Hopefully this one isn't too heavy with exposition? I do try to avoid that, but I had points I wanted to make and elements I wanted to set up for later that require a bit of a deeper understanding of Red Mage lore. Plus it's a chapter on the shorter side.
“Hmm.” X’rhun considered. “Well, that sounds like an ideal position. Versed enough in the manipulation of aether, but not too deep into the study of a particular discipline to embrace another. Modern disciplines are, by their very nature, somewhat limited in scope.”
Reassured by the response, he inquired “Do you use your own school of magic?”
“This might come as a shock to you,” he retorted, an amused smirk on his face “but Red Mages employ a discipline known as Red Magic.”
Wilan conceded his blunder with a tilt of his head. “Heh. Sounds a lot like Black Magic. Or White Magic, for that matter.”
“Well, that would be because the principles of Red Magic were founded on the combined knowledge and wisdom of both White and Black Magic.”
Wilan stopped his chocobo in its tracks, shocked. “Woah!” he exclaimed, eyeing their surroundings in a panic to make sure nobody had overheard them. “Aren’t those, like, super-illegal!?”
X’rhun’s chocobo came to a halt a moment later. He turned his head and arched an eyebrow, a simple motion that however hit Wilan like a slap to the face. He scrambled to reword his question.
“Uh, ah... F-forgive me my, uh... b-b-but I was under the impression that said schools of magic were, uuh...” he glanced to the side, raking his brain for the right words “no, uh, had been banished from common usage since time immemorial. Did mine ears misread― mishear your words, perchance?”
The Crimson Duelist’s gaze remained fixed on the Warrior of Light’s face, eyebrows furrowed, and then a long moment later he exhaled, only slightly disappointed. Wilan relaxed, his mouth curling upward at the corners at the sight of his mentor’s reaction. He was making progress after all!
