01-29-2014, 07:18 AM
Until now he did not realise how much taking the role of mentor satisfied him. He had thought the pressure and nerves had been purely an effect of the coup he was planning, but it seemed otherwise.
Michael's independence stuck in his mind. It was not that the man had mastered all Tony could teach - far from it! - his aptitude just differed far too much. Not to mention the bastard's indomitable impetus.
To teach Claire - as much as his limited capacity allowed - seemed to invigorate his enthusiasm, intensified by the challenge and not in the least by the fire in the woman's eyes. It was so different from the lazy complacence or arrogance he had known as a child and the dead, hard gazes he grew to know in the Undercity.
He did not know what it was exactly Claire hoped to do, but the allure of that refreshing drive made him smile - a smile not tinged with bitterness or irony.
He was not surprised that she had taken the initiative while he was unconscious. It was dangerous, but he secretly approved. After all, he was daring in his own plans, was he not?
"Aether..."
he mused, then nodded. "That is a good description of it. The other two are akin to the elements of Wind and Water. It seems you already know something about the intricacies. While these elements are basic in pure form - they are in no way confined by this role. Water can be threaded with Aether or Air to create something entirely abstract from all three."
He waved a hand in apology. "But I'm getting ahead of myself and not answering the question."
As the broth boiled satisfactorily, he released the weave and produced a ball of fire floating above his outstretched palm. "The first of the other two is of course Fire. The essence of creation and destruction. It is a wild element, I have found. Others find it easy to coax, but again, a story for later."
He stared into the ball of Fire - woven with Air to contain and maintain it's form. "It is a primal force. A double edged blade. It consumes, devours. But it also sparks life."
He shook his head, not sure if it was of any use to the woman at all, but continued. "Fire can be shaped into many things, but above all it requires weariness and understanding. A firm control but not strangled lest it rages free."
"The final element is that of Earth,"
he said, releasing the globe of heat. "It is not something that can be as easily shown as Fire or Water. Earth is the soil, the roots of the planet. Steady, unyielding. Some have a natural affinity to it, the rest of us have to learn the hard way. Earth is not something that can be used on a whim. As well try to lift a boulder with one finger. Treat yourself as an extension of the Earth - an arm to guide it's path, not a bulldozer, and it may come easier."
Of course, the Power did not exactly work like that. With practice, it would come easier, but understanding the fundamental nature of each thread was as important as understanding the power itself.
His lecture over, he poured himself a bowl of broth, savouring the familiar warmth as it filled his empty stomach. "The only way to truly understand is to attempt it yourself. I have given you a hint, but the rest is up to you."
He returned to his lounge, inspecting the preparations Claire had made that allowed her to use the power. Tedious and dangerously time-consuming, but there was little he could do for the moment, so he simply waited and watched.
Michael's independence stuck in his mind. It was not that the man had mastered all Tony could teach - far from it! - his aptitude just differed far too much. Not to mention the bastard's indomitable impetus.
To teach Claire - as much as his limited capacity allowed - seemed to invigorate his enthusiasm, intensified by the challenge and not in the least by the fire in the woman's eyes. It was so different from the lazy complacence or arrogance he had known as a child and the dead, hard gazes he grew to know in the Undercity.
He did not know what it was exactly Claire hoped to do, but the allure of that refreshing drive made him smile - a smile not tinged with bitterness or irony.
He was not surprised that she had taken the initiative while he was unconscious. It was dangerous, but he secretly approved. After all, he was daring in his own plans, was he not?
"Aether..."
he mused, then nodded. "That is a good description of it. The other two are akin to the elements of Wind and Water. It seems you already know something about the intricacies. While these elements are basic in pure form - they are in no way confined by this role. Water can be threaded with Aether or Air to create something entirely abstract from all three."
He waved a hand in apology. "But I'm getting ahead of myself and not answering the question."
As the broth boiled satisfactorily, he released the weave and produced a ball of fire floating above his outstretched palm. "The first of the other two is of course Fire. The essence of creation and destruction. It is a wild element, I have found. Others find it easy to coax, but again, a story for later."
He stared into the ball of Fire - woven with Air to contain and maintain it's form. "It is a primal force. A double edged blade. It consumes, devours. But it also sparks life."
He shook his head, not sure if it was of any use to the woman at all, but continued. "Fire can be shaped into many things, but above all it requires weariness and understanding. A firm control but not strangled lest it rages free."
"The final element is that of Earth,"
he said, releasing the globe of heat. "It is not something that can be as easily shown as Fire or Water. Earth is the soil, the roots of the planet. Steady, unyielding. Some have a natural affinity to it, the rest of us have to learn the hard way. Earth is not something that can be used on a whim. As well try to lift a boulder with one finger. Treat yourself as an extension of the Earth - an arm to guide it's path, not a bulldozer, and it may come easier."
Of course, the Power did not exactly work like that. With practice, it would come easier, but understanding the fundamental nature of each thread was as important as understanding the power itself.
His lecture over, he poured himself a bowl of broth, savouring the familiar warmth as it filled his empty stomach. "The only way to truly understand is to attempt it yourself. I have given you a hint, but the rest is up to you."
He returned to his lounge, inspecting the preparations Claire had made that allowed her to use the power. Tedious and dangerously time-consuming, but there was little he could do for the moment, so he simply waited and watched.