"I want to learn teleportation." Was not how Rathma had expected to start his day. He blinked, glanced down at the mug of coffee in his left hand, debated chugging it, and looked back up at Tyrael. Taking a purposefully delicate sip, he stared.
Tyrael did not seem deterred. He looked really quite serious about this.
"You've a better grasp of mortal magics than anyone in Westmarch right now." True. "And I've seen you transport yourself around before, so you must know how to do it." Also true. "I used to be able to accomplish this as an angel, and doing so as a human would be quite beneficial to me." Debatable, but debating the (former) Archangel of Justice was usually not a good idea.
Rathma continued drinking. Stared. Swallowed. Stared some more. Tyrael met his gaze, did not back down.
A solid minute, during which Rathma enjoyed his caffeine and the marvels that it did for re-activating his brain, went by.
"Okay." The Nephalem spun around and headed for the courtyard in the middle of their commune. He snickered to himself when he heard the former angel sputter, and trot after him. "You should probably wear something protective." He called over his shoulder.
The courtyard was bright with the morning sun, and Rathma immediately located his favorite shady spot beside the old fountain to perch in while he waited for his uncle. Tyrael had taken his advice and gone to fetch his armor, and the Nephalem took this time to finish his coffee, and consider just how this might work.
Magic worked differently for...just about everyone, let alone angels and mortals. From what he'd gathered, the different aspects of angels all channeled their energy in different ways, and the same could be said for the individual sub-species of demons. Stars knew that humans had found all manner of ways to access and utilize their magic, and it was oftentimes far removed from anything Rathma had ever done.
This would be an interesting exercise, to say the least.
Tyrael finally re-appeared, stretching as he went. Rathma had finished his coffee, and debated getting another cup. He might need it for this...
"What kind of elemental core do you have?" He asked, stalking forward to circle around Tyrael. "Pure Light? Fire?"
"Lightning, with heavy leanings into Light." Tyrael answered. He watched his nephew curiously.
One corner of his mouth quirked up in a partial smile. "You're lucky then." Rathma came to a stop in front of Tyrael. "Most elements can't accomplish true teleportation. Arcane, Void, and Lightning are some of the few that can." Tyrael looked like he wanted to disagree, but thought better of it. Mortal magic was different from angelic magic, this he understood.
Stepping forward, Rathma raised his hands, and delicately placed his fingers on the other's temples. Tyrael, for his part, had frozen. It was very, very rare that Rathma allowed this direct physical contact between himself and anyone, let alone Tyrael himself. The nephalem was frowning, clearly concentrating on something.
He hummed, mumbled a few words under his breath. Tail flicked once, twice. Tyrael waited.
"Okay. Okay…" Rathma continued to murmur to himself. "Strong core, underdeveloped pathways, different teachings…" He finally let go of the angel, and eyeballed him, before speaking directly to him. "This may take a while. You have raw potential, yes, but your body is...oh how to put this." The nephalem turned away to pace a bit. Tyrael patted at his own temples, curious.
"If you had started your mortal life as a child or youth, you would have naturally developed your abilities." Rathma tapped his lower lip in thought. "But you're an adult angel in an adult body. Learning to bring those abilities out once you've matured is much trickier, much more strenuous on the body."
Tyrael nodded in rapt attention. Truthfully he hadn't really been in control of how his mortal form had manifested. He hadn't even known who he was at that point. Presumably, the angel had naturally taken on something equivalent to himself as he truly was. And Tyrael had been no child.
"Furthermore," Rathma went on, and gave his uncle a flat look. "Adult humans do not always learn well. They tend to assume they know everything, and end up hurting themselves in the process."
Tyrael just smiled impishly."Sounds more akin to the angels."
"Demons too." Rathma nodded in agreement. "Perhaps it is simply the fate of all being to assume they know everything."
"Do you think you know everything?" Tyrael teased.
"Of course I know everything." Rathma sarcastically replied. " Everything I need to in terms of magic, I know enough to get you on the right path. You will not be teleporting anywhere today, so get that notion out of your head."
Tyrael opened his mouth to protest, and was met with a mischievous look. "Today, you will try and bring power from your core forth, and control it. I must suggest we remove yourself from the vicinity of all other living creatures. You and I may be lightning proof, but most humans are not..."