Xander takes a moment, rubbing his face a little, but then chuckles a bit.
"Okay, so, let me tell you guys a story, then. About what happens when my kind of magic user goes through their Ordeal. Maybe that'll help you understand a bit, too."
He shifts his wings a bit, and then leans against one of the windows, tilting his head forward slightly so Cottonball doesn't find herself smushed against the window. She seems to have calmed, more intent on napping than anything else.
"So, one of the things Elemental Masters can do is bind their elementals to them, but both our mother and our teacher, the Firemaster Carlson? They don't believe in binding. Why? Because a servant might tell you if you're messing up, but a friend? A friend is likely to tell you, right? So, as a precaution, we always do a circle of protection, but we call our Elementals the first time with no binding, and then after, since they're friends, we don't need one. But there's always a danger in doing that, regardless of your element. I chalked out my circle responsibly, we all checked it...and when I called my Fauns the first time, it both took a while, because they're shy little guys, but also...Earth, while being enduring and patient, can also lead to sloth on the dark path. I almost fell asleep waiting, and I sure was slow in asking them to be my friends and helpers, but Carlson made a comment about me to my mother that...was kind of rude. Snapped me right out of that languor, though. I suspect Alex had much of the same, but he's declined to share his potential embarrassment. That's just how he is, though."
Xander chuckled again a bit at that memory. In retrospect, Carlson had been right to do it, but it was still embarrassing at the time.
"We kinda know what we're all supposed to be doing with our powers here, but there's still an aspect of...performing like a trapeze artist without a net, right? I don't have any Masters to tell me I'm doing the right thing or stop me if I'm about to mess up, and I suspect it's the same for you guys. So we have to support each other when we can. I...didn't do a really good job of that, either, so I mean. While it's not on me to fix things...it is on me because I kind of feel like I let you down in the 'being a friend' department. So yeah, that's on me to help you. Because I think I can. Because I am your friend! So...yeah." He's feeling a bit awkward, but Xander shrugs and spreads his hands. "What I can do, and whatever you need me for? I'm there."
no subject
"Okay, so, let me tell you guys a story, then. About what happens when my kind of magic user goes through their Ordeal. Maybe that'll help you understand a bit, too."
He shifts his wings a bit, and then leans against one of the windows, tilting his head forward slightly so Cottonball doesn't find herself smushed against the window. She seems to have calmed, more intent on napping than anything else.
"So, one of the things Elemental Masters can do is bind their elementals to them, but both our mother and our teacher, the Firemaster Carlson? They don't believe in binding. Why? Because a servant might tell you if you're messing up, but a friend? A friend is likely to tell you, right? So, as a precaution, we always do a circle of protection, but we call our Elementals the first time with no binding, and then after, since they're friends, we don't need one. But there's always a danger in doing that, regardless of your element. I chalked out my circle responsibly, we all checked it...and when I called my Fauns the first time, it both took a while, because they're shy little guys, but also...Earth, while being enduring and patient, can also lead to sloth on the dark path. I almost fell asleep waiting, and I sure was slow in asking them to be my friends and helpers, but Carlson made a comment about me to my mother that...was kind of rude. Snapped me right out of that languor, though. I suspect Alex had much of the same, but he's declined to share his potential embarrassment. That's just how he is, though."
Xander chuckled again a bit at that memory. In retrospect, Carlson had been right to do it, but it was still embarrassing at the time.
"We kinda know what we're all supposed to be doing with our powers here, but there's still an aspect of...performing like a trapeze artist without a net, right? I don't have any Masters to tell me I'm doing the right thing or stop me if I'm about to mess up, and I suspect it's the same for you guys. So we have to support each other when we can. I...didn't do a really good job of that, either, so I mean. While it's not on me to fix things...it is on me because I kind of feel like I let you down in the 'being a friend' department. So yeah, that's on me to help you. Because I think I can. Because I am your friend! So...yeah." He's feeling a bit awkward, but Xander shrugs and spreads his hands. "What I can do, and whatever you need me for? I'm there."