Untangling [Open]

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With Celena and Aibghalien's help, Thom looked better than he had since he'd arrived on the ship. The dark circles under his eyes weren't as pronounced, and his fever had cooled slightly.

But there was still a long way to go before he had his Gift under control again, and Roger's magic still raved at the back of his mind, pressing on his temper. He had taken to the less used parts of the ship, trying to keep himself away from any people who might try his patience.

Hydroponics remained his favorite spot for meditation, near Alastirra's garden. He and the draenei had formed a cautious friendship of sorts - the kind where they mostly left each other alone, with the occasional conversation about magical theories between their disciplines. More often than not, Thom spent his time in deep meditation, dropped into his center of magic and slowly pulling his and Roger's magic away from each other.

Sweat dripped down his forehead as he worked, and suddenly he jumped up from his customary seat on a stump and whirled around, throwing out his hand. A ball of orange flame leapt from his fingertips and scorched a blackened groove in the wood.

"Damn."

Comments

[myboggartismoon.livejournal.com]

"There is some stratification. Some wizards, for whatever reason, natural aptitude or talent or effort, are simply better at some things than others. For example, the Headmaster of Hogwarts, Albus Dumbledore, is the most skilled wizard of our age by any standard. But why that is, does not appear to be related to anything anyone has discovered."

But it was still undoubtedly true that effort and merit made a vast difference, more so than any other factor.

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"Still," Thom said. "It's talent, not raw power."

It was fascinating, in a way.

"Your wand - it is also necessary to casting? May I see it?"

If Thom knew how deeply personal a request he was making, he might not have made it - might. Somtimes his academic curiosity still outweighed his manners.

[myboggartismoon.livejournal.com]

"It is," he said. It was quite a personal request, but he understood curiosity and thought it both wise and politic to accede to the request. He stepped forward, offering it. "I don't know how it will react to other magic used upon it, so I only ask that you be careful."

It had survived a great deal in its time, though. Lupin felt only mild trepidation at allowing another to examine it for a moment.