Page 64 of Feral Gods
"An apt description." I extend one talon toward her shield, testing its resistance. The energy yields slightly at my touch, then pushes back—perfectly calibrated. "You're a natural, Kaia. Your progress exceeds any reasonable expectation."
Her shield flickers momentarily at the compliment, emotional response affecting her concentration. "I have an excellent teacher."
The simple praise shouldn't affect me—I, who once received accolades from the highest echelons of dark elf society for my magical innovations. Yet her words create a warmth that spreads through my chest, disrupting my scholarly detachment once again.
"Knowledge is worthless if not properly shared," I say, withdrawing my hand. "Continue practicing. Maintain the shield while performing other tasks."
For the next hour, I guide her through increasingly complex exercises—maintaining her shield while casting other spells, while moving rapidly through the chamber, while dividing her attention between multiple magical tasks. She masters each challenge with remarkable adaptability, though her energy visibly depletes as we continue.
"Enough," I finally declare, noting the fatigue in her aura. "You've accomplished more in one session than most apprentices manage in months."
Kaia releases her shield with a sigh, the magenta energy dissipating into the air. She sways slightly, and I move to steady her, one hand at her elbow.
"Thank you," she murmurs, leaning briefly against my chest before straightening. "I didn't realize how demanding magical practice would be."
"The mind and body are inseparable in magic," I explain, reluctantly releasing her. "One cannot exert one without taxing the other."
She moves to a stone bench along the chamber's wall, sinking onto it with graceful exhaustion. "Is that why the physical form of a spell matters? The gestures, the sigils?"
"Precisely." I join her on the bench, maintaining a respectful distance despite the curious pull I feel toward her. "Magic is not merely mental discipline but the harmonization of thought, emotion, and physical action."
Kaia's gaze meets mine, unexpected intensity in her eyes. "Like dance. Or love."
The comparison startles me, not for its inaccuracy but for its insight. "An astute observation. Both require the unification of mind and body toward a singular purpose."
"Have you ever danced, Zephyr?" she asks suddenly, her question bridging conversational territories in a way I find both disconcerting and intriguing.
"In my former life, yes. Court functions required certain proficiencies." The memory surfaces—crystal chandeliers, formal attire, practiced movements performed with technical precision but little joy. "Though I suspect my definition differs from yours."
"And love?" Her voice quiets, though her gaze remains steady.
I consider my answer carefully, sensing the weight of her question. "I have studied love extensively as a theoretical concept. The neurological responses, the historical significance, the cultural variations." I pause, honesty compelling me to add: "But experienced it? No. Not until?—"
I stop myself, surprised by what I nearly revealed.
"Until?" she prompts gently.
"Until recent events challenged my understanding." I choose my words with precision, though the emotion behind them feels anything but precise. "Awakening from centuries of isolation has... recalibrated many of my perceptions."
Kaia shifts closer on the bench, the distance between us diminishing both physically and metaphorically. "Including perceptions about sharing?"
She refers, I realize, to the complex dynamic developing between herself, Ravik, Thane, and me. Her intimacy with my fellow gargoyles—first Ravik's possessive claiming, then Thane's passionate connection following battle—has created a situation unprecedented in my experience.
"I have never been possessive by nature," I tell her truthfully. "Knowledge, by its essence, seeks distribution rather than containment. Perhaps..." I hesitate, formulating my thoughts. "Perhaps emotional connections function similarly."
"And if I told you that what I feel for Ravik and Thane doesn't diminish what I feel for you?" Her hand moves to cover mine where it rests on the stone between us. "That each connection is distinct, complete in itself?"
The contact sends an electric current through my form, awakening sensations long dormant. "I would find that... conceptually sound. Emotions are not finite resources to be depleted through division."
A smile appears on her lips—amused but tender. "Only you would describe feelings in terms of resource allocation, Zephyr."
"I speak as I understand," I acknowledge, my own lips twitching in response to her gentle teasing. "Though I find my understanding increasingly inadequate to the complexity of my experience."
"Perhaps some things aren't meant to be understood intellectually." Her fingers intertwine with mine, delicate skin against stone-like texture. "Some knowledge can only be gained through experience."
The invitation in her words is unmistakable. Despite centuries of scholarly discipline, I find myself momentarily speechless, caught between intellectual analysis and raw desire.
"You offer a compelling hypothesis," I finally manage, my voice lower than intended.
