[Action]

[ledbythewind]

[Anyone who happens to walk by on the road beside House 28 this evening will be treated to a rather unusual sight: a cloud of fireflies hovering around the front lawn, greenish-yellow lights flickering as they fly back and forth, following the movement of a tiny orb of light.

Closer inspection reveals the source of said orb of light as Richard, who is seated in the grass-- he's using a tiny bit of Hyt's power to combine with his own magic (the base for a Holy Lance, not that he's going to cast the entire thing), creating a soft white glowing sphere that hovers a couple of inches above his finger. As he moves his hand to trace mindless patterns in the night air, the orb follows it, and the fireflies follow that in a parade of blinking lights. Richard can't quite hide his amusement at this, reflected in the slight smile on his face. It may be an odd way to spend one's birthday, but to Richard, it's more than fine-- not that he doesn't appreciate what Asbel and the others have done for him. He just needs a little time to himself to unwind after all of that.

But if anyone wanders by, he'll be happy to converse with them. He wouldn't be in a public place if he didn't feel like talking to anyone, after all.]

Comments

[childofthefullmoon]

They say that like attracts like. Maybe it fits in this case too?

[Estelle walks closer still and then pauses as she seems to recognize him. She had spoken to him on the journals once hadn't she?]

Oh, you're Richard, right?

[ledbythewind]

That's right, and you're Estelle.

[Normally he'd stand up, but right now he'd rather not disturb the fireflies, so he just remains sitting and settles for a nod of the head in greeting instead.]

And I suppose these are my newest friends.

[childofthefullmoon]

Yes. [She says this with a happy little giggle.]

[She then stoops down to get a better look at Richard's new friends, then looks back up at him.]

May I try?

[ledbythewind]

Be my guest.

[A tiny bit of wind magic is enough to send the orb drifting over closer to Estelle, the fireflies following after it in a parade of blinking lights. He's got enough control over it now to keep the light shining even when he isn't in contact with it directly, so she should be able to play with it too.]

[childofthefullmoon]

[Estelle kneels down on the grass next to Richard, dress spreading out around her. Holding out her hands, she catches the orb as it drifts over to her, the glow reflecting in her eyes. There is a delighted smile on her face as she watches the fireflies, and inspects the orb.]

Is this Filial magic?

[And yet something felt familiar about it too.]

[ledbythewind]

In part. I also used some of my own skills to help make the light brighter. That may be what attracted the fireflies.

[He sits back a bit to watch Estelle and the fireflies as they move to cluster around the orb again, smiling at her obvious delight.]

[childofthefullmoon]

I've read about it, and I have been trying to learn, but this is the first time I've seen someone else use it. There's... something familiar about your magic, though.

[She paused to think about it for a few moments, and then it struck her. Estelle turned her eyes from the fireflies to Richard.]

Holy Lance?

[ledbythewind]

[Now it's Richard's turn to look a bit surprised. He hadn't even cast the full spell, yet she could tell what it was? Impressive indeed.]

Yes... how did you know?

[childofthefullmoon]

I use light artes as well.

[She had used it often herself and was able to recognize the partially cast spell.]

I read about your world, and I think it's fascinating that yours and mine both use many of the same artes.

[ledbythewind]

There do seem to be a number of worlds with similarities between their artes. Yours wouldn't be the only one, if my memory serves me. I believe there is at least one other as well, though I can't remember the name right now.

[childofthefullmoon]

Yes, Auldrant uses them as well.

[She read about that world after meeting Asch.]

[ledbythewind]

Yes, that was the name of the world. I remember seeing a book about it in the library.

[childofthefullmoon]

[Estelle's eyes light up from more than just the fireflies.]

Yes! I read it as well!

[Someone else who appreciates books? She's liking Richard more and more.]

[ledbythewind]

[Books were Richard's primary form of entertainment as a child; the fact that there's a library in Luceti with books from ALL DIFFERENT WORLDS was sort of the best thing ever in his eyes.]

You have? Then have you also read the one with the stories about Yulia and the Order of Lorelei?

[childofthefullmoon]

[The same could be said for Estelle. She spent most of her life confined to a castle, with books as her only friends and windows to the outside world. She too finds the books in Luceti's library, extremely interesting.]

No, I haven't.

[She admits this with wide eyes. She knew of Yulia and the Order of Lorelei after reading about Auldrant, but she had yet to discover this particular book.]

[ledbythewind]

I don't recall the title off the top of my head, but I would recognize the book itself if I saw it again. I'm sure I could find it in the library if I went looking for it.

[childofthefullmoon]

I would very much like to read it.

[Even if Richard didn't get around to looking for it, Estelle could probably find it after searching a while too.]

[ledbythewind]

You sound like you're quite a fan of stories about other worlds.

[He's amused, mostly because he's the same way, although adventure stories are his favorites.]

[childofthefullmoon]

Yes, very much so. I love stories.

[Stories in general really. Fairytales and romantic stories are among her favorites.]

Reading is perhaps my favorite pastime.

[ledbythewind]

I'm fond of adventure stories myself-- exciting journeys and daring heroes always seemed so much more interesting than my own everyday life. Sometimes it's nice to just lose yourself in another world for a while.

[childofthefullmoon]

[Estelle's eyes seem to glitter with intrigue as Richard talks.]

Oh, yes, I agree. When I was in the castle, I would lose myself in such stories, and imagine that I was there. My favorites are fairy tales and stories about true love.

[There is a slight pink tinge to her cheeks as she admits this. It wasn't often that she got to talk to others about her love for books and stories. Her friends from back home were not really interested in such things.]

[ledbythewind]

[It's much the same for Richard-- while he enjoys spending time with Asbel and Isamu, neither one of them is exactly the reading type, comic books aside. He mostly just keeps his love for books to himself here.]

I always wanted to be one of those heroes, slaying monsters and protecting the kingdom, but... well. I suppose some things can only happen in books.

[childofthefullmoon]

And I always wanted to be the girl who was swept off her feet and saved by a handsome prince. Then lived happily ever after.

[Sigh.]

Yes, some things do only happen in books. But, I never would have imagined I'd have the experiences I did with my friends. That I would go on a journey around the world.

[ledbythewind]

You traveled around the world?

[He sounds very interested in this.]

I've been fortunate enough to see a great deal of my own world, but I know there are still countless things I have yet to see for myself. Someday I'd like to get the chance to just travel and explore, to go wherever I'd like and just experience things.

[childofthefullmoon]

Yes, I feel the same way! I saw and learned many amazing things on my journey, but I haven't seen everything yet. Someday I plan to. I want to see all that there is to see.

[Wow... it's almost as if she and Richard were kindred spirits.]