Yet No Wiser (Jygust 30th TT)

[Haikan]

"Sure, here, organize this while I get the fish." Esther winked at Damon again and she dropped the blanket on the ground. She unrolled it and inside there lay a clutter of pots, pans and plates. There was a sack out of which some carrots and broccoli were spilling and there were a few unmarked jars. There was also a metal tea pot and three metal chalices. Three thick logs were among the clutter, as well as as an iron ring and four curved iron rods.

"We can have a little kitchen cookout right here!" She said and she walked over to the lake. She closed her eyes and held her arms out over the water and she began to whisper to herself. What she was saying wasn't clear, but she seemed to be meditating while standing ankle-deep in water. Her ponytail began to curve with a circular breeze that seemed to revolve around her, and her skirt began to ruffle in the circular breeze as well.

The bird watched Esther intently as she did this, and it stopped dancing, it merely looked on with fascination.

[Damon Ryot]

A cookout, eh? Well, he wasn't against it; at least he'd be able to see what she was up to. But, fish sounded good anyway, probably straight from the lake. He wondered what kind of fish she was about to cook, he didn't know too many with the closest harbour miles from his township, yet his father would sometimes bring fish home from his travels. They'd be overjoyed every time, fresh fish was a delicacy, something he wasn't going to pass out on whether the cook was mediocre or not.

Damon was already busy with all the utensils, carrots; broccoli, mysterious with the teapots and all. The load wasn't as heavy as he'd expected, though the logs burdened the blanket greatly, he still managed to set them all on the ground beside the bird's cage. He wasn't aware of Esther having gone over to the lake; arranging the things took some time from him. When he did look at her to signify they may be ready for the picnic, all other motion and thought ceased abruptly.

By Dominicus! Rang in his head, for he still wasn't sure whether to trust his mother's blest eyes.

There she was, ankle-deep in the water. Her mouth moved slowly, murmuring words he could not hear or read off her lips. Eyes closed, she was clearly meditating from what he could deduce from the distance. A sudden breeze began to blow, however, its target was her; rotating about her like an axis.

"Magic..." The achadhiel was able to utter, not aware that the bird had also joined in his silence. He wasn't sure, however, but since his goal was the singular hunger for magic, he would only assume the most obvious to him. It could just be a simple breeze, a coincidence, than an altering of the web of reality. Whatever it was, Damon was impressed.

[Haikan]

"Get ready to catch..." Were a few words that Damon would be able to hear among Esther's muttering. She continued to hold her hands out toward the lake, for another burn. Finally she stretched her arms apart and she raised herself up on her toes, lifting her chest up and arching her back as if she were about to take flight. Her feet actually lifted an inch off the ground until she finally opened her eyes.

"I've got you!" She shouted and she clapped her hands together. At that moment a large splash could be seen about ten meters out from the shore. From the water shot a massive catfish, as long as Damon's legs. It soared threw the air directly towards Damon, flopping in midair and sufficiently confused.

"Oh! Damon you'd better catch it!" Esther yelled, and she simply watched the glorious arc of the fish flying overhead, headed for her new friend.

[Damon Ryot]

"Get ready to catch what?" He tried asking her. She didn't hear him, and neither did he press on. Just watching her was captivating; he didn't want to miss a flicker of what was going on. She continued to chant or focus, he couldn't really tell, and he had no idea what she was doing. Although, she lifted off the ground, Damon couldn't see that due to her having been ankle deep in the water. The lift was miniscule even, but he did note that she may have grown just an inch taller suddenly.

Got what? He perplexed. Then her hands came together, clapping against each other. He at first thought something was going to happen around her, until he heard the distinct splash that disrupted the calm surface of the water and towards him was flying a well sized catfish. Its trajectory was in a low arc, heading straight at him, and all he could do was gape while standing still. The performance had enthralled him so, that he was just for the moment unable to move.

Esther urged to him to catch the fish, but what he heard was indecipherable at the moment.
Magic... Was his singular thought, all external forces and factors had been shut out.

He was wholly focused on Esther, the sweet and innocent young woman, who would have even dared to fathom that she-
His thoughts ceased, in the split flicker when he caught the fish from the corner of his eye, but alas! The man was too slow to react, and was hit square in the chest. Due to the fish's size, he was knocked back, which caused him to trip and fall on his back on the grass.
The fish lay on his chest, struggling for life; clammy against his skin and cold too. Damon lay there, looking straight up at the sky, amusingly noticing that it was almost the same colour as Esther's eyes.[/i]

[Haikan]

Esther and the bird seemed to share a laugh at Damon as he clumsily caught the fish with his chest. "Damon, you're so funny!" She said, and she giggled happily. She skipped over to the boy and she started to arrange the firewood. She pulled her hand back and thrust it toward the grass and a five meter circle was cleared, the grass being completely uprooted and blown away. What remained was a circle of dirt. All around them grass slowly rained to the ground for several flickers, and on the dirt ring she placed the firewood and the iron potholders respectively.

"Damon, would you like to light this? It really isn't in my area of expertise," She asked, and she pointed to the fireplace. "I could help you... If you wanted." She said, and she looked deep into his eyes, as if hinting at something deeper than mundanely lighting some tinder.

[Damon Ryot]

Damon heard both of them laughing at him, which he knew was probably hilarious, but he felt his dignity had been somehow stained. Particularly, the bird was irritating him, cackling at him like there was no end, and the growing affinity for the bird diminished a little.

He continued to lie there for awhile, while Esther was setting up the equipment, thinking. He knew he wasn't angry at bird, not at all really, rather it was Esther somehow that had annoyed him.
Come on, Damon. Admit it.

He didn't want to however. Just a flicker ago he'd been in awe of her, both ways, yet now as his mind began to rationalize in that annoying way it did he understood what was ticking him. It wasn't because she'd been laughing at him, damn it, the flying fish landing on his chest had been pretty funny and surely no reason to vent over.
You're jealous. His subconscious told him.

I'm not... But, his protest was feeble and soon undermined by the now stronger subconscious.

You're jealous that she; a silly little girl can do magic, even though involving catching fish, while you can't. As smitten as you are, young man, she possesses something you hunger for. Better kiss and make up I'd say. The subpersona stabbed at him, precise and very deeply.

He was right; the annoying little voice was perfectly right. He was torn between the attraction he felt for her, and the envy of her talents which he felt he should have, not some bumbling dimwit of a woman.
Don't think that. It's not her fault, damn it! You don't even know her. That didn't help much though, powerful emotions raged within him ready to set course.

"Sure, I'll do it." He said, getting up while letting the fish fall onto the grass. His voice lacked his usual vigour, as well as a tad bit cold this time. He only took a quick glance at her, seeing the mischievous glint in them that would have him on his knees, begging for it. He broke off the connection quickly, however, and resumed to light the fire.

How am I meant to light it. He asked himself, his back facing Esther now. He just stood there, sulking by himself. Damon knew he should have just asked for help, but his pride had been just damaged and, she was the last person he wanted help from right now.

[Haikan]

"Here, let me give you a hand." Esther said, and she put her hands on his shoulders. "Take a step back, and focus." She pulled him towards herself, until her body was pressed up against his, his back to her front. "You have to focus Damon. You have to think about the world around you. There are spirits in the air and in the ground. Ask them for help. Know that the logs will burn, and if you are humble in your request, the spirits may grant you your wish." She caressed her hand down his arm, and he could feel her breath on his neck, and if he remained focused while he looked around himself he would notice what looked like sparkling mist, circling around himself and Esther.

The aether was made visible for just a few flickers, and it appeared that the spirits were allowing Damon and Esther to know they were there.

"Just ask, Damon... Just ask for the fire to light."

[Damon Ryot]

Damon could feel his back pressed against her body, a feeling he could not shrug off as much as he tried; for no matter how angry he had just been, it all evaporated the instant he felt her arms embrace him. He listened to her every word; she was telling him to concentrate, which was very hard with her breathing down his neck that had his flesh on goosebumps. The delicate touch of her hands on his arms was the worst possible distraction he could asked for, yet he did not attempt to remove them, but neither did he become too comfortable; just in case.

He couldn't see anything around them, but sensed a difference in the surrounding atmosphere; not physical perhaps, a more intangible feeling that called for his attention.
Ask for fire... He thought momentarily, while standing there before the logs without any means of lighting the fire.

He would have gone to do just that, at least try it, if not for his sharp mental arithmetics. Esther had told him to ask for fire, from the spirits that surrounded them; in the ground, air; water, etc. He had never realized magic would mean that, if what she was telling him was magic in the end, he had no idea. However, she'd told him to ask for it...no, be humble and beg for the fire from something the spirits.

The young man's pride flared strong in him, overcoming even the soothing effect Esther had on him. He would not resort to begging; if he wanted fire, he would have it and would not subject to pleading with some spirits. For spirits, he quickly joined them up with gods; demons, and the rest of the folk who took great time to ruin mortal lives. All his life up till now, Dominicus this and Dominicus that; the old man had asked for blind, unquestioning faith from his followers. As far as he understood, it consisted of the same begging as now, which he would not lower himself to; never would he bow to man, god; demon, or any sentience.

"No!" He shouted, releasing himself from Esther's hold. His face was contorted with anger, shaded at the edges by the fiery temperament of his soul, though one could clearly see the young man's eyes held the only visible signs of redeeming characters.

"I won't bow to the gods. You hear me, never!" He snapped at her. "Dominicus, spirits, and whoever! I serve no one, Esther!"
It was the first time he'd said her name, since they met by the bench, and its sound triggered something in him that for the moment wiped off all anger, the looming fear, and initial confusion.

He turned around, unable to meet her unprejudiced gaze, ashamed of his outburst. Such powerful emotion, his mother had told him to contain, for from her he inherited it and she knew best, having suffered its consequences in life. His entire body was tense, stretched dangerously like a wire about to snap, for he feared he may have just blown his only chance.[/i]

[Haikan]

Esther took her hands off of his shoulders, and she slowly stepped back. The spirits followed her, and they were apparently trying to comfort her. A tear started to roll down her cheek. And then another followed. Then, her face wrinkled and she began to cry. She ran over to the shore and crouched down, facing out to the lake as she buried her face in her knees, and wrapped her hands around her ankles and cried.

The bird was silent. It did not move or chirp, it merely looked at Damon, and then at Esther. The whisping clouds were circling around Esther, but she waved them away and continued to bawl uncontrollably.

"Damon, you're such a jerk!" She turned to say this, through streaming tears and a pink face. She felt vulnerable. She'd shown herself and her abilities to Damon and he'd selfishly mocked her, ridiculed her entire life's passion by calling it bowing down the the gods. She returned her face to her knees and she continued to wail, this time her shouting was muffled by her legs. "

Communication with spirits isn't anything like that, you arrogant jerk!"

[Damon Ryot]

Damon, you're such a jerk!
The painful reality of the words stung him deeper than any mortal wound ever could, for it penetrated into the very deep confines of his heart; his mind, and soul torn asunder.
Maybe I am a jerk, nothing else but an arrogant jerk. He thought, wearing a thin solemn expression on his face.

He could hear her crying, something he had brought upon such an innocent, loving person who could not possibly hurt anybody. For the first time, underneath her picturesque charade, he doubted her origins. She seemed adhiel enough with traces of human in her, much like him, yet there was an inner...he couldn't quite place a word for it, but she certainly was much higher above him. It was hard to believe from the bawling young woman, now reduced to a mere child, petulant in her oppression of him.

Damon felt she hated him now, for his insults, wrongful and misconstrued by nature. He finally brought himself to face what he had caused, seeing her by the shore, and the mere power imbued in her emotions were enough to stab at his heart painfully. He could not stand crying; he could not stand innocent good people mistreated; he did not stand for the world's injustice.

"In the end, am I any better than the despot who crushes his people; feeding off their fears and bloating to become a true monster? A nightmare to dream of for an eternity." He mumbled his thoughts, not really sure why he'd said such. It was probably not an emergency to eat the world up in flames, yet, to him this was a vital moment in his life.
He had to act swiftly; otherwise she'd be consumed in her hatred of him, a deed not easily undone when cemented.

Damon knew, however, that he had the emotionality of a rock; an inheritance his father would have been proud of perhaps. Women, creatures he'd never understood and never would, one before him exposing her vulnerability to him like dying prey. It made him feel uncomfortable, very uncomfortable, and he had no idea what to do. The young man realized, though, that to try and console her may end up disastrous. He would not know what to say, what to expect, or how to proceed even. He needed another tactic and fast.

His eyes sought everywhere except her, because a mere glance at her especially into her eyes, and he would have been doomed. Eventually, they fell upon the cage and its cheery occupant, who possessed little of that former joyful attitude. She just sat there, watching both of them from time to time, perhaps contemplating on the situation like him. That was when he had an idea, which he hoped would help to resolve things.

Cautiously, he approached the bird, keeping eye contact all the time until he settled to squat beside her.
"What a beautiful little thing you are, surely you were the very pet of the gods." He complimented her, making his voice just loud enough for Esther to hear.

"And, of course someone as pretty as you requires a name; everybody needs name, I know. However, beautiful things need beautiful names to reveal them. How about it? What if I would call you Celes? For surely, you were born of a celestial, no?"

Even then, his guilt wasn't entirely obliterated, and he didn't see whether she liked his given name. Slowly, he stood up and remained in place with his back still turned on Esther. His eyes watched, viewing the horizon, looking nowhere in particular; yet searched for what little they could see. The air was serene around the lake, but his was its opposite. Although, all anger had abated now, it had only cleared way for confusion amidst the great remorse he felt for his deeds. Shameful, he began to glimpse at the possibility of life's complexity, and in no way could all things be explained. Mundane minds would often deny, for it to try and correlate life, would dictate the edge of insanity. Damon felt its proximity, and for the first time since his childhood nightmares, he was really afraid.

[Haikan]

There was no sound coming from Esther any longer, but the bird cocked her head as Damon complimented it. The bird chirped and whistled a happy tune as he dished out such gracious remarks, and she began to dance, hopping up and down and bobbing her head. "Celes... Celeste... I like Celeste... Thank you Damon..." The bird spoke in a high pitched voice that sounded like a young girl. The bird poofed up into a sphere once more, and shook her feathers about until they returned to normal about five flickers later.

If Damon looked behind him, he would see that Esther was not there. Her bracelet and hairtie were laying next to his feet, but she was nowhere to be found. The fire was lit now, and the catfish was skewered on a spit over the flame, but Esther was not to be found.

[Damon Ryot]

Damon heard someone speak, thinking it to be Esther despite the voice not being exactly alike, younger perhaps and higher in pitch. He thought this just to be because she'd been crying, totally oblivious to women, and sought for the owner.

However, Esther was not where she'd just been. In fact, she was nowhere to be found, as he frantically went looking from by the river all over, yet he saw her not. He let out a low sigh to vent out how wretched he felt right then.
But, if she's gone? Who spoke? He was perplexed.

He took one quick sweep of the area, seeing that there were not many places to hide or close enough anyway. Unless, she had said it first and used magic to turn invisible, disappear, or just mess with him for revenge. But, he quickly overruled the idea because it made no sense in comparison to her character; such seemed to be beneath her.

For a flicker there, he thought it might be the bird; after all she was the only one present. He raised a questioning eyebrow, abandoning the idea as soon as he saw her in the cage.
"How silly of me." He spoke to the bird aloud, feeling he couldn't get any more of an idiot. "I thought you just spoke there. But, if you want Celeste, than Celeste you shall be. So, you are very welcome, Celeste."

With that he left Celeste to her own doings, whatever it was that birds do. He remembered he was still hungry, catching a whiff of the sweet aroma of the fish they'd just caught, and was surprisingly cooking over the fire.
Guess she didn't hate me that much. Yet, the fish might not be for him. Maybe she'd set it, hiding, until he left since her home was right here.

He wouldn't like to beg, especially from her right now, but he had nothing on him and the prospect of lunch attracted him greatly. He didn't plan to steal the fish either; really he did not know what to do, but the scent was irresistible. He shifted his feet a little to get a better point of balance, when they into contact with something on the ground.
"Her hairtie and bracelet?" He was a little puzzled as to how they'd gotten there without his knowledge. He liked surprises certainly, but this was getting eerie already, as if Esther was playing games with him.

"Um...Esther, you forgot these." He tried calling out for her vainly. He held the bracelet in his left while the hairtie was in his right hand. He looked around carefully, in case she might just pop up somewhere.

[Haikan]

"Just let her be, Damon." The bird spoke again. "She has gone for now, but you will see her again, I am sure. The hairtie and bracelet would seem to promise that." She hopped on her perch until she was on the near side of the cage to Damon. "She certainly wouldn't mind if you had some catfish... Would you mind letting me out? I'm a bit hungry myself." Celeste hopped up and down and she opened and closed her beak, but it seemed most of her effort in talking came from deep in her throat, with little beak movement.

"What do you say Damon, want to let a hungry bird out so she can have some fish?"

[Damon Ryot]

This time there was no excuse, with Esther having gone some time ago already, he certainly had no enemies in Roque to be playing tricks on him.
"You talk?" He found this astounding, his mouth wide open.

He was stunned, not really for the fact that a bird was talking, rather for the fact that a bird should be talking to him. All she'd said had registered at the back of his head, yet other areas took the work; they were trying to assimilate the creature before him. His brain found it just impossible to relate Celeste with anything Damon had seen or knew about, taking his relatively small knowledge of the world.

"But...Wait." He was feeling a headache coming his way, trying to subdue it my massaging his temples. "Sure, I'll let you out, Celeste."

He reasoned that arguing, deduction attempts, or any form of higher thought would render him incapacitated. He quickly opened the cage, settling to sit down on the grass, nearby the fireplace.

"Pretty girls, spirits; flying fish and talking birds." He mused wryly, still trying to keep the headache in check. "What an unusual day, too bad I've already ruined it." He made an attempt at sarcasm, directed at no one in particular, though he feared the bird may just answer.

[Haikan]

Celeste swiftly flew past Damon's shoulder at remarkable speed and disappeared over the horizon. As she flew she sang happily and did a flying loopy backflip. The fat fish smelled extremely good, and Esther's bracelet and hairtie were still in the freelancer's hands. The food was finished, and if Damon did not soon remove the fish from the spit, it was going to start to catch fire.

There were large plates that were laid out among the dishes as well as a huge sharp and serrated knife. There was a towel, a board for cutting and there were of course the jars of mystery sauce. Celeste could now be seen flying in circles high over Damon's head, singing a beautiful melody and clearly having a good time.

[Damon Ryot]

At least someone's enjoying herself. He was elevated a little by Celeste's apparent joy. He just watched her, flying high above in harmonious circles, while singing with such a beautiful melody. It touched his heart, at the lingering remnants of guilt he felt for Esther, but this time he was his own master. The way he had lost control, just like that, was frightening. Perhaps, he wasn't his own master than, as much as he'd want to denounce such.

The fish was lovely, simply beautiful in its delicate aroma; this signalled to him that the food was about ready. Whether Esther wanted him around or not, there was no reason to spoil good food, particularly a rarity like good fish. He put the hairtie and bracelet down on the ground, inside the bird's cage so they'd be easy to find, and proceeded to remove the spit from over the fire.

He was careful to mind his fingers, avoiding the licking flames, while trying to grab the bar from a point where his hands could endure its temperature. The aroma prompted him to hurry, lest the fish catch fire, and bon appétit.

[Haikan]

His fingers were burned slightly by the hot iron, but if he danced his fingers around it enough, he could keep them from receiving any lasting burns. The heat caused him to reflexively drop it, but it rolled right onto the large metal plate in the middle of the picnic cloth.

As the fish oddly rolled into place, an almost unnoticable weight appeared on Damon's shoulder. Two warm, soft feet were holding onto his right shoulder and Celeste was leaning forward with her head cocked to her left, with her eyes level with Damon's. Her high pitched girlish voice resonated from the back of her throat, her beak just steadily remained slightly open as the sound poured out.

"I would like to, if it is not a bother... Ask you a question, master Damon..."

[Damon Ryot]

Damon shook his fingers violently, trying to cool them off before there was any permanent damage to them. He simultaneously dropped the iron bar holding the fish, which was his least concern at the moment, though it did land on the plate he'd intended to transfer the fish onto unbeknownst to the young achadhiel. His attempt to cool off his fingers was followed by a numerous procession of curses, some he wasn't even aware of having included in his vocabulary, but came out anyway, much to his dismay.

When he was satisfied enough with his fingers, really hoping he'd not develop any burns on them, after the quick study he resumed what he was doing.
Mmmh. That's some good fish. He noted, finding it amusing to see the fish on the plate after all.

Before he could decide on the next course of action, a very negligible weight landed on his right shoulder, which had his tense his body for a fraction of a flicker. It was Celeste, looking straight back at him, when he turned to see what it was that considered him a perching spot.
He had already overcome the awe of hearing her speak, softening up to the bird's presence, amazingly quickly he had to admit.

"It's no bother at all, Celeste." He assured her. "But, I'm no kid any more. Please, just call me Damon and I'll continue to call you Celeste, no?"
And as an afterthought he added.
"Otherwise, I'll have to give you another name...perhaps one of those funny orcish or half-giant names like..." He proceeded to list a few, wearing a devious smile while housing a roguish glint in his soft brown eyes.

OOC: Man, I'm really beginning to like the bird, what is this world coming to...

[Haikan]

"Oh, that is okay! I very much like my name." The bird twitched her wings and preened her feathers with her beak for a flicker or two. "Very well, Damon. I shall ask my question:

"Why is it that you did not wish to learn shamanic magick?

"My reason for asking is that it is very rare indeed for someone to communicate with spirits on their first try... I would have seen it as an outstanding gift that your voice finds their ears." She hopped down onto the plate and began to peck at the fish, but she found it to be a bit too hot still, and she hopped onto one of the blank jars, proceeding to look up at Damon.

"...You should be thankful, Damon, that they can hear you. Many have spent yahren shouting at nothing to gain the ear of a spirit"

[Damon Ryot]

Celeste's right, you know. His subconscious pointed out. It had an annoying way of creeping in when not needed, seemingly a separate entity on its own. But, he knew the entity was perfectly right. His mother had always told him that all knowledge was good, whether good or bad, it didn't narrate your life for your but only how you applied the knowledge; be it for the good or evildoings. His father had said something much same, though with fewer words, employing a more action-orientated show of life's quirks.
His leg still bugged him from time to time, even after all these years.

Damon watched Celeste hop off his shoulder, trying to get at the fish, but it was still quite hot. She chose one of the jars as her next place to perch on, making him a little sad; he wouldn't have minded her back on his shoulder.

"It-It isn't that simple to just explain, you see." He said, his hands gesturing all the while as he talked, often present when demonstrating or delivering a lengthy sermon.

"I don't dislike these shamanic powers; I don't even know anything about them. But...I have some issues relating with the spiritual in my past, and I've grown to be...rather disapproving of such things like spirits, gods, etc."
He let out a low sigh, remembering the oppressing life he'd lived back home under Dominicus.

"You see. I set out into the world, I wanted to master these mystic powers people call magic. Like many a practitioner I'd read in tales, I wanted to join the ranks of them. I want magic; I hunger for it, but it is this sorcery that I was interested in." He let out a little laugh, remembering what had instilled him to go for it in the first place.

"There was this particular man that passed through my town one day." He started walking around the site, hands behind his back as he did.
"He wasn't like any traveller, and seemed to carry about an air of mystery with him. I was hooked immediately, and with some determination on my part I finally got to talk to him. He told me about this form of magic, though vaguely, but from his rudimentary explanations I realized that this was power without divine intervention, if you know what I mean. Exactly, what I want. No, what I need." He laid heavy emphasis on the last word.

"Well, I ended up here eventually...and things couldn't have gotten any better, eh?" He laughed at his own sarcasm dryly. "But, I hope you what I'm going at, no? You wouldn't happen to have any solution to this problem, Celeste?" He inquired from her, with a thoughtful expression on his face and reflected upon his eyes.

[Haikan]

"Even sorcery has it's ties to the aether Damon. All magick that I know of is somewhat dependant on your surroundings." Celeste offered. "You shouldn't be so picky, for shamanism is much more reliable than you might think. I wouldn't be surprised if spirits had a hand in most things that have happened this morning." She flew the short distance back up onto his shoulder and she pulled a chunk of seaweed that had come with the fish, out of Damon's hair.

"Did you not notice a great deal of, coincidences, this morning Damon? I highly doubt Esther is just extremely lucky."

[Damon Ryot]

Celeste was right, again. He really didn't know too much about magic anyway, just bits here and there, and who knows what that man was up to even. The more he tried to reason; the more reasonable her explanation became eventually. Unbeknownst to himself, the young man began nodding approvingly to his silent muttering, recapping what she'd just said.

"True, there were some coincidences today, when I come to think of it." He said with a paced tone of voice. "However, I'd say it was me who's lucky, eh Celeste?" He couldn't help but smile at that.

He hadn't even noticed her plucking out the seaweed off his hair, but, he was glad that she was back on his shoulder. It gave him a warm feeling inside, he was unable to restrain a satisfied expression upon his face, and particularly the eyes reflected this like a mirror. He, however, wasn't aware.

"But, I don't want to spend the rest of my life brewing potions and speaking to my dead ancestors. I want to wield the very energy itself, weave my reality, and...and...and..." He stopped abruptly.

What do you want to do with such power, Damon? His inner conscious was back again, questioning his ethics and motives conspicuously.

"I'll save the world!" He shouted back at it, unaware he was saying it out loud.

Yes, you should save the world. Save it from yourself. The flat tone was devoid of the mocking sarcasm, but Damon knew exactly what it'd meant.

From myself? He perplexed, frozen still all of a sudden.

[Haikan]

"Well, many spirits would be happy to help you save the world. If the world disappears, there will be no mortals for them to talk to! Shamans are highly respected and revered by the spirits, I'll have you know." Celeste mentioned, and she began to preen her tailfeathers again. She arced her head backwards over her body with her neck twisted so it was upright and over her tail. Her poofy chest plumage was warm and it expanded until it was fluffing up against Damon's cheek, as she sifted through the feathers on her back with her beak.

The fish was cooled, and ready to be eaten. One of the jars with a dark orange liquid inside tilted from a breeze and rolled onto the plate next to the massive meal. Celeste finished preening her feathers, and began to preen the knots out of Damon's hair. It tickled, but in a much enjoyable way, and she seemed to not have much else to say at the moment.

[Damon Ryot]

Damon didn't hear Celeste, wholly consumed on the statement his devious sub-conscious had just presented to him. In fact, he was so absorbed in his thoughts that he no longer felt Celeste's miniscule weight upon his shoulder, though it could have been because he'd gotten to use her already. He felt the warmth of her body against his cheek, but only aloofly, like his receptors had dulled to near negligibility.

What do you mean 'save it from myself'? He tried to ask it or himself perhaps. No answer, it liked to have the final word as always.
I'm not evil, bad, or any of them. Just you know that. His words fell on deaf ears.

The achadhiel sharpened up when he felt something beginning to go through his hair, by the right side of his head.
"Oh, it's just you, Celeste." He said, a little shaky as if he'd seen a ghost.

Aren't talking birds and spirits quite close...

He took a look at the fish that'd been lying on the plate for some time, cooling off in the gentle breeze, which had apparently knocked over one of jars. It lay next to the catfish meal, with an unusually coloured substance contained inside it.
Not the most appetizing, I guess. He'd have to try though.

"You think Esther will mind if we begin without her?" He asked, directing the question at Celeste. "We'll save some for her, right?"
He seemed a little unsure of himself at that point, his voice quivering just slightly, as the face took on odd minute expressions that swirled and swirled. It was like he couldn't decide on what emotion wear, spilling all of them out at once.

[Haikan]

"No, her friends have made it clear that she intends for you to eat this food. Don't worry Damon, I am pretty sure that we will see her again." Celeste responded, and she flew down again, knocking the lid off of the jar, which was oddly loose. She proceeded to rip off a tiny chunk of fish and hop onto the lip of the container, and she dipped her fish in the orange liquid. After this she threw her head back and swallowed the chunk and she chirped happily. "This is wonderful!" She hopped on to the ground and she turned to face the freelancer once more.

"So Damon, what do you intend to do once we finish here?"