Willy

[eliot_thespectacular]

Though it had certainly made things interesting for a bit, Eliot was glad that things on the ship were back to normal. He'd also noticed some newcomers around - the white haired elf, his equally hot friend. And... was that another one? He moved a little closer, hoping to get a better look at him.

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[eliot_thespectacular]

Eliot frowned a little at that, but then lay back as well, and then looked up at the ceiling. "Tell me how you did that," he said. He needed to understand something about how their magic worked. His was all in memorization and perfect hand gestures.

[willysilver]

"Ah, that is simple," he smiled. "I decided it should be, and so it is."

He waved his hand and the stars became comets whizzing around, sunds exploding, nebulae expanding. Then the colours shifted and formed clouds, fluffy and pink, purple, golden and shining. Rain began to fall, but never quite reached them. And all the while, Willy explained how fae magic is a natural force, as easy as breathing...

"You try," he encouraged.

[eliot_thespectacular]

Eliot listened intently. Tried to understand. But at the same time, after so many years of work and study, it just seemed so absurd. That magic could just... happen.

He decided to start with something simpler. Familiar.

He sat up again, and using the familiar hand gesture, made a ball of light form between his hands. Closed his eyes and thought about how it felt.

Then he opened them again, held his hands out, and... after a moment... the ball of light reappeared. Without the hand gestures. Without the usual internal process of casting the spell. It just was.

"Holy fuck," he said.

[willysilver]

Willy's smile was beaming and bright.

"Why the surprise? You are the best of wizards because it has always been natural. Forget what men need to do and simply feel the power," he praised warmly.

[eliot_thespectacular]

"You mean I spent all that time, all that work, for nothing?" Eliot seemed aghast, and the light flickered away. "All this time I've been thinking I was perfecting spells but I didn't even need them the whole time?"

[willysilver]

"Mmmm, not for nothing. I have walked among men for many years. You will have a safer and richer future if they believe you to be a wizard. Fae are...less respected," he said plainly. "A small deception, but one that will only benefit you and harm no one."

[eliot_thespectacular]

"Oh," said Eliot. Thought for a moment. "You're right, that's very smart. Can you do the thing with the clouds one more time? I want to try something new."

[willysilver]

"This?" he asked, then turned his eyes upward to enjoy the show his own son had asked him for...as he'd once asked his own mother.

Something cold in his chest began to thaw and Willy realized Jorma had been right.

How did the old one always know?

[eliot_thespectacular]

It really was quite beautiful, the kind of thing that he and the other Brakebills students would learn to do to impress each other, but when you could only tweak a spell so much, they always looked quite... the same. This was different.

He took a moment to think about how it felt to watch it, too. He started to raise his hand instinctively, but then forced himself to keep them down. And after a moment, the clouds dissipated, replaced by a striking rainbow that crossed the room.

Eliot did that. And in all honesty he was a little in awe, himself.

[willysilver]

"Does that not simply feel better?" Willy asked.

"It is part of you. And you are part of the world. And the world will bend to your will, when you have will to bend it. You will be as powerful as you choose to be. Now that you know," he explained warmly.

[eliot_thespectacular]

"It feels fucking great," Eliot breathed.

[willysilver]

Willy's laugh bubbled up warmly as he settled into his pillow, curling an arm behind his head.

"Go wild, be free," he encouraged.

[eliot_thespectacular]

Eliot looked down at him. "I confess, I'm not quite sure what to do next, actually. Tell me again why you're on the ship?" Since apparently it wasn't for him.

[willysilver]

"A ship is for transport, is it not? I am being transported away from where I was to someplace new. And, hopefully, better," he said.

[eliot_thespectacular]

"Really?" said Eliot, not sure he quite believed him. "But why did you choose this ship specifically?" It was just such a coincidence.

[willysilver]

"I was invited," he answered simply.

Had he duped Kersen into it? Of course. No one had been harmed.

"And, perhaps, fated."