seek the truth

Closed RP Blog for Elffin (FE6). Affiliated Blue Lions Student at The Officer's Academy.

[encantresse]

♫ 𝄈 maybe the true horrors were inside us all along.

( AFFLUENCE, faith +1 )

[encantresse]

elffin’s guess rings true: that first wave knocks them off their feet in a fearsome surge, stripping them of the air in their lungs and the light from their eyes. the world plunges into darkness, muffled in their ears, and the chill seeps deeper into their bones as the current pulls them in. even in such a frenzied state —senses on high alert and yet muddled all the same—dorothea makes out elffin’s desperate thrashing beside her.

panic is as contagious as the deadliest of diseases, and were her own distress not already through the roof, her companion’s fear mingles with her own. terror begot by terror, desperation by desperation.

she flails beside him, fingers clawing helplessly through never-ending water. for all the intentions of this assignment—in facing their fears—it feels as though they have not become any braver. all this for naught; it is primal fear that kickstarts her adrenaline. not bravery, but her desire to live.

dorothea kicks her feet forcefully, her arms flailing around to find elffin. when she makes contact, she swiftly hooks them around his torso and begins to kick. kick, kick, kick, willing them upwards. kick! kick! kick! lungs on fire, throat on fire, the entire world on fire despite being thoroughly soaked.

a loud gasp escapes she breaks the water’s surface, attempting to rapidly blink the water out of her eyes. she dares not let go of elffin as the water whips around them in large swells, prompting dorothea to look around desperately for something to hold onto.

ah, but what’s that?

overhead, a mysterious voice thunders. whatever it says exactly, she can’t tell, for her ears are too waterlogged, but whatever is said, the water obeys. its waves still gradually, leaving her and elffin bobbing as her muscles threaten to seize.

[moriddyn]

Should he had have had the mind to remain calm- as if anyone could have, swallowed so quickly by darkness and waves so powerful he could not recall which way was up- he would have relaxed himself to float to the surface.

But his lungs burned from the initial wave and any attempt to expel the water was only met with more- breaking to the surface is met with coughing so fierce he is half certain that his throat would burn forevermore.

Yet slowly, the waves recede, and then the water itself follows; just quickly enough that Elffins attempts to adjust to the newfound calm are unneeded, slowly depositing them onto damp stone. A booming voice seems to be speaking from somewhere overhead, but he could not make out the words- for the time being, he lets exhaustion take hold.

… Before startling awake in the wooden chair in the tent, the supposed guru snapping impatiently in front of his nose, then doing the same to his companion.

"- don't have all day!"

Blinking, disoriented, Elffin stands slowly- to the chagrin of their keeper. Glancing at Dorothea, once, twice (a double-take, that she seemed so dry, despite the fact that he was himself).

"Pardon," He murmurs- mostly out of habit, "Dorothea… shall we head out?"

One hand on her wrist, he guides her carefully from the tent, and then some. Despite everything that just occurred, he felt fine… to an extent. Though he guess the moment the tension settles, both of them would need some time to recover.

To a nearby bench, then, where he settles a little too quickly to be gentle, only careful enough to leave enough room for her.

Then, breathlessly, "… I think our fears were well-founded, actually."

[end.]

[moriddyn]

May Activity

Points Earned: 1

Check: Reason +1

Skill Changes:

Reason C+ -> Reason C+ (1)

Dropped Threads:

fervor for flu or fever (Sonya) im no doctor but shits fucked up i think (Shea)

Claims:

A Cry Of Mountain Ash (Ethereal Ball 2026) [Pending]

[nobilisseoblige]

@moriddyn, encore please!

[ SEQUESTER ] He hadn't made it out of the ballroom as soon as the lights had darkened, but closely enough. Elffin knows his limits well, and as bright the spotlight was, it would not be long before those who stand in it would be unknown to him as well. Not to say he would simply hide away. He leaves the door open, finding a comfortable seat to relax and begin to sing. Softly, for he would not want to disturb anyone. When the latest of his melodies fades, and eyes flutter open, he thinks he recognizes the figure in the doorway. "Ferdinand, is that you?" Not quite certain, but not as tentative as he'd usually be. "Would you like to take a seat?"

soft and lilting, the melody slipped through the half-open doorway like candlelight under a threshold, gentle enough that Ferdinand had nearly mistaken it for memory. the ballroom behind him still thundered faintly with music and laughter, but here, in this quieter corner of the manor, the sound felt distant. softened. human. (what is it about a melody that breaks your bones and makes you small again? what is it about a melody that builds you up and gives you a reason to live?)

and then Elffin spoke his name.

Ferdinand caught himself clutching his lungs too closely, tension easing from his shoulders as he stepped fully into the room. “you recognized me so quickly?” he asked with a faint laugh. “I should be honored. or perhaps concerned that my footsteps are so terribly identifiable.”

he closed the door only partway behind him, leaving the ballroom noise muffled at the edges, before accepting the offered seat beside him. Ferdinand is meant to fill spaces, divvy silence with boisterous, vivacious feeling. instead, he let the quiet settle around them naturally, his gaze drifting toward the space where the song had lingered moments before.

“…you always sing beautifully,” Ferdinand said at last, shaking the dust off his crown. everything is fair in the world. everything is right. (let him believe it, just for a few more minutes.) “do you think I can return to the ballroom, now? what peace will I have there, now that I know what it really feels like back here?"

a breath in. a breath out.

"Elffin, when you find places of seclusion, do you…" hands gesture to the open air. "—am I the right person?" for peace. solace. a question devoid of irony. "I want to be."

he fumbled with his bouquet of roses, ever the spectator. the man has always tucked front-row tickets in his pocket, memorizing each night like it is his last. with a single rose and a silent plea for an encore dancing in his eyes, Ferdinand gifted him the bloom, dethorned.

"never mind." he has always spoken out of turn, even if a show is made to listen. "I should let you sing."

[moriddyn]

“A moment of peace does not preclude an evening of festivities,” Elffin hums, perhaps amused, perhaps sympathetic, “I should hope the ballroom provides you excitement in lieu of peace- my songs cannot do the same.”

Well, perhaps not entirely accurate- with the correct accompaniment and the need to do so, Elffin’s voice was as much a tool as any instrument. Though in his own time, he doubts it would ever rise to the occasion- and certainly not here, not now.

“I would not invite you inside if you are not welcome,” Is his answer to the question, before he accepts the request for an encore, and begins his melody again. Not wishing to lie- but unable to give the full truth, in the end.

He hopes the sincerity was enough.

Ferdinand was welcome, in the pockets of space that Elffin carves for song- as an audience and a friend. But when the music fades, he’ll still fear a knife in the hand of one he trusts- or an arrow to tear through the silence.

[encantresse]

she does not expect elffin to stumble the way he does. in haste, dorothea grips his arm to steady him, gently guiding him back into position with a slowed-down pace until he finds his rhythm again.

"plenty of things, depending on who you ask."

the compliment earns him a smile, albeit the look she wears still borders on concern. it's not like elffin to drink himself into clumsiness—and while it may very well be a simple misstep, she worries if there is something more to it.

he is a man of few complaints, after all. to his own detriment.

"are you tired?" dorothea's voice drops to a low whisper, her chin pointing out a table nearby. it empties as she speaks— two of its former patrons rise to stand, taking each other's hand as they sweep themselves onto the dance floor. "should we sit? i doubt anyone will miss us."

[moriddyn]

Is he tired?

Difficult to say, though that in itself was a problem. Perhaps the mere act of asking made him acknowledge that he were tired, or it were the fact that he wondered that made him over think every little misstep.

Dorothea graciously guides him through it all, and at last he decides, “I wouldn’t mind sitting for a while.”

If only to spare himself the worry.

Seats were never left unoccupied for long, though neither were spots on the floor- as they leave, another pair joins the fray, and in their place someone takes to rest. 

 A moment of silence- of respite, as he catches his breath, of turning over words in his mind and searching for the correct ones to say. Ultimately, he ends without mentioning what matters most.

“I hope you had not thought my words as mere flattery,” He begins, though more playful than accusatory. “Perhaps you knew the theme in advance?”

His roses’ hue matching their shared azure theme, though hers much darker than his (a poet would think that perhaps it were that his facade were shallower than hers, and a poet he was)- but he offers it with a smile despite his thoughts.

“A rose for a star, I should hope, is not too overdone.” He sighs, and though his smile falters, it does not fade- he was too experienced for that, ultimately. “I didn’t mean to cause you worry."

"... There is something I should tell you, though a ballroom is hardly a fitting setting. Would you make some time for me?”

[moriddyn]

[ SHAVED ICE ] - Served with a wide assortment of sweet, fruity syrups. Traditionally, it is served in bowls, but some are saying it makes for quite a refreshing sip when drank from a glass.

They're reusing the syrup from the station with the shaved ice. Perhaps that had always been the plan- no wonder they had left both cups and bowls available from the start. However, now, as the night began to wind down, most of the syrups had already been moved over

The lady currently at the station had either missed the memo or had no issue in eating the ice plain, given the current state of things. If it was the latter, it would have been fine to leave her alone, though the former…

"If you're looking for the syrups, they've been relocated over there." Elffin speaks up, a little too quietly. (But was he mistaken in thinking that the ears had twitched- perhaps… were they not a head accessory from that booth earlier on?)

"If you'd like, I can lead you there."

[moriddyn]

[ SPILL ] - Whoops! Maybe you trip over something unseen underfoot, or maybe something fantastic catches your eye and has you looking anywhere but where you're going. Either way, your drink is now half in your glass and half where it ought not be.

"Ah!"

She was not usually so clumsy, but perhaps it was the low lights that shimmered up from their feet - she had already gotten turned around once, and the hall felt more labyrinthine by the moment as she had only walked out to get a beverage and found that same champagne now tossed over the front of an innocent passer-by.

"Please, accept my apologies - oh! And all over your lovely frock, please - hold still - allow me - "

Lachesis did not have much to hand, and merely had to make due to find suitable napkin material to wipe down the young man's front, to soak up the affronting drink. She frowned, shook her head in distress.

"I do not believe that it will stain, but if it does, you may seek me out for compensation. I truly regret stepping out into this damnable hall."

“Oh!” Frankly, it’s a wonder that Elffin hadn’t faced a dozen situations of this nature in the last hour- the moment the lights had dimmed, he hadn’t needed any true foresight to know that he would not make it out unscathed. Doubly so now that he had chosen to return from his sanctuary of a quiet room.

"No, it's quite alright…" The woman who had collided with him seemed more distressed over his attire than he was- and though her face unfortunately obscured by the very cause of their collision, he could not help but imagine that she was fretting.

“My coat will be fine- your dress, it’s also…” What a sight they make, fussing with napkins over each other. “Please, there's no need to speak of compensation. With the hall so dark, this was bound to happen at least once."

"I'd hate for you to avoid the hall on this account- so in lieu of apologies, why don't we exchange flowers? If I put it on my lapel like so, doesn't it hide the spill quite well?"

[moriddyn]

[ WATER ]

‘Is that…. Elffin…?’

There were few in the army that Sue had an opinion on. Elffin, though, was one of them.

He aided Master Roy, the birds were very fond of him, and his songs were pleasant and rejuvenating to listen to… there was no reason for anyone to dislike him.

She was immensely thankful for all he had done, his songs saving her and their allies many times during the war, so when she spotted him across the dance floor, Sue knew she had to approach him before she missed her chance.

Quickly grabbing two glasses of water, Sue made her way over to the blond bard and extended a glass to him along with one of the blue hyacinths from her colorful bouquet, “It’s good to see you again Elffin… I never got to thank you properly for everything you’ve done for me and the others… so please take these as a small gift of gratitude.”

“Sue, is it?” It’s more of a formality to ask- there were few in the army that Elffin had spoken to often outside of its commander, but it did not preclude him from learning the others' names. He would sing for them, after all, and respond if they spoke to him in passing, but not much more.

Ultimately, he had his responsibilities, as she did hers, and both of them performed to the best of their ability- hardly anything worthy of thanks, especially on his part. “Oh… that is-”

But he accepts the flower (and the water), nonetheless- goodwill was something to be thankful for, after all. At the very least, she will not leave empty handed, as he presses the stem of a rose into her hands.

“If anything, I should be thanking you. It’s with your support that we were able to get so far.”

[moriddyn]

[ SPARKLING WATER ] - Fresh spring water that has been magically carbonated. Served with a squeeze of lime or a dash of one of the many fruit syrups available at the bartender’s disposal.

bernadetta makes a face after the first sip, nose scrunched and tongue poking out. her only mistake had been not knowing how to put anything in it. “how can water be spicy?!”

…?

That can't be right.

Elffin turns, a mixture of confusion and concern crossing his face. "…Spicy?"

But no, he had not misheard her. Now, logically- Elffin was not fond of spicy food in the slightest. Spicy drinks would naturally be an extension of that, if not worse, and in particular he could not necessarily trust that the drinks here hadn't been tampered with (how easy it would be, to slip something in.)

But curiosity was a powerful motivator indeed. "And, ah, where had you gotten this water from…?"

(He returns shortly with a half empty glass and a handkerchief over his mouth.)

"Apparently, you're supposed to mix it with a syrup of your choosing," Cheeks dusted pink, though he hopes the dim lights hide it. "Would you like to check it out? They've got quite a selection."

He doesn't know how sugar could fix the beverage, but perhaps it was an acquired taste…

[moriddyn]

[ MOVIE - ROMANCE ] - A techno-magical reproduction of a star-crossed romance between two lovers not meant to be

The moving pictures were a sight to behold, as were the sounds and tales that were woven. This tale had gone through a wide variety of themes, paired well with thematic music and the talented actors portrayed in the magical pictures.

Most held their breath at the reveals, but one person in particular was not holding his emotions in. That person was....crying? Wait, why was the voice famliar, too?

By the end of the show, the answer is made clear. It's definitely, of all people, Hugh, who's trying to wipe the tears with one of his sleeves. Embarrassing? It'll be when he spots that familiar face.

He hadn't known Hugh returned until now. Though it seemed there was not much he could do about it- Elffin certainly did not have the same level of confidence as the mercenary to even outwardly express his emotion on the story, much less interrupt it to see a friend.

The story continues its winding journey, regardless of his own deliberation on the matter, and once it finishes, Elffin rises as if to join the other audience members (leaving, chatting about the story with those they watched it with), though he steps through them to find the mage.

"Care for a handkerchief?" One is offered, plain and unembroderied, so he presses the stem of a rose that had not yet fully bloomed atop it. "Or a flower? Though perhaps that is in bad taste with what we have just seen."

With a huff, he straightens to take a better look at the man. "… When did you return?"

[diadic]

@moriddyn sent: [ CHOCOLATE ] - Stefanelli's has partnered with the monastery to make the most of the supplies left in excess of their workshops earlier in the year by offering packages of sweet chocolates for attendees. The offerings appear generous... that is, until you open your box to find it only half full.

Would it not have been better to forgo the larger boxes entirely? Elffin muses at the tangible disappointment from those near the displayed chocolate. Best not to take from an already limited supply.

He hums, a quiet sound, as he realizes he was not alone- stepping to the side to allow the other passage. "Sorry. Did you want one?"

Then, a warning, "There's not much inside." ( ethereal ball — first half. )

    “Is that so?” Leif asks, thinking the warning interesting. After all, the two of them hadn't actually made it yet to the table with the boxes in question piled on display. There are still a couple of students ahead of them, inspecting the boxes themselves.

“How did you know?” comes the follow-up question. But, just as their encounter in a party before this one, one question begets many more. “Did you eat them yourself or something??”

Delivered entirely flatly, one might think the prince utterly serious in his accusation until he turns his head back to look at the table with the chocolate boxes in question, snickering. Perhaps though one might take this to instead mean that he simply doesn't care.

It's up to them! Everything's in the eye (or ears) of the beholder after all.

[moriddyn]

"Hm? Of course not." Flatly or not, Elffin responds smoothly- whether he had recognized the joke was anyone's guess. "That's far too much chocolate for one person to consume."

"Besides," The disappointed students gathered up their own share- one box each, and no more, perhaps self-conscious about the fact that others had begun waiting for the confectionaries as well. Those before them, after all, had no such qualms.

"Whenever someone opens a box, they always express surprise, and then disappointment. Some braver souls have also come back to sneak themselves some more."

One or two and it could be brushed off as greed, more were a cause of suspicion.

"…Well? Care to take one and find out?"

[encantresse]

elffin's certainly come a long way since the first time they'd met, hasn't he? a fond smile blossoms for the man who's finally grown into himself—who stands taller and more self-assured now, gradually pulling away from the corners of the room to take center stage.

"that's not true. i know you've heard what's said about me." up goes dorothea's left hand, palm pressed to palm while her fingers splay against his. they flutter lightly in imitation of beating wings, and another twist of their torsos leaves behind any inklings of melancholy. "so no need to be so modest, elffie. you've got me beat there."

she lets out a breezy huff.

down comes her left arm in anticipation of the next turn—sharp as it is—to then raise her right. "you look awfully princely tonight. i'm sure a nobleman or two is fuming at the thought of being out-dressed by a bard."

[moriddyn]

He can't help it- he coughs, and his surprise turns a step into a stumble, uncharacteristically flustered (afraid, even) by a simple compliment. Flattery, even- though his attire was chosen carefully, it hadn't the same expense that something in his wardrobe at home may have wrought.

The thought makes his heart heavy all over again.

"Is… that so? I'm glad to hear it," Falling into step again, trying to smooth over his prior mistakes. "Everyone puts so much effort into their ensemble every year- you included. I'd hate not to match their expectations."

Careful- careful. Regal enough not to bring shame when the truth would eventually be learned, humble enough not to catch the eye of any ill-intentioned stranger. A meaningless balance that could be broken with a simple name.

"After all, you are a vision as well. What is more ethereal than the night sky?"

[encantresse]

@moriddyn sent: [ ADRESTIA ] - A court dance that has spread like wildfire through Fódlan ballrooms. This waltz is best known for a special move that calls for the partners to join hands, together forming the shape of a bird in flight.

"It's been some time since you last taught me this dance." Elffin hums, bringing to mind their first meeting. He grants a smile- soft, as he steps backward, a picture perfect bow.

Offering her a hand, "I hope your partner would not begrudge me a single dance."

two years to the day, to be exact, but what's the point in counting when it feels like they've known each other across lifetimes? their story is that of a secret garden, a haven for those once made to feel like outsiders. both uncertain in their footing, stumbling down stony paths — only to find themselves steadied in the other's light, like sunflowers stretching to greet the sun. how far they've come, and how far they still have to go.

"begrudge, no. turn it into a competition? more likely."

a teasing smile follows as dorothea curtsies and slides her hand into his, taking note of how familiar this had become. a tradition forged between two wandering souls, tended to like the most sacred of flames.

"you don't give yourself enough credit, elffie. you're awfully popular around here. i can't think of a single person who'd feel anything other than fondness for you."

[moriddyn]

"Ah, then I have something else to concern myself over," He laughs, soft but relieved- clear in the way his smile relaxes, a careless slip in trust that he had long since allowed himself in Dorothea's presence. "I can't hope to compare to someone who has known this waltz since youth."

But for his humility, he takes to the floor well, the steps of the dance that she had taught familiar enough to allow for chatter, to complement songbirds in flight rather than overshadow them.

"You're too kind…" Bashful, maybe, but pleased regardless- knowing that his attempts to remain amicable no matter the person had seemed to bear fruit. (It was difficult, still, to accept praise- searching for the hidden blades within.) "But I'd think that descriptor fit you better than I."

[moriddyn]

There are some people who are recognizable even in their bearing, and to Wolf's eyes, Elffin numbers among them. It's something in the way he comports himself, though he knows not what the suited words are.

"Elffin." He would not forget his name, though he is not the type to decorate it with any fanfare; all he does is hold something out to him. "You dropped this."

"Master Wolf," Elffin greets. Surprised, yes, but he does his best not to let it show. Customary titles for those he does not know the station of, that a knight could be a commoner or a noble from foreign lands, they deserved respect all the same. "It's good to see you."

In truth- he isn't sure how to speak to the man, knowing that their first meeting was far from the usual atmosphere he kept about him. But it seems pointless to wonder- Wolf remained as reticent as he was on the battlefield.

"Oh, I hadn't noticed. Thank you…" A blue rose held out- it must have slipped from his hands, the bouquet coming undone from the bustle of the ball. Elffin takes it, placing it amongst the other blossoms as if to hide its flaws- slightly damaged from the uncaring floor.

In return, a more suitable bloom is granted- the same color of the ice he once wielded.

"Here- may you have a pleasant rest of the night."

[moriddyn]

Another year, another ball. He has not yet outgrown the sensation of formal wear, restrictive in the ways that his normal flowing fabrics are not.

This ballroom is more familiar than the one before. The whispers that follow every entrance into the venue. Watching- judging.

Elffin smiles, accepting a bouquet of blue roses- stained to match the atmosphere, just like him.

Tracker:

Rose: Wolf, Ferdinand

Orchid: Hugh

Lily: Lachesis, Selkie

Hyacinth: Sue

Tulip: Dorothea

More details under the cut!

I will be accepting contextless asks this time around! If you can tack on an ooc note or sentence, that is welcome, of course, but otherwise I will take free reign. Elffin can be found mostly at the fringes of the gathering as a wallflower, and will generally decline food unless he sees you eat it first.

[deliverred]

Turns Out Pugs Aren't The Worst Thing We Did To Dogs

Pearlescent +1 Riding

[deliverred]

The counter is made so smoothly, so politely, Lukas cannot help but to pause with a little admiration that the student hadn't even faltered when found and confronted. At the very least, he seemed to have a good bearing for what he was attempting to accomplish here. It wasn't just a reckless rush into potential danger, there was some understanding and thought put into the consequences.

"...Well, I can't argue with you on that. You've got me in quite the corner," Lukas remarks, ceding the point to Elffin.

He could offer up the excuse that he was faculty, and therefor, expected to be able to handle himself in these sorts of endeavors more so than a student. But, really, that was simply semantics. Students were allowed out on these missions, and so, were also expected to be competent to a similar -- if still developing -- level.

"Either way, it's suspicious." She was either hiding something there, or hiding something else in another area. Lukas smiles, giving Elffin a nod. "I think we'll have better luck of getting out of this safely if we're looking out for one another. Two are less easily disposed of than one, after all."

They could at least keep an eye out for each other, as opposed to if either of them had tried to do this alone. If this woman was truly so secretive and plotting, they would need their wits about them.

"I don't suppose you were able to catch her path at all, in your previous excursions?" he asked, voice kept low as he gave another brief glance around them before starting towards the hedged off section of the estate.

[moriddyn]

“Certainly,” Relief colors his voice- glad that he does not have to argue further with the faculty, at the very least. After all, the longer they spent doing so, the more likely it was that they were to be discovered, or similarly, that they may otherwise miss a window of opportunity. “I haven't been able to catch her entire path- that would require me to enter the maze- but at the very least, it seems her movement isn't memorized- she has some way to determine which way to go."

Likely a map, but there had been no indication on where she had kept it, or, if it were encoded- how to read it.

"But I don't think we can access whatever it is she uses without a different attempt of our own. I don't have the experience to claim I can pickpocket anything, much less something as likely important as that."

So, they were going in blind, unless the Professor had a trick of his own. Elffin waits a moment, to grant him time to offer any intel of his own, before continuing.

"Our best bet is to enter right after she leaves- perhaps then, there will be a chance that she's left a trace of her path, and there would be no chance of her coming across us in the maze itself. What do you say?"

[peerlessscowl]

Skill issue simply don't get hit I think

[peerlessscowl]

There was no demonstration that was perfectly safe – even the most practiced and perfect art had an element of the uncontrolled to it, something that could take any human by surprise through act of intervention either divine or malicious, to say nothing of the fantastical and highly erratic nature of the spell itself. 

There were too many unknowns: by what means was the subject controlled? Was it a contest of will? What happened if the subject's will overtook the caster's? Was there a moment or longer afterwards where the spell lingered still, and the subject still did not regain control of themselves? Was it illusory in nature, or some manner of sensory manipulation? 

Etcetera. 

While it was his job, presently, to ask these sorts of questions, it was also his job to know when the questions would be ignored, and how best to present them to make them heard. He the dim guard dog at the feet of the more intelligent master. 

Raven leaned back, dropping the file onto the table between them to display the disgust that Elffin would not, and crossed his arms, meeting the bright, beady gaze of the mage across from them with uncompromising disdain. "Well, I for one would like to see the demonstration. Maybe I'm just not wrapping my head around it," he added, flicking his fingers dismissively at the folio, tapping his temple lightly; "Need to see something, first." 

It wasn't necessarily true, but it seemed to ring enough so that the portly man nodded his head, sympathetic understanding, and inclined his head before standing. 

"I had thought you might say that. If you'll follow me this way into the inner courtyard - if, of course, you are finished with your tea – then we may commence the presentation anon." 

[moriddyn]

Elffin grants his partner a cant of the head, as the mage turns away, asking without asking if this were a good idea. But words could not be taken back, and regardless of his own hesitation on the matter a demonstration would have been given eventually, at the very least to serve as full proof of whether they can truly do what they claim.

It doesn't make him any more welcome to the idea, but there were a good many things he was wary of, and at the very least, here- it seemed he was presented as the person of import. Should he have protested this earlier? Perhaps, but it was similarly too late to ruminate on what he could have done during the conversation.

“Very well,” He hadn’t touched the tea, nor the biscuits, but Elffin acts as though he had, rising with apparent reluctance, waiting for Raven to join him. As soon as he does, he makes to follow the representative down the hall- dimly lit, he would guess, to enforce a sense of academic calm.

“Our presenter may need a few minutes to prepare- you must understand, of course, that we were not expecting to give a demonstration this early,” The representative continues, without glancing back. Despite the supposed inconvenience, he seemed pleased- delighted, even, at the prospect of the presentation.

“Of course," Elffin acquiesces, at the very least. "But, if I may ask… who will the spell be cast on?” 

The responding pause was loud, but he makes no attempt to retract his question.

"You don't need to concern yourself with that. It will be a willing volunteer, who is properly compensated for their participation in this trial." The mage eventually hums, and that was that.

[diadic]

    “I have,”  Leif nods.  “I am a leader.”  For better or for worse, that was the truth, something he elaborates on by saying:

“Without them, I would have been put in that position anyway...”  It, in a way, had been his birthright. Second child he may be, he has always been the first son to his family's name. There was no Brand marking his body but it is by that same Brand's significance in his bloodline that burdens him with responsibility from the moment he took his first breath, a destiny that would always be his.

It is just the steps that his life took that changed what kind of leader he would be and what fights he would have to take part in.  

“...but it is with them that I adapt and see battles the way I do. I would not make the same calls in the heat of the moment if it weren't for their guidance leading me to think this way.”  This he says resolutely, utterly aware that—  “I am nothing without the people behind me, as much as I'm sure your commander is shaped by your stratagems too.”

Leif leans back in his seat as he contemplates the picture Elffin paints of himself.

“What kind of person was your commander? You might not have had much choice...”  Leaders are often picked from circumstance, the situation making some more advantageous to rally behind than others.  “...but do you feel your voice heard? Did you feel like you changed them in the end??”

[moriddyn]

A leader, like young Lord Roy. They are hardly the same- rather different, even, in the ways they approached Elffin and spoke to him, but the mind will draw comparisons regardless of what logic entails.

“He was… already wise, by the time I met him,” Remembering, briefly, the test that he had placed on the boy’s shoulders on the spot, unveiling potential malice and underhanded schemes to shake him- and more importantly, how he had answered to his satisfaction, “I would not have followed him otherwise.”

"I would call him kind, though that is a simple descriptor to bear. A good leader- with the charisma to cause others to rally to his cause, I’d say.” A pause, carefully choosing his next words. “And a good sense of his position- that, he grew into.”

Then a smile, soft- nostalgic, almost. “I’m glad to have fought beside him, if that is what you are asking. He gave me more grace than others might have, for all the secrets I kept- trusted me, despite them. He listened well to my advice, but did not require me to make decisions for him.”

"I would like to think that I've changed him, though what I taught that he kept with him and what he had not, time can only tell."