Caleb... he was finding himself growing more attached to the wizard than the others for some reason, not that he minded it especially.

"I'd like to at least get this hand motion down a bit more before we switch tracks."

[born_in_flame]

Caleb nods and moves back to Fjord's side reaching out to grip his wrists again. He's more comfortable with the motion this time around and he flashes a bright smile at the orc. "Whenever you are ready then," he says warmly, "Again you begin the motions and I will only step in if you need it."