An Artifact and a Collector

For just a moment, a suddenly charged silence hung in the little space between them, but Knick broke it – with some difficulty. "I... Thank you, I suppose. We'll see. Let's try and get the hang of this one... first... Okay?"

"Yes, yes. Now, teleport back and forth across the clearing til you get the hang of controlling the spell. I have something I need to do." As he finished speaking, he turned and walked off a ways before sitting down to work on something.

"... Well alright then." She watched him for a moment with a vaguely puzzled look as he walked away, before refocusing and pacing back to where the rune was etched into the ground. She wasn't dizzy anymore – yet, but she still took the time to study it carefully. She found it was easier to draw it this time – and now that she was expecting the sensation that came with it, she managed to land on her feet when she popped back into existence on the other side of the clearing. Knick did have to sit down again, but soon she was back up, and she commenced practising.

Around the time she teleported back across the clearing for the tenth time, Revenant rose to his hooves, and walked over to her "I made you something, this should help you with the spell." As he spoke, he held a bracelet with the runes carved into little wooden charms. "You'll be able to channel magic into the bracelet to cast the spell, instead of drawing the runes every time."

Knick Knack looked at the bracelet and felt her expression lift into a wide smile. "Ah, just when I was getting the hang of drawing this thing," she laughed faintly. Her horn lit up as magic gently surrounded the bracelet and lifted it into the air in front of her so that she could examine it closely. "It's wonderful," she said quietly. "Thank you. What do the other charms do?"

"They will ward you against dark magic meant to harm or control you, and if need be, let you call for me." As he finished speaking, he actually smiled a little as he took the bracelet in his magic, and gently placed it around her hoof. "It's also been enchanted so it can never be forcefully taken from you."

She couldn't pretend she wasn't a little taken aback – not by the stallion himself so much as the grand declarations and plans that he seemed to announce on a regular basis. Still, she watched with a growing smile as he fitted the bracelet around her hoof. "... Useful little thing, then. I'd say I hope all that won't be necessary, but I have to thank you all the same." She looked at the bracelet on her hoof for another moment before setting it gently on the ground. Knick Knack thought – thought – she caught something of a smile on his face too, which was a welcome sight to the naturally cheerful mare. Maybe he was less unreachable than he seemed. Maybe. It remained to be seen...

Revenant smiled a little, motioned for her to follow him, and continued walking along the trail. As he walked, Rev began singing as he had when Knick first found him. The song was gentle and light, but filled with subtle and indecipherable emotion. The language was fluid, and sounded old as time it's self.