"Oh?" Jigano asked curiously, intrigued by the barrier's specificity. "Why not for metal ones?" That didn't make sense, really. Electricity should prefer metal to organic matter, based on the physics of it, he mused. But then again, when magic was involved, physics came in a distant second. "But I might be able to do something to help... or at least, speed things along, if the storm comes through soon." He stood from his place and trotted over to the metal rod, hefting it consideringly before looking for a mostly-empty space nearby.
He reached into the ground as they started to talk, distracted as he extended the sense of his earth magic into the soil and fished around for what flecks of ore he could find. When he'd found a good spot he plucked a few bright notes from the shimmering brown strings of magic in his soul, gripping the earth with his will and heaving it upwards. A slender pillar of it shot up to the height of his chest and he planted the metal rod firmly into its center before gathering himself once more to begin thrusting the pillar higher still while holding it firmly together so it wouldn't crumble too soon.
He was touched that Sam had gotten along with Edy, even if he was also surprised by it. An unlikely friendship... but he was warmed to know that Sam mourned her, too. "From what she says, Halo is cold and dangerous," he admitted. "Fierce beasts, deadly temperatures, and so very easy to get lost in the snow. A limited diet as well, since not much grows there. Even our cool Flowerbirth days are like mid-Longheat for her. Probably only the Hollowed Grounds' thin soil and lack of our own extra foodstuffs are keeping people away for now." They were no paradise, alas, but sometimes a change was as good as a vacation, and for people used to endless white the riot of growth in Flowerbirth could be a powerful draw of curiosity.
As he was focusing on raising the pillar of earth higher he nearly let it collapse under its own weight at Sam's next words. He had told no one of his charge except those who shared it with him, and a frown furrowed his brow at how swiftly the Ascended had learned of it. But Remi had wanted to tell others... and the alchemist was not the sort to hide anything from anyone, much less a dear friend like Sam.
"It's a charge given to me by the gods," he said slowly, slanting a glance back at his friend but spending most of his focus on keeping the pillar stable while he built it up and raised the metal rod in it towards the sky. "If the Voice gave you a task like that, would you refuse her?"
He reached into the ground as they started to talk, distracted as he extended the sense of his earth magic into the soil and fished around for what flecks of ore he could find. When he'd found a good spot he plucked a few bright notes from the shimmering brown strings of magic in his soul, gripping the earth with his will and heaving it upwards. A slender pillar of it shot up to the height of his chest and he planted the metal rod firmly into its center before gathering himself once more to begin thrusting the pillar higher still while holding it firmly together so it wouldn't crumble too soon.
He was touched that Sam had gotten along with Edy, even if he was also surprised by it. An unlikely friendship... but he was warmed to know that Sam mourned her, too. "From what she says, Halo is cold and dangerous," he admitted. "Fierce beasts, deadly temperatures, and so very easy to get lost in the snow. A limited diet as well, since not much grows there. Even our cool Flowerbirth days are like mid-Longheat for her. Probably only the Hollowed Grounds' thin soil and lack of our own extra foodstuffs are keeping people away for now." They were no paradise, alas, but sometimes a change was as good as a vacation, and for people used to endless white the riot of growth in Flowerbirth could be a powerful draw of curiosity.
As he was focusing on raising the pillar of earth higher he nearly let it collapse under its own weight at Sam's next words. He had told no one of his charge except those who shared it with him, and a frown furrowed his brow at how swiftly the Ascended had learned of it. But Remi had wanted to tell others... and the alchemist was not the sort to hide anything from anyone, much less a dear friend like Sam.
"It's a charge given to me by the gods," he said slowly, slanting a glance back at his friend but spending most of his focus on keeping the pillar stable while he built it up and raised the metal rod in it towards the sky. "If the Voice gave you a task like that, would you refuse her?"
