“Just like this.” His Father had promised, taking a step forward. The water was so deep Samiel couldn’t find the bottom or see what swam below the innocuous seeming waters. But things lurked where the eyes could not follow. As Tyleril began to fall off the stone Samiel rushed to the edge, reaching for the pale ribbons of his Father’s robes.
He only ‘fell’ a few inches, standing atop the water as if glass was beneath his leather boots. With a pleased sigh Tyleril turned to offer his hand to Samiel. It took a few tries but Tyleril managed to force out the sounds his voice tried to deny him. “W-want to try Samiel?”
He looked to his Father’s boots again. The leather that made them up was kept well polished and clean, brass buckles and buttons polished to a dull shine. The edges of his father’s robes stopped just at the ankles, not hindering Tyleril’s movement thanks to the long slits on the sides. But beneath Tyleril’s foot the water remained undisturbed, even as Samiel saw his feet shift before he rolled his shoulders.
He hesitated as he reached out to grab onto Tyleril’s hand. Thickly calloused with fingers shaped by centuries of smithy work. Samiel felt Tyleril pause, then grasp his smaller hand firmly. He took one step backwards, then another stretching out the distance between them.
“It’ll be fine.” He promised.
The words hung in the air as Samiel debated.
Light, please. He wanted to do this. He wanted to this badly. This was a skill he wanted. He had no reason for wanting it beyond that he did. But now…
What to say to something like the Light? To gain some sort of favor from a higher power? Samiel didn’t know and Tyleril didn’t offer. It was stupid. It was so stupid to believe in the Light to the point Pop did…
Please. He sent the thought out and without further debate he stepped forward with haste. Please let me levitate like Pop. He felt himself fall but that was fine so did Pop.
Then ocean water soaked his shoes a moment before Tyleril’s hands slid beneath his shoulders to lift him up quickly. “Not bad.” He offered an encouraging smile as Samiel flushed. “W-want to try again?” Tyleril still levitated above the water with apparent ease as he set Samiel back on land.
“If you want the Light to respond S-samiel you have to believe. You have to w-want it.”
“If it doesn’t come when I ask for it to then it’s kind of stupid isn’t it?” It had not been the first time Samiel had attempted to call on the Light. But rather the latest in one of several frustrated attempts.
“I could give you the lecture on faith and devotion but the s-simplest answer is you have to believe, you have to want it and you need the w-willpower to control it. I could tell you that sunstrider iced tea was the f-finest liqour mix available- but until you’re able to try liqour for yourself it might as w-well be a pretty drink or a picture. A figment of the imagination.” Tyleril shrugged as Samiel scoweled.
“I’m not old enough to drink.”
“I meant that if you want it you need the willpower to use it. If you want to make it s-stronger then you need belief. Belief that it is there and devotion to whatever cause you s-serve.” The halo shimmered over his Father’s head, letting go a handful of light sparks that slowly fell down to be swallowed by the ocean.
“The Blood Knights can use it without needing to believe.”
Tyleril nodded. “They can, yes. But that requires training. As T-thallus could tell you it is not the s-sort of training they give children, nor the s-same sort that they give any blood elf. To become a Blood Knight is far more difficult than many things in Silvermoon- they’re the elite. Like the Farstriders they do not command respect for no reason. I’ve l-little doubt Thallus could do much with the Light. But what he does and what I do are different.”
He didn’t like the sound of that. But as Tyleril stepped onto ground once more to prepare to go home Samiel eyed him, curiously watching.
“Does everyone else just dedicate themselves?”
“To a cause. To a thing better than themself. Yes. But the Light can be used by anyone. You can reject it but…” Tyleril’s eyes moved to Samiel. “When you’re so talented with the arcane w-why go to the Light?”
“You think so?”
“Oh, of course. You can already do ah..portals? Portling?”
“Portals! Khal is teaching me.”
“Oh. How w-wonderfully kind. And you can do the s-spitefire.”
“Dragonfire! Sort of. I got grounded for it, remember?Uncle Cel sent me with extra homework.”
Samiel’s irritation faded as Tyleril innocently asked questions. Easy, stupid questions. But ones Samiel was happy to answer all the same.
“And Laz can do the ahhh, s-spitefire to?”
“No, he can do the ice missiles.”
“Oh, the arcane s-spells.”
“No! Pop. They’re like this…”
@shampoocommercialelves and @crystal-pyre for brief mentions
Tyleril Silversword 