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They had been traveling together for some time, and already both Elvis and Adelle had faced quite a few fights together. Thus one day Adelle has a question for her travel companion.
"Elvis, would you mind teaching me a bit of black magic?" Adelle peered over to her traveling partner who was lounging in his own bed. They had both suffered another unsuccessful day of trying to hunt down Asterisks, and Adelle’s sisters, Alvis’ head buried in his book until Adelle called his attention to her.
"Huh? Course I don't mind, but whatever for? You’re a fine fighter as is lassie,” Elvis asked while quirking a brow.
Adelle shrugged. “I know, but it doesn't hurt to broaden one’s horizon. Besides, some enemies require magic attacks to take down.”
“Aye,” Elvis started off with a small grin. “But those are the enemies you leave to me. It’s why we make the perfect team!” Elvis then fished for the Black Mage asterisk out of his coat pocket. “You can just tell me the truth Adelle, you’re curious about how these wee things work, aren’t ya?”
“Am not,” Adelle countered, however, she was a bit too quick. Her face then went red as Elvis chuckled.
“Ach it’s fine if you are! No need to be embarrassed. But fine, I’ll give you a quick little magic lesson and we’ll see how it goes. I’ll even teach you my favorite spell!”
“Let me guess, fire?” Adelle asked with a smirk. Her traveling partner was infamous for almost burning down any area they found themselves fighting monsters in.
“Heh, you know me well lassie,” Elvis said with a nod. “All right let’s get to work then!” Elvis stood up from his bed, handing Adelle the Black Mage asterisk. As he did Elvis’ outfit disappeared, now dressed in his tan freelancer coat, and once Adelle had the orange stone in her hand she was now in a black dress.
“Huh, interesting,” Adelle commented as she too stood, looking down at her new clothes. “I didn’t think it would change so quickly.”
“Aye, soon as you got the stone in your hand you get a nice nifty new outfit. Gotta say lass, you sure don’t look bad in that there get up!” Elvis said with a nod.
“Why thank you, now let’s get onto the lesson.” Admittedly Adelle didn’t feel much different so she was unsure just how this would work out.
"Gimme your hand Adelle," Elvis says, outstretching his. Carefully, Adelle's places her hand in his, Elvis murmuring something as a small flame begins to form. "Magic is all about focus, harnessing the elements all around us to our control."
"Then how come someone like you ever learned it?" Adelle asked with a raised brow, Elvis laughing at her quip but still keeping his attention on her hand.
"Even a guy like me can focus on things when he wants. Just put all your attention in this wee bit of fire, ok?"
And thus Adelle does, her blue eyes moving from his face to their hands, a warmth beginning to build from the fire… and perhaps something else? No, Adelle banished that thought quickly. It was just the fire.
"Notice how it moves, how it smells, how it feels... keep that all in your mind when you try and recreate it,” Elvis says, his voice surprisingly serious.
"This isn't going to burn me, is it?" Adelle asked, not wanting to injure herself accidentally. They had another day of traveling ahead of them.
"No, I wouldn't let any of my magic ever hurt you lass," Elvis says gently, extinguishing the flame but still keeping Adelle's hand in his. "Your turn, try and remember how it felt and recreate it."
Adelle closes her eyes, Elvis’ words echoing in her mind. The way it moves, the way it smelt, the way it felt… Elvis can almost feel the concentration radiating from Adelle, he could imagine smoke coming from her ears as she tries to recreate the spell. And it’s then he notices just how warm her hand is. But it’s just from the fire, yes that’s what he tells himself.
It takes a few moments, but finally, a small spark forms in her palm. Adelle peeked her eyes open before gasping, turning to face Elvis who gave her a proud smile.
"Elvis look!"
"I'm looking, lass!"
"You're looking at me, not at the fire!" Adelle points out with a raised brow, Elvis coughing shakily as he looks down at their hands, blushing ever so slightly in embarrassment.
"Trust me, lass, I could tell you did it, at my level I can sense magic,” Elvis quickly explains, relieved that Adelle seems to buy the excuse.
"Mhm, so what next?” Adelle asks,
"Ach well, now we just need to work on making em bigger and start hurling them at monsters. We can get to that tomorrow though." A yawn escapes Elvis, it was getting rather late and it was best if they left early the next morning.
"Alright, sounds good," Adelle says, looking back down at her hands as the small flame disappeared. For a few breathes neither of them moves, enjoying the warmth the other gives them and not wanting the feeling to disappear. It takes Adelle to cough awkwardly for Elvis to snap out of his supposed trance, stepping away as both find themselves unable to look at the other.
"Anyways, good work lass. You'll be a right and proper mage in no time," Elvis says.
"Thanks, maybe we could also work on your skills with a weapon tomorrow too if we have the time," Adelle quickly offered to try and quell the sudden awkward tension. "Make us both more well-rounded fighters."
"S'not a bad idea," Elvis agrees. Adelle then handed the Black Mage asterisk back to Elvis, their outfits changing back to their usual attire. "Well good night lass," Alvis says as he returns to his bed.
"Good night," Adelle says quietly, moving to turn off the lights before tucking herself into bed as well. Both faced away from one another, and in the darkness, both pondered about the sudden warmth they had shared and the moment where neither had wanted to move. It was just the spark of the first, yes that had to be it. What else could have sparked between them?