As he continued to ramble on, Franz was made aware that some choices of topic were probably best not discussed at the moment. Little subtle actions such as hiding one’s face while speaking, or how gently a piece of silverware was put back onto the table could speak for a low about how a person felt on a subject. But nothing compared to how simple it was to see that he had struck a nerve speaking on the past.
[i]Should have stuck to talking about food and drink. She was at least smiling about that.[i] He bit his tongue when she began to speak up on the matter. “There’s something sinister about him,†she’d said. It wasn’t untrue. Lho’a was strange. Franz had felt the horrible sensation of his aether being ripped out on their first meeting. Had seen the Keeper speak in the so-called voices. Franz was aware that Lho’a was not alone in his own head. He’d conversed with ‘it’ on a few occasions. There was no question on the matter. Lho’a was possessed, and willingly, it seemed.
But was Lho’a inherently dangerous due to his own abilities, or that of whatever had decided he would make a good host? He wanted to carefully choose his words in regards to Lho’a. “I do think Lho’a could pose a threat. He is young. He has a power he likely does not fully understand. And he is easily susceptible to making poor decisions. The only type of person I know of that could be more dangerous is someone who believes that there is nothing left to life for. I think that Lho’a can still be…,†he paused for a moment, trying to think of the most suitable word or phrase, “educated on the matter.†He made his attempt at a comforting smile. “I am careful around threats. There are places I must travel to, people I must see, tasks to complete. An overly eccentric child will not be the end of me.â€
Franz stretched a little in his seat, content with the meal, his relaxed expression betraying his actual feelings on the matter, “besides, I am more than capable of taking care of myself. You need not worry.â€
“Now the matter of healing with aether, that is a more peculiar situation.†He shifted in his seat, an elbow on the table, a hand holding up his face. The smile disappeared almost as quickly as it had come. “I myself cannot handle the feeling of it. Specifically Conjury and sacrificial magicks that Thaumaturges cast. To feel the aether being pushed and shoved into a wound does not offer any sort of soothing feeling to me, despite what the caster may try to say.â€
He looked up at Sounsyy from the more crouched position. “I wouldn’t call it aethersickness as much as I would call it an uncomfortable feeling. That is why I practice arcanima. More...surgical than nurturing. When I work on my own injuries, I do nothing for the pain. I find it more reassuring to feel the singe of a freshly healed wound, as odd it may sound.†He sat back up in his seat. “It reminds me that I am just as fragile as any other. That healing magic is meant as means to speed up a natural process, not remove the need for it.â€
The practised smile had found itself back onto his face through the speech. “I suppose that is my take on it. Would rather give it out than be on the receiving side.†She looked to have calmed down, but he was unsure how his answers would have affected that. Would those feelings be locked away behind the cold face of a fighter? Would they instead be hidden behind the mask of a kind face, like his? Or would she let any objections out?
He believed Sounsyy to be a trustable person, but they both had their own secrets. Franz was unsure how much he could really speak on some matters with her. Her feelings on certain topics, such as Iron’s situation and on the predicament of Lho’a were simple. How she might have judged him was more unclear. And it would likely stay that way until he could be completely honest with her. To be able to toss aside all pleasantries and to not need to wrap up half-truths with rationalizations about how things might be.
Franz took a sip of his tea while awaiting her interpretation.
[i]Should have stuck to talking about food and drink. She was at least smiling about that.[i] He bit his tongue when she began to speak up on the matter. “There’s something sinister about him,†she’d said. It wasn’t untrue. Lho’a was strange. Franz had felt the horrible sensation of his aether being ripped out on their first meeting. Had seen the Keeper speak in the so-called voices. Franz was aware that Lho’a was not alone in his own head. He’d conversed with ‘it’ on a few occasions. There was no question on the matter. Lho’a was possessed, and willingly, it seemed.
But was Lho’a inherently dangerous due to his own abilities, or that of whatever had decided he would make a good host? He wanted to carefully choose his words in regards to Lho’a. “I do think Lho’a could pose a threat. He is young. He has a power he likely does not fully understand. And he is easily susceptible to making poor decisions. The only type of person I know of that could be more dangerous is someone who believes that there is nothing left to life for. I think that Lho’a can still be…,†he paused for a moment, trying to think of the most suitable word or phrase, “educated on the matter.†He made his attempt at a comforting smile. “I am careful around threats. There are places I must travel to, people I must see, tasks to complete. An overly eccentric child will not be the end of me.â€
Franz stretched a little in his seat, content with the meal, his relaxed expression betraying his actual feelings on the matter, “besides, I am more than capable of taking care of myself. You need not worry.â€
“Now the matter of healing with aether, that is a more peculiar situation.†He shifted in his seat, an elbow on the table, a hand holding up his face. The smile disappeared almost as quickly as it had come. “I myself cannot handle the feeling of it. Specifically Conjury and sacrificial magicks that Thaumaturges cast. To feel the aether being pushed and shoved into a wound does not offer any sort of soothing feeling to me, despite what the caster may try to say.â€
He looked up at Sounsyy from the more crouched position. “I wouldn’t call it aethersickness as much as I would call it an uncomfortable feeling. That is why I practice arcanima. More...surgical than nurturing. When I work on my own injuries, I do nothing for the pain. I find it more reassuring to feel the singe of a freshly healed wound, as odd it may sound.†He sat back up in his seat. “It reminds me that I am just as fragile as any other. That healing magic is meant as means to speed up a natural process, not remove the need for it.â€
The practised smile had found itself back onto his face through the speech. “I suppose that is my take on it. Would rather give it out than be on the receiving side.†She looked to have calmed down, but he was unsure how his answers would have affected that. Would those feelings be locked away behind the cold face of a fighter? Would they instead be hidden behind the mask of a kind face, like his? Or would she let any objections out?
He believed Sounsyy to be a trustable person, but they both had their own secrets. Franz was unsure how much he could really speak on some matters with her. Her feelings on certain topics, such as Iron’s situation and on the predicament of Lho’a were simple. How she might have judged him was more unclear. And it would likely stay that way until he could be completely honest with her. To be able to toss aside all pleasantries and to not need to wrap up half-truths with rationalizations about how things might be.
Franz took a sip of his tea while awaiting her interpretation.
