carbungle | Hugtopia Contact Post

Well...you've granted the others some part of your power, right?

[Not like he didn't know, but that was beside the point. Judging by the hesitation in his voice, Ardyn almost seemed embarrassed to have to ask at all.]

What does that...entail, specifically?

[Oh, that.]

Uh... I dunno, there's not really a formal method for it. I kinda have my own way of doing it to help me focus, since my powers are... y'know. [Fucked up.] Dad gave his power to the whole Kingsglaive, he'd have more experience than me.

[He can understand why it might be easier to ask him, though; kings like Regis are just naturally good at the Lucian magic. If you instinctively know how to do something, how would you even begin to explain it to someone who doesn't know what they're doing? Meanwhile it took ages of practice, trial and error for Noctis to share his power with even three people.

He crosses his arms, giving it some proper thought so he can offer a better answer.]

...For me, it was easier to share with someone I had a connection with. It's sorta like our swords- less intense than the Armiger but more than just tossing items in the armory. You're sharing a part of yourself. Connected by the soul and all.

That's something like what I assumed it might be...of course, while the confirmation helps it might still prove difficult.

[He said that mostly to himself, quietly thoughtful for a moment or two.]

How much can they do with it? Theoretically or in practice.

That depends on you. The Kingsglaive can do almost everything my dad can, besides the Armiger and the city-wide wall. The ones who get my power can only access the armory and use some limited elemancy, if they practice enough at it. I hesitate to say they can warp because we're barely getting that to work here.

[On a good day, with someone especially gifted. Or if Pyra offers up a power boost, which is kind of cheating.]

I'm gonna assume the daemon stuff doesn't transfer, but you've got most of the usual Lucian power, right? And you're stronger than either of us. So you'll probably be able to share at least that much.

I seriously doubt that I'm stronger than either of you. I don't know how to project shields like Regis does, and you can no doubt do a fair few things neither of us can.

...I am a little concerned, but I don't see why something like that should transfer. Nothing else works differently to the way it did when I was human, so far as I've ever been able to tell.

[It takes all of Noct's willpower not to roll his eyes at that.]

Oh yeah, you're not strong. It's not like you're more powerful than 200-plus kings combined or anything.

[He doesn't like bringing up the whole doom prophecy, but come on. If Ardyn wasn't so beefed up, intentionally or otherwise, they would literally just be ancestor and descendant and would never have met before arriving here.]

That's hardly fair, being immortal has nothing to do with my normal powers.

[Well. 'Normal' for them.]

It doesn't hurt.

[He's pretty sure Ardyn's 'normal' powers are also more exceptional than he's capable of acknowledging, besides.]

Anyway, if something transfers over that shouldn't, you can break any connection you make.

...It's really just that simple?

[Somehow he expected it would be more difficult to manage than that.]

As simple as anything we can do ends up being. Though compared to everything else... yeah, it kinda is.

[He hopes that's some relief to Ardyn. Their lives really are complicated enough as is.]

That sounds far easier than I was thinking it must have been. And there's no real downside that you know of? Aside from the aforementioned concerns in my case, of course.

No one's ever told me of one. At least, not to the recipients. Remember that we're still the ones channeling that power, so it can wear you down if you're not careful about it. You shouldn't have anything to worry about long-term, but there's a reason why I've only ever had four people at a time so far. The Kingsglaive... took a toll on Dad.

[Putting it very goddamn lightly, and it shows in his reluctant expression.]

... [He definitely noticed the expression, enough not to push to ask about it. It wasn't as though he needed further clarification on what that could mean, given the tone shift.]

I don't quite seem able to wear down, but I'd be pleasantly surprised to be wrong about that. But if it should be just one person as I was thinking of, that should be simple. If I even have the ability at all.

I can't see Honerva being bothered about it if it doesn't work.

[He doesn't know her that well, but that's kind of the vibe he's gotten from her.]

No, likely not...she did seem apprehensive about the idea, all the same. I think she's more concerned about what happens if it does work.

[Wow, he didn't even get flustered or surprised at the namedrop. Noctis is almost proud.]

What's got her worried? Does she want to talk to somebody who knows what it's like?

[By now he at least knew to expect Noctis could figure out the logical leap that he was definitely asking for Honerva's benefit.]

Without explaining more than would be my place to, it seems more the idea of harboring power itself that unsettles her. There wasn't much I could answer regarding how sharing such a thing works, having never done it myself. She might be reassured to simply know I can take it back if it should become necessary.

It's also not really her power. It's all borrowed- if you're not here or not sharing it, she won't have anything. The guys couldn't use my power until I arrived.

[Less harbouring and more becoming an extra sail on someone else's boat, so to speak.]

...Well, that does make a fair bit of sense when you put it like that.

[he is feeling more and more like this was a very silly question]

[Sometimes silly questions need to be asked.]

Yup. And you can tell her to talk to Pyra if she needs a firsthand account of how it goes, I know they're chummy.

[Not that he'd be opposed if she wanted to hear from him, but Pyra seems like a more personal option if it's reassurance she needs and Ardyn isn't enough for whatever reason.]

I've little doubt that will help as well. Now the only real question that remains is whether or not I can figure out how to do this correctly.

Ah... yeah. Might take some practice, if you're anything like me.

[And he's not going to say it but there are... similarities.]

When I was learning, I tried reciting a verse from the Cosmogony in Old Lucian. It helped me to focus, made it feel more like a ritual... ancient magic, ancient method, right? Like casting a spell in a video game. [His cheeks turn pink at the confession.] Formality isn't the worst way to go, when it comes to this stuff.

Hm...that's quite a clever idea, actually. I imagine such a thing will take concentration, particularly without experience. Perhaps I'll have to take some time to consider the method itself.

Concentration, for sure. Don't give up if it doesn't work right away, either. Magic's a pain in the ass sometimes, you know that.

I certainly do know that quite well. Likely it will take a fair few attempts before I manage to piece it together, I presume I lack a lot of the finer control that the rest of you have.

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject