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Ah... south of Petir is Lotus, Dene, and Onin.

[ As the kettle starts to beep, he jumps a little before unplugging it, pressing a hand against his chest. He's still not used to these things...

But he pours the water into Ja'far's cup, taking the empty one Ja'far had settled and starting to pick a few other herbs, his fingertips glowing gently at the edges as he swirls them in the air. The plants grow a little higher, unfurl a few leaves and blossoms, and he goes back to work - doing the same thing with his batch of herbs. ]

Lotus is where I lived most of my life, and where I was trained. It is... a trade city. I suppose one can't quite call it the 'south', as it's right underneath Petir - they share a border. It's now characterized by its... entertainment. [ Given Aspen's own talents and training, it's clear what kind of 'entertainment' Lotus might be best at giving. ] But before, it was... a very powerful country. It originated most of Estelya's dark magics and axemanship, and it was absolutely feared. In the last few hundred years it sided with Petir, but...

[ A sigh. ] Dene was a part of Lotus, but broke off a hundred years ago when part of Lotus swore to Petir for peace. It's stayed bloodthirsty and... from what I know, Dene is the nation that wiped out almost all of the Aurain or took them as slaves. Including my family. They wage war against Petir now, and... they were winning until I was... brought here.

( He thanks Aspen as he pours water into his cup, and then watches, enthralled, as he casts a spell on the plants. It was always fascinating to see different magics.

But, as the conversation shifts, Ja'far listens, quiet and respectful as Aspen explains some of his world to him. It is... familiar, this kind of chaos that Aspen describes. ) You speak as if you saw that war first hand.

I did.

[ He shifts, looking down to his own cup as he pours in the water. He doesn't meet Ja'far's eyes, keeping his eyes down. ]

... some of it. Lotus turned against Petir when Dene declared war. Since I lived in Lotus for so long... I offered to go back, accompanied by my guard, Wisteria. It was just supposed to be a scouting mission, but... I was, ah. Captured. I was three... almost four months late to the start of the war.

By that time, Petir was losing terribly. The only thing myself and King Belias could think of was combining our magic through the royal Heirstone so we might be able to hold them back. That sort of reckless move is something of a death wish.

( Something clicks in Ja'far's mind. )

You think you died.

[ There's a pause and he slowly tucks a lock of hair behind his ear. ]

... yes. I'm almost certain of it. I could feel my body burning before I was suddenly... here.

( Ja'far frowns, lost in thought for a long moment. So many people were brought from so many different worlds here, from so many different timelines, it was entirely possible that this place could've grabbed him from just before he died. But it's also possible they didn't, that he was alive anyway, and just brought here because it was convenient. But, the unfortunate point is Ja'far doesn't know. And whatever he could say wouldn't change how Aspen views it, not without proof.

There's something else he's now noticing, however. ) The royal Heirstone, what is it? Can anyone use it? Clearly it is not something simple, despite it being something that can kill you - otherwise, your enemy would have used it against you.

[ Aspen balks at first (gods damn it, he had called it the royal Heirstone, hadn't he?) and then his eyes dart away, a chill running down his spine. ]

Ah, it... it's... Petir's keepsake and the royal family's birthright. It... glows if someone has royal blood and is usually kept as an identifier. It's - good for stopping illegitimate power struggles across kingdoms and the like... because its true power is much stronger. It takes a joining of powerful magic across kingdoms to power it as a destructive force.

I wasn't able to see its true destruction, but... I knew we were able to clear through to their front line before everything went black.

( Ja'far's eyes narrow, pieces coming together - the name of the stone, being one of them. )

You are of royal blood, then. ( Ja'far isn't even truly asking at this point. )

I-I never said it needed a royal to power it!

[ (It does.) ]

The name of the stone, the fact you called it royal, the "joining of powerful magic across kingdoms" - and the fact you refuse to answer this - you're of royal blood.

[ He grinds his jaw as his shoulders come up, back and wings tense, meeting Ja'far's eyes. ]

... yes. Since Dene killed my parents, the king and queen, I suppose I'd technically be king of my people as an adult and by the rules of succession.

[ He turns a little, feathers fluffing up. ]

Royal blood does not beget a royal.

( Ja'far watches him, cautious, quiet. )

No, it does not. ( He knows that very well. He follows a king with no royal or noble blood to speak of, after all. )

You said your people were killed by Dene, or enslaved. They took you, then? After killing your parents?

[ Aspen sighs, brows furrowed, letting the anger seep out of him. This, at least, is easy to answer. ]

I can't remember who took me. I was taken to Lotus while they were still Petir's ally and given to an orphan's guild, that's what the guildmaster told me before he sold me to my past master.

( Ja'far frowns deeply. )

And where they eventually 'trained' you.

Yes.

[ He offers the sugar for Ja'far to stir into his tea. ]

( Ja'far doesn't take the sugar, instead staring into his cup for a while.

It was a lot to process.

He takes a sip. )

I'm sorry if it upset you. I tried to warn you.

( Ja'far blinks, taken out of his train of thought. He sets the teacup down, shaking his head. )

No, it's not that. I'm sorry - it's just a lot to think about.

Think?

[ Aspen's halfway to taking up a spoon of sugar but pauses, confused. ]

I... well, that is what you do best.

( He takes another sip of his tea, and then smiles softly at Aspen. )

Thank you for sharing this with me.

... you're sure you don't want the sugar? It'll get bitter if you let the herbs stew too much.

[ He opens the package of madeleines in the meanwhile, the sweet and tart scent of lemon bursting in the air as he takes one, offering it out to Ja'far. ]

( He laughs, nodding. ) Alright, I'll take some.

( He takes the offered madeleine, biting into it. ) Oh, that's nice.

[ He hands the spoon back over to Ja'far, taking his own tea with a satisfied hum. He knows what he needs - a bit of a pick-me-up and some soothing balm. It's what he's made for himself to calm himself down, although just being around his plants seem to do that. ]

I prefer savory snacks, if you like them, you can take them with you. I think... I should lie down.

( Ja'far stares for a moment, then walks over, taking Aspen into a gentle hug. )

Let me know if you need anything.

[ ... ????????????????????? ]

Th... thank you?

[ Wait. That was wrong. ]

I will?

[ Yeaaaah, that's the one. ]

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