Lucien Finds His Heartbeast

1200, Winter

The magi of Lakehome, quite naturally, had it better than the peasants of the village of Lauvitel huddled above, although it was by no means comfortable. In Osprey's sanctum there was, at least, a stove with sufficient wood to take the edge off the cold, and Lucien slept on a pallet near it. Osprey had a smaller chamber hollowed out in one wall where he slept under a pile of furs and blankets. The Torch of Sweet Air which hung in a sconce on the wall kept the chamber fresh and dissipated the smoke from the stove almost as it formed.

This day found Osprey and Lucien gathered around the stove, Lucien seated and Osprey floating just above and to the left of the stove, in the place where the heat was strongest. Osprey was teaching the theory of Hermetic Magic in his usual style - he was weaving a tale of ancient Breton heroes and working into his tale analogies about the subject at hand. Also as usual, Lucien's mind was wanderering a bit, concentration and focus not being his strong suits.

Indeed, Lucien's mind had wandered as he drifted off in the midst of Osprey's lecture. His blank visage deterred Osprey not, until the young student began to whistle a jaunty tune reminiscent of his days with the troupe of entertainers he called family. It began softly then gained volume as Lucien swayed and rhythmically tapped on the ground.

Osprey shifted gears and Lucien was drawn back in to the story. Osprey enjoyed telling the tales, and Lucien found himself engaged despite himself.

As the story progressed, Osprey's telling became more captivating and Lucien was drawn in. The teen sat up straight and leaned forward ears perked to listen to each word.

At the ultimate moment, Osprey's features and form shifted suddenly; his arms grew thinner and covered with feathers, his already prominent nose became a hooked beak, his clothes and cloak fell to the ground, and where a man had floated there now perched an Osprey.

The story's climax, in conjunction with Osprey's transformation, scared Lucien who was completely enraptured by the tale. With a scream, the horrified teen briefly froze in place. During the paralysis Lucien's eyes grew in size as did his ears, they narrowed and elongated as his body began to shrink in size. Brown fur broke out over his body as his muscular acrobatic legs lengthened and strengthened. In a matter of moments where Lucien sat, there now sat a hare in a pool of clothing. With a twitch of his nose the powerful legs sprang into action driving the rodent into a tight twist and with lightning speed he was into the alcove under the furs that Osprey used for bedding. The hare turned quickly, his whiskers poking out surveying the room and the bird which overlooked.

Even as Lucien dove for cover, Osprey was reversing his transformation. "A rabbit," he mused out loud in his native Breton. "Appropriate enough." He gathered his clothes and dressed quickly, calling in Latin, "Come out Lucien. You have made a breakthrough today. You have found your heritage, that heritage of which I have spoken."

Cautiously the rabbit, inched out from under the furs. An awkward single hop, then another, a shudder and several more brought him up to the foot of Osprey.

"Today you have truly become a follower of Bjornaer. Now let us see if we can train you to return to your human shape before they serve the evening meal. First, though," Osprey gestured and intoned and Lucien thought he saw some of the traditional signs associated with the art of Muto. Then he felt a strange tugging in his throat. "I have granted you the power of human speech, little rabbit."

An ear twitched and nose sniffed the air, a soft voice came from the throat. "You mean," he stammered, "I can return? this is something I can control?"

"Foolish boy! Have you heard nothing that I've said in the last ten years?" Osprey shook his head in exasperation, folded his legs on nothing and sat in air above the stove. "This is your true self, your heartbeast, that thing for which we have been searching since you came here. It is what defines you as a Bjornaer and as a magus. Control it? It is yours to embrace. Have you not already learned to control flora and fauna? Come closer to the fire. Now we shall begin our work!"

Lucien hopped closer and Osprey started to coach him in his new ability.