(that's a Terry Pratchett Reference)

The day before the knighting ceremony was hectic… for Noras and Elias at least. Noras spent his day being further poked and prodded by the seamstresses, made to give up his usual leather attire for more fancy, soft palace clothes. Elias spent the day filling out a lot of paperwork, listening to complaints and conflicts, and checking in with the blacksmith who was tasked with crafting the ceremonial sword. They both also had to practice the ceremony several times - Valainya was the supervisor and she was going to make sure everything was done to a T.

In all the fuss, the two spend the day apart, but, as the sun sinks on the horizon, they find themselves alone in Elias’ chambers.

Noras, sitting on the floor with the rabbits: I… can’t believe I’m being knighted tomorrow. I’m being knighted tomorrow. [musingly] It sounds strange. [He looks at Sir Fluffles] Right?

Elias, at his alchemy table, measuring out different liquids: [absent-mindedly] You make it sound like you’re getting married.

Noras stills, and then gives a wry smile: [sardonically] I am, in a manner of speaking. The rules of knighthood say… I mean, my whole life is going to revolve around you after tomorrow… [he shakes his head, shaking it off] But, no, what I meant was… if the people who knew me before all this found out I was allying myself with royalty… they wouldn’t believe it. I can barely believe it myself.

Elias mixing the liquids together until they turn pink, and then catching it on fire: Well, I’m truly only really royalty in name… [he processes what he had said and adds with a hum] You know, if you do want to get married eventually, I won’t stop you. Those rules are very archaic. [he pauses and looks at Noras with a grimace] And please don’t say your life is going to revolve around me, you need to have your own life separate from me too.

Noras, smiling slightly: I’m not sure I know how to do that. [He wrinkles his nose - a habit he likely picked up from Elias] Although, the rules also say that I have to listen to your siblings, too… and I don’t think they’re as… normal… as you.

Elias puts a pinch of something into the potion and it smokes for a second before turning a lilac purple: Unfortunately so. Hopefully you’ll be around me when they do, that way I can tell you to disregard what they... [he exclaims happily when the potion starts bubbling] Nearly there…

Noras, reaching somewhat hesitantly to pet one of the rabbits: Good thing the rules say that I always have to be around you… if I have to deal with that Enzo fucker on my own again, who knows what I’d do… [He looks at Elias and, in spite of himself, feels a small grin form] Elias, I think I will never leave your side.

Elias who’s turned away, slowly gains a red tint to his face: [jokingly] You’d better not, Divines know it won’t be long until the next noble sends someone to put me in a sack… seems to happen relatively often.

Noras’ grin fades and he looks down, drawing his hand back from the rabbit: Right.

Elias, sensing the shift in mood, turns to look at Noras: … You know that I don’t and won’t hold that against you, right? [he hisses when the potion bubbles up and burns him] Ah! Shit!

Noras startles, and bursts out a short laugh: You swore again. [He stands up and crosses over to Elias, grabbing a pitcher] Here, put it in cold water. I haven’t even been knighted yet and I already have to… [he laughs a little again, and then blinks, surprised at himself - stepping back]

Elias pouts slightly, dunking his hand in the water while he continues to stir with his other: What? Save me from the evil and vile magical litmus potion?

Noras feels a smile creeping up on him, and quickly turns away, distracting himself with the potion: What’s it do?

Elias hums and turns back to the potion, taking his hand from the water and picking it up: This is what’s going to tell you what type of magic you have. Conjuration, enchantment, divination, perhaps even necromancy - [he scowls slightly to himself] which would be a good thing, regardless of what a bunch of ignorant scholars would have you believe otherwise -

Noras steps closer again, looking at the potion, ignoring Elias’ treatise on the merits of Necromancy: Really? Is it ready?

Elias gives Noras a playfully evil smile: No, not quite. We need [dramatic pause] a drop of your blood to complete it.

Noras, drawing a knife from his boot: How much?

Elias jerks the potion away, looking at him with wide eyes: No, Divines Noras - alchemy is an exact science, I need just the right amount or it won’t work. [he shuffles around his desk and pulls out a syringe] Ah, here we are.

Noras puts the knife down. He hesitates, and then dutifully offers his hand.

Elias gently takes Noras’ hand, ignoring the way Noras flinches at the contact, and presses the syringe into his wrist, taking a small amount, before quickly placing the syringe down and grabbing an antiseptic wipe and dabbing it over the puncture wound.

Elias: Are you alright? I didn’t hurt you did I?

Noras shakes his head dismissively: With that tiny-ass blade? Please.

Elias, with at first an annoyed huff: It’s a needle - [a small sly smile grows on his face] You know what? I think I might leave this for another day, I might’ve gotten the potion wrong after all-

Noras rolls his eyes: You would. You’re just like— [he stops abruptly and blinks, quickly shutting his mouth] Well - in any case - make up your mind quickly. We have an early morning tomorrow.

Elias hesitates, debating between a question and an action, and finally decides to take the blood and very carefully squeezing a bit of it into the potion. He picks up the flask and rotates it, mixing the blood in.

Noras shifts slightly closer to look over Elias’ shoulder, watching the potion change colors a few times before settling on a rich crimson.

Elias: Ah!

Noras: What?

Elias looks at Noras somberly: This… your magic, it’s…

Noras steps back, giving him a narrow-eyed, guarded look: What.

Elias starts to beam: Conjuration, congratulations!

Noras lets out a sharp breath: I knew it, I knew you were being dramatic for no reason. [he pauses] Conjuration? What does that do?

Elias smiles as he passes the potion to Noras: Conjuration does exactly what it says on the tin. You can conjure things, create objects out of thin air. You could… [he things for a second, tapping his face] summon a fireball, or make flowers grow with no seeds. [He looks at Noras warmly] That sort of thing. [he turns and starts rummaging through his desk]

Noras: Conjuration… [he smiles softly and says, quietly, to himself] Good.

Elias, pulling out a hollow pendant, turns and sees Noras’ smile: It’s what you were hoping for?

Noras: [coming out of his head] What? Oh - yes, I guess so.

Elias hums, walking past Noras, and taking the potion back as he does so: [calling over his shoulder as he starts pouring the potion into the pendant] Did someone you used to know also do magic? Is that why?

Noras is silent for a long moment, still facing away. A minute passes before he murmurs: My mother and sister. They both had… Conjuration, as well.

Elias, sensing that he is entering dangerous territory: [gently] That’s wonderful, that means that you’ll most likely find it easy to begin then. [he closes the pendant with a hum, and picks up Sir Fluffles, who had been pawing at his leg]

Noras: [softly] ...Oh.

Elias walks over to Noras: Here - it’s tradition to keep a bit of the potion once it affirms that you have magic. [he offers the pendant to Noras]

Noras turns, taking the pendant. He keeps it in his palm, gazing down at it for a long moment, before his fingers slowly curl over it and he puts it in his pocket.

Elias observes Noras for a second: [softly] Is there a particular spell you want to try out first?

Noras: … Flowers.

Elias nods, handing Sir Fluffles to Noras and walking over to his library. He hums and haws, reading book titles and lets out a happy hum when he pulls one out, skimming through it.

Noras stays where he is, absently petting Sir Fluffles.

Elias: Alright, I think this is it. [He returns to Noras, and shows him the page. It has an incantation and hand movement drawn onto it, with a short explanation about the spell’s outcome] Remember what I said about intent? When doing this spell, you have to focus on what type of flowers you want to grow. [He pronounces the incantation, so Noras hears what it sounds like, and Noras repeats it back]

Noras sets Sir Fluffles down on a chair and looks at the book, focusing on the hand gestures. He murmurs the incantation hesitantly under his breath, practicing the hand movements, frowning to himself. He thinks for a moment.

Noras: Okay, I know the flowers… should I…?

Elias smiles and gestures for him to do it, sitting down on a nearby cushion.

Noras closes his eyes and attempts the spell, but no flowers appear. He opens his eyes, frowns, and picks the book up again, looking over the hand gestures.

Elias: It always takes a few tries the first time, keep going.

Noras attempts the spell a few more times, without success, frustration sparking at each failed incantation. His chest tightens; he glares at his hands.

Elias, slowly getting more concerned, stands and holds Noras’ hands still as he tries to do the spell again: The spell won’t work if you try to force it, Noras. You need to feel the magic in you, feel how it moves, and convince it to go to your fingertips. [He hums for a second, thinking] Here, let me try something, close your eyes.

Noras tenses and studies him for a moment, eyes searching, and then breathes out and slowly closes his eyes.

Elias gently places his fingers on Noras’ temples - once again, Noras flinches back slightly.

Elias, once again ignoring the flinch: Magic originates in the eyes, it’s why they change colour. Try to feel it. For me, it feels like late nights in my sister Emeline’s room, and the smell of rain on Valainya’s balcony.

Noras’ frown deepens, and then, gradually, his forehead smoothens: It feels like… sunlight in the afternoon, through the broken rafters… [his eyes open abruptly, anxiously]

Elias smiles: It’s alright, allow yourself to feel it, close your eyes again and focus on that feeling.

Noras nods and closes his eyes. Slowly, a tiny smile grows on his face.

Elias: Now keep holding onto it, and try to make it follow the flow of my fingers [he starts running his fingers from his temple down to his jaw, and then his neck, moving over his shoulders and down his arms, ending at his hands]

Noras shivers, but manages to stay still this time, without pulling away from his touch, determinedly focusing on the magic, getting it to follow the path as instructed.

Elias, finally running his own fingers down Noras’: Now feel the magic pool in your fingertips, and draw the sign. Remember the flower you want, and keep it in mind as you say the words. [His fingers pull back from Noras’ as he takes a step back]

Noras takes a slow breath and whispers the incantation, drawing the sign as he does so. A mass settles in his hand and he opens his eyes with a soft gasp - a small bundle of red asters sits on his palm. He stares at them and slowly grins.

Elias grins with him: See?

Noras offers the flowers to Elias and smiles wider: Thank you.

Elias’ smile softens, taking the flowers gently: Any time. [he pauses, looking deep into Noras’ eyes] Your magic has a beautiful colour.

Noras startles, feeling his face flush, hands coming up to his eyes: Oh - did my eyes change color?

Elias gestures to the mirror at his desk, smiling: Go see for yourself, it hasn’t faded yet.

Noras goes to the mirror, watching as his crimson eyes slowly fade back into green. His brow furrows and for a moment, when he sees himself in the mirror, he looks stricken, and then he lowers his head and smiles to himself.

Elias watches him: [absentmindedly] With more practice, you could cover this entire room in flowers.

Noras, turning back to him with a wide grin: Watch me.

Elias laughs, then shakes his head: Tomorrow perhaps, we should get to bed. The ceremony starts early.

Noras, inclining his head: Of course, [just on this side of mockingly] your highness. [He waves to Sir Fluffles and then gives Elias a quick, small smile, before walking out of the room] Good night, Elias.

Elias looks after Noras: [softly] Good night, Noras.

He takes the flowers over to his desk and places them in an empty flask, muttering a silent spell of longevity that will make the flowers stay in bloom forever.