Ashton pulled Lamont's human mana to the forefront this time. His hum taking on a slower, deeper tone. "Beasts are more focused, we have a goal. Humans believe jacks are more balanced, rather than kings of a sole."
Haven stilled, not daring to miss a single detail as Nix's mana connected with the child's. A tiny sliver of silver fire reacting to the surrounding mana. The tiny flame sometimes shook, grew, faltered, and even sparked. Haven watched the cycle repeat without pattern.
Haven felt his mana slowly follow after the tiny flame. He could feel how his wind reacted to the human's mana. When it made contact with earth it stalled. With fire it swirled. With water his mana curled in on itself. When he finally found a bit of wind affinity his mana didn't merge. Instead, his mana engulfed the child's mana, growing as it continued it's conquest.
"Your mana so strong, his affinity weak, to bring to the forefront, a balance we seek." Nix murmured as his flame entwined with Haven's mana. Slowly bypassing the other elements until they found another bit of wind.
Haven's jaw clenched as his mana layered itself under the human's mana. Slowly his mana was fed into the tiny gust that wouldn't have moved a feather. Slowly it grew into a light breeze, stronger, stronger… until it was enough to create a gale.
Nix released the rest of Haven's mana to saturate the youth's reservoir.
Haven could immediately see the difference in the human. His reservoir had tripled in size, wind now the dominant element. That still didn't show him how to utilize the flame any better.
Nix smiled, "Wind you are more familiar, now with Beloved and her flame, show you the difference, show you how untamed."
Haven raised a brow turning his attention to his Beloved.
Beloved blew them a kiss, barely a minute had passed. "In her there is fire, she is so fierce, she may not fly, but mere hinderance she'll transverse."
Haven rested his head at her side. Immersing himself in her mana, following along for the ride. To his surprise, Beloved pulled on his flame. He watched as she guided her mana through a much more turbulent reservoir. His fire glided through the channels like a feather riding a river.
His mana barely having time to react to her mana. Beloved expertly rode the waves, going deeper, closer to her core.
Beloved huffed, crossing her arms as she pouted. "She doesn't trust me, doesn't like you, you'd think this a punishment, not that one isn't due!"
Haven could hear that Beloved didn't really mean it. Her heart's song enjoying the thrill. Going so deep into another's reservoir… for her it wasn't just seeing their power… it was all the pieces of their song that led them to their current affinities. With Beloved, he was hearing bits of memories. The tiger's first kill, first loss, the joy of family, the exhaustion of training.
Haven… empathized with the tiger's fear for her litter mates. Fear of the empire, love for her clan. Suddenly the memory fragments came to a halt. He found himself face to face with her mana core. It had more beast base than the male, claws of mana lashing at them. The tiny flame dodging out of the way as Beloved's song shifted.
Her song of welcome, hope, the promise of strength. Haven wasn't sure what changed but the mana core's attacks slowed, then stopped. Slowly, a tiger paw with retreated claws reached out of the core.
Beloved's song shifted once again, this time to warning. Fire is hot, fires do burn, more than just enemies, if restraint is not learned. The paw didn't retract, if anything it approached with more determination.
Beloved winked at her enraptured snake. "Some beasts are so stubborn! Refuse my sweet treats, they'd rather be beaten, forced to retreat. Sometimes we coax, sometimes a threat, hearts are so funny! So don't live with regret." Beloved finally handed over the tiny white flame as she laid a kiss on her big snake's face. He was so pretty!
Nix clapped his hands, "Now you have seen, both of us shown, the next one for you, we'll guide, then the last one alone."
Noelle was able to relax. It was clear this punishment was a blessing. It was also a lesson for the snake god to learn to use fire… she would have to focus. That white flame held a secret Lord Nix had killed for.
Nix raised a brow at princess Noelle, "You are so smart, you are so sly, rather than fire, you should reach for the sky."
Noelle didn't flinch. Taking a calming breath, she relaxed as Tania was blessed. None of them looked to be guarded… there was no ceremony, no wards… how were they so certain no one would take advantage?
It wasn't uncommon for beasts to fall under control of the very people they blessed without proper safeguards? Noelle couldn't move her body, but she could still look around.
This was… the perfect chance to try taking control of Lord Nix's heart. Was it… a trap? A temptation? A… test? Before she could follow the line of thought it was her turn.
Haven was a quick learner. He had to be to survive before civilized times. Both birds were now following his course. The female was rather compliant. Her reservoir a calm lake as he followed the channels to her core.
Haven expected an instinctive attack as he circled her core… but her claws remained tightly clenched. He gently pushed his mana toward the base of her core, catching the slight bits escaping between her claws.
Because she was so restrained it took longer to feed his mana into her.
Beloved blinked, "If you like her, give as you please, the stronger the tiger, the stronger the knees. Now she can fly, but with fire?"
Haven hesitated as he looked at Nix. Nix was so protective of Beloved. For a bird who'd rather fly away than kill to slaughter entire continents to keep this secret…
Nix blinked, "The secret not the fire, the secret not the mana, even if they look, with two gods, and monarch to contend? If any truly persist, well then, a fiery end."
Haven accepted the answer, slowly pulling on his white flame. If the female continued to be so smart, this flame would serve her well.
Noelle was seeing her core. Her heart… it was like she saw everything all at once. If this is how they saw the world… human vision was so lacking. When the tiny flame melded into her mana, coating her claws…
The world was so much clearer, she felt more. The passing breeze whispered to her. She couldn't tell what it was saying yet… but if she focused she could vaguely understand. The scents carried on the wind were stronger… how had she lived so… blind?
Haven ignited his flame long his spine. The small birds hopping through the flames. Haven continued to play with his fire as he set to making their last meal together.
As they ate Haven let the fire die out. It would take time to familiarize himself with all the flames were capable of. For now, he wanted to focus on the flock.
Haven was cleaning up, their last meal together as a flock. As he glanced over Tou… perhaps he might whisk at least one of the little ones away. But before he left… Haven eyed the overly dramatic fox, whining for attention.
Caius had been minding his own business, watching the sad birds sing their say hymns, when he was suddenly dangling over a giant snake face… it was a good thing he wasn't one to panic!
Haven dropped the fur bristled fox. "A word fox."
Caius changed to his human form. Aiya, it was going to take hours to comb his fur back into place! What a mean snake! Not to mention… the musk!!! Aiya!!! Would he ever stop smelling like he'd rolled in a snake pit?
Haven waited for the fox to pay attention, with such erratic notes it was a wonder if even the fox understood what was going on in his own head.
Caius felt a chill creep along his spine, turning his attention to the narrow eyed snake, "Yes your… godship?" Caius asked obediently.
Haven ensured none of the flock was paying them any attention before addressing the fox. "You are… courting Nix, yesss?"
Caius's ears flattened, "Aiya, was it so obvious? Of course, who wouldn't want such a pretty-"
"Silence, even if you did not know when you arrived, you know now they hear your heart." Haven was not interested in the longwinded lies of a young fox. He need only ensure the fox was aware, he was aware.
Caius snapped his mouth shut. That had been a surprise to say the least… but his Little Snack had not refused him yet…
Haven let out a frustrated breath, "They are birds, birds do not take mates based on scent, clearly they pick mates based on sight and song. Yet you do not sing to him, and you appear… male."
Caius bit back his retort, not that he need voice it since the snake was listening to his heart.
"You are courting Nix. Not Ashton. Ashton is a dying vessel. Nix will not take a male mate. Now, you are capable of being female, carrying offspring." Haven gave the fox a dismissive once over. "While I do not find you appealing, it is obvious Nix has taken at least a superficial liking to you."
Caius gritted his teeth, aiya, as if he wasn't trying. But first Beloved, then this snake god. How was he to court when they kept his Little Snack's attention?
"Do you not think Little Snack would be an off-putting term of endearment. Considering it is obvious you intended to eat him if he'd been weak enough?" Haven sneered. With that parting advice Haven returned to the flock's side.
Caius took a deep breath. Aiya, he could not lose his temper. Caius hadn't meant it like that. Just that… the little bird was pretty enough to be a treat… Caius squatted down. He needed to think. He wasn't stronger than Nix. He wasn't older… he couldn't exactly be considered prettier either. Not if that red haired youth was the real Nix. Something… he needed something to entice the pretty birdie.