"Agreed," he admitted back just as wryly. "I never had any affinity for it before. Though the same could be said of earth magic, really." Nor had he ever expected to regain his healing magic, for that matter. He hadn't chosen to become Abandoned. Hadn't asked for his magic to be returned to him, even in the beginning when he had been the most distraught by its loss in his transfer to this world. He had made the foolish choice of asking Safrin about Ludo, worried and seeking the masked god who had disappeared over Deepfrost, and for his hubris in approaching the star-eyed goddess she had cast magic back into his soul - likely on accident, but the result was the same.
He had borne that accident with shame and trepidation at first, but of all people it had been Deimos who had helped him to cast off his hesitancy and embrace the unintended gift, however much like a curse the gods of this world might see it.
He shook off his troubled thoughts off to focus on his friend, who had been through far more pain than mere divine displeasure. Like Loren, she seemed to be recovering but not entirely past that which had wounded her soul so deeply. Nodding at the mention of the season's difficulty he looked away, and Isuma wriggled free of Amalia's embrace to flutter back to his shoulder and give an encouraging purr of support. Adam...
"That it was," he said softly. "There will be more lanterns to make this year..." he sighed and let the sadness wrap around his heart for a moment, allowing himself the chance to mourn another friend lost to Caido's danger.
He heard her words, the casual mention of the gods who came at her beck and call - or even just to visit, old friends in a way few Outlanders could ever know. Well. Perhaps not, when it came down to it. Remi had his special relationship with Ludo, Rexanna was a darling of the Voice... and Ronin belonged to Safrin, of course. Really, it was past time for Amalia to join their ranks. His lips quirked into a smile that held no humor as he firmly shoved the spike of jealousy down deep enough to pretend it didn't exist, reaching up to scratch Isuma's neck ruff and pressing his face into her feathers. "What did they have to say?" he asked quietly, voice a little muffled. "I could use a little perspective myself, these days."
He had borne that accident with shame and trepidation at first, but of all people it had been Deimos who had helped him to cast off his hesitancy and embrace the unintended gift, however much like a curse the gods of this world might see it.
He shook off his troubled thoughts off to focus on his friend, who had been through far more pain than mere divine displeasure. Like Loren, she seemed to be recovering but not entirely past that which had wounded her soul so deeply. Nodding at the mention of the season's difficulty he looked away, and Isuma wriggled free of Amalia's embrace to flutter back to his shoulder and give an encouraging purr of support. Adam...
"That it was," he said softly. "There will be more lanterns to make this year..." he sighed and let the sadness wrap around his heart for a moment, allowing himself the chance to mourn another friend lost to Caido's danger.
He heard her words, the casual mention of the gods who came at her beck and call - or even just to visit, old friends in a way few Outlanders could ever know. Well. Perhaps not, when it came down to it. Remi had his special relationship with Ludo, Rexanna was a darling of the Voice... and Ronin belonged to Safrin, of course. Really, it was past time for Amalia to join their ranks. His lips quirked into a smile that held no humor as he firmly shoved the spike of jealousy down deep enough to pretend it didn't exist, reaching up to scratch Isuma's neck ruff and pressing his face into her feathers. "What did they have to say?" he asked quietly, voice a little muffled. "I could use a little perspective myself, these days."
