Chapter Text

Chapter 5: Nuva Dirthalas

Solas hums, stroking his chin while deep in thought. Felassan sighs, pinching the bridge of his nose, "well, while he's thinking. Let's get you learning some offensive spells." Making noise deep in his throat, Solas glares at him, "that is too much, too quickly." Felassan scoffs, "xe don't have a weapon. What do you want xir to do? Use barriers and run?" He winces, ears flicking down, "that is fair."

Felassan nods, "glad you see it my way. Now since your element is lightning, we'll focus on storm magics. Less chance of setting something on fire." Chi snorts, crossing xir arms, "unless you're in a forest or the middle of the desert." They look confused, Solas furrowing his brows, "but there is nothing to set fire to in the desert." Xe sigh, "lightning and sand make glass." Their eyes widen, Felassan then face palms, "so that's how the Venatori became encased in glass after your sandstorm.”

Chi facepalms in delayed realization, “I apparently am an idiot for not realizing that sooner.” Solas sighs, leaning on his staff, “storm magics, Felassan?” He coughs, shaking himself, “right, well the first step is to feel for the potential of a natural storm and change its path.” Xe nod and breath evenly, lifting a hand and curling the fingers. Then sharply twist the hand, lightning crackles to life.

Felassan murmurs, “very good. Now focus on a point in the distance, away from anybody, and release it.” Xe coax the lightning to arc between xir hands as xe pivot and release the lightning at the highest part of the arc. The lightning crackles as its let loose, arcing and striking a pillar of stone not too far from them.

Solas and Felassan blink, silently sharing a look between them. Solas steps forward, “I do believe that that was more than what Felassan asked you to do. Extremely well done and flawlessly executed, but more than what was asked for.” Chi shrugs, turning to look at them, “it felt right to do it that way.”

Solas sighs, pinching the bridge of his nose, “you have an artistic background, don’t you?” Chi wryly smiles, “yeah as a hobby. The main ones being knitting, crochet, sewing, a little drawing and painting and paper-folding.” Both him and Felassan jerk their heads up to look at xir wide-eyed. Felassan breathlessly whispers, “that’s a lot to know.”

Xe shrug, focusing on xir hands and letting the lightning crackle between fingers, then flicking them to fling a small bolt to the outcropping. Scorching the side of it black. Solas tilts his head, “you pick it up quickly. We’ll need to get you a staff when we get back to Haven.” Chi grimaces and Felassan notices, “not your preferred weapon?” Xe shake xir head, watching them both, “no, I am more comfortable with a blade than a pole-arm.”

A laugh comes from a nearby sand dune, “then it’s a good thing the Boss picked this up.” The Iron Bull comes down the dune with a sword in hand. He tosses it to Chi, who just barely catches it. Xe look it over, black leather wrapped handle with gold threaded accents, a sturdy golden basket-hilt and a decent length rapier blade. Checking its balance, xe notice it being practically perfect to xir inexperienced eyes. Xe carefully draw it free from its black leather scabbard, revealing a beautifully engraved blade.

Tilting the blade to catch the light, Chi ponders out loud, “this is a masters work I think. Where did the Herald find it?” He blinks, “uh, the temple at the heart of the Oasis.” Whipping xir head around to stare at him wide-eyed, Chi chokes out, “this is an ancient weapon?!” The Iron Bull casually shrugs, “it’s no big deal.” Then he wanders off, back to the camp.

Chi shares a bewildered glance with both Solas and Felassan, who shrug. Xe sigh, sheathing the blade and pinching the bridge of xir nose in exasperation. “Well, I guess we don’t have to worry about getting me a weapon now.” Felassan snorts, before collapsing to the sand in a pile of near hysterical giggles. The other two share a concerned look, Solas crouching down and placing a cautious hand on his back. “Ma falon? Are you okay?” Trying to calm down, he gasps on the verge of a sob, “no, my emotions are all over the place.”

Walking over to join them, Chi kneels down on the sand and carefully wrangle Felassan into xir lap. He hiccups as he wraps his arms around xir, Solas watching him with worry. Chi rubs Felassan’s back, “this is probably due to the Tranquility reversal. From what I could see before we met gazes, he wasn’t able to feel anything. So now he feels everything so much that it’s overwhelming to him.”

Solas meets xir eyes, whispering, “I did this to him. All because he called me out on my hypocrisy of not seeing the elvhen of today as people.” Xe place xir hand on his shoulder, “you regret it, but now you must move on. Dwelling on the regret will destroy you in the long run.”

He flinches, looking away, “you don’t know what I regret.” Chi firmly grabs hold of his chin, pulling him to face xir, “you regret bowing to Mythal’s coercion and taking on a physical form. You regret the war with the Titans and being the cause of their Tranquility with that dagger you made. And you regret how the Veil happened, the Blight that the Evanuris used, and how portions of the rebellion went.”

Solas’ ear flick down, his eyes wide as he stares at xir, “how- how do you know?” Sighing softly, Chi runs xir fingers through Felassan’s hair soothingly, “remember how I said that this world was fictional in mine? Yeah, I saw murals of your regrets in the Lighthouse, as well as the place for one that hasn’t happened yet.” They gap at xir, Felassan blinking rapidly, “the Lighthouse?! You know about that?!”

Smiling warmly, Chi watches both of them, “I do, and about the Caretaker as well.” Felassan turns in xir lap to face Solas, “I don’t think you can lie to xir without being called out, ma falon.” He sighs, lowering his head into his hands, “you might be right, Felassan.” Snorting, Felassan fixes his hair and stands up, “thank you for helping me calm down, Chi.” Xe stand up, brushing stand from xirself, “it’s no trouble, Arrow.” He groans dramatically at the nickname, “how Tethras knew that that was a part of my name I have no clue.”